CANADA - MAY 06: Baseball: Baltimore Orioles Cal Ripken Jr, (8) in action vs Toronto Blue Jays Jesse Barfield (23), Toronto, CAN 1/1/1983--5/6/1983 (Photo by Jerry Wachter/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X28431)
43 Years Ago
This game stands out vividly in my memory—and I’m certain everyone who watched it remembers it just as well.
Orioles left-handed reliever Tippy Martinez famously picked off three Blue Jays in the top of the tenth inning.
There was a bit of backstory. The Jays were up 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth. The Jays scored a run in the third on a Garth Iorg sac fly. In the fifth, Lloyd Moseby scored on an error by Orioles’ third baseman Todd Cruz. And, in the top of the eighth, Barry Bonnell scored on a Buck Martinez sac fly.
As the bottom of the ninth began, starter Jim Clancy was still on the mound. These days, a starting pitcher going that deep into a game feels almost mythical. Clancy started 34 games that year, completed 11, and pitched 223 innings. He retired the first batter, then allowed a bunt single to John Shelby. Pinch hitter Gary Roenicke struck out, and Lenn Sakata walked, putting the tying run on base.
Bobby Cox brought in lefty reliever Dave Geisel. That season, the team lacked a true shutdown closer. Randy Moffitt led with 10 saves, and three other pitchers recorded between five and nine. Geisel finished with five saves. Having a reliable closer would have made a difference that year.
The Orioles pinch-hit for their catcher, Joe Nolan, with Benny Ayala. Ayala, a bat-first player without a true position, had struggled in 1983, hitting just .221/.287/.404 with four home runs. The move was surprising—Nolan had already pinch-hit for starting catcher Rick Dempsey, leaving the team without a backup. But with two outs and down by two runs, manager Joe Altobelli gambled on Ayala’s right-handed bat against a lefty. These days, no manager would risk removing their last catcher for a pinch-hitter.
Ayala singled, Shelby scored, and the tying run advanced to second. Left-handed hitter Al Bumbry followed, singling home the tying run. Geisel was then replaced by Joey McLaughlin, who finally ended the inning.
So, heading into the tenth inning, the Orioles found themselves without a catcher. Lenn Sakata, who had an 11-year career and had never played the position before—or since—was pressed into service behind the plate.
Cliff Johnson led the top of the tenth with a home run off Orioles reliever Tim Stoddard. We were up 4-3. Barry Bonnell followed with a single. Out goes Stoddard, and in comes lefty Tippy Martinez.
Martinez was known for his excellent pickoff move to first, but the Jays were eager to run on Sakata. Before Martinez even delivered a pitch, Bonnell broke for second. Martinez threw to first, then an easy toss to second caught Bonnell in a rundown. Out. Pick-off, caught stealing.
Dave Collins drew a walk—he had 31 steals that season. Before Martinez even threw a second pitch to Willie Upshaw, he picked Collins off first base.
Upshaw singled—he’d already stolen a base in the game, but with ten steals and seven times caught that season, he was hardly a sure thing. In hindsight, we would have preferred he stayed put. From the dugout, Bobby Cox bellowed, “Don’t take a leadoff! Keep a foot on first base!” and even threatened to fire the first base coach if Upshaw got picked off. Predictably, Upshaw was picked off moments later.
In the bottom half, Cal Ripken and Lenn Sakata both homered, delivering the Orioles an improbable victory. The defeat dropped the Jays to 70-56, fourth place and 2.5 games behind the division-leading Brewers. The Orioles improved to 70-52, just half a game out of first. Had the Jays held on, there would have been a three-way tie for second. The race was tight: the Yankees sat in fifth at 68-56. We ultimately finished fourth at 89-73, nine games behind the Orioles—who went on to win the World Series that year.
1983 was our first season as a legitimate contender. The year before, we’d gone 78-84, so this was an 11-game improvement. Our first playoff appearance would come two years later, in 1985.
Buck Martinez talks about the inning here:
This still hurts, 37 years later. #Orioles were forced to use their utility infielder, Lenn Sakata, at catcher in the 10th and #Bluejays seemed to be a little too excited about that. Narrated by Back-In-The-Day Buck!!! https://t.co/UUj1Em68tL
On this day 125 years ago, the White Sox inked Wiley Piatt to help with their pennant push. | (Photo by Chicago Sun-Times/Chicago Daily News collection/Chicago History Museum/Getty Images)
1901 The White Sox signed Wiley Piatt, who had been released by the Philadelphia A’s in July. The left-handed starter pitched well down the stretch for the first-place White Sox, going 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA and 1.084 WHIP, good for 0.4 WAR over seven games (six starts). The 1902 season was more of a setback for Piatt, going 12-12 with a sub-league average ERA of 3.51 and a 1.337 WHIP, good for 1.0 WAR.
Piatt jumped to the National League’s Boston club for 1903, his final season in the majors.
1910 It was a noteworthy publicity stunt. With the White Sox in Washington, D.C., catcher Billy Sullivan caught a ball tossed off of the top of the Washington Monument from pitcher Ed Walsh. Sullivan caught three balls in 11 attempts, with each ball whistling down 555 feet at faster than 100 mph.
Two months later, Sullivan opted out of a challenge to catch a baseball tossed from an airplane flying at a thousand feet. According to the Associated Press, the backstop said, “I might as well try to stop a bullet as be on the receiving end of [a baseball] from an airplane.”
