Category: Sports News

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cubs fans and fans across the country.

Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is having a spectacular season. This, you already know.

He’s the likely National League MVP and is close to setting a record for home runs for any Cubs left-handed hitter, starting today just one behind Billy Williams’ 42 in 1970.

He’s also possibly on track for a 40/40 season, which would be the first-ever for a Cubs player and just the seventh ever by anyone. PCA stole two bases against the Brewers Monday and has 35. There are 17 games remaining in the 2026 regular season.

So that’s week’s SB Nation Reacts survey question: How many steals will PCA have for the 2026 regular season? Cast your vote and I’ll post the final results here later this week.

September is the ultimate encapsulation of the baseball season winding down. The major league team is entering its final sprint, but before they get to the postseason, things eventually end in the minors as well. This week, the two A-ball affiliates ended their regular seasons, with one preparing to begin a playoff run on Tuesday.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

Record: 36-26 (73-63), 1 GB in the International League East after a 5-2 week against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Phillies)

Run differential: +57 (+60)

Coming up: Away @ Rochester Red Wings (Nationals)

It was a big week for the RailRiders, who won five of the last six games against Lehigh Valley after dropping a suspended game to open the week. It pulled them into a tie for first in the International League with Rochester, which will make their upcoming six-game series (note: Scranton lost Game 1 on Labor Day in a rare Monday game) likely pivotal to who goes to the playoffs.

It was a great week for the bats, who got contributions from up and down the lineup. Kenedy Corona had a multi-homer game, Yanquiel Fernandez blasted three homers, J.C. Escarra, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Max Schuemann all hit over .350 this week, and even the struggling Jasson Domínguez got going before his emergency promotion. The real story here remains the power revival of Anthony Volpe, who’s been playing three positions and is now slashing .295/.393/.667 with 10 home runs in 27 games since being sent down. That’s how you send a message.

Elmer Rodríguez spent the week out west with the big league club, so the focus this week was on the rest of the gang. We got great six-inning starts by both Adam Kloffenstein and Alexander Cornielle, but on the prospect front, Brendan Beck allowed one run in six innings with seven strikeouts as he continued to stay ready, while Kyle Carr couldn’t get out of the third as he continues to build up. It was good to finally see something positive from Xavier Rivas, who allowed just two earned runs in five innings after a dreadful first month at the level.

Eric Reyzelman continued his better pitching of late, as he and Zach Messinger combined to toss 7.2 shutout innings in what was ultimately an iffy week for the bullpen. The main attraction was the rehabbing Clarke Schmidt, who looked healthy in his four innings of work this week as he continues to build his way back.

Players of Note:

Jasson Domínguez: .283/.361/.420, 7 HR, 30 RBI, 14 SB, 107 wRC+
Anthony Volpe: .271/.354/.576, 11 HR, 26 RBI, 21 XBH, 135 wRC+ (165 PA)
Oswaldo Cabrera: .291/.348/.441, 17 HR, 59 RBI, 31 XBH, 105 wRC+
Brendan Beck: 9-2, 2.86 ERA, 3.26 FIP, 1.04 WHIP, 20.4 K-BB% (125.2 IP)
Elmer Rodríguez: 8-3, 2.59 ERA, 3.72 FIP, 1.26 WHIP, 13.1 K-BB% (97.1 IP)

Double-A Somerset Patriots

Record: 33-30 (70-62), 3.5 GB in the Eastern League Northeast after a 3-3 week against the Erie SeaWolves (Tigers)

Run differential: +1 (+37)

Coming up: Home vs. Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies)

Somerset is officially on the ropes after failing to make a statement against Erie. They’ll likely need to sweep Hartford this upcoming week and get help from that SeaWolves team that just beat them to get a playoff spot.

Jace Avina had big moments this week, including a slump-busting homer on Tuesday, but has overall had a rough go of it since July. Omar Alfonzo hit the ball well in his two starts, as did Cole Gabrielson, Roderick Arias, Jackson Castillo, and Core Jackson, with the latter going 8-for-25 with his first Double-A homer as he continues to acclimate to his new level.

It was an up-and-down week for the rotation. Cade Smith drew double duty and had two iffy outings, allowing eight runs in 9.2 innings. Chase Hampton continued to struggle mightily at the level, being chased in the third inning before being DFA’d on Monday. Both Bryce Cunningham and Rory Fox had good weeks to salvage things for a rough rotation, with the former notching a seven-inning complete game for his first Double-A win and the latter tossing a quality start with six two-run innings.

The bullpen was really awful this week, with the only guy putting up zeroes being converted starter Trent Sellers. I’m not sure if there’s big-league potential for the almost 27-year-old, but he’s salvaged a bad start to the season by pitching to a 2.48 ERA in 29 innings with 41 strikeouts since mid-June.

