Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte during batting practice prior to Game 2 of the 2023 World Series at Globe Life Field on Oct. 28, 2023, Arlington, Texas. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Gambadoro added Marte’s MRI “showed inflammation on his upper hamstring and medial joint of his knee.” He received an injection Thursday afternoon, and the D-backs hope his IL stay will be short.
Marte, his agent Charisse Espinosa-Dash, Hazen and manager Torey Lovullo met at Salt River Fields at 1 p.m. Thursday and had a “productive” conversation, according to Gambadoro.
Marte’s absence and apparent injury come at a difficult time for the D-backs, who are fighting to make the playoffs for the first time since a run to the World Series in 2023. Arizona has a 67-61 record and is one game behind the San Diego Padres for the final National League wild-card spot.
Marte is hitting .249 with 21 homers and 67 RBIs so far this season.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are adding to their infield depth, according to their latest transaction.
Per the Diamondbacks’ transaction logs, the team has signed former Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds and Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Santiago Espinal.
It will be a minor league deal for the veteran infielder. He’ll report to Triple-A Reno, joining the Aces’ roster for the time being.
The big, bad Dodgers have looked awfully beatable lately.
They lost seven in a row to start this month. Over the weekend, they lost three of four to the Brewers at home. And this week, they swept the Rockies, but they didn’t make it look as easy as sweeping the Rockies should be for the two-time defending champions.
So what’s up with this juggernaut? And what could stand in the way of a third straight World Series title for LA?
Jacob deGrom reached 2,000 career strikeouts in the second-fewest games and innings pitched in major league history when the Texas Rangers right-hander fanned the first two batters among his 10 K’s in a 2-0 win over the Washington Nationals on Thursday night.
DeGrom struck out Daylen Lile and Abimelec Ortiz, both of whom chased sliders below the zone. He received a standing ovation and acknowledged the applause by tapping his cap over his heart.
“There’s so much that I see that needs to improve, yet you look up and everybody’s saying, ‘Wow, I love the way you play,’ “ Murphy said. “And I look funny and I look behind me, and I see if they’re talking to someone else. Really? Maybe I’m too critical. Maybe I’m missing something. I don’t know. I do trust the team.
BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 26: Jackson Holliday #7 of the Baltimore Orioles throws to first base as Jonathan Aranda #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays ducks on the base path during the eighth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 26, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the Orioles left Tropicana Field four days ago, there was an air of hope around them—the feeling that comes from taking three out of four in the house of the AL East leader. Fast forward four days and the Orioles have come back to earth after being swept in Baltimore by the New York Yankees.
This Orioles team has become the equivalent of baseball’s Sisyphus, doomed to get so close to the final AL Wild Card spot but always falling back. The three wins in Tampa had the O’s a half game ahead for that coveted third spot. After three straight losses to New York and four straight losses overall, the Orioles are buried under five other teams in their quest for an unlikely playoff berth. And yet, Baltimore is only two games back of a spot in the postseason, despite their recent losing streak.
In an improbable turn of events, the Rays have turned out to be a favorable opponent for the Orioles. Despite going 9-16 against the rest of the AL East, the O’s are 6-4 against Tampa Bay. The last time the Rays visited Baltimore, the Orioles won all three games, outscoring Tampa 26-10. Before last Sunday’s 7-6 loss, the O’s were on a six-game winning streak against the Rays.
As has been the case for much of the season (and especially in the post-Trade Deadline era), Pete Alonso will have to carry the Orioles offense if they want to take another series from the Rays. The Polar Bear has destroyed his hometown team, posting a triple slash of .415/.489/.683 with three homers and nine RBIs against the Orioles’ southern division rivals. Colton Cowser and Gunnar Henderson have also dominated the Rays this year, with each posting a .300+ average, a .900+ OPS and three long balls against Tampa.
We saw this matchup playout last Sunday in Tampa, when the O’s scored a resounding 10-2 victory thanks to an offensive explosion against the Rays bullpen. Rogers was his usual sharp self, delivering a line of 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB and 6 Ks. It was reigning MVO’s eighth quality start since the beginnig of June, a stretch that has seen him put up 2.45 ERA and limit opponents to a .224 average. Rogers has been slightly worse in Camden Yards this season, posting a 4.31 ERA in Baltimore vs. a 3.95 ERA on the road.
Peralta was by no means bad last Sunday, setting down the first eight Orioles he faced and starting the game with four shutout innings. Everything started to fall apart for him and the Rays in the 5th, with Peralta walking two of the first three batters before being relieved by Garrett Cleavinger with two outs. Cleavinger allowed an RBI single to Jackson Holliday to tie the game at 1-1 before a Pete Alonso doubled to put Baltimore up 3-1. The Orioles then scored seven runs in the 6th to put the game out of reach.
And despite a less than stellar season overall, the Orioles have not been one for prolonged losing streaks. The recent skid is only the fourth four-game skid of the season. Baltimore has only lost five games in a row once this year, which means they should be in line for a Game 1 victory against Tampa.
Game 2, Saturday August 22nd, 7:05pm ET
Probable pitchers: RHP Brandon Young (9-3, 3.52 ERA, 96 Ks) vs. LHP Shane McClanahan (9-6, 3.25 ERA, 96 Ks)
Where to watch: MASN/MASN+
The Young vs. McClanahan matchup is another matchup we saw in Tropicana Field, with the two squaring off in the Monday game that the Rays won 7-6. Neither the Orioles’ breakout pitcher nor the Rays’ former All-Star were particularly sharp in the back-and-forth affair. McClanahan, in his first start off the IL, was limited to 3.1 innings, allowing 4 hits, 3 earned runs, 0 BB, 3 Ks and a Coby Mayo moon shot.
