The chances of New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton playing in the regular season have become more unlikely as he suffered another lower leg injury, this time a moderate-grade strain in his left calf.
Stanton was already on the injured list with a right calf injury, and this latest setback happened while he was running the bases during his rehab stint.
The 36-year-old has not played since April 24, and in his 24 games played, he hit .256 with three home runs and 14 RBIs.
"We're not ruling anything out," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Saturday, Aug. 22. "He'll obviously continue to work to try to get it right and hopefully be available. But obviously we're at a point in the calendar where it gets challenging, but you also never know."
Even with the absence of Stanton and reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge, who has missed 70 games this season because of a right rib stress fracture, the Yankees' power surge hasn't gone away, as they lead the AL in home runs with 176, in part due to the emergence of designated hitter Ben Rice, who has 34 home runs.
Stanton has two seasons remaining on a 13-year, $325 million contract he signed in 2014 when he was with the Miami Marlins. Next year, he is due $25 million, and the 2028 season is a club option with a $10 million buyout.
"Obviously, I'm bummed for him," Boone said. "He's been working his tail off every day here trying to get this thing right. I think you all know how badly he wants to be on that field contributing to a championship, so obviously that's disappointing. Hopefully, we just continue to work to get him right and healthy."
New York entered Saturday with a 73-55 record, good for second place in the AL East, three games back of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Aug 15, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) reacts before a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Colin Hubbard-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Mauricio Dubón’s versatility continues to be a major asset for the Braves.
He’s playing second base for the second time this season for Saturday’s 2:10 p.m. ET game at the Milwaukee Brewers, giving Ozzie Albies a rare designated hitter day.
This is well timed because, as Scott Coleman pointed out, things have been trending down for awhile now for Albies.
Ozzie Albies has a 73 wRC+ since the first week of May. Approaching 400 plate appearances in that time. They'll likely pick up his final option for 2027 because it's so cheap, but I think we're just about done
Drake Baldwin is back atop the lineup against right-handed Brewers starter Logan Henderson, followed by Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson and Michael Harris II.
Albies, DHing for just the second time in his career (both this season), will hit fifth, followed by Dubón, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Riley and Jim Jarvis at shortstop.
This will be the first time anyone on the Braves’ roster has faced Henderson, who debuted last season and was on the injured list when Milwaukee traveled to Atlanta in June.
The Brewers are running back a similar lineup to the one from Friday’s series opener, making a few order swaps and bringing in Christian Yelich at DH after Gary Sanchez held the role on Friday.
Although Braves starter Martín Pérez is in his 15th major league season, only a handful of active Brewers have extensive experience against him. Sanchez (5-for-22 with two homers) is the only Milwaukee hitter with more than 14 career at-bats against Pérez.
Old friend William Contreras (4-for-10) actually has the best batting average on the team against Pérez aside from Joey Ortiz (3-for-4). Overall, the Brewers are a combined .281 against Pérez lifetime with six homers, three doubles, 18 RBIs, a .517 slugging percentage and .850 OPS.
Both Bellinger and Aaron Boone confirmed that the Yankees are expecting the slugger to be activated from the IL ahead of Sunday's series finale with the Blue Jays in the Bronx.
Bellinger has been sidelined just under a month due to a left hamstring strain.
He has been progressing his way back over the past few weeks, and the team expected that he'd be able to make his return before the end of this weekend.
Bellinger appeared in two rehab games, and has been deemed ready to come back.
"Very excited," Boone said. "He's had a very good rehab process here, and he's gotten tested well enough the past two nights and has gotten a handful of at-bats, so we feel like he's ready to roll."
Bellinger went 1-for-6 over his two Triple-A rehab games but was scorching hot before landing on the IL, hitting .322 with three doubles and a .903 OPS over his last 12 games.
Getting him back in the mix will certainly be a huge boost for a Yankees offense that's been operating without three of their top bats in Bellinger, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton.
Boone said we'll have to wait and see what the corresponding move and RF plan will be.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees looks on during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium on June 20, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The injuries have come in bunches for Giancarlo Stanton this season, and Saturday morning brought even more bad news for the veteran slugger. Stanton suffered a “moderate” left calf strain (not the right calf which he injured back in April, as Bryan Hoch reported) after falling while running. Although the Yankees don’t want to rule anything out, Aaron Boone told reporters he may not return this year.
