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The same old story played out for the Dodgers on Saturday. They got a strong outing from their starting pitcher and an uninspiring performance from their offense, resulting in a close game.

This time the Dodgers lost, 2-1, despite left-hander Blake Snell’s five innings of one-run baseball.

The Dodgers’ last five games have been decided by one run. They’ve lost all but one of them.

“It is a toll, it is a ripple effect,” manager Dave Roberts said. “And it’s more on the pitching, where you feel like you can’t give up a run or we lose. And that’s not the way it should be, certainly with this offense. We’re using our leverage [relievers], a lot of guys, in big spots. So yeah, that’s the toll.

“But the offense knows that. They’re not blind to it. But that just doesn’t translate to hits and runs.”

It was Snell’s fourth game back from arthroscopic elbow surgery in May. He’s limited opponents to one run or none in every start. Saturday marked the first time he threw fewer than six innings since being activated this month.

Read more:Shohei Ohtani still 'not 100%' and will not pitch Sunday against the Tigers

He limited the Tigers to three hits and issued three walks. Four of those six baserunners reached before Snell briefly left the game in the third inning.

Snell had cruised through the first two innings, a Texas leaguer into shallow right field the only blemish on an otherwise perfect beginning.

The third inning, however, started to go haywire. Snell walked Javier Báez, traditionally a free swinger, to open the frame. Tigers rookie Max Clark laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy lost control of the ball as he tried to throw to first, enabling Clark to reach base as Báez advanced to second.

Against Gleyber Torres, Snell left a changeup too far over the plate for a ground-rule double. The high hop over the yellow line on the right-field fence saved a run, sending Clark back to third, but the Tigers pulled ahead 1-0.

Snell threw two pitches to Hao-Yu Lee and then, after a conversation with home plate umpire Chris Guccione, headed off the field and disappeared down the dugout tunnel.

Snell later explained that he had a blister on the big toe of his left foot, which he covered with a bandage before the game. But by the third inning, it had moved under his foot.

“So anytime I was pushing, I was slipping,” Snell said. “And I thought if I kept doing that, I’m gonna hit somebody because I had no clue where the ball was going.”

He got permission from Guccione to leave the field to remove the bandage.

“My foot hurts more now, but, yeah, it definitely helped,” Snell said.

After inducing Lee to pop out and then issuing a walk, Snell struck out five straight.

“Happy with the way I competed with runners on base,” Snell said after lamenting that a more passive approach inflated his pitch count. “Happy with the way I continue to just learn and develop throughout the at-bats on what I should do, what I don’t like, what I like. Overall didn’t give in and made pitches when I needed to.”

The Dodgers’ offense, however, failed to give him run support. Through five innings, they mustered only two baserunners against Tigers starter Keider Montero.

“I’m just trying to figure out solutions,” Roberts said of the offense. “We’re all frustrated. We know we should be better. But again, now it’s more of, what are we gonna do about it? So that’s kind of where my head is at. I do know, coming down on guys when guys are putting in the effort isn’t the answer. And then you’ve got to figure out, is it a process thing? Is it an approach thing? Is it a focus thing? Those are things I’m trying to figure out collectively, individually.”

In the sixth, they finally strung multiple hits together and got a run out of it. Alek Thomas led off with a double to left that ricocheted off the wall on a hop. Shohei Ohtani grounded out on a close play at first, moving Thomas to third. Then Freddie Freeman lined an RBI single to right.

The Dodgers went on to load the bases with one out. But, following a concerning pattern, they failed to squeeze any more runs out of the opportunity.

The Dodgers entered Saturday batting .211 with the bases loaded this month, putting them in the bottom third in the majors. When Tommy Edman grounded into a double play to end the sixth inning, it was their third with the bases loaded this month.

In the ninth, the Dodgers were a few feet from pulling ahead. With two outs and a runner on first, the Tigers brought in closer Kenley Jansen, the former Dodger, to face Teoscar Hernández.

Hernández fell behind in the count 0-and-2 and then sent a cutter for a ride to deep left-center. But Báez made an over-the-shoulder catch a few steps from the wall.

“I hit it good, not the best, but it happened to go to the farthest part of the ballpark,” Hernández said. “That’s the … luck that we have right now. But it’s part of the game.”

Dodgers left-hander Jack Dreyer took the mound for the bottom half and, with the bases loaded, gave up a walk-off single to McGonigle, whose deep drive bounced off the warning track and over the wall in left-center.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The middle game of a three-game weekend series against the Dodgers continued on a perfect-for-baseball Saturday afternoon in Detroit. Like Friday night’s game it was a low-scoring affair, but unlike the series opener the Tigers came out on top, 2-1… or was it? Keep reading for the exciting conclusion.

