DENVER, CO - AUGUST 4: Liam Hicks #34 of the Tampa Bay Rays hits a grand slam in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 4, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was an impressive showing for the Rays offense last night, as Junior Caminero’s two homers and Jonathan Aranda’s four hits led the way to a 13-9 victory.
But tonight it was all about the brand new battery, as trade deadline acquisitions Freddy Peralta and and Liam Hicks both made their Rays debuts at pitcher and catcher, respectively. On the other side it was Gabriel Hughes, with just four major league starts under his belt coming into tonight.
Peralta got into some trouble immediately, giving up two hits out of the gate in the bottom of the first, but a double play and a strikeout on an elevated heater to catcher Hunter Goodman limited the damage to just one run. Whether is was just nerves or not to start the game, he recovered nicely to pitch a clean second.
Things were quiet until the top of the third when Cedric Mullins opened the Rays offense with the team’s first hit of the night. After a Richie Palacios walk and a Taylor Walls bunt single, the bases were loaded with no outs. Hughes promptly struck out Yandy Diaz, but Aranda followed up with a game tying walk. Caminero gifted Hughes another strikeout, and it looked like Hughes was going to get out of it.
Not only was it the first grand slam of Hicks’ young career, it was the first for the Rays this season.
Unfortunately though, the Rays couldn’t quite coast after that, as the Rockies came roaring back in the bottom half. Jordan Beck led off the inning with a triple off the top of the right field wall. Ezequiel Tovar drove in the Rockies’ second run and two batters later, they delivered a big blow of their own:
And that wouldn’t be all, as the Rockies scored two more in the fourth from a two run homer off the bat of Willi Castro for six unanswered runs. Peralta wouldn’t finish the inning. To put it nicely, it was not a good debut for the Rays’ shiny new starter.
Hughes, on the other hand, settled in nicely after the grand slam, retiring the next 7 batters he faced. For the Rays, it was Cam Booser who was tasked with keeping the deficit at two, and did so for the next one-and-a-third innings. Casey Legumina held the Rockies down for the next two.
Despite having two on in the sixth, seventh and eighth, the Rays were unable to score, as Brennan Bernardino, Parker Mushinski and Juan Mejia held the Rays scoreless. But it was old foe Jordan Romano who would cough up the lead in the ninth, as an Aranda single drove in two, tying things up at seven.
Steven Matz came back out for the bottom of the ninth after pitching a clean eighth when Kevin Kelly came in to finish the frame. After fielding a few comebackers, they were on to extras!
The Rays pulled ahead in the 11th after Walls’ second bunt of the day (third attempt) moved auto-runner Ben Williamson to third. A wild pitch from Nick Frasso brought him in. Diaz broke out of his slump to inside out a double off of the right-center wall, then Caminero added a much needed insurance run on a ground ball single to center. Closer Bryan Baker came in to seal the victory in the ninth, recording his 32nd save of the season.
The story was the bullpen for the Rays, as they allowed only three baserunners in five-and-two-thirds innings. Hicks said it best in his post game interview when he described the unit as ‘A Bunch Of Nasty Guys.’
The Rays will go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon as Nick Martinez takes the ball opposite Tomoyuki Sugano for a 3:10 PM eastern start time.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 04: Daulton Varsho #18 of the Houston Astros and George Springer #4 of the Toronto Blue Jays converse before the game at Daikin Park on August 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Blue Jays 2 Astros 7
Not a good night. The Jays lost the game and Trey Yesavage came out the game with, what the Jays are calling left knee discomfort. It looked like more than discomfort. He was warming up for the third inning, and his left knee seemed to buckle on two warm up pitches in a row. Trey said there was a ‘little pinch’ in his knee. He is getting an MRI tomorrow. Trey had thrown 2 innings allowing just 1 walk, before the injury.
I’m not going to try to diagnose him from the couch, but I’m guessing he won’t be making his next start.
Beyond that, we scored just 2 runs. And, when your bullpen has to throw six innings of a game, 2 runs isn’t going to be enough.
Chad Dallas turned out to be the bulk man and he gave up the bulk of the runs. 6 earned in 3 innings, on 7 hits, 4 walks with 3 strikeouts.
Braydon Fisher, Brendon Little (giving up the 7th run) and Mason Fluharty each pitched an inning.
On offense, we only had five hits. Myles Straw had two of them (including a triple, picking up our only RBI and scored our other run on a wild pitch, which, at that point tied the game in the fifth inning). George Springer, Alejandro Kirk and Andrés Giménez had one hit
Other than that, the Jays threw Daulton Varsho at the plate, a nice relay from Davis Schneider to Andrés Giménez to Alejandro Kirk. And Ernie Clement made a couple of nice plays at second.
Varsho also had a nice sliding catch in the outfield. We’ve seen that enough when he did it for us.
Jays of the Day: Straw (0.26 WPA) and Yesavage (0.10).
Other Award: Dallas (-0.50) and Lukes (-0.09).
Tomorrow we have a day game, a 2:00 Eastern start. We get our first look at new Blue Jay Jameson Taillon (2-6, 5.92) with Hunter Brown (3-1, 3.42 in 10 starts) going for the Astros.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 04: Troy Melton #52 of the Detroit Tigers delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on August 04, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Ng/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Tigers started their post-Gage Workman era with a three-game series in Seattle against the Mariners after a day off on Monday. The pitching was magnificent and the hitters more than did their part, especially late, as the Tigers rolled to an easy 8-0 victory in the series opener.
The Tigers’ starting pitcher was Troy Melton. The young right-hander was coming off a sensational performance against the Orioles in which he pitched seven shutout innings and giving up a mere trio of hits, walking two and whiffing five. He had a fantastic July: five starts, 29 1/3 innings, three earned runs, and one single home run surrendered. Curiously, by WHIP (walks + hits per inning pitched), it was actually his worst month, as his per-month WHIP went 0.947, 0.800, 1.023 (after missing all of April). I know that’s a cherry-picked statistic, but it’s my recap and I’ll do what I like.
