SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 10: Robert Gasser #54 of the Milwaukee Brewers looks on from the dugout before the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on August 10, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Brewers started their series against the Dodgers last night with a big comeback win. After being swept in San Diego, it was not looking good as they were down two in the ninth inning last night. However, a three-run inning capped a comeback for them as they took the series opener. The Brewers will try to build off that tonight in game two against the Dodgers.
Robert Gasser makes the start tonight for the Brewers. He’s coming off of a shorter start against the Twins, where he allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings. This is Gasser’s second start this season against the Dodgers. In his first start against them, he allowed four runs on four hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings, striking out four. So far this season, he has a 4.57 ERA and 4.51 FIP. He hasn’t allowed more than three runs in a start since the All-Star Break, and has allowed three or fewer runs in 10 of his 13 starts.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers will turn to their top starter, Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Over 21 starts this season, he has a 2.65 ERA, 3.43 FIP, and 127 strikeouts compared to 32 walks. Yamamoto is coming off of a shorter start, pitching just 5 2/3 innings against the Diamondbacks. He did not allow any runs, but allowed three hits and three walks while striking out six. The Brewers faced him back in March, and scored just one run off of him in seven innings. He allowed seven hits and one walk in that start while striking out three.
There’s good news and bad news on the injury front tonight. The bad news is that the bullpen took another hit, with Abner Uribe being placed on the IL with a right forearm flexor strain. It’s not a serious injury, as the images on it came back clean. It will be a few days of rest for him before he returns to throwing. Grant Anderson was recalled to fill his roster spot.
Meanwhile, there are other positive injury updates. Brice Turang remains day-to-day and can hit, but tomorrow will be a critical day to decide if an IL stint is needed. Meanwhile, Sal Frelick is making progress on his rehab assignment and could return soon if play in the field goes well. Frelick is playing in right field for Nashville tonight and hit a home run in the game. Finally, Cooper Pratt is also recovering well and will only need a near minimum IL stint, but will need a rehab assignment.
Most of the same players are in the lineup, but it has been shifted around a bit. Garrett Mitchell is leading off with Jackson Chourio behind him. Jake Bauers is back at first base and batting first, while Andrew Vaughn remains at third base and bats fourth. Christian Yelich and William Contreras move up to fifth and sixth in the lineup, and Luis Lara is back in the lineup batting seventh. David Hamilton and Joey Ortiz fill out the lineup.
First pitch is at 9:10 p.m. It will be on Brewers.TV and the Brewers Radio Network.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 12: Tyler Glasnow #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on prior to the game against the Kansas City Royals at Dodger Stadium on August 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tyler Glasnow made his third minor league rehab start on Friday night for Triple-A Oklahoma City, and this was his best yet. Glasnow struck out eight batters in 3 2/3 innings against the Albuquerque Isotopes, a Colorado Rockies affiliate.
Glasnow only allowed three balls in play among his 13 batters faced, and didn’t allow a ball hit into the outfield until a harmless flyout in the fourth inning. He walked two and ran a few other deep counts, getting him pulled at 67 pitches, one out shy of the planned four innings.
Isotopes hitters had trouble with Glasnow’s secondary pitches. He threw his slider, knuckle curve, and curveball a total of 23 times, and induced seven of his 11 total swinging strikes on those pitches.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday at Dodger Stadium that Glasnow is expected to make one more minor league rehab start after this one, during which he will stretch out to roughly five innings and 75 pitches, before potentially returning to the Dodgers.
Much like when activating Blake Snell earlier this week, the Dodgers will need a corresponding move to make room on the 40-man roster, because Glasnow is on the 60-day injured list. But that return looks much more tangible now than it did two weeks ago.
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland (21) throws a pitch in the first inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The Reds led 4-1 after three innings. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Colorado enters Friday night at 48-73, two games behind the 50-71 Giants for fourth place in the NL West. The Rockies went 1-2 in St. Louis, then took two of three from Arizona before Thursday’s off day, leaving them 3-3 through the first six games of the trip.
This is also the final series between Colorado and San Francisco in 2026. The season series is tied 5-5, and the Giants have outscored the Rockies by only four runs across those 10 games.
San Francisco spent June and July hovering around .500, going 24-27 with a minus-3 run differential. August has looked different. The Giants are 3-8 this month, their injured list is crowded and the roster has thinned since the trade deadline.
Rafael Devers provides the most obvious threat with 24 home runs. His .467 slugging percentage ranks among the top 40 hitters in baseball, so there is real thump in the bat, but it comes with a less imposing .788 OPS. Beyond Devers, there is not much power in the lineup.
But there is still enough competence to turn mistakes and free baserunners into runs, which makes Kyle Freeland’s command especially important tonight.
Freeland enters at 3-10 with a 6.63 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 96 strikeouts across 112.2 innings.
In his last start against St. Louis, he allowed three runs across 4.1 innings, but only one was earned after a two-out passed ball extended the bottom of the first inning and led to a two-run double. From there, the contact was mostly manageable — five hits, three hard-hit balls and an 83.7 mph average exit velocity on 16 balls in play — but he also walked three hitters.
Freeland’s command has generally remained one of his strengths. His 5.1% walk rate ranks among the best in baseball, while his cutter and sweeper have been the strongest parts of his six-pitch arsenal.