If patterns are to be believed, Keider Montero was due for a good outing on Saturday: his previous six starts saw him give up 1, 6, 0, 5, 0 and 3 runs. By that logic he was going to be pretty stingy with the runs. He was also going on extra rest, so the Tigers probably weren’t going to let him throw a hundred pitches. The rest did seem to do him some good though.

The Dodgers threw out their second consecutive multiple-Cy-Young-award-winning starting pitcher in a row, Blake Snell. He’s been around a bit: his first five years were with the Rays, then he left for three in San Diego, one in San Francisco, and this is his second year in Dodger Blue. He’s been hurt for most of the season with “loose bodies” in his left elbow, so this was only his fifth start of the year.

The game started with the pitchers very firmly in control: through his first three innings Montero only allowed a Shohei Ohtani single and a Kyle Tucker walk.

In the bottom of the third Javier Báez walked to lead off — surprising, no? — and Max Clark laid down a bunt that was probably going to be a sacrifice, but Max Muncy at third couldn’t handle it and two runners were on. Gleyber Torres hit a ground-rule double to score Báez and push Clark up to third.

Kevin McGonigle then walked on a full-count slider to load the bases with one out, but Dillon Dingler and Eduardo Valencia both struck out and a trio of Tigers remained stranded.

Montero was looking great early on, with oodles of first-pitch strikes: out of the first 17 batters he faced, he got a first-pitch strike (including the batter putting the ball in play) on 15 of them, and that is mighty, mighty fine. Through five innings he’d thrown 40 of his 60 pitches for strikes, too.

Clark led off the bottom of the fifth with a hustle-double to left, squeaking into second base just before the throw. But then Torres struck out and Hao-Yu Lee fouled-out to first for the third consecutive at-bat; McGonigle walked on a full count to put two runners on, but Dingler struck out for the third out, Snell’s tenth strikeout of the day.

Montero got shaky in the top of the sixth, though: Alek Thomas hit a leadoff double to left, advanced to third on an Ohtani groundout, and scored on a Freddie Freeman single to tie the game at 1-1. Mookie Betts hit a liner that ticked off Lee’s glove at third, and that was the end of Montero’s day. Tyler Holton came into the game and walked Max Muncy on four pitches to load the bases, and you had to wonder if things were about to become spectacularly unravelled at this point. But, lo! There be a perfect double-play ground ball to shortstop, and forsooth the inning hath hastily concludèd.

With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, pinch-hitter Zach McKinstry got clipped by a pitch and promptly stole second. Alas, Báez grounded out to shortstop and McKinstry was stranded.

Fast-working Andrew Sears came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Tucker poked a leadoff double to left. But then Teoscar Hernández flew out to left, Enrique “The Other” Hernández struck out, and Miguel Rojas flew out to right and the game remained tied. Also: Sears’ twenty-fourth birthday is on Sunday.

It remained tied after the bottom of said inning, too: with two outs Lee singled and stole second, but McGonigle grounded out and Lee became the eighth runner stranded on base. Let it not be said that the Tigers didn’t have a bunch of chances to score a boat-load of runs.

Sears continued on into the eighth to face the top of the Dodgers order: Ohtani softly lined out, Freeman grounded out to shortstop, and Betts flew out to right. Welcome to the Tall Buildings, bud!

Edgardo Henriquez came on to pitch for the Dodgers in the bottom of the eighth, and holy moly, can this kid throw fireballs: he was regularly hitting 102 mph (he averages 100.6 mph on his fastball). He froze Dingler on a third-strike on the outside corner with a 103.6 mph sinker for the first out. After Valencia popped out, Colt Keith got nicked on the foot but McKinstry fouled-out to left, stranding yet another runner.

Since Sears was rolling, and since some of the Tigers’ most-reliable bullpen arms were used on Friday night, he carried on into the ninth. He got Muncy to pop out to shortstop, allowed a single and got a forceout at second, and then left in favour of Kenley Jansen, facing his longtime teammates. Teoscar Hernández hit a fly ball to left field and Báez had to run a heck of a long way to make a fine running catch, probably saving a run and sending the game to the bottom of the ninth, tied.

