The Mets are placing designated hitter Jorge Polanco back on the 10-day IL due to left ankle bursitis -- an injury that cost him significant time earlier this season and will now require season-ending surgery.
Interim manager Andy Green said the surgery will happen in the "near-term," adding that a recent MRI on Polanco showed it was necessary.
"It's gotten to the point where he just can't get freedom from the pain," Green noted, adding that it's his belief that playing through the injury impacted Polanco mechanically at the plate.
Polanco had struggled badly since returning from the IL in July, slashing .127/.169/.190 with one home run and two doubles in 84 plate appearances while being limited to designated hitter duties due to the lingering bursitis.
Before that, he spent roughly three months on the IL because of the issue, which resulted in a slow recovery and led to his rehab assignment being shut down at one point as it became a matter of pain tolerance.
As Polanco was working his way back, and shortly after he received a PRP injection, he said he wanted to get to a point where he had "more good days than the days I don't feel so good." That was in the middle of May.
"I was getting more consistent days feeling good," he said. "I think that's what I needed."
But Polanco added that he was expecting to have to manage the issue for the rest of the season, noting at the time that he wasn't sure if he would require surgery after the season.
Overall this year, Polanco hit .148/.201/.230 in 145 plate appearances over 37 games.
A deeper dive into Polanco's numbers doesn't really reveal anything positive to grasp onto, with him near the bottom of the league in xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, average exit velocity, hard hit percentage, barrel percentage, walk rate, and bat speed.
Polanco is under contract through 2027, when he'll earn $23 million and count for $20 million toward the luxury tax payroll.
By no means are we trying to be fatalistic as we trudge along through the middle of August and wait for Sixers training camp to open in late September. However, it’s at least worth pondering what MIGHT not work for Philly in a season that’s probably got more hype than any season we’ve seen for the franchise in over two decades. So, where do we begin?
The most obvious concern that comes with the Sixers this season is one that gets paraded out rather frequently whenever LeBron James changes teams. Will the “LeBron Show” get in the way of the team actually winning games? Could there be too much emphasis on playing through James? At 41, set to turn 42 at the end of the calendar year, James being a team’s top option is certainly not a strategy conducive to winning a championship.
The “LeBron Show” concerns extend beyond the on-court X’s and O’s. James is (reportedly, though it’s been refuted) going to have a film crew with him throughout his time in Philadelphia as his end-of-career documentary gets captured. How much of a distraction could that and James not even living in the Philadelphia area (again, reportedly) pose for the rest of the roster?
Despite the countless pictures that have been breaking social media lately, Joel Embiid’s health will always be a question mark on Philadelphia’s ceiling. Is Ariel Hukporti finally a viable backup to Embiid in order to weather the storm when the inevitable absences arise for the former MVP? This has been a problem for most of Embiid’s career. The Sixers do not win enough of the minutes he’s not on the floor and as Embiid continues to age, it’s even harder to count on him being available.
The 2026 postseason is a good example of the “Jekyll & Hyde” nature Embiid performs with in his 30s. In the first round series against Boston, Embiid did not play in the first three games. He then went on to become the first player in NBA history to score 100 total points in a playoff series without playing in the first three games and the Sixers pulled off the crowning postseason achievement of Embiid’s career, rallying from a 3-1 deficit to eliminate the Celtics. However, Embiid simply wasn’t able to hold up and the only game the Sixers were even competitive in during the Knicks series in the next round was Game 2, a game that Embiid did not play in.
Bear in mind that going into the 2026 playoffs, the Sixers still had to get out of the play-in tournament having finished seventh in the Eastern Conference. Knowing that Embiid is essentially guaranteed to miss at least 30 games in the regular season, will the Sixers have enough in the tank from Hukporti or someone else to finish top-four in the East? Not only does a high seed allow for an easier path in the playoffs, but an easier path would probably allow the Sixers to take it easy with Embiid’s minutes for at least one round. That’s all stuff that needs to be factored in when it comes to discussing just how high the ceiling is for the 2026-27 Philadelphia 76ers.
Is it possible VJ Edgecombe’s development is stunted? Not that acquiring Jaylen Brown and James was a mistake by Mike Gansey and company, but maybe Edgecombe doesn’t take the next step. Nick Nurse will likely want to find some minutes for Labaron Philon and certainly for Anfernee Simons and does playing time for the two of them compromise the rising star?
Maybe Nurse doesn’t handle the backcourt rotation well enough. As we sit here in the middle of August, with recently-drafted guards in Edgecombe and Philon in the fold and Simons having just signed, you would think there’s a path towards minimizing Tyrese Maxey’s minutes in the regular season. However, Nurse has always been one to ride his starters and maybe that’s a needle he can’t or doesn’t want to thread and Maxey gets worn out in February or March.
Stunting the growth of Edgecombe and Nurse finding the right mix with his entire rotation can be combined into one commonly-voiced concern around the NBA when it comes to the Sixers. Maxey, James, Brown and Embiid are all high-usage players. All four players have been the focal point of offensive attacks at various points in their careers. Winning press conferences by saying things like, “I’ll do whatever it takes to win,” is one thing. But can those words actually be turned into tangible actions during an 82-game regular season plus the postseason? Will the stars of the Sixers be able to set their egos aside once the ball goes up in the air in October and the games start counting for real? It’s always going to be a concern any time a “superteam” takes the court for the first time.
Lastly, how does Brown handle the pressure of playing in another highly intense sports market, after being traded to the Sixers from one of their rivals? Yes, Brown is a former NBA Finals MVP, but we all know it wasn’t the cleanest of exits for Brown from Boston. If the Sixers get out on the wrong foot, there could be some mental hurdles that Brown will have to clear.
Perhaps none of these concerns are legitimate. It would be great if none of them were and the Sixers coasted to 55+ wins and were a top three seed in next spring’s Eastern Conference playoffs. But we’ve seen examples in every sport of teams that look good on paper before the season starts that can’t put it all together during the season. Anyways, enjoy the rest of the offseason, Sixers fans.
On Tuesday, EA Sports started to give out more information on their upcoming release and newest addition to the NHL video game series with NHL 27 and the biggest tidbit of news was the released ratings for each player.
This particularly surprised fans of the Detroit Red Wings and where they saw some of their best forwards listed. The defense and goaltender ratings have not yet been released but will likely be released in the coming days.
Detroit's leading top line center in Dylan Larkin did not crack the top ten at the position when it came to the ratings but he did find himself in elite company. Sitting at an 89 overall, EA has Larkin tied with other standout centers around the NHL like Tage Thompson, Nick Schmaltz and Evgeni Malkin, all listed at 89 overall.