1919 A thrown World Series makes it tempting to disregard the accomplishments of the 1919 club, who at 88-52 and a .629 winning percentage remain the second-best in White Sox history. On this day, a 4-1 victory over the Yankees ran Chicago’s winning streak to a season-high 10 games, landing the team at 72-39 — on pace to sneak ahead of 1917 as the best-ever Sox club. The win kept the future Black Sox six games on top of the American League, and while that lead would melt to 3 1⁄2 by season’s end, this hot streak essentially assured the Pale Hose a second pennant in three seasons.
1985 One day after he had put the seventh and last-ever home run into the center-field bleachers at Comiskey Park, George Bell crushed a sixth-inning pitch from Tom Seaver over the roof as part of a 6-3 Toronto win. Seaver had thrown five scoreless innings with just three singles before Bell’s solo blow opened scoring. The Blue Jays battered Tom Terrific for two more in the seventh and three in the eighth to ice the game.
The White Sox made a last-ditch effort to get back in the game, however, which resulted in another oddity: They led off the bottom of the ninth, down 6-0, with three straight solo shots, from Rudy Law, Bryan Little and Harold Baines.
2008 One thing White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski had going for him was his brain. A.J. was always thinking, always trying to get into the heads of the opposition, and always willing to try something to gain an advantage.
On this day, his quick thinking directly led to the Sox winning a game — in the middle of a pennant race — that perhaps they shouldn’t have.
The Sox were tied with Tampa Bay, 5-5, in the bottom of the 10th inning when A.J. led off with a single. He was on second when Jermaine Dye hit a ground ball to Tampa’s Jason Bartlett. Pierzynski made a poor read and broke on contact, only to be caught in a rundown. However, obstruction was called on third baseman Willy Aybar by umpire Doug Eddings when A.J., caught in a pickle, stuck his arm out and made contact with Aybar after Aybar had already made a throw. The ruling was that even though Pierzynski initiated the contact, it was the responsibility of Aybar to get out of A.J’s way.
A.J. was awarded third base, and eventually scored the winning run on a single by Alexei Ramírez.
The short slate for MLB tonight has us eyeing the later-evening matchups out west.
Chief among them, the Arizona Diamondbacks measure up well against Chicago Cubs right-hander Kevin Gausman as the clubs kick off a series in the desert.
Our MLB expert picks break down a trio of moneyline predictions below on Monday, Aug. 24.
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Gausman relies heavily on his four-seam fastball at the top of the zone before deploying his splitter below the knees as his primary put-away pitch. Corbin Carroll and Lars Nootbaar, who hit near the top of Arizona's lineup, are disciplined hitters who won't likely chase splitters at the bottom of the zone or in the dirt. If they lay off that pitch, Gausman will challenge them with fastballs in the zone.
Gausman is also vulnerable to speed on the basepaths and has a history of allowing stolen bases. Arizona's combination of plate discipline and aggressive baserunning could put pressure on the veteran righty throughout.
The Diamondbacks are trading at 44 cents on Polymarket, but I price them closer to 47 cents, giving us an edge at the current price.
The San Diego Padres are on an absolute tear, winning 11 of their last 14 games after sweeping the Twins over the weekend.
The offense has been the driving force, as the Friars have scored 21 runs across their last three games.
Robbie Ray goes for San Diego tonight, and he's owned this Pittsburgh Pirates lineup throughout his career, punching them out at a 33% clip while holding them to a .147 xBA and .208 xwOBA.
Yes, Braxton Ashcraft has been stellar, but I'm giving the Padres the edge, and would play it up to 54 cents at Polymarket.
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
How to watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh, Padres.TV
Jason Wilson's expert pick: A's moneyline
Price: 41¢ (+144) at Polymarket
This prediction largely comes down to the Minnesota Twins being favored too heavily over the Athletics.
A's starter Jeffrey Springs hasn't been good this season, and these same Twins bludgeoned him to the tune of four earned runs in just 1 1/3 innings on July 26. However, a spell on the injured list may have helped, as he performed better against the Royals in his most recent start.
But Twins starter Zebby Matthews shouldn't be widening the gap here. The right-hander still has potential, but he's been absolutely dragged by the long ball, allowing 19 home runs in 96 2/3 innings. His 1.77 HR/9 is 12th-highest among starters who have thrown at least 90 innings.
Granted, Springs' 2.30 is the highest. So, if you're hesitant to invest in the A's and their homer-prone southpaw from a value perspective, the Over 10.5 at 54 cents is your next best option.
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.
A view of Wrigley Field during the 2025 Postseason | | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cubs fans and fans across the country.
The Cubs have 31 games remaining in the 2026 regular season.
They enter Monday’s action six games behind the Brewers in the NL Central. So while catching the Brewers is still mathematically possible, it’s seeming more and more of a longshot with each passing day.
Thus we turn our attention to a potential Wild Card Series matchup. The Cubs currently are the top Wild Card team and if they can hold that spot, they’d host a Wild Card series, as they did last year against the Padres.
The three teams closest to the Cubs in the wild card race are the Phillies (two games back), Padres (four games back) and Diamondbacks (six games back).
So today’s question is: Which of these teams would you most want the Cubs to face in a Wild Card Series? Of course, having home field for such a series is important and the Cubs currently hold the tiebreaker over Philadelphia and San Diego, and one win vs. the D-backs this week would clinch that tiebreaker as well.
