Aug 17, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Zach McKinstry (39) hits a double against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Detroit Tigers (61-64) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (61-66)
Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., PNC Park SB Nation Site:Bucs Dugout Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Keider Montero (9-7, 3.22 ERA) vs. RHP Braxton Ashcraft (12-5, 3.88 ERA)
TONIGHT’S GAME: The first-place Astros, who own a 2.0-game lead in the AL West, will open a three-game series with the Angels tonight at Daikin Park.
RHP Cristian Javier (1-3), who shut out the Angels in 5.0 innings of stellar relief last month, will get the start for the Astros tonight opposite Angels rookie RHP George Klassen (1 1).
EL REPTÍL: RHP Cristian Javier is making his seventh start of the season and his fourth since returning from the IL in early July…he’s split time between being a starter and reliever since his return, making four relief appearances and three starts.
Since returning from the IL, he has a 4.30 ERA (11ER/23IP) with 21 strikeouts in 23.0 IP.
THE TURNAROUND: After a slow start to the season, the Astros are 43-31 since May 22, which is the second-best record in the AL in that span.
On that date, the Astros were 20-31, 11 games under, which is their low water mark for the season.
THAT’S OFFENSIVE: Among American League teams, the Astros rank first in slugging (.413), first in total bases (1740), second in OPS (.732), second in home runs (168), and third in runs scored (576).
In the Majors, the Astros rank third in homers, trailing only the Nationals (180) and Yankees (171).
VS. THE ANGELS: The Astros are 6-4 against the Angels this season and need just one win this week to win their sixth consecutive season series against the Angels.
The Astros 144-92 (.610) all- time record against the Angels is their best against any single opponent in franchise history.
TONIGHT’S RADIO BROADCASTS: The Astros English radio broadcast can be heard on SportsTalk 790 featuring Robert Ford and Brian Bogusevic… the Spanish radio broadcast will feature Francisco Romero and Alex Treviño on TUDN 102.9 FM.
DOWN ON THE FARM: Several of the Astros minor league clubs are having second-half success this season, while the Astros FCL team dominated in their completed campaign:
Triple A Sugar Land: In second half action, the Space Cowboys are in first place in the PCL East Division with a 31-14 (.689) record.
Double A Corpus Christi: For the second half, the Hooks are in third place in the Texas League South Division with a 23-22 record (1.0 game out of first place).
Class A Fayetteville: For the second half, the Woodpeckers are in first place in the South Atlantic League North Division with a 26-20 (.565) record.
Rookie Level FCL Astros: The Astros won the Florida Complex League championship, finishing with a 42-11 (.792) record in the regular season.
SUNDAY NIGHT: The Astros and Mariners played a close ballgame on Sunday Night Baseball, with the Astros dropping the contest by a score of 3-2.
The Astros scored their two runs on solo shots hit by 2B Nick Allen (1×2) and SS Jeremy Peña (1×4).
RHP Hunter Brown (2ER/5IP) started for Houston and was handed the loss, as he worked around five walks and three hits allowed in his outing.
TAXI SQUAD ADDITION: RHP Ethan Pecko has been added the Astros Taxi Squad and will work out with the Major League team today at Daikin Park.
Pecko, 23, the Astros sixth-round pick in 2023, has combined to post a 4.57 ERA (42ER/82.2IP) with 86 strikeouts in 20 games (18 starts) in the minors this season, including 17 games at the Triple A level.
THE CLOSER: LHP Josh Hader, now in his 10th Major League season, has made 499 career appearances, needing just one more to become the 12th active Major Leaguer to reach 500 career appearances.
Hader has been stellar since returning from injury in early June, going 4-1 with a 0.90 ERA (3ER/30IP), 41 strikeouts, a .126 opponent average (13×103) and a 0.77 WHIP, while also converting all 17 of his save opportunities in 31 appearances.
THROWING STRIKES: LHP Steven Okert has not allowed a walk in 22 consecutive appearances (since June 28), which spans 22.0 innings pitched.
Some notes on his streak:
Okert is closing in on the club record for consecutive walkless apps. in a single season, which is 24 straight, posted by RHP Pat Neshek from April 8-June 2, 2015.
Only RHP Garrett Whitlock (27g) has had a longer streak of consecutive walkless apps. in MLB in 2026.
per Elias, Okert’s streak of 22.0 consecutive innings without a walk is the fifth-longest by a reliver in a single season in franchise history, and the longest since RHP Wilton Lopez had a streak of 22.1 consecutive walkless innings from April 8-May 17, 2012.