Also listed at 89 but finding themselves much higher at their position was Lucas Raymond, who also was listed with an identical 89 overall that had him listed in the top ten at right wing and is tied with fellow Detroit teammate Alex DeBrincat as well as Adrian Kempe, Kirill Marchenko and reigning Stanley Cup Champion Seth Jarvis.
The top of the forward rankings is set in #NHL27 🔥
99 OVR Connor McDavid leads the Centers. Nikita Kucherov leads the Right Wings at 97. Kirill Kaprizov on top the Left Wings at 94.
The trio of Detroit standouts at forward all sit with an 89 overall rating and likely means that defenseman Moritz Seider will garner the top rating on the team in NHL 27.
Also likely to get strong ratings when the rest of the ratings are to be released will be goaltender John Gibson after a strong season as well as rookie breakout Emmitt Finnie, who will likely see a decent rating following a solid 30-point rookie campaign.
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The Diamondbacks (66-61) and the Red Sox (68-58) close out their three-game series at Fenway Park this afternoon. Boston rolled to a second straight win over Arizona last night. One night after pounding out 16 hits in an 11-1 victory, Boston's offense remained productive, collecting 13 hits enroute to a 9-4 win.
Boston wasted little time getting on the board against Arizona starter Merrill Kelly. In the first inning, Caleb Durbin lifted a sacrifice fly that brought home Wilyer Abreu, and newly acquired catcher Adley Rutschman followed with a two-run single to score Ceddanne Rafaela and Nick Sogard, giving the Red Sox an early 3-0 lead. The Diamondbacks appeared to seize control in the third inning. Facing Boston left-hander Ranger Suarez, Arizona loaded the bases before Gabriel Moreno launched a towering grand slam to center field. The blast, Moreno's third career grand slam, scored Corbin Carroll, Ildemaro Vargas, and Ryan Waldschmidt while extending Moreno's hitting streak to a career-best 12 games. Boston responded immediately. In the bottom of the third, Rutschman delivered again, crushing his first home run as a member of the Red Sox to tie the game at 4-4. The Red Sox then reclaimed the lead when Durbin crossed the plate on a Merrill Kelly wild pitch. The Red Sox steadily pulled away from there. In the fifth inning, Andruw Monasterio singled home a run to make it 6-4. Boston added two more in the sixth when Mickey Gasper launched a solo homer to center and Willson Contreras drove in Nick Sogard with an infield single. Gasper capped his strong night with an RBI single in the seventh, scoring Jarren Duran and pushing the lead to 9-4. Eight different Red Sox hitters recorded at least one hit.
On the mound, Ranger Suarez (5-3) earned the victory despite surrendering Moreno's grand slam. The veteran left-hander allowed four runs over 5⅓ innings and picked up his first win since June 29. Boston's bullpen was excellent behind him, combining to throw 3⅔ scoreless innings while allowing just three hits. Arizona, meanwhile, received little from Merrill Kelly (8-11), who was charged with six earned runs on seven hits and four walks in only four-plus innings.
Today looks to be an old-fashioned pitchers’ duel as Arizona hands the ball to Brandon Pfaadt (7-1, 3.11 ERA) and the Sox turn to Payton Tolle (8-6, 2.97 ERA). Pfaadt has been good all season but outstanding the last month. Pfaadt's most recent outing came this past Friday in Atlanta, when he squared off against Chris Sale. Pfaadt delivered one of his best starts of the season, helping the Diamondbacks earn a 2-0 victory over the Braves. It was the righthander’s fourth straight start in which he did not allow a run. Tolle's last start came August 13 in Toronto, and it was dominant. The left-hander threw eight shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out four as Boston rolled to a 7-0 victory over the Blue Jays. Prior to that, he struck out a career-high 14 batters against the Athletics on August 7. Tolle has not been as stingy as Pfaadt, but he has been efficient. He owns a sparkling 2.21 ERA over his last seven starts.
Lets dive further into today’s game and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Diamondbacks vs. Red Sox
Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Time: 4:10PM EST
Site: Fenway Park
City: Boston, MA
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, DBACKS.TV, NESN
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The Latest Odds: Diamondbacks vs. Red Sox
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Arizona Diamondbacks (+131), Boston Red Sox (-140)
Spread: Diamondbacks +1.5 (-174), Red Sox -1.5 (+143)
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers – Diamondbacks vs. Red Sox for August 19
Red Sox: Payton Tolle Season Totals: 115.0 IP, 8-6, 2.97 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 128K, 31 BB
Adley Rutschman is 2-5 in his career against Brandon Pfaadt
Ildemaro Vargas is 1-2 (the hit is a HR) in his career against Payton Tolle
Geraldo Perdomo is 2-2 including 1 HR against Tolle
Willson Contreras is 4-8 in this series and has hit safely in 5 of his last 6 games (7-21)
Payton Tolle has struck out 7 or more hitters in 5 of his last 6 starts
Brandon Pfaadt has not allowed an earned run in his last 4 starts (27.2 IP)
Caleb Durbin has hit safely in 4 straight (6-14) and in 6 of his last 7 games (11-26)
Andruw Monasterio was 2-4 last night after going hitless in his previous 2 games (0-8)
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Diamondbacks vs. Red Sox
The Diamondbacks are 68-58 on the Run Line this season
The Red Sox are 61-64 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 53 times in Arizona’s 126 games this season (53-67-6)
The OVER has cashed 57 times in Boston’s 125 games this season (57-64-4)
Expert picks & predictions: Diamondbacks vs. Red Sox for August 19
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s game between the Diamondbacks and the Red Sox:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Red Sox on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8
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WEST PALM BEACH, FL - MARCH 19: Juan Sierra #89 of the Houston Astros celebrates after scoring the game-winning run during the game between the Miami Marlins and the Houston Astros at Cacti Park of the Palm Beaches on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (63-57) lost 6-3 (BOX SCORE)
Hendrickson started for Sugar Land and went 5 innings allowing 5 runs while striking out 7. The offense got on the board in the 3rd inning on a Salazar solo home run. They got 2 more runs in the 7th inning on a Cole 2 run home run. Santa allowed a run in the 8th and the offense was unable to get anything else going as Sugar Land fell 6-3.
