New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean delivers the ball against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Rate Field on Sunday, August 23, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. (This asset including all text, audio and imagery is provided by Imagn Images. Reuters Connect ha)
CHICAGO — Nolan McLean is approaching 150 innings for this season following his strong performance Sunday, but his ambitions are much grander.
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“I am still behind what I threw last year, so I have got some room to continue to grow and build those innings up,” the Mets rookie said after his team’s 2-1 loss to the White Sox at Rate Field. “Ideally, it’s 200. Every single time you start the season, your goal is to get to 200 innings.”
McLean, at 148 ²/₃ innings, has six starts remaining at most, and it’s unlikely Mets officials will push him extensively late in the season.
McLean pitched 161 ²/₃ innings last season, split between the minor leagues and majors.
On this day he fired six scoreless innings in which he allowed only one hit and walked four batters — he plunked another — with six strikeouts.
New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean delivers the ball against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Rate Field on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Chicago. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It was his third straight start pitching at least six innings while allowing one or no runs.
“Those are good hitters that had really been swinging it well against us all series, having tough at-bats,” interim manager Andy Green said. “I thought he was on the attack all day. Mixed pitches. He was really unpredictable. It was hard to know what he was going to do, so I felt good about what he did today.”
He faced his stiffest challenge in the third, when he walked consecutive batters to load the bases after allowing a two-out single to Sam Antonacci.
The right-hander rebounded to strike out Andrew Benintendi on three pitches.
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“I felt like I made all the pitches I wanted to and ended up walking them,” McLean said of the third-inning jam.
McLean, who has a 3.21 ERA in 26 starts this season, is part of the NL Rookie of the Year discussion, along with teammate Carson Benge.
How much is McLean paying attention to the race?
“Not a ton,” he said. “My job is to go out there and try to put my team in the best position to win. If you control that, good things tend to happen. I think any competitor would like to win the award, but I don’t pay too much attention.”
After pitching the ninth inning in Saturday’s 10-5 win, Senga was back on the mound on consecutive days for the first time in his career and although he allowed a game-ending home run in the process, he and the Mets can check off another box as the former starter continues to make the transition to the bullpen.
“For him it’s good to get that under the belt and to have done that,” said interim manager Andy Green. “... I think overall Senga’s got something done now that he hadn’t done and that’s good for us.”
In a 1-1 game and New York off on Monday, it seemed like the perfect time to introduce Senga to pitching in back-to-back games as he’ll have extra time to recover from the appearance. The hope is that the right-hander, who has fallen into the closer role, comes out of the experience feeling good and healthy so that he can possibly do it again this season and beyond.
In fact, Green is hardly concerned with the result of the outing and called it a “step forward” for Senga who has been solid as the team’s new closer during Devin Williams’ absence.
For his part, Senga was disappointed in the outcome but said he had “no big issues” being on the mound.
“I felt good today,” he said via an interpreter. “I had no doubts being out on the mound, believed that I could do it and it was partly my decision to go out there and say that I’m ready to pitch today.”
As for the results, a walk-off solo shot to Tristan Peters on a 3-1 fastball in the middle of the zone, it reminded Senga just how different closing a game is compared to starting, how intense a closer’s job is and how important it is to the success of a team.
“It’s kind of like a moment of realization that I’m in a position where the game could end potentially in one pitch with one swing of the bat,” he said. “Seeing the ball like that, it just kind of dawned on me that that’s the type of role that I’m playing right now.”
Nolan McLean becoming an ace
Before the White Sox walked it off against the Mets’ bullpen, McLean had shut them down for six scoreless innings while allowing just one hit. It was the rookie’s third consecutive start allowing one earned run or fewer and it lowered his ERA to 3.21.
Still, the outing wasn’t without its hiccups as the right-hander walked four and hit a batter, both for the second straight start. In fact, McLean had to work out of a two-out jam in the fourth inning after a single and two walks loaded the bases, which he did by striking out Andrew Benintendi – one of three strikeouts, all looking, in the frame.
Aside from that, McLean was in control all day and has easily been New York’s ace in his first full season in the big leagues.
“Just a really good mix today,” Green said. “Those are good hitters that have been swinging really well against us all series, having tough at-bats. I thought he was on the attack all day, mixed, it was hard, really unpredictable, hard to know what he was gonna do so I felt good about what he did today. Six strong innings.”
After running into some struggles in May that raised his ERA to as high as 4.40, McLean was able to put that behind him and has been dominant ever since, looking like the pitcher that burst onto the scene last year in eight starts as he tries to finish this season strong.
“I feel good. I wouldn’t say stronger or any better than I felt to start the season, it’s just every time I go out there I’m trying to learn and I’m hopefully doing a better job of that,” he said.
With 31 games remaining for the Mets this season, the rookie, who has pitched 148.2 innings in 26 starts, will likely have about five or six starts left and is “fairly confident” he won’t run into any possible fatigue that often shows up for pitchers setting career-highs in innings pitched.
“I think I’m still behind what I threw last year so I got some room to go to continue to grow and continue to build those innings up,” he said. “Ideally it’s 200 [innings] every single time, once you start a season your goal is to get to 200 innings.”
McLean won’t get to 200 innings this season but there’s no doubt that he’s trending in the right direction to get there soon and continue to be the ace for a talented Mets pitching staff for a long time.
In fact, McLean’s sights seem to only be set on helping his team win games and he isn’t worried about anything else when he’s on the mound like the Rookie of the Year award, even though he’s certainly in the running – one of two Mets rookies who are.
“My job is to go out there and try to put my team in the best position to win and overall if you control that good things tend to happen,” he said. “I think any competitor would like to win the award but I don’t pay too much attention.”
Meanwhile, McLean’s teammate, Carson Benge, added to his case for ROTY with another two-hit game on Sunday, including a double and a run scored. The outfielder went 6-for-13 in the series and is up to a .278 average at the plate with a .765 OPS as he continues to be on fire following a slow start to his career.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 23: Manager Dan Wilson #6 takes Bryce Miller #50 of the Seattle Mariners out of the game during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at T-Mobile Park on August 23, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The worst pitching staff in baseball the last two months got blown out again.
The Mariners lost 19-2 against the Cubs on Sunday. Bryce Miller pitched and was bad early and often, again failing to get through five. The relievers behind him were bad, too, eventually leading to Jhonny Pereda and Weston Wilson on the mound. There weren’t many positive takeaways from this one.
The game started out pretty fun, though. Randy Arozanea led off the first with a homer, after hitting two last night, including a spectacular walkoff. The Mariners were going for a sweep in this one, largely on the back of Arozarena’s play, so this felt like an auspicious start.