A fired-up Báez then led off the bottom of the inning with a leadoff double to put the winning run in scoring position. Clark followed with his second sacrifice bunt — remember, kids, if you’re only going for one run, a bunt is fine — and Báez advanced to third. Torres was intentionally walked, and Lee fouled off a boatload of tough pitches before walking to load the bases. Finally, McGonigle sent a deep fly ball to left field which easily scored Báez for the win.

Doesn’t that look like a ground-rule double? Which would score two runs, not one, making it a 3-1 final score? Did Torres not cross the plate? Curious.

Final score: Tigers 2, Dodgers 1

Numbers and Notes

• Blake Snell wears a single-digit number on the mound. Jack Flaherty does it too. I don’t like it.
• It’s been a Tale Of Two Augusts for Spencer Torkelson. From August 1 through 14 (12 games, 53 plate appearances), he was 17-for-47 for a .362 batting average and a .859 OPS. From the 15th through the 28th (12 G, 39 PA), though: 3-for-34, .088 BA, .352 OPS. Ouch.
• When our family was in Japan last year, we made it a bit of a game to try to spot as many ads for products or services with Shohei Ohtani in them as we could. The conclusion: he’s in a heck of a lot of ‘em.
• Whenever I hear Dodgers catcher Hunder Feduccia’s last name, I think of the word “feduciary.” There’s nothing else to that.
• On this day in 1831, English physicist Michael Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction: if you change the magnetic field passing through a conductor, an electric current will flow in that conductor. Without this, neither electric motors or generators would work, and we’d still be living in our own filth in a muddy field somewhere.

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

Earlier this week, we polled Yankees fans about their thoughts on a quartet of slumping Yanks: second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., catcher Austin Wells, outfielder Heliot Ramos, and utilityman José Caballero. Even with a few good games earlier this week, the Bombers’ offense has hardly been bombing on the whole since Aaron Judge went down with an injury at the end of May.

Indeed, from June onward, they’ve hit .220/.290/.385 with an MLB-worst 88 wRC+. Chisholm has scuffled in his walk year, Wells has been utterly lost at the plate outside of the past few weeks or so, Ramos hasn’t hit a lick since coming over from the Giants at the Trade Deadline, and after a hot stretch near the beginning of 2026, Caballero has posted just a .610 OPS in his last 240 plate appearances.

So which of these four players has best shot to play better as the Yankees try to rally for a division title? Here are the results:

This is probably who I would’ve picked as well. There’s no getting around the fact that Chisholm has had a deeply disappointing follow-up to 2025, when he went 30/30 and made the American League All-Star team. Even if you’re not a fan of his approach, you’d probably acknowledge that he’s a better hitter than someone with a triple slash of .226/.305/.401. Forget the .242/.332/.481 he posted in 2025 — he’s a career .244/.314/.445 hitter.

Some folks in the comments of the Feed poll noted that Wells had already rebounded, and that’s a fair counterpoint if you didn’t want to vote for him. He’s looked much more like himself since Brian Cashman referred to the position as “an issue” during an early-July media session, posting a 108 wRC+ in his last 102 plate appearances.

As for the 17 percent who said that none of them would rebound … look, I’ve been annoyed enough by this Judge-less offense that I’m not going to begrudge your frustration. It’s certainly possible that all stink! For our collective sanity, I’m going to cross my fingers and hope that it’s not the case. If it is, then this team isn’t going anywhere in October.

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This week’s SB Nation Reacts poll results are brought to you by FanDuel.

The Dodgers suffered their second walk-off defeat over their last four games, as the Detroit Tigers struck for a ninth-inning rally to win 2-1.

Offense came at a premium for a second consecutive game against Detroit’s starting pitching, as the Dodgers were left scoreless over their first five innings against Keider Montero. The Dodgers had just two baserunners over that span— a 10-pitch walk to Kyle Tucker and a bloop single to left by Shohei Ohtani— but Montero kept his pitch count in a great spot with just 60 over five innings.

Saturday was another superb start for Blake Snell, as the only trouble he faced came in the third inning. After allowing two leadoff baserunners, a Gleyber Torres ground-rule double was the lone run Detroit against the left-hander. The main issue was his inability to get quick outs, as after tossing 29 pitches over his first two innings, Snell needed 70 pitches to get his next nine outs, and his day was done after tossing 99 over five innings. Snell tied a season-high 10 strikeouts while also walking three, and in four starts since returning from the injured list, he has a 1.17 ERA with 31 strikeouts and 10 walks over 23 innings.

