San Diego, California - August 08: Gavin Sheets #30 and Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres celebrate after Merrill's home run against the Houston Astros during the third inning at Petco Park on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
Michael King gave the San Diego Padres exactly what they needed against the Houston Astros on Saturday. The right-hander returned to his ace-like form and gave his team six innings of three-hit baseball. Over that span he allowed one run and one walk and struck out six batters. Jackson Merrill provided the offense driving in two runs, one of which came on a solo home run to center field, and the Padres went on to beat the Astros 3-2 at Petco Park.
King looked locked in throughout his start and used 93 pitches to get through the sixth. He threw 64 pitches for strikes and the one run he allowed came on a solo home run to Taylor Trammell in the top of the second inning. The ball was hit out of the yard to tie the game 1-1 at the time, but it was not a bad pitch, it was just a better piece of hitting by the former San Diego farmhand.
The Padres offense made Astros starter Peter Lambert work. They did not score a ton of runs, but he was under attack throughout his outing, which lasted five innings. He allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts. It seemed like almost every at-bat was a seven or eight pitch at-bat and many times it was more than that.
San Diego and Houston will meet for the final game of the series in the rubber match today at 5:20 p.m.
Padres News:
Ethan Salas cannot stop hitting at Triple-A and David Morgan continues to work back to his big-league return.
The Toronto Blue Jays are +170 underdogs as they look to complete the sweep in Philadelphia today.
My Blue Jays vs. Phillies predictions and MLB picks for Sunday, Aug. 9 expect Toronto to keep things close, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. factoring in at the plate.
Blue Jays vs Phillies predictions
Blue Jays vs Phillies best bet: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 0.5 singles (-130)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. historically hits left-handed pitching well, and we’ve seen that more over the last month.
Vladdy has hit .333 with a 50% hard hit rate, a number not bested by any member of the Toronto Blue Jays during that span.
His improved play has led to a spike in hits, but the power still lags behind. Only one of his hits went for extra bases, which is a plus when chasing singles.
Jesus Luzardo is excellent at limiting quality contact, forcing opponents to take what they can get. That sets up well for Guerrero Jr. and his current hitting profile.
Alejandro Kirk leads the Blue Jays with a strong .279 average against lefties this season. He hasn’t hit for power (35% hard hit rate, 3% barrel rate), leading to almost all of his hits going for just a base.
Shane Bieber struggled out of the gate but has posted a 4.18 xFIP or lower in three of his last four starts.
He is pitching much better, and should be able to keep this game competitive against a Philadelphia Phillies offense ranking 25th in wOBA vs. right-handed pitching over the last month.
Blue Jays vs Phillies SGP
Alejandro Kirk Over 0.5 singles
Shane Bieber Under 2.5 earned runs
Blue Jays +1.5
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Blue Jays vs Phillies home run pick: Kazuma Okamoto (+380)
Kazuma Okamoto has been the go-to power source for the Blue Jays all season, and is the most likely candidate to go yard in this game.
It is feast-or-famine for Okamoto, as he’s struck out a lot while chasing power. It’s hard to argue with the process given he leads the team in hard hit rate, barrel rate, and homers when facing left-handed pitching.
Run line: Toronto +1.5 (-120) | Philadelphia -1.5 (+100)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+100) | Under 8.5 (-120)
Blue Jays vs Phillies trend
Toronto has covered the Run Line in 24 of the last 40 away games (+6.20 units, 11% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Phillies.
How to watch Blue Jays vs Phillies and game info
Location
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Sunday, August 9, 2026
First pitch
1:35 p.m. ET
TV
NBCSP, SN
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Shane Bieber (3-2, 5.11 ERA)
Phillies starting pitcher
Jesus Luzardo (10-5, 3.36 ERA)
Blue Jays vs Phillies latest injuries
Blue Jays vs Phillies weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 08: Jacob deGrom #48 of the Texas Rangers throws a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Globe Life Field on August 08, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, folks…
The Texas Rangers beat the Baltimore Orioles last night by a score of 5-1.
The DMN’s game story talks about Jacob deGrom coming up big in his first start after saying he wanted to stay with the Rangers, and win with the Rangers, rather than be traded.
New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon delivers a pitch during his rehab start Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, against the Rochester Red Wings at PNC Field in Moosic, Pa. | Kirsten Peters / SWB RailRiders
MOOSIC, Pa. — It wasn’t about the results. What mattered was how Carlos Rodón felt after making a rehab start Saturday night for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders against the Rochester Red Wings at PNC Field.
Since he felt good, the New York Yankees’ left-hander was satisfied with the outing despite allowing three runs and three hits — including a home run — in 2.2 innings.
“I’m happy with how I feel healthwise,” Rodón said. “Barring the results, I just feel good about how I came out of the game.
“It was good to get back on the mound and compete. The goal was to get out there and get 48 pitches in. So I’m happy with how I feel.”
