DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 13: Keider Montero #54 of the Detroit Tigers looks on during the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Thursday, August 13, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Zack Belsky/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Detroit Tigers dropped the weekend home series opener to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night, 2-1. Tarik Skubal threw six frames of one-run ball for the visitors, but that was all the offense would score, leaving no room for error for the relief corps — and of course with this group, there is always a hiccup or two.
Taking the mound for the Tigers on Saturday afternoon looking to even the series is right-hander Keider Montero, who has produced mixed results in his seven games since returning to the starting role. Cumulatively, the 26-year-old has put up a solid 3.22 ERA along with a 4.46 FIP, but three of those outings saw him get tagged for three or more runs, resulting in all three of his losses over that stretch.
Most recently, Montero gave up three runs on four hits (one home run) and a walk while striking out three Pittsburgh Pirates in a 4-1 loss at PNC Park.
For the Dodgers, left-hander Blake Snell will make his fifth start of the season after missing three months following surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. The 33-year-old was roughed up in his first appearance of 2026, but since then has thrown three straight six-inning quality starts, posting a microscopic 1.00 ERA along with an impressive 2.08 FIP on seven hits and walks while striking out 21, along with a hit-by-pitch and a wild pitch.
Here is what Saturday’s matchup between the two hurlers at Comerica Park looks like on paper.
Detroit Tigers (62-72) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (81-54)
Time (ET): 1:10 p.m. Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan SB Nation Site:True Blue LA Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 135: RHP Keider Montero (9-8, 3.30 ERA) vs. LHP Blake Snell (2-1, 2.57 ERA)
Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth look on as Jackie Mitchell, one of the first women to play professional baseball, practices her form.Photograph: AP
The Sultan of Swat sounded exasperated. “I don’t know what things are coming to,” Babe Ruth sighed during spring training in 1931.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen if they begin to let women in baseball,” he elaborated to reporters. “Of course, they will never make good. Why? Because they are too delicate. It would kill them to play ball everyday.”
The next day, Ruth and Lou Gehrig were struck out back-to-back by a 17-year-old girl.
Making their way home from preseason in Florida, the New York Yankees had stopped off in Tennessee for an exhibition game against the minor-league Chattanooga Lookouts. The Lookouts handed a debut to a promising young pitcher with precise control, a quirky side-arm delivery and a vicious sinker. Her name was Jackie Mitchell.
The strikeouts of two all-time greats sparked still-ongoing debates over the legitimacy of Mitchell’s achievement and the general lack of opportunities for female players.
Mitchell was summoned from the bullpen in the first inning. In front of a 4,000-strong crowd, Ruth, an Associated Press reporter wrote at the time, came to the plate with “a wry smile playing at the corners of his mouth”. A New York Times writer implied that it was all theater: “The Babe performed his role very ably. He swung hard at two pitches then demanded that Umpire Owens inspect the ball, just as batters do when utterly baffled by a pitcher’s delivery.”
Ruth struck out looking and was said to have hurled his bat while somehow “registering disgust with his shoulder and chin”. Gehrig then struck out after “three hefty swings”. Mitchell came out of the game after walking the next batter, Tony Lazzeri, and the Yankees went on to win 14-4.
Asked in a postgame press conference if the strikeouts were genuine, Mitchell was reported to have “retorted with a gaze of utter scorn and a contemptuous silence”. As Lapham’s Quarterly noted, Ruth and Gehrig enigmatically kept mum on the matter.
There is cause to be suspicious. The occasion had been scheduled for April Fool’s Day, though it was postponed by a day because of bad weather. And the Lookouts were run by a tireless promoter and showman known as the Barnum of the Bush Leagues. A former Major League Baseball pitcher and scout, Joe Engel became president of the Lookouts in 1929 and opened a new ballpark - Engel Stadium - the following year.
Desperate for publicity as he sought to boost attendance during the Great Depression, Engel made the Lookouts the Savannah Bananas of their era.
He famously traded his shortstop, “Binky” Jones, for a turkey “because the turkey was having a better year”. He then served the bird to critical sportswriters, offering them a free lunch and telling them, “You’ve been giving me the bird, so now have one on me.”
So Mitchell’s signing was undoubtedly an exploitative publicity stunt, but that does not necessarily mean that the strikeouts were staged. (Though Engel did have an affinity for hoaxes: he would later pretend to carry out a phone call with Adolf Hitler at home plate for the entertainment of a wartime crowd.)
One explanation promulgated at the time by male sportswriters was chivalry: it would have been ungentlemanly to have humiliated the kid by launching the ball into the stratosphere. “Babe Gallantly Strikes Out For Benefit Of Girl Hurler,” read one headline. But that explanation does not take into account professional pride. While being struck out by a girl might have appealed to the media-savvy Ruth’s sense of fun, Gehrig was a more earnest character. And Mitchell clearly had talent.
Born in Chattanooga on 29 August 1913, the 5ft 8in lefty was a gifted all-round athlete who learned baseball basics from her father and played for Engel’s all-female team (somewhat inevitably named the Engelettes). The story goes that she was taught to throw her signature “drop” pitch by a neighbor in Memphis - “Dazzy” Vance, a Hall of Famer who led the National League in strikeouts for seven seasons in a row.
The 36-year-old Ruth would go on to smack 46 home runs in the 1931 regular season with 162 runs batted in; Gehrig, who turned 28 that summer, also hit 46 homers, with an American League-record 185 RBI. Mitchell, though, did not feature for the Lookouts again - at least not until she was invited to throw a ceremonial first pitch in 1982.
Kenesaw Mountain Landis, a federal judge and commissioner of baseball, was reported to have voided her contract on the basis that professional baseball was too physical for women and for their own safety they should stick to playing recreationally among themselves. While reports of Landis’s verdict have not been definitively confirmed, Mitchell herself thought it was the case. “I believe I could qualify and might be signed by a major league team and might someday get to play in a World Series if Judge Landis hadn’t ruled against my playing in major league ball,” she told the St Louis Post-Dispatch in 1933.
Capitalizing on her fame, she played in exhibitions and, curiously, for the House of David – a barnstorming outfit that was a side hustle for a Michigan religious cult that forbade male members from cutting their hair. She retired in 1937 and went to work for her father, an optician.
Organized women’s baseball in the US had started in 1866 when Vassar College in New York state, then an all-female institution, founded a team, the Resolutes. The first known female professional teams, the Blondes and the Brunettes, started play in Illinois in 1875, but they were essentially theatrical troupes performing a novelty act and their rosters were stuffed with actresses, according to the author and historian Debra Shattuck.