The Dodgers got their first extra-base hit of the weekend in the top of the sixth inning with a leadoff double by Alek Thomas— his first double as a Dodger. Shohei Ohtani moved Thomas to third on a weak ground ball to the left side of the infield, and Freddie Freeman came through once again with an RBI single to take Snell off the hook for the loss and tie the game.

Clutch Freddie! pic.twitter.com/uXic94QoCr

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 29, 2026

Mookie Betts followed Freeman with a single of his own and a walk to Max Muncy loaded the bases with only one out. With what has been a recurring theme over this road trip, the Dodgers find a way to put men on only to do themselves in as Tommy Edman helped the Tigers initiate a 6-4-3 double play to get out of the jam.

Kyle Tucker lined a double down the left field line to begin the top of the seventh inning against left-hander Andrew Sears, but the Dodgers would leave him stranded and went down in order in the top of the eighth inning. Tommy Edman lined a single to left against Sears in the top of the ninth inning, but after 2 2/3 innings in relief, Detroit brought in old friend Kenley Jansen to get out of the jam. Teoscar Hernández sent a deep fly ball to the left-center field gap, but a running catch on the warning track by Javier Báez gave the Tigers the chance to try to walk it off.

Báez began the bottom of the ninth with a double to left field against Jack Dreyer, and a bunt from Max Clark helped move him to third. Dave Roberts decided to put Torres on intentionally to set up the double play opportunity, but Dreyer helped Yao-Hu Lee work an eight-pitch walk to load the bases. Kevin McGonigle sent a fly ball over the shallow outfield to give the Tigers the last laugh.

The Dodgers offense has mired in a lackluster struggle this week, as they are now averaging one run per game over their last three games. The Dodgers went just 1-6 with runners in scoring position while leaving six on base on Saturday, and they’re hitting just .231 as a team this weekend. Each of the five games of the this current road trip have ended in a one-run decision.

Game particulars

• WP— Kenley Jansen (4-5): 1/3 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts
• LP— Jack Dreyer(5-2): 2/3 IP, 2 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks, 0 strikeouts

Up next

The Dodgers wrap things up in Detroit on Sunday (10:45 a.m. PT, SportsNet LA) before flying back home for a three-game set against the St. Louis Cardinals starting Tuesday. Framber Valdez goes for Detroit, while the Dodgers have yet to announce their starter.

The bad news is that today’s game between the Atlanta Braves and the Colorado Rockies won’t be starting on time. The tarp has been on the field for just over half an hour now , as scattered showers have once again hit The Battery. It’s kind of similar to what happened on Friday night, which is when a shower rolled in about an hour before the game started but the weather cleared up in time for there to be no delay.

The good news is that this delay won’t be a long one, as first pitch is currently scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET. That’s just fifteen minutes ahead of what the original start time, so this won’t be a long rain delay after all.

Barring any further changes in the weather, today’s game will start at 4:25 pm ET.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 29, 2026

In the mean time, just consider this another chance to go join us over in the game thread. We’d love to see you!

The Yankees' bats were held in check, and some sloppy defense cost them, as they fell to the Boston Red Sox 6-0 in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader in The Bronx.

New York, with just two runs in its last 27 innings of baseball, fell to 76-59 on the season (35-31 at home) as Boston continued to keep pace in the AL East race, improving to 74-61 (40-29 away from home).

Here are the takeaways...

- Carlos Rodon got the first two batters he faced with ease, but left a 2-2 sinker on the inside corner and Wilyer Abreu turned on it and hit a laser to the right-field seats (387 feet, 108.5 mph off the bat). Rodon was having issues with the pitch com in the inning and was seen speaking with catcher Ali Sanchez, saying, “It’s not working,” after the homer. But he did manage a pair of strikeouts around the dinger.

The name of the game for Rodon entering the start was efficiency, as he is still on a pitch count and it was the start of the day-night doubleheader, and it was 10 in a row retired since the home run to get him through four frames on 61 pitches with five strikeouts.

Adley Rutschman ended the run with a one-out single in the fifth, and that’s when things went sideways on Rodon as sloppy defense did him in. Amed Rosario put the runner on second base as he double-clutched the throw back on what should have been an inning-ending double-play on a soft liner. 

After an infield hit to third covered the corners, a 2-2 slider up in the zone wasn’t handled by Sanchez and the ball got just far enough away to allow Rutschman to score just ahead of Rodon's tag on the passed ball. After a walk and a hit batter, the starter’s day was done, but Yerry De Los Santos entered and left ‘em loaded. 