Things looked even better when Victor Robles injected a bit of chaos in the second. He drew a walk, stole second, and then stole third. The throw to try to get him was wide, and he came around to score on the play. This felt a lot like the version of Robles we haven’t seen since 2024. It was fun.
Miller for his part had cruised through the first two innings, a stranded walk his only blemish. Then came the third, which began with a 2-0 lead. Miller hung a curve to Michael Conforto, who snuck a weak, shallow homer over the fence to lead off. He seemed to move on, getting two quick outs. But then he completely lost the zone. Miller walked Seiya Suzuki, then Michael Busch, then Alex Bregman to load the bases. Up stepped Ian Happ, who went out of the zone to crush a well-located splitter off the foul pole in right.
Miller went back out to face the lineup for a third time in the fifth. He proceeded to walk the bases loaded before recording an out. He did eventually get a groundout, which scored a run to make it 6-2. But his day was done before getting through five. Six runs on two hits and seven walks.
“I just have to be more competitive,” he said after the game. “It’s felt like all of my walks in the last month or month and a half have scored, but when you have seven walks, I mean, what do you expect? It’s super frustrating. Like I, I don’t feel like that team beat me at all. I gave it to them. You get that many free passes, that’s what happens.”
Miller said he’s at his best when he’s focused on attacking in the moment.
“I think the last month I’ve been kind of thinking ahead too much, and thinking of like, what do I need to do to this batter, the next batter, the next inning, to get out of this with a good line and keep us in it. That’s not what I do when I’m at my best. You know, it’s got to be this pitch, this moment, this at bat, one at bat at a time, one pitch at a time.”
It was another bad outing for Miller. He of course was the starter in the 22-0 clobbering earlier in the week, which proceeded much like this one. He struggled to get through five and ultimately couldn’t, leaving tons of outs to cover for the bullpen behind him. Miller was electric to begin the year but has an ERA over 7 since the beginning of July. Asked after the game if a switch to the bullpen might be in the future, Miller said, “No, that hasn’t been a thing.” Wilson was asked the same question: “We’re looking at all different options as we approach the end of the season here. We’re looking at everything. Obviously we want to keep our rotation intact, but we’ll see how things shake down here in the next few days.”
The Mariners offense was pretty non existent after falling behind. They managed just one base runner from the fourth through eighth innings. Robles picked up another single in the ninth against the Cubs position-player pitcher, though that was all they managed.
The Cubs, of course, were using a position-player pitcher in the ninth because they were up 19-2 at that point. Michael Rucker took the mound in the eighth with the game at 7-2. I’ve largely defended Rucker this year, as he’s pitched pretty OK in comparison to a truly awful bullpen around him. In fact, he actually entered the day leading the staff in WAR since the All-Star break, as one of the few bright spots out of the pen. He did not pitch OK Sunday (perhaps because of the massive workload heaped onto him this week). He got two quick outs, then gave up a pair of singles to score a run and a homer to score two more. Then he gave up a single, a hit by pitch, and two walks to score another run. It was 11-2 when he handed the ball to catcher Jhonny Pereda to try to close out the inning. Pereda gave up a single to make it 12-2 then a grand slam to make it 16-2. Weston Wilson pitched the ninth and gave up three more runs.
It’s the second time this week the Mariners got beat so bad they had to essentially forfeit. The pitching staff has been truly awful in the second half of the season, far and away the worst pitching staff in the majors. They’re down to -0.7 since the All-Star break, nearly a full win worse than the Rockies. They begin a three-game series against the Phillies on Monday.
Ian Happ’s grand slam in the third inning gave the Cubs the lead and eventually they put together a 17-hit, nine-walk, 19-run pounding on the Mariners, winning 19-2 and salvaging the final game of the series.
Things did not start out that way. Randy Arozarena, who hit the crushing walk-off homer Saturday evening, led off this one with a long ball off Shōta Imanaga, another “you have got to be kidding me” moment.
Imanaga struggled through the first two innings, allowing another run on a throwing error by Carson Kelly, issuing a couple of walks and hitting a batter, and things just were not going well for him at all.
Fortunately, things didn’t go well for Mariners starter Bryce Miller, either, and the Cubs gave him a parting gift for his 28th birthday today. Michael Conforto led off the third with a home run [VIDEO].
Not only did that bring the Cubs within one, it also put Conforto back into a tie with Kyle Tucker. Both players have 11 home runs this year.
After Miller retired the next two Cubs, he walked the bases loaded, with Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch and Alex Bregman all drawing bases on balls.
That was Happ’s 22nd home run and the 195th of his career. Happ grand slam facts from BCB’s JohnW53:
Ian Happ’s grand slam was the Cubs’ . . .
Sixth of the season (one more than all of last year and as many as in 2024) 367th in the regular season since 1876 343rd since 1901 156th on the road since 1876 sixth by Happ; his previous one was their first of last season, on April 18 at home vs. the Diamondbacks) … Happ now is among five players tied for the fifth-most slams in team history. The others are Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez.
Bill Nicholson, Sammy Sosa and Billy Williams hit eight. Ernie Banks hit 12.
Happ’s blast seemed to let the entire team and fanbase exhale after the two walk-off losses the last two days.
Imanaga, though, struggled in the third and after allowing hits to the first two Mariners he faced in that inning, he was removed for Aaron Civale, who retired the next three hitters without incident. About Imanaga’s brief outing, from John:
Shota Imanaga’s 2.0-plus innings pitched was the shortest of his 80 career starts as a Cub. He had been lifted after 3.0 innings twice: June 21, 2024, at home vs. the Mets (10 runs on 11 hits, including three homers), and July 25, 2025, at the White Sox (seven runs on seven hits, including three homers).
The game went 5-2 into the fifth, when Miller — who I was surprised was allowed to start that inning as he had thrown a ton of pitches — walked the bases loaded yet again, this time Pete Crow-Armstrong, Suzuki and Busch.
Civale breezed through a scoreless fourth and fifth and the Cubs put one more on the board in the sixth to make it 7-2. Pedro Ramirez led off with a single and took second on a single by Tyrone Taylor, who was batting for Conforto. Carson Kelly hit into a double play, moving Ramirez to third, where he scored on this infield grounder that PCA beat out for a hit [VIDEO].
Civale gave up a single in a scoreless sixth, the only baserunner he allowed in four solid innings of relief. Civale’s been really good for the Cubs in whatever role he’s been asked to perform, and those four innings were needed after Imanaga’s early departure.