RailRiders manager Shelley Duncan said that Rodón may not have had his best stuff, but did show some good glimpses.
“You’re not going to see his best in the process of building up to where he wants to be and that’s understandable,” Duncan said. “It’s a journey when you come back from anything and develop a pitch count. But he was attacking the zone, his slider looked good, his fastball looked good.”
On the injured list retroactive to June 30th with left elbow inflammation, Rodón threw 48 pitches Saturday, 29 for strikes. He walked two, struck out four and topped out at 93.8 mph on a pitch to Seaver King in the top of the third inning.
Rodón was fine with his velocity.
“I think it will tick up when I get on the mound at Yankee Stadium,” he said.
“I had a good mix. Obviously, I was working on fastball command mostly. Mixing some sliders and changeups, a couple of sinkers. Just normal work.”
Things got off to an inauspicious start when King whacked Rodón’s third pitch past the 408-foot mark in center field to the grassy area beyond the fence for a home run, giving the Red Wings a quick 1-0 lead.
“It was just a fastball middle down and he put a good swing on it,” Rodón said. “Tip of the cap, that’s good for him.”
He retired the next seven batters after yielding the home run. He got Phillip Glasser and Yohandy Morales on groundouts and Trey Lipscomb on a strikeout to end the first inning. In the top of the second, he threw just nine pitches and got Riley Adams on a flyout, caught Sam Petersen looking at strike three and Cayden Wallace on a groundout.
After whiffing Maxwell Romero Jr. on three pitches to start the top of the third, things soured for Rodón. Leandro Pineda dunked a double inside the right-field foul line. After King walked, Glasser punched a triple into the right-field corner to score both Pineda and King and give Rochester a 3-0 lead on its way to an 8-0 victory.
“Sinkers in, I’m not upset with the pitches,” Rodón said. “I think the exit velo on both of them was pretty low. One was 78, the other was 80-something. Obviously, the results for them were good. If I’m nitpicky, I’m probably a little more down with the sinker. But they were three balls inside. I think I broke one bat.
“I’m not too caught up in the results. There’s more important games to be pitched.”
Morales walked and Lipscomb struck out for the second out of the inning. With the count 1-1 to Adams, Rodón reached his 48-pitch limit and Duncan came out of the RailRiders dugout to get him.
“It’s not like you can say he got shelled. He didn’t,” Duncan said. “The only really well-hit ball was the home run. It was right into the guy’s bat path.
“It was good. He got his work in, got what he needed to get done. Just keep moving forward. Looking forward to him getting healthy and helping that big-league team.”
When that is remains uncertain. Rodón doesn’t know what his next step is. It could be another rehab start. He could also rejoin the Yankees and “piggyback” in starts with another pitcher—-like Ryan Weathers or Will Warren—while he builds up his pitch count.
“It’s beyond my control,” Rodón said. “Just looking forward to getting back on the mound whether it’s here or Double-A, maybe in the big leagues I don’t know. I’m assuming it will be one more rehab start, but I’m not sure. It’s not up to me.
“It might be a pitch-count thing. Obviously I need to get the pitch count up. If it’s another rehab start, we’ll work on a couple more things and I’ll be happy with it.”
Whatever the case, Rodón is eager to get back to pitching for the Yankees.
“It’s pretty frustrating having to be in this situation once again, not being able to compete and trying to help the team win,” he said. “We’ve struggled as of late, but I feel like we’ve played some pretty good baseball considering a lot of close games — 2-1, 2-0 — that we’ve had to learn how to win. I think that will make us better down the stretch.”
In his second game with the RailRiders since being sent down by the Yankees, Anthony Volpe started at second base Saturday night. It was just the third time he played the position in the minors and the first since 2021 when he did it twice: once with Low-A Tampa and once with High-A Hudson Valley.
With a runner on first in the top of the eighth inning, Volpe made a nice play going to his right to field a ball hit by Glasser. He shoveled it with his glove to shortstop Oswaldo Cabrera for the force at second. Cabrera then threw to first to complete the 4-6-3 double play.
Volpe finished with three assists and two putouts, including applying the tag when left fielder Jasson Domínguez threw out Glasser trying to stretch a single into a double leading off the top of the fifth.
“He’s so athletic and quick,” Duncan said of Volpe. “He can be good anywhere. Throw him anywhere and I expect him to be good, no matter what the position is.”
Offensively, Volpe was 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. He ripped a two-out double into the left-field corner in the third inning, but unfortunately Tyler Hardman was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first base.
One night earlier, in his first game back with the RailRiders, Volpe was 1-for-5 with three strikeouts. However, the hit was a two-run home run.
SURPRISE, AZ - OCTOBER 24: Joey Mancini #39 of the Surprise Saguaros pitches during the game between the Peoria Javelinas and the Surprise Saguaros at Surprise Stadium on Thursday, October 24, 2024 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (59-53) lost 10-1 (BOX SCORE)
Mayer made his Triple-A debut but got roughed up a bit allowing 6 runs over 3 innings of work. The pen allowed another four runs as the Isotopes opened up a big lead. The offense got on the board in the 8th on an Alexander RBI double but that was it as Sugar Land fell 10-1.