Vote in the survey and I’ll post the final results here later this week.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 17: Brett Gardner #11 of the New York Yankees is held back by coach Reggie Willits #50 of the Yankees as he argues with umpire Todd Tichenor after Gardner was ejected for pounding a bat on the dugout ceiling complaining about the umpiring in the 6th inning in an MLB baseball game against the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City on August 17, 2019. Yankees won 6-5. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“If I was a coach, I’d be like, ‘This kid’s not going to cut it.’” So said Brett Gardner, thinking back on when he tried out for the baseball team at the College of Charleston. Perhaps because he could not hit the ball out of the infield.
But in an archetypal underdog success story, Gardner went on to play in the major leagues, for the New York Yankees of all teams, for 14 years. Over the course of his career he earned an All-Star nod, notched a Gold Glove, and most importantly, won a World Series. Kevin from 2009 never would’ve expected he’d be sitting here 17 years later waiting for another Yankee title.
Name: Brett Gardner Born: August 24, 1983 (Holly Hill, SC) Yankees Tenure: 2008-2021
There really were legitimate questions about whether Gardner would ever hit enough to keep him in the lineup on a regular basis. He debuted with the Yankees in 2008, three years after they drafted him in the Amateur Draft. For a more robust look at Gardner’s career check out his entry in the Top 100 Yankees of All-Time.
In his first exposure to big league pitching, he was completely overmatched. Neither his OBP nor his SLG topped .300 by the end of the season. Despite that, his speed and defense (1.3 dWAR in 42 games) strongly hinted that at the very least, Gardy would kick around the big leagues for a while. Speed and defense never go out of style. By the summer of 2009, it was apparent that his defense really played, along with his wheels. Dave Cameron at FanGraphs noted:
“If Gardner really does have one of the best throwing arms in baseball, then there’s really no way that New York can justify keeping him out of the starting line-up on a regular basis. He’s already one of the best base stealers in the game (30 for 33), and his +10.6 range runs 600 innings as a major league center fielder suggest he might be an elite defensive player even without the crazy throwing.”
That fall, Gardy and the Yanks won the only championship of Gardner’s career, knocking off the Phillies in six games. After Melky Cabrera hurt his hamstring in the Fall Classic, Gardner stepped into a starting role for the final two games.
From 2010 on, you could pencil Gardner into the lineup. Outside of 2012 (injury) and 2020 (COVID), he played at least 140 games every season for the rest of his career. The 2010 season saw him rack up 7.4 bWAR (thanks to an AL-leading 3.4 dWAR) and stole 47 bags. The next season, he paced the AL with 49 thefts. Gardner could absolutely fly in his younger years. If you’re a visual learner, here’s Gardy stealing five bags in a 2010 doubleheader against Boston.
Gardner was there in those muddled years in the early-to-mid-2010s, an important part of the Yankee roster every year. By the time the “Baby Bomber” era arrived in 2017, Gardy was already a grizzled vet (he turned 34 that August). Alas, though the Yanks made deep playoff runs in 2017 and 2019, Gardner never returned to the World Series after 2009. In 2017, however, one of my personal favorite Gardner moments occured, his dramatic ninth inning three-run home run at Wrigley Field with the Yankees down to their final strike.
Gardner last played for the Yankees in 2021. Other teams checked in with him about his interest, but Gardy only wanted to play for the Yankees. He’s one of the most elite defensive players in the history of the franchise and, sitting at third on the leaderboard, one of its most prolific base stealers.
Unfortunately, Gardner’s post-playing days have been marred by tragedy. His son Miller died of carbon monoxide poisoning in March 2025 in Costa Rica. The Yankees held a moment of silence for Miller prior to Opening Day 2025.
I have fond memories of Gardner’s career, in no small part because I saw him win a World Series. And when he was on, the Yankees were on. From my Gardner entry for the Top 100:
“When Gardy was hitting, the Yankees were winning. In the 981 games the Yanks won during his career, he smashed 100 of his 139 home runs, hit .284 compared to .218 in 707 losses, and posted an OPS more than 200 points higher in victory (.825 to .621).”
Happy birthday, Brett Gardner. It turns out you did cut it, after all.
Milltown vs. Sayreville in the District 10 Little League baseball final on Monday, July 8, 2019. Little League baseball | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
The Little League World Series is taking place in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, with the championship to be played this Sunday. Long before many of us became Royals fans, most of us were probably Little Leaguers ourselves. For many of us, this was the extent of our baseball careers. It may have been when you had your greatest athletic achievement. You may have met your best friend on your team. Or maybe it was a miserable experience!
Experiences differ, but there are some common features to Little League. Uniforms emblazoned with corporate logos of local businesses. Orange slices after games. The big kid that seems three years too old to be in the league.
With the Little League World Series in full swing, on this Royals off day, I thought I’d ask about something a little more nostalgic – what do you remember about playing Little League?
I played in Blue Springs at Pink Hill Park and Blue Springs Park. I came to baseball a bit late at age 10, and its hard to catch onto a team at that point, so my dad coached me and a team of cast-offs. We won one game in 16 tries. The next year I caught on with another team (no, my dad did not designate me for assignment). We won one game in 16 tries. TCBY was our sponsor. They had The Country’s Best Yogurt, but also The City’s Worst Baseball Team.
But being on a terrible team meant that I got a lot of playing time, particularly at pitcher and catcher. And I got pretty good! Eventually I got picked up by a decent team (Stone Container!) and we would beat every team in the league except the travel teams, who would beat our brains in.