Young only last two outs longer than McClanahan, posting a final line of 4 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB and 3 Ks. It was BY’s shortest start since the middle of May and only the fourth time all season he’s allowed 4+ runs. It was the big Texan’s first time facing the Rays, so he’ll hope the rematch at home goes much better. Unlike Rogers, Young has actually been slightly better at home this year, holding a 3.39 ERA at Camden Yards vs. a 3.69 ERA away from Baltimore.
Game 3, Sunday August 23rd, 1:35pm ET
Probable pitchers: RHP Shane Baz (4-13, 4.02 ERA, 132 Ks) vs. RHP Nick Martinez (12-4, 3.05 ERA, 83 Ks)
Where to watch: MASN/MASN+
The fact that Shane Baz leads the majors with 13 losses is more a testament to his putrid lack of run support than his actual pitching performance. Among qualified starters, Baz has received the second least run support in all of baseball at 3.12 runs/game. Baltimore has lost six Baz starts in a row, despite the right-hander pitching to a 3.44 ERA over that stretch.
Being in front of the Baltimore faithful hasn’t made it any better. In his last five starts in Camden Yards, the 27-year-old has pitched to a 3.25 ERA while averaging 5.2 IP per start. However, in that same stretch the Orioles are only 1-4 and averaging 2.6 runs/game when Baz takes the mound in Baltimore.
All that being said, the former Ray has been particularly strong against the team that traded him. In two starts this year vs. Tampa Bay, Baz has a 1.38 ERA while limiting the Rays to a a .196 average. The last time he faced Tampa, the righty delivered his best start in Camden Yards all season, tossing 7 innings of 1-run ball while punching out 9 Rays.
On paper, it looks like run support would be hard to come by off Rays’ right-hander Nick Martinez. However, the sinker-baller has struggled of late, posting a 5.92 ERA and .303 BAA and six homers against in his last four starts. Martinez hasn’t made a start in Camden Yards since 2015 for the Rangers, when Jimmy Paredes and J.J Hardy each took him deep and his was outdueled by peak Wei-Yin Chen.
Can the Orioles turn it around against the Rays? Or will it be another disappointing series against an AL East rival? Let us know in the comments.
As you know, the Cubs are the only MLB franchise to be in its original location since the National League was founded in 1876.
So that makes this the 150th anniversary of the team, and throughout the year the Cubs have been honoring that history in many different ways.
Thursday, the club announced a 150th anniversary celebration that will happen at Wrigley Field Saturday, Aug. 29 and Sunday, Aug. 30. The team says that the weekend celebration will honor the players, people, places and traditions that have defined Cubs baseball since 1876 while recognizing the organization’s enduring connection to the neighborhood it has called home for more than a century.
The celebration begins Saturday, Aug. 29, with the dedication of a new Founders’ Clock at the corner of Clark and Addison Streets, marking the organization’s latest investment at Wrigley Field — you can see what it will look like in the rendering above. The permanent four-sided clock will serve as a welcoming landmark for residents, visitors and fans while enriching the year-round experience in and around Wrigley Field.
If you were in Gallagher Way during the just-completed homestand, this is the area that was blocked off for construction:
The Cubs said in a press release:
The clock reflects the organization’s enduring commitment to the community it has called home for generations. Finished in Wrigley Field’s signature deep green, the clock features historic Cubs logos and inscriptions highlighting four eras of franchise history, connecting the club’s rich legacy with the millions of people who come to Wrigley Field each year.
In addition, the Aug. 29 game will include recognition of the Cubs 150th Anniversary Team, which is a collection of the most accomplished and influential players in franchise history. The team was selected online by fans and includes 40 players and three managers from 1876 to today. The complete roster will be announced Monday, Aug. 24 with the pregame recognition planned for Aug. 29 featuring over 20 members in attendance. A permanent plaque featuring the names of all members of the Cubs 150th Anniversary Team will be added to the Cubs Hall of Fame located in the left field bleacher concourse.
There will be other festivities over that weekend, culminating on Sunday, Aug. 30 with the inductions of Jody Davis, Jon Lester and Vince Lloyd into the Cubs Hall of Fame, with Lloyd as the recipient of the “Lifetime Achievement Award,” a new honor recognizing individuals who made a significant contribution to the Cubs organization over their lifetime.
If you are attending the Aug. 30 game, which is now a night game beginning at 6:20 p.m. CT, you’ll receive Hall of Fame pins honoring Davis and Lester (first 10,000 early arriving fans).
This all sounds like a great way to honor the century and a half of Cubs history. Perhaps this year’s team will add to that with a long postseason run.
The A’s have been in a free fall for months. Back on June 19th, they’d erase an 8 run deficit against the Angels, ultimately prevailing in extra innings in dramatic fashion, winning by a score of 12-11. The victory evened their record at 38-38 and since then, it’s been a nose dive to last place.
Cody Elias from A’s cast walks us through the future of this roster as the season approaches its finish line, which cannot come fast enough for the A’s.
Q: A’s have had some tough injuries but guys like Tommy White, Zack Gelof and Lawrence Butler have shown some flashes. What’s your overall feel for those guys?
A: Let’s start with Lawrence Butler. After undergoing offseason knee surgery and spending most of Spring Training recovering, Butler naturally got off to a slow start to begin the 2026 season. Through the first half of the year, he struggled, slashing .196/.296/.296 with five home runs and 22 RBIs across 88 games. The second half, however, has been a different story: Butler is slashing .245/.314/.500 with six home runs and 14 RBIs in just 29 games.