Christian Roa, RHP: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Alimber Santa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Logan VanWey, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (54-61) lost 3-2 (BOX SCORE)
Dombroski started for the Hooks and allowed 2 runs over 3.1 innings. He was relieved by Torres who allowed a run. Leach pitched in relief and was solid tossing 2 scoreless innings. The Hooks got on the board in the 8th inning on an Austin solo home run. The offense got a run in the 9th on a Thomas sac fly but that was it as the Hooks fell 3-2.
A+: Asheville Tourists (39-74) lost 9-1 (BOX SCORE)
Potter started for Asheville and allowed one run over 2.1 innings while striking out 6 batters. Asheville got on the board in the 2nd inning on an error. Santos relieved Potter and allowed 3 runs over 4.1 innings. Cruz allowed 4 runs in relief as the Cyclones extended their lead. The offense was unable to score again as they fell 9-1.
Nick Potter, RHP: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Yeriel Santos, RHP: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Anthony Cruz, RHP: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Jackson Wells, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (58-53) won 10-7 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got on the board in the second inning on a Sierra 3 run home run. Smith got the start and went 3.2 innings allowing 4 runs, all in the 4th, as the Pelicans took the lead. The offense responded in the 6th scoring 4 runs on a Piasecki RBI single, Hughes 2 run double and Alvarez sac fly. After the Pelicans scored a couple in the bottom of the 6th, the Woodpeckers grabbed another run in the 8th on an Alvarez groundout. The Woodpeckers got 2 more runs in the 9th inning on a Sierra 2 run single. Butler allowed a run in the 9th but held on for the 10-7 win.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 18: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres celebrates after making a jumping catch in the second inning during the game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on August 18, 2026 in New York, New York. . (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres may have won tonight, but it was Fernando Tatis Jr. who stole the show. The superstar outfielder has majorly turned things around after his historic home-run outage to begin the season. The right fielder hit his 14th homer to lead off the game before hitting his 15th to increase the Friars lead. If that weren’t enough, he robbed Francisco Lindor of a grand slam in the second inning. It would have won the New York Mets the game.
Instead, it was Tatis who got the flowers in the Padres’ victory. Hopefully, that momentum will push them forward into a series win in this afternoon’s rubber match against New York. The Friars will need their offense to continue marching forward in order to stay in the playoff hunt.
Taking the mound
Robert Stock (NYM) v. Michael King (SD)
Stock doesn’t have much to go off of in 2026. The former Padre has been working out of the Mets bullpen lately and hasn’t been particularly effective. The righty owns a 6.57 ERA through 12 1/3 innings pitched. The strikeout numbers are sold but he has been ineffective at limiting baserunners (1.86 WHIP).
It’s likely that New York is planning to have a bullpen game, rather than have Stock as the primary starter. It’s possible that someone could pitch in bulk relief, with Stock as an opener. Though that won’t be made clear until after the game begins Wednesday afternoon.
King has continued to be the guy that the Padres need him to be day in and day out. The 3.41 ERA isn’t exactly awe-inspiring, but King has done much more than prevent runs. He has served to stabilize a rotation that has so desperately needed it.
That being said, there was a point in which King looked shaky. He’s regrouped since then, turning in a 3.15 ERA in his last seven games. The right-hander will seek to do the same against a Mets team that roughed him up the last time they faced off (4 ER, 6.0 IP).
Batter up!
If the stars look like this, there’s no stopping San Diego. Manny Machado went 3-for-4 with a walk in yesterday’s game while Tatis looked every bit the star that the Friar Faithful have grown to love. The right fielder went 2-for-5 with two homers. Not to mention his incredible robbery of Lindor’s grand slam.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Manny Machado, 3B
Ty France, 1B
Jackson Merrill, CF
Luis Campusano, C
Gavin Sheets, DH
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Jase Bowen, LF
Bowen had a productive day at the plate after pinch-running for Luis Rengifo late in the game. The young outfielder went 1-for-1 and scored a run for the Friars. He could give Rengifo a break in the outfield after the recent addition to the Padres has been without rest for some time.
Relief corps
The bullpen was mostly solid in yesterday’s win over the Mets. After Robbie Ray went six solid innings, Bradgley Rodriguez, Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller locked it down. Rodriguez and Morejon struggled a bit, though the former could have been allowed to work through the trouble a little more than he was.
Morejon pitched the second-longest outing of his 2026, throwing 38 pitches across 1 2/3 innings. He allowed a run, but got it back when Machado homered in the ninth inning. That set the stage for Miller to close it out with his 31st save of the year. That leaves Griffin Canning, Jeremiah Estrada, Kyle Hart, Yuki Matsui and Wandy Peralta available for tonight.
The Dodgers (76-51) go for the sweep tonight against the Rockies (50-76) after holding onto a 7-5 win Tuesday night. Shohei Ohtani reached 30 home runs for the sixth-straight season as Los Angeles improved to 9-3 versus Colorado.
Los Angeles' 18 runs scored in the last two games is the highest two-game total in the second half of the season. The Dodgers' offense has taken advantage of Coors Field with four home runs and 24 hits. Ohtani has three of the Dodgers' four home runs in the series.
Colorado is now 1.0 game ahead of the Athletics for the worst record in baseball. The Rockies are 7-9 in August and have the second-worst ERA (5.70) and third-worst OBA (.283). If it wasn't for the offense hitting .263 (4th) with 89 runs scored (T-4th) over those 16 games, the Rockies would certainly have the worst record in the MLB.
Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Dodgers at Rockies
Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Time: 8:40 PM EST
Site: Coors Field
City: Denver, CO
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Dodgers at the Rockies
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-191), Colorado Rockies (+177)
Spread: Rockies +1.5 (+108), Dodgers -1.5 (-131)
Total: 11.5
Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Rockies
Wednesday's pitching matchup (August 19): Roki Sasaki vs Kyle Freeland
Shohei Ohtani is batting .294 in August (21/68) with six home runs and 13 RBI
Mookie Betts is hitting .230 in August (14/61)
Kyle Tucker is hitting .189 in August (10/53)
TJ Rumfield is hitting .291 in August (16/55)
Willi Castro is hitting .298 in August (17/57)
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Dodgers at Rockies
Los Angeles is 52-75 ATS, ranking third-worst
Colorado is 67-59 ATS, ranking ninth-best
Los Angeles is 66-60-1 to the Under
Colorado is 62-61-3 to the Under
Los Angeles is 30-34 ATS on the road, ranking seventh-worst
Colorado is 31-30 ATS at home
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Rockies
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Rockies and the Dodgers:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Rockies on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Rockies at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 11.5
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Back in January, Winnipeg Jets defenceman Logan Stanley appeared to be playing his way toward the biggest payday of his NHL career.
