Category: Baseball

Here’s the Guardians lineup:

Here’s the Rockies lineup:

Let’s go, Guardians!

Minnesota Twins (63-66) at San Diego Padres (69-60), August 22, 2026, 5:40 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Petco Park – San Diego, Calif.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

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After all the drama of the past few days, last night’s simple, straightforward and entirely drama-free victory was a much-needed palate cleaners. Okay, the Reds are well below .500 and occupy last place in their division for a reason. But as we saw with the Rockies, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be easy. There was a thorough competence about almost every aspect of the victory. Eduardo Rodriguez giving us almost six innings of shutout ball. The bullpen retiring 11 of the 12 batters they faced. The offense being remarkably productive in the clutch, going 6-for-13 with RISP. The last time we hit .450 there? June 29 – when we went 2-for-4 against San Francisco.

Dare we hope for more of the same today? With Michael Soroka on the mound, you have to be somewhat optimistic about the possibility. He has allowed two earned runs over ten innings, since coming off the IL. And those were against better offenses than the Reds, in the shape of the Rockies and Braves. Cincinnati are, at the time of writing, dead last in the National League with an OPS+ of just 90. They currently have eighty-two fewer hits than anyone else, and have also struck out more often. Interestingly, the D-backs’ hitters are last in K’s on 940 – seventy-two fewer than the next-fewest in the NL, the Cardinals.

Mind you, Arizona’s pitchers are also strikeout-averse. They are ahead of just the Rockies for K’s – that’s only by two, and Colorado has one fewer game. On the other hand, they have also walked fewer people than any other NL side. I guess the Diamondbacks’ staff are doing their bit for brighter baseball, with the fewest plate appearances ending in one of the “three true outcomes”, and instead generating more balls in play than anyone else. Oh, and who on Opening Day would have bet on tonight’s starter, Michael Soroka having the highest K-rate of anyone in our rotation? At 8.6 K/9, he is more than two strikeouts per nine innings ahead of the next best, E-Rod at 6.4. #YouCantPredictBaseball

The Dodgers finish things off with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.

Blake Snell makes his third start since returning from the injured list, having pitched six strong innings in each of his first two times out.

Sunday game info

• Teams: Dodgers vs. Pirates
• Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
• Start time: 1:10 p.m.
• TV: SportsNet LA
• Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)

Shohei Ohtani has several reasons to smile again.

For one, the Dodgers are 7-3 in their last 10 games, making their brutal stretch earlier this month seem like a distant memory.

And Ohtani is now back on the mound after being sidelined as a pitcher since early July because of a lingering knee injury.

Dodgers stars Mookie Betts and Miguel Rojas spoke about how Ohtani’s return to pitching has altered his headspace for the better, which they discussed during an “On Base with Mookie Betts” podcast episode that aired on Thursday.

“Shohei is a different guy when he’s able to put his glove on and go out there and throw,” Rojas said.

“Seeing him this year made me understand how much he loves pitching,” Betts added.

“I really believe it makes him happy. And if he’s happy, and he’s in a good headspace, he’s going to help the team. And that’s what we all care about,” Rojas added. “What I see in Shohei right now is that he’s happy because he’s able to put that glove [on] again… You always see him messing with that glove, and putting it right here, and starting to put a baseball in it, and started cleaning his glove.”

“He can be himself!” Betts said.

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Ohtani threw a simulated 30-pitch live batting practice session on Saturday, marking the first time he has faced hitters since July 3.

A video of Shohei letting out a huge laugh on the mound is making waves on social media Saturday, indicating that he’s overjoyed to be back pitching.

Ohtani won’t be the only one smiling when he can finally pitch in a game again.

Detroit Tigers (61-67) vs. Kansas City Royals (56-74)

Time/Place: 7:10 p.m., Kauffman Stadium
SB Nation Site:Royals Review
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Drew Anderson (4-4, 4.01 ERA) )vs. RHP Michael Wacha (6-8, 3.58 ERA)

The Rockies will look to break their seven-game losing streak at Coors Field when they host the Guardians tonight at Coors Field. Be prepared for lots of lightsaber and Death Star references as Star Wars night takes over 20th and Blake Street.