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (51-56) won 3-1 (BOX SCORE)
Taylor made his Double-A debut and was solid allowing 1 run over 4 innings while striking out 5. The Hooks got on the board in the third inning on a Holy solo home run, and another in the 4th inning on a Schiavone RBI double. In the 6th, the offense added another run on a wild pitch. The bullpen was great tossing 5 scoreless innings as they closed out the 3-1 win.
Note: Encarnacion has 48 stolen bases this season.
Joey Mancini, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K (SAVE)
A+: Asheville Tourists (34-69) SUSPENDED
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (53-52) lost 6-2 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got on the board in the 2nd inning scoring on a wild pitch. Pichardo got the start for the Woodpeckers and allowed 5 runs over 3 innings of work. The Woodpeckers got one back in the 5th on a Ramirez RBI single. Carrera went the final 5 innings allowing just one unearned run with 8 strikeouts but the offense was unable to score again as they fell 6-2.
VENICE, FLORIDA - MARCH 16, 2025: Owen Carey #30 of the Atlanta Braves bats during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Detroit Tigers at CoolToday Park on March 16, 2025 in Venice, Florida. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Saturday was a busy day in the Atlanta Braves farm system, with a total of six games played, that the Braves affiliates split. The headliner had to be Owen Carey hitting his first Double-A home run just a handful of games into his promotion. However we also got to see JR Ritchie throw five innings of one unearned run baseball, exciting DSL arm Martires Polanco with a big start, and positive performances from Alex Lodise, Eric Hartman, John Gil, Patrick Clohisy, and Carter Beck among the notables.
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 8, Gwinnett Stripers 4
Patrick Clohisy, CF: 1-4, 2B, .403/.465/.649
Rowdy Tellez, 1B: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, .262/.362/.488
Drue Hackenberg, SP: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 6.16 ERA
Drue Hackenberg started the first half of the doubleheader and struggled in this one. Hackenberg allowed six runs on eight hits and a pair of walks, though did strike out seven and had 12 whiffs. Hackenberg allowed a run in the first, four in the third, and then the final run came during the fifth inning. Duncan Davitt, the return in the Joey Bart deal at the deadline, made his first appearance with the Braves organization and allowed a run in his inning and a third, but did strike out two with three whiffs. Rolddy Munoz pitched the final inning and also allowed a run to score.
The offense was led by Rowdy Tellez and Cal Conley in the first game. Tellez had a single, double, and two runs batted in during his four plate appearances, while Conley singled twice, stole a base, batted in a run, and scored two runs. Brewer Hicklen was the third Striper to reach base multiple times, as he walked, singled, and batted in a run. Patrick Clohisy was one for four, but that hit was a double.
Gwinnett Stripers 4, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 1
Patrick Clohisy, CF: 0-1, 2 BB, R, 2 SB, .397/.472/.641
Rowdy Tellez, DH: 2-2, BB, .268/.369/.492
JR Ritchie, SP: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 3.52 ERA
In a second game that was already being shortened to seven innings, JR Ritchie got credit for a complete game when the game was called at five innings. Ritchie allowed a pair of hits and walks with one unearned run, striking out six and getting six swings and misses. It took him 80 pitches to get through five innings, with 47 of them for strikes.
The offense saw seven of the nine guys in the lineup reach base despite this being a five inning game. Patrick Clohisy walked twice, stole two bases, and scored a run to reach base three times between the two games. Rowdy Tellez also continued his strong day by going two for two with a walk, making him four for six on the day. Sandy Leon added a home run, while Brett Wisely had a pair of singles.
Columbus got a dominant pitching effort as three pitchers combined to strike out 15 hitters in a shutout. Starter Garrett Baumann did the bulk of the work, going five innings and giving up just one hit and three walks with nine strikeouts and 22 whiffs. Then two relievers went two scoreless innings apiece. First was Isaac Gallegos, who allowed a hit and a walk as he struck out three to go with six whiffs. Then came Blane Abeyta, who allowed one hit with three strikeouts and eight whiffs. Biloxi hitters managed just three hits and four walks on the day, despite having a strong lineup led by the game’s top prospect in Jesus Made.
The bottom of the order led the way, but the recently promoted trio at the top certainly had their moments in this win. Owen Carey hit his first Double-A home run, going one for three with a walk and batting in three runs, while John Gil walked twice and stole a base, while Eric Hartman singled, walked, stole a base, and scored a run. The leaders at the bottom of the lineup included Will Verdung going three for three with a double, walk, and two runs scored, Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. homering for the second straight day and batting in four on a two-hit night, and Luke Waddell also having a two-hit game that included a double.