Now, with September fast approaching, the 28-year-old remains unsigned.
And at this point of the NHL offseason, the conversation surrounding unrestricted free agents begins to change. Multi-year contracts are largely replaced by one-year deals, league-minimum offers and, eventually, professional tryouts.
It's quite the fall from where Stanley's stock stood midway through last season.
Photo by Matt Krohn/USA Today
In January, NHL insider Chris Johnston reported that Stanley was in position to cash in as an unrestricted free agent with a contract that could be worth $25 million or more. Other reporting at the time suggested a deal could stretch as long as five years and reach $5 million annually.
It wasn't necessarily as outlandish then as it may sound right now.
Stanley was in the midst of easily the finest season of his NHL career. After scoring just four goals through his first five seasons, the towering six-foot-seven blueliner suddenly found the back of the net nine times in 2025-26 - bringing fans to their feet at Canada Life Centre by using more than just his fists.
His size had always made him something of a unicorn, but for the first time in his career, Stanley was adding legitimate offensive production to the package.
Through 59 games with Winnipeg, Stanley had nine goals and 21 points, both career highs. He was averaging more than 17 minutes per game and had become a regular on the Jets' blueline.
For a pending unrestricted free agent in a relatively thin defensive market, the timing couldn't have been much better. But most who had followed the Jets for some time knew better. Kevin Cheveldayoff sure did. Winnipeg opted to sell high at the deadline.
With the Jets out of the playoff picture, Chevy sent Stanley and veteran Luke Schenn to the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline in exchange for forward Isak Rosén, defenceman Jacob Bryson, a 2027 second-round pick and a conditional fourth-round selection in 2026 - what a haul!
The Jets also separately sent Tanner Pearson to Buffalo for a seventh-round pick.
Three pending Winnipeg unrestricted free agents headed to a Sabres team preparing for the postseason for the first time in what felt like a lifetime. Five months later, the deadline dealings look awfully good from the Jets' perspective.
Stanley's offensive surge didn't follow him to Buffalo.
He went goalless in 17 regular-season games with the Sabres, recording five assists while primarily serving in a third-pairing role. His final totals: nine goals, 17 assists and 26 points in 76 games still represented career highs across the board, but the momentum he'd built in Winnipeg had slowed considerably.
Then came the playoffs. Stanley initially remained in Buffalo's lineup, but appeared in just eight of the Sabres' 13 postseason games.
By Game 5 of Buffalo's second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens, with the series tied at two games apiece, Stanley was a healthy scratch. So was Pearson.
Schenn, meanwhile, had dressed for just four regular-season games after the trade before eventually working his way into Buffalo's playoff lineup.
For three veterans acquired from Winnipeg to bolster a playoff push, none became an indispensable piece for the Sabres.
For Stanley specifically, it was a difficult way to enter what was supposed to be the most lucrative summer of his career.
July 1 came and went. Then the first week of free agency. Then the first month. Now, officially seven weeks into free agency, Stanley remains without a contract.
It's a remarkable development for a player who was once projected to potentially command upwards of $25 million on the open market. There are still reasons to believe Stanley can help an NHL team.
He's only 28. He's six-foot-seven and 231 pounds. He's physical, can kill penalties and just demonstrated that there may be more offensive upside in his game than previously thought. Those players generally find work.
But Stanley's continued availability also suggests NHL teams may have viewed his breakout season with considerably more caution than anticipated.
Nine goals certainly jumped off the page, but Stanley had never scored more than one in an NHL season prior to 2025-26. His foot speed and defensive limitations have long been points of criticism and his reduced role in Buffalo - culminating in healthy scratches during the postseason - didn't exactly provide the strongest final audition before free agency.
Whatever market Stanley and his representatives envisioned earlier in the year clearly hasn't materialized. And the longer he remains unsigned, the fewer options remain.
By mid-August, most NHL teams have their rosters largely assembled and much of their available cap space committed. Players still searching for work increasingly have to decide whether to accept less money, less term or simply an opportunity to earn a contract in training camp.
That doesn't mean Stanley is destined for a PTO. But we are entering the time of year when it becomes a legitimate possibility.
For Winnipeg, meanwhile, the sequence represents an impressive bit of asset management.
Chevy and the Jets resisted the temptation to commit long-term money to a player enjoying an unexpected offensive breakout. Instead, they moved Stanley at what may have been the absolute peak of his value and turned him and Schenn into Rosén, Bryson and two draft picks.
Stanley could still sign tomorrow. He could land a perfectly respectable one-year contract, re-establish himself as an everyday NHL defenceman and take another run at unrestricted free agency next summer.
But whatever happens from here, it's difficult to imagine his market returning to where it appeared to be in January. Let's re-phrase that: his market will never return to the height it reached midway through the 2025-26 season.
At one point, Logan Stanley was staring down the possibility of a $25-million payday. Now seven months later, he's simply looking for a place to play. Talk about fumbling the bag.
Aug 8, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Athletics left fielder Tyler Soderstrom (21) high fives his teammates after hitting a home run during the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Happy Wednesday A’s Fans!
Yesterday, the Athletics dropped a second straight game against the Kansas City Royals, giving up three runs in the bottom of the ninth to cement their status as the worst team in the league. Left-hander Hogan Harris fits as a late-inning left-handed reliever, but his command issues would prevent him from being a closer on most other teams. At least the A’s fared better than the Seattle Mariners, who lost to the Milwaukee Brewers 22-0.
Injuries have played a big part in the team’s rapid fall from grace. The A’s are currently trotting out lineups without injured designated hitter Brent Rooker, catcher Shea Langeliers, first baseman Nick Kurtz or left fielder Tyler Soderstrom. Meanwhile, Opening Day starter Luis Severino suffered a season-ending shoulder injury at the end of May.
Starting shortstop Jacob Wilson could join them on the season-ending injured list if his shoulder soreness does not subside sooner than later. Then there is rookie infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, who got his MLB career off to a hot start before fouling a ball off his balls and rupturing his testicle.
Entering the season, an extreme number of injuries was the last thing the A’s could afford, given the team’s limited depth. However, injuries are not the only factor contributing to the Green and Gold’s fifth straight losing season.
Even before players began dropping like flies, the A’s pitching staff was struggling, allowing opposing teams to seemingly score runs in bunches every night. As a result, it was not surprising when the losses started piling up in June and July, every defeat dragging the Athletics further away from contending in a wide-open mediocre division.