Gabriel Hughes will start for the Rockies (50-78) in search of his first MLB win and hoping it will come on his 25th birthday. Hughes is 0-4 with a 6.69 ERA in eight appearances (seven starts). Hughes struggled in his last outing, surrendering seven runs on eight hits, including one homer, with one walk and two strikeouts in four innings in San Francisco on Aug. 16.

Tanner Bibee (4-13, 4.01 ERA) will be on the mound for Cleveland (63-66). The 27-year-old RHP has lost both of his last two games, giving up five earned runs with two walks and four strikeouts in 6.1 innings on Aug. 11 vs. Detroit and putting up a quality start against San Diego on Aug. 16 when he gave up only three runs in seven innings.

Scattered rain and thunderstorms peppered the Denver Metro area on Saturday afternoon, which will be interesting to watch as the evening progresses.

First Pitch: 6:10 p.m. MDT

TV: Rockies.TV

Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM KOA Rockies Radio Network; KNRV 1150 AM (Spanish)

Guardians SB Nation Site:Covering the Corner

Lineups:

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The Dodgers try to pick up the pieces in the outfield without Andy Pages, trying for a fifth straight win on Saturday night.

Saturday game info

• Teams: Dodgers vs. Pirates
• Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
• Start time: 4:15 p.m.
• TV: Fox
• Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)

After a thrilling victory on Friday night, the White Sox (67-61) are back in action on the South Side against the Mets (58-71).

Trade deadline acquisition Luis Castillo, 33, will start on the mound for the South Siders. Castillo enters this game with a 4.99 ERA and a 4.52 FIP in 115 1/3 innings this season. It has not been the finest year for Castillo, who has only accumulated 0.8 fWAR in 2026. Since the White Sox acquired him, Castillo has had three starts, and Castillo’s numbers were not good in two of them. However, on August 12 against the Reds (61-68) Castillo was fantastic, only allowing one hit and striking out 10 in seven shutout innings. That masterful performance against Cincinnati was the only home game of the three, so perhaps Castillo really enjoys the home cooking on the South Side. Hopefully, Castillo manages to build on that excellent game.

The White Sox offense will be facing starter Christian Scott, 27, a right-handed pitcher. Scott enters this game with a 3.51 ERA and a 3.36 FIP in 84 2/3 innings, accumulating 1.9 fWAR on the season. This will be Scott’s first career appearance against the White Sox. The Mets drafted Scott in the fifth round in 2021, and he has been in the organization ever since.

Here are tonight’s starting lineups:

First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on CHSN, and ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000 AM will have the radio coverage. We look forward to discussing this matchup with you.

It’s time for the meat between the baseball bread that is the sandwich series. Or something like that. In other words, it’s Game 2 of the three-game set between the San Francisco Giants and the Boston Red Sox.

Righty Blade Tidwell takes the mound for San Francisco, as he makes his 12th appearance and fourth start of the season. The 25-year old has yet to record a decision, and has a 4.33 ERA, a 3.79 FIP, and 20 strikeouts to 10 walks in 27 innings. After pitching wonderfully in his first two starts of the season, Tidwell got rocked his last time out, allowing six runs in 4.1 innings against the Colorado Rockies.

For the Red Sox, it’s 29-year old left-hander Patrick Sandoval (no relation). Sandoval has made seven starts this season, after returning in July from a nearly two-year absence due to Tommy John surgery. The southpaw is 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA, a 3.67 FIP, and 35 strikeouts to 16 walks in 34 innings. He got rocked in his last start, allowing seven runs in four innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Enjoy the baseball, everyone.