Emerson Hancock took the mound for the Mariners, and he’s been solid so far. He had a great seven-shutout-inning start himself in July, at home against the Blue Jays, and his WHIP for the season was a meagre 1.042 coming into tonight. He made his debut in 2022, and the biggest thing that jumps out about his statistics this year is a significant uptick in strikeouts per nine innings: last year it was a pedestrian 6.4, but this year it’s a more-robust 8.3.
After walking the leadoff hitter in the first, Melton really dialed-in his stuff, efficiently mowing down the Mariners. His four-seam fastball was hitting 97 mph, and he had both his cutter and changeup working against both lefties and righties.
In the top of the third Zach McKinstry led off with a double, and Kevin McGonigle’s grounder to second advanced McKinstry to third with one out. Gleyber Torres hit a chopper to shortstop and McKinstry immediately broke for home; a perfect throw barely got McKinstry at the plate for the second out, and the Tigers really should have challenged the call. Dillon Dingler singled to push Torres up to second; Riley Greene hit a grounder to the shortstop’s right, and Colt Emerson tried an off-balance throw to second base but it got away from him, allowing Torres to score.
Colt Keith then followed with a two-run single to make it 3-0. You gotta love it when errors are capitalized-upon.
In the top of the fourth, Max Clark made a lovely sliding, tumbling catch. He was playing deep but made up a ton of ground in a hurry, reaching a peak sprint speed of 30.1 ft/s (33.0 km/h, 9.17 m/s), per Jason Beck, per Statcast, per sophisticated cameras and computers.
With a single and a walk, the Mariners got runners on first and second with one out in the fourth. But Melton got Josh Naylor to strike out on a low splitter, and Cal Raleigh waved and missed at an outside changeup, and that was that for the threat.
Greene extended the lead in the top of the fifth with a one-out solo home run to centre for a 4-0 score. It was his sixteenth home run of the ear.
Melton looked great and capitalized on the Mariners trying to be aggressive early in counts: plenty of first- and second-pitch grounders kept his pitch count low and let him cruise through seven shutout innings, surrendering three hits, walking a pair, and striking out four. Fantastic.
Jacob Waugespack came in for the eighth and gave up a two-out walk, but otherwise did a mighty fine job at keeping Mariners hitters off-balance.
Seranthony Domínguez made his debut for the Mariners and let’s just say it didn’t go well for him, as the Tigers got to him pretty good. Javier Báez, whose swagger and confidence I really missed in his absence, challenged a full-count strike pitch to lead off the top of the ninth and was successful, getting on via a walk. McKinstry singled up the middle off the second baseman’s glove to push Báez up to third, and McGonigle’s grounder to second allowed Báez to score, putting the Tigers up 5-0. Torres followed with a two-run home run to left to make it 7-0, and Dingler followed that with a home run of his own for an 8-0 score.
Greene singled and Keith walked, and that was it for Domínguez. Cole Wilcox took over and got a pair of strikeouts to end the inning but plenty of damage had been done by that point.
Yilber Díaz, a waiver pickup from the Diamondbacks in June, made his new-team debut in the bottom of the ninth in a low-pressure situation. He struck out his first batter on a 98-mph fastball, but then he served-up a single and walked Naylor. However, Raleigh looked at a perfect bottom-rail strike three for the second out, and a challenged ball on a 2-2 count was overturned to a strike for the final out of the game.
I looked at the standings in the American League as a whole lately, and of course much has been said of the Tigers being 2.5 games out of the final Wild Card entering tonight. But something else jumped out at me, that I’d heard bandied-about: the Tigers had the second-biggest Run Differential in the league, only behind the Yankees.
Tigers bench coach George Lombard’s son, George Jr., made his major-league debut tonight with the Yankees — and he hit a home run! George Sr. managed to make it to New York for the game.
A certain ex-Tigers left-handed pitcher made his debut for the Dodgers tonight: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K. The Dodgers lost to the Cubs 5-1. Make of that what you will.
On this day in 1914, both Belgium and the British Empire declared war on Germany after the Germans invaded Belgium. This happened a bit more than a month after Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated; the complex set of treaties between nations in Europe ended up precipitating the Great War, and this was a big event in its evolution.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 04: Seranthony Domínguez #58 of the Seattle Mariners pitches in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at T-Mobile Park on August 04, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Ng/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tigers 8, Mariners 0
I’m a winner, see my prize: The Tigers You’re a loser who sits and cries: The Mariners
With nine runs allowed Tuesday, Davis Martin’s ERA has inflated to 4.13 on the season. | (Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
The White Sox (59-53) folded on offense and waved the white flag on the mound as the Red Sox (61-51) rolled to a 14-2 victory in Tuesday’s series opener, outhitting Chicago, 15-6. Davis Martin floundered through five innings while Patrick Sandoval worked smoothly through the South Siders despite struggling with his control, earning the W for the Red Sox.
Tonight was the second time this season that Martin has allowed nine runs; the other was June 16, while visiting the Yankees, when things really started to go downhill. There are definitely some red flags to consider as we head into crunch time in a tight division race, since this was the third outing in a row where he surrendered four or more runs. Davis owned a 3.62 ERA just a few hours ago, but Tuesday’s implosion has inflated it to 4.13 on the season. In his last seven starts (34 1/3 innings), he owns a rough 6.55 ERA with a 1.60 WHIP, and he’s been striking guys out at a much lower rate with just 20 Ks in this time span.
There may have been at least one explanation for Tuesday’s disaster. After the game, manager Will Venable said Davis Martin was tipping his pitches, an issue catcher Kyle Teel identified during the game and brought to the coaching staff’s attention. That doesn’t erase Martin’s recent struggles, but it does provide some context for why Boston’s hitters looked so comfortable from the opening inning.