The game went to the eighth still 7-2 and that’s when the Cubs put things way out of reach, and most of it was off old friend Michael Rucker — and all the runs scored after two were out.
Nico led off with a single and was forced at second by Ramirez. After Taylor struck out, Kelly blooped a ball into short left and when the Mariners were slow to play the ball, Ramirez scored all the way from first [VIDEO].
Now it’s 10-2 and the Cubs are not anywhere close to being done. Suzuki singled, Busch was hit by a pitch and Bregman walked. This is the third time the Cubs have had the bases loaded in this game, and Happ came to the plate with a chance for a second slam. It didn’t happen, but he did walk to force in run number 11 [VIDEO].
With the bases still loaded and the Cubs up by nine, Craig Counsell sent Gabriel Arias to the plate to bat for Hoerner, facing position player Jhonny Pereda for the Mariners. Arias singled in run number 12 [VIDEO].
The Cubs had hit two grand slams in a game only three times before today:
Aug. 16, 1890 vs. the Pirates: Tom Burns and Malachi Kittridge June 3, 1987 vs. the Astros: Brian Dayett and Keith Moreland Sept. 5, 2021 vs. the Pirates: Matt Duffy and Frank Schwindel
So this is the first time they have done it outside Chicago — in their 9,789th road game.
And about that nine-run eighth, from John:
The nine-run eighth inning was the Cubs’ biggest of the season. They scored eight in their 23-3 pummeling of the Padres at home on July 1. They also had one eight-run outburst last year.
Caleb Thielbar threw a 1-2-3 eighth for the Cubs and then the Mariners’ second position player pitcher of the game, Weston Wilson, moved from third base to the mound.
That gave the Cubs a chance to pour it on. Kevin Alcántara, who had replaced PCA in center, led off with a sing.e Suzuki and Busch also singled to load the bases yet again. A sac fly by Bregman made i1 17-2 [VIDEO].
Happ followed with a single, re-loading the bases. A fielder’s choice by Arias made it 18-2 and Ramirez followed with a single, completing the Cubs scoring for the afternoon.
The nine-run eighth inning was the Cubs’ biggest of the season. They scored eight in their 23-3 pummeling of the Padres at home on July 1. They also had one eight-run outburst last year. ….. This was the 18th game of the season in which the Cubs have scored at least 10 runs. They began the day one ahead of the Nationals and two ahead of the Dodgers.
The Cubs had 22 double-digit games last year, after having had only 12 in 2024. They had 24 in 2023 after just six in 2022.The nine-run eighth inning was the Cubs’ biggest of the season. They scored eight in their 23-3 pummeling of the Padres at home on July 1. They also had one eight-run outburst last year.
Loved my time in Seattle, a great city with lots to see and tons of good restaurants. Would have been nice to have two wins instead of one, but this game eases the sting of those walk-off defeats, a little, at least.
The Cubs remain two games ahead of the Phillies, who also won Sunday, for the first wild card spot. At this writing the Brewers and Braves are playing in the Little League Classic and the Brewers trail, for whatever that’s worth.
The flight to Phoenix for the Cubs will undoubtedly be a happy one after this blowout. They’ll open a three-game series against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field Monday evening. Kevin Gausman will start for the Cubs and Merrill Kelly goes for Arizona. Game time Monday is 8:40 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.
After Sunday's 8-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, Cody Bellinger's return and Carlos Rodón's second start back were chief among the Yankees' top developments. Here are some highlights of what Bellinger, Rodón and Aaron Boone said following New York's three-game series victory.
Bellinger's first game back
Playing for the first time since July 25 when he suffered his left hamstring strain and one day later went on the 10-day injured list, Bellinger emerged healthy.
"I felt really good," Bellinger said. "Honestly, I felt like 100 percent. Running after those balls and on the bases, I felt really good."
Bellinger's 1-for-4 afternoon at Yankee Stadium saw him rebound from an 0-for-3, two-strikeout start with a leadoff single in the seventh inning.
"OK -- I think he was expanding a bit early on in his first couple, and then he got into a 3-1 count against a tough lefty to square it up against and smokes the ball up the middle," Boone said. "So, that was good to see ... a good way for him to kind of finish in his first game back after it felt like he expanded the zone more than he wanted to, got himself into a good count and was able to sting one against a tough lefty there at the end."
Three at-bats later, Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s two-out home run to right field scored Bellinger and padded New York's 7-2 lead against Toronto (64-68).
"I felt all right," Bellinger said. "I felt like I was a little jumpy early on, and in that fourth at-bat I was able to settle down a little bit. It's obviously nice to get some results in the first and obviously to get the win as well."
Through 103 games this season, Bellinger is slashing .259/.349/.418 with 11 home runs and 53 RBI.
He gets Monday off before the Yankees (74-56) begin a three-game series against the Houston Astros with Tuesday's 7:05 p.m. opener in the Bronx.
Rodón's room for improvement
Building upon last Tuesday's 3-1 win at the Baltimore Orioles, in which he threw 39 strikes on 66 pitches over four innings, Rodón again went four frames Sunday.
His second start back from an IL stint that sidelined him from the Yankees since June 28 due to left elbow inflammation was a 76-pitch, 42-strike outing with two runs (one earned) one two hits while striking out two and walking two.
"It's good," Rodón said. "Obviously, there's some things I want to refine and obviously be in the zone a little more -- crisper with strikes and just attacking and getting ahead. So, there's things I can work on."
Rodón is in line to start Saturday's 1:05 p.m. game against the Boston Red Sox, a four-game series that stretches from Friday through Monday at Yankee Stadium.
"Obviously, hopefully, totally built up," Boone said of Rodón's ramp-up period. "I think he's in a really good place. I think his stuff, physically, is where it needs to be -- and, hopefully, he just continues to get a little bit sharper as he does build up here and expect him to be a key contributor in our rotation moving forward and what we hope is beyond the regular season."
PHOENIX (AP) — Ildemaro Vargas hit a go-ahead, two-run triple in a decisive four-run seventh inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied for a 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday to win the series and keep pace in the National League playoff race.
The D-backs remain two games behind the San Diego Padres for the final NL wild-card spot.
Trailing 3-1 in the seventh, Arizona loaded the bases with no outs against starter Andrew Abbott. Lars Nootbaar made it 3-2 with a fielder’s choice off reliever Luis Mey and then Vargas followed with his two-run triple that rolled all the way to the right-center field wall.
Corbin Carroll’s sacrifice fly brought home Vargas and made it 5-3.
Kevin Ginkel struck out Tyler Stephenson looking to end the game, stranding runners on first and second. It was his second save of the year.