The Yankees probably already had to prepare for the possibility that Stanton would be unable to contribute to their playoff run this October, and this news essentially seals the deal. The 36-year-old DH played in 24 of the first 26 team games this season, hitting .256/.302/.422 with three home runs before straining his right calf in Houston on April 24th. Since then, he’s struggled to get back into playing shape. In June, he tweaked that calf again, forcing him to miss more time. Now, with an injury to the other calf, his Murphy’s Law season continues.
There isn’t much to say other than, woof. It’s hard not to feel for Stanton, who has tried his best to return as a contributor for the stretch run; and we only need remember his exploits from 2024 to know how much of a difference-maker he can be. Alas, his body has refused to cooperate. That said, if this is indeed curtains for him in 2026, the Yankees’ general postseason plan doesn’t figure to change much. Ben Rice has been closer to a full-time DH since Luis García Jr. came aboard at the deadline, and a healthy Stanton in the mix would likely have just given the Yankees another pinch-hitting option late in games; likely not a starting role.
After this season, Stanton has one guaranteed year remaining on the megadeal he signed with the Marlins all the way back in 2015. There is a team option for 2028 which the Yankees are all but certain not to exercise. Will the Yankees give Giancarlo a chance for one last hurrah since they collect insurance when he’s on the IL anyway, or will they decide to at last conclude this wild, up-and-down saga of Stanton in New York? Time will tell.
With Castillo giving up dingers left and right, Lindor is a good bet to go deep on Saturday.
Ed Scimia's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 15-23, -9.29 units
Over/Under bets: 14-22, -9.09 units
Mets vs White Sox weather
A steady wind blowing out to right field should provide some help for both lineups tonight.
Mets vs White Sox odds
Moneyline: Mets +100 | White Sox -104
Run line: Mets -1.5 (+170) | White Sox +1.5 (-178)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+108) | Under 8.5 (-113)
Mets vs White Sox trend
Luis Castillo's teams have gone 3-8 straight up in his last 11 starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. White Sox.
How to watch Mets vs White Sox and game info
Location
Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Saturday, August 22, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
SNY, CHSN
Mets starting pitcher
Christian Scott (4-3, 3.51 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcher
Luis Castillo (4-9, 4.99 ERA)
Mets vs White Sox latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
If you were an outsider to Cubs/Mariners on Friday night, it was a thrilling back and forth game. The Mariners appear to be a team on the outside looking in, though they are within striking distance of a division title in a down year for the AL West. Despite that, this had that feel of playoff baseball, with each team surviving big blows from the other team only to keep on battling. These are the days that I most hate the ghost runner in extra innings. A competitive back and forth game between two teams that are playing well decided because one team didn’t score in the top half. I’m not sitting around hoping that a competitive game will just get snuffed out.
The Cubs have won a bunch of these, so I’m not going to sour grapes it from a Cub perspective. To be fair when it went extras, I thought there was a good chance of the Cubs adding yet another last team at bat win to their resume. There is some overlap in these two numbers, but the Cubs lead MLB with 13 walk-off wins and also lead MLB with 11 extra inning wins. Add in some games where the Cubs took the lead at home in the bottom of the eighth or on the road in the top of the ninth and the Cubs have won a lot of their games in their last at bat.
Friday night wasn’t one of those. This was their seventh extra-inning loss. They’ve also been on the wrong end of a good handful of these games at the very end. The good news is that Cub baseball has been competitive down to the end of way more games than not. And looking over the various metrics, a last at bat decision is the most common Cub occurrence (in one direction or the other) and the next most common is the Cubs blowing out their opponent. So if you were watching Cubs baseball at any time this year, there is a fair chance you were being entertained.
That doesn’t provide a lot of comfort, though, when the Cubs had their last three hitters in their lineup up for the 10th inning while the Mariners were in their middle third. The only silver lining was Nico Hoerner being the runner for the Cubs and he did steal third, but it was too late and the Cubs didn’t get him home. The Mariners were able to use a sacrifice and an RBI single to walk it off.