I was once one out away from throwing an no-hitter when a kid reached on a bunt single (we did not have the unwritten rules back then). That was the apex of my athletic achievement! It was all downhill from there when I got to high school and realized everyone could hit my curveball. But the memories of playing as a kid will last a lifetime.
Tell us about your team, your coaches, your teammates, your field, and, most importantly, the stories you still remember decades later. Any teammates you remember? Did you play against anyone that went on to notoriety (I once looked up at the opposing third base coach’s box and saw John Wathan, who had been fired as Royals manager the year before). Who sponsored your uniforms? Were there any amazing moments? Sage advice from coaches?
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 12: Kevin Alvarez #17 of the Houston Astros runs home in the seventh inning during the 2026 MLB All-Star Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | 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 (66-59) lost 1-0 (BOX SCORE)
Mayer started for Sugar Land and pitched really well tossing 5.1 scoreless innings with 7 strikeouts. The pen pitched well as the game went to extras and in the 10th, the Comets got a run to take the lead. The Sugar Land offense was unable to get anything going as they fell 1-0 in the series finale.
Note: Mayer has 112 K over 83.1 innings this season.
Christian Roa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Roddery Munoz, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Michael Knorr, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (57-63) won 3-1 (BOX SCORE)
The Hooks got on the board in the first inning on a Bush RBI single. Hicks started for the Hooks and went 5 innings allowing 1 run while striking out 5. The game stayed tied until the 8th inning with Thomas connected on a 2 run home run. The pen was great tossing 4 scoreless innings as they closed out the 3-1 win.
A+: Asheville Tourists (41-77) lost 12-1 (BOX SCORE)
Howard started for Asheville and went 5.1 innings allowing 3 runs, 1 earned, while striking out 7 batters. Asheville got on the board in the 6th scoring a run on an error. The pen struggled allowing 9 runs over the final two innings and the offense was unable to score again as Asheville fell 12-1.
Note: Howard has 77 K over 88 innings this season.
Ardines got the start and tossed 4 innings allowing 2 runs while striking out 5. The offense got on the board in the 4th on a Piasecki 2 run single. In the 5th, the offense added 2 more runs on a Hughes bases loaded hit by pitch and a De Leon steal of home. The offense got 2 more runs in the 7th inning on a Hughes RBI double and Nowak RBI single. Carrera tossed 3 scoreless innings as he closed out the 6-2 win.
Note: Ardines has 74 K in 64.1 innings this season.
The Woodpeckers got the scoring started in the first inning on a Cauro sac fly. Weber started for the Woodpeckers and pitched well allowing 1 run over 4 innings while striking out 5. In the 4th inning, Alvarez connected on a solo home run. The offense would break it open a bit in the 6th inning scoring 4 runs on a Hughes solo home run, run on a wild pitch and a Soto 2 run double. The bullpen pitched well tossing 3 scoreless innings as they closed out the
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 19: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with Luis Arraez #4 against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on August 19, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Which players does one choose when the entire team doesn’t lose a game all week? It doesn’t just mean those who had good weeks. It also applies to those that had a rough stretch as well as there weren’t many.
It was just a really good stretch of baseball.
Three up
Luis Arraez – It’s kind of impressive what adding a hitter like Arraez can do for a lineup. Since his trade from the Giants, he has injected some new kind of life into the lineup that has really changed this season. A moribund offense prior, they all seem to have taken what he does at the plate and adapted it for themselves. There will be talk of giving him an extension once the season is over and there is some fairness to thinking that might be a good idea, but let’s just enjoy these two months remaining before getting into all that.
Bryce Harper – Harper’s stated desire to have somewhere between 140-150 walks on the season might have sounded foolish at the time, but it sure seems like he is going for it now. His OBP of .500 for the month of August has given the Phillies a boost. His getting on base (and more importantly, the production behind him) have paced the offense these last few games.
Andrew Painter – There have been multiple stories written since Saturday about how good Painter actually was in his start, but it’s the stuff modeling gurus that really turned out. Check anyoneyou want on social media and they’ll all pretty much agree – it was the best his stuff has looked this year both from the naked eye and from a data point of view.
Three down
Jonathan Bowlan – The trade that the team made this offseason to get Bowlan from the Royals in exchange for Matt Strahm truly could not have gone better. Bowlan has been excellent for the Phillies, discovering some zip on his fastball, executing a truly dominant slider and elevating himself to being one of the team’s trusted setup men. As for Strahm, all of the things that he was defying in Philadelphia (giving up home runs, lack of strikeout stuff) all caught up to him in Kansas City, leading to a disastrous season in which he found himself DFAed. Even as Bowlan struggled a bit this week (maybe he’s getting a little tired this late in the year), it’s hard to find this season anything but an unmitigated success.
Jesus Luzardo – Listen, I’m grasping at straws here. His last start this week wasn’t all that great, but he’s been awesome this year and was due a clunker.
Bryson Stott – You can’t have everyone clicking on offense at the same time. Pretty sure there is some kind of baseball law against that. This week, it was Stott’s turn to struggle, going 2 for 22 on the week, then having the rumbly tumblies on Sunday while Kyle Schwarber was walking the Cardinals off the field.
The Kansas City Royals just completed a perfect homestand, the fourth in franchise history, by sweeping the Detroit Tigers and extending their winning streak to eight games, the longest active streak in the AL. Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco break down why this stretch felt different and whether it means anything for the faintest of postseason hopes.