Barnstorming Bloomer Girls - so called because of their baggy trousers - were common in baseball from the 1890s and Lizzie Arlington, the first woman to take part in a professional minor-league men’s game, pitched a scoreless ninth inning (two hits, no runs) in 1898 for the Reading Coal Heavers in an Atlantic League win over the Allentown Peanuts in front of a thousand-strong crowd.
This long history did not dissuade sexist newspapers from treating Mitchell as a novelty act. “The curves won’t all be on the ball when pretty Jackie Mitchell … takes the mound,” one preview declared. “It might be supposed that having adopted the exciting and strenuous profession of baseball, Miss Mitchell has abandoned the usual feminine arts, but the contrary is true. She can sew and make a dress, she cooks with skill and success and even plays the piano,” another report observed.
Three years after Mitchell’s moment in the spotlight, the celebrated multi-sport athlete Babe Didrikson Zahariaspitched two scoreless innings for the New Orleans Pelicans against the Cleveland Indians in a spring training game, days after pitching one inning for the Philadelphia Athletics against the Brooklyn Dodgers (giving up a walk and no hits) and for the St Louis Cardinals against the Boston Red Sox (conceding three runs on four hits). One of three women to play in the Negro Leagues, and the only pitcher, 5ft3in Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, compiled a 33-8 record for the Indianapolis Clowns between 1953 and 1955.
When shortstop Eleanor Engle signed for the struggling minor-league Harrisburg Senators in 1952 it was the kindling for a media firestorm. Acting with the support of MLB commissioner Ford Frick, the boss of the minor leagues, George Trautman, cancelled her contract shortly before her scheduled debut, forcing her to change out of her uniform and watch the game from the press box. Trautman issued a statement asserting that “such travesties” would not be tolerated and clubs attempting to sign women in the future would be “subject to severe penalties”.
In 1993 the Chicago White Sox made history by selecting a female player, pitcher Carey Schueler - the daughter of Ron Schueler, a former major league pitcher and a White Sox executive at the time - in the 43rd round of the MLB draft. She did not sign and instead played college basketball. Four years later, Ila Borders pitched for the St Paul Saints and went on to appear in 52 minor league games for four professional clubs over four seasons.
Whether Ruth and Gehrig struck out intentionally in 1931 remains an enduring mystery, though the self-assured Mitchell herself had no doubt: “Why, hell, they were trying, damn right,” she told a reporter shortly before her death in 1987. “Hell, better hitters than them couldn’t hit me. Why should they’ve been any different?”
Rangers manager Derek McInnes has lost five of his past six away league games against former side Aberdeen, including the latest three in a row since a 1-0 win with Kilmarnock in December 2023.
Rangers could fail to win their opening three games of a league season for the second successive campaign (drawing three in 2025-26). Before this, they had not failed to win any of their opening three matches in 35 seasons from 1990-91 to 2024-25.
Aberdeen have won four of their past five home league games (losing the other), including their first this season, 2-1 over Hearts. It is as many wins as their previous 16 at Pittodrie in the Scottish Premiership (W4 D5 L7).
Rangers have won the past four league games against Aberdeen, but have not won five in a row over the Dons since October 2011 (when they won six).
Aberdeen have only lost one of their past five home league games against Rangers (winning two of them), although that was their most recent, a 2-0 defeat in January last season.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 28: First baseman Paul Goldschmidt #48 of the New York Yankees gets third baseman Caleb Durbin #5 of the Boston Red Sox out in the eight inning at Yankee Stadium on August 28, 2026 in New York City. The New York Yankees won 1-0. (Photo by Benjamin B. Braun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Not everything has to be a nailbiter! But that’s what last night became, as the Yankees’ pitching staff had to settle for merely a Paul Goldschmidt solo shot of support and go from there. Cam Schlittler, Brent Headrick, Paul Blackburn, and David Bednar made it hold up, enabled by a huge outfield assist from Cody Bellinger to nail Ceddanne Rafaela at the plate.
For everyone in the Bronx’s own sanity, it was vital to win the opener of this four-game set. It could easily get nutty and turn into an absolute disaster from here of course, but if the Yankees were starting off on the back foot? Boy, it would be an uncomfortable couple days. Now, to see how the Yanks handle this twin bill. Let us hope that they score more than a single run in each game.
Today on the site, Matt will ponder the playoff format given the imbalance across the American League, Peter will run through the Rivalry Roundup, and Nick will write up our second consecutive 76th birthday, this time saluting a forgotten late-’70s teammate of the just-discussed Ron Guidry, George Zeber. Later, Matt will return to assemble a team of all-August birthdays. Then it’s doubleheader time!
Today’s Matchup(s):
New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox
Time: 1:05 p.m. EST (Game 1); 7:15 p.m. EST (Game 2)
TV: YES/NESN/MLB Network (Game 1); Fox (Game 2)
Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Questions/Prompts:
1. What’s your prediction for this doubleheader? Yankees sweep? Red Sox sweep? Split? Midday armageddon?
2. Who has the better start today, Carlos Rodón or Max Fried?
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 13: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees takes the field before the game against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on August 13, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MLB Trade Rumors | Connor Byrne: When the Yankees placed pitcher Max Fried on the IL, the starter hoped he would only end up missing the minimum amount of time. Well, Saturday will mark 15 days, and the team will indeed activate Fried today! They confirmed the news yesterday, and in the postgame, they clarified that he will start the nightcap of the doubleheader, with fellow southpaw Carlos Rodón getting the nod in the opener against Jake Bennet.
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: Although there no longer are any marquee trades to be made, the Yankees have been looking into the relief pitcher market in the wake of Fernando Cruz’s injury. While Cruz himself is hopeful that he will not need Tommy John surgery, the team have looked at pitchers John King and Zack Littell, both recently released, in the wake of Cruz’s IL trip. Littell is a former Yankees prospect (acquired for James Pazos in December 2016 before going to Minnesota in the Jaime García deal that followed at the 2017 Trade Deadline), while King was almost traded by the Rangers to New York as part of the 2021 Joey Gallo trade.
Newsday | Erik Boland: Rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr. has made some unfortunate history with his streak of making an error in six consecutive games, the first Yankee shortstop to do that since Roger Peckinpaugh in 1915. However, the Yankees aren’t worried about it and are confident these are just growing pains that sometimes come with playing a youngster. And hey, Peckinpaugh did eventually become an MVP!
Tampa Bay Times | Nicolas Villamil: This is not explicitly Yankees-related, although this bit of news while have an effect on the Bombers. Earlier this week, Tampa city officials and Hillsborough County approved a deal for the Rays to build a new stadium in the city. While it obviously won’t be done in time for next season, dreaded trips to “The Trop” should soon become a relic of the past — perhaps as soon as 2028 since the Rays want to break ground with the goal of opening in 2029.
