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Royals mop the Athletics, win fifth straight

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - AUGUST 20: Randy Dobnak #62 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the first inning against the Athletics at Kauffman Stadium on August 20, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Bobby Witt Jr. homered in the bottom of the first inning to give the Royals the lead over the Athletics, a lead Kansas City would never relinquish as they completed the four-game mop, winning 6-2.

What’s a mop? you might ask. Well, on the radio, Jake Eisenberg mentioned how the baseball podcast Cespedes Family BBQ differentiates between winning all the games in a three-game series versus a four-game series. In a three-game series, it’s a sweep. A four-gamer, a mop.

Mop it is, and it’s the Royals first mop of the A’s since 1994.

Rodney Dobnak started for the Royals and received a no-decision. He struggled, but since he struggled against this pathetic Athletics lineup, he didn’t allow a run. In four innings, Dobnak threw 96 pitches, striking out four while walking four and giving up six hits. According to Ryan Lefebvre right after the game, Dobnak became the first starting pitcher since 1932 to allow 1o or more baserunners in four or fewer innings while not allowing a run.

He left the game with a 5-0 lead that Carlos Duran messed with, but just a little bit. Duran recorded only one out but walked three and was charged with two earned runs. Once he left the game, though, the bullpen settled. Connor Thomas, Craig Kimbrel, John Schreiber, and Nate Pearson followed with four-and-2/3 innings pitched in which the Athletics recorded one hit and zero walks.

Thomas picked up his first big-league win.

The offense hummed along nicely in large part due to Witt. Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen received the day off while Maikel Garcia pulled his hamstring early in the game. He’ll be placed on the Injured List either today or tomorrow.

Still, without those three, the Royals racked up a dozen hits while drawing five walks.

Witt homered, Michael Massey (who finished 3-for-4) and Garcia doubled while Nick Loftin added a triple. Salvador Perez went 3-for-5 with an RBI and run scored while also reaching base on an error. Isaac Collins added two RBIs with a two-run single in the third.

For the series, Witt finished 6-for-15 with two home runs, four walks, five RBIs, and eight runs. He becomes the first Royal since George Brett in 1985 to score eight runs and drive in another five in the same series.

That means that today the Royals did things that hadn’t occurred since 1932, 1985, and 1994. They’ve won five straight for just the second time this season while taking six of their last eight, improving their record to 17-15 since the All-Star Break.

Don’t worry about their overall record.

Now, the Royals host the Detroit Tigers over the weekend. The Tigers are 61-66 but only five games out of first in the Central while just 1.5 games back in the Wild Card.

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OG Anunoby Q&A: Knicks star talks celebration, preparing for next season, cats

OG Anunoby is a Knicks legend. Etched forever in franchise lore and the hearts of fans. In the critical Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the 29-point comeback against the Spurs that was the stuff of legend and set the course of the Finals, Anunoby scored 33 points, including the game-winning tip-in. NBC Sports spoke to Anunoby this week.

Editor's note: OG Anunoby discussed several topics, including his contributions to ending the New York Knicks' 53-year title drought, in an interview through his partnership with Royal Canin and VCA Animal Hospitals. Anunoby, a cat lover, has worked with the organizations to raise awareness for rescue cats available for adoption, and to donate to shelters across the country. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

NBCSports.com: We saw the celebration in the streets of New York, which I think might still be going on, and we also saw the celebration with the champagne spraying in the locker room. We kind of saw you accidentally go live [on Instagram in that moment]. Were you surprised when you went live, like how viral that went? And more importantly, did your phone survive all the champagne spray?

Anunoby: Yeah, my phone ended up being all good. Was I surprised that it went viral? Kind of. I mean, there's a lot of people in it in like a short time in the live. Yeah, I don't go live like ever, I'm not good at that. But now I talked to some people, taught me how to go live. So next time it won't go like that.

NBCSports.com: Obviously, it was a wild summer with the parade and everything in New York, but you guys were able to get together for Karl-Anthony Towns' wedding. How was the second biggest wedding of the year, and how was it being able to get together with your teammates, kind of more out of that spotlight?

Anunoby: I mean, it was fun to celebrate KAT and Jordan, it was a beautiful wedding. The people who could make it attended. Like people who weren't busy. So it was just a great celebration of love. It was a good time. It was a great night.

NBCSports.com: OG, are you a cat person?

Anunoby: Yeah, I love cats. I love cats, I love dogs, I love all animals, but especially cats.

NBCSports.com: How did your passion about cats lead to you working with Royal Canin and VCA Animal Hospitals to encourage cat owners to take a more proactive approach to pet health?

Anunoby: Just my love for cats and all animals, and just want to help cats in need and spread awareness about cat health and cat safety. Getting cats to the vet.

I rely on my trainers for recovery and just staying at the top my game, so I don't wait until something's off to like go and get help. A lot of stuff is preventative in sports. So I think that's what people do with their cats. Preventative care is very important.

NBCSports.com: Something else I know you're passionate about is basketball in London and England, where you were born. But you were back there this summer, unveiling a new court with the help of the NBPA, correct? How is the sport growing over there?

Anunoby: It's growing rapidly. I mean, each year I come back, there's more and more people playing basketball in the streets. They're just talking about it. We see more and more jerseys. Yeah, boys and girls, it's growing very fast, and that's the goal.