The offense was the story all weekend. Kansas City posted a .915 team OPS, a .312 batting average, and 6.7 runs per game across the Athletics and Tigers series, with contributions coming from nearly every spot in the order. Kyle Isbel, Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez, Nick Loftin, Carter Jensen, and John Rave all factored in, and Rave’s weekend in particular stands out with a homer, two stolen bases, and five RBI. Salvador Perez even stole a base for the first time in five years, giving the clubhouse and fanbase one of the more memorable moments of the season.
Pasquantino’s swing quality has looked significantly better since returning from injury, and Jacob and Jeremy dig into the bat speed, attack angle, and max exit velocity trends behind the improvement. Jac Caglianone was scratched with ankle soreness, a move both hosts view as precautionary given the timing of an off day and the stretch ahead. The bullpen remains a real concern, particularly after Sunday’s game unraveled once Daniel Lynch IV exited, and the closer carousel involving Nate Pearson, Steven Cruz, and Craig Kimbrel adds another layer of uncertainty heading into the final stretch.
The minor league system continues to build momentum, with strong outings from Hunter Owen, production from Ben North, and Carson Roccaforte’s promotion all worth watching. The episode closes with a stadium financing update after Mayor Quinton Lucas suggested the Royals’ plan may still head to a public vote.
Boston, MA - May 14: Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story strikes out in the eighth inning. The Boston Red Sox played the Philadelphia Phillies at Fenway Park on May 14, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Wth the way the depth guys like Andruw Monesterio and Nick Sogard are raking this season in the Majors, there is nothing about the way Trevor Story and Isaiah Kiner-Falefa are hitting in Syracuse (Mets AAA) that makes me want them anywhere near a Major League roster. I know… small sample size. But, when a guy lauded as an addition to this roster puts in at-bats like the following, it makes me shudder. What was he doing swinging at that first pitch?
As a whole, the WooSox didn’t have it figured out at the plate. They got just two hits on the afternoon. One was from Franklin Arias. One was from Mikey Romero, who’s been playing third base with Story and IKF rehabbing. The WooSox were actually only down by 1 run late thanks to a scoreless 5 innings by certified Iron Man mop-up guy Raymond Burgos, but old friend Dom Smith took Seth Martinez deep in the 7th, and that essentially was all she wrote with this offensive slumber on Sunday.
The Sea Dogs also didn’t really have it at the plate in the finale against Reading (Phillies AA) but put up a good fight up via a pair of home runs in the second inning courtesy of Miguel Bleis (his 13th) and Henry Godbout. That fight lasted about five innings and then this game got out of striking distance in a hurry. This one was mercifully cut short in the seventh by a storm passing through the Maine coast. Roman Anthony was left without a hit on the afternoon, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
The bottom of the line-up each came through with a hit off Winston-Salem (White Sox High-A) pitching, including a returning Nazzan Zanetello; the former 2nd round draft pick is now batting in the nine-spot and back in the Greenville infield, and got his third home run with an electric “gone” call.
Nazzan Zanetello goes Apartment Hunting!
The Boston Red Sox prospect has three home runs and 10 RBI in High-A this season. pic.twitter.com/dIAwX1if3N
This was a three-run shot, sure, and the Drive led for a lot of this game, but the Dash got to the Greenville staff for ten runs in the seventh, a frame that saw fourteen Dash batters take the plate and shifted the Drive’s losing percentage from 15% to 98%.
Wilson (Brewers A) took Salem for a ride in a game that had some good, but much more of the bad and the ugly. The RidgeYaks allowed twenty-seven total bases and thirteen walks on the night. Salem had three extra-base hits of their own, but – stop me if you’ve heard this before today – it was really no match for the gruesome night the team had on the mound.
AUSTIN, TX - APRIL 19: Infielder Justin LeBron #1 of the Alabama Crimson Tide hits a single during the SEC baseball game between Texas Longhorns and Alabama Crimson Tide on April 19, 2026, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds used the 18th overall pick of the 2026 Major League Baseball draft on shortstop Justin Lebron from the University of Alabama, and the early returns from his selection sure do look promising.
The Reds brass assigned Lebron to High-A Dayton of the Midwest League in lieu of sticking him in the hitting abyss that is the Florida State League with Daytona, and the newest Dragon has hit the ground sprinting. He had a 2-hit debut nearly two weeks ago, and he’s somehow managed to get even hotter ever since.
Through 11 games and 49 plate appearances, Lebron is hitting a robust .333/.388/.733 (1.121 OPS), with much of that coming via a power outburst that has seen him sock 5 homers already. That has helped the overall Dragons surge to 153 homers for the season already – a new franchise record.
Lebron, who struggled more than most anyone expected against Southeastern Conference pitching during his final campaign in Tuscaloosa, once again looks completely locked in. His most recent dinger came on an inside heater in a 2-strike count, one he turned on with his patented quick hands and elite bat speed to pull over the wall in left field.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 22: Andrew Vaughn #28 of the Milwaukee Brewers hits a single against the New York Mets in the second inning at American Family Field on July 22, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers are set to face the Mets in New York this week, as the Crew looks to continue their winning ways. The Brewers, at 81-50 this season, sit firmly atop the NL Central after winning each of their last three series against the Dodgers, Mariners, and Braves. The Mets, at 59-72, sit at the bottom of the NL East with the sixth-worst record in baseball. They’ve actually been a bit better the last couple of weeks, with a 6-3 record against the Nationals, Padres, and White Sox.