Venable said there were tipping issues with Martin tonight. Martin confirmed and said it was Kyle Teel who identified the issue in game.
Once Teel started guessing along, he brought it to everyone’s attention. @whitesox
Martin’s recent inconsistency is still worth monitoring. While tipping pitches may have contributed to Tuesday’s outing, his results over the past several starts have been uneven. His recent inconsistencies were one of the main reasons I was hoping Chris Getz would trade for another starting pitcher before Monday’s deadline, especially when everyone not named Sean Burke is a wild card when they start. Before the All-Star break — through June, really — Davis looked like he was approaching ace status, but he has been regressing lately, and it’s hard to imagine how he would perform in a playoff game at this moment in time. I’m still optimistic, and I’ve not given up on him by any means, but if we are being realistic, there’s quite a bit of uncertainty around his performance for the remainder of the season.
Right off the bat, Nick Sogard rattled Martin with a leadoff double off the Green Monster, then hit Ceddanne Rafaela square in the back on a curveball that got away to put two runners on. Davis navigated an out on a deep fly that advanced the runners, but back-to-back base hits from Willson Contreras and Masataka Yoshida scored the first run for the Red Sox, 1-0, and then loaded the bases with just one out. Naturally, Caleb Durbin demolished the second pitch he saw for a grand slam over the Green Monster in left, increasing the Boston lead to five, 5-0.
The way Boston has played over the last month needs to be studied for generations, because whatever chokehold they currently have on the baseball gods seems to be enough to overpower both the Pope AND a wizard. What I mean by that is Jarren Duran blasted a solo shot for the Red Sox to go back-to-back, tallying six earned for Davis in just the first inning, 6-0. Ouch.
It took 26 pitches for Martin to get out of the first, but he was fairly efficient through the next four frames, using just eight pitches in the third, ranging up to 15 in the other three. Davis did eventually work a 1-2-3 inning in the fourth, and the South Siders finally scored a run in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Miguel Vargas, 6-1. Miguel’s fly out seemed like it was sailing over the Monster before it was caught against it.
But of course, the Good Guys did not carry that momentum through their at-bats in the fifth inning: Randal Grichuk grounded into a double play to end the scoring threat, and Davis conceded his third home run of the game in the bottom of the fifth to hand the run right back and increase the Boston lead back to six, 7-1.
Still, the White Sox didn’t quit, making Patrick Sandoval work in some tough at-bats while drawing four free passes. Consecutive walks in the sixth put runners on for the Good Guys, but they managed only one run on Braden Montgomery’s RBI ground out. The Chicago bats went just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left seven on base, so they could have walked several more times and probably still wouldn’t have been able to catch up without some clutch hits.
Earning his first official win of the season, Sandoval had a much better day on the mound and only gave up the two runs on six hits while striking out five. The Boston bullpen didn’t seem to have a problem either, as the South Siders didn’t get another hit after five, and Brayan Bello was set up nicely for a three-inning save, his first of the season.
On the other hand, Chicago went to righthander Erick Fedde out of the bullpen, who was tasked with essentially eating innings and getting through this disastrous game. Still, he, too, gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits, and that was on top of two more runs attributed to Martin. Not that the bats were promising enough to complete the five-run comeback, but the Red Sox tallied a half-dozen between the two pitchers in the sixth to extend the lead to 13-2.
It almost felt like things were going to settle down so we could just end the suffering, and I could stop watching, but Fedde went out with a bang, and Abreu blasted his second bomb of the game on a solo shot to pour salt in Chicago’s gaping wound, 14-2. Bello was able to retire the Sox in order during their final at-bats, and the South Siders need to reset after that wimpy performance in the series opener.
The only good news of the night is that both the Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins lost Tuesday, leaving the White Sox to reflect on that horrific game while still holding a three-game division lead. Righthander Sean Burke is on the mound tomorrow as the Good Guys attempt to revive themselves and even out the series, so we’ll do it again tomorrow and hope for the best.
MVP Miguel Vargas: 0-for-2, RBI, BB, 2 K, SF Braden Montgomery: 0-for-3, RBI, BB
Runners Up Chase Meidroth: 1-for-3, R, BB, K Colson Montgomery: 1-for-3, R, BB Brenton Doyle: 1-for-2, outfield assist in first game as a White Sox
Cold Cat Davis Martin: 5 IP, 10 H, 9 R, 2 BB, K, 3 HR, HB, LOSS (9-5) Erick Fedde: 3 IP, 5 H, 5 R (4 ER), BB, K, HR Randal Grichuk: 1-for-4, 2B, GIDP, E
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JULY 24: Hogan Harris #36 of the Athletics pitches takes the sign from the catcher during the game between the Athletics and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Friday, July 24, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Turner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Just when you think it can’t get any worse…A comically pathetic 8th inning turns a possible actual win into just another disheveled loss and the “free fall” stats keep mounting.
It’s hard to believe that on June 19th the A’s were 38-38, winning percentage that would earn them a spot 1.5 games out of 1st place had they maintained it through this evening. In hindsight, it was probably a relatively poor strategy to go 7-30 thereafter, 5-26 in their most recent 31.
Before continuing, we need to take a moment to appreciate just how “Bad News Bears” the bottom of the 8th inning was. Tasked with holding a 4-3 lead, Hogan Harris began the inning with the obligatory lead off walk. To his credit he was efficient and needed only 4 pitches, cleverly conserving himself so he could offer his greatness to many ensuing batters.
Then he walked the second hitter because walking the first 2 you face has become a reliever’s mantra. No fewer than 3 different relievers did that in the same game not too long ago — I would tell you the exact date but the games all blend together now.