Players of Note:

Jace Avina: .249/.345/.462, 20 HR, 65 RBI, 50 XBH, 24.0 K%, 117 wRC+
DJ Gladney: .265/.326/.496, 23 HR, 85 RBI, 49 XBH, 116 wRC+
Coby Morales: .282/.372/.483, 21 HR, 81 RBI, 21 SB, 130 wRC+
Cade Smith: 7-8, 5.10 ERA, 5.51 FIP, 1.44 WHIP, 12.2 K-BB% (120 IP)
Ben Hess: 3-4, 4.45 ERA, 4.69 FIP, 1.45 WHIP, 13.7 K-BB% (56.2 IP, injured)

High-A Hudson Valley Renegades

Record: 35-31 (65-65), 7.5 GB in the South Atlantic League North after a 1-5 week against the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals)

Run differential: +35 (+4)

The season is over down in Hudson Valley, whose nine-game winning streak in mid-August was not nearly enough to make up for a rough start to the second half. It didn’t help how bad the last two weeks have been, particularly with three shutout losses this week to Wilmington and a brutal, season-ending walk-off loss to end it on Sunday.

Two players hit major milestones this week, as Kyle West notched a 20/20 season late in the week, while Jackson Lovich finished with 24 homers and 41 stolen bases, narrowly missing being the first 25/40 Yankee since Ruben Rivera in 1994. There’s some very promising bats here, especially at the catching position with a pair of 2025 undrafted free agents in Eric Genther and David McCann. Next year, Hudson Valley will likely be home to many 2026 draftees, as some of the guys previously mentioned are tested up in Somerset.

This was a pitching staff that stayed relatively intact all season long. Only a late-season promotion for Cunningham changed things after the early-season call-ups to Allen Facundo and the now-traded Henry Lalane. I thought it was a great season for Luis Serna, who broke the Renegades’ single-season strikeout record as he shattered his previous career high in innings to put him back on the map. I wonder if Allen Facundo, who’s command continues to hold him back, will be put in the bullpen next season to fast-track his electric stuff.

Players of Note:

Eric Genther: .274/.407/.440, 12 HR, 57 RBI, 31 XBH, 128 wRC+
David McCann (FCL/A/A+): .268/.354/.544, 17 HR, 56 RBI, 27 XBH, 124 wRC+
Jackson Lovich (A/A+): .287/.361/.512, 24 HR, 89 RBI, 41 SB, 28.6 K%, 123 wRC+
Luis Serna: 6-6, 4.32 ERA, 3.74 FIP, 1.19 WHIP, 20.0 K-BB% (118.2 IP)
Allen Facundo: 6-3, 4.44 ERA, 4.37 FIP, 1.47 WHIP, 11.6 K-BB% (99.1 IP)

Single-A Tampa Tarpons

Record: 43-20 (75-48), 9 GA in the Florida State League West after a 4-2 week against the Dunedin Blue Jays (Blue Jays)

Run differential: +114 (+137)

Coming up: FSL Division Series vs. Clearwater Threshers (Phillies)

The regular season has come to an end, and no team is hotter than the Tampa Tarpons, who haven’t lost a series since mid-June. After winning their ninth series in the last 11 (with two splits), they solidified the best record in the Florida State League. They’ll look to secure the West Division title against Clearwater this week.

For the first time in a while, it wasn’t complete domination for the offense. Anthony Potestio continued to be the best 2026 draftee thus far, as the 11th-round pick is slashing .333/.513/.684 with five homers in his first 80 pro plate appearances. Paul Gutierrez-Contreras II, Diego Castellanos, and Luis Escudero all had strong weeks as well, with Dax Kilby continuing to draw walks at a very mature rate.

In the final full week of the rotation, things went well, even if injuries continued to ravage them. Tyler Boudreau suffered a nasty forearm injury on a comebacker mid-week, while Sabier Marte quietly went on the injured list late in the week. Aside from Wyatt Parliament’s struggles with the long ball, everyone else showed out. Edinzo Marquez tossed five shutout frames, Anthony Mena looked good in 3.2 innings of a bullpen game, J.T. Etheridge stacked another good outing, and Justin West tossed five two-run innings of ball.

In the bullpen, there was nothing overtly noteworthy as Antonio Gomez tossed another scoreless outing and guys like Josh Tiedemann and Rafael Arias pitched well, but the story was the first debut of a 2026 pitcher, as Jason Krieger was recalled from the complex to toss 1.1 innings on Sunday due to the injuries. The Yankees rarely have a pitcher make an appearance in their draft year.

Players of Note:

Luis Escudero: .281/.460/.540, 10 HR, 28 RBI, 17 SB, 160 wRC+
Yostin Pena (DSL/A): .354/.431/.608, 14 HR, 80 RBI, 37 SB, 147 wRC+
Dax Kilby: .261/.448/.435, 4 HR, 26 RBI, 12 SB, 143 wRC+ (154 PA)
Tyler Boudreau: 7-3, 3.41 ERA, 3.98 FIP, 1.06 WHIP, 17.3 K-BB% (103 IP)
Justin West: 10-4, 4.06 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 1.23 WHIP, 18.5 K-BB% (113 IP)

FCL Yankees

Record: 29-29, 7.5 GB in the FCL North

Run differential: +2

Missed playoffs. Season over.