Lineups

Giants

1. Victor Bericoto — LF
2. Rafael Devers — DH
3. Willy Adames — SS
4. Bryce Eldridge — 1B
5. Osleivis Basabe — 2B
6. Jung Hoo Lee — RF
7. Christian Koss — 3B
8. Drew Gilbert — CF
9. Andrew Knizner — C

RHP. Blade Tidwell

Red Sox

1. Nick Sogard — 2B
2. Ceddanne Rafaela — CF
3. Wilyer Abreu — RF
4. Willson Contreras — 1B
5. Adley Rutschman — C
6. Caleb Durbin — 3B
7. Jarren Duran — LF
8. Andruw Monasterio — SS
9. Mickey Gasper — DH

LHP. Patrick Sandoval

Game #129

Who: San Francisco Giants (52-76) vs. Boston Red Sox (69-59)

Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

When: 4:15 p.m. PT

Regional broadcast: n/a

National broadcast: FOX

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

This pitcher’s on fire, his heater enthralls,

The batters complain about his wicked curveball

But Kade he don’t care, you can talk to the wall, oh no no

[DRUM FILL]

In Arkansas they will see you no more,

You’re in the bigs now, you beat down the door

Double-A was too easy for you, you found it a bore, oh no no

[DRUM FILL INTENSIFIES]

Taken third overall, a gift from above

They whiff at the slider, ground out on the curve

They miss the fastball despite the read on the gun

We found you in the rotation, we thought the season was done

KAAAAAAAAAAADE

KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADEEEE

Lineups:

You might have heard that Kade Anderson is making his debut tonight. In prime time on Fox. In front of an expected sell-out crowd. Against the Cubs, currently boasting the best lineup in the big leagues and the likely NL MVP. So like, no pressure, kid.

It’s 2010s weekend at the park, so I think the Cubs being sponsored by Motorola’s Razr is very on-theme. Just thinking about it gives me traumatic flashbacks to when you only got 300 text messages a month on a mobile plan and I was always afraid to open my T-Mobile bill at the end of the month. I guess that was more of a late 2000s thing but spiritually it is the 2010s to me.

News:

The Mariners officially called up LHP Kade Anderson to make his big-league debut. LHP Jhonathan Díaz was DFA’d to make room for Anderson on the 25-man roster.

With Kade Anderson officially called up today, nothing has been formalized regarding whether the Mariners will return to a six-man rotation, back to the piggyback, move a starter to the bullpen, or put a starter on the IL. It sounds like the team is waiting for the results of Woo’s bullpen tomorrow to determine which direction they’ll go in.

Additionally, Matt Brash threw a bullpen yesterday; he’s scheduled to throw to live hitters sometime this week.

Game information:

Game time: 4:15 PT

TV: FOX (exclusive) with Aaron Goldsmith and John Smoltz

Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr.

The Royals are already riding their longest winning streak of the season and look to make it even longer tonight. The team’s most consistent pitcher, Michael Wacha, will take the mound for the Royals. Wacha is tied for the AL lead in Quality Starts and is fourth overall. So he’s not just consistent, but he’s been pretty dang good.

Drew Anderson will start for the Tigers tonight. I have to be honest, I couldn’t remember ever seeing him pitch before, so I wondered if he was a rookie. It turns out, however, that he’s been pitching in the big leagues for nearly 10 years, since 2017, and is 32 years old. Whoops.

Anderson was a reliever for most of the year, but with the Tigers still dealing with myriad rotation injuries and then trading away their two best starters at the deadline, he was summoned to action. In three starts since rejoining the rotation, he hasn’t pitched deep into games, but he’s been effective with a 2.84 ERA. That comes with a measly 7.8% K-BB% and a 4.90 FIP. So Tigers fans probably don’t feel super comfortable with him on the mound, However, as the Royals have seen with Daniel Lynch IV and Randy Dobnak, those kinds of results can last a handful of starts, at least.