Milwaukee’s lone position player on the IL is outfielder Sal Frelick, who is expected to return for this road trip. However, the team suffered a pair of injuries in Sunday’s Little League Classic, as outfielder Garrett Mitchell exited after being hit by a pitch with what was categorized as a right forearm contusion, and first baseman Jake Bauers, who has been playing with a toe fracture this season, fouled a ball off his leg/foot, though he remained in the game. It’s unclear if either player will miss more time, but overall, not the worst news on that front. On the mound, the Brewers are without Brandon Woodruff (potentially back before the end of the year after not needing surgery), JoJo Romero (late August), Abner Uribe (could be activated on Wednesday), Rob Zastryzny (TBD), Joel Kuhnel (late August), Brian Fitzpatrick (out for season), Quinn Priester (out for season), and Angel Zerpa (out for season).
The Mets are without first baseman Mark Vientos (on rehab assignment), outfielder Juan Soto (September), and infielder Jorge Polanco (out for season). Old friend Devin Williams is on the injured list with a shoulder strain that will keep him out until at least September. Fellow pitchers Cionel Pérez (September), Justin Hagenman (TBD), Tylor Megill (out for season), and Reed Garrett (out for season) are also out.
Jake Bauers leads the Brewer offense with 23 homers, 19 doubles, and 75 RBIs this season, as he’s slashing .273/.382/.503 in the best season of his career. Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, William Contreras, Joey Ortiz, and Andrew Vaughn are among the other key contributors in recent weeks, while veteran Christian Yelich continues to suffer from the bad-luck bug. Gary Sánchez, Garrett Mitchell, David Hamilton, Cooper Pratt, and Luis Lara are also in the regular mix, with Jonathan Ornelas serving as some infield depth. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .254/.337/.396 (.733 OPS ranks seventh), with 120 homers (last), 650 runs scored (fifth), and 129 steals (third).
With Soto out, Carson Benge, Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, Francisco Lindor, and Francisco Alvarez lead New York’s offense. Benge has 16 homers, 17 doubles, 53 RBIs, and 19 steals in what has been a solid season overall, while Bichette, Semien, and Lindor are all have down years by their standards. Jared Young, A.J. Ewing, Luis Robert Jr., and Brett Baty are also in the regular mix, with Christopher Morel, Luis Torrens, Eric Wagaman, and Cristian Pache rounding things out. As a team, the Mets are hitting .236/.307/.391 (.698 OPS ranks 26th), with 161 homers (ninth), 546 runs scored (23rd), and 68 steals (tied for 21st).
Aaron Ashby’s 61 appearances pace the Brewer bullpen, as he has a 3.33 ERA and 102 strikeouts over 73 innings this year. Trevor Megill has had the closer role on lock over the past few months, with a 2.34 ERA and 24 saves in 26 opportunities, and Uribe’s expected return will be a welcome site for the backend of the bullpen. Grant Anderson, Chad Patrick, and DL Hall also fit in the regular rotation of bullpen arms, with Antonio Senzatela and Bryse Wilson rounding the group out. The Brewers, who have been rolling with a six-man rotation for the last several weeks, may also add a new name to that group — likely either Robert Gasser or Shane Drohan — in the next week or so. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.42 team ERA (second), including a 3.48 starter ERA (fourth) and a 3.33 bullpen ERA (third). They’ve struck out 1,269 batters (second) over 1,171 1/3 innings.
With Williams injured, Kodai Senga, who started his career as a solid starter, has taken over the closer role, going 4-for-4 in that role. While Senga’s 7.79 season ERA looks terrible, he’s been much better of late, with a 2.45 ERA in eight August appearances (7 1/3 innings). Austin Warren (4.30 ERA), Daniel Duarte (1.17 ERA), and Jefry Yan (4.26 ERA) have also been in high-leverage roles since the team unloaded most of their bullpen at the deadline. Chayce McDermott (5.40 ERA over 3 1/3 IP), Nate Lavender (0.00 over 7 2/3 IP), Dedniel Núñez (7.36 ERA over 7 1/3 IP), and Jonathan Pintaro (4.05 ERA over 20 IP) round things out. As a staff, the Mets have a 4.07 team ERA (12th), including a 4.37 starter ERA (19th) and a 3.71 bullpen ERA (sixth). They’ve struck out 1,183 batters (sixth) over 1,165 2/3 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Tuesday, August 25 @ 6:10 p.m.: LHP Kyle Harrison (10-3, 2.84 ERA, 3.23 FIP) vs. LHP Zac Thornton (3-4, 3.04 ERA, 4.09 FIP)
Harrison, who has a 2.84 ERA and 3.23 FIP with 122 strikeouts over 98 1/3 innings this season, bounced back from a rough outing in San Diego to go five shutout frames against the Mariners on Tuesday, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out eight in Milwaukee’s 22-0 blowout victory. Harrison’s only appearance against the Mets came while with the Giants in 2024, when he got roughed up for five runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks, striking out six over five frames.
Thornton, 24, has turned in a solid rookie season with New York, making nine starts with a 3.04 ERA, 4.09 FIP, and 36 strikeouts across 50 1/3 innings. The left-hander went five innings in his last outing, taking the loss as he allowed three runs on six hits and a walk, striking out seven. Thornton picked up a win against Milwaukee in July, going six scoreless innings on three hits and a walk, striking out two.