It was a tough ending for Abbott (6-9), who pitched well through the first six innings. He gave up four runs and seven hits and two walks, striking out six.
The Reds jumped to a 3-0 lead in the third on Sal Stewart’s RBI single and Eugenio Suarez’s two-run single. Elly De La Cruz started the inning with a leadoff double into the left-field corner.
The D-backs cut the deficit to 3-1 in the sixth on Gabriel Moreno’s sacrifice fly that brought home Carroll, who reached on a triple. His 16 triples this season are the most in the big leagues and his 59 career triples are the most among active MLB players.
Arizona left-hander Mitch Bratt lasted just three innings for a second straight outing. The rookie gave up three runs and five hits and three walks while striking out three.
Up next
The D-backs send RHP Merrill Kelly (8-11, 5.37 ERA) on Monday to face Cubs RHP Kevin Gausman (6-11, 4.59).
I have a theory that the cat “Jonesie” was in league with the Alien to kill all the humans except Sigourney. Every time someone goes looking for the cat, they die. | Getty Images
In the early 90s, I was a freshman at a college in L.A., and I’d struck up a kind of dating / friendship thing with a very out-of-my-league lady; much my superior in looks, decency, and maturity. It wasn’t destined to last and it didn’t.
I did spend some time at her parents’ house, in the San Diego suburb of Rancho Santa Fe. One weekend — maybe over Thanksgiving? I don’t remember — her grandparents were visiting, too. The grandparents were very rich old Southern types who grumbled over all the troublemakers in labor unions and such.
After dinner, we retired to the veranda / back porch / deck, and Gramps was getting comfortably sloshed on mint juleps. It was a pleasant evening to watch the daylight fade and the stars begin to appear. At one point, there was a light moving in the distance, and Gramps said, “I do declare I believe that to be one of those there U.F.O.s.” Others suggested an airplane or weather balloon, yet Gramps wasn’t having none of it. “Nope, no sir, that there is most assuredly a U.F.O.” He wasn’t terrified or angry, it was just like saying what he wanted for dessert. We let him have the point.
Later that evening, I watched a movie with my lady friend. What was it? Close Encounters, of course. (She didn’t like it.)
A few years after I left that college (I’ve left a few), there was an awful mass suicide event by members of the “Heaven’s Gate” cult, who believed that via dying, the aliens would come collect their souls for the afterlife. Where were their mortal remains found? In that very same San Diego suburb of Rancho Santa Fe.
And, of course, the most well-known comic book / sci-fi / fantasy convention is the San Diego Comic-Con.
So I don’t think the Twins lost this game because the Padres are simply a better baseball team. I think the Twins lost because of interference by the Aliens.
The game was scoreless in the 3rd when Fernando Tatis, Jr. hit a 396-foot solo homer, which accomplished two purposes; it gave his team the lead, and signaled to the Padres’ astral buddies that the team was requesting some assistance.
Now, the hyper-powerful beings from Planet Beeblebrox have mastered transwarp drive, but even so, they can’t just show up immediately. They’ve gotta gas up, finish hovering the dog, etc. So it took them a while to arrive, during which time Brooks Lee was able to tie it up with a dinger of his own. (One of four hits the Twins got off Padres starter Walker Buehler.)
When the Twins hit homers to tie the game, it doesn’t signal any extraterrestrial helpers; it signals the Twins pitchers that they can relax and let the other team threaten to take the lead right back. Which is precisely what starter Bailey Ober proceeded to do, giving up one-out singles to Tatis Jr. and Jake Cronenworth. (By the way, the cinematographer on Blade Runner was Jordan Cronenweth.) Happily, Ober got one of his three strikeouts today by whiffing Manny Machado, and Ty France got revenge on his former team via flying out to end the inning.
The cloaked spacecraft arrived during the sixth inning, first causing Kaelen Culpepper to botch a routine grounder. E.T.s can’t prevent baserunning gaffes, though, and Kody Funderburk picked Jackson Merrill off. Other Kody (Clemens) almost failed to get the tag down in time, and Merrill was originally called safe; the call was overturned on review.
Then Xanax the Merciless leveled his potent Mind Control beam at the pitching mound. First, the Percepto Ray causd Funderburk to imagine that the hitters were all ten feet tall; he walked two batters, the second on four pitches. Derek Shelton brought Jeff Hoffman to replace the obviously hypnotized Funderburk.
With Hoffman, the space invaders switched tactics; they’d forgotten to charge up the Percepto Ray battery before leaving, and it only had enough juice left to make Hoffman walk the next hitter. Needing new tactics, Xanax fired up the Esteeminator beam. A voice went into Hoffman’s head. It said, “you’re not as intimidating as Trevor Hoffman in a Padres uniform. You’re not even as intimidating as Dustin Hoffman in Hook.” Seeds of doubt planted, Hoffman put a slider right over the middle and Luis Rengifro punished it; two runners scored.
Then the voice told Hoffman, “you don’t want to make the wildcard round, anyways. That’s extra work. You don’t want extra work. You’ve already worked hard enough.” Hoffman thought, “dang straight!” and invited Tatis Jr. to knock in two more.
Since you can count, you’ll realize that this only amounts to a 5-1 score, and the final score was worse than that. Well, by this point, the aliens had seen all the gambling ads at Petco, so they decided to win a few memecoins by messing with Travis Adams and Taylor Rogers, too. You want clips? Here’s where the clips are. Tatis Jr. hit another moonshot, by the way, don’t you wish the Twins had had a guy that good in the last 10 years? Me too.
The sweep leaves the Twins 2.0 games out of the final wildcard spot. Three teams are ahead of them, and one of those — the Blue Jays — won’t be facing an opponent with a winning record the rest of the season. The sweep is also the first time the Twins have been swept by San Diego before, per gintzer.
Comments of the game go to artistformerlyknownasgoose for “We’re stuck in a simulation that’s glitching out” and sandwiches for “‘Atteberry: “The middle innings have not been kind to the Twins.” Dude, almost no inning has been kind to the Twins.”’ Sorry I couldn’t help with the thread folks, I had to cook squash. Is squash boring? Yes. But it protects you from mind control rays.
The Twins fly to Sacramento (I still can’t believe I’m typing that phrase) for an 8:40 start tomorrow, featuring LHP Jeffrey Springs against our own Daniel Zebulon Matthews. By Grabthar’s hammer, this sweep shall be avenged.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Houston Astros owner Jim Crane speaks at a press conference for new Houston Astros player Tatsuya Imai at Daikin Park on January 05, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Astros fans, after what can only be described as a disastrous homestand, it may be time to start thinking about something much bigger than whether this team can somehow find a way into the playoffs this season.