DSL Yankees & Bombers

DSL Yankees:
Record: 33-21, 2 GB in DSL East. Eliminated in DSL Cup Pool Play
Run differential: +141

DSL Bombers:
Record: 25-29, 11 GB in DSL Southeast. Missed playoffs
Run differential: +8

Season over.

Players of Note:

Isaias Castillo: .294/.408/.629, 14 HR, 49 RBI, 35 XBH, 28 SB, 132 wRC+
Juan Torres: .385/.470/.644, 8 HR, 65 RBI, 36 XBH, 26 SB, 159 wRC+
David Carrera: .333/.502/.594, 9 HR, 41 RBI, 23 XBH, 160 wRC+
Fredy Penuelas: 52 IP, 1.56 ERA, 3.91 FIP, 1.00 WHIP, 18.4 K-BB%
Cesar Acosta: 51.2 IP, 3.31 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 1.01 WHIP, 24.1 K-BB%

Prospect(?) of the Week: Anthony Volpe

Weekly Stats: 11-for-21, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 3 2B, 3 BB, 4 K, 5 SB (2 CS)
Season Stats (AAA): .271/.354/.576, 11 HR, 26 RBI, 21 XBH, 20 SB, 135 wRC+ (165 PA)

The Dodgers beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-3 on Monday which seems like a totally normal score, though perhaps with a little more offense than the Dodgers put forth during their July-August malaise. They’ve now scored at least six runs in three straight games, a streak they’ve now achieved twice within their last eight contests.

But it’s how the Dodgers scored on Monday that was notable. They only had three hits.

The big blow was a three-run home run by Teoscar Hernández, which blew the game open and continued a tremendous run by the veteran slugger who is healthy again and able to use his old swing to great effect.

Hernández, who also singled and scored in the fifth inning, had two of the Dodgers’ three hits on Monday. During his eight-game hit streak, Hernández is 13 for 29 with two home runs and three doubles, hitting .448/.543/.759 with 11 RBI, including driving in runs in each of the last five games.

The Dodgers in their franchise history have scored six or more runs on no more than three hits only once before. On May 7, 2022, the Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 6-2 in the second game of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field. Mookie Betts did the heavy lifting that day, with a three-run double and two-run home run, accounting for two of the Dodgers’ three hits.

Four years ago in Chicago, the Dodgers walked nine times to complement their three hits. On Monday against the Reds, the Dodgers walked six times and were hit by a pitch. An error accounted for two of the Dodgers’ six runs on Monday.

Scoring at least six runs on no more than three hits has happened only 29 times in modern major league history. The Dodgers have their last two such games. Before that, the most recent was April 22, 2021, when the Seattle Mariners scored seven runs in a 10-inning win at Fenway Park.

The most runs scored on no more than three hits is eight, by the Oakland A’s on April 12, 1994 against the Toronto Blue Jays. The fewest hits in scoring six runs is one, by the Chicago White Sox on August 28, 1909 against the Washington Senators. The Sox took advantage of 11 walks by the wonderfully-named Dolly Gray in that one.

The last two nights at Dodger Stadium have featured rarities. On Sunday, there was actual rain (though nothing that interrupted the game). On Monday, it was scoring six runs on only three hits. Let’s see what Tuesday brings.

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Full slate Tuesday!

My MLB moneyline predictions for today's slate include backing a lot of pricey favorites, which include the Baltimore Orioles.

Before we dive in, be sure to check out all our MLB picks for Tuesday, Sept. 8.

MLB moneyline picks for September 8

For help understanding Polymarket probabilities, see our odds calculator.

Matchup	Pick
Guardians vs Orioles	52%
Astros vs Phillies	44%
Twins vs Tigers	56%
Mets vs Marlins	54%
Angels vs Red Sox	44%
Rockies vs Yankees	25%
Rays vs Braves	49%
Diamondbacks vs Royals	48%
Cubs vs Brewers	66%
Pirates vs White Sox	57%
Rangers vs Mariners	44%
Blue Jays vs A's	62%
Nationals vs Padres	63%
Cardinals vs Giants	50%
Reds vs Dodgers	74%

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of September 8.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for September 8

Guardians vs Orioles: Orioles 

Orioles win probability: 52%

Orioles right-hander Brandon Young has been holding it down in his last few outings, posting a 2.79 ERA while limiting hard-hit and barreled balls. On the other side, Tanner Bibee has been solid, but he has been walking guys at a very high rate, which the Orioles could exploit, as they have been drawing a lot of walks over their last 12 games.

Neither offense has shown much life as of late, so we will be leaning with the better arm.

Astros vs Phillies: Astros 

Astros win probability: 44%

Both arms in this matchup have been great over their last five outings, while neither offense has posted a wRC+ above 90 in quite some time.