Wednesday, August 26 @ 6:10 p.m.: RHP Dustin May (6-8, 4.57 ERA, 3.36 FIP) vs. RHP Robert Stock (0-2, 5.40 ERA, 4.10 FIP)
May has now made three starts in a Brewer uniform, and while the first two appearances were very good (13 total innings, three earned runs, 11 strikeouts), he got roughed up in a major way against the Mariners on Wednesday, allowing seven runs on seven hits and a pair of walks, striking out one over just two innings in Milwaukee’s 7-5 loss. May has four appearances (three starts) against the Mets in his career, with a 3.38 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 18 2/3 innings. That includes six scoreless frames with six strikeouts in a win while with the Cardinals in June.
Stock, 36, is a former second-round pick who spent some time with the Brewers organization back in 2023 (also appearing for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic that year). After debuting in 2018 with the Padres, he appeared with the Red Sox, Cubs, and Mets for brief stints through 2021 before spending some time overseas. He then made a pair of appearances with Boston last year before returning to the Mets this year. He’s made four starts thus far, with a 5.40 ERA, 4.10 FIP, and 19 strikeouts over 16 2/3 innings, though eight of the 10 earned runs he allowed came in a 9-0 loss to the Pirates in early August. Stock made two appearances (one start) against the Brewers in 2018 with the Padres and 2021 with the Mets, totaling five innings with two runs allowed and six strikeouts.
Thursday, August 27 @ 6:10 p.m.: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (13-5, 1.68 ERA, 2.14 FIP) vs. LHP Sean Manaea (4-5, 4.31 ERA, 4.53 FIP)
Misiorowski continues to shine, with a 13-5 record, 1.68 ERA, and 2.14 FIP with 216 strikeouts over 145 innings this season. The big right-hander worked six scoreless innings against the Braves on Friday afternoon, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out six in a 2-1 win. Miz has made two starts against the Mets, going 0-1 with six runs allowed (five earned) over 7 2/3 innings, striking out eight, though he went four innings with just an unearned run and six strikeouts in a no-decision in July.
Manaea, 34, is in his 11th MLB season with his fourth team. He’s made 27 appearances (13 starts) this season, with a 4.31 ERA, 4.53 FIP, and 117 strikeouts over 117 innings. The left-hander allowed four runs on five hits and two walks, striking out four over six frames in a no-decision against the White Sox his last time out. Manaea has made six career appearances (five starts) against Milwaukee, with a 6.00 ERA and 29 strikeouts across 27 frames.
How to Watch & Listen
Tuesday, August 25: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Wednesday, August 26: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Thursday, August 27: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
The Mets have had a truly dismal season, and the Brewers will be coming off a well-deserved off day to begin this series. Give me the Crew to win two of three once again.
Two scuffling teams meet in Motown tonight looking to break out of their respective funks when the Rays (77-53) take the field at Comerica Park against the Tigers (61-69). Tampa Bay continues to lead the AL East but their six-game lead has been cut in half as they have won just three of their last ten games. Detroit’s burst north in the AL Central standings following the Taryk Skubal trade was short lived as they have lost five in a row to fall to 3.5 back in the Wild Card chase and seven games back of the division-leading White Sox.
Tampa Bay hands the ball Drew Rasmussen (13-5, 3.01 ERA), one of the American League's most dominant starters. The righthander will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing against Toronto last Wednesday when he allowed five earned runs over five innings. Prior to that start, Rasmussen had been exceptional his previous five starts throwing 30 innings and allowing just four runners to cross home plate. Overall this season, Rasmussen has been more effective on the road than at home. His ERA is a sparkling 2.79 away from Tropicana Field
Detroit counters with veteran left-hander Framber Valdez (8-8, 4.35 ERA). Like the Tigers, Valdez has been beat up of late allowing eight earned runs in his last 11.1 innings across his last two starts. Prior to that, the southpaw had given up just four earned runs over his previous three starts (19 innings).
This is the fourth meeting of the season between these clubs. Detroit has won each of the first three games.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
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The Latest Odds: Rays vs. Tigers
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Tampa Bay Rays (-130), Detroit Tigers (+121)
Spread: Rays -1.5 (+123), Tigers +1.5 (-149)
Total: 7.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers and their Stats: Rays vs. Tigers for August 24
Javy Baez is 1-6 with 3 strikeouts in his career against Drew Rasmussen
Yandy Diaz is 3-12 with 5 BBs in his career against Framber Valdez
Cedric Mullins has gone yard once in 5 ABs in his career against Valdez
Kevin McGonigle was 4-12 with 1 HR and 4 RBIs over the weekend in Kansas City
Spencer Torkelson does not have a hit in his last 8GP (0-21)
Chandler Simpson is riding a 14-game hitting streak (24-59)
Yandy Diaz was 3-13 over the weekend at Baltimore
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Rays vs. Tigers
The Tigers are 65-65 on the Run Line this season
The Rays are 72-58 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 59 times in Tampa Bay’s 130 games this season (59-66-5)
The OVER has cashed 57 times in Detroit’s 130 games this season (57-67-6)
Expert picks & predictions: Rays vs. Tigers
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Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Rays and the Tigers:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Rays on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 7.5
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Aug 20, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell (5) reacts after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Last Week’s Results
Tuesday: Brewers 22, Mariners 0
Wednesday: Mariners 7, Brewers 5
Thursday: Brewers 7, Mariners 4
Friday: Brewers 2, Braves 1
Saturday: Brewers 4, Braves 1
Sunday: Braves 4, Brewers 2
Division Standings
Brewers 81-50
Cubs 75-56 (6 GB)
Cardinals 66-66 (15.5 GB)
Pirates 63-69 (18.5 GB)
Reds 62-69 (19 GB)
Last Week
Brewers: 4-2
Cubs: 3-3
Cardinals: 3-5
Pirates: 2-4
Reds: 3-5
Top Pitching Performance of the Week
It was a good week for the Brewer pitching staff: six different pitchers threw at least three innings without allowing a run, which included scoreless starts from Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison and a nice six-inning, one-run outing from Logan Henderson. But let’s put a little shine on DL Hall. Over three appearances out of the Brewer bullpen, Hall didn’t allow an earned run, and allowed an inherited runner to score on Sunday only when Andrew Vaughn misplayed a weak ground ball that should’ve been the third out. In 5 1/3 innings, Hall struck out seven, walked two, and didn’t allow a hit.