Matthew Boyd had an uneven start for the Cubs, so he’s had a couple of rougher ones after a long stretch of very good ones. The Cubs have six weeks to get Boyd and Clay Holmes dialed in so they can try to win a tough postseason series. The Cub bullpen was very good, including the return of Daniel Palencia. That was great to see. Ryan Zeferjahn was on the mound for the loss. Pitching in extra innings has about the most generous grading curve ever from me. If you throw a scoreless inning, I’m going to praise you. It is literally designed to produce immediate scoring. If you don’t allow a big crooked number, I’m basically giving you a pass. So I’m not frustrated with Ryan about Friday’s outcome. I see the talent and why they landed him. I can’t imagine how you have him on a playoff roster at this point. Again, six weeks to try to unlock something usable there.
Close doesn’t count very often and I don’t imagine it’s a lot of cushion for anyone who stayed up late to watch that game. Another day off of the calendar. Another tough road trip. The good news is that this team is positioned very well as second place teams go. The bad news is that it’s going to be extremely difficult to catch the Brewers without sweeping the head to head games, a a VERY tall order indeed.
Three Positives:
Alex Bregman looks like a world beater in the second half. Two more home runs and three driven in. Added another hit on top of that. The season line creeps up to .258/.347/.418. Those first two numbers are now within shouting distance of his career numbers. He’s going to need to stay on a tear with his power numbers. But he has now matched last season’s homer number and exceeded his runs scored and runs driven in, though those last two numbers are very much context driven.
Ian Happ had a double and a solo homer (and three strikeouts). The batting average is unsightly at .216 but his on base (.323) and slug (.414) aren’t far off of his career numbers either.
Pete Crow-Armstrong with another leadoff homer and was also intentionally walked in the game. 40/40 is slowly coming into shape. He’s got to stay locked in, but what a monster season he is having.
Welcome back, Daniel Palencia! He threw a scoreless inning that included two strikeouts.
Game 129, August 21: Mariners 6, Cubs 5 (74-55)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
WPA Play of the Game: Leo Rivas’ walk-off single in the tenth. (.371)
Cubs Play of the Game: Alex Bregman’s solo homer in the ninth to tie. (.366)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 128 Winner: Clay Holmes with 47 of 70 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Pete Crow-Armstrong +28
Alex Bregman +24
Shōta Imanaga +14
Trent Thornton/Carson Kelly +13.5
Phil Maton -10
Edward Cabrera -12.5
Jameson Taillon -13
Dansby Swanson -17
Caleb Thielbar -18.5
Scoreboard Watching: Braves lose (one up on Cubs) to Brewers (six up). Phillies win (three back). Diamondbacks win (six back). Padres win (five back). Dodgers win (four up). So basically every game went the least favorable direction for the Cubs yesterday. That makes that close loss sting twice as hard. But still, really well positioned. With the Cubs having the tie-breaker on the closest Wild Card team, they have a four game cushion with 33 to play.
Up Next: Game two of the series sees David Peterson (7-7, 5.29) return to the rotation. David is 3-0 with a 2.06 ERA over his last seven outings (one of those in relief). I vibe with this team’s decision making so much of the time. But I am never, ever looking to replace a guy on that kind of a roll. That was a too cute move.
The Mariners will start 22-year-old lefty Kade Anderson in his major league debut. He is 10-1 with a 1.05 ERA over 18 starts for their Double-A affiliate. He has 135 strikeouts in 93.1 innings of work and an opponent batting average of .147. Just last year he was the Most Outstanding Player at the 2025 College World Series as his LSU Tigers won it all. He was then the third overall pick in the draft. For what it’s worth, the 2026 Cubs are not a Double-A lineup. Still, this looks like a tricky matchup against a guy you haven’t seen work with the big league team. The Cubs are 24-13 when facing a lefty starter.
The Los Angeles Dodgers take aim at their fifth straight victory when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates as big -233 favorites, while Tarik Skubal is still in search of his first win with his new club.
The two-time Cy Young winner was unfortunate not to pick up a win last time out, but I’ll explain why he and the Dodgers will cruise into the win column tonight.
Read my Pirates vs. Dodgers predictions and free MLB picks for Saturday, Aug. 22 below.
Who will win Pirates vs Dodgers today: Dodgers -1.5 (-108)
Tarik Skubal was somehow saddled with the loss last time out after allowing just one earned run over six innings, but he’ll have a pretty soft assignment tonight against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Pirates are one of the worst teams in baseball vs. left-handed pitching, ranked 24th in average (.224), 25th in wOBA (.303), and 24th in OPS (.690).