While it would be great for Freeland to continue avoiding the hard contact that has so often plagued him, he must return to keeping walks off the board against a potentially pesky Giants offense tonight.
Taking the ball opposite Freeland is 27-year-old righty Landen Roupp.
Roupp enters at 7-11 with a 4.22 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 123 strikeouts across 123.2 innings.
Roupp allowed only one earned run across 5.1 innings in his last start despite walking five and striking out only three. Even with all that traffic, hitters produced just two hard-hit balls on 15 balls in play with a 79.6 mph average exit velocity.
That is, in part, how Roupp has survived the walks.
Roupp can absolutely strike hitters out, but he is not an overpowering strikeout pitcher. His 23.6% strikeout rate is only a little above league average, while his 25.3% whiff rate is almost exactly league average. He has still recorded 123 strikeouts across 123.2 innings.
His real separator comes when hitters do make contact. Roupp has allowed an 86.1 mph average exit velocity with a 29.0% hard-hit rate and 4.2% barrel rate, all comfortably better than league average, while generating ground balls at a 51.8% clip.
He works from a low arm slot and relies on movement. His sinker has strong arm-side run and drop, and he pairs it heavily with a changeup against left-handed hitters. Against righties, the curveball becomes a bigger part of the plan. It has generated a 34.9% whiff rate this season and gives Roupp a legitimate put-away pitch. He is also comfortable repeating pitches rather than falling into an obvious hard-soft pattern.
Recently recalled Zac Veen starts in right field after going 1-for-3 with a strikeout in his return to the major league lineup on Wednesday. His lone hit was not a quiet one: Veen drove a 104.7 mph home run 407 feet to right-center field.
Connor Norby makes his third straight start at second base and is still looking for his first hit with the Rockies. He is 0-for-5 with two walks and two strikeouts through seven plate appearances, but the contact has been better than the line, including balls hit at 99.4 and 101.6 mph.
Jake McCarthy leads the Rockies on Fridays with a .328 average, .949 OPS and .597 slugging percentage through 18 Friday games. His seven doubles and five stolen bases also lead the team on Fridays.
In a late-night tilt at Oracle Park, tonight’s game may come down not to who creates the most chances, but to who makes the most of them.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - AUGUST 08: Seth Lugo #67 of the Kansas City Royals pitches in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Kauffman Stadium on August 08, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Amy Kontras/Amy Kontras/Getty Images) | Amy Kontras/Getty Images
Before the 2025 season even came to a close, there were a few things people around baseball knew.
The Royals needed outfield help.
The Royals coveted Taylor Ward
The Angels were finally willing to part with him at a price the Royals could pay.
The Royals “had depth” at starting pitching
Quickly, the rumored trade became Kris Bubic for Taylor Ward. It was only a matter of time. But then something weird happened. On November 19th, Taylor Ward was traded to a 2024 Wild Card team that had missed in 2025 for a pitcher who had shown flashes of brilliance but had been hurt far too often. Except it was to the Orioles for Grayson Rodriguez instead of to the Royals for Kris Bubic.
Rumor has it that the Angels had actually agreed to the latter deal but backed out of it when the Orioles offered Rodriguez. As a Royals fan, it’s easy to assume the Angels ended up making the better deal. But Bubic has actually been worth far more than Rodriguez this season as both have continued to deal with injuries; at least Bubic had a handful of high-quality starts before his problems began. Rodriguez has a 7.20 ERA thanks to a lack of command or control this season, leading to walks and home runs aplenty.
It’s difficult to say whether Taylor Ward would have been enough to keep the Royals afloat this year. It seems unlikely given that injuries overwhelmed the team after the rough start. But he wouldn’t have hurt the team. So, yeah, I’m hoping for a little revenge in Anaheim of Los Angeles tonight.
There’s very little in the way of positive results for Rodriguez so far this season. He throws a four-seamer that averages 96 MPH, a changeup, a slider, and a curveball. His changeup gets above-average whiffs, and that’s about it. All of his pitches get hit hard. He throws the fastball, which grades well even if the results aren’t there, more than half the time. The changeup mostly gets thrown to lefties, the slider mostly to righties, and the curveball barely gets used either way.
Seth Lugo, the Royals starter for tonight, couldn’t be more different if he tried. We all know what he’s about, but let’s check out the pitching summary page for him as a refresher anyway.
His summary includes more pitches than I’ve ever seen listed before. It’s just too bad there’s so much dang blue. He throws every single breaking pitch I’ve ever heard of, minus the screwball and knuckle-curve. And for all I know, the knuckle-curve gets folded into the normal curveball there. He also throws every variety of fastball. He doesn’t throw a splitter, a palmball, a vulcan-change, a kick-change, a knuckleball, or a forkball. And you almost have to wonder why he hasn’t folded variations on all of those pitches into his repertoire as well. Or, well, maybe he has, and he just doesn’t throw them often enough for them to be included on this already number-littered image.