Top Hitting Performance of the Week
When a team scores 22 runs in one game, there are going to be some candidates here, but let’s highlight Garrett Mitchell. He only came to the plate 13 times this week, but in those 13 plate appearances Mitchell was 8-for-12 with a walk, a homer, two doubles, and three RBIs, giving him a not-too-shabby .667/.714/1.083 batting line for the week.
Let’s also highlight Luis Lara, who hit his first pro homer (who cares if it was against a position player) and had a clutch RBI triple on Sunday; David Hamilton, who was 5-for-12 with a homer and a double; William Contreras, who led the team with 10 hits in 21 at-bats this week; and Jake Bauers, the only Brewer to homer multiple times this week.
Injury Notes & Roster Moves
Speaking of Mitchell, he had to leave Sunday’s game after being hit on the forearm/wrist by a pitch. The official word was “right forearm contusion” and x-rays were negative, so it doesn’t sound like it’s anything serious.
Cooper Pratt completed his short stint on the injured list and was activated Wednesday. He replaced Brandon Lockridge on the roster, who was optioned to Triple-A Nashville.
Jihwan Bae, who was designated for assignment when the Brewers signed Jonathan Ornelas, was outrighted to Triple-A Nashville.
Bo Naylor very briefly made his “debut” with the Brewers on Sunday, when the team was allowed a 27th man for the “special event” Little League Classic. He did not play.
Sal Frelick continues to get at-bats at Triple-A; according to manager Pat Murphy, he is likely to be activated for the series with the Mets from Tuesday-Thursday this week.
In a shocker, news came out that Brandon Woodruff, in a major twist, does not need another surgery on his shoulder, and he’ll even begin a throwing program this week that could, conceivably, make him available to pitch before the season ends. Unlikely, but possible.
JoJo Romero, one of the Brewers’ deadline pickups, threw live batting practice on Friday and could start a rehab assignment this week.
Abner Uribe threw a bullpen on Tuesday and could be on track to rejoin the Brewers on Wednesday, when his minimum IL stint is reached.
The surging Philadelphia Phillies have won nine consecutive games and are -115 favorites to reach double digits tonight.
With a more in-form offense and an ace-caliber arm on the mound, my Phillies vs. Mariners predictions and MLB picks believe the value lies with the road team on Aug. 24.
Who will win Phillies vs Mariners today: Phillies (-115)
The Seattle Mariners own a putrid .259 wOBA vs. righties at home over the past month, ranking dead last in the majors.
Phillies vs Mariners Over/Under pick: Under 6.5 (+100)
The Mariners have faced eight arms who profile similarly to Wheeler, including Chase Burns, Cam Schlittler, and Dylan Cease. They scored five earned runs against the eight starters fitting the criteria.
They’ve had a miserable time going up in class against ace-caliber pitchers, and that should continue against Wheeler tonight.
Philadelphia has not hit for anywhere close to the same level of power on the road, besting only the Royals in OPS.
Gilbert should be able to limit the home runs in pitcher-friendly conditions, and that will help avoid bulk scoring.
Bet the Under to -113.
Phillies vs Mariners home run prediction: Bryce Harper (+475)
Gilbert combines to throw the fastball and slider more than 60% of the time against left-handed hitters. That sets up well for Bryce Harper, who hits those pitches extremely well.
Harper is sporting a ridiculous .552 ISO against right-handed fastballs, and he’s no slouch facing sliders (.382 wOBA, .229 ISO).
Nobody on the Phillies comes close to Harper’s outputs vs. that combination, making him an appealing buy at +475.
Bet to +450.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 88-80, -10.15 units
Over/Under bets: 86-76-6, -1.13 units
Phillies vs Mariners weather
Temperatures are expected to sit in the low 70s with winds blowing southeast. Favorable pitching conditions.
Phillies vs Mariners odds
Moneyline: Phillies -115 | Mariners -105
Run line: Phillies -1.5 (+160) | Mariners +1.5 (+190)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-120) | Under 6.5 (+100)
Phillies vs Mariners trend
Philadelphia has cashed the game total Under in 30 of their last 50 away games (+10.35 units, 19% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Mariners.
How to watch Phillies vs Mariners and game info
Location
T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
Date
Monday, August 24, 2026
First pitch
9:40 p.m. ET
TV
NBCSP,Mariners.TV
Phillies starting pitcher
Zack Wheeler (10-4, 2.92 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcher
Logan Gilbert (10-7, 3.35 ERA)
Phillies vs Mariners 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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