Zack Gelof is another player the organization had high hopes for following a stellar 2023 rookie campaign, where he hit .268 with 14 home runs, 32 RBIs, 14 stolen bases, and an .840 OPS. Since then, injuries, contact issues, and a surge in strikeouts have plagued his progress. Gelof actually began 2026 in Triple-A Las Vegas after the team brought in Jeff McNeil to play second base, but injuries and slow starts elsewhere earned him a call-back to the big league club. He’s proven versatile ever since, making starts at second base, third base, left field, and center field. Better yet, his bat has returned—he’s posted 14 home runs, 34 RBIs, and an .827 OPS while slashing his strikeout rate from 34.4% in 2024 down to 24.9%.
Tommy White began the season in Double-A Midland before earning a promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas after 21 games. Combined across both minor league levels in 2026, White hit .303 with 10 home runs, 64 RBIs, and an .818 OPS. That production earned him his Major League debut on July 17 against the Washington Nationals in West Sacramento. In a small sample size with the big club, White is hitting .267 with two home runs—both coming in back-to-back games after going his first 27 MLB games without a homer. He’s also delivered two four-hit games while filling in at first and third base for manager Mark Kotsay.
Q: What’s the biggest thing you think manager Mark Kotsay is looking to see in the final 6 weeks of the season?
A: The obvious answer is pitching. The A’s currently carry the highest ERA in the American League at 5.49, driven by a 5.36 starter ERA and a 5.70 mark from the bullpen. Injuries have sidelined veterans Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs, while a disappointing start to the 2026 season landed top prospect Luis Morales back in Triple-A. As a result, A’s starters have thrown the third-fewest innings in the AL.
Still, it hasn’t been all bad news on the mound.
J.T. Ginn has been outstanding for the Green and Gold, pitching to a 3.53 ERA across 25 games. Ginn—who nearly threw a no-hitter against the Angels in June—has logged six or more innings 12 times this year. Ginn isn’t considered a flame thrower by today’s standards in Major League Baseball but his ability to get ground balls with his sinker is valuable at the ballpark in West Sacramento. The sinker is seeing its highest usage rate since 2018 (16.6% of the time) and Ginn doubles the usage rate at 35.7% and opponents are hitting .218 collectively vs the pitch. If Ginn can continue to use his sinker to his advantage and continue to develop his changeup, he has established himself as a potential top-of-the-rotation anchor.
Q: Gage Jump had some incredible moments during the first half of the season, what’s happened since?
A: Gage has shown flashes of becoming the franchise’s next elite homegrown southpaw. Jump has struck out the third-most batters by an A’s rookie through his first 15 starts, trailing only Tim Hudson and Sonny Gray. In fact, you have to trace back to Gray’s 2013 debut to find the last time there was this level of excitement around a young A’s starting pitcher. As Jump takes the next step in his development, the key element to watch is his secondary usage—specifically his changeup, which he currently throws just 8.6% of the time. Because he relies on his fastball 47% of the time, refining that third offering will be crucial to unlocking his ceiling as a true top-of-the-rotation starter.
Q: Is it fair to say that Jacob Lopez has the potential to be a future star ?
A: He’s been a bright spot. He was has optioned to Triple-A in early June, and when Lopez returned in July he’s posted a 2.36 ERA across seven starts since July 10. Coming off a solid 2025 campaign that was cut short by injury, Lopez is proving once again that he belongs in the big league rotation.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Andy Ibanez #77 of the New York Mets hits a sacrifice fly to score Mark Vientos #27, to trail 3-2 to the Los Angeles Angels, during the seventh inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 02, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After 2023 rule changes successfully brought back the stolen base, steals are down for the second year in a row. Michael Baumann at Fangraphs investigates.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 11: The Chicago White Sox mascot Southpaw warms up before a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Rate Field on August 11, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jessie Alcheh/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After finishing off a 5-1 homestand, New York Mets (58-70) head out on the road for a three-game series with the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox (66-61). The Mets last faced the South Siders in May 2025, taking two out of three from them at Citi Field. The Mets last traveled to Rate Field in summer 2024, when they swept the ChiSox on the road. In fact, the Mets have swept the last two series they’ve played in the South Side of Chicago. The Mets sport a seven-game road winning streak against the White Sox, with their last loss coming all the way back on June 25, 2013.
The Mets cooled off the Padres, who came in as baseball’s hottest team and left as losers of two out of three games. The Mets could have had a sweep, if not for Fernando Tatis Jr. and his heroics on both sides of the ball in the 5-2 loss on Tuesday night. Tatis Jr. robbed Francisco Lindor of a grand slam and hit two home runs, driving in three of San Diego’s five runs in the process. The Mets got a small measure of revenge with a 2-1 win on Monday and a 4-2 victory in the rubber match to leave home with the series win. In Monday’s win, Benge was the shining star, throwing out runners at home on back-to-back play, with the latter throw clocking in at 103.9 mph (the third-hardest outfield throw in the Statcast era). A.J. Ewing, who has been struggling at the plate, contributed with an outfield assist of his own in the second inning, and each of those three runs proved critical. On Wednesday, Benge’s two-run homer to left field put the Mets ahead, and they were able to do just enough to hold on.
Benge really shined in this series and solidified his case as a potential NL Rookie of the Year contender alongside frontrunners Sal Stewart and JJ Wetherholt. With his two OF assists on Monday, he now leads all NL right fielders with nine assists. He also continues to excel with his glove beyond just his arm, posting 3 DRS in RF (and 1 DRS in LF) in 2026.