Rodon’s final line: 4.2 innings, two runs (both earned) on two hits, a walk and five strikeouts on 88 pitches (59 strikes).

- Jose Caballero got the Yanks’ first hit to start the third inning, dropping a ball down the left-field line for a single and getting to second as Eli White mishandled the ball. But with their first RBI chance, Spencer Jones struck out looking, Sanchez struck out swinging, and Paul Goldschmidt popped out to first.

- Rosario reached on third baseman Caleb Durbin's throwing error one out in the fourth. A passed ball by Rutschman gave the Yanks another scoring chance, and this time Heliot Ramos got the big hit, with a liner to center that turned around Ceddanne Rafaela. But Rosario was next to second when the ball landed on the track, and a well-executed relay got him at the plate to keep the Yanks off the board. (Rosario finished 0-for-4.)

With Ramos on second, Cody Bellinger had a two-out chance but went down looking on three pitches. That was the last chance the Yanks had with a runner in scoring position on the day, finishing 1-for-5, but with no runs to show for it.

- Ben Rice was hitless in three times up against the Red Sox’ lefty starter Jake Bennett, with a strikeout swinging, and finished 0-for-4 after striking out looking against lefty Jovani Morán to start the ninth.

- George Lombard Jr., who struck out looking and struck out swinging, did make a few good plays heading back into the outfield to make grabs. He finished 0-for-3.

- Jones dropped a first-pitch single into left his second time up. Finished 1-for-3 with a strikeout, but made a nice running grab in the left-center gap for the second out in the seventh. 

- Bellinger grounded a one-out single up the middle in the seventh to finish 1-for-3 with a strikeout.

- Sánchez struck out swinging and struck out looking before Austin Wells came on as pinch-hitter with one out in the eighth and struck out looking. 

- Caballero finished 1-for-2 before being lifted for pinch-hitter Luis Garcia Jr., who grounded out to end he seventh.

- Goldschmidt went hitless in three times up against the left-handed starter and finished 0-for-4.

- Trent Grisham bounced out to second on the first pitch as a pinch-hitter for Ramos in the seventh. And flied out to center to end the game.

- Ramos, who was credited with a double on the misplay in center, really needed that hit, as it has been a slog for him at the plate since putting on the pinstripes. After his 1-for-2 day, he’s now 7-for-57 (.123) with 20 strikeouts in 19 games.

- Justin Topa was the second man out of the ‘pen to start the sixth and, after two quick outs, allowed back-to-back singles to cover the corners. But a liner to center stranded the runners. Ryan Yarbrough got the Sox in order in the seventh and eighth on just 21 pitches. 

But after a leadoff walk in the ninth, Rutchman dropped a bloop single into center and, with good base running, Boston put two in scoring position. Andruw Monasterio made Yarbrough pay, delivering the big add-on runs with a two-RBI single to right to double the deficit for the Yanks. Nick Sogard then doubled into the left-field corner, and as he started to throw the ball in, Bellinger slipped on the warning track, allowing another run to score. Yarbrough was forced to suffer as he tired in the ninth, finally getting out of things by going strikeout, walk, RBI single, strikeout, groundout. 

What's next

Game 2 of Saturday's twin-bill is set for 7:15 p.m.

Max Fried (2.81 ERA, 0.996 WHIP in 86.1 innings) is set to make his return from the IL. Boston has yet to announce a starter.

Welcome to another “Must Win” game. Discuss below

It’s doubleheader time! I’m not sure if that’s the good news or the bad news, but it’s the news. The San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks are playing twice today, not to make up for a lost game but so they can have a much-needed day off on Sunday.

Taking the mound for the Giants is left-hander Matt Wilkinson, who makes his return after being optioned earlier in the week (Wilkinson is able to skirt the 10-day post-optioning minimum because of the extra player allocated for the doubleheader). The aptly-nicknamed Tugboat has made two appearances this year in his debut season, and has allowed eight hits, no walks, and four runs in 5.2 innings, with two strikeouts. He has a 5.15 ERA and a 5.37 FIP in 10 AAA starts.

For the Diamondbacks, it’s veteran right-hander Merrill Kelly. A 37-year old in his eighth season, Kelly has made 24 starts, and is 8-12 with a 5.35 ERA, a 5.69 FIP, and 88 strikeouts to 60 walks in 134.2 innings. In his last start, Kelly gave up three runs in 5.2 innings against the Chicago Cubs.

Enjoy the baseball, everyone. And then stick around for more baseball!