A.J. Ewing’s results have lagged, but Mets officials do not seem alarmed by his drop-off in production this month.
The rookie outfielder entered Friday with a .165/.240/.209 slash line for August that had dropped his OPS for the season to .667 before going 0-for-4 in the Mets’ 3-1 loss to the Astros at Citi Field.
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And yet, interim manager Andy Green has accentuated the positives.
Green said he approached Ewing during Thursday’s game to compliment him on his at-bats, despite the fact his hits weren’t accumulating.
Green cited the bad luck into which Ewing was hitting.
“If you are watching the at-bat quality, he’s kind of returning to what he has done for us the first part of the season,” Green said before the Mets’ loss. “We have got to acknowledge those things when they’re happening, rather than just because the box score doesn’t acknowledge that sometimes, because this is a cruel game at times. It was right for us to acknowledge he’s had a number of really good at-bats here recently.”
Entering play Ewing’s last multihit game was Aug. 7.
A.J. Ewing walks back to the dugout after striking out in the third inning of the Mets’ 3-1 loss to the Astros on Aug. 28, 2026 at Citi Field. Jason Szenes for New York Post
Jorge Polanco underwent ankle surgery Wednesday, according to Green, and is expected to begin spring training in normal baseball progression.
Polanco appeared in just 37 games this season as he battled bursitis in his left ankle.
Green compared Yordan Alvarez (who is the American League MVP front-runner) to Barry Bonds for his ability to scare an opponent.
“[Alvarez] is right up there with Juan [Soto] as the best hitter in baseball and he has been the best hitter in baseball this year,” Green said. “He’s not far off where Barry Bonds was when I was sitting on the bench and watching him play a lot. There are very few people that get into that category, and he has been that this year.”
Alvarez began the day with an MLB-leading 1.043 OPS. He led the AL in homers (36) and batting average (.319) and was tied with Pete Alonso for the lead in RBIs with 91.
He went 0-for-2 with two walks in the Astros’ win on Friday.
The Mets selected Chris Devenski to the major league roster and optioned Xzavion Curry to Triple-A Syracuse.
Aug 28, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Lars Nootbaar (21) reacts after hitting a solo home run during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Game Summary
The Diamondbacks offense had scored 8 runs in their last 4 games combined, but came out and ambushed Giants starter Blade Tidwell for 6 runs in the first 3 innings of the game. They then added another 4 against the Giants bullpen, but 10 runs was not enough to turn this game into a laugher because Kohl Drake, fresh off the Reno Express, had another rough outing.
The Diamondbacks got things started off right with a leadoff homer by Lars Nootbaar, a direct contrast to how last night’s game started with a leadoff dinger for the Giants, and that kicked off an offensive night that saw all but 2 D-Backs starters get a hit and the entire team combined for 12 hits and 2 BB. Nootbaar led the way finishing a triple short of the cycle, but Tim Tawa (3 RBI), Nolan Arenado, and James McCann also had multi-hit games. Ildemaro Vargas also got a 2 RBI base knock, turning his bat into kindling in the process. A total effort from the lineup, including great situational hitting indicated by going 4/7 with RISP and a Sac Fly, was sorely needed because the starting pitching was less than ideal.
Kohl Drake wasn’t terrible tonight, but his final line of 5 ER across 4 IP is terrible. It was great to see Drake consistently throwing strikes for much of the night, but he really had issues getting the third out of the inning. Of the 5 runs Drake allowed, 4 came with 2 outs. There was a pair of 2 out homers accounting for 3 of those runs and the 4th came home via 2-out double to score a runner who was at first thanks to a HBP. The only run Drake didn’t give up with 2 outs was an inning of perfectly executed small ball by the Giants. The Giants were really good at maximizing their scoring opportunities early on in this game because it never really felt like Drake was in a stressful situation.
What is probably going to catch a lot of comments will be the bullpen usage tonight. Part of this is on Drake for not being able to soak up more innings when then the offense staked him to a 6-2 lead halfway through the 3rd inning, but I suspect many will find issue with Torey’s bullpen usage on the day before a double-header. It’s not like we have Pfaadt and E-Rod going in this twin-bill tomorrow, either. The Merrill and Bratt the probable starters, we would reasonably expect the bullpen to need to cover 9+ innings tomorrow. After tonight, I hope that’s not the case.
The bullpen did well tonight, but Torey threw every pitcher who didn’t toss in last night’s loss (with the exception of J-Mart), plus burning Loaisiga for the second night in a row. Unfortunately, the pitchers who went tonight weren’t economical with their pitches, so now we’re looking at the prospect of all of these guys having to come back out at some point tomorrow after throwing 20+ pitches. The good thing is, unless there are some nagging injuries that the staff is protecting, everyone but Loaisiga will probably be available tomorrow. I was certainly hoping that Drake could’ve gone back out for the 5th to try and shave one more inning off the bullpen’s load tonight, but Torey managed the game in front of him first, which is likely the correct call, and he came away with W today. Tomorrow may be interesting, but that is tomorrow’s problem. Tonight, the Diamondbacks got a win and gained ground in the Wild Card.
Win Probability and Box Score
Outside the Box Score
Lars Nootbar has had a rough go of it at the start of his Diamondbacks tenure, but he got tonight started off with a bang when he deposited the first pitch of the game all the way in the D-Backs’ bullpen, 432 feet from home plate!
Jordan Lawlar showed good range and athleticism to make a foot-first sliding catch in left-center to record the first out of the game for Kohl Drake.
Drake only needed 10 pitches to record his first 3 outs, but one of those pitches was an inner-third slider left thigh-high to Bryce Eldridge who sent it to the concourse above the right field wall for a game-tying solo homer, nearly splashing it into McCovey Cove. An efficient inning, but not a shutdown inning.
Jung Hoo Lee led off the second with a seeing eye single past Ildemaro Vargas, then stole second just barely beating the throw from McCann before getting moved to third by a weak ground out to first base. That set up the Giants with a runner at third and less than 2 outs and they cashed in with a sac fly to right. Drake did nothing wrong, the Giants just did everything perfectly that half inning to get a run across.
Lars doubled into the right-center gap in his second AB of the game. The exit velocities on his first 2 hits were 109.9 (HR) and 110.3 (2B).
Corbin Carroll’s homer in the third came after he fell down in the count 1-2, worked his way to a full count, then smashed a middle-middle fastball to dead center.