NBCSports.com: London is one of the cities that's been kind of targeted for a potential NBA Europe franchise. If that comes to fruition, what would that mean for the growth of the sport in the city and in the country?

Anunoby: It'd be amazing. Just the awareness and accessibility, and just, if there's games going on more regularly in London, the game will just grow.

NBCSports.com: Coming back to the Knicks a little bit, you've been down this road before. You've won a title and then come back to defend it with that team. So, how can your experience winning a title with the Raptors and the season that followed help with this upcoming season with the Knicks? And if so, how?

Anunoby: Every team is different, every season is different, so we can't really predict how it will go. All you can do is do your best to kind of do the same thing as last year: Come in, build throughout the season, play to peak in the playoffs, and go on a run, win a championship — that's every team's goal. I think that's all we're focused on. Hopefully, and just keep getting better each and every day.

NBCSports.com: You obviously peaked with this team at the right time last year. Was there a moment for you when you realized things had really clicked with this team? Was it in the playoffs or before?

Anunoby: I mean, during the regular season, even the losses and the ups-and-downs, I think we were all learning and growing and building towards the playoffs, and that's the ultimate goal. So when the playoffs came, even through some of the early losses, we learned a lot and learned and adjusted and went on a run. And that's the goal.

NBCSports.com: I imagine you get tired of this: fans, media, everyone probably wants to talk to you about the Game 4 tip-in and all that. But as you start to ramp up for the new season, is it something where you feel like you have to kind of, I want to say, put that out of your mind or put that to the side a little bit to focus on what's next?

Anunoby: I think in general, I mean, we've won and it's over now. So of course we'll always celebrate it and always be proud of it, and always cherish everything that led up to it. But as we prepare for a new season, you know we're just looking forward, looking ahead. Goal is to get it all over again. I think every team's goal is to win the championship. So everyone through the off-season works and goes to get towards that goal.

NBCSports.com: You're probably in that ramp-up phase. You're in the gym. You're in the lab right now, getting the work in. Are there parts of your game you're specifically working on to bring in something new this next season or improve upon?

Anunoby: Really improving everything, trying to sharpen everything offensively, defensively, just trying to be just the ultimate player all around.

NBCSports.com: You kind of did that for them in the playoffs. Do you see that as your role going forward? I don't want to say jack of all trades, but somebody who can fit whatever that the team needs on a specific night?

Anunoby: Yeah, that's always been something I've taken pride in, being able to adjust and be versatile and do whatever. I work towards that all the time.

NBCSports.com: Was that versatility that makes you so important, was that something you have always had? Is that something you did in college and before, or was it something you kind of had to adapt to in the NBA as you grew?

Anunoby: I think it was always there, and then also I've always just worked on my game to improve. So a mix of both. It's always been there, but also I'm always working to improve and be better than I was the previous game, season. I'm always trying to grow it, never trying to plateau. Just keep elevating.

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White Sox held to one hit in 2-0 shutout loss to Braves

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 20: Andrew Benintendi #23 of the Chicago White Sox walks off after striking out to end the game against the Atlanta Braves at Rate Field on August 20, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)
Andrew Benintendi had the only hit for the ice-cold offense. | (Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)

The bats were not aware that today was not an off-day, as the White Sox fell to the Braves with only one hit in nine innings. Atlanta broke its losing streak with a 2-0 win before leaving town again.

Anthony Kay had two solid innings, getting nearly every batter to ground out for quick frames. Grant Holmes met him with the same enthusiasm, except for a walk issued to Colson Montgomery in the second inning.

Atlanta started to stir in the third with a base hit from Mauricio Dubón and an RBI double from Austin Riley for an early lead. Kay worked around the runner at third by again forcing grounders from Braves batters. The White Sox failed to respond.

Kay worked around a walk for a smooth fourth before Dubón reached again in the fifth. With Sam Antonacci unable to locate the ball, Dubón made it to second on a fielding error. Two big strikeouts and a first-pitch pop out from Ronald Acuña Jr. kept Atlanta from any real damage. Meanwhile, the Sox continued to get no-hit through five.

Drew Romo picked up a one-out walk in the sixth, prompting Atlanta to go to its bullpen despite still having a no-hitter in play. Romo took second thanks to a little wild-pitch offense, but he was stranded when Munetaka Murakami went down swinging.

Michael Harris II started the seventh with a double, prompting Will Venable to pull his starter. Huascar Brazobán stepped in and allowed an RBI double, giving the Braves a 2-0 lead, though the run was charged to Kay. Sean Murphy singled to put two runners on with one out as Hagen Smith started warming. Brazobán struck out Acuña before turning it over to Smith, who stranded both runners by retiring Drake Baldwin. The no-hitter was finally broken in the bottom of the seventh. Miguel Vargas picked up a walk, and Andrew Benintendi deposited a single into left field on a 0-2 count. Didier Fuentes entered the game to shut down the threat, and he did just that, striking out three batters in a row.

Dubón picked up his third hit of the game in the ninth after a successful ABS challenge that took him to a full count. On two consecutive wild pitches, Dubón made it to third, but thankfully the next pitch ended the frame. Any dreams of walking it off were squashed when all three Sox batters went down in order.