Skubal has a solid 3.18 ERA over three starts with the Los Angeles Dodgers and has allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven of his last nine contests.
I’m playing the Dodgers run line up to -120.
COVERS INTEL: Skubal’s main weapons are his four-seamer and changeup. The Pirates are batting .209 vs. the changeup from lefties (23rd) and .224 vs. the four-seamer (24th).
Pirates vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-104)
I am expecting Skubal to outpitch Pirates starter Jared Jones tonight, but let’s not discredit the Pirates offense as a whole. Pittsburgh is tied with LA as the third-best offense in MLB (5.00 runs per game), so both teams likely put up some runs.
Jones owns a bloated 4.78 ERA, while the Dodgers have the best SLG in the majors vs. righties (.432).
On the other side, the Dodgers bullpen got a workout last night with nearly 70 pitches thrown collectively, so we could see some weaker arms tonight.
I’m playing the Over up to -115.
Pirates vs Dodgers home run prediction: Max Muncy (+350)
Max Muncy went yard in last night’s series opener as the Dodgers slugger launched his 26th dinger of the season.
Muncy has three homers in his last five games, and he’ll enjoy a favorable matchup vs. Jones tonight. Muncy has 20 home runs vs. right-handed pitchers – the most on LA – with a hard-hit rate of nearly 48%.
Jones has allowed at least one home run in five straight starts, and Muncy is the most likely man to hit one out of the park tonight.
Chris Faria's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 8-6, +1.06 units
Over/Under bets: 7-7, -0.57 units
Pirates vs Dodgers weather
Clear skies, temperatures up to 90 degrees, and light winds out to center field are projected for tonight’s game at Dodger Stadium.
Pirates vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Pirates +223 | Dodgers -233
Run line: Pirates +1.5 (+104) | Dodgers -1.5 (-108)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-104) | Under 7.5 (-100)
Pirates vs Dodgers trend
The Pirates have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Over in 14 of their last 20 away games (+7.55 Units / 30% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Pirates vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Pirates vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Saturday, August 22, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Pirates starting pitcher
Jared Jones (2-5, 4.78 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Tarik Skubal (7-7, 2.85 ERA)
Pirates vs Dodgers 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.
The Yankees slugger was close to making a return from his current calf injury, when he fell while running the bases and strained his other calf, slowing him down once again.
This current one has been diagnosed as a moderate-grade strain.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said pregame Saturday that Stanton will continue working to try to be available, but he is facing an uphill battle with just 33 games left in the regular season.
"We're not ruling anything out," the skipper said. "He'll continue working to try to get it right and hopefully be available, but obviously we're at a point in the calendar where it gets challenging, but also you never know."
Stanton was originally placed on the IL in late-April after injuring his right calf running from first to second.
He suffered a setback with that right calf in June which extended his absence, and now has ran into another speed-bump, this time on the left-side, after taking steps forward on the road to recovery.
"Bummed for him," Boone said. "Been working his tail off every single day to try to get this thing right, you all know how bad he wants to be on that field and contributing to a championship, so obviously it's disappointing."
Stanton appeared in just 24 games before suffering the injury, hitting .256 with a .724 OPS over that span.
This is a significant blow for the Yankees' offense, which certainly could've used a nice boost from the five-time All-Star down the stretch in the regular season and into the playoffs.
The Boston Red Sox are priced as a massive -209 moneyline favorite for tonight's matchup with the San Francisco Giants at Fenway Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET.
The run line is what stands out to me in my Giants vs. Red Sox predictions, as I expect Boston's red-hot offense to keep thriving.
Who will win Giants vs Red Sox today: Red Sox -1.5 (+105)
The Boston Red Sox send Patrick Sandoval to the mound, and while he has not been great, he may not need to be if the offense keeps raking.
The underlying numbers suggest the left-hander is close to finding his best though, with a 2.88 FIP across his last two outings and zero homers allowed.
The San Francisco Giants have an 88 wRC+ over the last week. Blade Tidwell counters after allowing seven earned runs in his previous two appearances with a 5.14 xERA.
Tidwell has also surrendered 5.40 BB/9, dangerous against a Red Sox lineup carrying a 150 wRC+ and .230 ISO over its last six games.
Boston has the clear edge. Play to -110.
