Category: Baseball

The most recent Rangers Reacts Survey asked folks to grade the Texas Rangers’ trade deadline.

You will be shocked — shocked!!! — to learn that people weren’t happy:

Almost half of you — 47% — gave the Rangers a failing grade for their trade deadline work, and honestly, I’m surprised its that low.

Another 26% gave the Rangers a D, while 20% gave the Rangers a C.

I am guessing the 3% who gave the team an A and the 4% who gave the team a B either really like Chase Silseth or really don’t like Josh Smith.

The voting on the national questions was also pretty lopsided as it relates to who won the trade deadline:

Consistent with this vote, Tarik Skubal, who the Dodgers acquired from the Detroit Tigers for Zyhir Hope, River Ryan and Brady Smith, was picked as the player traded at the deadline who will make the biggest impact this year, getting over half the vote.

This has been brought to you by FanDuel.

Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (59-54) lost 8-5 (BOX SCORE)

Pecko got the start and went 4 innings allowing 3 runs, though all 3 score din the first inning. The offense got on the board in the 2nd inning scoring 4 runs on an Alexander solo home run, Shewmake RBI double, Delgado groundout and Dezenzo RBI triple. They got another run in the 5th inning on a Biggio solo home run. The pen struggled a bit down the stretch allowing 5 runs and the offense was unable to score again as Sugar Land fell 8-5.

Note: Biggio has a .852 OPS this season.

• Ray Delgado, 3B: 1-for-4, R, RBI, BB
• Zach Dezenzo, LF: 1-for-5, 3B, RBI
• Cavan Biggio, RF: 1-for-2, R, HR, RBI, 3 BB
• CJ Alexander, DH: 1-for-5, R, HR, RBI
• Trenton Brooks, 1B: 1-for-2, R, BB
• Lucas Spence, CF: 1-for-3, 2 BB
• Braden Shewmake, SS: 2-for-5, R, 2B, RBI

• Ethan Pecko, RHP: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
• Logan VanWey, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Christian Roa, RHP: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
• Alimber Santa, RHP: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
• Michael Knorr, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Miguel Ullola, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (51-57) lost 6-2 (BOX SCORE)

The offense got on the board first picking up a run on a Call sac fly in the 2nd inning. Hicks got the start for the Hooks and went 4.1 innings allowing 3 runs, 2 earned, while striking out 5. Torres struggled in relief allowing 3 runs as the Drillers extended their lead. The offense got one back in the 8th on a balk but that was it as the Hooks fell 6-2.

Note: Bush has a .785 OPS this season.

• Will Bush, DH: 1-for-3, R, 2B, BB
• Chase Call, LF: 0-for-3, RBI
• Max Holy, SS: 1-for-2, 2 BB

• James Hicks, RHP: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
• Alex Santos II, RHP: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• Jose Guedez, RHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
• Alejandro Torres, RHP: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
• Hudson Leach, RHP: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• Ramsey David, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

A+: Asheville Tourists (36-70) 

Game One – won 8-4 (BOX SCORE)

This was a completion of the game that started Friday. Thomas connected on a leadoff home run to put Asheville on the board. Potter started and went one inning before the game was suspended. The game restarted Saturday and Batista drove in a run on a single in the 2nd. The offense got 3 more runs in the 4th on an error and Walker 2 run single. Perez pitched in relief and went 1.1 innings allowing 3 runs before the game was suspended again. Smith “started” on Sunday in this game and tossed 3.2 scoreless innings. The offense got 3 runs in the 6th on a Batista 2 run home run and Thomas groundout. The pen allowed one run but held on for the 8-4 win.

Note: Potter has a 2.08 ERA this season.

• Justin Thomas, CF: 1-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB
• Xavier Neyens, 3B: 2-for-4, R, BB, SB
• Ethan Frey, DH: 1-for-5, R, SB
• Caden Powell, RF: 0-for-4, R, BB
• Anthony Huezo, LF: 0-for-4, R, BB
• Kyle Walker, 2B: 1-for-2, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
• Freuddy Batista, C: 3-for-3, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB, SB

• Nick Potter, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• Javier Perez, RHP: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (WIN)
• Parker Smith, RHP: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
• Anthony Cruz, RHP: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
• Andrew Marrero, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Game Two – won 8-5 (BOX SCORE)

Howard started game two for Asheville and went 4.2 innings allowing one hit and one run while striking out 7. The Asheville offense got on the board in the 6th inning scoring 4 runs on a Frey RBI single, Huezo RBI single and Moss 2 run single. In the bottom of the 7th, Wells allowed 3 runs as the Dash tied it. The game went to extra innings and in the 8th, Asheville picked up 4 runs on a wild pitch, run on a fielder’s choice, Huezo RBI double and Moss RBI single. Frias allowed one run but was able to close the door as Asheville won 8-5.

Note: Frey is hitting .276 in High-A.

• Justin Thomas, RF: 1-for-3, 2 R, BB
• Ethan Frey, DH: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI
• Anthony Huezo, CF: 2-for-3, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
• Jack Moss, 1B: 2-for-4, 3 RBI, SB
• DJ Newman, LF: 1-for-3, R

• Dylan Howard, RHP: 4.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 7 K
• Grayson Saunier, RHP: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
• Jackson Wells, RHP: 2.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K (WIN)
• Francisco Frias, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (53-52) POSTPONED

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: OFF

CC: OFF

AV: OFF

FV: OFF

Roughly six weeks after getting a first-hand look a the talent the Atlanta Braves had playing at their High-A affiliate Rome Emperors, I took another trip to Rome on August 8, 2026, to see how the squad looked after the Braves organization promoted most of the high-end talent from Rome to Double-A Columbus and brought up some notable prospects from Low-A Augusta to Rome.

First, the players who were no longer in Rome. Top organizational prospects shortstop Tate Southisene, shortstop/infielder John Gil, outfielder Eric Hartman and pitcher Cam Caminiti have all moved up a level. Amongst the talent brought up to replace them are shortstop Alex Lodise, center fielder Luis Guanipa, outfielder Conor Essenburg and pitchers Ethan Bagwell and Briggs McKenzie.

Before a quick player evaluation, as for the game itself, it was an odd pitchers dual between some early-game sprinkles with the game 2-1 going into the ninth inning. Odd because Rome’s starter Cade Kuelher no-hit the Greensboro Grasshoppers for 4.2 innings, but walked seven and struck out only one. Grasshoppers starter Jose Mena went six innings, but also struck out only one batter while walking two and scattering four hits. Both teams used multi-inning relievers to cover the final frames.

The Emperors blew the lead in the top of the ninth allowing the Grasshoppers to tie things up but Rome made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth. Rome’s Cody Miller singled to center field but the ball got by Edward Florentino – one of the top prospects in the Pirates’ system – allowing Miller to get to third. After a short fly-out that wasn’t deep enough to score the runner, the Grasshoppers then intentionally walked the next two batters to load the bases with one out.

Rome outfielder Logan Braunschweig hit a hard grounder to third that took a good play by the just-inserted-into-the-game Carlos Caro to snag throw home to force Miller at the plate. That brought up Guanipa who laced a line-drive to left-center field where Florentino atoned for he’s prior misplay with a spectacular diving catch to end the inning.

Rome again loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10th after holding Greensboro in check, with the Grasshoppers again opted to load the bases with back-to-back free passes after Guanipa took third on a wild pitch after starting the inning as the ghost runner. But Miller hit into a double-play to end the rally.

Rome gave up the lead in the top of the 11th and couldn’t must anything in the bottom of the inning to lose 3-2.

Here’s some quick impressions on the prospects in action

Alex Lodise

The second round pick by the Braves out of Florida State University in the 2025 draft, Lodise had been putting together solid season in Augusta with 23 home runs and 15 stolen bases with the Green Jackets prior to his promotion. Batting third, he went 2-for-4 with a walk and drove in Rome’s first run in the bottom of the first inning. At the plate, he looked fluid, making solid contract and showing patience in the box. Offensively, he looked like Rome’s best offensive player on this night.

With the organizational depth a shortstop one level above him, Lodise, 22, playing at High-A looked like one level too low for him on this night. Could he be a big league regular? Maybe, if the power he’s showing follows him as he progresses up levels in the system. If he can stick at short stop – even in a back-up role – he will probably carve out a roll in Atlanta or elsewhere by 2028 or 2029.

Conor Essenburg

Another 2025 draft pick, Essenburg was selected in the fifth round out of high school. Still only 19, Essenburg’s promotion to Rome marks the third affiliate he’s played for this season. Offensively, he didn’t flash the skill that saw him hit 14 home runs in 59 games with Augusta on Saturday night, but what he did do was show off his arm on defense.

In the top of the eighth inning, with Rome nursing a one-run lead, Essenburg chased what appeared to be a sure-fire double into the right field corner and unleash a laser to second base to get the runner.

At the plate, he drew a walk and scored, but otherwise was quite with a strikeout in four other at bats.

He is still a few years away, but could be a option for Atlanta at the end of this decade.

Luis Guanipa

The 20 year-old former international free agent signee, Guanipa went 0-for-5 batting lead-off for Rome. He was unremarkable at the plate but made several strong plays in the outfield including an absolutely amazing home-run-robbing catch in dead center field off the bat of Yordany De Los Santos with two runners on in the top of the ninth.

If nothing else, the defense plays. Guanipa, 20, was having a strong season with Augusta with 37 stolen bases and 11 home runs while carrying an .817 OPS. He’s struggle early in Rome, but the speed and defense might earn him a big league bench spot in a few years and maybe more if the power continues to develop.

Rest in Rome

Second baseman Dixon Williams, the 136th overall pick in last year’s draft, stole a base – his 25th – and walked twice but there may not be enough hit tool there to get him to the big leagues. There’s a lot of swing-and-miss but there is some power, with 14 home runs this year.

First baseman Mason Guerra, a 14th round pick in 2024, reminds me a little bit of a right-handed hitting version of former big league first baseman Casey Kotchman who spent parts of two seasons with Atlanta. Guerra is fluid at first base, defensively, and takes his walks as shown by his OBP sitting 100 points higher than his average. He is interesting in the sense that he isn’t a top prospect, but he is solid enough to continue to progress as a hitter in a system without a premium first base prospect. He’ll be 24 later this month, so he is old for the level, but in two in-person viewings, he’s impressed not because of any one loud skill, but as a solid player who is at least a good organizational guy.

On the mound, Kuehler is trying to coming back into form after missing 2025 due to injury and didn’t have the most impressive outing. He worked around traffic through his seven-walk outing and managed only three whiffs in striking out a single batter. Kuehler was the 70th overall pick by the Braves in 2023, but until this season, had only appeared in 14 game since being drafted.

Mathieu Curtis struck out three after allowing an inherited runner to score, allowing a hit to the first batter after replacing Keuhler. Curtis was the 14th round pick by the Braves out of Virginia Tech last year and is worth keeping an eye on as a future bullpen option. He has good control and a solid strikeout rate.

In the other dugout

Several players stood out for the Grasshoppers. Unfortunately, Seth Hernandez – MLB Pipeline’s 6th best prospect in the sport – didn’t pitch, but Florentino (28th overall according to Pipeline) did play. As noted above, he made up for a defense misplay with an incredible catch, he was fluid at the plate and had the look of a top prospect.

First baseman Jared Jones – who was born in Marietta – had a couple of hits but was on the receiving end of Essenburg’s cannon to second. He showed a loud hit tool and is worth keeping an eye on to see if he’s able to progress despite not being in Pittburgh’s Top 30 (per Pipeline). Catcher Camden Janik and second baseman Dylan Palmer both had two hits and one the Pirates top organizational prospects, shortstop Wyatt Sanford, was the DH and walked twice while batting lead off.

The most impressive player to appear for Greensboro was Tony Blanco, Jr., who pinch-hit in the ninth. He is a massive, massive man at 6’7” who has tremendous power. The single he hit to center field was the loudest, most impressive contact for either team. He was pinch-run for by Caro who scored the game-tying run a couple of batters later.

Blanco, Jr. – whose late father had a cup of coffee in the big leagues – is 21 but has only played in 172 games in in five minor league seasons due to injuries. He’s a DH waiting to happen as a pure-power bat if he can stay healthy.

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The Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals are battling in the National League Wild Card race ahead of their three-game series at Busch Stadium beginning Monday, Aug. 10.

Coverage kicks off at 7:45 p.m. ET on FS1.

While Philadelphia is a short road favorite (-113), my top Phillies vs. Cardinals predictions and MLB picks are calling for the Cards to pull off the victory in a high-scoring game tonight.

Who will win Phillies vs Cardinals today: Cardinals moneyline (+105)

Favorable hitting conditions and a soft pitching matchup are the perfect recipe for statistical correction at the dish for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Despite ranking seventh in hard-hit percentage and third in both squared-up contact and blast-contact rates across the past 30 days, the Cards sit 23rd in BABIP.

So, with Philadelphia Phillies righty Andrew Painter bringing a 5.13 xERA and allowing the ninth-highest wOBA to opposing hitters among pitchers with at least 50 innings this season, I’m backing St. Louis at home.

Of course, Philadelphia also ranks 29th in wOBA on the highway this season.

COVERS INTEL: The Phillies and Cardinals rank sixth and seventh in xwOBA, respectively, over the past 30 days, paving the way to a high-scoring game at Busch Stadium tonight.

Phillies vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-126)

This Over is my favorite bet for this game because Cardinals righty Hunter Dobbins has only made five starts this season, and the Phillies are third in xwOBA with an average of 4.72 runs per game since the All-Star Break.

Simply put, Dobbins sporting a career 4.07 xFIP with a minuscule 19.1 strikeout percentage while allowing a healthy 37.4% squared-up contact rate across 101 1/3 innings shouldn’t instill a lot of confidence.

Phillies vs Cardinals home run prediction: Alec Burleson (+521)

Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson has hit 16 of his 19 homers against right-handed pitchers while sporting a monster .240 ISO and .414 wOBA. Returning to the favorable pitching matchup, in addition to the highlighted Painter shortcomings, 1.8 HR/9 is the 13th-highest mark among pitchers with at least 70 innings pitched.

Phillies vs Cardinals weather

Stifling mid-90s temperatures will thin the air density and significantly boost ball carry for hitters at Busch Stadium tonight. Additionally, seven to eight mph winds blowing out to left field further favor the hitting conditions Monday evening.

Phillies vs Cardinals odds

• Moneyline: Phillies -115 | Cardinals +105
• Run line: Phillies -1.5 (+140) | Cardinals +1.5 (-165)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-130) | Under 8.5 (+110)

Phillies vs Cardinals trend

The Cardinals have won five of their last seven games (+3.90 Units / 44% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Cardinals.

How to watch Phillies vs Cardinals and game info

Phillies vs Cardinals latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

When the Red Sox acquired Adley Rutschman, the conversation immediately went to what he means for the offense, what it costs to get him, and whether this is the move that puts Boston over the top. There have been quite a few pieces on here doing a great job laying that out, from Tim Crowley’s playoff lineup theories, to Matt Gross’ fantastic analysis about Adley on the field and how it makes Craig Breslow look off the field. All fair. But buried underneath that discussion is a quieter question that’s going to matter a lot come October: who backs him up?

Carlos Narváez is gone—he went to Baltimore in the Rutschman trade. That leaves two names: Connor Wong, who’s been behind the plate for the Sox all season, and Jake Rogers, who landed here about a week ago and hasn’t stopped hitting since. This isn’t a clear-cut answer. Let’s go through it.

The Case for Connor Wong

Let’s start with the bat. Through 181 plate appearances, Wong is hitting .245/.333/.368 with a .701 OPS. That’s not a star line, but for a backup catcher it’s more than serviceable. He’s got 10 doubles. He gets on base at a .333 clip. When a backup catcher is getting 2-3 starts a week, you want a guy who can actually contribute offensively—and Wong can, sometimes.

The defensive numbers also favor him in ways that might surprise you. Wong’s catcher ERA this season is 3.24. That’s the ERA posted by Red Sox pitchers when Wong is behind the plate. For context, Rogers’ catcher ERA with his previous clubs is 3.52. Is that difference real or is it just the impact of Wong starting more games with a better pitching staff vs. Rogers—who has been with two very weirdly constructed and somewhat struggling staffs in Detroit and Baltimore? That’s for us to try and suss out.

The blocking numbers back it up, partially. Wong has allowed 10 wild pitches this season; Rogers has allowed 16. With a rotation built around guys with wipeout stuff—both elite fastballs and hard moving breaking balls landing in the dirt regularly—keeping the ball in front of you matters. One passed ball and a runner moving to third in an ALDS game can end your night.

And then there’s the familiarity argument, which is real even if it’s hard to quantify. Wong has multiple seasons learning how Crochet attacks lineups, how Tolle sequences his strikeout pitches, how every arm in that bullpen works. Rogers just got here. In October, when the margins shrink and every at-bat feels like a chess match, the catcher who knows the staff has an edge.

The Case for Jake Rogers

The arm. Full stop.

Rogers has thrown out 24.3% of base stealers this season. Wong is at 17.1%. That’s not a small gap—that’s the difference between a guy who neutralizes the running game and a guy opponents can exploit freely. When you have a guy with one of the best pop-time arms in baseball in Rutschman—who already showed out catching a runner stealing in his rehab assignment in Worcester—downgrading your arm at any given point is a real concern. In the regular season, stolen bases are one thing. In a playoff series, where managers are hunting every edge and one run can make all the difference, a catcher who lets the opponent run with impunity becomes a liability. Opposing base stealers are going to test whoever is behind the plate. The question is who’s going to make them pay for it.

Rogers also comes into this with a perfect fielding percentage on the season—1.000 in 39 games behind the plate. Zero errors. Zero throwing errors. Wong has two errors—both throwing errors. Again, not disqualifying, but in the context of a tight series where every mistake gets magnified, it’s worth noting.

And then there’s what he’s done since arriving in Boston, which has been genuinely hard to ignore. In his first three games as a Red Sox, Rogers is 3-for-6 with 2 RBI. He walked with the bases loaded in the August 6 marathon to drive in a run without even swinging. He went 2-for-3 with a walk while handling Payton Tolle’s 14-strikeout masterpiece on the 7th. He got a hit in yesterday’s loss. For a guy who just walked into a new clubhouse mid-pennant race, he hasn’t blinked once.

That small-sample line at .500 isn’t going to hold, and everyone knows it. But the .183 season average isn’t the whole story either—Rogers’ BABIP is .232, which is well below normal and suggests some bad luck is baked into that number. His contact quality and walk rate (16 BB in 125 PA) suggest a more functional hitter than the batting average alone implies. And if he keeps playing anything close to how he’s played since arriving, the offensive gap between him and Wong starts to close fast.

So Which Is It?

There’s no clean answer here, which is exactly why the conversation is worth having.

If you weigh the full season and trust the staff familiarity angle, Wong is your guy. The catcher ERA, the blocking, the OBP, the two months of organizational knowledge—it all points in his direction. You don’t bench a .333 on-base guy for a .290 guy because of a good first week.

If you weight the arm and the October context, Rogers makes a compelling case. A 7-point difference in caught stealing percentage sounds modest until it’s the seventh inning of a one-run game in an ALDS and someone just took second on a ball in the dirt. In a short series, the catcher who can shut down the running game has real value that doesn’t show up in OPS.

The honest answer is that Chad Tracy is going to have a real decision to make when Rutschman comes back. Wong has earned his roster spot all season, whether by default or by committee with Narváez. Rogers has earned a serious look in a single week. Both deserve to be in this conversation.

Let’s watch how Rogers plays over the next two weeks. That’s probably how this gets decided.

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A fresh week is in front of us as we look to back a pair of players and fade a pitcher on today's MLB slate.

Here are my three favorite MLB player props for Monday, Aug. 10.

Best MLB player props today

Player	Pick	Odds
Jameson Taillon	Over 2.5 earned runs	-113
Sonny Gray	Under 2.5 earned runs	-166
Francisco Alvarez	Over 0.5 hits+runs+RBI	-168

Jameson Taillon Over 2.5 earned runs (-113)

I find it hard to pass up backing the Boston Red Sox here when they are this hot, especially when this matchup only adds fuel to the flame. Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jameson Taillon has posted a 7.78 ERA, 6.65 xERA and 1.73 WHIP while allowing a 45% hard-hit rate and 16.13% barrel rate over his last five starts.

On top of Taillon's recent struggles, he owns the worst pitcher rating on Batters-Box's current-season dataset from today's slate. Taillon also carries poor matchup ratings in wOBA, ISO, and hard contact, while drawing four elite-rated Red Sox bats and another with a strong rating.

If you have been living under a rock for the last month and a half, the Red Sox have been on fire, posting a 120 wRC+, .348 wOBA and .790 OPS over their last 21 games.

I find it tough to pass up backing the Red Sox here. I would take this prop down to -120, or see if the Red Sox first five team total is available at a better price.

• Time: 7:07 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Sportsnet, NESN

Sonny Gray Under 2.5 earned runs (-166)

Sticking with that game, Sonny Gray is in another great spot to add to his 2026 resume, as he draws one of the most lifeless offenses in baseball. The Blue Jays own a 79 wRC+, .282 wOBA, and .106 ISO while producing just a 4% barrel rate over their last 21 games.

Not to mention, Toronto has zero hitters with an elite or strong rating on Batters-Box's current-season dataset, while Gray owns the second-highest pitcher rating. Gray also sports strong matchup ratings in wOBA, ISO, and ground-ball rate.

Using the default setting that goes back the last three seasons, Gray has some strong trends. In 22 strong ratings, the right-hander has stayed Under this prop 63.64% of the time with fewer than two earned runs 59% of the time. On top of that, he has allowed fewer than six hits 68.18% of the time and fewer than five 54.55% of the time.

The price is juicy but reasonable, given how underwhelming the Blue Jays have been this season. I would take this down to -170 at the most, or pivot to his Under 5.5 hits if the price gets too out of hand.

• Time: 7:07 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Sportsnet, NESN

Francisco Alvarez Over 0.5 hits+runs+RBI (-168)

If you are not in the juice-paying business, take New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez to get a hit at roughly -135, or look toward his alt 1.5 HRR prop. Regardless, getting this prop at that price is a steal given the number of ways Alvarez can cash it.

Alvarez has an elite rating on Batters-Box while covering over 90% of Bryce Elder's pitch mix. Through 35 elite ratings over the last three seasons, the 24-year-old has gone over this prop 57.14% of the time. He has also gone over this prop in six of his last 10 elite ratings.

The young catcher has been tearing apart right-handed pitching. Over the last 60 right-handers he has faced, Alvarez owns a .306 BA, .433 OBP, .612 SLG, and .306 ISO, while generating a 47% hard-hit rate and 23.5% barrel rate.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves starter has allowed a 47% hard-hit rate, 12.1% barrel rate, and 2.25 HR/9 with a 5.32 xERA against the last 60 right-handed hitters he has faced. Those hitters own a .317 xBA, .554 xSLG, and .371 xwOBA.

I would take this prop down to -170 at the most, or pivot Alvarez to get a hit or go Over 1.5 HRR.

• Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: BravesVsn, SNY

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Toledo Mud Hens 3, Omaha Storm Chasers 1 (box)

Omaha won the series, 4-2, but Toledo took the final game on Sunday.

It was a pretty strong pitching day for the Mud Hens. Austin Gomber made his first start with the Tigers organization after being signed Wednesday. He gave up a solo homer in the first but only allowed one other hit through four innings of work.

Jackson Wolf, who came over in the Casey Mize trade with San Diego, also threw four innings. He only gave up one hit, a double to Jacob Berry, who has been hitting everything all week. Wolf does some funny moves in his pre-pitch setup, but the stuff is sound. His 79-80 mph sweeper gets some good swing-and-miss (5/13; 38%), and Omaha only had one hard-hit ball off him on 30 swings.

Troy Watson closed out the win in the ninth, notching his first save of the year with Toledo.

As far as offense, it was an average day for the Hens. Justice Bigbie and Andrew Navigato each had two hits. Bigbie sparked a second-inning rally and scored on a follow-up double from Trei Cruz. Brett Callahan and Navigato hit back-to-back singles to put Toledo ahead right after.

Cruz also had a sac fly in the third to make it 3-1, and that’s all of the offense worth talking about in this one. Good win, solid baseball to close out what was a pretty rough week for the Tigers’ Triple-A squad.

Anderson: 0-2, 2 BB

Bigbie: 2-4, R, K

Cruz: 1-2, 2B (10), K

Perez: 0-4, 2 K

Wolf (W, 1-0): 4.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K

Coming Up Next: The Mud Hens are in Louisville next week to face the Bats, starting Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. ET.

Altoona Curve 4, Erie SeaWolves 1 (box)

Erie came into Sunday with a chance to win the series against Altoona, but the Curve took the finale, 4-1, to end the week in a tie. Josue Briceno was not in the lineup today as he’s being called up to Triple-A. Left-hander Andrew Sears is also being promoted.

Everyone’s favorite knuckleballer, Kenny Serwa, was back with the SeaWolves after making a start for the Mud Hens on Tuesday. Altoona jumped on him quickly, starting the game with three straight singles. Serwa almost got out of the first without allowing another run, but a two-out base knock made it 2-0 early.

Serwa’s command wasn’t great. He walked three batters, the last of which ended up scoring in the third. Despite taking the loss, Serwa finished things on a high note, retiring the last nine batters he faced.

Yoniel Curet, Johan Simon, Dariel Fregio and Tanner Kohlhepp each threw an inning in relief. All four pitchers gave up a hit, and Fregio gave up the fourth run to Altoona in the eighth. Fregio had a brief meltdown, walking a batter and hitting the next two, all in search of a third out. Brutal.

Erie’s lone hit of the game came off the bat of Patrick Lee in the third. He was caught stealing third to end the inning, a cardinal sin in baseball. The SeaWolves had a few more opportunities to score, thanks to four walks, but an 0-for-5 day with runners in scoring position led to eight shutout innings.

Thayron Liranzo scored in the ninth after reaching on a fielder’s choice. He took second on defensive indifference and came home on a throwing error, so it’s a bit of a hollow stat.

Serwa (L, 5-8): 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 K

Coming Up Next: The SeaWolves are in Hartford next week against the Yard Goats, starting Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. ET.

West Michigan Whitecaps 8, Fort Wayne TinCaps 2 (box)

West Michigan finished off a 5-1 series win over the Fort Wayne TinCaps with an 8-2 victory on Sunday. More importantly, the Whitecaps remain tied for first place in the East Division of the Midwest League.

Connor Fenlong was brilliant, striking out six batters over 5.1 innings while allowing just one baserunner. You can’t ask your starter to do much more, and the bullpen could afford to make a few mistakes behind him without jeopardizing the win.

Moises Rodriguez took over and got the final two outs of the sixth. He hit a batter and walked another in the seventh. The lead runner wouldn’t have scored on an infield single, but a bad throw from Woody Hadeen brought him home.

Fortunately, the offense scored consistently through the first four innings to build up a six-run lead. Roberto Campos drove in Hadeen with a two-out single in the first; Hadeen had a two-run double in the second, also with two outs; Beau Ankeney had an RBI single in the third; and Edian Espinal drove home two with a base hit in the fourth.

Ankeney also homered in the ninth for some extra insurance. It’s the third for him in 10 games with West Michigan, so that promotion is working out well.

Preston Howey pitched the final two innings of the game for the Whitecaps. He went 1-2-3 in the eighth, but ran into some trouble in the ninth. West Michigan could afford to give up a run, though, and he closed it out right after that score.

Hadeen: 1-3, 2B (15), R, 2 RBI, 2 BB

Rainer: 0-4, R, BB, 2 K

Ankeney: 2-3, HR (3), R, 3 RBI, 2 BB

Fenlong (W, 2-1): 5.1 IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 6 K

Coming Up Next: The Whitecaps are at home against the Lansing Lugnuts next week, starting Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. ET.

Dunedin Blue Jays 2, Lakeland Flying Tigers 1 (box)

Lakeland dropped the series finale against Dunedin, 2-1, on Sunday to lose the week, 3-2. Saturday’s game wasn’t rescheduled after getting rained out.

Both teams hit the ball fairly consistently, but runs were at a premium in this one. Kelvis Salcedo threw 45 pitches over 2.2 innings, but he left the game in line for the loss after giving up a leadoff double and a sac fly in the second.

The good news is that Salcedo drew four whiffs (33%) on his cutter and touched 96 mph with his heater in the first. He’s only been back from injury for about two weeks, so a one-run outing with one walk is good to see.

Donye Evans got the final out of the third, and Owen Hall worked the next two frames for the Flying Tigers. Hall had a rough welcome to Single-A in July, giving up six earned runs in his first outing, but he’s been sharp in his last two outings. Through four innings of work in August, Hall has allowed just one hit, with seven strikeouts and no walks. His sinker is missing bats at a good rate (71% today).

Anibal Salas tied the game up in the fifth with a base knock to score Nick Dumesnil, who led off with a single. Dumesnil and Salas each had two hits on the day, but that was the only run Lakeland scored in the loss.

Cash Kuiper took over for Hall in the sixth. He hit a batter but retired the other three without much trouble. Kuiper struggled in the seventh, though. He gave up the go-ahead run on a pair of doubles, but the more concerning part of that is that he left the game with some apparent discomfort in his right shoulder immediately after. It’s wait-and-see for now, but Kuiper only threw three pitches in his last outing. The facts don’t add up to anything positive.

Luke Hoskins was the next man up. He struck out a pair of batters and then faced the minimum in the eighth, thanks to a double play. Yendy Gomez got the ninth. He worked around a pair of two-out singles. Lakeland’s offense couldn’t make anything happen in the bottom half, though.

Yost: 0-4, K

Dumesnil: 2-4, R, K

Salas: 2-3, RBI

Salcedo: 2.2 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 5 K

Hall: 2.0 IP, 0 R, H, 3 K

Coming Up Next: The Flying Tigers are at home against the Bradenton Marauders next week, starting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET.

A recap of Sunday in the Dodgers minor leagues, outside of Tyler Glasnow’s rehab start for Oklahoma City on Sunday night.

Player of the day

Eduardo Quintero, who was ranked the No. 16 prospect in the sport last week in an update by Baseball America, hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning to give High-A Great Lakes a road win on Sunday.

Quintero was getting on base early on in the year and still productive, but only hit three home runs in his first 61 games. But since June 27 the outfielder is hitting .355/.516/.763 with eight home runs, 18 extra-base hits, 26 RBI and 30 runs scored in his last 29 games.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

Ronan Kopp and Jerming Rosario allowed two runs to score in the ninth to tie things up, but the Comets scored in the 10th and held on to beat the Salt Lake Bees (Angels).

James Tibbs extended his hit streak to nine games with a two-run home run, his first home run since all the way back on June 27. He was still productive in the interim, just minus the power, hitting .307/.427/.406 in the 29 games between long balls.

Alex Thomas had three more hits, giving him four multi-hit games during the series, during which he had 13 hits in 31 at-bats (.419) with three doubles, a triple, and 10 RBI.

Catcher Griffin Lockwood-Powell doubled, singled, and drove in three runs.

Double-A Tulsa

Josue De Paula had an RBI single and two-run double in the Drillers’ win over the Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros). The double was De Paula’s team-high 30th of the season, 13 more than his previous career high for doubles in a season. De Paula also stole his 29th base, three shy of his career high set last season.

Patrick Copen struck out seven in five innings, and allowed only an unearned run to earn the win.

High-A Great Lakes

The Loons won a back-and-forth affair thanks to Quintero’s home run to beat the Dayton Dragons (Reds).

Charles Davalan, another top-100 outfield prospect in the system, nearly hit the go-ahead home run himself in the ninth inning right before Quintero, but instead settled for a triple off the right field wall, and scored on Quintero’s homer. Davalan also doubled on Sunday, giving him four straight multi-hit contests.

Mairo Martinus had a rough start in his first week in Triple-A, with just two singles and nine strikeouts in his first 15 at-bats with Great Lakes. But the 21-year-old infielder/outfielder provided extra on Sunday with a home run and triple. Martinus this week has played two games at second base plus one each at first base, third base, and right field for the Loons.

After four weeks on the injured list, Brooks Auger returned to start on the mound for Great Lakes. Sunday was only an abbreviated outing for Auger in his first game back, pulled after 32 pitches and four outs. Auger allowed a walk in the first inning and a double in the second, which scored after his departure. He struck out a pair.

Emil Morales didn’t homer on Sunday, but did walk twice after homering four times in the first five games of the series. The Dayton broadcast mentioned that the eight home runs by Morales against the Dragons are the most in one season by any opposing player against Dayton, dating back to its franchise inception in 2000. Morales this season against Dayton is hitting .323/.400/785 with eight home runs, six doubles, and 27 RBI in 16 games.

Class-A Ontario

The Tower Buzzers came within two outs of finishing off a clean sweep for Dodgers affiliates on Sunday, but gave up two runs in the ninth inning in a loss to the Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres).

Jecsua Liborius pitched a perfect eighth inning with two strikeouts, but started the ninth with two walks. Both came around to score despite two more strikeouts in the frame. A throwing error on a double steal brought home the tying run, then a walk-off single scored the game-winner for Lake Elsinore.

Oswaldo Osorio had two hits, including a three-run home run in the first inning, and his first stolen base of the season. The 21-year-old played first base on Sunday but has also played third base and second base for both Ontario and in the Arizona Complex League this season.

Transaction

Class-A: Catcher/infielder Bryan Gonzalez Garcia rejoined Ontario from the Arizona Complex League. He started at third base on Sunday.

Sunday scores

• Oklahoma City 6, Salt Lake 5 (10 innings)
• Tulsa 6, Corpus Christi 2
• Great Lakes 8, Dayton 6
• Lake Elsinore 5, Ontario 4

The week ahead

• Oklahoma City vs. Albuquerque (Rockies)
• Tulsa vs. Arkansas (Mariners)
• Great Lakes vs. South Bend (Cubs)
• Ontario at Rancho Cucamonga (Angels)

Recaps

[AP] Rodriguez strikes out 9 as Diamondbacks beat struggling Dodgers – Eduardo Rodriguez struck out nine in seven strong innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks clinched their first season series over the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2018 with a 4-2 victory Sunday. The Dodgers snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over Arizona in 10 innings Saturday. Rodriguez (11-4) shut them down most of the afternoon in the series finale, allowing two runs and five hits.Ketel Marte hit a two-run homer off Justin Wrobleski (11-4) in the first inning and Kevin Ginkel worked a perfect ninth for his first save this year, clinching Arizona’s 7-6 win in the season series. The NL West-leading Dodgers have lost three consecutive series for the first time since Aug. 29 to Sept. 7, 2025.

[Dbacks.com] E-Rod’s 115-pitch gem helps D-backs secure season series vs. LA for 1st time since ’18 – There’s more than a month and a half until the playoffs begin, but if the D-backs needed a Game 1 starter, it would almost surely be Eduardo Rodriguez. The 2026 All-Star was again in top form Sunday, stymieing the star-studded Dodgers lineup for the fourth time this season. He yielded just two runs across seven frames and turned in a season-high nine punchouts, throwing 115 pitches, his most in a start since Sept. 9, 2019, as a member of the Red Sox. But this isn’t just any lineup. It’s the Dodgers, who boast the second-highest team OPS (.766) in baseball. Rodriguez gave up eight runs (six earned) against the club in two starts last year, but has completely flipped the script on them in 2026, posting a 1.88 ERA across his four outings.

Team news

[Arizona Sports] Diamondbacks win season series vs. Dodgers for 1st time since 2018 – The series was tense. The D-backs outscored the Dodgers 9-7 over three games, winning the first on a walk-off home run from rookie Ryan Waldschmidt and losing the second in extra innings. It was played in front of a packed house for all three games at Chase Field, a split crowd that created a high-stakes atmosphere. “We always play the Dodgers well,” Ketel Marte said via Spanish interpreter. “It’s a tough game. I like that type of adrenaline. We are doing the little things well, this is going to help us out.” In that environment, Arizona’s starting pitchers Merrill Kelly, Brandon Pfaadt and Rodriguez held the Dodgers to three runs over 19.2 innings, and Rodriguez put forth a Herculean effort in the finale.

[AZ Central] Diamondbacks to sign veteran starting pitcher, sources say – The Diamondbacks have agreed to sign veteran right-hander Zack Littell, a source said, in a move that gives them additional rotation depth less than a week after they were unable to land another starting pitcher ahead of the trade deadline. Littell, 30, has a 4.97 ERA in 112 1/3 innings this season for the Washington Nationals. He split time in the rotation and logged bulk innings in relief. He could end up in a similar role with the Diamondbacks. Littell was designated for assignment by the Nationals last week and cleared waivers, ostensibly because he had a $4 million buyout on a 2027 mutual option, thus becoming a free agent. The Diamondbacks will be on the hook only for a prorated portion of the league minimum.

[SI] Torey Lovullo Sends a Message to D-backs Fans After Beating Dodgers – “I want to say something about our fans. They’ve been present, and they’ve been posting up, and it’s been great. This crowd here [Sunday] was very engaged. I always judge the seventh inning stretch [chants] ‘D-backs’ or ‘Dodgers.’ And I think we got them today. I heard more D-backs over Dodgers. So they brought it. I love our fans. We need them. Keep coming.” The energy has been palpable all series, reaching a particularly high volume in game one, thanks to Corbin Carroll’s home run-robbing catch and Ryan Waldschmidt’s eventual walk-off home run. Lovullo said he’s felt the fan support, even when playing in opposing cities. “Even on the road; we go on the road, and there’s a large crowd behind our dugout. Every single city we go into. I haven’t necessarily seen that a lot over the ten years that I’ve been here. I want to say thanks to those fans that come out and rock it for us on the road, too.”

[Arizona Sports] Diamondbacks keep winning while best players are slumping – Carroll’s batting stance looks a bit different, as the perennial workhorse continues to try putting himself in better hitting position.He moved his hands down in an effort to be more streamlined to the baseball.“Just trying to fix my direction, basically,” Carroll said. “That’s what feels good right now, but I’m just trying to make sure that my hands don’t kind of get buried behind me and keep them showing to the pitcher a little bit more. I’d say just working and trying to find the points of emphasis where when I go in the game, it keeps it simple,” he added. “Hopefully things take off from there. … I would say there’s been some positive signs in the games recently, just in terms of hitting a few more balls on a line. Just gotta keep working.”

And, elsewhere…

[Yahoo] Craig Kimbrel signing with 12th MLB team moves veteran reliever closer to history – Once Kimbrel does get on the mound in Kansas City, he will then have pitched for more organizations than all but five pitchers in MLB history. Edwin Jackson and Rich Hill both toed the mound for 14 teams each, while Octavio Dotel and Roosevelt Davis pitched for 13 teams apiece. Kimbrel, a nine-time All-Star, turned 38 back in May and has made 33 Major League appearances in relief this season for the Mets and Rays.

[MLB] How the hot springs in Arkansas became the original Spring Training destination – Although Spring Training has come to be heavily associated with its permanent homes of Florida and Arizona, where this tradition formally began may surprise you. To call Albert Goodwill Spalding an influential baseball figure would be an understatement. As a player, he was an early adopter of the baseball glove and a co-organizer of the NL itself. Within a decade, he was the president of the Chicago White Stockings (later the Cubs), and in that role he stumbled upon another innovation. Ahead of the 1886 season, Spalding decided to find a more suitable preseason training site for his team. He landed, ultimately, on Arkansas.

The Furious (2025)

• Rating: B
• Dir: Kenji Tanigaki
• Star: Miao Xie, Joe Taslim, Yang Enyou, Joey Iwanaga

Yeah, believe the hype. Okay, much of it. This is not quite as good as The Raid: Redemption. But the number of films deserving even of a credible comparison there are few. Simply being in the conversation is high praise, reserved for the very top tier of action cinema. Might be limited to not many more than The Night Comes for Us – and it’s hardly a coincidence both those, like this, starred Taslim. He may be the best, least-known action actor in the world. Make no mistake though: it’s a banger, which likely provoked more audible reactions from Chris and myself than any other film this year. Mostly of the “Oh, shit!” variety – and in a good way at that.

https://filmblitz.org/furious-2025/Read more

(57-55) Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 5, (58-55) Gwinnett Stripers 0 – F/5

• Patrick Clohisy, CF: 0-for-2, .388/.462/.625
• Brewer Hicklen, RF: 0-for-2, .303/.374/.516
• Rowdy Tellez, 1B: 0-for-2, .266/.366/.488
• Cedric De Grandpre, SP: 3IP 2H 2ER 5BB 1K, 5.25 ERA
• Bailey Falter, RP: 1IP 2H 1R 0ER 0BB 1K, 3.27 ERA

Box Score

It was a very rough game for the Stripers as the game was first delayed due to rain, and then called due to rain after just five innings.

Cedric De Grandpre got the start and struggled with his control, walking five over just three innings of work. He gave up just two earned runs despite the control problems which was the positive, but ultimately he needed 62 pitches to get through three innings, throwing only 31 strikes (50% strike rate). Cedric was able to work around walks in the first and second inning, but they caught up to him in the third when with two outs he went BB, 1B, HBP, BB to drive in the second run of the game. He was removed from the game after the third inning and was replaced by Ray Kerr (1IP 1H 1ER 0BB 1K) who gave up a solo shot for his run. The recently acquired Bailey Falter made his first appearance for the Stripers, working what ended up being the final inning, and gave up an unearned run following a throwing error by catcher Jair Camargo.

Offensively, there is pretty much nothing to recap as the Stripers were no-hit through those five innings. Patrick Clohisy was the only player to reach base and that came in the first inning via a throwing error. Outside of that one play, the Stripers had the minimum come to plate where they were overmatched by starting pitcher Jace Beck.

(55-49) Biloxi Shuckers 7, (50-53) Columbus Clingstones 9

• John Gil, SS: 2-for-3, R, .286/.346/.378
• Owen Carey, RF: 2-for-3, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB, .250/.400/.550
• Jordan Groshans, 3B: 3-for-3, HR, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, .259/.329/.523
• Luke Waddell, 2B-3B: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, R, .208/.301/.323
• Kevin Kilpatrick Jr., CF: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R, .251/.333/.390
• Ian Mejia, SP: 4IP 7H 5ER 1BB 5K, 8.25 ERA

Box Score

In what was a wildly entertaining back-and-forth game the Clingstones were able to strike late to secure the win against an extremely strong Biloxi Shuckers team that features quite a few prominent prospects for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Ian Mejia got the start for Columbus who was strong at the start, facing the minimum through the first three innings. Unfortunately things changed immediately in the third inning where he allowed three extra-base hits including a two run home run. He would allow back-to-back singles to start the fifth inning before he was replaced by Owen Hackman (1IP 2H 2ER 2BB 1K) who struggled, allowing a pair of runs on two walks and two hits. Shay Schanaman (2.2IP 0H 0R 1BB 1K) replaced Owen and provided stability to the Clingstones, getting through 2.2 scoreless innings of work. Samuel Strickland (0.1IP 0H 0R 0BB 0K) came in, in the 8th inning and needed a total of six pitches to face his one batter, ending the eighth. Luis Vargas (1IP 1H 0R 0BB 1K) worked a scoreless ninth inning, picking up his fourth save of the season.

Offensively, this was a wildly entertaining game featuring several big hits and offensive contributions. The Clingstones put up three runs in the first inning including back-to-back home runs by Owen Carey (2R HR), and Jordan Groshans on back-to-back pitches.

This made it back-to-back games with a home run for Owen who is adapting to Double-A pitching quite well. After losing the lead in the top of the fourth, the Clingstones offense responded and took the lead back in the bottom of the fourth when Jordan Groshans tripled in Owen Carey who singled to start the inning. The Clingstones would fall behind again in the fifth inning, Kevin Kilpatrick Jr., responded once again in the bottom half of the inning with a lead off solo home run. They would then close the lead to just one in the bottom of the sixth on a Luke Waddell RBI double. Two innings later in the decisive 8th, the Clingstones would re-take the lead following a Will Verdung two run single, and Kevin Kilpatrick Jr., would add the cherry on top with a run scoring ground out that scored Luke Waddell for the games final run.

(66-42) Greensboro Grasshoppers 3, (50-54) Rome Emperors 6

• Luis Guanipa, CF: 1-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, R, .143/.143/.250
• Conor Essenburg, RF: 1-for-4, HR, RBI, R, BB, .208/.321/.375
• Alex Lodise, SS: 1-for-2, BB, .293/.412/.488
• Colin Burgess, C: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI, R, .189/.288/.269
• Aiven Cabral, SP: 5.1IP 6H 1ER 1BB 1K, 3.64 ERA

Box Score

A return to form for Aiven Cabral, along with strong offensive contributions from some of the systems top prospects led to the Emperors taking the final game of the series against an extremely strong Grasshoppers squad. The Emperors stadium lost power so there was no MiLB.tv.

Aiven got the start and it was a return to form for him. He utilized tons of weak contact to quickly make his way through the Grasshoppers lineup. Unlike the past couple of starts, he was able to stay away from the long inning by simply inducing weak contact and being in the zone. Jacob Kroeger (2.1IP 2H 2ER 0BB 2K) came in for Aiven and pitched solidly despite the two runs scored. Those runs came on a fly ball that found space and fell for a double – allowing two runs to score. Drew Christo (1.1IP 2H 0R 0BB 1K) recorded the final four outs, picking up his third save of the season – he did so by being aggressive and being in zone with his pitch mix.

Offensively, it was an unfortunate game to miss as there were multiple contributions by some of the organizations top prospects, but it was a strong game for a lot of the team. Colin Burgess drove in the first run of the game in the first inning with a sacrifice fly that drove in Dallas Macias. The Emperors would re-take the lead on a Colby Jones home run in the the fourth inning with a solo shot. Conor Essenburg connected on his first home run as an Emperor and it was a BANG (HR coming at 49 second mark)

Mac Guscette would add another solo shot of his own in the sixth inning, while Luis Guanipa hit his first home run since the promotion.

(57-49) Augusta GreenJackets 2, (64-41) Hickory Crawdads 7

• Carter Beck, DH: 1-for-4, BB, .429/.500/.429
• Jacob Jarrell, C: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI, R, .375/.375/.500
• Cooper McMurray, 1B: 1-for-4, RBI, .244/.371/.396
• Matt Scannell, LF: 2-for-4, 2B, .290/.436/.613
• Brody Fowler, SP: 5IP 6H 2ER 0BB 5K, 5.91 ERA

Box Score

The GreenJackets ran into the buzzsaw that is the Hickory Crawdads falling 7-2 on Sunday.

Brody Fowler got the start for the GreenJackets and put together one of his better professional careers. He attacked the zone with his fastball, especially early, setting himself up well later in his start where he sequenced in his breaking pitches a bit more (slider, splitter). He allowed a pair of runs scattered across five innings – including a solo shot in the second inning. After his solid outing, Brody was replaced by Logan Forsythe (2.2IP 1H 2ER 1BB 2K) who kept the game well within reach for the GreenJackets before a disastrous eighth inning did them in. Logan was removed from the game with two outs and runners on first and second and replaced by Styven Paez (0.1IP 4H 3ER 0BB 1K) who simply could not get it done – allowing both inherited runners to score, and allowing three more additional runs to score all before he could secure a single out. He was un-done by his inability to land his breaking pitches in the zone, instead turning into a single pitch pitcher and getting hit hard and continually.

The GreenJackets offense struggled for a majority of the game, collecting just six total hits. They were held scoreless in all but one inning and as a team went just 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position. The lone two runs came in the sixth inning thanks to a first – as Braves 8th round draft pick Jacob Jarrell out of Clemson collected his first professional double, doubling in Parker Brosius for Augusta’s first run of the game.

One batter later Cooper McMurray drove in Jacob on a grounder to right field to tie the game at 2-2 at the time. Matt Scannell would double right after that to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with just one out, but the GreenJackets were unable to drive them in. After that, the GreenJackets failed to really threaten – picking up just a single and a walk in the games final two innings.