While Jacob Lopez’s second-half resurgence has been a bright spot, the opposite can be said of right-hander Luis Morales, whose regression has been arguably the team’s biggest disappointment this season, especially after he broke preseason camp with a spot in the rotation.
It will be up to the team’s next general manager to assemble an improved pitching staff capable of keeping the Athletics in more games and preventing the blowout defeats that have happened far too often this season. The bullpen, in particular, should be a priority after its league-worst performance.
Whoever succeeds David Forst will also need more investment from A’s owner John Fisher, particularly in the analytics and strategy departments. The A’s are one of the few MLB teams yet to obtain the Trajekt Sports Arc pitching machine. The Trajekt analyzes extensive data to mimic any pitcher’s delivery and replicate their pitches from the same arm angle. In contrast to the A’s, the Los Angeles Dodgers own multiple Trajekt machines.
Additionally, according to The Athletic reporter Ken Rosenthal, the depth of the A’s analytic and research department pales in comparison to other small-market teams like the Cleveland Guardians and Milwaukee Brewers. Ultimately, Fisher’s cheapness is holding the team back, something that is nothing new to longtime fans of this historic franchise.
What should the A’s do moving forward to build a consistent contender?
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 16: Brady House #12 of the Washington Nationals is tagged out by Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets to end the second inning at Citi Field on August 16, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Heading into the Toronto Blue Jays series, the Nationals were 54-52 and only one game back of a Wild Card spot. They were coming off a thrilling series win against a fellow playoff hopeful in the D-Backs. However, things have come off the rails since then with trades, injuries and position changes causing the season to spiral. The Nats are 6-15 since the start of that Blue Jays series.
The Nationals were 1 GB from the final playoff spot.
Then Paul Toboni traded Curtis Mead, Luis Garcia Jr, and Foster Griffin.
Since then the Nationals are 5-16 and have lost any juice from the beginning of the season.
It really feels like the air has come out of this team and the once trademark resilience has vanished. Last night’s 5-0 loss to a mediocre Rangers team was their most lifeless of the season in my opinion. That looked like what we saw towards the end of the Davey Martinez era and for much of Miguel Cairo’s tenure last season. It was a team that was ready for the season to be over.
To come out like that after being swept by a divisional opponent was very alarming to me. The Nats had some bad series and some agonizing losses. However, one thing that you could count on was that they would come back the next game and do whatever it took to win.
That push back has disappeared, and there are a couple potential reasons for this. One that is being discussed a lot right now is the trade deadline. I am seeing a narrative going around that Paul Toboni quit on the team at the deadline and in turn the team has thrown in the towel for the season.
That take is a bit extreme in my view, but it is easy to see where those folks are coming from. With the Nats firmly in the hunt, Toboni traded his best right handed bat for an injured pitcher that has yet to return. Connelly Early is very talented and this could easily look like a great move in a year or two. However, Mead clearly meant a lot to the clubhouse and losing him was a big blow.
At the deadline, two of the team’s leaders got moved in Luis Garcia Jr. and Foster Griffin. With Abimelec Ortiz on the way and the team’s need for pitching depth, the Garcia move made a lot of sense in a vacuum. However, his presence was crucial in keeping the locker room loose and is needed now more than ever. I still like the trade, but it certainly hurt the vibes for this season.
From an on field perspective, the Griffin trade was the most damaging in my opinion. The Nats had a 17-5 record with Griffin on the mound this season. He consistently gave the team quality starts and his wisdom really helped the young pitchers. Now those starts are gone and have been replaced by Jackson Kent, who has not looked ready so far.
This is not meant to necessarily pile on Paul Toboni. The moves make sense, but they essentially stuck a fork in the 2026 Nats in ways that he did not even anticipate. This team was never built to make a deep run so looking to the future is smart. However, it really deflated this clubhouse.
The group had already gone through so much and has had to be so resilient. After all the bullpen meltdowns, the Nats always got off the deck and kept on chugging. With a historically inept bullpen, this team had to be strong, but the deadline sell-off was the one of the dominos that caused this team to fall apart.
The Nationals have had 39.4% (26/66) of their losses come in a game where they held a lead of 2+ runs in 2026.
The only MLB teams in the modern era to finish a season with as high of a percentage (excl. 2020) are the 1998 Mariners & the 1901 Orioles, each at 40.0%.
Another factor in this team’s collapse has been the loss of their best player James Wood. For a little while, the offense kept humming, but his absence has really been felt lately. Wood’s presence in the lineup makes others around him better. With teams circling CJ Abrams in the lineup, his production has slipped. Dylan Crews has also been unable to step up at all. Lately, the only thing the Nats offense has going for them is that first base platoon.
The offense has been the lifeblood of this team all season. However, with Mead and Wood no longer in the lineup, this team is a lot easier to pitch to. Those two consistently worked counts and did not chase. Now, the Nats have a lot of players with similar chase-happy profiles.
It has put so much pressure on CJ Abrams, who now is suddenly dealing with a position change. With all this going on, it really feels like this was not the right time to move Abrams off shortstop. The move had to happen eventually, but this is just an odd moment to unsettle your best healthy player. It is yet another move that has hurt the vibes of this clubhouse.
The Nats dismal showings against divisional opponents are a final thing that has doomed them. They are 2-16 in their last 18 divisional matchups and 11-27 on the season. Getting owned by your rivals takes a toll. Along with all the other drama, that has helped sink the 2026 Nats.
There is always a chance that this team can emerge from their slumber, but it does not feel likely. I expect a limp to the finish of what was once a promising season. It is a real shame but I do think this is still a successful season. However, it could have been so much more. Nats fans got a taste of competitive baseball. Now it is up to the front office to deliver that on a consistent basis.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 11: Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks fields a ground-ball out against the Colorado Rockies during the MLB game at Chase Field on August 11, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning friends. The Mariners dropped a stinker of all stinkers last night, with a 22-0 blowout loss at the hands of the Brewers. If you’re brave enough to watch the next adventure of this runaway train, first pitch is slated for 4:40pm PT.
Diamondbacks infielder Ketel Marte no-showed the team on their road trip to Boston. Apparently, he was in Phoenix getting his knee tested — though nobody (including the coaches) knew about it.
Jeff Passan and Joey Votto at ESPN broke down lost footage of Ted Williams talking about the art of hitting and discussed how his insights translate to the modern game.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 18: Alex Bregman #3 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates a walk-off single during the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Wrigley Field on August 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Carlos Rodón looked about as good as you could have expected in his first big league game back from an almost two-month injury absence, limiting the Orioles to a run on two hits and two walks in four innings. Trent Grisham continued his recent red-hot streak with a homer and a two-run single to drive in all three of the Yankees runs as they took the opener in Baltimore, 3-1, to become the second team in the AL to 70 wins.