COVERS INTEL: The Giants struggle immensely against left-handers, posting an 83 wRC+ this season. Against righties, that number sits at 102.
Giants vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-126)
The total sits at a modest 7.5, and I’m targeting the Over, mainly because of the Boston offense angle.
Both bullpens are in good form. San Francisco’s relief corps owns a 2.71 FIP over the last week with limited home run damage. The Red Sox pen, meanwhile, has a 3.01 FIP over its last 25 1/3 frames.
That being said, Boston could easily score three or four runs off Tidwell alone, and that does not require the Giants to do much damage. Sandoval is also by no means untouchable, and the Red Sox bullpen has allowed a 43.3% hard-hit rate, so there is still some vulnerability.
Play to -140.
Giants vs Red Sox home run prediction: Willson Contreras (+414)
Willson Contreras has certainly benefited from Fenway’s left-field setup. He owns a .288 ISO at home, has gone deep 16 times in Boston, and has 26 homers overall. Contreras has also left the yard twice in his last five contests while posting a .444 ISO during that span.
What stands out here is his 50% fly-ball rate over the last week. Tidwell has a 39.2% fly-ball rate this season, and at Fenway, Contreras’ lifted contact has a chance to do damage toward the Green Monster.
He also owns a 41.7% hard-hit rate and 16.7% barrel rate over the last seven days.
Play to +400.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 56-65, -17.11 units
Over/Under bets: 68-50, +8.91 units
Giants vs Red Sox weather
Weather at Fenway Park looks cool and damp tonight, with temperatures sitting around 66–67°F throughout the game. Skies turn overcast after first pitch, winds ease from about 9 mph to 5 mph, and rain chances stay modest around 12–21%. Conditions look mostly playable with limited scoring impact.
Giants vs Red Sox odds
Moneyline: Giants +188 | Red Sox -209
Run line: Giants +1.5 (-121) | Red Sox -1.5 (+105)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-126) | Under 7.5 (+109)
Giants vs Red Sox trend
The Red Sox have covered the Run Line in 31 of their last 50 games (+17.95 Units / 30% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Giants vs. Red Sox.
How to watch Giants vs Red Sox and game info
Location
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Date
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Giants starting pitcher
Blade Tidwell (1-1, 4.33 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcher
Patrick Sandoval (1-2, 4.76 ERA)
Giants vs Red Sox latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 15: Ronel Blanco #56 of the Houston Astros reacts during the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at Daikin Park on August 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (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 (66-57) won 4-3 (BOX SCORE)
Blanco started for Sugar Land and went 5 innings allowing 2 runs while striking out 5. The offense got on the board in the 2nd inning on a Meyers RBI single. In the 6th, Salazar connected on a 2 run home run to give Sugar Land the lead. VanWey allowed a run in the 8th inning as the Comets tied it. The game went to extra innings and in the 10th, Sugar Land walked it off on a Brooks RBI single.
Ronel Blanco, RHP: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Ryan Weiss, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Christian Roa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Logan VanWey, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Miguel Ullola, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Michael Knorr, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (WIN)
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (55-63) lost 4-2 (BOX SCORE)
Tredwell started for the Hooks but struggled walking 5 and allowing 2 runs in the first inning. The Hooks picked up 2 runs in the 2nd inning on a Schiavone solo home run and Call RBI single. The pen allowed a couple of runs late and the offense was unable to score again as the Hooks fell 4-2.
A+: Asheville Tourists (41-75) lost 16-12 (BOX SCORE)
Oakes started for Asheville but struggled allowing 8 runs on 12 hits over 3.2 innings. The offense got on the board in the first inning on a Neyens solo home run. The offense got 3 runs in the third on a Powell 2 run single and a run on a wild pitch. In the 6th, Newman added an RBI double. The pen struggled allowing another 8 runs as the Cyclones extended their lead. The offense got 2 in the 7th on a Gomez RBI double and Garcia groundout and 2 in the 8th on a Powell 2 run home run. In the 9th, Asheville scored 3 runs on a Vasquez RBI single and 2 runs on wild pitches but the comeback fell short as Asheville lost 16-12.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (62-53) won 12-3 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got on the board in the third inning scoring a run on a Ramirez bases loaded walk. The offense got 2 runs in the 4th inning on a Flores solo home run and Luciano RBI single. In the 5th inning, Ramirez added a 2 run single. The offense continued to score adding 3 runs in the 6th inning on a Piasecki RBI single and Flores 2 run double. Beck started for the Woodpeckers and pitched well striking out 8 over 6 innings allowing just 2 hits. The offense got some insurance in the 8th scoring 3 runs on a Piasecki RBI double and Soto 2 run single. Nowak added another run in the 9th inning on an RBI single. The game was called in the bottom of the 9th due to rain as the Woodpeckers won 12-3.