Greensboro Grasshoppers 3, Rome Emperors 2
Alex Lodise, SS: 2-4, 2B, BB, RBI, .282/.383/.487
Dixon Williams, 2B: 0-3, 2 BB, SB, .219/.326/.410
Conor Essenburg, RF: 0-4, BB, R, .200/.304/.250
Cade Kuehler, SP: 4.2 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 7 BB, 1 K, 5.76 ERA
Rome lost this one in the 11th inning after blowing a lead in the ninth inning. Cade Kuehler got the start and it was a bit of a weird one for him. On one hand he pitched four and two thirds no-hit innings, and allowed one run. However he also walked seven and struck out only one with three whiffs on his 81 pitches. Mathieu Curtis followed with two scoreless innings. Tyler Schoff went the next two and a third, and he was the pitcher who gave up that run in the top of the ninth. The 10th and 11th went to Jarret Whorff, who allowed only the inherited ghost runner to score in the 11th.
Alex Lodise put together another solid game, going two for four with a double, walk, and run batted in. That gives him an .870 OPS with four walks and only five strikeouts over 47 plate appearances through his first 10 games since being promoted. Dixon Williams was hitless in three at bats, but drew a pair of walks and stole a base, while Conor Essenburg walked and scored a run during his five plate appearances. Archer Brookman added a double and walk, while Dallas Macias had a single and a walk. Luis Guanipa was hitless in five at bats, while Cody Miller went one for five.
Hickory Crawdads 10, Augusta GreenJackets 1
Carter Beck, CF: 2-4, .471/.526/.471
Juan Mateo, SS: 1-4, 2B, RBI, .253/.332/.349
Caden Merritt, LF: 1-3, BB, SB, .200/.348/.273
Carter Lovasz, RP: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 3.26 ERA
This game didn’t start until almost 8:30 due to rain, and I’m guessing Augusta came away wishing this one never started as they lost 10-1. Luis Arestigueta got the start in what was a bullpen game, and went one inning allowing a pair of runs. Yander Pinero came in for the next inning and also gave up two runs. The next two and a third innings went to Lewis Sifontes, who allowed three runs (two earned). Then came Cristobal Abreu for an inning and a third, and he allowed three unearned runs. The only Augusta pitcher not to allow any runs to score was Carter Lovasz, who went the final two and a third innings in this loss.
The Augusta offense struggled to get anything going in this one, scoring just one run on five hits and four walks. Two of those five hits came from Carter Beck, who continues to be red hot to start out his professional career. Two more were doubles, from the bats of Juan Mateo and Cooper McMurray. The other came from Caden Merritt, who singled, walked, and stole a base, having him join Beck as players to reach base multiple times. It’s also worth noting that due to the recent promotions and sudden rash of injuries (Patrick Engskov and Manuel Campos this week alone), Juan Mateo played in just his third game of the season at shortstop defensively.
Martires Polanco continued his excellent season in the first year of his professional career with another strong outing on Saturday. Polanco allowed just one unearned run on three hits and two walks over five innings, striking out eight. Diego Ramirez allowed a run over an inning and two thirds of relief, with Darren Pereira coming on to pick up the save by getting the final out of the game.
Catcher Jose Nelo was the leader today, playing first base and going one for two with a walk and double as he accounted for all four runs via one run scored and three batted in. Edelson Cabral was hitless in his two at bats, but walked twice, stole a base, and scored a run. Joan Hernandez also stood one as he singled in his only official at bat and also walked twice to reach base in all three plate appearances. The only other hit was a Luis Fortunato single.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 08: The Voice of the Seattle Mariners Rick Rizzs speaks during the Seattle Mariners 50th Season Celebration at T-Mobile Park on August 08, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mariners celebrated 50 years of mostly mediocre baseball by playing yet another mediocre baseball game. They will attempt to appear more competent tomorrow at 1:10 PST.
In Mariners news…
During last night’s 50 Seasons celebration, John Stanton surprised an emotional Rick Rizzs with the news that he will inducted to the Mariners Hall of Fame next season, joining his old broadcast partner Dave Niehaus.
Last nights 50 Years of Mariners Baseball Celebration was a delight, and you can look at the full list of honored players right here, along with player bios and the beautifully drawn portraits that were up on the jumbotron. Who do you think got snubbed? Hint: it’s Mike Zunino.
Kade Anderson, coming to a T-Mobile Park near you, hopefully very soon.
Kade Anderson now has a 1.13 ERA in 87.2 innings this season.
That's the lowest ERA in a minor league season with at least 80 IP since 2017.
Anderson also has a 0.65 WHIP and 37.1% K-BB, neither of which have been done in the last 20 years (Min 80 IP).#TridentsUp…
Future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer further solidified his first ballot credentials by tying, and then subsequently passing Walter Johnson to officially become one of the ten best strikeout pitchers ever.
Former Mariner Yimi Garcia was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome on Friday and will “most likely” miss the rest of the season, though Garcia has not decided whether or not he will get surgery to repair it yet.