Why pay the juice in this spot? Take the dog.

Twins vs Tigers: Tigers 

Tigers win probability: 56%

Pay the juice! It is the Tigers or nothing here.

Sure, the Tigers’ bats have cooled down as of late, but Dean Kremer has been brutal in his most recent outings, posting a 7.43 ERA and 1.80 WHIP while allowing a 47%+ hard-hit rate and 14% barrel rate over his last three starts.

Batters-Box has Kremer owning the worst pitcher rating on the day in its current season dataset.

Full fade on Kremer.

Mets vs Marlins: Marlins 

Marlins win probability: 54%

Simple fade on Sean Manaea, who has progressively gotten worse with each start. Over his last five outings, he owns a 5.87 ERA while allowing a barrel rate above 15%. Over his last three, those numbers jump to a 7.79 ERA and nearly an 18% barrel rate. The Marlins’ bats should be able to get after the veteran early and often.

Angels vs Red Sox: Angels 

Angels win probability: 44%

Back the dog here. It is going to be sweaty with how poorly the Angels’ bats have been, but Patrick Sandoval has been horrible in his last five starts, posting a 5.40 ERA and 1.80 WHIP while allowing a 10%+ barrel rate to opposing hitters.

Meanwhile, Reid Detmers has been nails, allowing little to no hard contact over his last five outings while owning a 0.82 ERA.

Get filthy. Back the Halos.

Rockies vs Yankees: Rockies 

Rockies win probability: 25%

Will the Yankees likely win this ballgame with Cam Schlittler on the bump and the juice that getting Aaron Judge back will bring? Likely, yes.

However, at that price? No.

The Rockies have posted a 114 wRC+, .353 wOBA, and .808 OPS over the last week. Maybe these bats can come alive against the potential AL Cy Young winner.

Rays vs Braves: Rays 

Rays win probability: 49%

Small sample size, but Braves starter AJ Smith-Shawver has been pretty bad since returning. He owns a 7.13 ERA and 1.75 WHIP while facing one of the most consistent lineups in baseball.

Sure, Freddy Peralta is on the bump for Tampa Bay, but he has been very solid in his last three starts, posting a 2.84 ERA and just a 0.68 WHIP.

Take the dog.

Diamondbacks vs Royals: Royals

Royals win probability: 48%

We have no idea what to expect from Corbin Burnes this evening, as he is making his 2026 debut after being out for more than a year due to injury.

However, one thing we do know is Michael Wacha has been holding it down, sporting a 1.71 ERA and 0.76 WHIP over his last three starts. On top of that, the Royals’ bats have been hot for more than three weeks now, while Arizona is frozen at the dish.

Cubs vs Brewers: Brewers

Brewers win probability: 66%

Do we want to trust Jacob Misiorowski or David Peterson this evening? Such a tough debate, right? We’re debating whether to take a guy with a 6.14 ERA over his last three starts or a guy with a 3.94 ERA.

If you haven’t picked up on the sarcasm yet, it is the Brewers or nothing. I refuse to get in front of the Misiorowski freight train.

Pirates vs White Sox: White Sox

White Sox win probability: 57%

The South Siders should be able to tee off on Bubba Chandler early and often, as he is mainly throwing fastballs, and this White Sox team foams at the mouth for four-seam fastballs. Especially Munetaka Murakami, who needs a guy like this to snap out of his cold streak.

Sean Burke has been great, and if he can limit the walks, he should be able to keep his team in this.

Rangers vs Mariners: Rangers  

Rangers win probability: 44%

Neither starter in this matchup has been putting up great numbers over their last few outings, but one offense has been producing more than the other. Sure, Seattle has been heating up, but the Rangers have been much hotter.

Texas owns a 122 wRC+, .346 wOBA, and .791 OPS over its last 12 games.

Take the dog.

Blue Jays vs A's: Blue Jays

Blue Jays win probability: 62%

The Blue Jays have to keep their heads down if they want a chance at the postseason. These are games they have to win.

Their bats have been pretty hot as of late, which is good news for Toronto, as Jack Perkins owns a 7.04 ERA at home.

Toronto will also need Jose Soriano to be nails this evening.

Stay hungry, Toronto.

Nationals vs Padres: Padres 

Padres win probability: 63%

Unless this is a brand-new Matt Waldron, I want no part of backing him to hold anything down this evening. The Nationals right-hander owns a 5.63 ERA and 2.00 WHIP over his last five starts.

Casey Mize has not been much better for San Diego, but we know he is nails at home, with a 2.98 ERA and 0.98 WHIP.

Plus, the Padres’ bullpen is light-years better than Washington’s.

Give me the favorite.

Cardinals vs Giants: Giants 

Giants win probability: 50%

The hometown team is talking to me after the Giants walked it off last night against the Cardinals.

Tonight, they send out Landen Roupp, who has been pretty solid over his last few starts, limiting hard-hit balls.

On the other side, St. Louis has Quinn Mathews on the mound, who owns a 5.17 ERA and 1.60 WHIP over his last three starts.