As you can see in the above graphic, Anderson is a five-pitch pitcher. He gets at least some chase or some whiff on every pitch; his changeup is regarded very favorably and has the results to match. That’s of particular interest to me because it comes in at only 5 average MPH slower than the four-seamer, and generally you want more difference in the two pitches. Wacha, in contrast, features 13 MPH in his average velocities – one of the reasons his changeup does so well.

Lineups

I’m not really sure why Tyler Tolbert is in there instead of John Rave, but at least some of us will be happy about it. Either way, it’s a lineup that goes at least six deep, even if at least one player is batting higher than he would in a competitive team’s lineup. Fingers crossed the Royals can get things done tonight.

CHICAGO — Bo Bichette doesn’t want to jinx it, but he’s among the only Mets regulars who has managed to stay on the field all season.

It’s an injury list that has included at various points Juan Soto (twice), Jorge Polanco (twice), Francisco Lindor, Luis Robert Jr., Marcus Semien, Francisco Alvarez and Mark Vientos.

The Mets were set to play their 129th game this season Saturday night, and Bichette had appeared in all but one of them.

It’s the kind of durability he can cautiously appreciate after missing significant action the previous two seasons.

“Part of it is luck, right?” Bichette said before the Mets faced the White Sox at Rate Field. “I think I did a good job of getting strong this offseason. I didn’t have much of a choice after injuries two years ago and then last year with the knee. But I think I did a good job to get strong enough to get a whole season.”

It probably hasn’t hurt that Bichette, 28, switched to a physically less demanding position at third base after playing shortstop his first seven seasons in the major leagues.

Even so, Bichette played shortstop for much of the two-month stretch Lindor was sidelined by a calf strain.

But freak injuries often can’t be avoided.

Last season with the Blue Jays, Bichette sustained a knee injury in a home plate collision and missed the final month of the regular season and most of the postseason before returning for the World Series.

In 2024, a calf strain limited Bichette to appearing in 81 games.

“The key to it is make sure you give it enough time because with the calf just walking puts stress on it,” Bichette said. “That is why it’s the toughest injury to come back from, I think.”

The Mets are seeing their best version of Bichette in August.

• CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS

He entered play with a .947 OPS for the month and on Friday hit his 13th home run of the season.

With the surge, Bichette owned a .706 OPS for the season, the highest it has been all year.

It coincided largely with the Mets playing their best baseball of 2026, with 11 victories in 16 games entering play.

“I’m just focused on finishing strong,” Bichette said. “The competitor in me sees the opportunity for me to still have a good year and I am still focused on that too, but I just want to have a strong finish. In a way I am proud of my ability to come back from a tough couple of months to start the season. Also knowing that a tough couple of months doesn’t make your season.”

As for the Mets’ improved play, Bichette said the Aug. 3 trade deadline — at which point several veteran players were dealt to other teams — served as a reset point.

“The burden of having a bad season was kind of lifted when the trade deadline happened,” Bichette said. “It gave the guys ability to just go out there and try to become better baseball players. Go out there and just try to win and it’s been real fun.”

Bichette, who can opt out from his three-year contract worth $126 million after the season, said it’s still too early to say which direction he will head.

But it’s clear Bichette is thinking strongly about a possible return next year.

“I think there are a lot of positive things,” Bichette said. “I am having a really good time right here right now. There are a lot of really good young players that make it fun to come here and a lot of really good players that have been around, so I am enjoying my time here.” 

Shohei Ohtani took a significant step Saturday toward his return to two-way duties.

The Dodgers star, who hasn’t pitched in a game since July 3, pitched a live batting practice session, throwing 30 pitches to also-rehabbing catcher Will Smith. Ohtani had been throwing bullpen sessions up to this point.

“I didn’t have a check-in with Shohei, but everything from the coaches [is] really positive.” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the second of three games against the Pittsburgh Pirates. “We’re getting there. So, today was a good day.”

Ohtani looked close to his normal self, even exchanging a few “gotcha” laughs with Smith, like when he induced an infield pop-up.