Lineups
Facing a right-hander for the first time in nearly a week, the Royals have put Carter Jensen and his .299 OBP back in the leadoff spot. For what it’s worth, he leads the team with 4.12 pitches per plate appearance, 20th in MLB. He’s also in the 75th percentile for chase and 61st percentile in walk rate. The problem is that he’s only in the 19th percentile in whiff rate and 10th percentile in strikeout rate. So, basically, there are arguments on both sides of him batting leadoff. Since he enjoys it, the at-bats can only help his development, and wins and losses don’t matter at this point, I’m all for letting him do it.
With Salvador Perez out of the lineup after Wednesday’s injury, Carter Jensen is back behind the dish, and Josh Rojas will be the Designated Hitter. You all know I love me some Josh Rojas: Designated Hitter. Nick Loftin, who might have the least raw power on the team (it’s between him, Tyler Tolbert, and Luke Maile; the other two aren’t in the lineup), will bat cleanup.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 22: Justin Wrobleski #70 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks to the dugout prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Monday, June 22, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Turner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The battle between the Dodgers and Brewers shifts to national television on Saturday afternoon, with a pair of All-Star starting pitchers on the mound on Fox.
Jacob Misiorowski is the National League Cy Young Award favorite, leading the majors in ERA (1.76), xERA (1.93), strikeouts (204), strikeout rate (40.6 percent) and strikeout-minus-walk rate (34.6 percent).
Justin Wrobleski is trying to turn around a rough three start stretch during which he has allowed nine home runs, leading to 16 runs allowed (15 earned) in 13 2/3 innings.
Joe Davis will call Saturday’s game for Fox, in the booth with John Smoltz and with reporter Ken Rosenthal also on the broadcast.
Aug 8, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Athletics pitcher Gage Jump (61) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
After getting the day off yesterday, the Athletics are back in action tonight, opening a three-game weekend series against the Texas Rangers. The A’s enter the series with the worst record in baseball, a record highlighted by their dreadful 21-39 home mark—the second straight season in which the Green and Gold have failed to win games at Sutter Health Park.
A’s left-hander Gage Jump will face the Rangers for the first time in his young career, seeking to end his team’s losing streak for the second straight start. The 23-year-old enters his 15th major league appearance with a 5-7 record, a 4.46 ERA, a 1.46 WHIP and 84 strikeouts over 72 2/3 innings.
Over his last four starts, Jump has alternated between good and bad performances. In his most recent outing against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, the southpaw earned the win after allowing two runs on six hits over six innings while striking out 11. His previous start, which was his most recent home performance, did not go as well. Facing the Detroit Tigers, Jump allowed six runs on four hits and six walks in 3 2/3 innings.
That pattern could point toward another difficult outing from Jump tonight, which would put the Athletics in a tough spot. Following two consecutive poor starts from other members of the rotation, the Green and Gold need Jump to deliver a second straight quality start. The less the team has to rely on its league-worst bullpen, the better its chances of winning.
Here’s how the Athletics’ lineup stacks up for the series opener against their divisional foe:
The A’s lineup has been decimated by injuries, with sluggers Shea Langeliers, Nick Kurtz and Brent Rooker all on the injured list. That said, this lineup gives the A’s their best chance to score some runs and win tonight.
Third baseman Zack Gelof returned from injury like he never left, hitting home runs in two of his first three games back. Right fielder Lawrence Butler is also heating up, looking to make it three straight games with a home run.
If the A’s want to win today, they must get contributions up and down the order. Shortstop Jacob Wilson, batting second, needs to show more patience by waiting for pitches he can drive rather than swinging at everything. His aggressive approach is limiting his ability to make an impact, contributing to a batting average well below what he posted during his impressive rookie season last year.
Meanwhile, Kumar Rocker will make the start for Texas. The 26-year-old right-hander enters his 23rd appearance and 21st start of the season with a 4-9 record, a 4.46 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP and 103 strikeouts over 111 innings. Rocker struggled in his last start against the Baltimore Orioles, taking the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits in just three innings.
This will be Rocker’s third start against the Athletics this season. He faced the Green and Gold twice in April, going 0-1 and allowing two runs in each outing. The current Athletics roster has hit .378 against Rocker in a limited 43 plate appearances, reaching base 19 times on 14 hits and 5 walks. Will that success continue this evening, or will Rocker find a way to neutralize the Athletics’ offense?
Having been shut out last night in Anaheim, the Rangers will look to push runs across against the A’s struggling pitching staff. Veterans Brandon Nimmo and Corey Seager are threats from the left side of the plate, while first baseman Jake Burger, who hit three home runs when the Rangers came to Sacramento earlier this season, will look to do more damage at this hitter-friendly ballpark.
Let’s get back to our winning ways and send the Rangers to their fourth straight defeat. Let’s go A’s!
Apr 15, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker (80) delivers a pitch against the Athletics during the first inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Juan Soto, the Mets' biggest bat and their biggest star, has been out with a calf injury since late July, but wants to return to the team before the end of the 2026 season.
With New York's playoff chances dwindling after being sellers at the trade deadline, it would be understandable if Soto was shut down for the rest of the year as he recovers, but the Mets' lone All-Star this season vows to be back with this team.
“We are playing really good baseball right now,” Soto told MLB.com ahead of Friday's series opener with the Nationals. “Why not try to rejoin this team? It would be really fun. It would be great for me and the team. [I want to] finish the season strong and keep the momentum for next year, too.”