MVP:
Andrew Benintendi: Broke up the no-hitter

Runners-Up:
Hagen Smith: 1 1/3 IP, 3 K
Miguel Vargas: 1 BB
Drew Romo: 1 BB
Anthony Kay: 6 K, 6 IP

Cold Cat:
Anthony Kay: 6 K, 6 IP (yes, he’s in both spots)

Runners-Up:
Munetaka Murakami: 0-for-4, 1 K
Sam Antonacci: 0-for-4, 1 K
Huascar Brazobán: 2 H, 1 K
The whole team — what a stinker

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The Avalanche Have Something To Prove, And The NHL Should Be Worried

Martin Necas looks like he’s been partying with Angel “Memo” Heredia, and he isn’t alone.

Gabe Landeskog and Devon Toews have been showing up to the Avalanche’s optional skates earlier than usual. Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Scott Wedgewood have been putting in work of their own. And Necas? He’s been grinding overseas this offseason, looking like he took the whole “bet on yourself” thing personally.

The Marty Party has been at the gym. Credit: Domyno_CZ
The Marty Party has been at the gym. Credit: Domyno_CZ

Maybe it’s nothing.

Maybe it’s simply what professional hockey players do in August.

But when this many Avalanche players are already putting in extra work nearly a month before training camp, it’s hard not to wonder if something feels different.

This team has something to prove.

And they sure don’t look satisfied with the way last season ended.

The Avalanche were swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final after entering the playoffs as one of the Stanley Cup favorites. That kind of ending doesn’t simply disappear when the season does.

If they didn’t feel any regret, disappointment or frustration about it, why put in the extra work?

Why show up early?

Why start grinding now instead of waiting for training camp?

And then there’s MacKinnon.

The 30-year-old center is coming off his first Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy after leading the NHL with 48 goals last season. Knowing how relentlessly competitive MacKinnon is, it’s almost impossible not to wonder what has been going through his mind since Vegas ended Colorado’s season.

Imagine being MacKinnon, finally winning the Rocket Richard Trophy after years of chasing individual greatness, only to watch another Stanley Cup opportunity disappear in a sweep.

If anything, that should make him even more dangerous.

MacKinnon doesn’t need much motivation on a normal day. Now give him an entire offseason to think about the way the season ended.

He’ll be hunting for blood.

Sure, this is their job. They’re professional athletes. They’re supposed to train.

But there’s a difference between doing what you’re supposed to do and looking like you have something to prove.

And we’ve seen this movie before in Colorado.

The last time the Avalanche were knocked out of the playoffs as heavy Stanley Cup favorites before this past season was 2021, when Vegas eliminated them in six games in the second round.

The following year, Colorado won the Stanley Cup.

Maybe these Avalanche remember how that story went.

Necas, in particular, looks like a player who took last season personally.

The most visible transformation has come from the 27-year-old forward, who has been hitting the weights hard this offseason in videos circulating across social media. He looks noticeably bigger, stronger and more physically imposing than he did a year ago.

Which brings us back to Heredia.

Why the Heredia quip?

Heredia is a renowned strength and conditioning coach whose clients have included some of the biggest names in boxing. I interviewed him in Las Vegas in February 2025 after his fighters, David Benavidez and David Morrell, squared off in a highly anticipated bout that Benavidez won by unanimous decision.

I asked Heredia what separated his training from the rest and what allowed his fighters to continue improving. One of the things he explained was how his training helps athletes better absorb punishment, which can come pretty handy in a sport where you’re beating the snot out of one another. 

That matters when you look at what Necas went through last season.

Necas took some big hits. Some of them clearly took something out of him.

And yet, he played in 78 of Colorado’s 82 regular-season games and produced the best offensive season of his career, finishing with career highs of 38 goals and 62 assists for his first 100-point season.

Now imagine what a stronger, more physically prepared Necas could look like.

That’s where this offseason gets interesting.

The Avalanche lost some quality players from last season, including Jack Drury and Ross Colton. They’ll have to replace that production, but scoring goals isn’t the only thing this team appears to be focused on fixing.

There seems to be a renewed emphasis on everything else that goes into winning hockey games.

Strength.

Conditioning.

Defense.

Checking.

Being able to win battles and, perhaps most importantly, being able to withstand them.

Colorado already has plenty of skill. Nobody needs to be reminded that MacKinnon, Makar and the rest of this group can score.

The question is whether they can become harder to play against when the games matter most.

We’ll get a much better idea once more players return for optional skates and, eventually, training camp in September.

But it would be foolish to write this Avalanche team off.

If anything, the early work suggests this group has no intention of simply showing up in September and hoping for a different result.

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Meet the 12-year-old girl dominating the Little League World Series: ‘Fear the bow’

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Pitcher Kinley Rasmus of Phenix, Alabama, delivers a pitch to a batter for Tacoma, Washington, at the Little League Baseball World Series on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, Image 2 shows Runner Kinley Rasmus of Phenix, Alabama, is safe at second base against Tacoma, Washington, at the Little League Baseball World Series on Wednesday, August 19, 2026

One of the scariest sights in Williamsport might just be a big white bow. 

That’s because it means that Alabama’s Kinley Rasmus is on the mound, and the 12-year-old Phenix City Little League star has been making waves at this year’s Little League World Series, becoming just the 25th girl to ever compete in the tournament and tying a record previously set by Mo’ne Davis. 