And here’s #Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani throwing a live session. https://t.co/vjN7gKK7Ilpic.twitter.com/XtqLYdqt9t

— Joaquin Ruiz (@WalkingRuiz) August 22, 2026

Ohtani likely will throw another live batting practice session before potentially returning to the rotation.

“I think if it were up to Shohei, he’d be in a game in a few days,” Roberts said. “But I would assume another live BP, but we’re gonna make sure we talk to him and get with the training staff as well.”

Roberts added that Ohtani’s knee issues, which were the primary reason for Ohtani’s break from pitching, are “behind us.” Roberts noted that Ohtani is rested and has adjusted his pitching mechanics.

“That’s more of the pitching department, but I do know that the land — and the land being closed versus opening up a little bit more — took a little bit of pressure off [Ohtani’s knee],” Roberts said. “That’s why this [is] live and the lives are good,” Roberts added, “because you’re actually facing hitters and you can kind of see if the mechanics — how they play.”

Andy Pages might have surgery

Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages is leaning toward surgery to repair the fractured left hand he sustained after being hit by a 100-mph sinker from Pittsburgh pitcher Bubba Chandler on Friday.

Pages is expected to miss roughly four weeks regardless of whether or not he has surgery.

“I think they’re probably leaning towards some type of surgery,” Roberts said. “I don’t think it changes the timeline. I think it’s certainly gonna be four weeks as the floor for [Pages] to be back with us, but, like I told him in the X-ray room, the season is not over for him, and we expect him back [at] full health.”

Tyler Glasnow, who hasn’t pitched since May 6, is penciled in to start Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves, without any limitations, Roberts said.

Justin Wrobleski, dealing with forearm inflammation, will be in the bullpen when he returns from the 15-day injured list.

Read more:Swanson: Struggling Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker simply needs to relax

“I see him slotting into relief and being a two-or-three-inning guy,” Roberts said.

Edwin Díaz will be used in less-stressful situations upon his return from neck inflammation before potentially resuming closing responsibilities.

“It’s more of getting him back healthy, and then putting him in some softer landing situations to get the confidence, to get the feel, and the trust of executing pitches [and] getting major league hitters out,” Roberts said.

And Smith continues to be on an upward trajectory after stacking reps with Ohtani.

“Getting Will in the batter’s box to take at-bats ... it’s just good to see the [competition] from both those guys,” Roberts said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Orioles picked up some momentum last weekend with a series win over the first-place Rays. The good vibes evaporated when the Birds lost three straight to New York, but Baltimore can right the ship today with another series victory over Tampa Bay.

Brandon Young (9-3, 3.52 ERA) will take the mound for the Orioles. Young lasted only four innings in his last outing against Tampa. He’ll look to keep the ball in the park this evening after surrendering three homers last week.

The Rays will counter with left-handed starter Shane McClanahan (9-6, 3.25 ERA). McLanahan failed to complete four innings last week against Baltimore, and the Orioles will look to build on that success tonight.

Jackson Holliday will bat leadoff and play second base. He’ll be followed by designated hitter Pete Alonso and first baseman Coby Mayo. Right fielder Tyler O’Neill will bat cleanup, and Gunnar Henderson will slide down to fifth against the lefty.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand will bat sixth and handle the hot corner. Left fielder Christian Franklin, center fielder Leody Taveras, and catcher Carlos Narváez will complete the lineup. Look for Colton Cowser and Dylan Beavers to be available as pinch-hitters after McClanahan leaves the game.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the Orioles need wins to keep up in the wild card chase. Tonight would mark another step in the right direction.

Orioles lineup

1. J Holliday (L) 2B
2. P Alonso (R) DH
3. C Mayo (R) 1B
4. T O’Neill (R) RF
5. G Henderson (L) SS
6. C Encarnacion-Strand (R) 3B
7. C Franklin (R) LF
8. L Taveras (S) CF
9. C Narváez (R) C

Starter: RHP Brandon Young