Lineups

Giants

1. Drew Gilbert — CF
2. Rafael Devers — 1B
3. Bryce Eldridge — DH
4. Jung Hoo Lee — RF
5. Turner Hill — LF
6. Drew Cavanaugh — C
7. Shay Whitcomb — 3B
8. Nate Furman — 2B
9. Christian Koss — SS

LHP. Matt Wilkinson

Diamondbacks

1. Ildemaro Vargas — 2B
2. Corbin Carroll — RF
3. Gabriel Moreno — C
4. Geraldo Perdomo — SS
5. Nolan Arenado — DH
6. Tim Tawa — 1B
7. José Fernández — 3B
8. Jordan Lawlar — LF
9. Ryan Waldschmidt — CF

RHP. Merrill Kelly

Game #136

Who: San Francisco Giants (55-80) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (72-64)

Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California

When: 1:05 p.m. PT

Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area

National broadcast: n/a

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

During this road trip, the Royals demoted Mason Black back to the minor leagues. This is relevant because in every prior start for Daniel Lynch IV, affectionately known as Danny Drips, Mason Black has stood ready to enter the game at nearly a moment’s notice and pitch multiple innings. This was to cover for the fact that Lynch has been working his way, slowly, back into starter form. Tonight will be Danny’s first start without the backup. He has to try to cover the innings, whether he has the stuff, the stamina, or neither. And that could be terrifying for Royals fans.

The Guardians, fortunately, don’t have much of an offense. They’ve been much better in August, but two of their three best hitters this month are left-handed, a class that Lynch has traditionally done much better against. The one caveat there is that their hottest hitter, rookie Chase DeLauter, has reverse splits this season. So Lynch will have to watch out for him.

The Guardians will counter with former Royal Foster Griffin. Griffin, as you’ll recall from when the Royals faced him earlier this year while he was with the Nationals, spent three years in NPB and came back a new man. That said, he’s not been nearly as good with the Guardians in his four starts with them. He’s walked more, gave up more home runs, and his ERA is a full run higher because of it. He pitched six innings of one-run ball against the Royals for the Nats, but if he has lost something since then, perhaps they can get to him this time.*

Funnily enough, the Royals had a real shot to come back against the Nats’ bullpen in that game, but Lynch allowed three runs in hisrelief appearance and ended that dream.

Lineups

Isaac Collins will get his second start at the keystone for the Royals; he looked pretty good there earlier this week. Matthew Lugo will get his first start for the Royals, playing in left field. One thing Griffin didn’t have to deal with in his last start against the Royals was the red-hot trio of Carter Jensen, Bobby Witt. Jr., and Jac Caglianone that currently stands ready at the top of the lineup to punish him for any missed pitches.

Runs are going to be at a premium in this contest. Sandy Alcantara and Cade Cavalli are two of the hottest pitchers in baseball right now. Cavalli is ascending as he completes his first full big league season. Meanwhile, Sandy is starting to look more like the guy who won a Cy Young a few years ago.

The Nats have 4 straight lefties at the top of their lineup. CJ Abrams is back at DH as he slowly progresses from his ankle injury. Interestingly, Jose Tena is out in left field. That moves Daylen Lile to right and Dylan Crews to center. Nasim Nunez is back at short after a needed day off. Keibert Ruiz is behind the dish. He will be catching Cade Cavalli, the Nats ace.

a lineup type of lineup

→ https://t.co/HyMhWpLQbBpic.twitter.com/TxOZ6BFFdS

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 29, 2026

With a righty on the mound, the Marlins are adding some left handed thump to the lineup. Griffin Conine, Owen Caissie and Jakob Marsee all return to the Marlins lineup. Kyle Stowers is also up in the leadoff spot. As mentioned, Sandy Alcantara is on the mound and he is throwing the ball well right now.

Saturday with Sandy.

📺: https://t.co/CoO4Nlpkc8
👂: @MarlinsRadio, @radiomambi710, @1043wqam
⏰: 4:05 PM ET#FightinFishpic.twitter.com/9K0xmEo0cp

— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) August 29, 2026

Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 4:05 PM EST

TV: Nationals.TV

Radio: 106.7 The Fan

With Cavalli facing off against Sandy, this is the most exciting Nats game in a while. Hopefully this matchup lives up to the billing. Since that 13-1 humiliation the other day, the boys have been playing with more energy. We will need to see that continue though. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats.

Roster moves

The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ 40-man roster is at 40.