It’s time to start thinking about the state of the Houston Astros.
Not just for the remainder of this season, but for next year and beyond.
There is an old belief in professional sports that the worst thing a franchise can be is average. If you’re really bad, you’re going to get high draft picks and opportunities to replenish your farm system with elite young talent. You can trade veteran players for prospects, create financial flexibility and potentially accelerate a rebuild.
When you’re really good, the benefits are obvious. Free agents want to play for you. Players with no-trade clauses are more likely to approve deals to join you. It’s easier to convince ownership to spend money at the trade deadline because you’re adding a piece or two to a legitimate championship contender.
But being stuck in the middle?
That’s where things get dangerous.
Houston Rockets fans should be very familiar with that territory. For years, the Rockets found themselves good enough to avoid completely bottoming out but not good enough to seriously contend for a championship.
That’s the situation the Astros have to be careful about falling into now.
Playing around .500 and flirting with a Wild Card spot can create the illusion that you’re closer than you really are. The same can be said for playing in a division where nobody has completely separated themselves from the pack. You look at the standings and convince yourself that if you can just get hot for a couple of weeks, you’re right back in it.
Maybe you are.
But then what?
More often than not, a mediocre team either misses the postseason altogether or sneaks into October and gets eliminated quickly, which is exactly what happened to Houston two seasons ago when the Tigers knocked the Astros out in the Wild Card round. Last season, the Astros missed the postseason entirely on the back of a tiebreaker.
That’s why Jim Crane has some incredibly difficult decisions coming.
And they go far beyond simply deciding the futures of General Manager Dana Brown and Manager Joe Espada.
Those decisions will obviously receive much of the attention, but Crane has to answer a much bigger question:
What exactly are the Houston Astros now?
Are they still a legitimate World Series contender that needs a couple of significant additions?
Or are they an aging team whose championship window is rapidly closing and needs to begin thinking about its next era?
Those are two completely different paths, and the worst thing the organization can do is refuse to choose one.
If Crane believes this core still has another legitimate World Series run in it, then go for it.
Really go for it.
That means accepting that maintaining a championship-caliber roster requires taking risks. It means making aggressive trades. It means being willing to commit significant money in free agency. It may even mean overpaying a player or two because that’s sometimes the cost of filling holes when you’re trying to win immediately.
The Astros have historically been reluctant to make those kinds of long-term financial commitments, and there are understandable reasons for that.
We’ve seen what happens when those moves go wrong.
The Jose Abreu contract is the most obvious recent example. Crane and the Astros spent significant money trying to fill a major need, and it simply didn’t work. There have been other moves that haven’t produced the expected return, so nobody should blame Crane for being apprehensive about throwing huge amounts of money at another free agent.
But if you’re going to keep telling everyone the championship window is open, eventually you have to make moves that reflect that philosophy.
Crane has repeatedly maintained that as long as he owns the Astros, the window to compete for a World Series championship will remain open.
That’s exactly what Astros fans want to hear.
The problem is that the results of the last several seasons suggest Houston is moving further away from another championship rather than closer to one.
That’s where this becomes uncomfortable.
At some point, an organization has to distinguish between believing in its championship culture and trying to recreate something that no longer exists.
Nobody wants the greatest era of Astros baseball to end.
This franchise went from being an organization that couldn’t get over the hump to becoming one of the standards of Major League Baseball. World Series appearances became almost expected. Playing deep into October became normal. Winning the AL West wasn’t the goal anymore—it was simply the first step toward the real goal.
That’s an incredible legacy, and everyone involved deserves credit for it.
But that success can’t become the reason the organization refuses to acknowledge when it’s time to change direction.
If this season ends up looking a whole lot like last season, Crane has to seriously evaluate whether continuing to patch holes and chase one more playoff run is actually helping the franchise or simply delaying an inevitable transition.
Because there is another option.
Press reset.
That doesn’t necessarily mean tearing everything down and accepting five years of 100-loss baseball. It doesn’t have to mean a complete rebuild.
It could mean making difficult decisions on veteran players while they still have trade value. It could mean prioritizing young talent and rebuilding organizational depth. It could mean creating payroll flexibility so that when the next Astros core begins to emerge, the franchise has the resources to surround it with established talent.
Most importantly, it would mean having a direction.
That’s what Astros fans should be thinking about as they watch the remainder of this season.
Not simply, “Can they still win the division?”
Not simply, “Can they grab a Wild Card?”
Ask the bigger question:
If they do, are they actually good enough to do anything once they get there?
Because if the answer is no, then Houston may be approaching a crossroads that Crane and this organization can no longer avoid.
Either believe this team can still contend and make the aggressive moves necessary to give it a legitimate chance to win another World Series, or acknowledge that this incredible run is nearing its conclusion and start building the foundation for the next one.
Just don’t get caught in the middle.
In professional sports, that’s often the hardest place to escape.
So what do you want them to do, Astros fans?
Take another big swing and try to extend the Golden Era one more time?
Or, if this season ends the way last season did, accept that this may be as good as it gets with the current group and begin figuring out how to build the next great Astros team?
Jim Crane may soon have to make that choice.
And it could be the most important decision he’s made since buying the Houston Astros.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 23: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros is congratulated by Yordan Alvarez #44 after hitting a two run home run in the first inning against the Athletics at Daikin Park on August 23, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I have to admit, I was dupped, dead wrong, lured in by ghosts of seasons past along 501 Crawford Street. On the heels of taking the series in San Francisco, I told anyone who would listen that the Astros would “pad their lead” during the upcoming 9 game homestand against the likes of the Mariners, Angels and A’s. Instead of winning each of those series, they dropped each of those series. The most devastating loss occurring Sunday afternoon. A’s 7. Astros 6.
With the loss, the Astros have now dipped below the .500 mark, sitting at 65-66.
Things started off promising enough. In the first, Jeremy Pena and Yordan Alvarez started things with back-to-back singles. Isaac Parades would bring home Pena on a deep sac fly to score the game’s first run. Jose Altuve then came up and cleared the bases with a two-run HR. It was 3-0.
The Astros would increase their lead further the very next inning. Cam Smith, Yordan Alvarez and Isaac Paredes each drew walks loading the bases. Parades walk was generated by a pitch clock violation of all things. Then Altuve followed suit and walked as well for good measure which brought in Cam Smith. After two innings of baseball, it was 4-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, Isaac Paredes homered to left field, with Pena on base from a throwing error, and that 2 run blast made things 6-0. From there the unthinkable happened.