What’s most impressive about Benge is how well he’s recovered from a slow start. There was talk in April of sending him back to AAA, but Juan Soto’s initial injury gave him extra life in the lineup. After starting the season hitting .179/.235/.263 with a 41 wRC+ in his first 29 games through May 2, he’s hit .297/.359/.459 with a 130 wRC+ in 92 games since this point in the year. Among qualified NL hitters, that wRC+ is good for 14th, while his 3.1 fWAR is seventh among NL hitters, trailing Pete Crow-Armstrong, Gabriel Moreno, Bryson Stott, Luis Arraez, Shohei Ohtani, and James Wood. Safe to say Benge has been really good, and it stands to reason that he’ll only get better.
The White Sox enter this series on a bit of a rut, having lost three of their last four contests leading into the weekend. They dropped their first two games against the crosstown rival Cubs before salvaging the finale on Wednesday. Then, in what was supposed to be a day off on Thursday, they played a makeup game against the Braves and fell 2-0. The White Sox maintained their lead over the Twins in the AL Central, which is now 3.5 games, as they look to become the first team in MLB history to make the postseason after back-to-back 100-loss campaigns.
Chicago lives and dies by their offense. They are 10th in MLB and 5th in the American League with a 103 wRC+ and a .726 OPS. They have the third-most home runs in the AL (167) and have scored the most runs in the league (605), 13 clear of the second-place Twins. Their bullpen has also enjoyed a solid year, posting a 3.76 ERA (4th in the AL). Their rotation is their biggest weakness, posting a 4.39 ERA (1oth in the AL) and a 4.35 FIP (13th in the AL).
Unsurprisingly, Munetaka Murakami has been the standout star for the White Sox (shoutout Tokyo Yakult Swallows). The rookie has blasted 29 home runs (tops on the club) and would probably be chasing down Pete Alonso’s rookie record had he not missed six weeks with an injury. He is still very much in consideration for the AL Rookie of the Year award and leads White Sox hitters with a 146 wRC+ and an .893 OPS in 92 games. Miguel Vargas is also enjoying a breakout season for Chicago, posting 3.8 fWAR (a career best and tops on the White Sox) and leading the entire AL in runs scored (86) while hitting 28 homers and posting a 131 wRC+ in a team-leading 125 games. Vargas’ year earned him his first ever All-Star game nod. Colson Montgomery rounds out the White Sox hitters with 25+ homers, as he enters play with 26 dingers and a 101 wRC+ with 2.5 fWAR in 120 games.
Friday, August 21: Sean Manaea vs. Sean Burke, 7:40 PM EDT on WPIX
Manaea was cruising in his last start against the Nats, but an ill-timed three-run home run quickly flipped the game on its head and made his line look worse than it was. He ended up being charged with four earned runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings and settled for a no decision as the Mets ended up coming back late. He struck out seven, walked two, and surrendered two home runs in the start. It remains encouraging that Manaea, who began the year in the pen, continues to give the team solid length and save the bullpen. He’s pitched into the seventh inning in two consecutive outings and has completed at least six innings of work in five straight and in six of seven starts. He has been looking a lot more like 2024 Manaea as the season has gone on.
Burke is enjoying a breakout season for Chicago. The 26-year-old has already eclipsed a career-high with 140 innings pitched and has set a career mark with 154 punch outs in his second full season in the majors. His 3.15 ERA is about a run less than the mark he set in his rookie season, and his 3.44 FIP is about a run and a half less than last year. It’s been a really positive year for the former third round pick, and he’ll look to finish things off on a high note. He is coming off a start in which he allowed four earned runs on five hits over 4 1/3 innings against the Tigers. Prior to that, he had a really strong start against the Reds, allowing one earned run on three hits with eight strikeouts over seven innings.
Saturday, August 22: Christian Scott vs. Luis Castillo, 7:10 PM EDT on SNY
Scott turned in a really strong effort his last time out against the Nationals, resulting in his fourth win of the season. The right-hander went 6 1/3 innings and allowed three earned runs on five hits to pick up the victory. He struck out seven and walked two while giving up one home run and hitting a batter. It was his longest start of the year and also the first time he has thrown a pitch in the seventh inning since his second major league start—he did so in each of his first two big league outings. At 84 2/3 innings pitched, he is now three innings away from his career high of 87 2/3 innings, which he accomplished in 2023 across St. Lucie, Brooklyn, and Binghamton. After missing all of last year and with the team out of the playoff picture, it does stand to reason that he could be shut down at some point in September to preserve some innings on his right arm.
Castillo has had a brutal 2026 season, but his past was at least enough to convince the White Sox to take a chance on him and pick him up from the Mariners ahead of the trade deadline. Since arriving in Chicago, he’s had two rough starts and one great start—in fact, probably his best start of the year. In that outing against the Reds, where he picked up his fourth win of the season, he allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out 10 over seven scoreless innings. In the other two starts combined (both of which resulted in no decisions), he went 8 2/3 innings and allowed nine runs (eight earned) on 14 hits, with two walks and six strikeouts.
Sunday, August 23: Nolan McLean vs. Erick Fedde, 2:10 PM EDT on SNY
McLean picked up his ninth win of 2026 in the team’s series opener against the Padres on Monday. The victory was heavily aided by three outfield assists over the first two innings, while allowed him to skirt some early-game trouble and allowed him to pitch deeper into the game. He ended up going six innings and allowing just one earned run on six hits. He only struck out three and walked four, which is less than ideal, but he was able to limit the damage thanks to his defense.