Rasmus made headlines this week when she became the first girl since Davis in 2014 to record eight strikeouts in a Little League World Series game during Phenix City’s 2-0 loss to Washington. She allowed just one hit during her time on the mound before moving to shortstop, where she made a run-saving catch. 

Pitcher Kinley Rasmus of Phenix City, Alabama, delivers a pitch to a batter for Tacoma, Washington, at the Little League Baseball World Series on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

But her story goes deeper than that, and if her last name sounds familiar, well, that’s because she’s the daughter of former major leaguer Cory Rasmus, who pitched 84 games between the Braves and Angels, and her uncle is veteran outfielder Colby Rasmus. 

And the coach of the Phenix City team is also her uncle, Case Rasmus, who played four seasons in the minor leagues. 

“It’s just so amazing. Just the opportunity is so great, it’s going to be such a blast,” Rasmus told ESPN before her first pitching appearance in the Little League World Series on Wednesday.

Runner Kinley Rasmus of Phenix City, Alabama, is safe at second base against Tacoma, Washington, at the Little League Baseball World Series on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Rasmus has worn a big white bow in her hair during her games and she and her teammates had coined the phrase “Fear the Bow,” which seems quite fitting for how teams will be feeling going up against her. 

“When I hear people say that it, it just brings joy to me,” she said. “Knowing that they’ve got my back and everything I do on the field and it just gives me so much excitement.”

Rasmus has been a big part of helping to get Phenix City to the Little League World Series for the first time in 27 years. 

Phenix City will need to get a win on Saturday in the loser’s bracket in order to keep their Little League World Series dreams alive.

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A’s Swept By Royals, Drop Finale 6-2

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - AUGUST 20: Gage Jump #61 of the Athletics pitches during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on August 20, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Athletics couldn’t escape Kansas City with a win in four tries. The club was swept by the Royals in this four-game series, finishing it off with a listless 6-2 loss to wrap things up. Off to Houston.

It was left-hander Gage Jump’s turn in the rotation this afternoon. Things haven’t always been smooth sailing for the rookie in his first big league action but that’s not unexpected for such a young arm.

Unfortunately the Royals were on him early and often today. A solo blast in the first off the bat of Bobby Witt Jr. gave KC a lead they would not relinquish today, then they put up two more runs against Jump in each of the third and fourth innings, then chased him with no outs in the fifth, ending his day earlier than the coaching staff was hoping for.

  • Gage Jump: 4 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 86 pitches

The bats meanwhile took a while to get going. The A’s would not be shut out today thanks to RBI hits from veteran journeymen Brian Serven and Donovan Walton, but that was about it for the bats today. The Green & Gold collected eight hits, but just one of those went for extra bases.

Well, we got swept. And we’re the worst team in baseball by record. Things can’t get much more worse, can they?

The team leaves KC and is on their way to Houston now for three games against the Astros. Right-hander J. T. Ginn will try to help the A’s snap this skid. He’ll be opposed by Hayden Wesneski. Need to get that 50th win ASAP!

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Patrick Bailey got revenge on a Giants team that couldn’t catch the ball in a 5-2 loss

CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 20: Cleveland Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey (16) singles to drive in a run during the first inning of the Major League Baseball interleague game between the San Francisco Giants and Cleveland Guardians on August 20, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

With one out in the 8th inning of Thursday’s afternoon rubber match, Cleveland Guardians center fielder Petey Halpin singled, then got caught leaning by JT Brubaker. The pickoff throw went to Bryce Eldridge, who ran Halpin to Willy Adames, who threw to Osleivis Basabe, who dropped the ball.

Three pitches later, Halpin was at third after Brubaker threw a wild pitch. One pitch after that, he’d scored the final run of Cleveland’s 5-2 win over the San Francisco Giants on an RBI single from Brayan Rocchio.

The Giants would make it interesting in the 9th, drawing two walks off closer Cade Smith (32 saves) after being down to their last strike, but Rafael Devers flew out to end the game and send the Giants to their sixth straight series loss, and their 9th road series loss in a row.

The story of the game was, once again, poor Giants defense. Little Leaguers can successfully execute a pickle, but not the Cement Glove keystone duo of Basabe and Willy Adames, who committed his 18th error of the season and also fumbled the exchange on a potential double play.

Cleveland’s three-run first-inning rally got a boost from a ground-ball single from Travis Bazzanna that went under Basabe’s glove, giving the Guardians first and third with no one out instead of a rally-killing double play. A bloop single and a sacrifice fly made it 2-0, then Adames booted a second double-play ball grom Angel Genao. That opened the door for an RBI single from Patrick “Patty Barrels” Bailey, the first hard-hit ball of the inning off of Landen Roupp (7-13) despite it being a 3-0 game.

Roupp settled down and gave up only two more hits in the next 4 1/3 innings, though he did issue three more walks. Conservatively, Adames forced Roupp to throw 13 extra pitches and made Tony Vitello burn a challenge on an “illegal slide” from Steven Kwan in the second inning that seemed purely motivated by trying to save his player from the embarrassment of dropping the ball for no reason. Otherwise the challenge was pure incompetence, but it’s hard to imagine we’d see that from the crafty Vitello.