Cristian Javier was rolling through 4 innings, striking out 8. Then the roof caved in during the 5th. Donovan Walton led off the frame with a single, Darell Harnaiz walked and then Brian Serven would serve us a 3-run home run. That sequence gave the A’s life and chased Cristian Javier from the game in favor of Enyel De Los Santos.
Henry Bolte would then single, Zach Gelof would reach on a hit pitch, and Lawrence Butler would get in on the act with an RBI Double. The bleeding wouldn’t stop. Tommy White singled to shallow right and two more runs would cross the plate, chasing De Los Santon for Kai-Wei Teng. Just like that, the ballgame was tied 6-6.
Javier’s final line was 4 IP, with 3 ER and 4 hits, a pair of walks and the aforementioned 8 K’s. De Los Santos was charged with 3 ER on 3 H in 0.1 IP.
From that moment on, the Astros would once again call upon their bullpen to attempt to save the day as they’ve done so often. Today Steven Okert, who has been among the most reliable Astros pitchers all season, couldn’t hold the line. He would surrender a solo HR to Max Muncy to give the A’s a 7-6 lead they would not relinquish.
Josh Hader did come on in the 9th and struck out a pair in a perfect 9th, but one questions “why” Hader continues to pitch in games in which the Astros are losing late.
Hogan Harris came in to record his 13th save of the year for the A’s.
Odds & Ends
Yordan Alvarez officially passed Jeff Bagwell with his 28th intentional walk of the season. He was intentionally walked three times on Sunday.
Omar Lopez managed Sunday’s contest in Joe Espada’s absence due to a family emergency.
The Astros now travel to New York for a 6-game stretch against the Yankees and Mets. The Yankees have named Will Warren as their game one starter for Tuesday Night.
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 23: Logan Allen #26 of the Cleveland Guardians and Austin Hedges #27 celebrate after the Guardians defeated the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Sunday, August 23, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ray Bahner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Cleveland Guardians closed out the three game series in Denver, Colorado. After yesterday’s win secured the series, the Guardians were hunting for their first series sweep since the Miami series going into the All Star Break.
Foster Griffin improved to 15-4 on the season with his gritty start. Griffin only went 5.0 innings, but threw over 40 pitches in the second inning. Despite the two earned runs in that lengthy second inning, he came back and locked it down for Cleveland. Griffin ended his night only allowing those two runs on five hits and three walks, he struck out four.
Craig Yoho (1.1IP/2F/0R/1K), Tim Herrin (1.0IP/0H/0R/1K), and Matt Festa (0.2IP/0H/0R/2K) pitched the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. Logan T. Allen was tapped to close the game, making quick work of the Colorado batters in the bottom of the ninth.
Guardians offense took to the altitude and had another high scoring game. Steven Kwan lead things off with a single and quickly scored with Chase DeLauter’s triple for the first run of the game.
Seven batters came up to bat in the first inning alone, giving Cleveland a quick 3-0 lead. In the top of the second, four more hits gave the Guards a 5-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, already with a single and a triple, DeLauter hit his second triple of the game with one out.
Nathaniel Lowe’s two-out single scored CDL further extending the Cleveland lead. Angel Martínez isn’t the fastest sprinter in the league, but his persistent hustle mentality got him on base in the top of the eighth. Martínez struck out swinging on an eight pitch at bat, but the pitch was wild and Martínez easily made it to first. A stolen base and Austin Hedges single later, Martínez was now on third and scored easily on a sac fly from Brayan Rocchio.
Chase DeLauter finished the night having gone 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBI, and a walk, Jo Adell went 2-for-5 with two RBI, and Angel Martínez went 2-for-3 with a run, RBI, and a walk.
The Guardians are making up ground in the Wild Card chase with this series and can hopefully carry this momentum into Anaheim. They will face the Angels in a three game series starting tomorrow night. First pitch is at 9:38PM EDT with Parker Messick taking the mound for Cleveland.
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 23: Ryan Ritter #8 off the Colorado Rockies throws to first to complete the double play as Angel Martinez #1 of the Cleveland Guardians slides in during the fifth inning at Coors Field on August 23, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On a day full of celebration at the unveiling of Larry Walker’s new statue outside Coors Field, the Rockies could not keep up the excitement inside.
It was the Rockies’ ninth-straight loss at home — the first time it’d happened since 1993 at Mile High Stadium, and the first time it’d happened at Coors Field — and they were officially swept in three-straight series for the first time in franchise history. It was also their sixth-straight loss, period, marking the third time in club history that they have gone 0-6 or worse in a homestand (first time since Sept. 15-21 against San Francisco and San Diego). The starting pitchers ran up their pitch counts early, but the Rockies’ offense was missing as they couldn’t drive in anyone after the second inning.
However, on a positive note, they did not allow a home run for the first time since August 2 against Kansas City.
Early pitching woes (for both teams!)
Today was another day to forget for Tomoyuki Sugano. After only having outings of fewer than five innings three times in his previous 22 starts, today tied the right-hander’s shortest career start. Sugano tossed just three innings — which happened twice last September — and allowed five runs on nine hits with one walk and two strikeouts. He threw a career-high 45 pitches in the first inning, which was also the most by any Rockies starter in the first inning this season (Michael Lorenzen threw 44 against the Phillies in his Coors Field debut).
Sugano went out for a second inning, where he threw 26 more pitches. The 71 pitches through two innings were the most by any pitcher in MLB this season. He was finally lifted after the third inning after throwing 92 pitches.
“I thought it was similar to the last outing a little bit, in terms of [getting] behind in counts early,” manager Warren Schaeffer said after the game. “I think you combine that with how that team takes at-bats, and you compound the behind in counts, foul balls — tons of foul balls today — pitch count — the pitch count ran up heavily in the first inning, over 40. And then pretty much the same thing in the second. I mean, [Sugano] threw 91 pitches in three innings. Good for him going back out for the third, being able to do that and save our ‘pen one extra inning, but it was just a tough day for Tomo. Tomo has been so good for us, but it just didn’t happen today. [He] didn’t feel it.”
That said, things didn’t look much better for Foster Griffin. Griffin got off to a quick start by throwing 10 pitches, but then threw 47 in the second. The 130 combined pitches through two innings were the second-most in any game this season. But he came back with a quick third inning with just one hit, aided by a Willi Castro TOOTBLAN, and got a 1-2-3 fourth. Griffin was lifted after five innings, after allowing two runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
The big story of the early innings, though, was foul balls. It got started early with a Chase DeLauter 10-pitch at-bat as the second batter of the game that turned into an RBI triple. There were 11 foul balls in the top of the first, and 41 total through the first two innings combined — nine more than the next closest game.