Entering play Friday, the Mets are 5-3 since the Aug. 3 trade deadline and are getting major contributions from the young kids and some recent call-ups.
But New York could use an infusion of Soto. Before this latest injury, Soto was having a Soto-like season. However, being available has been a challenge for Soto. The slugger has missed 38 games entering Friday between his first stint on the IL with a right calf strain and this current injury to his left leg.
Soto called his 2026 injuries "tough" and hopes to learn from this experience and stay healthy for his team moving forward.
“It’s tough for me to lose so many games. I’ve never been on this side of it,” Soto said. “I think it’s good for me -- for my career -- because it will teach me a lot of things. I have to adjust in my training [and] conditioning to keep moving forward in a positive way. I have to learn about my body a little bit more, learning how it works and go from there.”
In 84 games this season, Soto has slashed .283/.408/.539 with 21 home runs and 52 RBI en route to another All-Star Game selection.
And while the Mets have yet to give a timeline for Soto's return, the outfielder was doing pregame workouts at Citi Field, in good spirits.
SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 08: Peter Lambert #38 of the Houston Astros pitches during the game between the Houston Astros and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Saturday, August 8, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ryan Levy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
TONIGHT’S GAME: The first-place Houston Astros (62-60) will open a huge nine-game homestand tonight as they welcome in their division rival, the Seattle Mariners (57-65), for a three-game weekend series at Daikin Park.
RHP Peter Lambert (8-6, 3.09 ERA), the Astros most consistent starter this season, will start the series opener for Houston opposite Astros nemesis RHP George Kirby (8-9, 3.68 ERA) and the Mariners.
HALL OF FAME WEEKEND: The Astros are celebrating Hall of Fame Weekend beginning tonight at Daikin Park. Astros legends Alan Ashby and the late Phil Garner will be inducted into the Astros Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony tomorrow, scheduled for 5:35 p.m. Ashby and members of the Garner family will be available to the media in the press conference room at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow.
THE TURNAROUND: After a slow start to the season, the Astros are 42-29 since May 22, which is the second-best record in the AL in that span. On that date, the Astros were 20-31, 11 games under, which is their low water mark for the season.
THE LAMBO: Today’s Astros starter RHP Peter Lambert leads the club in wins (8), starts (20), innings (113.2) and strikeouts (111)…among AL pitchers with at least 110 IP, Lambert ranks seventh in opponent average (.208) and 10th in ERA. A minor league signing by Houston this offseason, Lambert pitched last year for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the NPB, posting a 3.98 ERA (55ER/124.1IP) with 111 strikeouts in 23 starts.
FAMILIAR FOE: RHP George Kirby has been at his best against the Astros in his career, going 6-1 with a 2.14 ERA (15ER/63IP) in 11 regular season starts opposite Houston, numbers that do not include his 7.0 shutout innings in the 2022 NLDS. The Astros with the most career success vs. Kirby: 3B Isaac Paredes (.438, 7×16, 3RBI), SS Jeremy Peña (.300, 6×20, 4RBI) and C Yainer Diaz (.273, 6×22, RBI).
VS. THE MARINERS: It’s been three months since the Astros last played the Mariners, as they last saw them in a four-game series in Houston from May 11-14. The Astros have gone 1-7 against the Mariners this season with five games left to play.
ROAD WARRIORS: The Astros closed out their six-game road trip on Wednesday with a win, giving them a 3-3 trip thru San Diego (1-2) and San Francisco (2-1). Houston has gone 25-16 (.610) on their last five road trips and are 31-22 (.585) on the road since going 1-9 on their first road trip of the season. Houston is 32-31 overall on the road in 2026.
ON THE MEND: The Astros have four players on the Major League Injured List. Here are updates on three:
RHP Mike Burrows (rt. elbow neuritis) is scheduled to pitch for Triple A Sugar Land tonight in what will be his first affiliate rehab start since the injury.
IF Carlos Correa (lt. ankle tendon injury) has began a hitting progression while also participating in light on-field baseball activity and a running progression.
OF Brice Matthews (lt. knee sprain) is participating in on-field baseball activity and a running progression.
THAT’S OFFENSIVE: The Astros lead the AL in SLG (.411), while ranking second in OPS (.730 and home runs (162). In the Majors, the Astros rank fourth in homers, trailing only the Nationals (177), Yankees (169), and Braves (164).
MVP-CALIBER: Yordan Alvarez holds at least a share of the lead in all AL Triple Crown categories, ranking first in average (.322), first in RBI (87) and tied for first in HR (35). Additionally, he leads MLB in OPS (1.057), OBP (.436), SLG (.621), and TB (270). In the AL, he ranks first in hits (140), XBH (60) and runs (80), and is second in BB (84).
CHIPPING IN: A couple Astros are on mini hot streaks, including OF Taylor Trammell, who’s posted a .991 OPS (.400 OBP/.591 SLG) with 11 runs, one double, one triple, four home runs, eight RBI and nine walks in his last 14 games (since July 26). RF Cam Smith is batting .386 (17×44) with three home runs, eight RBI and a 1.095 OPS in his last 12 games dating back to July 29.