It was a much-needed win to gain ground on the Rays and maintain their narrow cushion ahead of the Red Sox, so let’s see how those games as well as others around the AL transpired. This roundup does not include the still-departed Mariners, who suffered a 22-0 annihilation at the hands of the Brewers. (Remember when the M’s were a couple innings shy of their first World Series last year? Goodness.)
Toronto Blue Jays (62-65) 10, Tampa Bay Rays (75-50) 5
Nick Martinez has been a revelation for the Rays after signing a one-year deal in the offseason, but the Blue Jays handed him his worst start of the season — six runs on nine hits and two walks in just 3.2 innings. His opposing starter, Trade Deadline acquisition José Soriano, also got tagged for nine hits but managed to bend without breaking as he allowed three runs in 5.2 innings.
All six of the runs against Martinez came before the Rays managed a response, starting with a pair in the first as Alejandro Kirk doubled, George Springer singled him home, and Jesús Sánchez drove in Springer with a double, all with two outs. Kirk struck again with a two run homer in the third after Nathan Lukes drew a leadoff walk. Then in the fourth, Ernie Clement, Brett Bateman, and Kirk all singled, Kirk’s plating Clement for his third RBI before a wild pitch also allowed Bateman to score.
Tampa Bay cut that six-run deficit in half in the bottom of the fourth. Yandy Díaz, Ryan Vilade, and Cedric Mullins all singled to load the bases. A wild pitch brought home their first run and a Taylor Walls single plated a further pair. However, Toronto kept the pressure on in the fifth, Kazuma Okamoto leading off with a booming home run to set a new Blue Jays rookie record with 25 so far on the year. Clement then singled, advanced to second on a sac bunt, and scored on a Bateman single.
The Blue Jays pushed into double-digits in the seventh, Clement reaching on his third single of the game before Josh Smith left the yard with a two-run blast. Now trailing by seven, Tampa managed a pair of consolation runs in the eighth. Díaz, Liam Hicks, and Vilade opened the frame with three straight singles to load the bases, Mullins and Richie Palacios then lifting consecutive sacrifice flies. It certainly wasn’t a good day for the pitchers, the two teams combining for 30 hits. With the loss and the Yankees’ win, Tampa’s lead in the division was reduced to five games.
As for the Jays, they’re half a game back in the ever-bizarre Wild Card mix, which is so packed that the O’s went from holding a playoff spot to trailing three other teams and tied with the also-losing Tigers thanks to just one shaky inning. The Rangers’ Cal Quantrill-aided 5-0 shutout win over the Nationals has them at least temporarily in the pole position.
Other Games
Chicago Cubs (74-53) 4, Chicago White Sox (65-60) 3
Pete Crow-Armstrong left the yard in consecutive ABs, following his walk-off blast Monday night with a leadoff homer tonight, Michael Busch following with a solo shot of his own to spot the Cubs a two-run first inning lead. The White Sox responded with three unanswered, one each in the second, third, and fourth. Drew Romo got the Southsiders on the board with an RBI single, Munetaka Murakami led off the third with an absolute tank, and Tristan Peters gave them the lead with an RBI double the next inning.
Alex Bregman leveled the score at three apiece with an RBI single in the seventh, and that would not be his only clutch hit on the night. After an almost one hour rain delay interrupted the eighth inning, Carson Kelly led off the bottom of the ninth with a double, PCA was issued an intentional walk, and Bregman called game with a line drive single to center as the Cubs walked off their crosstown rivals on consecutive nights. Still, the Pale Hose are four games ahead of Minnesota in the AL Central.
Cleveland Guardians (61-65) 8, San Francisco Giants (51-74) 1
In his third start for Cleveland after joining from the Nationals at the deadline, Foster Griffin held the Giants to a run on five hits in six innings, the only damage a Bryce Eldridge solo shot in the second. However, the story of this game was their other big deadline acquisition, Jo Adell. He demolished a 455-foot, three-run homer in the first, drove another pair in with a single in the second, and plated his sixth run in the fourth with another single. Cleveland scored their final two runs on RBI groundouts by Angel Martínez and Patrick Bailey, both times with the bases loaded.
It should be noted that Cleveland remains a half-game back of the division rival Twins in both the AL Central and Wild Card races, as Minnesota won in Atlanta last night 4-1 behind a two-run Josh Bell homer and a double by Ryan Jeffers that also plated a pair. Neither Cleveland nor Minnesota are currently in a playoff spot, however.
Boston Red Sox (68-58) 9, Arizona Diamondbacks (66-61) 4
This game looked like it could be a wild back and forth affair, but only Boston could sustain pressure throughout the entire contest. Deadline blockbuster addition Adley Rutschman kicked things off with a two-run single with the bases loaded in the first, Caleb Durbin driving in the third run of the frame with a sac fly. However, Arizona responded by loading the bases themselves in the third to set up a monster grand slam by Gabriel Moreno to momentarily grab the lead, 4-3.
From there, the Red Sox scored six unanswered runs. Rutschman clubbed a no-doubter solo home run in the bottom of the third (his first with Boston) and Durbin manufactured the second run of the frame with a single, advance, stolen base, and scamper home on a wild pitch. Andruw Monasterio added an RBI single in the fifth, Mickey Gasper led off the sixth with a home run with Willson Contreras chipping in an RBI single later in the frame, and Gasper drove in Boston’s ninth and final run with an RBI single in the seventh.
Los Angeles Angels (50-76) 8, Houston Astros (63-63) 1
Angels rookie George Klassen authored by far the best start of his young career in just his fifth big league outing, tossing seven scoreless allowing just one hit and three walks against seven strikeouts. Houston managed just three hits on the day, their only run coming via a Cam Smith solo homer in the eighth. Los Angeles meanwhile scored one each in the third, fourth, and fifth. Nolan Schanuel opened the scoring with an RBI single, Josh Lowe hit one into the Crawford Boxes for a solo shot in the fourth, and Zach Neto smacked an RBI double an inning later. The aforementioned Rangers win over the Nats thus pushed the unassuming club to just one game behind the .500 Astros in the AL West.
Chuck King of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs delivers a pitch during a Minor League Baseball game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, United States, on May 23, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
It was a night of close games and late comebacks across the Phillies system last night. Some were successful in overcoming deficits and snatching victory while the valiant efforts of others fell short.