Adames did provide all the scoring from the Giants on offense, hitting his 20th home run of the season and the 200th of his career after a Devers single in the first. He’s now the fourth shortstop in Giants history with more than one season of 20 or more homers, joining Alvin Dark, Rich Aurilia, and Brandon Crawford.

Guardians starter Gavin Williams (12-7) never got Devers out, issuing two of his three walks to the Giants DH. He got 11 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings, giving up only one hit outside of the 4th. Williams’ biggest weakness is the long ball, but only Adames could take advantage and only once did they get a runner into scoring position off of him, after two 5th-inning walks. After he got pulled with two outs and a runner down in the 6th, pinch-hitter Victor Bericoto’s flied out to center, though the wind may have knocked the ball down.

The shaky defense continued. Bailey singled and stole second in the 4th, without anyone on the Giants noticing him running. Bryce Eldridge dove for an Angel Martinez ground ball in the 6th but couldn’t come up with it, Bailey reached base for the third time in a row with a walk and Kwan (1-for-2, three walks) singled off Sam Hentges to make it 4-2. The Giants did get a force out at third when they ran the “wheel play” on a sac bunt, but Adames declined to throw to first to try for the double play, which was probably just as well.

Good defense on the other side derailed the Giants in the 8th, when Rocchio made an acrobatic play to retire Bericoto after Eldridge walked and Jung Hoo Lee singled.

Left-handed relievers continued to stymie the Giants. The Giants pinch-hit the hitless Andrew Knizner and Jonah Cox, who’d struck out five times in a row, in the 7th inning off Erik Sabrowski. Knizner popped out, though he drew a walk in the 9th, and Cox eventually ran his strikeout streak to seven.

Positives! Christian Koss made a nice throw on the wheel play and caught a tough popup against the netting. Adames is hitting the ball hard, even if sometimes he’s using his glove to deliver the blows. Roupp settled down nicely after a rough first inning that was hardly his fault. And Knizner added some levity when he burned an ABS challenge with two outs in the 9th on a pitch that was such a clear strike that the National Labor Relations Board sent out an official statement of support for it after the game.

Next the team will travel to Boston, a homecoming for Rafael Devers and possibly Marcelo Mayer, though he’ll likely debut at home. Devers is likely to face old friend Erik Miller, who is getting extensive use from the Red Sox since the Giants traded him, striking out 12 and yielding only a single unearned run in 7 1/3 innings over seven appearances. Maybe the Giants will even win a road series!

(They will not.)

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Brewers take rubber match over Mariners, 7-4

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 20: Garrett Mitchell #5 of the Milwaukee Brewers hits a double in the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at American Family Field on August 20, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Box Score

The Milwaukee Brewers took the rubber match against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday afternoon, as a big day from Garrett Mitchell and the Brewer bullpen led the team to a 7-4 win.

Robert Gasser started the day with a walk of Brendan Donovan but bounced back to pick up a strikeout and flyout before Julio Rodríguez singled to put a pair of runners on. Josh Naylor grounded out, though, and Milwaukee was through a clean first.

Then, the offense kicked it into gear.

Brice Turang started the day with a single and, after Jackson Chourio flew out (and Turang surprisingly tagged up), Jake Bauers drew a walk. Gary Sánchez then lined a double just fair down the left-field line, bringing both runners home for a quick 2-0 lead.

Christian Yelich followed with a single to put runners at the corners, and Joey Ortiz hit a single of his own to move everyone up, putting Yelich at third and scoring Sánchez for a 3-0 lead. After Ortiz swiped second base, Mitchell hit a double to right, scoring both for a 5-0 lead. David Hamilton then worked a long nine-pitch at-bat, lining the final pitch into right for a double of his own and a 6-0 lead. Luis Lara and Turang lined out and grounded out, respectively, and the inning was over.

Gasser once again walked the leadoff hitter in the second, this time in the form of Taylor Ward. After getting the next two batters out, Gasser gave up a single to No. 9 hitter Brock Rodden, and Donovan made him pay with a two-run double into the right-center gap to cut the score to 6-2.

Milwaukee had another scoring chance in the second as Chourio walked and Bauers singled, but Sánchez struck out and Yelich hit into a double play (aided by a Mariners’ challenge at first) to end the inning.

In the fourth, the Mariners threatened again, with a leadoff walk by Cole Young, a single by Jhonny Pereda, and a passed ball by Sánchez to make it 6-3. Pat Murphy — for the second time this season after doing so to Brandon Sproat in early August — emerged in the middle of an at-bat to make a pitching change, as Chad Patrick took over from Gasser.

Patrick ended up walking Randy Arozarena (who was already in a 2-0 count) and gave up an RBI single to Dominic Canzone to make it 6-4 before the inning was over.

It wasn’t a great day for the lefty Gasser, as he went just 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks, striking out four.

Both bullpens then traded zeros for the next several innings, as no runners got into scoring position after the fourth until the top of the eighth, when Aaron Ashby walked a pair of hitters. He got out of the jam, though, as he struck out a batter and induced a groundout to strand the runners at second and third.

The Brewers finally got one back in the bottom of the eighth, as Mitchell slugged a solo homer to center, his ninth of the year and third extra-base hit of the afternoon. Hamilton followed with a single but was stranded there, leaving Trevor Megill to protect a three-run lead in the ninth.

Megill had no trouble, picking up a strikeout and two flyouts — including a nice ranging grab by Mitchell in center — to wrap up the 7-4 victory.