In the only normal at bat, JJ Bleday struck out. What followed was somewhat remarkable in that it took blunders from 3 different players to occur. Tyler Stephenson flied to RF deep enough for Elly De La Cruz to tag and go to 3B. Butler’s throw was one hop to the cut off man, Jacob Wilson, but Wilson let the ball go through. It went through to 3Bman Tommy White, who fielded the throw by not catching it and the ball rolled to Hogan Harris backing up. Harris looked at the ball, counted the stitches, and thought about his grocery list, but did not call time. So Sal Stewart, who had been anchored to the bag at 1B the entire time, jogged to 2B.
Undaunted, Harris got back on top of the mound where he proceeded to do his best Nick LaLoosh impression. He threw one pitch so far high and outside Jonah Heim checked his back pocket for a 1st row ticket to see if he was allowed to catch it. Another wild pitch appeared to hit Eugenio Suarez in the foot — until you realized what it hit was Heim’s glove clanking it. And so the A’s lost 5-4.
Every time you think, “Well, nowhere to go but up” the A’s manage to make a further mockery of the game. Without a doubt injuries have greatly impacted the team of late, but it’s also notable that Butler, Wilson, and Harris were all with the team out of camp and Heim has been healthy throughout his time with the A’s. It’s not all scrubs and fill-ins who are in the middle of each embarrassment. It’s everyone.
Which makes one wonder: so what’s next? Are we destined to witness Tyler Soderstrom range back for a fly ball only to trip over his shoelace and send the ball caroming over the wall for a HR? Might Jacob Lopez somehow commit a pitch timer violation, balk, and adultery all on the same pitch? Can we expect Alika Williams, with the bases loaded, to catch a pop up and toss the ball into the stands not remembering that it was the first out? Could Elvis Alvarado try the “hidden ball trick” and then cause a 30 minute delay because he can’t remember where he hid it? Will Donovan Walton push a suicide squeeze so hard to 3B it smacks Henry Bolte in his “good testicle” ending his season and any chance at fatherhood?
Believe it or not, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust is going into his 13th NHL season this year.
He made his NHL debut during the 2014-15 season before playing in 41 games during the 2015-16 regular season. Everyone quickly found out that he was NHL-ready that year, especially when he scored some massive goals for the Penguins in their run to the 2016 Stanley Cup.
Rust got his start as a depth forward before working his way up to the top line. He's now one of Sidney Crosby's preferred linemates since he reads the latter so well.
Hard work, dedication, and tenacity are the three pillars of Rust's game, and fans see it on a nightly basis. He works his absolute butt off and embodies what it means to be a Penguin. He may not have a letter on his jersey, but there's no question he's one of the top leaders on the team.
Rust set a career-high in goals (31) and points (65) during the 2024-25 season before equaling that point total during the 2025-26 season. He was also three goals away from setting a new career-high in goals after finishing this year with 29.
Rust has scored at least 20 goals in seven consecutive seasons, and logic dictates that he will make it eight in a row during the 2026-27 season. Yes, he's 34, but he's been an incredibly consistent player these last several seasons, and I don't expect that to change this year.
Like Rakell, I expect Rust to score between 20 and 30 goals and compile 50 to 60 points. Some of his goals will come from his patented move: he takes defenders on and goes backhand-to-forehand in front of the net. He has done it countless times over the course of his career and isn't about to stop now.
He'll ride shotgun with Crosby on the top line at 5v5, but his power play deployment will be the more interesting one. He's usually on the top PP unit, but that could change this year with the continued emergence of Egor Chinakhov. Chinakhov has arguably the best shot on the Penguins, and their top PP unit could use more of it this year. He feels like the natural replacement for Rust, who can easily slide to PP2.
Time will tell if head coach Dan Muse and assistant coach Todd Nelson go down that path, but it makes a ton of sense.
Rust will still be a stalwart on the Penguins' penalty kill, which finished sixth in the NHL last season. He played 114:46 on that unit and was great at getting to loose pucks and blocking shots. His 114 minutes were the most he spent on the PK since the 2022-23 season, when he was on that unit for 129 minutes.
He has still been involved in trade rumors these last couple of offseasons, but Penguins general manager/president Kyle Dubas hasn't felt compelled to move him. Going off that, I think Rust will remain a Penguin unless Dubas gets an offer he truly can't refuse.
Rust has played a lot of meaningful hockey for the Penguins and that's expected to continue this year, assuming they stay in the race for the full season. He's also only 30 assists away from 300 for his career and is expected to hit that milestone by the end of this upcoming season, assuming he stays healthy.
He'll suit up for his 711th NHL game when the Penguins open the season against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sept. 30.
The Colorado Avalanche could have a major decision waiting for them in net — and the answer may already be developing within their own organization.
Scott Wedgewood is coming off another outstanding season, Mackenzie Blackwood is locked into Colorado's long-term plans, and Ilya Nabokov is about to begin the most important chapter of his development. Somewhere between those three goaltenders could be the answer to one of the Avalanche's biggest questions for 2027 and beyond.
Nabokov isn't simply another prospect trying to work his way through the system. The 23-year-old has already won a Gagarin Cup, been named a KHL playoff MVP and established himself as one of Russia's most promising young goaltenders. But his path to the NHL has never been completely straightforward.
His size and unorthodox style have raised questions about how his game will translate against the NHL's best shooters. His statistics also took a noticeable step backward during his final season in Russia.
There is, however, more to that decline than the numbers suggest.
Nabokov was already beginning to reshape his game for North American hockey, making his upcoming season with the Colorado Eagles far more consequential than a typical AHL campaign.
If those adjustments work, Colorado could have its next NHL goaltender waiting in the wings.
If they don't, the Avalanche may have a very different decision to make when Wedgewood reaches free agency.
And that makes Nabokov one of the most intriguing players in Colorado's organization heading into the 2026-27 season.
The Avalanche selected Nabokov 38th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, making him the first goaltender taken that year and the highest goalie selected by the franchise since Philippe Sauvé went 38th overall in 1998.