Note: Beck has 94 K over 80.2 innings this season.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - AUGUST 21: Keibert Ruiz #20 of the Washington Nationals hits a solo homerun in the sixth inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on August 21, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by JC Ruiz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Not a whole lot is going right for the Nats right now. Between injuries and trades, the once fearsome offense is a shell of itself. However, one player who is still producing is catcher Keibert Ruiz. Plenty of players have not been stepping up, but you can’t lay that accusation on Ruiz, who homered last night.
In a season full of surprise contributors, Ruiz might be the most surprising of them all. His 8-year $50 million contract looked like a complete anchor heading into the season. According to fWAR, he had been a below replacement level player each of the last three seasons. In 2023, that was due to his abysmal defense, but in the past two seasons, the bat fell off a cliff as well.
It felt like 2025 was rock bottom for the Nats catcher. He posted -1 WAR and had concussion issues which put his future in question. With the trade for Harry Ford in the offseason, it felt like his time in DC was coming to a merciful end. However, the 28 year old catcher has completely flipped the switch this season on both sides of the ball.
Is Keibert Ruiz one of the best two way catchers in baseball? 😭😭😭😭😭
Like wtf happened to him bro. Been a demon on defense and batting .280
Honestly, the biggest surprise for me has been his defensive improvements. With the help of new catching coach Bobby Wilson, Ruiz has turned into a slightly above average defensive catcher. That may not sound like anything crazy, but given where he was that is a radical turnaround. From 2023 to 2025, he was the worst defensive catcher in baseball.
The framing was poor, his blocking was a disaster and he was not great at controlling the running game. He still has some issues with the running game, but he has taken massive strides in the other two areas. Ruiz has gone from -6 blocking runs last year to a mediocre but acceptable -1 this season. The framing has been the biggest area of improvement though, going from -9 runs last year to +1 this year.
One thing that helps his framing value even more is the fact he has gotten a lot better at ABS challenges. He struggled with the new system early in the season, but he has really picked it up. Ruiz has the 7th most challenge wins in all of baseball and his win percentage is a slightly above average 60%.
Ruiz has also made substantial offensive improvements, which have made him a rock solid catcher. On the season, he has a 107 wRC+, a career high outside of 8 at bats in 2020. He has really leaned into pulling the ball in the air, which leads to his outslugging his pedestrian exit velocities. Ruiz is making contact like always, but he is elevating the ball more often which is leading to more hits.
His plate discipline remains questionable, but even that has come along slightly in the second half. Since the All-Star Break, Ruiz has more walks than strikeouts. His 7 walks in the second half is the same as he had in all of the first half.
There is actually an interesting reason for this. Ruiz is still chasing a lot, but he has found a way to be more selective in 3 ball counts. He may not get there often, but when he does, the Nats catcher is finding a way to turn those into walks.
Who’s been the biggest surprise on the Nats this season? 🤔
In 2026, Keibert Ruiz has been a solid starting catcher. Given where he was last year, this is a minor miracle. He is hitting .279 with a .761 OPS and solid defense. When the Nats acquired Ruiz, that was about what we expected from him. It has taken a long time to get there, but it seems like we have finally arrived.
Ruiz has been outperforming his xwOBA pretty substantially all season, so it is worth looking out for some offensive regression. However, there is some reason to believe he can overperform at least slightly moving forward. His high contact, pull heavy approach tends to lead to more hits than expected. If he can continue pulling the ball in the air over 30% of the time, he should be in decent shape.
For the season, Keibert Ruiz has 1.5 WAR according to Fangraphs and Baseball Reference. That is not star level production by any means, but if he can perform like that for the rest of his contract, that 8-year $50 million deal won’t look so bad after all. There are not a lot of positives for the Nats right now, but Keibert Ruiz is one of them and his turnaround has been so much fun to watch.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 21: Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott #5 is shown at bat with his custom Victus Sports bat during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the St. Louis Cardinals on August 21st, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
We asked the question about whether or not you would give Bryson Stott an extension and boy howdy are the results one sided.