Nolan Arenado’s double in third was a bouncer that was ruled to bounce over third base in fair territory even though it landed in foul territory. Earlier in the game, the same umpire, standing about 10 feet behind third base on the foul line, had to duck underneath a high chopper down the line that he ended up ruling foul. Torey called him out on it from the dugout, and I think that the umpire was cognizant of that the next time a similar situation presented itself. Tony Vitello, the Giants manager, was tossed in between innings arguing that foul ball call.
Tim Tawa’s 3-run homer, following the Arenado double, was a bomb into the left field bleachers that flew 419 feet.
Kohl Drake came out in the bottom of the third, after being given a 4-run lead, and struck out the first 2 hitters and got up 0-2 on Rafael Devers before losing Devers to HBP, then letting him score on a Bryce Eldridge double to the wall in left-center. So close to shutdown inning, but “close don’t count in baseball. Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.”
Kohl’s 2-run homer allowed in the 4th was set up, once again, by a 2-out free pass. Drake got the first 2 outs fairly easily, but then walked the 7-hole hitter on 5 pitches before allowing a first pitch homer just inside the left field foul pole to the next hitter.
Corbin earned a leadoff walk in the 5th, but then the Snakes’ 3-4-5 hitters all popped out to varying depths to render it harmless.
After Gerrardo Carrillo walked the first batter he faced on 4 pitches, he struck out Devers looking on a full count Sweeper that appeared to be well outside the strike zone. Devers brought his hand up to his chin as if he were about to challenge, then decided against it and kept his hand pressed against his chest on his walk back to the dugout. A lucky break for the Snakes.
More fair-foul shenanigans struck in the top of the 6th when Tim Tawa popped up into no man’s land down the first base line. Rafael Devers almost made a great over the shoulder catch but the ball hit off the heel of his glove. The play was made right on top of the foul line as Devers was sprinting into foul ground and the call was immediately fair ball. Very, very close, but we’ll take it.
Ildemaro Vargas got a 2-RBI base hit on a broken bat bleater into shallow right field. The bat was completely sawed off and the exit velocity was in the mid-sixties, but it did the job.
Ildemaro Vargas (and the coaching staff) can be credited with the third run that crossed the plate in the 6th inning for the Snakes. Lars Nootbaar smoked a single into right field which was being manned by JH Lee. Vargas was just reaching second when Lee fielded the ball but he obviously knew that Lee was unlikely to throw him out at third so Vargas made the hard turn and cruised into the extra base without a throw. Corbin paid that aggressiveness off with a sac fly to score Ildemaro right after.
There were quite a few challenges in this game, with the Giants accounting for 5 by themselves through the first 5 innings and they had a 100% success rate. They finally missed their first challenge in the 6th inning challenging a called ball that was confirmed to miss by 0.1”.
Geraldo Perdomo’s stolen base in the 7th was thanks to a VERY early takeoff from first. The catcher started to try and get the pitcher to step off, but the pitcher didn’t see it in time and proceeded with the pitch. Domo was in standing up without a throw. He then came around to score on a McCann RBI single.
After the Giants runner at first base reached second on an errant pickoff throw in the 8th inning, Geraldo Perdomo gifted the Giants an extra out and runner when he misfired on what should’ve been a 6-3 putout for the 2nd out of the inning. Instead there were runners at the corners and 1 out.
Comment of the Game
A light Friday night GameDay Thread with a total of 173 comments at time of publishing. Very few Sedona Red comments tonight which made COTG is fairly easily awarded to VW Beetle for his comment after Lars got our Friday night started off right:
Coming Up
The Diamondbacks face the Giants twice tomorrow to finish out this four-game set and the season series. The first game in the twin bill will start at 1:05pm and the second will start at 7:05pm. During the game, the broadcast speculated Merrill will be starting the nightcap and Mitch Bratt will be taking the mound in the first game. During the postgame coverage, it was announced that it will actually be Merrill getting the ball first and Bratt coming out for the late game. I’m not positive of the strategy one way or the other, perhaps it is just more likely that Merrill gives the Snakes a good outing and then Torey will know exactly who he can play with and how far he has to push Bratt if things aren’t going well.
Scoreboard Watching
Not a bad night on the NL Wild Card scoreboard:
Cubs lost to the Reds at home. They are now 1 game ahead of Philly for the 1st WC and 4.5 games up on AZ.
Phillies beat the Angels thanks to a 2 out Grand Slam in the 9th. The Phillies remain in the 2nd WC and are 3.5 games up on AZ.
Padres lost to the Rays and are now just a half-game ahead of AZ for the final WC.
Marlins lost to the Nationals and are now 3.5 GB of AZ.
The Cardinals beat the Pirates are still 4 games back of AZ.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker BJ Ojulari (9) signs autographs parking lot of Lambeau Field before a joint practice with the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 26, 2026, in Green Bay, Wis. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
The Arizona Cardinals wrapped up their preseason tonight in Green Bay and now they prepare for the regular season.
Part of the preparation is getting the roster down to 53, and as that is happening, also working the waiver wire to add players they think can help them in 2026 and maybe even beyond.
How does the NFL Waiver Wire Work?
A nice explainer from our friends at Buffalo Rumblings:
Players with less than four accrued seasons who are waived are subject to the waiver wire, where any team that claims them picks up their current contract. Any player claimed off the waiver wire must added to the claiming team’s active 53-man roster. If they pass through waivers unclaimed, they become free agents and are free to sign with any team’s practice squad they choose, which includes their prior team.
The waiver order is set by the original 2026 NFL Draft order for the first three weeks of the season, one that does not include trades, which means the Arizona Cardinals are third in the waiver wire priority.
Full Waiver Order
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Jets
Arizona Cardinals
Tennessee Titans
New York Giants
Cleveland Browns
Washington Commanders
New Orleans Saints
Kansas City Chiefs
Cincinnati Bengals
Miami Dolphins
Dallas Cowboys
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Indianapolis Colts
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
Carolina Panthers
Green Bay Packers
Pittsburgh Steelers
Los Angeles Chargers
Philadelphia Eagles
Jacksonville Jaguars
Chicago Bears
Buffalo Bills
San Francisco 49ers
Houston Texans
Los Angeles Rams
Denver Broncos
New England Patriots
Seattle Seahawks
Make sure to check out our friends over at FanDuel Sportsbook to get all your Arizona Cardinals season long props and picks in before the season starts.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 28: Coby Mayo #16 of the Baltimore Orioles hits an RBI single during the top of the 10th inning against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on August 28, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For those who stayed up well into Saturday morning to watch the opener of this Orioles-Athletics series, well, I wouldn’t exactly say you witnessed an instant classic. There was a whole lot of silly baseball going on. Baserunning blunders. Defensive butchery. Inexplicable managerial decisions. The Orioles couldn’t score more than two runs in regulation against the league’s worst pitching staff, and let a late lead slip away.