If the Giants can get after Mathews early and force him to go to the bullpen, which owns a 4.41 xERA on the season, they should be able to open this game up early.

Reds vs Dodgers: Dodgers

Dodgers win probability: 74%

Nick Lodolo has an 8.10 ERA, 8.04 xERA, and 2.02 WHIP while allowing a 53%+ hard-hit rate and nearly a 15% barrel rate over his last three starts. This Dodgers lineup should be able to feast on Lodolo’s offerings this evening.

Tarik Skubal should be able to cool off the red-hot Reds bats. Take the home favorite.

“But bu- you said not to pay this much juice.”

Lodolo has been far worse than Rockies starter Gabriel Hughes. That is the difference.

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

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Orioles fans and fans across the country.

With 17 games left to play in the 2026 season, the Orioles “tragic number” is 13. That is, the combination of Orioles losses and Guardians wins that will clinch that the O’s don’t make the playoffs. They have stacked the odds substantially against themselves making it after getting mopped in the four-game Red Sox series this past weekend.

Still, they are not mathematically eliminated yet, and even if you don’t believe that they’re going to make it, there’s the question of how much of a collapse they might have between now and season’s end. That’s the aim in this week’s poll question, asking how far behind the eventual AL Wild Card 3 team you think that the Orioles will finish. It could still be the Guardians, Blue Jays, Rangers, or even – if they go on a miraculous run – the O’s themselves.

Vote in the poll below:

Notorious pessimist though I am, I did make sure that “they make the playoffs” is still one of the choices, so all of those who just can’t stop believing can register their optimism. Of course, more likely, they won’t make it, and I’m interested in seeing how far you think the team will fall between now and season’s end.

Right now, the Orioles are three games back of the Guardians. They have a chance to take games with their remaining two head-to-head games, and there are also six games coming against the Blue Jays. I don’t think the Orioles will do anything positive with these opportunities, but they are there.

Maybe you think the Orioles will play just well enough to miss out by a game or two. Maybe you think they’ll tread water right around here, not in the race exactly but not mathematically eliminated until the final handful of games. Or maybe you think they’re going to continue the swan dive that their games against the Rockies and Red Sox suggested was on the way.

By now you’ve probably all seen the quote circulating online: “I mean, not [to be all] me, me, me, me, but I’ve done crazy things before. I’m not Joe Schmoe. I’ve done impressive things. I think that that would be a big ask for some people, but I don’t think it’s a crazy ask for me.” That’s Garrett Crochet speaking about the fact that he is now aiming to return and pitch in the postseason, even though he won’t make a single appearance between now and the end of the regular season. It would potentially be a legendary moment for Crochet if he can pull it off, but he’s not there yet, as he didn’t get get his fastball above 90 MPH when he threw a bullpen on Friday. He’ll throw another bullpen today and hopes to face live hitters in a simulated game setting soon, as he has run out of time to make a rehab appearance in the minors. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

Crochet isn’t the only arm hoping to work his way back into the bullpen. While Crochet will merely throw a bullpen today, Tanner Houck will make a 20-pitch appearance for AA Portland, with hopes of bumping that number up to 45 on Friday. He’s itching to go. “It’s been a fun team to watch from afar,” said Houck. “The energy the players bring every night, the excitement level they bring to the city, I want to do nothing but help them in this postseason push and have a deep playoff run.” (Ian Browne, MLB.com)

If he is able to return and look like his old self, the Red Sox bullpen will be downright nasty in October. And hopefully the starting rotation will be right there with them, because it’s the starters who have been the key to this mini winning streak. (Sean McAdam, MassLive)

In addition to working on his velocity and command, Crochet will need to practice the team’s new post-game victory ritual, the celebration circle. “While there were the usual get-togethers by the outfielders and infielders, just outside the Red Sox dugout, a group of five players gathered to form a circle, put their arms around each other and do a little dance. Nick Sogard. Andruw Monasterio. Connor Wong. Nate Eaton. And the creator of the brief celebration, Jahmai Jones. For just a few seconds, they were all in their own little world.” (Rob Bradford, WEEI)

While we’ll hopefully get to see more celebration circles in October at the ends of games, we unfortunately won’t get what would’ve been a special pregame ceremony: that being one-time interim manager Joe Morgan being honored at Fenway before current interim manager Chad Tracy’s team takes the field. That’s because Morgan passed away at the age of 95 over the weekend. “Joe’s life is a story about never giving up. It’s a story about perseverance. It’s a story about hustle. And, yes, it’s a story about being in the right place at the right time.” (Steve Buckley, The Athletic)

The Kansas City Royals decided to change the dimensions of Kauffman Stadium during the winter. As a reminder, here are the changes the team made, courtesy of the Anne Rogers article about the change at the time it was announced:

According to a team-provided diagram, the left- and right-field corners are being pulled in nine feet, from 356 and 353 feet, respectively, to 347 and 344 feet. The previous distances of 373 in both left and right fields will be nine feet closer, at 364 feet. Left-center and right-center fields will be moved in 10 feet, from 389 feet to 379 feet.