Mitchell led the Brewers with three hits, including a pair of doubles and a homer, driving in three. Sánchez had two RBIs, and Ortiz and Hamilton had an RBI each. Every starter had at least one hit with the exception of Lara, who went 0-for-4.

After Gasser’s short outing, Milwaukee’s bullpen combination of Patrick, Ashby, and Megill combined to keep the Mariners off the board for the final 5 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and two walks with nine strikeouts.

The Brewers are back in action on Friday afternoon, as they’ll begin a series with the Braves on MLB Players’ Weekend, including a game in MLB’s Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on Sunday. First pitch for Friday’s game is set for 3:10 p.m.

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Bieber Shuts Down Rays Again: Rays 1, Toronto 5

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - AUGUST 20: Andrés Giménez #0 of the Toronto Blue Jays steals third base from under Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays in the second inning at Tropicana Field on August 20, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Shane Bieber last faced the Rays on July 23rd in what was potentially an audition to acquire the veteran pitcher. In that game, he scattered three hits and a single run as Toronto won the contest 3-1. The Jays did some buying and selling at the deadline, and Bieber remained with the club to the detriment of the Rays as he once again disposed of the lineup with ease in a 5-1 Toronto win.

Bieber once again went seven complete innings scattering four singles while allowing a sole unearned run scored by Chandler Simpson. Simpson reaching on a single while advancing to second on an error by Ernie Clement was about the only thing that went the Rays way in a contest where the 63-66 team was in complete control of the division-leading 76-51 club. Consider this game saw each of the following events:

  • Ian Seymour was a pitch away from an immaculate inning to begin this game until Alejandro Kirk spoiled the fun spitting on an 0-2 changeup and then making Seymour throw eight more pitches in that plate appearances before collecting yet another hit in this series. Kirk has been a modern day Ben Francisco to Andy Sonnanstine situation for the Rays pitchers this season.
  • George Springer drove in two runs on a ball that left his eviscerated bat at 42.4 miles and took nine hops through an indecisive infield:
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  • Daz Cameron hit a titantic 442-foot blast into the D-ring in the 5th inning, which was the third of three solo shots allowed by Ian Seymour in the game. Ironically, Cameron’s last major league home run came 442 days ago on June 4th, 2025:
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  • Yandy Diaz has now seen at least 2000 pitches this season, and has yet to challenge a single one. It remains the longest such streak in baseball. While he did single later in this at bat, the 0-1 fastball that was called a strike was, in fact, not one:

Diaz not challenging pitches is still better than batters wasting challenges on 1-2 pitches with nobody out in the 3rd inning as Nick Fortes did on a pitch that was fully in the strike zone. Teams get two challenges a game and this was a foolishly wasted one:

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Simply put, this was a miserable game to wrap up a miserable homestand. The only two wins of the homestand centered around fielding miscues for an offense that scraped together 30 runs over 7 games while the pitching staff and defense permitted 47 runs.

The team heads off to Baltimore, who has given them fits all season. The Rays took what was supposed to be an advantageous portion of the schedule with sub-.500 teams coming into Tropicana Field and played arguably some of their worst baseball in some time.

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Sens Nation Podcast: If Batherson Wants Eight Years, Time Is Running Out

In this episode of Sens Nation, the official Ottawa Senators podcast of The Hockey News, Drake Batherson reportedly wants the maximum eight-year commitment from the  Senators, and with the NHL’s new CBA rules looming, there's suddenly an important early bird deadline.

Steve and Gregg discuss what Batherson could command, the idea of paying him into his late 30s, and whether his desire to make Ottawa his long-term home should put him in the conversation to become the Senators’ next captain.

Plus, The Hockey News redrafts the 2020 NHL Draft and Jake Sanderson and Tim Stützle go 1-2. What would Ottawa’s incredible 2020 draft look like if it were held again today, and in this fictional exercise, who would they now get at 3rd and 5th overall?

The guys also debate whether the Senators have enough scoring, they disagree strongly on whether Alexis Lafrenière could be a worthwhile target, and where Ridly Greig and Warren Foegele fit in the lineup.

Plus, we answer our first listener voicemail about the timeline for a new Senators arena at LeBreton Flats and discuss Chris Neil’s interesting comments about Brady Tkachuk’s new role in Florida.

Thanks for watching and listening to the Sens Nation Podcast!

00:00 Welcome to Sens Nation

04:15 Sanderson Goes No. 1 in a 2020 NHL Redraft

08:10 Would the Senators Take a Chance on Alexis Lafrenière?

13:50 Do the Senators Have Enough Goal Scoring?

17:35 Drake Batherson Wants an Eight-Year Deal

22:25 Should Batherson Be in the Captaincy Conversation?

28:15 Voicemail: When Will the New Senators Arena Actually Open?

34:30 Chris Neil on Brady Tkachuk’s Role in Florida

39:55 How Will Tkachuk Fit With the Panthers?

44:05 Is Ridly Greig Overrated?

47:15 Could Warren Foegele Get a Shot on the Top Line?

49:30 Listener Comments & Wrap-Up

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Grant Holmes and the Braves shut out the White Sox to avoid a postponed sweep, 2-0

CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 20: Grant Holmes #66 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Thursday, August 20, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Lawrence Brown/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Alternatively, for the alliteratively-minded: Braves snap skid and salvage series as Holmes spins six scoreless in the South Side.