The Mets are plenty familiar with Fedde, who spent his first six seasons with the Nationals and also had a cup of coffee with the Braves in 2025. He signed a one-year deal in February 2026 with the White Sox and has bounced back and forth between Chicago’s rotation and bullpen. This will be his first start in August after making five relief appearances and allowing 10 runs (nine earned) on 14 hits in 12 innings. His last start came against the Rays on July 31, when he earned the win after allowing one earned run on four hits with six strikeouts over five innings. He has historically struggled against the Mets, posting a 6.78 ERA in 74 1/3 innings against New York.
The San Diego Padres are one of the hottest teams in baseball, posting an 8-3 record over the last 10 games. It has allowed them to secure a slim one-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the chase for the last National League Wild Card berth.
The roster seems set; everyone understands their roles. But there is still one move to make. It is not so much for the remainder of this season, more for the 2027 campaign.
The Padres need to promote Ethan Salas as one of their September call-ups.
Outstanding minor league season forces call-up conversation
It should not come as a surprise, as Salas is the organization’s prized minor league possession. He has played in two levels (Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso) this season. You would expect a September promotion is the final step in his development.
After suffering through an injury-plagued 2025 season, Salas has been on fire at the plate. In 72 games with the San Antonio Missions, the 20-year-old batted .286 with seven home runs and 37 RBI. It earned him a promotion to Triple-A, where Salas continued to rake. Currently, he is hitting .315 with three home runs, 35 RBI and a mouth-dropping 1.076 OPS in 15 games.
His play has opened some eyes within the organization. Usually, major league clubs bring up their top prospects when rosters expand, rewarding them for an outstanding minor league season.
In Salas’ case, it would give the youngster a taste of being around big-league players during the stretch run. He can observe and learn from players like Manny Machado on how to prepare for pressure-packed games that could decide a team’s postseason fate.
Granted, the young catcher will not be eligible for the postseason, but summoning him to San Diego will prepare Salas to compete for a starting job next spring.
Fermin and Campusano raising the level of their game
The Friars have a good mix behind the plate. Freddie Fermin and Luis Campusano share the catching duties. Both players have spent time on the injured list this season, but their return to the lineup has provided a much-needed spark to the offense.
Fermin is batting .312, and Campusano is hitting .310 for August. It is the type of offensive production that has allowed the Padres to own an MLB-best 18-7 record since late July. Salas would not replace either catcher in the lineup, but does add depth as a left-handed bat off the bench.
Since the All-Star break, the Friars have been a wonderful story. The club has picked itself off the mat to surge back into contention for a postseason berth. But the job is not done.
If the Padres fail to play October baseball, all was for naught.
Calling up Salas to bolster the September roster is the right move.
Jul 19, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics pitcher Jacob Lopez (57) talks with Athletics manager Mark Kotsay (7) before being pulled during the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Happy Friday everyone! The weekend is right around the corner.
The Athletics have once again failed to win a game this week, suffering their first four-game sweep against the Kansas City Royals since 1994. The team’s bullpen, which loomed as its biggest concern entering the season, has indeed been a season-long problem. In two of its past three games, the A’s makeshift bullpen failed to protect multi-run leads in the eighth inning or later. The team’s defense did its pitching no favors, as a defensive error played a major role in both of those game-altering rallies.
The 49-79 A’s enter this weekend’s series at the Houston Astros as the undisputed worst team in the league. Manager Mark Kotsay’s squad has gone 11-41 over its last 52 games, good for a .212 winning percentage. With a little more than 30 games remaining, the team needs two wins to surpass 2023’s miserable 50-112 season. While the A’s are likely to win more games this year, the team remains on pace for another embarrassing 100-loss campaign.
Before the Athletics fell apart in Kansas City, the team ended its homestand by playing spoiler, winning two of three against the Texas Rangers. Starting tonight, the Green and Gold will look to play that role again as they begin a three-game series against the Astros.
The American League West is so poor that the Astros lead the division despite hovering over .500. The A’s will have to contain AL MVP favorite Yordan Alvarez, who has single-handedly powered Houston’s ascent to the top of the division.
Right-hander J.T. Ginn and left-hander Jacob Lopez will start the A’s first two games in Houston, looking to get their team back in the win column. They will be opposed by Astros right-handers Hayden Wesneski and Hunter Brown. Neither team has announced its starting pitcher for Sunday’s series finale.
With playoffs well out of reach and the entirety of the team’s core out for the rest of the season, the A’s just need to end the season on a respectable note. At least 60 wins should be the goal, and things should be set in place on and off the field for a turnaround like the Chicago White Sox experienced this year.
How many wins do you think the Athletics will have at the end of the season? What can the team do to build some momentum and positive vibes over the final weeks of this fifth-straight losing season?
Not the way the A’s wanted this season to go. Three of these injured players are signed long-term, with Nick Kurtz also emerging as an extension candidate.
Should Mark Kotsay lead the A’s into Las Vegas or would the team be better served by replacing him?
Should the A's Keep Mark Kotsay? SI Writers Give Their Verdict
MARK KOTSAY: KEEP HIM OR MOVE ON? 👀
Should Mark Kotsay be the manager when the A's enter their Las Vegas era? SI's Andrew Ferguson @afergLV and Dylan Quinn @dylanq_2 joined Rants Live @AthleticsRants and gave…
— The House Always Wins Media Network/Las Vegas A's (@lasvegasaspod) August 20, 2026
Jun 25, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards first round draft pick and number one overall pick AJ Dybantsa speaks to the media during a press conference at InterContinental Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In this week’s SB Nation Reacts survey, we asked if you thought Washington Wizards forward AJ Dybantsa will win the 2026-27 NBA Rookie of the Year. Our respondents were split, but a majority of 56 percent believe that Dybantsa, the No. 1 pick in the 2026 Draft, will be the Rookie of the Year when it is all said and done.