According to Royals President of Baseball Operations J.J. Picollo, the goal of the team in making the changes was to have a fairer park, not a hitter-friendly one:

“Our goal here isn’t to have an offensive ballpark,” Picollo said. “It’s to have a very fair ballpark. We don’t want it to turn into a bandbox and every ball up in the air turns into a home run. We just want hitters to be rewarded when they hit the ball well, particularly in the gaps.”

We’ve now seen most of a season with the new ballpark dimensions. As a fan who sat in the new seats once this year, I enjoyed the view from out there, so at least on that front the Royals did a nice job. Did the changes to the fence line, however, keep Kauffman Stadium as a relatively neutral park, or turn it into an offensive one?

The K’s big outfield gave it the reputation of being a pitcher-friendly ballpark, but the statistics painted it as a slightly hitter-friendly ballpark, albeit with some strange quirks. Here’s a table—with information gathered from Statcast—about the Royals’ rolling three-year park factors from 2023–2025:

We see that the previous dimensions of Kauffman Stadium helped hitters hit more doubles and triples while suppressing strikeouts (where 100 is average; higher is above average, while lower is below average). The K, however, was the 27th-hardest park to hit a home run in. On balance, this led to a slightly above-average park, but one that played differently than other MLB parks. The front office felt that the different approaches their hitters had to take at home versus on the road were hurting the team, so they decided to make the switch.

So what can we conclude about the changes the team made? The short answer is not much, or at least nothing that you would want to gamble your life savings on Kalshi for. Park factors, for a variety of reasons, can be pretty noisy from year to year. The most accurate models look at either three-year or five-year park factors to determine what they truly are, which is why I used a three-year rolling model in the table above. You wouldn’t determine what a player is going to be for the season in late May. 

As someone who is temperamentally a mugwump, I’m comfortable with “Who knows? Let’s collect more data.” That, however, makes for a pretty boring article, and we do have some data after nearly a year to start making observations and inferences. So let’s look back at the Statcast data for 2026 to see the one year park factor for the updated Kauffman Stadium. 

This season, Kauffman Stadium has been a good place for hitters to hit extra-base hits of every kind, including home runs. Triples aren’t as high as they used to be, but are still well above average. Home runs are closer to average than they used to be, just on the higher side this season. If you made me bet, I’d say the three-year home run average is going to be closer to 100 than 105, but time will tell.

The K has played like a true hitters’ park this year, supporting extra-base hits while continuing to suppress strikeouts more than any other park besides Chase Field. If the 106 park factor were a three-year average instead of a one-year average, Kauffman Stadium would have the third-highest park factor in MLB this season, trailing only Coors Field and the minor-league stadium that the Athletics currently call home.

When I think of a bandbox, I think of an obscene amount of home runs, and that has not been the case at Kauffman Stadium in 2026. The Royals, however, may have overshot fair and might have made Kauffman Stadium a great park for hitters in the last few years of its life. We will see if it regresses back towards the mean next year or if it remains one of the best parks for bitters in 2027. 

Jack Mahoney (No. 15 PuRP) finished the 2025 season in the Arizona Fall League and was assigned to repeat Double-A Hartford to start the 2026 season. But that seemed to work well for the right-hander, as he posted a 1.99 ERA in 13 starts before being promoted in early August.

And the promotion came on the heels of winning Rockies Organizational Pitcher of the Month for July.

“I think it’s just kind of a tribute to putting one foot in front of the other and trying to continue to just become the best pitcher I can be and pouring into that,” Mahoney said of the win. “It’s obviously a great nod, but (I’m) just kind of focused on trying to continue to develop and become the starter that I want to be.”

And part of that first half included the Yard Goats winning the first half in the Eastern League, which was a highlight for Mahoney.

“Everyone talks about how great of a league that is, so having that group together down there in Hartford and getting to play with them and contribute to winning the first half down there, that was definitely the highlight,” he said.

Mahoney made five starts and posted a 1.65 ERA leading up to his win and promotion, and he has continued to take a step forward in Albuquerque. In his Triple-A debut, Mahoney pitched five innings and allowed two runs on six hits with one home run, two walks, and six strikeouts. And he’s been making adjustments throughout the season.

“I think seeing the hitters be more disciplined in approach and swing decisions and trying to put together reports pregame and throughout the week, and watching some guys on where they want to hit the baseball,” he said.

One of the big things Mahoney has had to adjust to is the use of the ABS system, which doesn’t exist in the lower minors. So the coaches make sure to provide more advanced scouting reports to the pitchers and catchers.

“These guys don’t really want to come out of the zone – nor should they,” he said. “I think that’s just kind of been one of the bigger (things) is throwing into that strike zone now, where guys are probably more disciplined in their approach. So just trying to marry that with what works for me and how I’m going to get those guys out.”