By the time the game ended, there had been an MLB record 94 foul balls.
Bullpenning!
The Rockies bullpen was kicked off by Mark Manfredi in the fourth inning. He got Steven Kwan to go down on strikes, but gave up another triple to DeLauter — his second of the game. He struck out Jo Adell, but then a single by Nathaniel Lowe scored DeLauter to run up the score 6-2.
Jimmy Herget entered for the fifth, and got Travis Bazzana to ground out to second. Angel Martínez walked, but then Austin Hedges grounded into a double play. But then things got weird in the sixth when Herget was bitten or stung by some sort of flying insect to kick things off. However, he was able to continue, facing four batters and only walking DeLauter. He threw 35 total pitches, but both of his innings were scoreless.
“It was a bee sting right on his elbow,” Schaeffer said. “It was unbelievable, right on the UCL! But he’s fine.”
Jaden Hill came in for the seventh, and threw just 10 pitches to get Lowe, Angel Genao and Bazzana out.
Nick Frasso came in for the eighth, and ran into some traffic. He struck out Martínez, but a wild pitch allowed him to reach and then he stole second. Hedges singled, and then Brayan Rocchio hit a sac fly to score Martínez. But then Kwan grounded out and DeLauter flew out.
Jordan Romano entered in the ninth, and pitched a 1-2-3 inning on 16 pitches.
Offense: MIA
The Rockies offense has been struggling as of late, and that didn’t change this afternoon. They managed seven hits, but only two came around to score in the second inning.
After Mickey Moniak struck out, the Rockies had three-straight baserunners — Connor Norby walked, Jordan Beck singled and Brett Sullivan doubled to score Norby. Then, recently-recalled Ryan Ritter grounded out, allowing Beck to score. Ezequiel Tovar drew a four-pitch walk, then Jake McCarthy drew a walk after being down 0-2. Unfortunately, Cole Carrigg lost an 11-pitch battle to end the inning, the threat and the scoring.
In the third, Castro led off with a double, but then Moniak struck out again. Castro was then caught stealing, but Norby singled to make up for him. According to Larry Walker, who was in the booth in the third inning, that’s something that happens often! Beck was then called out on strikes to end the threat.
After a 1-2-3 fourth, McCarthy singled to lead off the fifth. But then Carrigg, Castro and Moniak all ran into outs. Norby struck out to start the sixth, but pinch-hitter Troy Johnston did smack a double in his first at-bat of the afternoon. Unfortunately, he was stranded by Sullivan and pinch-hitter TJ Rumfield.
Tovar singled to start the seventh, but the final nine Rockies were sat down in order to end the game.
Up Next
The Rockies head east to face the 61-71 Washington Nationals for four games. Ryan Feltner (5-7, 5.97 ERA) is set to take the ball for the Rox against Nats’ right-hander Cade Cavalli (11-5, 3.22 ERA). First pitch is at 4:45 pm MT.
Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell delivers during a 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium on Sunday afternoon. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
On a steamy Sunday when everyone in the Dodger Stadium seats was using programs to fan themselves, Blake Snell was fanning Pittsburgh Pirates — six strikeouts in six innings of work — and the bottom of the order played like the top of the lineup, providing ample offensive spark for a 4-0 victory that stretched the Dodgers’ winning streak to six games.
What a weekend for Dodger pitchers — Yoshinobu Yamamoto followed by Tarik Skubal followed by Snell, with Tyler Glasnow on deck and Shohei Ohtani getting healthier by the day and scheduled to throw a bullpen session during the upcoming series in Atlanta.
“It’s daunting,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, barely suppressing a smile. “As an offense — an opposing offense — to look at the probables you see Glasnow, Yamamoto, Snell, [Roki] Sasaki, and then potentially Shohei. It gets daunting.”
Come October, Dodger Stadium could be a daunted house.
In the meantime, the team is coming off back-to-back sweeps of the Colorado Rockies and Pirates (63-69), who mustered two hits Sunday after a combined 14 in the first two games of the series.
For his part, Snell was happy but not thrilled about his performance, which included three walks and one hit batter.
“There were a couple innings there where, you know, get two quick outs and then full-count walk, full-count walk,” he said. “It’s not acceptable. Especially with, I feel good, I know I can command the ball. Honestly, it’s lazy. It’s me trying to get strikeouts instead of, you know, trying to go seven, eight, nine. So I definitely got to clean that up. But I know I’m going to do that, and just continue to get better, and learn, and grow.”
Yamamoto, Skubal and Snell combined for 26 strikeouts, five walks and five earned runs in 19 innings.
“It’s going to be a lot of good competition within the starting rotation,” Snell said. “I’m really excited about it. I mean, being able to watch some of the best pitchers in the game and learn from them — their mentality, the way they attack — having those conversations are very big. I’m definitely grateful to be on the same team, but a lot to learn.”
At the plate, the Dodgers (80-51) got some welcome help from the bottom of the order. Center fielder Alek Thomas and catcher Hunter Feduccia — replacements for injured All-Stars Andy Pages and Will Smith — drove in runs with consecutive singles in the fourth. That turned a familiar one-run game, of which the Dodgers have had a lot lately, into a leisurely Sunday stroll.
Before the game, Roberts expressed some concern that while Thomas could handle all the defensive responsibilities of Pages, there might be a drop-off in hitting. But that hasn’t been a worry so far, as Thomas had key hits on both Saturday and Sunday.
“Definitely feels good,” said Thomas, formerly of the Arizona Diamondbacks. “Coming here, I played against the Dodgers my whole career, grew up not really liking the team, whatever. And coming over here, it feels good to be on a side that wins a lot and has fun.”
No need to remind Kyle Tucker. The huge-money outfielder has been one of the more compelling stories this season. He came into the weekend hitting .189 at Dodger Stadium, and he had gone 0 for 19 in his last homestand. That futility was starting to spill over to his defense, too, as he dropped a routine foul ball in front of a crowd whose patience had long since worn thin.
Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia celebrates with catcher Hunter Feduccia after the final out of a 4-0 win over the Pirates on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
But on Friday night, there was a concerted effort by Dodgers fans to cheer him loudly every time he stepped to the plate, in hopes of lifting him out of the ditch. Three years ago, fans of the Philadelphia Phillies famously buoyed the spirits of underperforming shortstop Trea Turner by giving him the same kind of standing ovation.
Did it work for Tucker? He had the winning hit Saturday, a two-run single in the fifth, and Sunday had a hit and scored a run.
“I feel good this weekend, just the contribution in this game,” he said. “It was great, we got a sweep so can’t complain too much about that.