But in the end, Coby Mayo and Christian Encarnacion-Strand saved the Orioles’ bacon with back-to-back RBI singles in the top of the 10th, and Alex Hoppe hung on in the bottom half for his first career save, bringing a happy ending to an often bewildering game. To quote Camden Chat commenter Knightley: “This game was so stupid, but at least we won.”
If you were expecting the Orioles to storm into Sacramento and easily put away the third-worst team in baseball, well, you don’t know the Orioles. Every game seems to be a struggle for the Birds, no matter the quality of the opponent. You might think that the O’s, after scoring 26 runs in three games in St. Louis, could at least keep up their offensive momentum against an awful Athletics pitching staff, whose 5.75 ERA entering the game was the worst in the American League. Again, you’d be wrong.
In the first nine innings against these supposedly atrocious A’s pitchers, the Orioles scored two (2) runs. That’s it. Both came in a weird top of the second inning against Athletics starter Jacob Lopez. The lefty’s first pitch drilled Coby Mayo in the shoulder, and later he walked Leody Taveras on four pitches. With two down, Dylan Beavers — starting against a lefty for only the fifth time this year — delivered a clutch hit, roping an RBI single to right to plate Mayo with the game’s first run.
Then things went haywire. Carlos Narváez tapped a 43-mph dribbler down the first base line. It should have been a simple task for Lopez to simply pick the ball up and tag out Narváez on his way to first, but somehow the A’s hurler let the ball pop out of his glove, then collided with Narváez in the baseline, leading to visits from both team’s trainers (both players stayed in). Taveras scored on the error, extending the O’s lead to 2-0.
The Orioles nearly caught a break on the next play, too, when Blaze Alexander’s slow grounder to first bounced off the bag for a gift infield single, but Beavers foolishly tried to score from second on the play — first hesitating around the third-base bag, then ignoring Buck Britton’s stop sign and charging headlong into an easy out at the plate. What was that, Dylan? The wild and not particularly well played half-inning was over with the O’s ahead.
To be honest, the Orioles should have done way more damage against Lopez. His pitch count was inflated from the get-go. He was so covered in sweat that he looked like he’d just climbed out of the pool. The Orioles had traffic on the bases almost constantly. But somehow they didn’t score again versus Lopez, who managed to gut out five full innings on exactly 100 pitches. The Orioles’ luck didn’t improve against the Athletics’ league-worst bullpen, either. Former Oriole Scott Blewett kept them scoreless for two innings, and Luis Medina fired a perfect eighth. You just knew the Orioles’ inability to add on runs was going to come back to haunt them.
For a while, Brandon Young made the lack of run support not matter. The right-hander, who had been showing signs of fatigue in recent starts, tonight delivered his finest outing of the month. He worked seven full innings for the first time since July 19, shutting down an A’s lineup that is missing several of its key hitters due to injury.
Young set the tone for his excellent outing by throwing just five pitches in the first inning to retire the A’s 1-2-3. Three of his first four innings were perfect, and he worked through a second-inning jam by stranding two baserunners. It wasn’t until the sixth that Young showed any signs of tiring; he gave up a two-out infield single and walked Lawrence Butler after getting ahead 0-2 in the count. But after a quick meeting on the mound, Young retired Tommy White on a fly to center to keep the shutout intact.
That ended an inning later. Young was one out away from getting through seven scoreless when former O’s farmhand Jonah Heim laced a solo home run to right field, cutting the lead to 2-1. But Brandon finished the inning to complete his seven-inning gem: one run, five hits, four strikeouts. If the O’s bullpen could hold it, Young was in line for his 10th win of the year.
Spoiler: the O’s bullpen could not, in fact, hold it. Rico Garcia, who’s been pitching much better of late after his midseason swoon, sadly reverted to his ineffective form in the eighth. After getting ahead of leadoff man Henry Bolte 0-2, Garcia missed badly with a four-seam fastball and plunked it off of Bolte’s helmet. Scary stuff there, but Bolte was able to stay in the game. Jeff McNeil followed with a single, and suddenly the O’s were in all sorts of trouble.
After Zack Gelof bunted both runners into scoring position, Lawrence Butler lashed a sharp single to left. Bolte scored the tying run and McNeil too steamed homeward, intent on putting the Athletics ahead. But Beavers came up firing and uncorked perhaps the best throw he’s ever made in the majors, a cannon to the plate that nailed McNeil for a huge second out. The A’s had erased the O’s lead, but Dylan’s heroics prevented them from taking a lead of their own. Yennier Cano relieved Garcia to get the final out and keep the game tied.
Each team’s closer worked a scoreless ninth — Hogan Harris for the A’s, Andrew Kittredge for the O’s — to send the game to extras. And that’s when the Orioles’ bats finally woke up, though the inning featured its share of head-scratching decisions on both sides. The Birds’ free runner was Narváez, who’d made the final out of the ninth.
Despite Gunnar Henderson being available on the bench, O’s manager Craig Albernaz didn’t pinch-run for the lead-footed Narváez, who represented the go-ahead run. Even more bizarrely, Albernaz did have Henderson pinch-run for Pete Alonso at first base after he was intentionally walked with one out. Why would you put the speedy guy as the trail runner but leave a plodding oaf as the lead runner? And don’t get me started on Albernaz’s repeated failure to have Henderson or Samuel Basallo pinch-hit for Narváez in big spots throughout the game. This was not the finest game of Albernaz’s already not-great managerial career.
But enough complaining. It all worked out, because A’s manager Mark Kotsay (on his bobblehead night) made the bad decision to let southpaw Brady Basso face lefty-mashers Mayo and Encarnacion-Strand. Mayo was the first to come through, roping a single to right field. This is where Albernaz’s poor pinch-running tactics nearly cost him, as Narváez likely would’ve been cut down at the plate by any kind of decent throw. But the right fielder Butler got too excited and booted the ball, allowing the run to score.
Encarnacion-Strand was up next and, as usual, came through in a big spot. He ripped an opposite-field single of his own to plate Henderson, giving the Orioles an all-too-valuable insurance run (which they ended up needing). CES does it again! Remember when the O’s acquired this guy for cash considerations? I’d say they won that trade.
With all of the Orioles’ highest leverage relievers already used, it was up to Alex Hoppe to try to convert his first career save opportunity in the 10th. The rookie right-hander got the job done, though it’s a good thing he had the extra run. Hoppe dispatched Bolte on strikes and McNeil on a flyout before Gelof sizzled a single to center, scoring the free runner to make it a 4-3 game. But Hoppe recovered to retire Butler on a grounder to second, ending this exhausting but ultimately successful game. With the Guardians losing earlier in the day, the Orioles are now just two games back for the third wild card.