And that has forced Mahoney to see the strike zone in a different way, and refine the way he pitches.

“I think for me, just a big thing since I’ve been up here, too, is just talking about trying to eliminate as many ‘uncompetitive pitches’ as possible, just because that’s a wasted bullet in our eyes,” he explained. “I just think with the strike zone now, it just kind of shrinks down – the competitive looks that you’re going to give guys.

“So I think just through bullpens and just through innings up here so far, I’m learning, ‘Hey, this pitch is going to play here and let’s try and stay out of the zone with this one,’” he continued. “But yeah, just trying to put that approach together and furthering my knowledge of lineups throughout the week doing advanced reports and talking to a lot of people about what it should look like.”

One of the more unique things about Triple-A is that there are always players coming and going, including veteran players on rehab assignments. But that hasn’t phased Mahoney who say’s he’s still “trying to learn as much as I possibly can and apply that to what I think I do well, or maybe not do so well, right now.

“I think it’s really important for me – whether it’s a hitter or a pitcher who have been on that stage,” he continued. “I want to pitch up in the big leagues, so I think it’s just really important that you stay in your lane about it, but also just try to build that relationship and develop that with these guys that have been there, done that, almost and gotten time up there and seen what it’s about. I think every level you go up, the level of play increases, and so just trying to learn as much as possible and trying to be as prepared as possible from that day, when that day comes.”

And another thing about the minors, and baseball in general, is the potential for movement. For Mahoney, this was the second time he was promoted mid-season, and he was grateful he’d done it before so he knew better what to expect.

“Obviously, you want to get promoted, but I think the first time, maybe you get sped up a little bit and you’re just in a new spot with a new team, new guys, new dugouts, new everything,” he said.

“So I think this time, it was just about being as consistent as I could be in my routine that I’ve stayed in every day since the beginning of the year, and just having that routine when I show up to the field. It really kind of is that familiar feeling for me.

“Going from Double-A all the way out on the east coast and flying across the country – I think I showed up to the Hartford Airport and then I met the team out in El Paso — it was a long trek,” he continued, “but just trying to slow everything down and realize that it’s still a locker room. It’s baseball. This is what I love to do, and just slow the heart rate down and slow the days down, and just try to get settled and pack up your good clothes and throw the rest of your clothes in your car and get out to the other affiliate.”

Mahoney has also been adjusting to the elevation of the Pacific Coast League. RGCU Field at Isotopes Park sits at 5,100 feet, which is just a tick under Coors Field.

“I think it’s one of those things where you don’t really understand it until you’re in it,” he said, and definitely in my first couple of starts, I’ve seen what that’s all about. So I think it’s just kind of taking that information and not just looking at it as like, ‘Oh man, this doesn’t move as much’ or looking at it as a bad thing – just learning how to adjust to it.

“So I think the biggest thing that we talk about right now is just kind of adjusting our sights because, obviously, the pitch is going to have less movement,” he continued. “So you’ve got to figure out where to start things and how it’s still going to play as well as you want it to when you’re pitching at sea level. So just understanding that and understanding that’s where you’re at that day, and just really adjusting the sights and trying to get reps under your belt – especially as a starting pitcher, just because you’re going to be out there for 100 pitches or whatever. Just understanding when you’re going to let those shots go, and just where you want to start.”

But overall, it was a “solid year” for Mahoney, who has posted a 5.47 ERA in six starts for the Isotopes. He has allowed two runs in four of his starts, and four in the other two.

“As far as development goes, [I’m] just trying to figure out what makes me the best pitcher I can be,” he said. “I have three starts left here, so I’m just really looking forward to continuing to get innings under my belt at this level. I’ve got two more starts in Albuquerque, so I think getting two more starts under my belt with the elevation and understanding what that looks like for me.

“It’s been a pretty fun journey this year,” he said. “I think [it’s] just continuing to pour my energy into developing and becoming the best starter I can be.”

Weekly Pebble Report: September 1st-6th

Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes (2-4, 67-71 overall)

The Isotopes lost the series 2-4 against the Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners), but it was a high-scoring affair. The Topes were outscored 38-35 across the six games. It marked Albuquerques 11th series loss of the year, including their sixth at home and third in the last four sets. Even though they won on Sunday, they still have lost 14 of their last 20 games and six of their last eight.

⬆️ Stock Up: The Condor is soaring!

Charlie Condon (No. 2 PuRP) had an outstanding week that capped off with hitting two grand slams on Sunday against the Rainiers. He became the second Isotope to achieve such a feat, and the first to do it at RGCU Field at Isotopes Park — Jerry Sands hit two on July 29, 2012 at the Nashville Sounds (Brewers) when the Isotopes were still an affiliate of the Dodgers.

Overall, Condon went 8-for-24 with two doubles, three home runs (including the two grand slams), 11 RBI, five runs scored, two walks, nine strikeouts and a stolen base.