At the time, Colorado was betting on a goaltender who had already begun carving out an impressive professional résumé in Russia.
Nabokov had spent the previous three seasons with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, establishing himself as one of the KHL's more promising young netminders.
During the 2023-24 regular season, he posted a 23-16-6 record with a 2.15 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. He followed that with another productive campaign, going 23-17-6 while recording a 2.22 GAA and a .923 save percentage.
Then came the postseason that put Nabokov firmly on the radar.
During Metallurg's run to the 2024 Gagarin Cup, Nabokov was spectacular. He went 16-6 with a remarkable 1.82 GAA and .942 save percentage, helping lead his club to a championship while earning playoff MVP honors.
Nabokov also became the youngest goaltender in KHL history to win the award. He was subsequently recognized as a KHL All-Star and Rookie of the Year, adding even more credibility to Colorado's decision to invest such a high draft selection in him.
But there was always one obvious question surrounding Nabokov's NHL potential.
At 6-foot-1, he is smaller than the prototypical modern NHL goaltender. His low stance can accentuate that disadvantage, particularly against shooters who can elevate the puck into the upper portion of the net.
In the KHL, however, Nabokov's unconventional style has largely worked in his favor.
His athleticism and explosive lateral movement allow him to cover the crease quickly, recover from difficult positions and make saves from sharp angles. Rather than relying solely on size to take away portions of the net, Nabokov compensates with movement, positioning and an ability to react quickly when a play breaks down.
The challenge is that what works in the KHL does not necessarily translate directly to the NHL.
The NHL features an abundance of elite shooters who can punish even the smallest openings, particularly in the upper portions of the net. Nabokov therefore began adapting his game during his final season in Russia, preparing himself for the demands of North American hockey.
That is an important piece of context when examining his 2025-26 statistics.
Nabokov finished his final season with Metallurg with a 22-7-5 record, but his 2.74 GAA and .901 save percentage represented a significant statistical decline from the numbers he had produced during his previous two seasons.
At first glance, those numbers represent a noticeable step backward.
But they don't tell the entire story.
Styles Make Tendies
Nabokov was beginning to adjust elements of his style with North American hockey in mind. His final season in the KHL was not simply about reproducing the statistical dominance he had displayed during his championship run. He was also preparing himself for the challenges that awaited him across the Atlantic.
His low stance, which has been an effective tool in the KHL, will face a much different test against NHL-caliber shooters. Rather than abandoning the athleticism that made him successful, Nabokov has been tasked with finding the right balance between his natural style and the technical adjustments necessary to succeed on smaller North American ice.
That process may have contributed to the statistical regression, but it could ultimately prove to be one of the more important stages of Nabokov's development rather than a sign that his progress has stalled.
Nabokov went 2-4 in the playoffs during his final KHL season before joining the Colorado Eagles for the remainder of the campaign. He spent time with Colorado's AHL group but did not appear in a game, meaning his first true professional test in North America remains ahead of him.
That makes the 2026-27 season particularly intriguing.
Nabokov signed a two-year, entry-level contract with Colorado on May 30, 2025, keeping him under contract through the upcoming season. He is expected to compete with Trent Miner for playing time with the Eagles as the organization begins to determine just how close he is to becoming an NHL option.
And there is plenty riding on that evaluation.
The Avalanche enter the season with Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood projected to form their NHL tandem. Blackwood provides Colorado with some long-term certainty, as he has four years remaining on his contract.
Wedgewood's situation is much less certain.
The veteran goaltender is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, meaning Colorado will eventually have to determine whether it has a reason to retain him or whether the organization is ready to turn the crease over to the next generation.
That is where Nabokov suddenly becomes much more than a promising prospect.
If he adjusts quickly, performs well with the Eagles and demonstrates that his KHL success can translate to North American hockey, Colorado could have an internal candidate capable of eventually stepping into Wedgewood's role alongside Blackwood.
But if Nabokov struggles, the situation becomes considerably more complicated.
Wedgewood has given the Avalanche plenty of reasons to consider bringing him back. His play over the past two seasons has been outstanding, and his performance this past season helped Colorado's tandem capture the William M. Jennings Trophy.
There was even an argument that Wedgewood could have been in the Vezina Trophy conversation with a larger workload.
If he produces another season at an elite level, Colorado could face a difficult decision. The Avalanche could potentially have a proven veteran who wants a longer-term opportunity on the open market while simultaneously having a highly touted prospect who may not yet be ready to assume NHL responsibilities.
Then there is another piece of the equation that cannot be ignored.
Trent Miner has been part of the Eagles' goaltending picture for years and has continued working toward his own opportunity within the organization. If Nabokov arrives and quickly establishes himself as the preferred option in the AHL, Miner's future could become considerably less certain.
Miner could remain and battle for playing time, but he could also look elsewhere for a clearer path to an NHL opportunity. If that happens, it could give Nabokov even more room to take on a larger workload and accelerate his development.
Those questions won't be answered until the season gets underway.
For now, Colorado has a fascinating situation developing behind Blackwood and Wedgewood.
The organization has a veteran goaltender approaching free agency, a long-term starter already under contract, a young Russian netminder with a championship and playoff MVP on his résumé, and an established AHL goaltender competing for his own opportunity.
Nabokov sits at the center of it all.
His statistics may not have been as dazzling during his final season in Russia, but the circumstances surrounding them matter. He was not simply trying to replicate what had already worked. He was beginning the process of reshaping his game for the level he ultimately hopes to reach.
Now, he gets the chance to find out whether those adjustments were enough.
The 2026-27 season will be about much more than wins, losses, goals-against average or save percentage for Nabokov. It will be his first opportunity to establish himself in North American hockey and show Colorado that the goaltender who dominated the KHL can eventually handle the demands of the NHL.
If he does, the Avalanche may already have their answer for what comes after Wedgewood.
If he doesn't, Colorado may have to decide that its best option is keeping the veteran around a little longer.
Either way, Nabokov's development could quietly become one of the most consequential storylines surrounding the Avalanche's future in net.
Aug 4, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Ezequiel Duran (20) reacts at first base after hitting an RBI single against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Texas Rangers scored five runs while the San Francisco Giants scored four runs.
About an hour ago, with Texas up 2-0 and with MacKenzie Gore fresh off a six shutout innings start, I started tackling this as though the Rangers were going to win. Then big deadline acquisition Chase Silseth allowed a two-run home run to former Rangers farmhand Osleivis Basabe and I just assumed the Rangers would go ahead pick up another irony-laden loss.
But then the Rangers mustered up their second rally of the night in the bottom of the eighth and scored a couple of runs to turn the game over to Jacob Latz and I assumed the Rangers were going to win and break this hellish losing streak.
However, Latz hadn’t pitched since July 28 and was rusty enough to blow a rare save opportunity as he allowed a couple of Giants runs in the nine. At that point, I had deleted like three post game threads.
Jake Burger led off the Rangers’ half of the ninth with a double and hey, maybe the Rangers would actually pull it out, but then it seemed like they would not.
But then series thorn in Texas’ side Jung Hoo Lee misplayed a decently struck ball from Ezequiel Duran with two outs allowing Burger to moonwalk home and the Rangers won the game. Streak over. How about a winning streak instead?
Player of the Game: I will say Duran because he’s the first Ranger to ever have a hit with the bases loaded. And also this:
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 04: Dominic Canzone #8 of the Seattle Mariners catches a fly out hit by Javier Báez #28 of the Detroit Tigers (not pictured) in the second inning at T-Mobile Park on August 04, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Ng/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs spoiled Tarik Skubal’s debut with the slumping Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night, posting a 5-1 victory behind key RBI singles by Nico Hoerner and Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Dansby Swanson connected for a solo homer as Chicago won for the third time in four games.
Skubal permitted two runs and four hits over six innings in his first start since he was acquired in a trade with Detroit on Saturday night. The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner threw 85 pitches, 51 for strikes.
Kyle Tucker homered for Los Angeles, which finished with four hits in its fifth consecutive loss. It’s the longest slide for the Dodgers since they also dropped five in a row in early September last year.
With two out and runners at the corners in the sixth, Hoerner hit a high chopper to the right of the mound. Alex Bregman scampered home on the infield single, giving Chicago a 2-1 lead.
The Cubs added two more in the seventh on singles by Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki, and Hoerner made it 5-1 with a solo homer off Edwin Díaz in the eighth.
Ryan Rolison (6-1) pitched a scoreless inning for the win.
Los Angeles jumped in front in the second. Moments after Mookie Betts bounced into a double play, Tucker drove a 2-1 sinker from Javier Assad to left-center for his 10th homer.
Tucker heard boos for the second consecutive night in his return to Chicago after playing for the Cubs last season. The right fielder, who signed a $240 million, four-year contract with the Dodgers in free agency, also made a lunging catch on Hoerner’s sinking liner to right in the bottom of the second.
Skubal (7-6) retired his first six batters before Swanson drove his first pitch of the third to left-center for his 17th homer, sending a charge through the crowd of 40,584 at Wrigley Field.
Tarik Skubal pitches in the first inning against the Cubs on Tuesday. (Melissa Tamez / AP)
Southpaw Tarik Skubal’s experience pitching in the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field came with a hostile reception. Cubs fans booed him as he approached the bullpen gate in right field to warm up before the game. They jeered even louder and longer as he took the mound in the bottom of the first inning.
That’s what came with the “Los Angeles” scrawled across the chest of his new blue jersey. Over the weekend he’d gone from the top trade candidate in baseball, to a symbol of the Dodgers’ evil reign.
A sports betting site even seized on the moment and paid for an airplane to fly a “THE DODGERS RUINED BASEBALL” banner over Wrigley Field a few hours before the game Tuesday — although it was upside down.
As the boos quieted, he authored a quality start in his Dodgers debut. But that wasn’t enough to serve as the team’s new stopper, as the Dodgers’ offense fell flat. They stumbled to a 5-1 loss and extended their skid to a season-high five games and ensured a second straight series loss.
“There’s certainly no panic,” manager Dave Roberts said. “We’ve been through a lot of these things, this core group of guys. I think that you just got to kind of reset, flush it, find a way to win a game, and not let it just compound. But it never feels good to lose.”
The first pitch Skubal threw as a Dodger, en route to holding the Cubs to two runs and four hits in six innings, was a sinker that zipped through the top of the strike zone at 96.3 mph, according to Statcast, to get ahead in the count against Cubs MVP candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong.
For the next four pitches, he alternated between his four-seam fastball and off-speed pitches — first his changeup and then curveball. And to finish off the at-bat, he located a sinker at the bottom of the zone for a called strike three.
It was a strong first impression, and his first strikeout of six.
“Going to bed last night, excited,” Skubal said. “It felt like my major-league debut, kind of same type of vibe in terms of the nerves running through. But I think that’s all good stuff.”
Skubal retired the first six batters he faced, with the help of a sliding catch by center fielder Andy Pages and a diving grab by right fielder Kyle Tucker.
To end the second inning, Skubal got new Cub Tyrone Taylor to chase a changeup just outside. Skubal skipped backward off the mound and buried his fist in the pocket of his glove in celebration.
The next inning, Skubal wavered ever so slightly. He gave up a first-pitch solo home run to Dansby Swanson.
“I think everyone around the league and he himself would say he’s an aggressive pitcher, he comes after you,” Swanson told reporters. “ He likes to get strike one, he likes to get strike two. You’ve just got to be ready to hit pitches he may leave over the plate, and he doesn’t do that very often. He’s been so good for a reason.”
Then, after another sliding catch by Pages and a strikeout, he gave up a single to Crow-Armstrong and walked Seiya Suzuki.
In his first high-pressure situation of the night, Skubal induced Alex Bregman to fly out on a changeup.
Then, he was back to cruising. Skubal put together perfect fourth and fifth innings.
“He creates really tough angles,” said catcher Ben Rortvedt, after his first game since the Dodgers reacquired him at the trade deadline. “Really commands the glove side really well. And his off-speed is really good, his changeup is elite. It’s two fastballs you can put on a dime. It’s just really good stuff.”
In the sixth, an unlucky bounce pushed the go-ahead run across the plate.
With one out, Skubal walked Suzuki on four pitches. Then he missed his spot with a fastball to Bregman, who roped a line drive to deep right field. Tucker tracked it back to the warning track but just missed the catch as he slammed into the wall. The double put runners on second and third.
Skubal held the Cubs at bay for one more batter by getting Michael Busch to skip a groundball to second baseman Tommy Edman, playing on the edge of the infield grass. He fired home for the second out of the inning.
Then came that dose of misfortune. Skubal’s fastball did its job, as the Cubs’ Nico Hoerner drove it into the ground. Bouncing off the plate, the ball shot up in the air, and then it settled in the grass, giving Bregman enough time to score the go-ahead run.
Ian Happ, left, Seiya Suzuki, middle, and Pete Crow-Armstrong run after beating the Dodgers. (Melissa Tamez / AP)
The Wrigley faithful turned up the heat, taunting “Skuuuuubaaaaalll.” They’d done something similar in the National League Division Series last year to Brewers ace Freddy Peralta.
“The fans are what create the environment,” Skubal said. “It’s a ton of fun to play in front of crowds like that. Even if they’re booing me or whatever it is, I think that’s what makes the game of baseball really fun, the competition really fun, and the atmosphere is really fun. I’m sure that’s not going to be the only rowdy atmosphere on the road. I plan on pitching in front of those atmospheres for the rest of the season, and then obviously, when it comes postseason time, I’ll be ready to go.”
Skubal bore down and got out of the inning with a flyout from Taylor. That changeup, designed to get him to chase, wrapped up Skubal’s outing at 85 pitches.
“For me, I want him wanting for more, feeling good,” Roberts said. “This is me still learning him. Where we’re at, I’m going to err on the side of being smart and cautious, and knowing that he can still give us more. I’m going to push him, but tonight is not the night. I just felt that that extra inning wasn’t worth the squeeze.”
When Skubal walked off the mound, his team trailed 2-1, their only run a solo homer from Tucker, who’d been booed throughout his first series back at Wrigley since departing the Cubs in free agency.
The Cubs, on the other hand, continued to rally against the Dodgers’ bullpen.
“Just a rut,” veteran leader Mookie Betts said after the loss. “It’s OK. We’re going to be OK.”
Nate Lavender's journey to the major leagues has been nothing but a rollercoaster.
The left-hander was drafted by the Mets in the 14th round of the 2021 MLB Draft and pitched his way up to Triple-A in 2023 and into the 2024 season. However, Lavender suffered an elbow injury that required an internal brace procedure in May of 2024, as he missed the remainder of the year. He was then selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft, but remained out all of the 2025 season while recovering from surgery and was eventually returned to the Mets in November 2025 after being released by the Rays.
Since being back in New York's system this year, the 26-year-old has pitched in three minor league levels, including 25 appearances with Triple-A Syracuse. With all of the team's moves at the trade deadline on Monday, Lavender got the long-awaited call and met the team in Cleveland for Tuesday night's game against the Guardians.
His debut came in the seventh inning as he was thrust into a tough spot with two runners on two outs. Lavender battled against former No. 1 pick Travis Bazzana and struck him out looking to hold onto the 5-2 lead. He kept it going in the eighth inning with a quick 1-2-3 frame, giving the team what interim manager Andy Green described as much-needed energy for a group with lots of new faces in the clubhouse.
“I think what really energizes a group of guys is having a guy make a debut, come in and get a huge out in a tough situation against a very good hitter. And then go back out there and throw really well the next inning," Green said. "I thought the dugout was as alive in that Nate Lavender punch-out as it’s been in some time. And I think that really, hopefully, is a catalyst for us to bring some energy with these new guys we got here.
"And we saw a bunch of guys in different roles, they were pitching in tough situations. They did a great job, so I think everyone took some juice from that.”
After waiting years, changing teams, and battling through injuries, Lavender called his debut outing an "unbelievable" experience. Overall, he tossed 1.1 scoreless innings with a strikeout and a walk.
“Unbelievable, unbelievable," Lavender said. "I think you briefly touched on it, even though you just said that, it’s been a long journey. Drafted here in ‘21, in the system, spent some time in Tampa, dealt with some injuries and stuff. All of that doesn’t matter. It’s part of the journey and it feels absolutely unbelievable, man.”
Nate Lavender says it felt "unbelievable" to be able to make his big-league debut tonight pic.twitter.com/PVzhpXpVec
Green also highlighted Lavender's poise in the high-leverage situation, noting that the team can't afford to ease new players in and that he stepped up to the challenge.
“The same heartbeat we’ve always seen from him," Green said. "I think that you, especially in relievers, have to be able to trust the heartbeat. And he was able to slow that game down. That was a big punch-out with two guys on. He just walked off the mound like he’d been doing it for a long time. I tried to tell him as quickly as possible he was going back out. There’s a lot of guys that will mentally shut down and call that a debut.
"We didn’t soft-serve him at all. I just don’t think there’s a good way to do that with the group we have right now, we got to pitch them as they are. He did a great job in a pocket he should excel in; he did.”
Green added: “No change in demeanor, completely calm, completely fine. Walked through, shook the hands with teammates. Saw him sit down on the bench and lock back in like he’s done a thousand times.”
Lavender later told reporters how his family traveled from Syracuse to Cleveland by train and made it there around 5 a.m. He thanked everyone in his life for support throughout his journey, helping him stay focused and positive at all times.
“Spending two years on the shelf is a lot of ups and downs," Lavender said. "Obviously the first Tommy John at the beginning of ‘24, nobody likes it. You rehab, you keep going, and then bang, another surgery. I was talking to my wife the other day, some of my friends too, you have to enjoy the small moments. If I can’t throw in a game, I can go attack this throwing program just exactly like I would with same mentality. Obviously my family, too. My wife, Emma, is absolutely amazing, really encouraging.
"That’s sort of how I’ve attacked the last couple of years. Now we’re here.”
The Mets will need that energy and mindset down the stretch of the 2026 season, and the lefty hopes to keep his story going by continuing to help the team any way possible.
“Just want to keep rolling, keep contributing, and keep winning ballgames, man. Let’s keep cruising.”
Aug 4, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin (5) hits a grand slam against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
What can you even say at this point? Normally, I love doing a big, deep dive analysis in these game recaps, but tonight we’re going straight to the highlights because this was a complete ass-whipping and doesn’t need any further introduction.
So here we go, starting with the Willson Contreras single that got things started in the first.
Jarren Duran then immediately added another homer for good measure. (Random side note: He looked very relaxed tonight, and it wouldn’t shock me if he feels relief after not being traded. Something to watch if he starts heating up out of nowhere.)
From there, the most notable additional swings came off the bat of Wilyer Abreu. Specifically, he blasted a pair of bombs to deep centerfield in the fifth an eighth inning that went a combined 849 feet. Here are those highlights:
And all that completely omits the sixth inning, in which the Red Sox put up another six-spot to match the first inning. Here’s my favorite highlight from that rally (I always love when balls rattle around in the garage door)
Again, there’s not much to add to this one in terms of situational analysis. If you REALLY want to get picky (and my cynical ass does), you could try and nitpick Patrick Sandoval for not throwing enough strikes (he walked four guys and only threw 56 percent of his pitches for strikes), but he still managed to make it through five innings and not force the bullpen to cover too much ground.
This biggest thing to take away from this game is the same thing we should be taking away from the entire hot streak. Just enjoy it! What we’re witnessing here is something you may never see again. This team was dead in the water 14 games under .500, and now they’re ten games over at 61-51 with a boatload of talent still sitting on the IL and look like a bigger juggernaut by the day. Like, what? I’ve watched every single game of this turnaround, and I still can’t believe or explain it.
Nothing makes sense right now, and that’s a major reason why it’s so awesome. This is the type of run you tell future generations about, so soak it in as much as you can. THIS is the good stuff!
Three (Group) Studs
You could have about ten studs in this game, so let’s cheat and put them in three groups.
The guys who went deep: Caleb Durbin (grand slam), Wilyer Abreu (two bombs), and Jarren Duran (still alive).
The guys who hit with runners in scoring position: The team went 8-12 with runners in scoring position, and seven different guys had at least one run RBI. Ceddanne Rafaela, Masataka Yoshida, Willson Contreras, and Andruw Monasterio all knocked in runs without going deep.
The notable relievers: Erik Miller made a successful Red Sox debut striking out Tristan Peters to end the sixth (Chad Tracy called it a “soft landing” in the postgame), and then Brayan Bello threw three scoreless innings to close things out. For Bello, this both kept all the other high leverage relivers rested, and also sustained sub 1.00 ERA out of the bullpen. (Another thing that doesn’t make any sense, but we’re just gonna stick with because it’s working insanely well.)
Two Duds
Connor Wong: An 0-4 night at the plate and the only Sox starter without a knock. There’s a reason this team traded for Adley Rutschman (who was in the dugout chatting it up with multiple starters tonight).
The challengers: Both teams burned both of their challenges by the sixth inning. Home plate umpire Brennan Miller was on his game tonight, and if this thing was remotely close, he would’ve had all the high leverage calls to himself.
Play of the game:
It’s Durbin’s grand slam. Might as well watch it again. This freaking team man. I’m speechless!
Aug 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey (19) hits an RBI double during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Royals got on the board first tonight against Joe Ryan. A pair of singles followed by a sac-fly RBI by Salvador Perez got the job done. Then, Michael Massey ripped a double to left-center to make it 2-0, Royals.
The Twins, who struggled against Randy Dobnak the last time they faced him, continued those struggles tonight. They finally got a run in the 4th inning after loading the bases with 1-out, on an Alan Roden sac-fly. Luke Keaschall would ground out to end the threat, however.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Royals, with the help of bad Twins defense, put together a 3-run inning. With 1 out, they got a single and a walk, then Bobby Witt Jr. doubled, scoring two. Witt would move to 3rd as Ryan Kreidler’s throw home sailed over Ryan Jeffers’ head. Witt then scored on the next at bat, on a grounder to 1st, beating the throw home by Royce Lewis. That gave the Royals a 5-1 lead.
It was a third rough start in a row by Joe Ryan, who exited after getting 1 out in the 6th and walking Isaac Collins. His final line was: 5.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K. His stuff just doesn’t seem to be getting him enough strikeouts lately. Kody Funderburk did a good job, cleaning up the 6th inning and tossing a clean 7th as well.
In the top of the 8th, finally working against the Royals bullpen, Josh Bell made some noise with a leadoff solo homer, his 14th of the year. Alas, no rally was sparked by this rally killer.
Travis Adams was tasked with the 8th inning. Perez doubled, then, after a fly out, Nick Loftin walked. Then Collins grounded out to 3B. Taylor Rogers entered, the Royals countered with pinch hitter Starling Marte, who hit a 2-run double to center. Then Kyle Isbel hit an RBI single to make it an 8-2 game, and that was the final. Another disappointing game for a team that bought at the deadline.