BOSTON, MA - 1992: Kevin McHale #32, Robert Parish #00, and Larry Bird #33 stand on the court during a game played in 1992 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1992 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As we celebrate History Month here at CelticsBlog, we just had to ask who would win a round robin of the Celtics greatest championship teams. Despite some crossover, we divided the franchise’s rich history into five squads by the stars that powered them: Bob Cousy and Bill Russell; Dave Cowen and John Havlicek; Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish; Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen; Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
The 80s Celtics were the resounding winners. Coincidentally, we’re right in the middle of that Big Three’s championship run with the ’84 banner to close out Week 3 of CelticsBlog’s History Month.
If the Lakers were the 80s personified, then the Celtics were the foundation and the first few floors of NBA history. They were run by Red Auerbach, who had been a fixture in the league from its inception. He had won fourteen championships by this point in time—nine as a coach and five as a general manager. They wore uniforms that were barely distinguishable from the ones that the team was wearing when Red was hired to coach them more than thirty years earlier. Their arena was a relic—a cramped relic painted mostly yellow, without air conditioning, with seats that were jammed together and placed behind columns and every one of them had been occupied for every single game the Celtics played for the past three seasons.
The Celtics played on a parquet court that had been trod by the league’s legends going back to the first year after World War II. It was a scarred and uneven surface that matched the tough and gritty character of the arena built around it.
The Celtics played in Boston—a crowded city where the past was present everywhere, where landmarks from the beginning of the nation were part of the fabric of everyday life, a city somehow nicknamed ‘Beantown.’ It had everything that L.A. lacked—history, tradition, cultural institutions—and it was hopelessly, helplessly uncool.
The 1984 Finals were a culture clash as well as a basketball contest.
There’s certainly a mystique surrounding those Bird teams. Part of it was the rivalry with the Lakers. Part of it was the personal history between Bird and Magic. And part of it was how the identity of the team perfectly mirrored the character of the city.
But there was also just the basketball part of it and how that team that also included Dennis Johnson and Danny Ainge could play different styles and handle the halfcourt ground war of the 80s and run-and-gun with the modern and old school NBA.
I’m probably biased because I grew up with the Bird teams, but I think they hit the sweet spot of being able to play the modern game (Bird and Ainge were great shooters, while McHale eventually learned to shoot a few threes and DJ would have if he’d come along a bit later) but also being able to match up well in the paint with the old-school teams.
We could argue about it over a thousand dinners or fire it up on NBA 2K, but ultimately, it’s an unanswerable question of who is best. Looking forward, Boston’s future next season is just as unpredictable, but our friends at FanDuel still have the Celtics (+1400) with the fifth highest odds to win a championship behind the Thunder (+230), Spurs (+280), Knicks (+900), and Sixers (+1000).
If Banner 19 goes to the rafters next spring, we might have to reignite this debate featuring Bird vs. Tatum.
The Tigers have four players listed on the 2026-27 roster, published on the school’s official website. I’m not great at math, but as classes begin Monday, Wade is set for his own Norman Dale moment.
And if SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has his way, it’s going to be more difficult for Wade to fill out his 2026-27 roster with real, live college basketball players.
Wade and LSU are awaiting eligibility rulings on numerous players, part of which flies in the face of Sankey’s edict that schools move carefully when adding players seeking a fifth year of eligibility through the court system.
The same court system that on Wednesday gave a group of former players — whose eligibility expired at the end of last season — a temporary restraining order to gain a fifth year in response to the NCAA’s new eligibility standard of five years to play five seasons.
The NCAA recently passed the standards, and has since been picking and choosing which appeals from the class of 2022 to approve and deny. Which, of course, is stupid.
Not surprisingly, those moves have led to multiple lawsuits against the NCAA — which eventually brings us back to LSU vs. the SEC. The inevitable we all knew was around the bend.
Former St. John’s star player RJ Luis, who left for the NBA after the 2025 season and signed an NBA two-way contract, has committed to play for LSU and has taken the friendly local judge route to do so.
There, in the same East Baton Rouge courtroom where a group of former players were given the TRO, Luis asked the court for a similar exemption. Sankey filed an affidavit in the Luis case, and said allowing athletes who have signed professional contracts to return to college disrupts the ecosystem of college sports — and harms other players in search of roster spots in the process.
I’m not sure any of us fully understand the legal gymnastics currently playing out, including the parties involved. But I do know this: LSU blatantly ignoring an edict from the SEC commissioner — the man works in lockstep with the league’s presidents and chancellors — is bad for business.
Bad for the SEC’s reputation as a win-at-all-cost conference, and bad for Sankey’s ability to herd 16 member institutions in the same direction in other future, critical structural moves. Like the SEC playing by its own rules if Congress can’t pass the Protect College Sports Act.
How does the conference believe it can get all 16 to play together and play fairly by the same rules, if LSU — and maybe others — can’t agree to the current, simple ask from Sankey and the presidents and chancellors to tread carefully?
Any by treading carefully, they mean don't do it.
When a single institution decides nothing will deter it from competing at the highest level, with the best coaches money can buy, and the best players money can buy — rules or edicts or simple professional courtesy be damned — not even the executives of its own conference can stop it.