Before first pitch, all things are possible. No matter our current gripes we have with the team or their performance, the time leading up to the commencement of the baseball contest fills us with a cautious hope. It’s a new day with a sparkling new chance for the Atlanta Braves to win.

So it was extra deflating when, upon replay review, Ronald Acuña Jr. did not reach first base in time for an infield single after all, leading to the first out of the ballgame. This was followed by quick outs by Drake Baldwin and Matt Olson for yet another scoreless first frame. Bummer (not Aaron). But worry not, folks – Braves pitching and the bottom of the batting order would be the heroes in today’s 2-0 win over the Chicago White Sox.

Atlanta drew first blood this afternoon courtesy of the wheels of Mauricio Dubón and the bat of Austin Riley. Dubón led off the top of the third with a single off of Anthony Kay. Riley hit a rocket of a double to left, and Dubie’s speed on an audacious send by third base coach Tommy Watkins helped the Braves take a 1-0 lead.

Dubón’s nice 3-for-4 afternoon continued with a single (plus a fielding error by left fielder Sam Antonacci that allowed him to reach second) to lead off the fifth. However, this time he’d be left stranded.

We must tip our collective caps to Grant Holmes. The pressure cooker of the skid, an offense recently incapable of helping their starter out of small deficits, and the clamor for him to be moved to the bullpen could’ve gotten to our curly-haired king. He bounced back in a major way by holding the White Sox hitless through six innings before allowing a single in the seventh. Up to that point, the only baserunners for the White Sox came on the three walks scattered in the second, sixth, and seventh.

The palpitations were certainly high in that sixth inning from Holmes: Munetaka Murakami had grounded out twice before, but came to the plate with Drew Romo aboard. A wild pitch would move Romo up a base, putting the tying run in scoring position. But Grant buckled down with the afternoon’s best slider to get Murakami swinging. No-hitter intact!

The White Sox inadvisedly left Anthony Kay in for the top of the seventh, which they immediately regretted when Michael Harris II doubled to right on the second pitch he saw. Former Met Huascar Brazobán came in and got Dubón to fly out, allowing Harris to get to third. Austin RBI-ley knocked Harris in with a single up the middle to make it 2-0. Sean Murphy followed it up with a 103.2 mph single of his own. But the rally petered out after Brazobán and new reliever Hagen Smith got Ronald and Baldwin to strike out swinging, respectively.

The Braves had both Brent Suter and Didier Fuentes start to throw during the sixth, but Holmes jogged out to pitch in the bottom of the seventh. I fully rewrote earlier parts of this recap because I’d assumed Grant was going to go out on a high note. But with 83 pitches, a lead, and a no-hitter going, it seemed Weiss and company were going to let it ride on a batter-per-batter basis. Unfortunately, Miguel Vargas worked a leadoff walk before Andrew Benintendi ended the no-hitter and Holmes’ afternoon with a single to left.

Didier Fuentes came in tasked with preserving the lead and Holmes’ final line and did so in phenomenal fashion: back-to-back-to-back strikeouts of the non-brothers Montgomery (Braden and Colson) and Chase Meidroth. The way Sean Murphy calls pitches for Fuentes makes me feel things.

Hagen Smith and Dylan Lee pitched a very quiet eighth frame for both sides. Trevor Richards got Harris to fly out to start the top of the ninth. Dubón got his third hit of the day with a single to right before Riley struck out. Two wild pitches during Murph’s at-bat would get Mauricio on third base, but Sean grounded out to send us to the bottom of the ninth with a 2-0 lead for Raisel Iglesias.

A well-rested Iggy barely gave us time to worry: a groundout for Murakami, strikeout of Vargas, and strikeout of Benintendi on twelve pitches put the Braves back in the win column and denied the White Sox a delayed sweep.

Instead of a happy flight, the Braves will board a happy bus to Milwaukee to face the Brew Crew. The Pokemon card collectors Chris Sale and Jacob Misiorowski will face off in tomorrow afternoon’s series opener starting at 4:10 pm ET.

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Reds drop final out, lose to Cardinals in MLB’s wildest 9th inning of the season

The Cincinnati Reds are likely to miss the MLB Playoffs for the fifth time in the last six seasons. The St. Louis Cardinals are trying to make a late push to earn the final wild card spot in the National League after missing the playoffs the last three years. The two teams played a rare five-game series this week with tons of drama. On Monday, Red outfielder Dane Myers hit the game-tying home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to give the Reds an improbable win. On Thursday, his crucial error allowed the Cardinals to steal a victory they had no business getting.

The Cardinals trailed the Reds 5-3 going into the ninth inning on Thursday. St. Louis promptly exploded for six runs in the top of the ninth to take the lead, but game should have ended before they ever had a chance to do that. Myers had the final out of the game in his glove, but a sunny day and some confusion in the outfield produced a wild error that allowed St. Louis to take the lead. Watch the play here:

Calling off your teammate only to drop the ball … yikes. Myers simply has to make that play.

Baseball is the cruelest sport. You’re the hero one day, and the goat the next. Myers learned this lesson the hard way.

The Reds came back and scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn’t enough. The Cardinals won, 10-9, to win their fifth straight series. The bats came alive for St. Louis late, and it sure helps when the opposite gives you another out.