Nine out of ten people thought that there should be talks on the horizon with Stott, which is somewhat of a shocking number. There have been a lot of things written about Stott lately with his play having been picked up quite a bit since the All-Star break, putting him among the league leaders in a lot of offensive categories in that time period. His defense has also been a talking point thanks to an early smooth transition to third base in the wake of the Luis Arraez trade. Yet seeing how many people would want an extension is surprising.
But maybe it shouldn’t be.
I’ll have more on this later on next week, but there are a lot of reasons why an extension for Stott makes sense, but the counterarguments are also pretty convincing.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 21: Jose Fernandez #11 of the Arizona Diamondbacks slides into home plate to score a run against the Cincinnati Reds during the second inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on August 21, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Snakes Tune Out Distractions, Dominate Reds Eduardo Rodriguez tossed 5.2 shutout innings while the Arizona offense ponded out 15 total hits as the Diamondbacks earned a dominant win over Cincinnati.
Ketel Marte at Talking Stick Casino While Diamondbacks Hosted Reds Marte spent Friday at Salt River Fields as part of his stint on the 10-day IL. Afterward, the star second baseman apparently decided to avail himself of the casino while he was there. During his four hours at the casino, the Diamondbacks hosted and trounced the Cincinnati Reds.
VIDEO: #Dbacks manager Torey Lovullo postgame about Ketel Marte being at casino during the game tonight.
"He's free to do whatever he wants as long as he wakes up tomorrow.. and gets his work done at Salt River (Fields), which I am certain he will, that's all that matters to be… pic.twitter.com/RPjvEDwbaq
Dodgers’ President Quashes Rumblings About Sale of Dodgers Despite Mark Walter’s legal and financial hurdles, the Dodgers are not for sale, something that was being bandied about once Walter sold his share in the Los Angeles Lakers.
After a bit of a slow start with his new organization, Jefferson Rojas has quickly been showing why he’s the most highly-regarded prospect the Mets acquired at the MLB trade deadline.
Rojas has been swinging an extremely hot bat of late with Binghamton, and that continued again on Friday night.
The youngster struck out his first time up but was able to get the Rumble Ponies on the board in his next AB, clobbering a pitch almost at his shoulders for a monstrous two-run homer.
He did even more damage in the very next inning, driving in his third run of the night with an RBI single the other way in the bottom of the fourth.
Rojas was retired each of his next two times up, but he left rehabbing Mets slugger Mark Vientos impressed with his strong 2-for-5 showing at the plate.
“He’s for real,” Vientos said. “He’s a really good baseball player -- that home run and that single to the opposite-way, you could just see the talent in him, for sure.”
Vientos will be around Rojas and the Ponies for a few more days as he continues his rehab.
As for the 21-year-old infielder, he's now up to three homers, four doubles, 17 RBI, and a .872 OPS over his first 14 games since joining Binghamton.
If he’s able to keep this up, Rojas just might take that next step to Triple-A Syracuse, with his sights set on making his mark with Vientos and the big-league club at some point next season.
Jun 2, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; A view of Yankee Stadium before the match between between the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It is a busy day here at Casa Dakers, my wife’s birthday. We are having friends over and someone is expected to barbecue steaks. I don’t think I’ve ever barbecued 20ish steaks all at one time. They will be barbecued medium rare (likely closer to rare) and if anyone wants their steak well done:
It is really just a busy weekend, but we will get through and get back to regular programming very soon.
The best news coming out of yesterday was that Buck Martinez is cancer free. He’s been through a lot, so it is great to hear.
Yesterday there were a couple of roster moves, that you likely already know about:
Brendan Cellucci was optioned to Buffalo.
Josh Smith went on the IL with left hamstring inflammation (with all the players going down in Tampa, we are lucky Smith is the only one going on the IL
Spencer Arrighetti came off the IL, and pitched some yesterday.
Davis Schneider is back.
I’m running around until game time, or likely slightly after game time, so use this as an open thread until the game starts (our game threads are pretty much open threads most of the time.
Vlad is back on the roster and in the lineup. Davis Schneider goes back to Buffalo.
COVERS INTEL:
