Category: Baseball

Go Rays!

It’s game 3 of the St. Louis Cardinals vs the Cincinnati Reds as they’ll clash again Tuesday night. Kyle Leahy will make the start for the Cardinals while Andrew Abbott is the scheduled starter for the Reds. First pitch at Great American Ball Park is set for 5:40pm central time.

San Diego Padres (67-59) at New York Mets (57-69), August 18, 2026, 4:10 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Citi Field – Flushing, NY

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

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Game 2 on deck. pic.twitter.com/CDrXONtSbY

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 18, 2026

Tuesday's starters ⚾️@RumsofPR | #LGMpic.twitter.com/VKmhxJ70HE

— New York Mets (@Mets) August 18, 2026

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The San Francisco Giants begin a three-game road series against the Cleveland Guardians this afternoon.

Taking the mound for the Giants will be left-hander Carson Whisenhunt, who enters today’s game with a 6.11 ERA, 5.40 FIP, with 22 strikeouts to 18 walks in 28 innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 4-1 win over the Houston Astros last Tuesday, in which he allowed one run on four hits with two strikeouts and three walks in five and two thirds innings.

He’ll be facing off against Guardians left-hander Foster Griffin, who enters today’s game with a 3.25 ERA, 4.23 FIP, with 125 strikeouts to 33 walks in 138.1 innings pitched. His last start was in the Guardians’ 6-4 win over the Detroit Tigers last Wednesday, in which he allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits with three strikeouts and a walk in five innings.

Game #125

Who: San Francisco Giants (51-73) vs. Cleveland Guardians (60-65)

Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio

When: 3:40 p.m. PT

Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area

National broadcast: n/a

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

Mets lineup

Francisco Lindor – SS
Bo Bichette – 3B
Luis Robert – CF
Carson Benge – RF
Francisco Alvarez – DH
Christopher Morel – 1B
Marcus Semien – 2B
A.J. Ewing – LF
Luis Torrens – C

SP: Zac Thornton – LHP

Padres lineup

Fernando Tatis – RF
Luis Rengifo – LF
Manny Machado – 3B
Ty France – 1B
Jackson Merrill – CF
Xander Bogaerts – SS
Austin Hays – DH
Freddy Fermin – C
Jake Cronenworth – 2B

SP: Robbie Ray – LHP

Broadcast info

First pitch: 7:10 PM ET
TV: SNY
Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2

So that was cool! The Orioles emerged from a grueling 10-game road trip with something like momentum, taking three of four from the AL-best Tampa Bay Rays on the road. The starting pitching was solid, the hitters clutch, and the defense frequently stepped up.

Now, they welcome the second-place Yankees to Camden Yards. The Yankees have a comfortable grip on a wild card spot, but they’re not without flaws. They’re really missing Aaron Judge, hovering around .500 since he fractured his rib in late May. They’re not hitting for average (.229 as a team), though they do hit for power. They didn’t do much to improve themselves at the trade deadline, making three main acquisitions, first baseman Luis Garcia Jr., outfielder Heliot Ramos, and calling up their #1 prospect George Lombard Jr. in place of the struggling Anthony Volpe at short. Lombard Jr. has been very good; the other two not so much.

Nonetheless, the Yankees’ pitching staff has been excellent, and that outlook could get even better with the return of Carlos Rodón (4-2, 3.30 ERA), fresh off the IL after missing July and most of August with elbow inflammation.

It’s been a stop-and-start year for Rodón, who missed Opening Day after getting bone spurs removed from his left elbow back in October 2025, and didn’t debut ‘til late April. He pitched well when he did pitch this season, going 4-2 in nine starts with a 3.30 ERA, and 52 strikeouts over 46⅓ innings. But the elbow flared up again, and the Yankees put him on the 15-day IL on July 3 (retroactive to June 30). Rodón didn’t end up needing surgery, settling for a PRP injection instead, but the recovery dragged, and he ended up missing 41 games.

This will be his first start since June 28, so we might expect that the lefty could be on a pitch count limit in this game. Gunnar Henderson and Tyler O’Neill have both had success against him. Carlos Narváez has only faced Rodón six times, but he’s got three hits, including a homer.

The Orioles are countering with Shane Baz, who is pitching well overall, but getting unlucky somehow: to wit, the righty has a 3.52 ERA in his last seven games, but is also 0-4 in that stretch. Baz doesn’t have a win since June 12, in fact. Blame the lack of run support, mainly. His last start, however, in Minnesota, was sloppy, as he allowed five runs on nine hits in just three innings. Hopefully that was just a blip.

Orioles lineup

1. Jackson Holliday 2B
2. Pete Alonso DH
3. Tyler O’Neil RF
4. Coby Mayo 1B
5. Gunnar Henderson SS
6. Christian Encarnación-Strand 3B
7. Leody Taveras CF
8. Christian Franklin LF
9. Carlos Narváez C

Yankees lineup

1. Trent Grisham CF
2. Ben Rice DH
3. Heliot Ramos LF
4. Luis García Jr 1B
5. Spencer Jones RF
6. Jazz Chisholm Jr. 2B
7. George Lombard Jr. SS
8. Ryan McMahon 3B
9. Austin Wells C

After a great start from a lefty in Sunday’s win, the Yankees will turn to another southpaw as they kick off a road trip with three games at Camden Yards. The Orioles may be three games under .500, but they’re sniffing around the final AL Wild Card slot, and Carlos Rodón will have to handle what is at least ostensibly a playoff-caliber lineup.

The Yankees decided to eschew a final rehab start for Rodón, returning from elbow inflammation and missing from the big-league rotation since June 28th. He has a 3.30 ERA albeit in just 49.1 innings this year, returning from injury twice. His biggest liability is a horrific 13.4 percent walk rate, and we know that command is usually the hardest thing to recover after an injury. Keeping the ball in the strike zone will be the key to his outing tonight, especially given he’ll likely only have 70-75 pitches to work with.

Opposing him will be Shane Baz, who feels like he’s been around longer than he has. The former Ray is still just 27 and has been bang-on league average by his top-level stats, but a tremendous ability to suppress power keeps his FIP at a strong 3.34, driving a three-win season at this point in the year.

This is Baz’s eighth career start against the Yankees and they’ve handled him fairly well, notching a 7.00 ERA and hitting 11 home runs in just 27.0 innings pitched, but I bet a lot of those starts came when there was more thump than the current New York lineup offers.

How to watch

Location: Oriole Park at Camden Yards — Baltimore, MD

First pitch: 6:35 pm ET

TV broadcast: YES, MASN

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY), 98 Rock 97.9FM (BAL)

Streaming: Gotham Sports App, MLB.tv (out-of-market only)

For updates, follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Back at it in Baltimore. #RepBXpic.twitter.com/bTJRFhUiwU

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 18, 2026

Home sweet home.

📺 @masnOrioles & MASN+
📻 98 Rock 97.9 FM & WBAL 1090 AM pic.twitter.com/bdkHTNIxQ8

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 18, 2026

I hate games at Tropicana, but here we are.

There was a little bit of Jays news. Lenyn Sosa was taken off the 60-day DL outrighted to Buffalo.

Maybe Trey will be back this season:

Trey Yesavage resumed throwing from flat ground on Tuesday at the Blue Jays player development complex in Dunedin, Fla.

Yesavage had meniscus surgery on his left knee a week ago. He'll continue working to put himself in position to return to games late this season.

— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) August 18, 2026

And Spencer Arrighetti might be able to make it back this year.

Spencer Arrighetti said he had no pain in his right foot Sunday during rehab outing for triple-A Buffalo. He used a different cleat with a new insole that helped.

He's throwing a side tomorrow and next steps decided after, said John Schneider. Possible Arrighetti's next outing…

— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) August 18, 2026

Buck is looking good:

Blue Jays Royalty 🐐

A legend stopped by to visit the boys! pic.twitter.com/mjub3JoVUA

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 18, 2026

The Dodgers are putting closer Edwin Díaz on the injured list for the second time this season because of inflammation on the right side of his neck, manager Dave Roberts said before Tuesday’s game.

The move comes after Díaz allowed nine runs and recorded three blown saves in a span of six appearances.

Díaz has only made 16 appearances for the Dodgers this season, recording an 11.85 ERA and 5.79 FIP. He spent three months on the IL after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow in late April.

During the Dodgers’ 11-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night, Díaz pitched the ninth inning and gave up three runs and four hits.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

After a well-earned day off, the Milwaukee Brewers are back in action today as they welcome the Seattle Mariners to town for a three-game series. And after a day off, the Brewers get some welcomed reinforcement to their ailing lineup.

Yes, Brice Turang is back in the lineup. Turang missed the entire four-game series in Los Angeles with knee soreness, but was able to avoid the injured list and returns to action this evening. More reinforcements are on the way, as well: Pat Murphy told reporters that if Cooper Pratt gets through tonight’s Timber Rattlers game with no trouble, he could be back as soon as tomorrow. (Whether that game gets played tonight is an open question, as this humble scribe looks at rain coming down outside his window, mere miles from the Rattlers’ ballpark.)

If Cooper Pratt comes through tonight’s @TimberRattlers game feeling good, he could be back in the Brewers lineup as soon as tomorrow, Pat Murphy said.

— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) August 18, 2026

There are no other major surprises in the lineup. Turang will be joined in the infield by Jake Bauers, Joey Ortiz, and David Hamilton, while Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell, and Luis Lara make up the outfield. Christian Yelich is the DH, while William Contreras is behind the plate.

Contreras this evening will be catching Kyle Harrison, who is making his first start in a week and just his second since coming off the injured list at the beginning of the month. Harrison’s last start went quite poorly, though his season ERA was greatly aided by a change in scoring that took away five earned runs from his line, lowering those earned runs from eight to three. Still, Harrison got beat up for 10 hits, eight runs, and three walks in 4 2/3 miserable innings as the Padres blew out the Brewers last Tuesday.

Pitching for the Mariners is the righty Bryce Miller, who celebrates his 28th birthday later this week. Miller has had a good season overall, with a 3.39 ERA, 3.85 FIP, 0.988 WHIP, and 8.9 K/9 versus 1.7 BB/9 in 15 outings covering 85 innings. But things haven’t been as smooth lately; after a fantastic start on July 2, Miller has a 6.12 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 11 walks over his last six starts (32 1/3 innings), and the struggling Mariners are 0-6 in those games.

Tonight’s game kicks off at 6:40 p.m. and you can catch it on Brewers TV and the Brewers Radio Network.

Back in MKE

📺: https://t.co/vfk4xUdTIA
📻: WTMJ

→ https://t.co/bxFoZpT8Cfpic.twitter.com/840GcXUeRn

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 18, 2026

Kicking off our series against the Brew Crew in Milwaukee 🍻 pic.twitter.com/7lpV8JQHB9

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 18, 2026

Tuesday notes…

• AGAINST THE SOX: The Cubs now lead the all-time regular-season series vs. the White Sox, 79-77. They are 39-38 at home and 40-39 on the South Side. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• WHO’S ON SECOND: The Cubs are 24-16 in second games of series this season, their best other than 5-0 in fourth games. They are 22-20 in first games and 22-17 in third games. They have lost two of their last three second games, after having won eight in a row and 11 of 12. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• WINNERS AND LOSERS: The Cubs are 33-25 against teams that had winning records going into games. They are 15-7 during their 39-19 surge that began June 11. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• RUN SCORING: Their dramatic 7-5 win last night made the Cubs’ record 16-35 when they have allowed at least five runs. With four or fewer, they are 57-18. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SEIYA SUZUKI: The Cubs right fielder turns 32 today. Here’s hoping he celebrates several more birthdays in a Cubs uniform.

Cubs lineup:

Night two starters.

Watch the game live on @WatchMarquee. pic.twitter.com/aV63wacNeA

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 18, 2026

White Sox lineup:

Let's play ball! pic.twitter.com/ND2tLCQsEr

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) August 18, 2026

Kevin Gausman, RHP vs. Bryan Hudson, LHP

Kevin Gausman has made two starts for the Cubs, one good (vs. the Royals), one not so much (vs. the Nationals). The last time he pitched in Wrigley Field he wasn’t good either, but… that was facing Cubs hitters!

Gausman has not faced the White Sox since their awful 121-loss season in 2024, so that has little predictive value. The only current White Sox player with more than a handful of at-bats against Gausman is Andrew Benintendi (4-for-19, .211, one double).

Bryan Hudson is a left-handed reliever who’s serving as an opener tonight, largely because the Cubs generally have two left-handed hitters (Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch) at the top of the lineup.

Hudson was the Cubs’ third-round pick out of downstate Alton High School in 2015. He did get as high as Triple-A Iowa, but never got called up and left as a six-year minor league free agent after 2022. Signed by the Dodgers, he was eventually traded to the Brewers, where he had a really good year under Craig Counsell in 2023, then not so much in 2024. The White Sox signed him before this year and he’s been pretty good.

He made two relief appearances against the Cubs in the series on the South Side in May. In the first of those he allowed four hits and two runs. No Cubs hitter has faced him more than six times. Seiya Suzuki is 2-for-2 with a home run.

Erick Fedde is expected to be the “bulk guy” after Hudson. Fedde threw three innings against the Cubs May 17 and Michael Busch homered off him.

Here is the weather forecast for the area around Wrigley Field.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. It’s also on CHSN and WCIU-Ch. 26 with the Sox announcers, and there’s also a full national broadcast on TBS (outside the Cubs/White Sox shared market territory).

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation White Sox site South Side Sox. If you do go there to interact with Sox fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.

You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.

The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.

You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Join us and discuss tonight’s game in the comments below!

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Tuesday, August 18, 7:40 p.m. EDT

Location: Target Field, Minneapolis, MN

TV/Streaming: BravesVision

Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, Los Bravos

The Los Angeles Dodgers are placing relief pitcher Edwin Díaz on the injured list, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic.

Díaz returned to the Dodgers on July 29th after having surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow. The Athletic reports that Díaz's latest setback is "believed to be related to his upper-body," and not an issue with his elbow.

Díaz has an 11.85 ERA and 2.56 WHIP in 13.2 innings pitched over 16 games this year. He has seven saves and a 2-2 record.

Manager Dave Roberts brought Díaz in during the ninth inning with the Dodgers leading 11-2 against the Colorado Rockies on the road. Díaz allowed three runs on four hits before the Dodgers won 11-5.

"Obviously the results weren't good, but I still think him getting out there and pitching major league innings is going to help him,” Roberts said. “We're just still working through some things.

“I just hope he doesn't lose his confidence. He's still working through it. I believe in him. I think the (competitiveness) was there. The fastball was just more thigh-high and more flat. If we can raise that up a little bit ... but I'm not putting a lot of stock in it."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Edwin Díaz injury update: Dodgers placing struggling closer on IL

The Yankees placed Max Fried on the IL on Monday due to a bone bruise, but manager Aaron Boone revealed that the team was taking a cautious approach with the left-hander and that they are optimistic about Fried's health.

Speaking with the media ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the Orioles in Baltimore, Boone broke down the events that led to the organization's decision to put Fried on the IL. 

"Felt it on a pitch in his last start and then a little bit after," Boone said. "We were going through his normal five-day, expecting him to pitch Wednesday. Played catch Saturday, threw a side on Sunday, which actually went ok. We collectively decided that it’s best to keep it calmed down and keep it a smaller issue."

Boone said Fried had an MRI that confirmed that "low-level" inflammation, and that he played catch in New York on Tuesday. 

Fried missed two months this season for the same injury, which is a big reason for the Yankees' approach to this latest injury. Carlos Rodon was activated Monday and is starting Tuesday, taking Fried's spot on the active roster. Although Boone said Rodon's return did not directly determine whether Fried was placed on the IL, the stars aligned for the move to be made without the Yankees losing a starter. 

Boone repeatedly said Tuesday that this bone bruise is not the same as the last one, but since it has to deal with the elbow, things could change, although Boone does not believe this will take Fried out for the rest of the regular season. When pressed why he felt it wasn't the same, the Yankees skipper said he's going off of what the medical professionals had told him and how Fried has felt. 

"I was told that it was good news," Boone said. "And based on how he was doing, he’s probably in line to take his next start; we’re just being cautious with this to have him healthy the rest of the way."

Fried made 10 starts before being placed on the IL in mid-May and made five starts since returning. In those five starts, Fried pitched to a 1.82 ERA. His last start saw him allow one run in five innings against the Mariners. 

Judge starting hitting progression

Boone also gave a short update on Aaron Judge, saying the slugger will start his hitting progression sometime this week. 

Judge played catch Friday for the first time and now that he's getting ready to take swings, the reigning two-time AL MVP is getting closer to an eventual return. 

Judge was placed on the IL with a right rib stress fracture in early June. The 34-year-old was slashing .248/.375/.533 with an OPS of .908 to go along with his 17 home runs and 38 RBI before going down with the injury.

It’s been a strange couple of months for Ranger Suarez. He missed a few turns in the rotation back in the middle of July with a groin strain, and even though this will be his fifth start back since that injury, he’s largely faded into the background, even during games he’s pitched. For instance, he was the guy who started on the mound during the 13-inning circus act against the White Sox back on August 6th. He only lasted three innings on an inefficient 70 pitches, and he was largely a footnote by the end of the night.

But as the summertime sunsets start to creep back closer to 8:00pm, we’re getting to that point in the year where the Red Sox are really going to need Ranger Suarez to make an impact. Since coming off the IL, he’s only averaged 70 pitches per start, and on a related note, he also hasn’t received a decision in a game since June. To be clear, Suarez hasn’t been awful when he’s gone out there (he’s allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his last ten starts dating back to the end of May), but he also hasn’t looked like a guy you want at the top of your rotation in October, which we know he’s capable of being.

In other words, tonight is one of those nights that will be an interesting check in to see what he’s got in the tank. With the groin injury a full month in the rearview mirror, he should be able to get to 90 pitches in this one if he’s throwing the ball well.

On the other side of the ball, there’s Merrill Kelly, and if you have no idea what to expect from him tonight, you’re not alone. He’s been Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in his 22 starts this season. In eight starts, he’s allowed five or more earned runs, but in 12 others, he’s allowed two or fewer earned runs. That leaves just two outings in which he’s given up three or four earned runs. A very strange season indeed.

Speaking of strange seasons, Roman Anthony is also about to play baseball for the first time in three months up in Portland for the Sea Dogs as he begins his rehab assignment. He’ll bat second and DH. Adding to the excitement up there will be Justin Gonzales making his Double-A debut and batting leadoff.

Below are the lineups for both games, and a comment thread to discuss all the action.

Red Sox prospect Justin Gonzales leading off in his Double-A debut pic.twitter.com/5cnjpV4d2t

— Christopher Smith (@SmittyOnMLB) August 18, 2026

⚾️ First Pitch: 7:10pm — Fenway Park, Boston, MA

📺 TV: NESN

📻 Radio: WEEI

Join us below in the game thread!