Upcoming: The Topes head out on the road for the final time, traveling to Reno to take on the Aces (Diamondbacks), before returning to Albuquerque for their final homestand next week.

Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats (3-3, 64-67 overall)

The Yard Goats split their final series of the year 3-3 against the Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies). They outscored the Phils 28-27, and two high-scoring games: a 10-5 loss on Thursday and a 9-o shutout victory on Saturday. After winning the first half on June 19th — the earliest in club history — the Goats will host Game 2 and Game 3 (if necessary) in a Best of 3 ELDS starting next Tuesday.

⬆️ Stock Up: Stu on it

Stu Flesland III continues to impress in Hartford, making one start this week against Reading. Flesland tossed 5.2 scoreless innings with two walks and seven strikeouts. Flesland originally joined the Yard Goats as a reliever, making six appearances out of the bullpen before joining the starting rotation in July. He has made 11 starts and has only given up three or more earned runs three times.

Flesland has gotten better as the year has progressed, and was named Eastern League Player of the Month and Rockies Minor League Pitcher of the Month for August after posting a 1.29 ERA across six starts (35.0 innings).

⬆️ Stock Up: Jacob Humphreykeeps hitting

Jacob Humphrey had an outstanding week, going 7-for-21 with three runs scored, two walks and five strikeouts this week against Reading. He also stole two bases. Humphrey was promoted on August 18 after a stint on the 7-day injured list, but didn’t let the injury slow him down. Since his promotion, Humphrey has gone 21-for-43 (.328) with three doubles, three RBI, four walks, 12 strikeouts and seven runs scored. He has also stolen six total bases in six attempts in Hartford.

Upcoming: The Yard Goats will head to Somerset to take on the Double-A affiliate of their Major League opponent — the Somerset Patriots (Yankees) — for their final series before playoffs begin next Tuesday.

High-A: Spokane Indians (2-4, 58-73 overall)

The Indians limped to the finish line, going 2-4 in their final six games and being outscored 42-26. However, they ended on a high note with a 10-4 victory over the Everett AquaSox (Mariners).

Fun Fact: Entering Sunday’s season finale, the Indians have recorded 11 walk-off wins in 64 home games this year (that’s roughly one walk-off win per homestand). Spokane’s 11 walk-offs are five more than the next closest Northwest League team (Vancouver, 6) and more than any MLB team (Chicago White Sox, 10).

⬆️ Stock Up: Robert the Magnificent

Robert Calaz (No. 26 PuRP) had a strong showing in the final week. The outfielder went 7-for-18 with four doubles, two home runs, four RBI, three runs scored, two walks and six strikeouts across five games in September. He also finished the year with a 20-game on-base streak, including hits in 16 of his final 17 games. Overall, Calaz slashed .237/.312/.396 in 105 games with Spokane this season.

⬆️ Stock Up: He’s a Wild(er) man!

Wilder Dalis (No. 10 PuRP) finished 2026 strong, going 9-for-25 with a double, two home runs, four RBI, five runs scored and five strikeouts. He didn’t walk nor steal a base in the last week. In total, Dalis slashed .322/.344/.492 with one double, three home runs, seven RBI, nine runs scored, two walks and 12 strikeouts across 16 games in High-A.

Upcoming: The Indians finished fifth in the second half (out of six) and sixth overall on the season, so their season is over for 2026.

Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (1-5, 69-63 overall)

Fresno had the hardest go in the final week of the season, mustering just one win against the San Jose Giants — a 6-2 victory on Wednesday. Overall, they were outscored 35-28. Entering the final game, they needed a win and a Stockton loss to Visalia to force a tie in the second-half standings and get the Grizzlies into the postseason. Unfortunately, that did not happen and the Grizzlies’ season ended on Sunday.

Fun Fact: In 2026, Fresno has gone 26-15 in one-run decisions (.634 winning percentage). That helped them in their final playoff push, but it ultimately wasn’t enough.

⬆️ Stock Up: Andujar bounces back

Ashly Andujar (No. 30 PuRP) finished the year strong, going 8-for-26 in his final six games against the San Jose Giants. He also recorded two doubles, two RBI, five runs scored, two walks and eight strikeouts with one stolen base. He recored two hits in four of his final six games, while in the others he went 0-for-5 and 0-for-4, respectively. Andujar started the year by repeating the ACL, but then had a decent season after he was promoted on May 24, slashing .242/.301/.324 with 10 doubles, four triples, three home runs, 33 RBI, 47 runs scored, 26 walks and 72 strikeouts. He also stole six bases in 10 attempts.

⬆️ Stock Up: Shine like a (Van) Sickle

Bryson Van Sickle had an outstanding final showing of the season, tossing seven innings against San Jose and allowing just two runs (one earned) on two hits with nine strikeouts. It’s been an up-and-down year for the left-hander, but he ended on a high note.

Upcoming: Like the Indians, the Grizzlies finished third in their division in the second half after their loss to San Jose, so despite finishing second overall in the California League North, they missed the playoffs and their season is over.

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