• Selected from Triple-A Reno: RHP Derek Law (No. 38)
• Appointed as 27th man for today’s games: LHP Mitch Bratt
• Optioned to Triple-A Reno following last night’s game: LHP Kohl Drake

Derek Law gets added to the 40-man roster. He last pitched in the big leagues for the Nationals in 2024, when he had a stellar 2.60 ERA across 75 appearances. However, he started the following year on the IL, and needed surgery in July to repair a torn flexor tendon. He made a couple of rehab appearances in the ACL in May, but ended up back on the IL for a couple of months. Law started pitching for Reno again just a couple of weeks ago, and has thrown 6.1 scoreless innings across five appearances, with five strikeouts and no walks. Small sample size, but that is fairly promising. He last pitched on the 26th, tossing 16 pitches.

I think it’s fair to say, we could have done with Drake throwing more than four innings yesterday. The D-backs ended up having to use five relievers the rest of the way, four of them throwing more than twenty pitches. I suspect we will end up seeing some of them go back-to-back, and appearing at some point, in one or other of today’s contests. Loaisiga is probably the only one I’d say was off the board, having already pitched back-to-back. Taylor Clarke, Kevin Ginkel and Juan Morillo have all gone on consecutive days nine times this year, and Brandyn Garcia seven, so it’s certainly not unprecedented. The off-day Sunday helps, as we can empty the tank.

It’ll be interesting to see if the fuss between Merrill Kelly and the Cubs’ third-base coach in has last start has any impact. If he was doing something which could give the opposition a clue as to what was coming, that would go a long way to explaining the poor results Kelly has delivered this year. Addressing it could then pay dividends the rest of the season. Today, of all days, a long outing would be welcome. Kelly hasn’t completed six innings since before the All Star break. In those eight outings since July 9, he has a K:BB of only 29:22, so that’s something else to keep an eye on for this afternoon’s start.

With tomorrow an off day due to the rescheduling, we have a rare Saturday guest recap! PhoenixSportsFan will be bringing you this one, with Dano covering the nightcap.

TODAY’S GAME: The Houston Astros (68-67) and New York Mets (60-75) will play the 2nd game of this 3-game series this afternoon at Citi Field.

LHP Bennett Sousa (1-3, 6.27 ERA) will serve as the opener today for the Astros as he takes on Mets RHP Nolan McLean (9-8, 3.21 ERA).

ASTROS-METS: Since 2017, the Astros are 14-3 vs. the Mets, with a 5-1 mark here at Citi Field. They took 2 of 3 from NYM in their last visit to Citi Field, June 28-30, 2024.

Common Bond: The Astros and Mets both entered the Major Leagues in 1962, with both clubs competing in the NL at that time (HOU moved to the AL in 2013). Both clubs have won two World Series Championships and five pennants. The Astros hold the edge in the all-time regular season series with a 323-263-1 record, while the Mets were victorious in the one postseason series between the two clubs, taking the 1986 NLCS in what was a thrilling, 6-game series.

NY STATE OF MIND: Tonight is the 5th game of a 6-game road trip for the Astros (3-1 thus far), with all 6 games being scheduled in the Big Apple. Prior to the current series vs. NYM, the Astros took 2 of 3 from the Yankees in the Bronx (Tues-Thur).

Last Time It Happened: The Astros had a similar road trip in NYC, June 23-29 of 2022, during which they played 4 games at Yankee Stadium (2-2) and 2 games at Citi Field (2-0), respectively.

ABOUT BENNETT: This afternoon will be the 1st career ML start for LHP Bennett Sousa, who will serve as the opener. Sousa, who will be making his 99th career ML appearance today, has made 1 minor league start in his career, that coming on July 15 of this season while on rehab with the Astros Florida Complex League club (1.0 IP, 0 R).

First Time: Today will be Sousa’s 1st career appearance vs. the Mets.

LAST NIGHT’S RECAP: A 3-run rally in the 6th inning and a strong outing by starter RHP Hunter Brown helped lead the Astros to a 3-1 win in last night’s series opener at City Field. Brown (W, 4-3), allowed just 1 run on 5 hits in 6.2 innings of work with 10 strikeouts. A bases- loaded, 2-run double by Daulton Varsho was the key blow for the Astros in the 6th inning. RHP Bryan Abreu hurled 1.1 scoreless inn. in relief and LHP Josh Hader hurled a scoreless 9th to earn his 20th save in as many chances.

NOTHING EXTRA: Last night’s win marked the 2nd time this season that the Astros have won a game without collecting an extra-base hit. The other time was 4-1 win on July 25 at CWS. HOU is now 2-13 in games without an extra-base hit.

WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?: In last night’s win, RHP Hunter Brown tallied a season-high 10 strikeouts, marking the 3rd time in his career that he has reached 10 or more K’s. In his last 7 starts, Brown has a 2.63 ERA (12ER/41IP). Last night was also his 1st career win vs. the Mets.

RECENT STROS: The Astros have won 3 of their last 4 games and are 5-5 in their last 10 games.

UP TO THE CHALLENGE: Astros hitters are 3rd in the Majors in successful ABS challenges with 84. Their 54% success rate in challenges is T-3rd best. Among individual players, Jose Altuve’s 20 successful challenges are T-1st in the AL.

TRIPLE THREAT: Yordan Alvarez, who is a solid candidate for the AL MVP Award, currently leads the AL in several categories, including all three Triple Crown categories. He enters tonight leading the AL in batting avg. (.318) and HR (36) and T-1st in RBI (91). Additionally, Alvarez also leads the Majors in OPS (1.042), SLG (.607), OBP (.435) and TB (290).

Rare Feat: Since Carl Yastrzemski won the AL Triple Crown in 1967, there has been just one Triple Crown winner in the Majors, Miguel Cabrera in 2012 (AL).

ON THE OFFENSIVE: Among AL teams, the Astros rank 1st in TB (1,861), 2nd in SLG (.412), T-2nd in HR (179), 3rd in runs scored (616) and 4th in OPS (.726).

MEASURING UP: The Astros are 25-17 (.595) vs. teams currently at .500 or above. Some clubs that they have winning records against include BOS (5-1), CHC (3-0), CWS (2-1), CLE (4-2), MIA (3-0), and TB (2-1). HOU is 9-4 vs. TEX, who are in 2nd place in the AL West.

SLOW AND STEADY RECOVERY: Since starting the season with a 20-31 record after 51 games, the Astros are 48-36 (.571) in their last 84 games (since May 22). That is the 2nd-best record in the AL in that span, behind only the Red Sox (51-33).

ROAD WARRIORS: Since posting a 1-9 record on the 1st road trip of the 2026 season, the Astros have been one of the best road teams in the Majors. They are 34-23 (.596) on the road since April 14, which is 3rd-best in the AL in that span. More recently, they are 18-11 (.607) on their last 5 road trips combined (includes current trip). Overall for the season, HOU is 35-32 on the road.

THE HIT MAN: Jose Altuve enters today’s game needing just 9 hits to reach 2,500 for his career. Among active players, his 2,491 hits rank 2nd to Freddie Freeman’s 2,581.

IN GOOD COMPANY: In MLB history, Altuve is one of just 3 players with a .300 career batting avg. to reach both 250 HR and 300 SB. The other 2 are HOFers Willie Mays and Derek Jeter.

WALK OF FAME: Yordan Alvarez’ ML-high 28 intentional walks this season are a franchise record. Jeff Bagwell had held the club record with 27 IBB in 1997. Alvarez was intentionally walked 3 times on Sunday vs. ATH.

HADERADE: With last night’s scoreless 9th inning, LHP Josh Hader extended his scoreless innings streak to 18.0 innings (17 app.). His is the longest streak by an Astros hurler this season and the 3rd-longest current streak in the Majors. Opponents are just 4×58 (.069) during the streak. Hader is also now 20-for-20 in save opportunities in 2026. Hader in August: 1-0, 12 G, 0.00 ERA, 13.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 15 SO.

TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY:2007 – Multiple milestones are reached in a 7-0 victory over the Cardinals. Lance Berkman hits his 250th career HR and Craig Biggio hits his 655th career double, tying George Brett for 5th place on the all-time list. Additionally, RHP Roy Oswalt hurls 7.0 scoreless innings to pick up the win on what is his 30th birthday.

Game Info

Game Date/Time:  Saturday, August 29, 3:10 p.m. CT

Location:  Citi Field, Queens, NY

TV: Space City Home Network

Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)

Keep going.

⚾️: 3:10 PM CT
📺: @ESPN Unlimited (HOU Blackout) | @SpaceCityHN
🎙️: @SportsTalk790 | Spanish: 102.9 HD2#ChaseTheFight x @reliantenergypic.twitter.com/Ps1akVHwM0

— Houston Astros (@astros) August 29, 2026

Starters! #LGMpic.twitter.com/zQ7xCP8UeU

— New York Mets (@Mets) August 29, 2026