Lehigh Valley 5, Buffalo 1
It was a good night for Iron Pigs pitching, as they combined to allow one run on seven hits. Chuck King was most responsible, as the righty went six shutout innings and allowed just three hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Rafael Marchán started at catcher and went 0-4 with a walk and a strikeout as he works his way back to the Phillies on a rehab assignment. Kameron Misner launched a two-run homer in the fifth that put Lehigh Valley up 3-0. It was the 17th long ball of the year for the recent trade acquisition.
Reading 5, Portland 7
The Fightin’ Phils had two late rallies, but neither was enough to fully erase a 5-0 deficit. Luke Rosso started the game and was charged with five runs over five innings, including surrendering a home run to the rehabbing Roman Anthony. Raylin Heredia of Reading went 3-5 with a two-run homer and a two-run single, with the latter coming in the ninth to bring the tying run to the plate. But Alex Binelas lined out to center to end the potential comeback.
Clearwater 8, Dunedin 4
A huge five-run eighth inning lifted the Threshers to victory, erasing a 4-3 deficit. The damage primarily came from back-to-back home runs from Nolan Beltran and Will Vierling, with the former giving Clearwater the lead. They totaled six hits in the inning, four of which were for extra bases. One player that wasn’t involved in the offense however was second round pick Caden Bogenpohl, as the big outfielder went 0-5 with a strikeout.
Jersey Shore 5, Hudson Valley 10
The Blue Claws found themselves in a tight, seesaw contest that went into extra innings. However, they came up short after a wild pitch and a fielder’s choice allowed the Renegades to take the lead in the tenth off of Gabe Craig before they exploded for four more runs. Jersey Shore had a golden opportunity in the ninth, as Griffin Burkholder reached second base on an error as the winning run with no outs, but the next two hitters struck out before Robert Phelps lined out to send the game to extras where the Blue Claws went down quietly.
DSL Phillies 6, DSL Tigers 11
A five run fifth inning wasn’t enough for the DSL Phillies to hold off the Tigers, as the latter erased a 6-4 deficit in the sixth with a seven-run inning that included two home runs and a grand slam. Filippo Sabatini was charged with five of those seven runs and was saddled with the loss. Offensively, right fielder Elian Adames had a nice day with two hits including a double and two RBIs. Star prospect Francisco Renteria did not appear in the game, as it was the final on the schedule for the DSL regular season, but the Phillies had already clinched a berth to the playoffs by winning the DSL East title. The playoffs will begin on Thursday.
A recent business trip took me to San Diego for a few days, and I was able to squeeze in several baseball experiences.
First, we got a look at the site of old Lane Field, which is on the waterfront west of downtown. There’s nothing left of the old ballpark, which was home to the Pacific Coast League’s San Diego Padres from 1936 to 1957. There’s a marker where home plate once stood, as well as markings where the batter’s boxes were. The old ballfield is now a city park, and there are some hotels and other business buildings situated in what used to be right field. Lane was an oddly shaped park, 329 to left, 330 to right and 426 to dead center. It’s also the park where Ted Williams got his start, and in October of 1945, Jackie Robinson worked out for scouts from the Brooklyn Dodgers. You must use your imagination to picture the old park wedged into this space, back in a time when San Diego was a much smaller city.
The second baseball item was hearing a motivational talk by Jesse Cole, the founder of the Savannah Bananas. It was an energetic and moving speech as Cole talked about the sacrifices and risks he took to establish the Bananas. To call Cole energetic is a disservice. The guy has enough juice to power a couple of city blocks. Cole knows how to work a crowd as well as any entertainer or politician I’ve ever seen. His story about his relationship with former player Reggie Smith is one of the most heartwarming stories I’ve heard, and just another reason why we love this game so much.
In short, when Cole was a youngster, his parents divorced, which caused the already shy kid to become even more withdrawn. In an effort to pull him out of his shell, Cole’s father arranged for him to try out for a Red Sox bat boy job for a game. A withdrawn Cole sat in the Red Sox dugout, too afraid to move, when Smith noticed the youngster and spent over 20 minutes chatting with him. Cole showed a picture of the two together taken that day, then another taken recently. When Cole received an award from the Baseball Hall of Fame, who introduced him? Reggie Smith, of course. Very heartwarming stuff.
This made me think more about Smith, an outstanding player known as “the other Reggie.” More about Smith in a future story. It was the interaction with Smith that convinced Cole he wanted to become a major league ballplayer. His first stop was T-ball, where he could hear his father shouting, “Swing hard in case you hit it!”
That has become Cole’s business mantra: Swing hard in case you hit it. A few days later, Cardinal rookie Joshua Baez hit home runs in his first three at-bats, including one on the first pitch he saw. That brings up another story I once heard. I may have some of the characters wrong, so forgive me. A rookie’s father said the same thing to his son: “You only see one first pitch in the majors. Swing hard at it.”
The rookie did and also hit a home run.
Cole ended the speech by talking about Bananas Foster, the foundation that provides financial and educational support for foster children. If you’re looking for places to donate this year, take a look at Bananas Foster.
The third leg of this baseball journey was my wife and I taking in an excellent game between the Padres and the Milwaukee Brewers, two teams the Royals would be wise to emulate. I used to be a critic of Padres GM A.J. Preller, but no more. Love him or hate him, he works his tail off to keep the Padres competitive with the Dodgers, no easy task.
Over 40,000 Padres and Brewers fans packed the ballpark for a Monday night game. As I watched it unfold — two playoff teams, downtown stadium, high-energy scene — I thought, “Kansas City could have this if they play their cards right.”
The game gave me a chance to see one future Hall of Famer, Manny Machado, and another who is probably on the outside looking in: Christian Yelich. Both players are showing their age, though Machado is still stroking some home runs and his glove work remains as good as ever. Machado is currently at about 63 WAR and closing in on 400 career home runs. And Padre fans love the guy.
Casey Mize, a trade deadline acquisition, got the start for San Diego and did his job, only giving up two runs in six efficient innings of work.
Those two runs came off the bat of former MVP Yelich, who cranked an opposite-field home run in the second. People have talked about Mize being an offseason target for the Royals. He’d be an excellent addition, but I’d be surprised if San Diego lets him get away.
Down 2-0, the Padres answered back in the bottom of the inning when the Royals’ daddy, Ty France, smoked one into the left-field seats. France’s ball never got more than 15 feet off the ground. There’s something impressive about seeing a line-drive home run that’s absolutely ripped.