MVP-CALIBER: Yordan Alvarez holds the lead in all AL Triple Crown categories, ranking first in average (.321), first in HR (36) and first in RBI (88).
Additionally, he leads MLB in OPS (1.054), OBP (.435), SLG (.619), and TB (276)…in the AL, he ranks tied for first in hits (143) and XBH (61), second walks (86), and tied for second in runs (82).
YOR-GONE!: DH Yordan Alvarez has hit 36 home runs this season, which leads the AL.
He’s just one homer shy of matching his career high in homers (37 HR in 2022) and is 11 homers shy of matching the franchise record for a single season, set by 1B Jeff Bagwell in 2000 (47 HR).
OUCH!: 3B Isaac Paredes was hit by a pitch for the 17th time of the season on Sunday night, which ranks fifth in the Majors.
Hit 17 HBP are the most by an Astro in a single season since 2B Craig Biggio also recorded 17 HBP in 2007.
WHAM BAM CAM: RF Cam Smith has a triple, three homers and seven RBI in his last eight games.
Smith is batting .346 (18×52) with two doubles, two triples, three home runs, nine RBI and a 1.005 OPS in his last 15 games since July 29.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Monday, August 18, 7:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
SACRAMENTO, CA - AUGUST 11: Nick Martinez #28 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates in the dugout during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Jacob Soriano/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
TORONTO, ON - JULY 31: Kyle Leahy #62 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on July 31, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 17: Ty France #25 of the San Diego Padres looks on during the game between the San Diego Padres and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Monday, August 17, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Mooney/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
San Diego Padres (67-59) at New York Mets (57-69), August 18, 2026, 4:10 p.m. PST
Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
Remember Gaslamp Ball is basically a non-profanity site
Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our thread
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 11: Carson Whisenhunt #88 of the San Francisco Giants pitches at Oracle Park on August 11, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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.
Aug 12, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Mets pitcher Zac Thornton (49) in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the fourth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
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
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 13: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a single in the second inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 13, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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.
As Mark Waugh assessed the prospects auditioning to be the nation’s next Test batter prior to Matt Renshaw’s recall, the Aussie great and former selector paused before identifying what is a significant problem.
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 23: Carlos Rodon #55 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Comerica Park on June 23, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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)
An aerial view of Tropicana Field, domed multipurpose stadium of the Major League Baseball American League East division Tampa Bay Devil Rays baseball team on 3rd March 1998 at St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Allsport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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.
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…
Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Díaz works against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning of Monday's game. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
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.
SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 11: Brice Turang #2 of the Milwaukee Brewers looks on during the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ryan Levy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
There are a lot of great players in the National Hockey League. They are all rated by EA Sports each year ahead of the release of their video game. In NHL 27, the New Jersey Devils have multiple highly rated players. The forward ratings were all released on Tuesday.
Jack Hughes leads the way. He tops all Devils forwards with a rating of 94, which makes him the 16th overall forward in the game. At center, he ranks 8th. He only trails Connor McDavid (99), Nathan MacKinnon (97), Leon Draisaitl (96), Sidney Crosby (95), Macklin Celebrini (95), and Sasha Barkov (95).
Hughes' 94 rating ties him with Jack Eichel when it comes to centers. That's a great rating, especially when you consider the injury that caused Jack Hughes to miss some time in 2025-26.
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.
Jack helped his case by scoring the Golden Goal in the Olympics to cap off his run as one of Team USA's best forwards. He was also red-hot from that point until the end of the season, which ended shy of the playoffs for the Devils.
There is still room for Jack Hughes to improve, too, and be healthier, which could increase his rating in future editions. He may never be up there with McDavid or McKinnon, but being just a tick below is a compliment.
Jesper Bratt is second on the team with an 89 overall rating. Nico Hischier is third at 88; Timo Meier and Anthony Mantha are in 4th and 5th with an 85 rating (there are attribute ratings within the overall rating, which create tiebreakers).
With their ratings, Hughes (16th), Bratt (55th), and Hischier (88th) are all top-100 forwards in the game. Based on the way that they've played up to this point in their careers, along with projections for 2026-27, that is accurate.
When you use the team in the video game, you can bank on having one of these premier centers on the ice for most of the game alongside some highly rated wingers for support.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive, and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