“I’ve had some good at-bats, a couple barrels. Even [Saturday], a couple balls hit harder, they just didn’t find good spots. But that happens sometimes. Just trying to put together good at-bats, get guys over, man.”
Ohtani’s pitching timeline
Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, right, beats the tag of Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jared Triolo to steal second base in the first inning Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Ohtani is on the mend from a left knee injury and could be ready to return to the pitching rotation soon.
Ohtani threw 30 pitches in a live batting-practice session Saturday at Dodger Stadium, marking his first time facing hitters since his last start on July 3. Roberts said that outing puts him in position to return to action soon.
The right-hander is scheduled to throw a bullpen session during the upcoming series at Atlanta, and the Dodgers will then decide whether he’s ready to rejoin the rotation or needs to throw more live batting practice. Roberts said there’s a possibility Ohtani could return as soon as the first week of September.
Last year, when Ohtani was returning from a second career Tommy John surgery, the Dodgers eased him into pitching slowly, starting with one inning and then adding an inning each appearance. Apparently, the team won’t be quite as cautious this time.
“I would say it’d be a little bit more aggressive,” Roberts said.
Asked if that could mean, theoretically, the Ohtani could build up to five innings by the end of the season, the manager said: “In theory, yes.”
Aug 23, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell (7) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Dodgers are now in the midst of a six-game winning streak, as they shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 on Sunday to complete the three-game sweep.
Shohei Ohtani worked an 11-pitch leadoff walk to begin the game against right-handed reliever Lake Bachar, the longest plate appearance for him this season. Freddie Freeman put runners on the corners with nobody out, and although Mookie Betts grounded into a double play, Ohtani scored to give the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead.
The Dodgers were left silent until the bottom of the fourth inning against Carmen Mlodzinski, as Tommy Edman was plunked before Kyle Tucker singled to put two men on with one out. After Teoscar Hernández struck out looking (and wasted their final ABS challenge), Alek Thomas came through with an RBI single to knock home Edman, giving him two consecutive games with an RBI single in the fourth inning. Hunter Feduccia continued the rally with an RBI single to bring home Tucker and give the Dodgers a three-run lead. The Dodgers added another run in the fifth inning on an RBI groundout from Max Muncy.
Getting just one run was enough for Blake Snell, as he was nearly unhittable after escaping a first-inning jam. Snell allowed a one-out single to Spencer Horwitz in the top of the second, but that was the only hit that the Pirates could muster against the left-hander the rest of the way. The command late in innings became a recurring issue, as Snell gave up a two-out walk in three consecutive innings, but his final inning saw him retire the side in order with a pair of strikeouts.
Snell has dominated in his three starts back from injury, logging a quality start in each. Snell’s scoreless start on Sunday was the first time he didn’t allow a run in the regular season since his 12-strikeout gem against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sept. 17 last year. Snell’s ERA now sits at just 1.00 over his last 18 innings, striking out 21 and walking seven.
Both offenses struggled to produce much of anything over the final four innings of Sunday’s contest, as the Dodgers had just one baserunner with a Tommy Edman walk in the bottom of the eighth while Pittsburgh went 0-13 with one baserunner over their final 4 1/3 innings at the plate.
The Dodgers have taken the season series from the Pirates 5-1, their best record against them in a season since taking all six contests against them in 2021. Sunday’s 4-0 final score was their first shutout win of the second half and their first since shutting out the San Diego Padres 3-0 on July 4.
The Dodgers begin a six-game road trip after an off day on Monday, with a three-game set against the Atlanta Braves on starting Tuesday (4:15 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Tyler Glasnow makes his first start since May 6, while Atlanta has yet to announce their starter.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 22: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves hits an RBI double against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning at American Family Field on August 22, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves are looking to avoid a sweep…yet again, too soon after suffering one and avoiding another in Chicago. How do we end up in these situations?
A better question is, how do we get out of them…ASAP?
Tune in at 7:10 to see if the Braves can turn things around.
BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 23: Ceddanne Rafaela #3 of the Boston Red Sox makes a catch on Andrew Knizner #19 of the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Fenway Park on August 23, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Red Sox took care of business against the San Francisco Giants today, winning the third and final game of the series by a final score of 5-4. Things started out rocky, with Jake Bennett getting hit around early and surrendering three runs in the first two innings. The Red Sox, as they always seem to do these days, quickly punched back. They grabbed a run in the bottom of the second, another in the third, and three more in the fourth to take the lead. Tyron Guerrero and Aroldis Chapman closed the door, and the Red Sox swept the series.
The story isn’t that the Red Sox won the game. It’s who contributed in the win. Wilyer Abreu, Willson Contreras, and Caleb Durbin were a combined 0-12. The production came from Jahmai Jones (2-2, 3B) and Mickey Gasper (pinch-hit RBI double) at the top of the order. It came from Nick Sogard (2-3, 2B, HR). It nearly came from Andruw Monasterio, who doubled off the monster in the bottom of the eighth, but was stranded on base.
With Roman Anthony, Isaiah Kiner-Falefa, and Trevor Story returning from injury imminently, Sogard, Jones, Gasper, and Monasterio are all candidates to be sent to Worcester. Anthony Seigler feels like a lock for one of the corresponding moves. Gasper is likely another because he has options, but he’s come up big against right-handed pitching. Jones doesn’t have any options and crushes lefties. Monasterio has slowed offensively of late, but he’s manned shortstop and was a key contributor to the turnaround. Sogard has options too, but he should be untouchable.
The roster that’s righted the ship for the Red Sox isn’t the one that they’ll go into the postseason with. The pitching side is close to fixed, but the lineup still has several moving pieces. Today, some of the players who might not see the postseason roster are the reason they won the game. That’s both a credit to the front office for amassing quality depth, and a reminder that baseball season is a long, winding road with many different chapters. We’re on to Miami for a three game set with the Marlins, who have played very well at home this season.
Three Studs
Ceddanne Rafaela (3-4, 2 RBI, diving catch)
I didn’t mention Rafaela above because he didn’t fit my narrative. He played a great game, racking up three singles and making a diving catch to get Bennett out of a jam.
Jake Bennett (7 IP, 3 ER, 6 K, 1 BB)
Nick Sogard (2-3, 2B, HR)
Three Duds
Wilyer Abreu (0-4, Throwing Error)
Willson Contreras (0-4, Threw his bat an almost hit the umpire by accident, broke a bat that hit someone in the crowd who was carted out)
Caleb Durbin (0-4, no errors or moments of violence, accidental or otherwise)