PEÑA’S PALS: SS Jeremy Peña will host kids from Hidalgo Little League tonight for August’s Peña’s Pals…in its fourth year, Peña’s Pals is a program developed by Peña in partnership with the Astros Foundation. The program celebrates kids and their development in academics, character building and making healthy choices.
HADERADE: LHP Josh Hader has been stellar since returning from injury in early June, going 4-1 with a 0.96 ERA (3ER/28IP), 38 strikeouts, a .106 opponent batting average (10×94) and a 0.71 WHIP, while also converting all 17 of his save opportunities, through 29 appearances.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2020 – The Astros explode for nine runs in the 1st in an 11-1 win over the Mariners in Houston. In his first at-bat of the 2020 season, DH Yordan Alvarez hits a three- run homer in the opening frame, which ended up as his only homer on the season. 1B Yuli Gurriel also homers in the inning, going back-to-back with Alvarez.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Friday, August 14, 7:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KTRH 740AM; KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 12: Justin Foscue #14 of the Texas Rangers reacts after hitting a single during the eighth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 12, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ryan Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for August 14, 2026 against the A’s: starting pitchers are Kumar Rocker for the Rangers and Gage Jump for the A’s.
Texas will try to get the Angels funk off of them and break their three game losing streak. There’s a lefty going so the Rangers have the righty-heavy lineup out. Kumar Rocker will hopefully cover first base tonight if the occasion demands it.
The lineup:
Langford — LF
Nimmo — RF
Seager — SS
Duran — 3B
Burger — 1B
Foscue — DH
Freeman — 2B
Diaz — C
Carter — CF
8:40 p.m. Central start time. The game is a pick ‘em.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 14: Cody Freeman #39 of the Texas Rangers reacts before playing against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on June 14, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Texas Rangers have recalled infielder Cody Freeman and purchased the contract of Marco Gonzales from AAA Round Rock. To make room on the active roster for the pair, the team has optioned infielder Cam Cauley and pitcher Ben Peoples to AAA Round Rock. To make room for Gonzales on the 40 man roster, the Rangers designated pitcher Luis Curvelo for assignment.
After Jacob deGrom went just two innings yesterday, the Rangers need someone in the pen who can give them length. Peoples has options so he goes down, and Gonzales returns to the Rangers for his second stint with the club this season.
The motivation behind the decision to swap out Cody Freeman for Cam Cauley isn’t quite as clear. Freeman was in the mix for an Opening Day roster spot, but has missed much of the year do to back and neck issues. The Rangers reportedly like the energy that Freeman brings, however, and with the lineup currently feeling very flat, it may be that he’s viewed as being able to provide a shot in the arm.
Curvelo, meanwhile, will end up on the waiver wire, and I’m guessing he’ll clear waivers. He has regressed from last year, with a 9.58 major league ERA and 8.42 AAA ERA, and has been both wild and homer prone.
Apr 7, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby (68) throws during the third inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
I have recapped literally hundreds of Mariners games over the years and I’m not sure there’s one I’ve approached with more dread than tonight’s. Like, woke up this morning with a stone in my stomach, counting down the hours (derogatory), looming final/dentist appointment/“we have to talk” kind of dread anticipation. So, that’s fun.
Lineups:
News:
If you missed it yesterday, Colt Emerson was optioned to Tacoma; super-utility infielder Brock Rodden, who is in the lineup tonight, will take his place. But Emerson won’t be going to Tacoma; he’ll instead be going to the IL with the same wrist issue that’s been bothering him since before his call-up. The team has not ruled out the possibility of season-ending surgery, per Adam Jude of the Times.
In encouraging injury news, Matt Brash was with the team today as he nears a return to play. He’s scheduled to throw a bullpen tomorrow; after that he’ll progress to throwing to live hitters, and then to a rehab assignment.
Tonight’s game information:
Game time: 5:10 PT
TV: Mariners TV with Aaron Goldsmith, Dave Valle and Jay Buhner
Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Gary Hill Jr. and Ryan Rowland-Smith
Regretfully, there is no info on which innings Buhner will be on TV vs. radio, so let me offer you this vintage DivishTweet™ in penance:
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 31: Wilmer Flores #4 of the New York Mets celebrates after hitting a twelfth inning walk-off home run against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field on July 31, 2015 in Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Mets defeated the Nationals 2-1 in 12 innings. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I know what you’re thinking. Fridays against the Nationals at Citi Field. Isn’t that a bit of a narrow category for a “best of” list? That’s a tremendously fair point, but for whatever reason, it seems a disproportionate number of the most memorable games in recent Mets history have come on Fridays against the Nats — whether jumpstarting hot streaks, announcing the arrival of new stars, or simply providing a moment of joy in otherwise bleak times.