Who is your Most Birdland Player, Camden Chatters? Mayo? CES? Hoppe? Young? Maybe Beavers for the game-saving throw and the RBI single, if his baserunning blunder doesn’t disqualify him? Let us know in the comments.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 08: A detail view of the Kansas City Chiefs logo on a helmet on set during a production shoot at The University of Kansas Health System Training Complex on June 08, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Sunday, all 32 NFL teams will cut their offseason rosters to 53 players, concluding the 2026 preseason.
The following day, the waiver wire process will begin. Here’s what to know:
When is the deadline for waiver claims?
NFL teams must submit waiver claims for eligible players by 1 PM ET on Monday, August 31. That’s a little less than 24 hours after the official cutdown deadline on Sunday.
After waivers process shortly after 12:00 p.m. Arrowhead time, the remaining players will become free agents and can be signed to practice squads or other rosters.
Which players are eligible for waivers?
When determining waiver eligibility, there are two types of players. Those with less than four “credited” seasons are subject to waivers and are subject to claims before becoming free agents. Those with four or more credited seasons are considered “vested veterans” and are not subject to waivers. Once released, they immediately become free agents and are eligible to sign with whomever they wish.
A “credited” season is different from an “accrued” season. The latter is used to determine if players become Unrestricted Free Agents (UFAs), Restricted Free Agents (RFAs) or Exclusive Rights Free Agents (ERFAs).
A credited season is as follows: a player must be on an active, inactive, IR, or PUP roster for three or more regular season games. A player who receives an injury settlement (or grievance) for the equivalent of three or more regular season games is also given a credited season.
DENVER , CO - AUGUST 28: Cody Schrader (25) of the Denver Broncos gains positive yards against the Minnesota Vikings during the third quarter at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Friday, August 28, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images
After the game, Head Coach Sean Payton referenced the popular singing competition show The Voice when talking about the preseason finale. When asked about his message to players on the roster bubble and why the last preseason game matters, he told reporters, “Hey, make us spin the chair.”
"Hey, make us spin the chair" 🗣️
Sean Payton on his message to the players on the bubble and why the last preseason game is important 💪 pic.twitter.com/zOlfrvrUjm
One player who came out of nowhere and may have done that tonight is sixth-string running back Cody Schrader. He has played behind Dobbins, Harvey, Coleman, Badie, and McLaughlin all preseason and mostly was getting late-game work. He is likely viewed as a sure-fire cut candidate and likely a long shot for a practice squad spot.
However, after tonight, he may have made the Broncos spin that chair.
Schrader finished the night with 132 total yards from scrimmage (90 yards receiving and 42 yards rushing) and simply looked like the best player on the field. He showcased tough running and good vision, and made multiple plays in the passing game, including getting open on a broken play and catching a touchdown from quarterback Sam Ehlinger.
Realistically, this performance may not have changed much for Schrader. We have seen players have big games in the finale and not make the team or the practice squad. Former tight end Albert Okwuegbunam is a great example of this. He had a great game in the finale, and we were having this same conversation, but he was still cut hours later and did not make the practice squad.
Could things be different for Schrader? He was claimed off waivers late last season, later waived again, and then signed to the Broncos’ practice squad. He later signed a futures contract with the team in the offseason and has served as a back-of-the-roster running back depth all offseason. As I said, heading into this game, not many people had him on their radar, but he may have quickly built a fan base after tonight’s performance.
I think the Broncos will keep three running backs on their 53-man roster, and Tyler Badie will be on the practice squad. However, if they want to keep two backs on the practice squad, Schrader made a strong case for that spot tonight.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - AUGUST 28: Quarterback Jalen Milroe #6 of the Seattle Seahawks throws a pass during the second quarter of an NFL preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on August 28, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Seattle Seahawks’ preseason is over, although the Kansas City Chiefs game slogged on for so long that I thought they’d play beyond the roster cuts deadline. Unfortunately, Seattle could not notch a victory and only mustered up a 9-9 tie in large part because of some poor kicking from the normally reliable Jason Myers.
Forget the scoreline and let’s focus on the overarching story. This was an important showcase night for Jalen Milroe as a full-game starter, as well as looking at the roster bubble players and whether they could make one last impression before Sunday’s cut-down day.
Let’s get to the last Winners and Losers for the 2026 preseason!
Seattle Seahawks Winners
Jalen Milroe needed that in the worst way
And by “that” I mean a series of quality plays with his arm that ward off any more calls that he should be waived. The first half was the best Milroe has looked in either preseason, making decisive, accurate, and on-time throws to Cody White, Montorie Foster, Nick Kallerup, and Elijah Arroyo. He even lost some yards and completions because Julian Hicks couldn’t handle the ball. It helped that (outside of one particular person) the offensive line was rarely troubled by KC’s pass rush, so Milroe had time to go through his progressions before making a decision to throw or run. His statline of 16/26 for 223 yards and a touchdown (to go with 20 yards rushing) actually is a bit unkind to his overall performance.
This is the first time Milroe has looked demonstrably better than third and fourth-string opposition, which is what you want to see as a clear sign of improvement. The game seemed to slow down for him on Friday and the end result was a performance more in line with what his biggest supporters hoped he would look like. There’s very little to critique! If you were ready to send him to the waiver wire after the Tennessee Titans game then maybe tonight was a step back in the right direction.
I imagine there are a few out there who don’t fully believe in Sam Darnold and are intrigued by the thought of not extending his contract and developing Milroe until he’s QB1. I’ll settle for staying the course and seeing if he can be QB2 in 2027.
Trevon Diggs’ hands work just fine
Did Garrett Nussmeier make a horrendous rookie mistake throwing off his back foot to Xavier Worthy? Yes. Did Trevon Diggs remind everyone he has tremendous ball skills and will gladly accept gifts sent his way? You better believe it.
He had one open-field missed tackle on Travis Kelce and a completed tackle on the game’s first play, and that’s about all there was to note. We’ll see if that suddenly makes him CB3 or if that in itself was enough to put him on the 53-man roster. Based on Mike Macdonald’s comments, I think he’ll be on the roster, and maybe above all else he looked healthy.
Nehemiah Pritchett hangs tough in the red zone
When the Seahawks were backed up at their own goal line, Pritchett was stuck like glue to his assignment on consecutive passes and helped hold the Chiefs to a field goal. I don’t see any roster danger for Pritchett, even if he’s not necessarily CB3 come September.