Carson Demartini of the Reading Fightin Phils hits the ball during a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on April 16, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Good lord, a clean sweep of the Phillies organization yesterday. Even the kids on the minor league level were getting shelled.
Worcester 19, Lehigh Valley 0
El.
Oh.
El.
The IronPigs were just bad in every which way you can think of. The hitting? Bad – only three hits on the game, but at least one of them was a double! Thanks Tommy Pham! The pitching? Atrocious – Steward Berroa got into the game and let in fewer runs than the first, second or third pitcher for the IronPigs. At least Alex McFarlane had a clean inning! You know who didn’t? Chase Shugart at the big league level.
An all around forgettable night.
Richmond 6, Reading 2
Carson DeMartini homered, continuing a solid year for him in something of a bounceback for his prospect status. It was only his fifth home run of the year, but considering how last year, he wasn’t very good, we’ll take it. That was pretty much the only offense on the night as the Fightin’ Phils were stifled by the Flying Squirrels pitching staff. Brayden Tucker had a rough night pitching, allowing five runs in 3 2/3 innings, but what was nice to see was Mavis Graves pitching two innings of scoreless relief. Since the team converted him to relief, he has had three solid outings in a row in the month of August, a good sign that perhaps the transition is going well for him.
Frederick 3, Jersey Shore 1
Robert Phelps had a three hit night for the BlueClaws, yet the only run they could muster was an RBI single by Devin Saltiban as they ran into a duo of Kyson Witherspoon and Evan Yates that each went four innings for the Keys and kept the Jersey Shore offense in check. Tanner Gresham had a good night pitching for the BlueClaws, going five innings and only giving up one run, striking out eight for his troubles, but Micah Ottenbreit had a rough sequence in the seventh in which he allowed a double, RBI single, wild pitch then another RBI single to give Frederick two more runs that they needed for the win.
Tampa 4, Clearwater 2
Completing the sweep of the organization, the Threshers lost to the Tarpons by only five hits on the night, two from Matthew Ferrera, not nearly enough to back a pitching staff that actually, all things considered, wasn’t too bad. Matthew Fisher was on the mound to start and gave up only a solo home run over four innings, striking out six. A cavalcade of relievers allowed the remaining three runs, but without an offense that wasn’t doing much, it didn’t really matter. The two runs they did score came in the eighth when Romeli Espinosa tripled, scored on a single by Victor Cardoza, who then scored when he made his way to third and came in on a sacrifice fly by Jack Hopko.
PHOENIX, AZ - MAY 05: Alek Thomas #5 of the Arizona Diamondbacks looks on during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Julia Jacome/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
All four Dodgers affiliates lost on Saturday.
Player of the day
Alek Thomas drove in four runs on Friday, then plated another four runs on Saturday for Oklahoma City. He tripled, doubled, and had two singles against Salt Lake.
The Comets were on the wrong end of an offensive battle, falling 14-13 to the Salt Lake Bees (Angels). Each team had one five-run inning, one three-run frame, and two two-run innings. Salt Lake had two one-run innings to Oklahoma City’s one to come out on top.
This was the highest-scoring game of the series that has thus far seen a combined 82 runs through five games.
Ryan Ward had three more hits and a walk. Eliezer Alfonzo had two hits, a walk, and drove in three runs.
Emmet Sheehan’s first start back in Triple-A was a planned short outing, as Jerming Rosario was already warming up to follow Sheehan when Sheehan was pulled after two outs, 22 innings, and two runs in.
Jackson Ferris started pitching in the second inning and allowed nine runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Double-A Tulsa
The Drillers scored just once in a close loss to the Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros).
Shortstop Elijah Hainline had two of Tulsa’s four hits. Josue De Paula singled and walked.
Left-hander Luke Fox returned after nearly 16 weeks on the injured list to strike out two in his three innings. He allowed a run on a solo home run, his only hit given up, and also walked a batter.
The AL Central-leading White Sox snapped a four-game losing streak on Saturday to even the three-game weekend series with the second-place Cleveland Guardians.
The Guardians have lost seven of their last 10, yet are -108 moneyline favorites in the MLB odds.
My Guardians vs. White Sox predictions and MLB picks will back Chicago at home on Sunday, Aug. 9.
Who will win Guardians vs White Sox today: White Sox moneyline (+101)
The Chicago White Sox continued a streak of erratic offense on Saturday. Over the last 11 games, they’ve scored six or more five times, and two or fewer six times — none in between.
Facing curveball-happy (28.8%) Joey Cantillo on Sunday, there’s a good chance the hard-hitting Sox appear. Five members of Chicago’s lineup hit at least .348 with a .530 SLG or better against the curve.
The Cleveland Guardians have made their run in the AL Central by beating up on weak teams. The Guardians are 24-33 against foes with a winning record.
Chicago is 35-22 at home, making them an easy underdog pick. I’d take Chicago to -120.