There are a variety of good options to choose from, as the Mets have won six of their last eight and 14 of their last 22 Friday contests at home against Washington. I’ve selected a quartet that I believe stand above the rest as true classics. With another weekend series with the Nats upon us in 2026, it felt fitting to revisit the unique circumstances that led to these games, the actual on-field events that went down, and the legacy they’ve left behind. So without further ado, here are the top Friday nights at Citi Field vs. the Nats (so far):
4. deGame – April 23, 2021
Setting the scene: After over 18 months of covid-induced absence (not counting cardboard cutouts), fans were finally back in the stands at Citi Field — but things weren’t exactly back to normal. Seating was spaced out, tickets were limited, and the sport was settling into a transitional season before the expanded playoffs and universal DH, after the automatic extra-inning runner, with seven-inning doubleheaders and mounting concern about “sticky stuff.” But the Mets had promise, fresh off the acquisition and long-term extension of Francisco Lindor, out to a respectable 8-7 start, and featuring a two-time Cy Young Award winner who only seemed to get better with age. Thus far in 2021, Jacob deGrom held a 0.45 ERA with 35 strikeouts and three walks over three starts. As he warmed up in the bullpen before this Friday night start against the Nationals (only the seventh home game and third home night game since fans returned to the stadium), he felt so good that it made him “a little nervous.” So we have a small but remarkably hungry crowd of 8,130 fans starved for something good to cheer, and a one-of-one ace nervous about just how good he might be. Sounds like a pretty good recipe.
Play ball: deGrom set the tone with a three-pitch strikeout of leadoff hitter Andrew Stevenson, each offering coming in at over 99 mph. One would think it could only get better for the Nats from that point on, but…not exactly. After five innings, they had struck out nine times and reached base only twice (on a well-placed grounder and a misplayed fly ball). The game was still scoreless, but that changed in the bottom of the frame when deGrom himself came to bat against Erick Fedde, slashing an RBI double to left and later scoring on a single by Brandon Nimmo.
The right-hander kept cruising, striking out the side in the sixth and seventh innings to reach a total of 15 on the night. Unfortunately, his pitch count was also climbing. With 92 pitches thrown by the end of the seventh, it was clear that deGrom’s only shot at a complete game was quick and soft contact, tricky for someone who hadn’t allowed a ball in play for two innings. But in his video-game-like way, deGrom miraculously managed an eight-pitch eighth. When he appeared on deck in the bottom of the inning, the fans scattered throughout the crowd made their voices heard. And, of course, he rewarded them with another single. He needed just nine pitches to cruise through the ninth, stepping on first base to complete the final 3-1 putout and seal the second complete-game shutout of his career. deGrom had retired 19 in a row. He had struck out 15 batters, none of them in the final two innings after he seamlessly shifted to pitching to contact. He had allowed only two baserunners, and he had reached base twice himself.
The legacy: Game Score is a metric developed by Bill James that attempts to quantify a pitcher’s performance with a single number. deGrom’s gem had a Game Score of 98. In Mets history, the only pitching performance of nine innings or fewer to have a higher Game Score is David Cone’s 19-strikeout shutout of the Phillies on October 6, 1991.
deGrom generated 29 whiffs, the third-most in a game by any Met in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008) with the top two spots also occupied by deGrom. He became the first (and only) Met to strike out 15 or more batters in the 21st century. Only 17 pitchers have recorded a game with 15 or more strikeouts and 2 or fewer baserunners allowed, and the only one to do it since deGrom was Jacob Misirowski on June 12. In other words, this game’s legacy is that of one of the greatest pitching performances in baseball history.
3. Harvey’s Better – April 19, 2013
Setting the scene: He had only made 13 major league starts, but Matt Harvey was already becoming something of a phenomenon. After an impressive rookie showing in the second half of 2012, Harvey burst out of the gate with a trio of gems in his sophomore season, allowing two runs over 22 innings of work while striking out 25. Mets fans were dreaming big on the 24-year-old right-hander, but now he faced perhaps his biggest challenge yet: A meeting with fellow 24-year-old sensation Stephen Strasburg. A No. 1 overall draft pick who had made an All-Star team and started Game 1 of a postseason series the year prior, Strasburg in a sense represented what Harvey might hope to become.
Play ball: The Mets got to Strasburg early, scoring a pair of unearned runs with the help of an error and a wild pitch in the bottom of the first, but the Nats’ ace quickly found his groove. Harvey allowed only one hit in the first five frames, and that was a double to Strasburg in the top of the third. The score held at 2-0 Mets until the bottom of the sixth, when Ike Davis led off with a first-pitch moonshot to left-center field. Two batters later, Lucas Duda launched a homer to right-center.
That’s when it started, rising from a faint, unintelligible rumble to an unmistakable, unified chorus: chants of “Harvey’s Better,” echoing throughout the stands and piercing the audio of the SNY broadcast as it displayed a split-screen of Strasburg, trying to regroup on the mound, and Harvey, waiting in the dugout to continue his masterpiece. Harvey would end up allowing a run in the seventh, but hardly anyone seemed to care. A fanbase longing for signs of life after four straight fourth-place finishes had finally found it. Their prospect looked like an ace. Their ace looked like a star. Their star had won the night. Dreaming big on Harvey was no longer a fool’s hope.
The legacy: Matt Harvey’s stardom flashed and faded far sooner than Mets fans would have hoped, but at its peak it burned as bright as any Mets player’s has. The “Harvey’s Better” game seemed to officially announce his arrival and kick off that memorable rollercoaster ride, one which led him to an All-Star Game start three months later and effectively ended with a World Series start thirty months later, all occurring on that same Citi Field mound.