When the Nats traded Luis Garcia Jr. to the Yankees, they were losing the NL leader in slugging and one of the more unique hitters in the game. Garcia’s combination of contact skills and power was thrilling to watch. However, the Nats decision to move Garcia might have made them a better team this season.

This is no knock on Garcia at all. He was having a great season and is a very good hitter. However, the Nats got multiple bullpen arms for Garcia while having an in-house replacement at first base. Right now, the Abimelec Ortiz and Andres Chaparro duo is making sure the Nats aren’t losing any production at first base.

As you can see, both Ortiz and Chaparro are heavy hitters at first base. Both of them have the power and bat speed you want to see from that position. There is a high barrier for entry offensively at the first base position. However, both of these guys have the tools to mash.

Chaparro’s offensive explosion in the second half has been equal parts surprising and exhilarating. Even in the first half when Chaparro was not producing at all, some of his underlying numbers were still solid. However, seeing him mash the way he has is still shocking for a guy with a .167 average and .586 OPS in the first half. 

In the second half, Chaparro is hitting .318 with 5 homers and a 1.173 OPS in 18 games. With three righties on the mound this weekend, Chaparro did not make any starts, but he still had a huge impact. He pinch hit on Saturday and Sunday, driving in five runs on the weekend. These hits helped the Nats blow games open and secure comfortable victories.

While Chaparro has gotten the vast majority of his reps against lefties, he has looked comfortable against right handed pitching when given the opportunity. He is 7 for 17 with 2 homers and 12 RBI against righties and came up with a big knock against Tejay Antone yesterday. After missing a home run by inches, Chaparro ripped a 2-run double in the gap to put the nail in the Reds coffin.

However, Chaparro has been around for a while now and is the weak side of the platoon. Rookie slugger Abimelec Ortiz is the first baseman against righties, and he has been mashing. The Nats received Ortiz as part of the MacKenzie Gore trade, and the former Rangers farmhand has mashed in AAA this year. Despite an underwhelming .244 average, Ortiz had an .845 OPS and 18 home runs. Importantly, Ortiz also struck out under 20% of the time.

His skills are likely a reason why the Nats pulled the trigger on the Garcia trade. With the bullpen help they received and Ortiz waiting in the wings, the idea was that the Garcia trade would not really hurt them this season. So far, that theory is looking smart. Yovanny Cruz and Jake Bird both made impacts out of the bullpen while Ortiz had great at bats all weekend.

Ortiz is known for his power, but his pure hitting ability has been very impressive. He fell behind Chase Burns 0-2 before guiding a single the other way to drive in two runners. Against a strikeout artist like Burns, staying in that AB is so impressive, especially for a young hitter. The 24 year old is hitting .273 with an .895 OPS in 8 games so far. 

We saw the pure hitting ability on Saturday, but yesterday we got to see some of that big power. Ortiz drove a well placed sweeper to the opposite field for a home run off of Brady Singer. It was a pitch that was executed well, but Ortiz was able to drive it out of the ballpark anyways.

The results have been there, but the overall quality of the at bats have been even more impressive for me. He has not looked overmatched at any point in his big league career so far, even when he had to pinch hit against Jhoan Duran. It is too soon to say if he can completely make up for Garcia’s loss, but at the very least, he should be a solid piece in the Nats lineup.

When you think of elite first baseman, you envision the likes of Matt Olson, Pete Alonso or Freddie Freeman. However, the Nats have gotten that kind of production from the position without having a star player like that. The Nats have done a lot of platooning this season, but it has worked the best at first base. With Luis Garcia, and now Abimelec Ortiz hitting against righties while Andres Chaparro mashes lefties, it is a great formula.

Seeing that platoon not really miss a beat with Ortiz thrown in the fire has also been great to see. If Ortiz stays hot, that Garcia trade could honestly help us this season. Yovanny Cruz looks like an electric arm and has helped stabilize the bullpen. Also, Jake Bird looked good in his first outing. He struggled with the Yankees, but he had some solid seasons with the Rockies and there are plenty of examples of players who just can’t make it work in pinstripes.

The Luis Garcia Jr. trade looked like a huge blow for the offense, but right now the machine is rolling on. They are not household names, and were never really big name prospects, but the duo of Abimelec Ortiz and Andres Chaparro looks like a productive first base platoon. Those two certainly played a massive role in the Nats first sweep since April.

The Rays swept the Seattle Mariners with death by a thousand cuts on Sunday, dominating the Mariners who had the look of a team ready to go home, tallying 14 hits on a sunny day in the pacific northwest.

Hicks proved his worth when the Rays had runners on the corners in the sixth inning and the Mariners opted to intentionally walk Junior Caminero to load the bases and hope for an easy groundball. Normally this might expose the small-ball elements of the Rays offense, but with Hicks hitting fourth there is protection in a way the AL leaders in wins did not have before the deadline.

Hicks sliced it the other way, scoring two as former Rays star Randy Arozarena seemingly jogged over to the ball.

Ian Seymour, in his fourteenth career start, settled in against the Mariners, allowing one early run but otherwise cruising through six full innings, taking the burden off the bullpen that had to cover for Griffin Jax’s elbow injury before yesterday’s game, and allowing him to overcome the blemish from July 12 where hi allowed six runs and only picked up ten outs.

With those demons excised, Seymour struck out seven:

Since stretching into a starter’s workload on June 20, Seymour has a 3.46 ERA and 3.09 FIP with a 31.1% strikeout rate and 5.3% walk rate. That amounts to a contribution of 1.3 fWAR, which is 15th highest among all pitchers as of that same date, and his K-BB% ranks ninth.

Cam Booser, Casey Legumina and veteran Steven Matz — who picked up the save! — cruised through the final nine outs, allowing just one hit combined. Matz worked his sinker more than 70% of the ninth, needing only an occasional change to cruise through his second day of relief work in a row on 14 pitches.

Other Notes:

• Yandy Diaz had his fourteenth career four-hit game, listen to his post-game interview here.
• Rays No. 14 Chandler Simpson also picked up four hits on the day, with his only missed opportunity to get on base coming just before Caminero’s intentional walk in the sixth
• Your moment of zen: Simpson lives rent free

Good morning.

Shawn McFarland writes about what we’ve learned about the Texas Rangers over the last week as they climbed their way back to .500.

Jeff Wilson writes that the Rangers couldn’t complete a sweep of Baltimore on Sunday but they enjoyed a successful homestand to remain contenders.

Evan Grant writes that it was a mental lapse that started Kumar Rocker on the path to a bad outing in Sunday’s finale loss.

Kennedi Landry writes that the Rangers are hoping to ride more positive vibes as they take on a couple of AL West rivals this week.

Grant writes about the Rangers making a couple of roster moves on Sunday in the hopes of having a more balanced bench.

Grant notes that despite being placed on the 60-day IL, Jack Leiter is eligible to return soon and might do so in the bullpen.

And, McFarland writes about Texas’ first-round draft pick Gio Rojas and his family’s vision for the young left-hander.

Have a nice day!