COVERS INTEL: Cantillo is throwing the curve more, but that may be out of necessity, as the other pitches haven’t been effective. Foes are hitting .297 and slugging .531 against the fastball, up 60 and 70 points, respectively, from last season.
Guardians vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-103)
While Chicago against Cantillo seems likely to help push this game Over, the White Sox against Cleveland’s pen may provide even more offense.
Cantillo has averaged 4 2/3 innings since the start of July and hasn’t made it into the sixth over that span. The Guardians pen has a 10.80 ERA and 2.60 WHIP over the last three games and has allowed more earned runs (12) than the starters (nine).
Chicago starter Davis Martin has a 10.64 ERA and 1.727 WHIP over the last month, rising to 16.20 and 2.400 in the last two weeks, leading to concerns that he’s tipping his pitches.
Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 29-37, -4.68 units
Over/Under bets: 40-21, +6.64 units
Guardians vs White Sox weather
82F and sunny, with winds blowing from right to left at 11 mph. Fairly neutral conditions.
Guardians vs White Sox odds
Moneyline: Cleveland -108 | Chicago +104
Run line: Cleveland -1.5 | Chicago +1.5
Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
Guardians vs White Sox trend
The White Sox have hit the moneyline in 31 of their last 45 games at home (+18.25 Units / 36% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. White Sox.
How to watch Guardians vs White Sox and game info
Location
Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Sunday, August 9, 2026
First pitch
3:10 p.m. ET
TV
CleGuardians.TV,CHSN
Guardians starting pitcher
Joey Cantillo (8-7, 3.87 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcher
Davis Martin (9-6, 4.13 ERA)
Guardians vs White Sox latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 06: Caleb Durbin #5 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with Jarren Duran #16 and Ceddanne Rafaela #3 after hitting a walk off RBI single against the Chicago White Sox during the thirteenth inning at Fenway Park on August 06, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For years the Red Sox hoarded prospects the way my old upstairs neighbor hoarded newspapers. Piles and piles of newspapers, each one somehow too precious to part with. But after a stunning hot streak legitimately vaulted the Sox into the playoff race, the front office flipped the script. Ownership finally remembered they’re a big-market team, and pushed their chips into the middle of the table.
Was Craig Breslow’s performance at the deadline a shock? You bet. Pre-deadline, I predicted in this very space that Breslow and John Henry would run back a tired line from recent years: they’d do some buying, some selling, and wait for reinforcements to return from the Injured List.
In my entire life, I’ve never been so happy to be wrong.
A Massive Philosophical Shift
Craig Breslow didn’t just nibble around the edges of the trade market, either; he blew up the entire narrative that Boston is afraid to make big trades. Because others have already written in depth about it, I won’t analyze what has been called the “blockbuster” trade for catcher Adley Rutschman—other than to say I’m in favor of it. I won’t lament the departure of Marcelo Mayer because personally, I never warmed up to him—but I won’t talk about that right now either. We wanted the front office to do something, and they did it. This is what doing something looks like.
And it’s glorious.
The front office and the clubhouse have turned what looked like a bad hand into a hot hand. Contrast where they were in June with where they stand now.
What a Difference a Month Makes
They recently wrapped up a sweep of the White Sox, scoring 12 runs on Thursday and coming back five times from scoring deficits to finally win in walk-off fashion in the 13th inning. All this after having swept the Dodgers—the Dodgers! I also wrote that there was no way (I literally wrote “No way.”) that they could out-play the Dodgers. But the Red Sox showed it can be done. They provided such a teachable moment that the Cubs went and swept the Dodgers in the very next series; how about that?
After the 12-11 win to sweep the White Sox, they came in hot against the Athletics, kicking off that series on the following night with a resounding 13-1 win. What happened to the team that couldn’t hit to save their lives in March, April, May, and June?
They just ended a nine-game winning streak and are aiming for a tenth consecutive series victory—a feat the franchise hasn’t accomplished since 1912.
This team is historic in so many ways. Let’s revel in it for a moment (again), shall we?
15-Game Winning Streak: which tied the franchise record for consecutive wins, matching the mark set 80 years ago when the team was led by Ted Williams.
Nine Consecutive Series Wins: Boston has clinched nine straight series victories—a feat not accomplished by the franchise in 114 years, matching a stretch last seen during their 1912 World Series championship season. With Friday’s win against the A’s, they’re working on their tenth. (With Saturday’s loss, they will need to win on Sunday.)
Sweeps of First-Place Teams: The 2026 Red Sox became the first team in the modern expansion era (post-1961) to sweep six series against teams who entered the series at the top of their division. Notably, the Rays in their own AL East, the Dodgers who are heavily favored to three-peat in the World Series, and most recently, the White Sox.
Record Monthly Win Percentage: They posted a ferocious 21–4 record in July, with the highest monthly winning percentage (.840) in team history.
Historic Across Leagues: With Friday’s win, the Sox became the first team across the MLB, NHL, and NBA to win 27+ games in a 30-game stretch, while entering that stretch 10+ games below .500
And then maybe my favorite:
The @RedSox are the only MLB team in the modern era to score in 5 separate innings in the 9th inning or later in the same game.
They are the best team in baseball! But they got thereby relying on players who were never supposed to be out there.
Superstar IL and Other Chaos
It’s absurd that this team is succeeding despite an IL that is chock-full of players who were supposed to be real contributors. The team had expectations (to varying degrees of course) of Garrett Crochet, Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, Johan Oviedo, Triston Casas, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Zack Kelly, and formerly Marcelo Mayer. All of them are on the shelf. Romy González began the season there too before coming back quickly, then heading back to Worcester. Am I forgetting anyone? It’s hard to keep track of.
Even newcomer Curtis Mead, who was supposed to be a timely offensive upgrade, took less than a couple of hours to sustain an injury that allowed him to claim his spot on this elite roster we now call the IL. These injuries have allowed players like Anthony Seigler, Andruw Monasterio, and Nick Sogard to shine. Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett have stepped up in a big way, but without the unforeseen depletions to the pitching staff, they may not have been given such an opportunity at this point in the season, or in their young careers. Caleb Durbin, another new hero, felt almost like an afterthought when he joined the team, a reaction to the need to fill the Alex Bregman-sized hole at third base rather than a well executed plan.
For all the chaos this club has been through—including offseason hits like Bregman’s departure, beginning the season 32-46, and the firing of Alex Cora and five coaches before the end of April—they sure have become rock-steady.
The deadline deals and the complete philosophical shift have sent a huge message to a clubhouse that was declared dead in June: the front office believes in them. They added players who could help tip the scales and ensure there’s October baseball in Boston.
But here’s the paradox. Boston traded for a very good catcher who, at the time of the trade, was sidelined with wrist inflammation. [He has since debuted for Worcester on a rehab assignment, hitting a double and throwing out a runner on Saturday.] The 2026 Red Sox are playing so insanely well that they have the luxury of looking on this All-Star addition to the roster as a simple reinforcement, rather than a savior. Inconceivable!
This team has learned to thrive in chaos, amid injuries, and the depths of the off-season and early going of 2026 have accidentally engineered the most resilient locker room in modern Boston history. Are they next-gen idiots? They have come off the bench or otherwise—seemingly—out of nowhere to win games and hearts. They have been explosive, fun, team-first, and unpretentious.
The Sox finally have a roster that works, with or without Adley Rutschman, who will be joining the big-league team soon. Let’s go.
It’s a busy day in Major League Baseball, with 15 games on tap.
MLB’s most explosive arm — and one of my top MLB player props — is up in Milwaukee, as Jacob Misiorowski is seeking his fourth straight game with 10+ Ks.
Read below for the rest of my favorite MLB picks for Sunday, Aug. 9.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Jacob Misiorowski
Over 8.5 strikeouts
-133
Luis Arraez
Over 1.5 total bases
+123
Wilyer Abreu
Anytime home run
+265
Jacob Misiorowski Over 8.5 strikeouts (-133)
Just three Twins have stepped into the batter’s box to face the fireballer Jacob Misiorowski, and that should be a huge advantage for the Brewers.
The 24-year-old fanned 10 Angels on just two hits in seven innings of work last time out, and he’s recorded at least nine punchouts in five of his last six starts.
Misiorowski is just consistently dominant. In 21 starts this year, he’s failed to reach the 8K plateau only four times.
Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Twins.TV, Brewers.TV
Luis Arraez Over 1.5 total bases (+123)
It’s been a stellar start in Philadelphia for trade deadline pickup Luis Arraez, who’s hitting at a .333 clip in five games.
He’s had three games with at least two total bases, and now he draws Shane Bieber, a guy he’s hitting .290 against in 31 at-bats.
Bieber bounced back from a dud against Washington, where he failed to get out of the first inning, to beat the Astros. Still, he was tagged for nine hits.
Time: 1:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCSP, SN
Wilyer Abreu anytime home run (+265)
Baseball’s best power hitter last week was Boston’s Wilyer Abreu, who belted an MLB-best four long balls with an exceptional 1.222 SLG.
Can he keep it up against A’s starter JT Ginn? The stats show a favorable matchup for Abreu, who will be facing Ginn for the first time.
Over his last 10 starts, Ginn has served up seven home runs. Of the 13 bombs he’s given up on the season, nine have been to left-handed batters.
Time: 1:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCSCA, NESN
Eric Rosales' 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 5-8-0, +1.63 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 22: Alex McFarlane #71 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in his Major League Baseball debut during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Trevor Hayes/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Chase Shugart blew another game for the Phillies on Saturday and it brought up a topic that I think the Phillies deserve some scorn over.
I know every team needs to have someone to soak up some innings here and there. Shugart has mostly been that guy this year with cameos by Seth Johnson, Kyle Backhus and others. However, with a bullpen that is performing this poorly, there has to be a reason an arm with the kind of stuff that Alex McFarlane possesses isn’t in the majors over a Shugart to have those kinds of innings. That way, when a game gets to extra innings like last night’s, where a runner is on second, at least McFarlane has the stuff to get outs on his own rather than depending on defenses to help him.
So I ask: why isn’t McFarlane in the majors over someone like Shugart?
The St. Louis Cardinals made it back to .500 thanks to the Colorado Rockies being in town and did so with the help of Kyle Leahy. A quick hook (5 innings) for Leahy brought up some questions with him only having thrown 82 pitches, but Jeff Jones dove into the workload topic for the rest of us.
I asked Marmol this afternoon if they were approaching some innings limitations with Leahy, who pitched 88 innings last season and entered tonight with 107.1, and he said they were working through it. Could be skipped starts, could be shorter outings. Done tonight after 5/82.
Thanks to Jones’ reporting, we know that Leahy is on some type of an innings limit in his first year of starting and he is unlikely to be the only one on some restrictions. With 112.1 innings, he is third on the team behind Andre Pallante and Michael McGreevy, who are also nearing the mid-100s of frames this season. Pallante has maxed out at 162.2 and McGreevy hit 153 last season, so the workhorses have done their job in this transition year.
An innings limit may not be needed for the Cardinals this season
After Matthew Liberatore’s latest bummer of a start, the demand for a move to the bullpen has increased in volume and aggression. In getting the loss against the miserable Rockies, Liberatore moved to 5-9 with a 5.15 ERA on the season. For the Opening Day starter, a total bummer. With 113.2 innings pitched on the season, Libby is on pace to slightly exceed his 2025 total unless a move to the bullpen is in order. There is one starter who does not need an innings limit, but rather a demotion due to inconsistent performance. Enter Quinn Mathews into that spot?
The other four spots in the rotation are filled by Pallante, McGreevy, Leahy, and Hunter Dobbins. Dobbins is two seasons removed from a 125 inning season and has worked just over 100 innings between the majors and minors. The first two rotation options, in my opinion, have no reason to have a cap on their pitching this year. That leaves Leahy, who is on track to double his workload in his first year in the rotation.
Leahy has matched or exceeded Pallante in most stats, trailing in the wins and ERA categories but meeting or beating him in others. All that comes in yet another attempt for the Cardinals to move one of their trusted bullpen arms to the starting rotation rather than spend on the market, and the results have been solid if unspectacular. For the 29-year-old, the transition to the rotation has come along well after some bumps in the early part of the season.
I added the age not to be mean, but to add context into my next point being: Why does Kyle Leahy need an innings limit?
As a 35-year-old who can sometimes lift his arm over his head, I am in no way saying that Leahy is on the back nine of his career as a major league baseball player. He has shown that he has the ability to fill a role in most any pitching staff in an effective way. As Leahy enters his first season of arbitration, he has pitched his way into a solid salary track for the next few seasons of his major league career, assuming he remains healthy.
His durability has been spectacular, not hitting the injured list at any point during his professional career according to MLB’s transaction page. After being driven to the ground with 62 appearances last season and another 22 starts so far this year, Leahy has proven his worth to major league managers and deserves to get another full season of work.
Also working into that thought is that, besides Mathews, who else is there to take Leahy’s spot in those skipped starts? One answer is Brycen Mautz, but he has been working in the bullpen and been mostly effective as a relief option. Not sure if you’ve tuned into some big league games this second half, but the relief corps needs some help. After Mautz, the starting options are fine, but it may be too early to expect Jurrangelo Cijtnje, Pete Hansen, or Mason Molina to jump to the bigs, even in a spot start.
Tekoah Roby has been nearing full health and Cooper Hjerpe has looked solid in his rehab and progressed up to Triple-A. Out of those two, Hjerpe would be my choice to get a shot at the bigs, but only as a relief option despite working as a starter in his return from injury. For now, the fifth or sixth rotation spot looks to be an opener or bullpen game with Hjerpe or Mautz working in a short stint and another arm providing a look in bulk relief. To me, that does not do much for me in a rebuild season.
Mautz probably should and will get another start or two before the end of the season, but another long audition spot is not really showing up for anyone else to get an extended look. While it was already announced that Leahy will get his starts skipped or shortened, I guess I do not really see the point.
In other news, the vibe was a bummer at the game last night. I made the trip down since school starts Monday and hoped to see an energized offense against the Rockies. Instead, I got 11 men left on base and a five-run start from Libby. At least I got my hands on Jordan Walker’s home run ball and I promise I’m giving it to a kid (my Walker superfan nephew) despite some ugly looks from some bleacher fans.
As far as Cardinals on My Time goes, I hope to be back on a semi-regular posting schedule shortly. School starts again Monday (gross) so I will actually somehow have more time with a consistent schedule. Thanks for all the support here and on socials as the season comes to a close.
COVERS INTEL:
Jacob Misiorowski
Luis Arraez
Wilyer Abreu