Cody White has a bounce back game
It was not Cody’s best day against the Tennessee Titans, having muffed a punt and dropped a deep pass last Sunday. He came back strongly with three catches for 69 yards. Whether or not he makes the initial 53-man roster, I bet White will be playing regular season football again for Seattle this year.
Emmanuel Henderson Jr emerges late
It’s been a quiet preseason for the rookie from Kansas, but he had his best night as a receiver with three catches for 58 yards, including the big grab that set up Seattle’s only touchdown. He also had an explosive catch that set up Jason Myers’ would-be game-winning field goal. Henderson has special teams versatility as a gunner and returner, which Ricky White III really does not from the returner perspective. There may be a slim chance Henderson makes the roster, but I think he has earned a practice squad spot.
Michael Dickson even dominates the preseason
When R Mason Thomas got through the line it looked like he was going to swat Dickson’s punt into the stands. Dickson pinned the Chiefs inside the 5 instead. There’s no one in the league doing it better than Dickson. He is as great a punter as there is in the NFL.
Seattle Seahawks Losers
Are you worried about Jason Myers yet?
Combining field goals and PATs, Jason Myers went 3/8 in preseason. He missed more than half of his kicks! Luckily he’s built up equity up into the stratosphere when much lesser kickers would be out of a job by now, but this is not a nothing slump he’s in right now. Myers is knuckle-balling makeable kicks well wide for reasons I don’t understand. This is a contract year for Myers and it is starting inauspiciously for someone who’s been so reliable over the past few seasons.
Myers was huge for Seattle throughout last season, particularly against the Indianapolis Colts and in the Super Bowl. Kickers at any level and of any ability can decline abruptly and precipitously. I want this to be an August funk and not something that bleeds into games that matter.
Logan Brown was “don’t bring back to the practice squad” bad
Brown’s brutal preseason continued with multiple pressures allowed and a strip sack given up to R. Mason Thomas. He offered up almost nothing as a run blocker, either. There’s no way he will make the 53 as a swing tackle.
Uso Seumalo is a nice story, but…
…He is not an NFL level defensive tackle. The Seahawks are not going to have any UDFA rookies on this roster, which is hardly the end of the world given the perceived weakness of the entire draft, let alone the undrafted. Seumalo had some intrigue as a big body who could take up space, control gaps, and be effective against the run. Pick any running play and he’s likely getting driven back several yards. I’m not even sure he’s going to be on the practice squad.
Don’t even try to deeply assess the run game
The third and fourth-string offensive line did not open up many holes for Jacardia Wright. Outside of Beau Stephens and maybe one of Christian Haynes or Bryce Cabeldue, most of the guys who played tonight are not on this roster by Sunday. At least there was some late traction toward the end of the game.
Julian Hicks… whoo boy that was bad
Two drops and a penalty on special teams. I hope he has a great backup plan for his career.
Final Notes
Why was Elijah Arroyo playing so much? I get that he was with Darnold and Lock and Milroe in training camp, but I wasn’t expecting him to get deep first half snaps in the final game, too. It was a little nervy seeing him come up grabbing his right wrist after falling awkwardly on a pass interference.
Bryce Cabeldue got some late game snaps as a center, which continues what happened last year when he was primarily a G/C.
Jalan Gaines made a great backside pursuit play to stop a 3rd and goal touchdown at the 1. I think he’ll be another practice squad stash after a solid camp and preseason.
Aidan Hubbard had a “better late than never” best showing of August, showing an impressive motor and generating a couple of pressures.
I thought Andre Fuller had some good reps as a tackler, and he could’ve had an interception if not for the ball bouncing off his hands. It will be fascinating to see if Seattle is able/wants to roster either Fuller or Michael Dansby.
Shout out to the 12s for coming out in droves for a preseason road game! Did you hear the SEA-HAWKS chants come through?
It’s roster cuts weekend. Seattle typically tends to wait until the deadline to announce the initial 53-man roster, so don’t expect a ton to happen on Saturday, but a lot of movement on Sunday up until (and maybe after) the 3 pm PT deadline.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - AUGUST 15: General Manager Brett Veach of the Kansas City Chiefs watches from the sidelines prior to the preseason game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on August 15, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
By 5 p.m. (Arrowhead Time) on Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs must reduce their 90-man active roster by 38 players in order to get it down to the in-season limit of 53 players.
The team will eventually release a complete list of all of its moves — but until then, news about some of them will trickle out. Here, we’ll track all the roster moves Kansas City is reported to have made.
With each new report, we’re also updating our Chiefs roster page, so you can easily see how many players are left in each position group.
We’re awaiting the 53-man roster that will attempt to bring the Chiefs back to the postseason. Currently, Kansas City has -176 odds to make the playoffs, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
How roster changes are made
When players with fewer than fouraccrued seasons are cut, they have been waived. (Players acquire an accrued season when they are on a team’s active roster, its Reserve/Injured list, or its Reserve/PUP list for at least six games in a given season).
When players with at least four accrued seasons are cut, they have been released. They immediately become free agents.
Waived players may be claimed by another team, which then assumes the balance of their contract. The team that had the most recent draft’s first pick has precedence over waiver claims from all other teams. The team with the most recent draft’s 32nd pick has precedence over waiver claims from no other teams — and so on.
If a waived player isn’t claimed by noon on Monday, they become free agents.
Players can also be waived with an injury designation — commonly referred to as waived/injured. If these players go unclaimed, they automatically revert to the team’s Reserve/Injured list. This has already happened with prior cuts of tackle Matt Waletzko and wide receiver Jeff Caldwell.
That is one of three Reserve lists that do not count against the 53-man limit. The other two are the Reserve/PUP (physically-unable-to-perform) and Reserve/NFI (non-football-injury) lists. Players on the latter two lists at the final cutdown must miss at least four regular-season games before being activated to the roster, which occurs when they pass a physical. Defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott — who missed all of training camp recovering from a torn ACL from 2025 — is the only player eligible for the Reserve/PUP list.
The salaries for players on a team’s Reserve/PUP and Reserve/Injured lists count against the salary cap. Outside of first- and second-round picks, most players without veteran status can see their base salary cut in half while on reserve lists at the discretion of the team. Salaries for players on Reserve/NFI are not paid (unless a contract provision specifies otherwise).
Players placed on Reserve/Injured in the offseason (up through the final cutdown day) must miss the whole season. If a player is placed on Reserve/Injured after the final cutdown day, they may be designated for return after they have missed at least four games.
But on final cutdown day, a team may declare up to two players being placed on its Reserve/Injured list as being eligible to be treated as if they are placed on Reserve/Injured after the final cutdown.
Teams may make only eight designations for return during a given season — a limit that is extended to 10 if the team appears in the postseason. If a team labels a player as eligible for return at the final cutdown, it counts against this limit — even if the player is never actually designated for return.
Players designated for return from Reserve/Injured are eligible to practice with the team for up to 21 days. At any time during that period, they may be activated to the roster. If they are not, they must remain on the Reserve list for the remainder of the season.
Finally… players may be removed from the roster by being traded to another team. Just like with a waiver claim, the player’s new team assumes their existing contract, which counts against their cap. But any money that has already been paid to the traded (or waived) player (such as signing and workout bonuses) must be carried against the original team’s cap.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 28: Jonah Heim #15 of the Athletics watches his solo home run during the bottom of the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Sutter Health Park on August 28, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Athletics opened their three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Mark Kotsay Bobblehead Night at Sutter Health Park. The A’s fought back late from an early deficit, only to fall to a 4-3 defeat in a closely contested 10-inning matchup.
Orioles Strike First:Lopez Labors
In the top of the second inning, left fielder Dylan Beavers’ two-out RBI single following a hit batter and a walk gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead. The next batter, Orioles catcher Carlos Narváez, hit a slow comebacker that A’s starter Jacob Lopez fielded errantly, allowing the visitors second run of the inning to score.
Jacob Lopez bobbles the inning-ending squibber and gets mowed down on a scary collision down the first base line. 😬 #Athleticspic.twitter.com/kNK6iJCnGx
If Lopez had flipped the ball to his first baseman, the inning would have been over, but the A’s pitcher unsuccessfully tried to do it all himself. The Orioles had a chance to score more, but the A’s threw Beavers out at home on a wacky play to finally end that inning.
A’s Offense Wastes Chance to Respond
In the bottom of the second, A’s first baseman Tommy White and designated hitter Max Muncy hit back-to-back singles, putting runners on the corners with one out. The Athletics failed to capitalize on their first scoring opportunity, as Orioles starter Brandon Young retired the next two hitters to keep the hosts off the scoreboard.
Lopez Gutsy Start
Lopez rebounded with three straight scoreless innings, preventing his team’s deficit from increasing. He allowed two runs, one earned on three hits over five innings, walking three and striking out six in a gutsy outing considering how poorly his second inning went.
The A’s offense gave Lopez no run support. Young allowed just three singles over his first five innings of work, taking full advantage of the A’s aggressive approach at the plate to record a string of quick outs.
Game Rolls Along: A’s Waste Another Chance
Right-handed reliever Scott Blewett replaced Lopez in the sixth inning and worked two scoreless frames.
In the top of the sixth, Baltimore stranded two runners in scoring position. With two outs in the bottom of that inning, A’s third baseman Zack Gelof recorded an infield single before stealing second base. Young escaped the jam by getting White to fly out, stranding two on base.
Heim Time
Catcher Jonah Heim ensured that the A’s would not be shut out. With two outs in the seventh, Heim hit his 12th home run of the season, a solo shot to right field off Young that cut the Orioles’ lead in half.
A’s right-hander Luis Medina pitched a scoreless eighth inning, keeping the momentum on his team’s side. The Orioles pulled Young after he pitched seven innings of one-run ball against the A’s injury-depleted offense.
Right-hander Rico Garcia entered from Baltimore’s bullpen to pitch the bottom of the eighth. He hit Bolte and then Jeff McNeil singled, setting the A’s up with a golden chance to tie or take the lead. Gelof’s sacrifice bunt moved both runners up 90 feet.
Right fielder Lawrence Butler came through, lining an opposite-field RBI single. Bolte scored to tie the game, but McNeil was thrown out attempting to score from second. Butler was stranded at second as the game entered the ninth inning tied at two.
The Athletics failed to walk it off in regulation, so the game went to extra innings. A’s left-hander Brady Basso got the first two outs of the tenth inning before giving up two straight RBI singles as the Orioles took a 4-2 lead.
Facing Orioles right-hander Alex Hoppe, Gelof lined a two-out RBI single to make it a 4-3 game. The second run Basso allowed loomed large, as Hoppe retired Butler to secure his first major-league save.
The Athletics put up a nice fight tonight to force extra innings before falling short once again. They have recorded just three walk-off wins this season, with the last coming on June 19.
Tomorrow, the A’s will look to get back in the win column and force a rubber game on Sunday. The Green and Gold have not announced their starter, while the Orioles will send right-hander Shane Baz to the mound with a series win in mind.
Aug 28, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Edmundo Sosa (33) runs the bases after hitting a grand slam home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
An erratic first inning by Andrew Painter was rectified as the Philadelphia Phillies (75-60) sent nine men to the plate in the top of the ninth inning against the Los Angele Angels (52-83) to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat.
The Halos scored all of their runs in a first inning that saw Painter throw 28 pitches, which included three pair of walks, singles, and wild pitches.
Painter settled down, allowing just one additional base runner on a walk in the sixth inning, which was erased by a double play.
The Phillies finally got on the board against Reid Detmers in the top of the fifth with a pair of singles by Alec Bohm and Bryan De La Cruz and an RBI-bunt hit by Derek Hill.
Derek Hill tocó la bola hacia la inicial, sin embargo, pudo llegar quieto y Alec Bohm anotó la primera de los #Phillies. Ahora, Los #Angelinos ganan 3-1 en el Angel Stadium. 🔥
Angels’ closer, Ben Joyce, put two men on base, hitting Bohm with a 3-1 fastball and walking Justin Crawford after an eight-pitch at bat. Bryson Stott hit a full count fast ball over the fence in the right field corner that Wade Meckler retrieved with a spectacular jumping catch.
Quality start for Painter. Bullpen took down 3 scoreless. Angels right fielder Wade Meckler made one of the defensive plays of the season. This team doesn’t say die until the 27th out.
After walking JT Realmuto to load the bases, the Angels brought in lefty, Sammy Peralta, to pitch to Brandon Marsh, who Don Mattingly replaced with Edmundo Sosa for the matchup advantage. Sosa sent a 1-1 changeup over the wall in straightaway center for his sixth home run of the season and first career grand slam to swing a two run deficit into a two run lead.
It was the Phillies’ first pinch hit ninth inning grand slam since Ozzie Virgil, Jr. in 1983.
Jonathan Bowlan took closer duty from a resting Jhoan Duran and worked through a two on, one out jam to shut the door for his second save of the season after a hit-by-pitch and a rare error by Luis Arraez. Jose Alvarado and Alex McFarlane each pitched a scoreless inning.
Cristopher Sanchez will look to build on his MLB-leading 16 wins tomorrow night as he faces off against Ryan Johnson.