Though their successes took on different forms — and though they certainly had different styles on the mound — Harvey and Strasburg are in some ways forever linked. The two represented a generation of starting pitchers at a threshold between eras, ushering in a new wave of high-velocity hurlers who emerged into an environment less equipped to handle the growing health risks associated with that velocity. Both pitchers underwent Tommy John surgery, but Strasburg adhered to strict innings limits — even amidst a playoff run — while Harvey blew past them in his pursuit of a World Series title. Assessing those choices is something of an impossible exercise. Strasburg played the long game, and Harvey chased greatness when he saw the opportunity. When Strasburg was on his way to a World Series MVP Award in 2019, Harvey was on the Los Angeles Angels, pitching to an ERA above seven. The question of who won the actual pitchers’ duel between Harvey and Strasburg — the one that lasted almost a decade, and not just on that Friday night in April — is one that defines a unique period of pitching in baseball history.
Setting the scene: Between the magical National League Champions in 2015 and the 101-win powerhouse squad in 2022, there were the 2019 Mets, riding the relatively-intact rotation of the mid-2010s and the youthful energy of a new offensive core. They missed the playoffs, in large part held back by their unreliable bullpen. But for a period of several weeks that summer, the ’19 group was firing on all cylinders. They entered this series-opener against Washington having won 13 of their last 14 games, including six straight, carrying them from nine games below .500 to four games above. In the middle of that stretch, they also made the surprising decision to buy at the deadline, adding All-Star Marcus Stroman, who was set to make his home debut opposite Strasburg. To make the stakes even higher, the Nats were sitting in the top NL Wild Card spot, 3.5 games above the Mets.
Play ball: It seemed a pitchers’ duel was in the making, as Stroman and Strasburg traded zeros for three innings. But the Nats got to Stroman, with Anthony Rendon tripling in a run and 20-year-old Juan Soto clobbering a two-run shot to put the Mets in a 3-0 hole. The resilient lineup instantly responded, with Pete Alonso and J.D. Davis hitting back-to-back homers in the bottom of the frame to even the score. Stroman found himself in a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the top of the sixth, but struck out Strasburg swinging — his ninth strikeout of the night — and walked off the mound to a roar from the raucous crowd. The Mets had all the momentum, but the Nats stole it right back, putting the Mets down 6-3 entering the bottom of the ninth via an Anthony Rendon homer and run-scoring wild pitch.
With their backs against the wall and their winning streak in jeopardy, the Mets mounted yet another rally. Davis pulled a double over the third-base bag and Wilson Ramos lined a base hit. That brought Todd Frazier to the plate as the tying run. The veteran torqued a moonshot down the left-field line, and the only question was whether the blast would stay fair. It tucked itself just inside the foul pole as the Mets leapt out of their dugout, Alonso jumping up and down in foul territory. After singles by Joe Panik (playing in his first game as a Met) and Amed Rosario, Michael Conforto scorched a ball that flew beyond the reach of right fielder Adam Eaton to notch his first career walk-off hit. The streak stayed alive. The same cannot be said for Conforto’s jersey.
The legacy: The 2019 Mets are something of a forgotten group, but their distinct “LFGM” attitude reached its unbridled peak that night in August, when their postseason hopes seemed more tangible than ever before. They won the next night on an unforgettable pinch-hit homer from Luis Guillorme (his first in the big leagues), but they lost the finale on Sunday afternoon. Somewhere deep down, I’ve always believed that if they’d managed to sweep that series from the Nationals, it could have been them instead of Washington still playing in late October. Such sweeps have been known to have that effect for the Mets, which brings us to…
1. Wilmer Flores Night – July 31, 2015
Setting the scene: It would be difficult to script a more action-packed homestand leading up to 7:10 pm on July 31, 2015. Eight days earlier, the Mets’ injury-riddled lineup was nearly no-hit by Clayton Kershaw. Seven days earlier, the team promoted first-round draft pick Michael Conforto and made a mid-game trade to bring Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe to Queens while their starting pitcher watched his wife give birth on FaceTime from the dugout. Six days earlier, Conforto went 4-for-4 and fellow newcomer Johnson homered in a 15-2 rout. Five days earlier, they broke Zack Greinke’s 45 2/3-inning scoreless streak before winning thanks to a walk-off hit from yet another newcomer in Uribe. Four days earlier, they swung a trade for two-time All-Star Tyler Clippard on an off-day. Three days earlier, Clippard made his debut by closing out a Mets win after Noah Syndergaard took a perfect game into the seventh. Two days earlier, word broke of another mid-game trade which would send Wilmer Flores, who had been a part of the organization since he was 16 years old, in a trade package to Milwaukee. He shed tears on the field as the crowd applauded him in what appeared to be his final game as a Met — except that it wasn’t. The deal was never completed, and Flores, suddenly having earned the sympathy of the larger Mets universe, was still in orange and blue. One day earlier, the team blew a six-run lead in their most devastating loss of the season. And just hours earlier, minutes before the trade deadline, they swung a deal to acquire Yoenis Céspedes.
All of that chaos brings us to the night in question, when the Mets kicked off a three-game set with the Nationals, who sat exactly three games above them in the NL East standings. The big three (Harvey-deGrom-Syndergaard) were lined up. Travis d’Arnaud was returning from the injured list. Céspedes was en route. And Wilmer Flores was batting sixth and playing second base.