The Cards are 2.5 games behind the Padres for the third and final wild card spot. San Diego won a thriller against the New York Mets earlier this week behind some heroics from Fernando Tatis Jr., but the Cards aren’t giving up. St. Louis still has to run down the Arizona Diamondbacks before it can pass San Diego, but the way this team is playing lately, anything is possible.

The Reds wasted a grand slam from Matt McLain in the loss. There’s a lot of painful things that can happen on a baseball field. Dropping the final out and then losing the game because of it might be as bad as it gets. This feels like the sort of thing that should only happen to the Mets, but there are plenty of other bad baseball teams out there. The Reds are one of them.

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Potential Sabres Trade Or Free Agent Acquisitions – Reilly Smith

The Buffalo Sabres could go a number of different ways as the NHL is in the midst of trade season following the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency on July 1. With the departure of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, GM Jarmo Kekalainen is expected to seek out offensive reinforcements to make up for the 44 goals lost by their departures. 

We are continuing to look at potential options for the Sabres, now that veteran Patrick Kane has returned with Chicago.  Some of the possibilities are not going to match Tuch’s stats, but any additions could provide some relief to the pressure that youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, or Noah Ostlund will be under to make up the deficit.

Other Sabres Stories

Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

Who will step up to replace Tuch's scoring?

Kekalainen ideally is looking for someone who could make up as much of the 60-to-70 point production that he lost with Tuch, or someone who can fill the leadership gap and/or add some snarl and sandpaper to the middle-six, with the trade of Jordan Greenway to Chicago.  

Smith is a five-time 20 goal scorer who netted 16 goals with the Vegas Golden Knights last season. The 35-year-old was a spot player for Vegas during their run to the Cup Final, playing only seven of their 22 post-season contests, and is not the scorer he was earlier in his career, but could still play a middle-six role on the right side, while others on the Sabres (Jack Quinn) could move up into the top six. 

This late in August, with less than a month before training camp, it is possible that the veteran winger would be open to a PTO, but with possibly a couple teams looking to add a Stanley Cup winner to their roster, a league-minimum deal may be necessary. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

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Brewers Reacts Survey Results: With roughly one month of baseball to go, how will the Brewers finish?

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 18: Luis Lara #18 of the Milwaukee Brewers is congratulated after hitting his first major league home run in the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at American Family Field on August 18, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

In this week’s Reacts survey, we asked fans if they think the Brewers can finish the season with the best record in baseball and/or set another franchise record for wins in a season. The results were clear, but there were still some dissenting votes:

With 110 votes, 66% voted yes to both, followed by 18% voting for neither, 11% saying franchise record only, and 5% saying best record only. Given that the Brewers currently own the best record in baseball and are on pace for roughly 99-100 wins, it probably isn’t much of a surprise that most fans said all or nothing to this question.

If the Brewers are able to hit 98 wins, they’ll break the franchise record of 97 victories (set last season), and they’ll also easily be in the running for best record in the league. Hitting the 100-win mark seems like the “safe” number for best record in baseball with roughly 35 games to go for every team.

What do you think? Can the Brewers hit 100 wins? Have something else you want to say? Keep the conversation going in the comments, and be sure to check out FanDuel Sportsbook for all your betting needs.

Brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.

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Could Lakers capitalize on latest Nikola Jokic-Nuggets drama?

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Nikola Jokic looking focused during the friendly basketball match between Serbia and France, Image 2 shows Luka Dončić playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in a yellow and purple jersey
Denver Nuggets Peyton Watson trade has surfaced rumors of Nikola Jokić being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

With the Denver Nuggets electing to trade Peyton Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers to avoid the luxury tax, it raises a fascinating question that could shape the future of the NBA:

Could the Los Angeles Lakers take advantage of this Nuggets turmoil to bring Nikola Jokić to Hollywood to pair with Luka Dončić?

The Nuggets and Jokić have been in contract limbo. Jokić has put off signing an extension and has hinted at making a decision about his future with the team next summer.

Jokić will be 31 this season and has a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28, the final season on his five-year, $276.1 million extension that he signed after he helped propel the Nuggets to their first NBA title in 2023.

Rumors have began to surface of Nikola Jokić joining forces alongside Luka Dončić. ANDREJ CUKIC/EPA/Shutterstock

According to Lakers insider Anthony F. Irwin, the team is going to be “dead-set” on acquiring Jokić after their ownership situation is figured out.

With the Lakers ready to give Dončić the keys to the franchise and continue building around him, acquiring Jokić should be a no-brainer for them.

Dončić and Jokić are close friends and have enjoyed playing beside one another.

The two teamed up against the rest of the NBA during the All-Star Game in February on the team led by Dončić.

The success the Nuggets had in the playoffs three years ago now seems like a distant memory. They’ve won a combined two playoff series over the past three seasons, and were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round last season.

Luka Dončić during an NBA game with the Los Angeles Lakers. Corey Sipkin for NY Post

Jokić, who averaged a triple-double last season with 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game, is a three-time MVP with years remaining in his prime.

The Nuggets’ decision to move on from Watson has been criticized by some observers as short-sighted cost-cutting.

It adds fuel to the notion of a potential divorce between Jokić and the team that would delight the Lakers.