LSU could end this charade by telling Luis we wish you luck on your appeal to gain an extra year of eligibility, but you can’t play here. That, and other member schools doing the same with the group of athletes that received the TRO ― three of whom played football last season at Ole Miss.
That’s what Sankey wants and expects.
But he better not get caught watching the paint dry on what could be the last shot at preserving order.
Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB. Listen to him daily, from 12-2 p.m., on 1010XL-Jacksonville.
Williams team principal James Vowles during a press conference at the Mascot Circuit Zandvoort, Netherlands. Picture date: Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images) | PA Images via Getty Images
Hickory starter Evan Siary went seven innings, allowing two runs and striking out three.
Paulino Santana homered. Pablo Guerrero homered and walked twice. Yolfran Castillo had a double and a walk. Dewar Tovar had a hit. Josh Springer was 2 for 3 with a homer and a walk. Jeremy Owens and Seong-Jun Kim each had a hit.
Hub City starter Case Matter threw two shutout innings, striking out one. Kamdyn Perry allowed five runs in three innings, walking three, hitting two batters and striking out one.
Evan Morrison was 2 for 4 with a double. Chandler Pollard doubled.
Rehabbing Jack Leiter allowed five runs in three innings for Frisco, including a homer, walking two and striking out five. Joey Danielson allowed a run in an inning, striking out one. Dylan MacLean struck out three and walked three in four innings, allowing two runs. Eric Loomis struck out three in a shutout inning.
Yeison Morrobel homered. Arturo Disla was 2 for 4 with a double.
Round Rock starter David Davalillo allowed two runs, including a homer, in 5.2 IP, striking out two and walking one. Ben Peoples allowed three runs in 0.1 IP, walking one and giving up a homer. Ryan Lobus allowed a homer to former Ranger Dustin Harris in one inning, walking one and striking out two. Michel Otanez struck out one and walked one in a scoreless inning.
Alejandro Osuna was 3 for 5 with a pair of doubles and a stolen base. Cam Cauley had a hit, a walk and a stolen base. Logan O’Hoppe had a pair of hits. Aaron Zavala was 2 for 4 with a homer.
The Winnipeg Jets are coming off a disappointing season in which they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2022, and according to one prominent prospect evaluator, there may not be a quick fix coming through the pipeline.
Winnipeg fell three spots from Pronman's 2025 ranking, when the organization came in at No. 25.
Photo by Kirby Lee/USA Today
It's an assessment that comes at an interesting time for the Jets. After years of regular-season success and three consecutive playoff appearances, Winnipeg took a significant step backwards in 2025-26. The Jets finished 35-35-12 and 12th in the Western Conference, just one season removed from winning the Presidents' Trophy.
With much of the team's established core still built around veterans including Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Josh Morrissey and Connor Hellebuyck, the development of Winnipeg's next wave has become increasingly important. Pronman's ranking suggests there are some legitimate pieces on the way. The question is how many.
At the top of the group is 2026 first-round pick Viggo Björck. Winnipeg selected the Swedish centre eighth overall in June, giving the organization the kind of high-end prospect it hasn't had the opportunity to draft in quite some time. Pronman views Björck as an intelligent, highly competitive centre with legitimate top-six NHL upside.
The 18-year-old immediately became one of the most important pieces of Winnipeg's future.
Sascha Boumedienne is another. Selected 28th overall by Winnipeg in 2025, Boumedienne spent the past two seasons at Boston University and helped Sweden capture gold at the 2026 World Junior Championship.
The mobile defenceman has shown an ability to create offence from the blue line, although his development remains a longer-term project. Pronman identified his mobility as one of the stronger attributes within Winnipeg's young group.
Beyond those two, things become less certain. Brayden Yager remains one of Winnipeg's most recognizable prospects after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Rutger McGroarty trade in August of 2024. The former 14th-overall selection made the jump to professional hockey last season and remains a potential NHL centre for the Jets.
Elias Salomonsson, meanwhile, has already begun making that transition.
The 21-year-old Swedish defenceman appeared in 32 games for Winnipeg last season, scoring one goal and five points. A second-round selection in 2022, Salomonsson has steadily climbed through the organization after playing professionally in Sweden and spending parts of two seasons with the Manitoba Moose. He could be in position to take another step with the Jets in 2026-27.
There are other intriguing names further down the pipeline. Brad Lambert, Colby Barlow and Nikita Chibrikov have all spent time developing with Manitoba, while Kieron Walton, Kevin He and Alfons Freij represent younger projects still attempting to establish themselves as legitimate NHL options.
But that is where Pronman's primary concern with Winnipeg lies. There is potential at the top of the system, particularly following the addition of Björck, but considerably less certainty behind the organization's best young players.
It's also important to put a bottom-five ranking into context. Winnipeg spent much of the past several seasons operating as a contender, which meant drafting late and occasionally moving future assets to improve the NHL roster.
The Jets traded their first-round picks in both 2024 and 2025 before eventually getting back into the opening round of the 2025 draft, acquiring the 28th selection from Carolina and using it on Boumedienne.
Missing the playoffs last season provided an unusual opportunity. For the first time since selecting Patrik Laine second overall in 2016, Winnipeg held a top-10 pick. Björck was the result. Now comes the important part. The Jets need more of their young players to turn potential into NHL production.
Winnipeg still has one of hockey's premier goaltenders in Hellebuyck, a 100-point centre in Scheifele and an elite scorer in Connor. The veterans at the top of the roster give the organization reason to believe it can rebound quickly. But that core won't remain in its prime forever.