Play ball: From the second play of the night, Flores’ burgeoning status as a folk hero became quite evident. He made a diving stop on a Yunel Escobar grounder, getting to his feet and firing to first as the crowd offered support far beyond the typical volume for a 4-3 putout. When Flores stepped to the plate for the first time in the bottom of the second, he received a standing ovation, though Escobar returned the favor by retiring him on a nifty barehanded play. When Flores returned to the plate with two out and two on in the bottom of the fourth, he ripped a liner off Gio Gonzalez that proved too much for Ian Desmond to handle, bouncing into the outfield as Uribe came home with the first run of the game.
Matt Harvey, in a largely-forgotten performance (reasonably overshadowed by the evening’s other memorable events), carried a perfect game into the sixth. He pitched all the way into the eighth, finally yielding a run when Escobar got revenge for his earlier robbery by drilling a two-out, two-strike, 98-mph fastball up the middle. The newly-acquired Clippard entered into a jam, but froze Jayson Werth on a 3-2 fastball thanks to a sweet frame by the returning d’Arnaud. The 1-1 tie held through the ninth. It held through the 10th. It held through the 11th, an inning which included a Bryce Harper ejection after yet another d’Arnaud frame. It held until the bottom of the 12th, when Flores came to bat for the fifth time.
“Well, this game began with the Wilmer Flores standing ovation chorus,” Gary Cohen said on the SNY broadcast as Flores stepped into the batter’s box, the crowd chanting his name as they had all night. “This is beautiful,” Ron Darling said. “All you gotta do, Wilmer, is hit it out of the park.” 42 seconds later, Flores was rounding first base as the baseball sailed majestically over the left-center-field wall. As Howie Rose later put it, “I swear when that ball went over the fence it turned into pixie dust.”
The legacy: One day later, Céspedes joined the Mets for yet another win over the Nats. Two days later, the Mets completed the sweep on national television thanks to a three-homer inning that sent Citi Field into a Shea-like frenzy. A month later, the Mets all but sealed the NL East title with yet another sweep, this time in Washington. Two and a half months later, Flores was playing shortstop and batting eighth in the ballpark’s first World Series game.
That storybook night infused the 2015 team with a sense of heart and purpose that they never really lost — at least not until they actually lost, with Flores taking a called third strike to end the Fall Classic. It infused the fanbase with a special love for a relatively uncelebrated utility infielder, and that love still hasn’t gone away (if you don’t believe me, try starting a “Wilmer Flores” chant anywhere in the stadium today and see what happens). It was three hours and 59 minutes which felt more like a fairytale than a baseball game. Those moments only happen once in a blue moon. And oh, by the way, there was one of those that night, too.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 08: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees pitches during game against the Atlanta Braves at Yankee Stadium on August 08, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees ended their homestand on a 4-2 run, winning series against both the Braves and Mariners. Now they’ll look to keep that momentum going on a road trip through a couple of AL East destinations, beginning tonight with a bout against the Blue Jays. Toronto has been rather disappointing this season, following up their pennant run with a 59-64 record that sits them in fourth place in the East, though thanks to the increasingly-embarrassing third Wild Card field they’re only two games out of a playoff spot. There’s still four teams ahead of them for said spot but the Jays are hardly going to roll over, especially against a bitter rival.
Gerrit Cole gets the ball looking to start the series off right, and he’s been on a strong run since the calendar flipped over to July. Over his last seven starts he’s pitched 43 innings and allowed just 13 runs while striking out 53, good for a 2.72 ERA in that span. The ace is coming off of a strong outing his last time out, having pitched seven strong with two runs allowed against Atlanta in an eventual Yankees win. If there was an accolade for second-half All-Stars, Cole would be in line to earn one with how he’s rounded into form shaking off a rusty late start in his first year back from Tommy John surgery. For now, he’s just looking to keep the line moving as the Yankee rotation has been carrying the team lately.
Shane Bieber goes opposite Cole, and it has been a season to forget for the former Guardians star pitcher. Bieber, in his second season north of the border, owns a 5.48 ERA in nine starts this year thanks in no small part to a horrendous outing he had on July 28th against Washington where he walked six batters and couldn’t escape the first inning. Bieber kept the runs down in his next outing, going 5.1 innings with only one coming home, but he allowed plenty of contact totaling nine hits and followed that up with his most recent outing where he got tagged for five runs on a pair of homers over 5.2 innings.
George Lombard Jr. continues to shuffle around in the lineup, sliding down to the nine-hole a day after batting fifth in the finale against Seattle. Trent Grisham will lead off with Ben Rice and Spencer Jones filling out the top three. The deadline acquisitions Luis García Jr. and Heliot Ramos flank Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the middle of the order, while Ryan McMahon and Austin Wells round things out ahead of Lombard.
How to watch
Location: Rogers Centre — Toronto, ON
First pitch: 7:15 pm ET
TV broadcast: Apple TV
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY), SN590 THE FAN (TOR)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 29: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves in action against the New York Mets in game two of a double header at Citi Field on July 29, 2026 in New York City. The Braves defeated the Mets 1-0. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves are fresh off a win to face off against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