The score stayed 2-1 until the bottom of the seventh, when France hit a one-out single. Jackson Merrill, who has been blistering the ball since the All-Star break, blasted one 435 feet to dead center to put the Pads up 3-2 and send the locals into fits of hysteria.
One thing about San Diego fans: They dig their baseball.
Same for Brewer fans. I saw dozens of fans sporting Brewer garb and spoke to a couple that was spending their summer following the Brewers around the country, Grateful Dead groupie style. You gotta love baseball, right?
Once San Diego had the lead, they channeled the 2015 Kansas City Royals blueprint. First out of the pen was Yuki Matsui, a diminutive lefty who retired the side on 15 pitches.
The eighth belonged to Adrian Morejon, and wow, this guy was impressive. He hit 100 on the radar and rolled through the Brewers with just eight pitches.
The ninth, of course, went to Mason Miller. With Korn’s song “Blind” blaring, the stadium lights flashing and “The Reaper” on the scoreboard, Miller walks to the mound. Padre fans are absolutely losing their minds, and Miller didn’t disappoint, hitting 102 on the gun. He struggled a bit with his control, needing 19 pitches to get just two outs. You read that right, a two-out save.
Miller walked William Contreras with two outs, bringing the dangerous Yelich to the plate. Brandon Lockridge ran for Contreras, and with the count 1-1 on Yelich, broke for second.
Former friend Freddie Fermin gunned down Lockridge to end the game.
It was great to see Freddie playing again. He’s had a bit of a tough year, hitting in the .190s for most of the season, but on this night, he had a double and threw out two would-be base stealers. And the locals love him.
The game was clean, with neither team recording an error, and the only miscues were the Brew Crew running themselves out of two innings (and the game) with caught stealing. I had to check my scorecard to make sure it wasn’t the Royals on the field.
Royals brass would be well served by spending a week in San Diego taking notes on how the Padres do it. The concourses were packed prior to the game, but foot traffic before and after the game flowed easily. San Diego’s train system is as good as any in the nation, and that’s one area of concern for the Royals’ new stadium. Will Kansas City’s cutesy tourist rail system be able to handle game traffic without snarling pedestrian or motorist flow? I have my doubts.
Petco opened for business in 2004, and that blew me away. I would have never guessed the park was 22 years old. I spent one morning walking around the construction site in the summer of 2002. The stadium was just a hole in the ground with some beams being erected at the time. There was a chain-link fence surrounding the construction site. That part of town, just south of the Gaslamp Quarter, was kind of rough in those days. It’s since been transformed, with shops, bars, restaurants and multiple condo buildings taking root around the ballpark.
The visit got me excited for downtown baseball in Kansas City. I will miss the K. We all will. The K is a very special place and holds some great memories for most of us.
Downtown baseball is a different animal, and Kansas City needs to do this right. It won’t be an easy job for John Sherman and company. There will be community and political classes to satisfy. They must build a memorable stadium, one that’s better than the one we already have.
The city must get the infrastructure to work. And the biggest thing is the Royals must put a good product on the field. Nothing will kill downtown momentum like watching a rudderless team on its way to 100 losses. It’ll be an interesting few years as this develops.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 13: Trevor Story #10 of the Boston Red Sox tosses a ball to a fan between innings during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Fenway Park on May 13, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The WooSox got just two hits on the first night in Syracuse (Mets AAA) and did not draw a walk, with a rehabbing Trevor Story going hitless. Only Romy Gonzalez and Allan Castro notched base hits, and that happened in back-to-back at bats where Romy would score. It’s tough to win baseball games with that offensive output, but the dreadful part is they probably could have with how serviceable the pitching was. And let’s not put makeup on a pig here: the WooSox staff is suffering from supplementing the Red Sox’s sudden lack of depth (maybe the other way around, too, as the Major League club has used a slew of mop up guys from the Triple-A club as of late…) and any other viable option for a promotion was dealt in the Adley Rutschman trade, as Rutschman starts to emerge as an offensive positive point. But Jedixson Paez going four (solid) innings had the WooSox marching out Patrick Halligan for three innigs in relief and veteran John Brebbia immediately after him. They pitched great, and maybe this just wasn’t a winnable game. But this is still a peculiar place for a team’s pitching depth to be in just a month after the trade deadline, despite Craig Breslow making several good moves for more offense.
The biggest headline of the farm on Tuesday was the Sea Dogs starting a promoted Justin Gonzales, who’s still just 19, and Roman Anthony, who’s back after a lengthy finger injury, and placing them 1-2 in the batting order. This would come back to benefit the Sea Dogs in spades as they beat the Fightin Phils (Phillies AA) by two runs, thanks to Roman Anthony’s absolute mammoth shot that could have ended up in Presque Isle or Old Orchard Beach, whichever locale you prefer. Anthony also got on base in his other three plate appearances via a single and two walks.
Gonzalez looked pretty good too, going 2-for-5. A struggling Henry Godbout even got his first home run since his promotion to Double-A, and Brooks Brannon and Yoelin Cespedes both chipped in doubles (Cespedes’ first since being promoted.) This battering of the Reading pitcher allowed Dalton Rogers the flexibility to pitch into the sixth inning and strike out eight. I know Anthony’s presence on the Portland squad is not going to be long-lived and he’ll be back up at Fenway shortly, but even without him, Portland is about to be an exciting team to watch for the last month of 2026 and starting 2027.
While Greenville was not afforded particularly good pitching Tuesday facing the Dash (White Sox High-A), the Tar Heel duo from this year’s draft, Jake Schaffner and Owen Hull, reached base six combined times (three a piece) and the team had ten hits. However, it did take until the seventh inning for Greenville to drum up some runs, and by then, they were fighting an uphill battle, a 7-0 battle, to be exact.
No, my keyboard didn’t accidentally hit the 2 instead of the 1 twice. The RidgeYaks put up 21 runs on the Warbirds (Brewers A) on 23 hits and 8 walks on the night where Wilson’s Major League club put up 22 runs of their own. They had all of this offense by the end of the fifth, benefitting from eleven hits with runners in scoring position. The scary part is, this game could have been even more lopsided had Salem not stranded eleven. I’d like to insert cliche saying about saving some runs for the next night here, but you get the point. Franklin Primera drove in seven runs including a home run, and Starlyn Nunez had 5 RBI’s including a home run of his own. The Salem pitching held the ball in the park for the entire game, which is impressive given that from Salem’s side of the box score, you’d think the game was played on the moon.