For a franchise that has historically needed to draft and develop its own talent, The Athletic's No. 28 ranking serves as a reminder of just how important the next few years of development will be.
The Jets have some promising young pieces, but they could certainly use a few more.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 19: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres stands in the dugout before the game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on August 19, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres finished a .500 road trip after dropping the final game of the series to the New York Mets by a score of 4-2. It was a disappointing end to a two-city trip that felt like it could have been much better. San Diego took two of three from the Cleveland Guardians and went into New York looking to replicate that success.
The Padres opened the series with the Mets with a 2-1 loss that saw four outs recorded at the plate in the first two innings. Three of those outs came on outfield assists and caused a lot of the Friar Faithful to question whether the team needed to make a change at the third base coach position. Of course, those were more heat of the moment discussions and they quickly dissipated the next night.
The second game of the series will forever be known as the Fernando Tatis Jr. Game. The star right fielder led off the game with a solo home run on the very first pitch. He later went on to add a two-run home run which was a welcome sight considering his slow start to the season in regard to his power numbers. But the home runs took a back seat to his defense which helped Robbie Ray maintain a lead and eventually earn a win.
With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning Tatis leaped high above the wall in right field to take away what would have been a grand slam home run from Francisco Lindor. The Padres would go on to win the game, 5-2.
In the final game of the series, the Frair Faithful were hoping for the Padres to ride the momentum from Tuesday night to a second consecutive win and a series win. However, they were unable to provide starter Michael King with any run support and they were unable to come through with a clutch hit in the final at-bat of the game. With runners on the corner with one out, pinch-hitter Austin Hays bounced into a double play and San Diego dropped the game and the series to New York with a 4-2 loss.
The Padres have little room for error in the win-loss columns and need to get back on track in the series opener against the Minnesota Twins tonight at Petco Park. The Twins are coming off a sweep of the Atlanta Braves and are engaged in their own playoff hunt in the American League. The sweep in Atlanta followed Minnesota getting swept in a three game set against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Padres have improved their starting rotation and have been getting consistent 6-plus-inning outings from their starters. They have an offense that has shown it can put up a big number on the scoreboard but the problem has been consistency. San Diego will be rested after a day off on Thursday and will get energy from what is likely to be another sellout crowd, but can they turn that into a win? That will be determined tonight at 6:40 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 08: Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 08, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Young Sixers are doing their best to get you a basketball fix while we wait through the summer for this team to make its return. VJ Edgecombe, Labaron Philon and Dominick Barlow are playing in Rico Hines Runs and putting together their fair share of highlights.
Of course, we can’t take summer workouts and scrimmage videos too seriously (how many years did we have to endure videos of Ben Simmons making offseason jumpers and pretend it meant something?). It’s clearly a long way from NBA competition. Nevertheless, it’s fun to see how guys look, and get some indications of what players have been working on over the summer.
Edgecombe in particular has been standing out in the footage shared, from smooth threes to how he looks creating off the dribble. Him tightening his handle would be one way for him to take another step up as a creator off the dribble and playmaker, and unsurprisingly he seems to be heading that way with the footage we’ve seen from him this summer. He’s certainly looking fluid handling the ball inside the arc and creating space for pull-ups here.
VJ Edgecombe was frying at Rico Hines Runs 😮💨🔥 Y'all see a breakout season for him this year?? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/B75wDTuBDl
It won’t be remotely surprising to see Edgecombe go up another level next season with the work ethic, drive, upside, and growth he’s already shown in the NBA. And even if he isn’t always handling the ball as much with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown now on the team, Edgecombe has thrived as a secondary attacker and play finisher anyway. If he can pair that explosive complementary scoring, dynamic transition play, and his high-energy defense with improved play as a ball-handler whenever he has to initiate alongside a pair of his star teammates (who can be staggered effectively every night now given the Sixers’ top-end depth), Edgecombe should be in for a stellar sophomore year.
You can watch the full Rico Hines Run footage here:
Labaron Philon had his moments, too. The Sixers’ new rookie is joining a seriously stacked squad now in terms of offensive creators, but there’s still room for Philon to get some run as a backup behind Tyrese Maxey and Edgecombe. Not to mention the inevitable games where LeBron and/or Joel Embiid are out resting and there are extra touches to go around.
Philon is arriving with plenty of talent as a three-level scorer and pick-and-roll creator. But he’ll need to be able to operate effectively as more of a connector, secondary passer, and off-ball shooter as well on a team like this. Extra time working off Edgecombe this summer can only be a good thing as the young guards start building their chemistry.
The first of many Rico Hines Runs to come, featuring VJ Edgecombe, Labaron Philon, and many more. pic.twitter.com/LjvgBKpqe9
Dominick Barlow is in the mix too, and the form on his jumper is looking smoother. If he can improve at all on the 25.6 percent from three he shot last season, mainly being reliable enough from the corner with the easy spot-up opportunities he’ll have next to LeBron and Co., that would make a big difference to his potential as a contributor.
As Barlow mentioned in his recent interview with Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice, he’s been putting a lot of work into his corner three this offseason. Especially because of LeBron’s arrival to create opportunities for Barlow to benefit with extra space when playing off James’s top-tier passing. Barlow’s going to find himself open in the corners whenever he plays, and LeBron will be able to set him up with ease.
As for Edgecombe, he’s had a pretty busy summer. Apart from getting into these Rico Hines Runs and all the work he’s putting into training, VJ has also been stepping up and recording some impressive numbers for the Bahamas in the FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers.
Bahamas needed a couple of huge games from V.J. Edgecombe, and he absolutely DELIVERED 📫
