It's the most fitting possible date. Toronto had to retire the number of its greatest player when it faced the team from the city where he was born and raised, and where he's also adored.
The Raptors announced that Lowry's No. 7 will be retired on Jan. 10 against the Philadelphia 76ers, coached by Nick Nurse, who led Toronto to its 2019 title. That will come after a series of events in September honoring the player they are calling the GROAT (Greatest Raptor of All Time).
"I've been looking forward to this moment for years. I always said that Toronto is home, and that I'd retire a Raptor, and to see my No. 7 go up in that building is going to mean everything to me," Lowry said in a release announcing the news. "We built something special here — my teammates, the organization, the city and the fans, and all of Canada. We became champions together, and to be able to share this night with all of them, and with my family, is going to mean a lot to me."
Lowry was born in Philly and played high school ball in the city, then spent two seasons at Villanova in the years that helped establish the Wildcats as an NCAA powerhouse.
He was drafted No. 24 in the first round by the Memphis Grizzlies and played two and a half seasons there before going on to Houston and spending another three.
Then he came to Toronto and changed that franchise.
In nine seasons in Toronto, he led them to the greatest stretch of Raptors basketball: Seven playoff appearances, five consecutive seasons of 50+ wins, two Eastern Conference Finals and the franchise's lone championship in 2019. With Toronto, Lowry was a six-time All-Star who averaged 17.5 points, 7.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game while hitting 37.7% of his shots from 3-point range. Lowry remains the Raptors' all-time leader in assists, steals, and 3-point field goals.
Lowry will join Vince Carter as the only other player with his number retired by the Raptors.
Red Bull New York locked up its biggest star to a new contract.
Julian Hall, the extraordinary 18-year-old striker who has become a household name for soccer fans this season, signed a four-year MLS contract through the 2029-30 season, occupying a U-22 initiative spot on the Red Bulls’ roster. Hall is now the youngest player in MLS history to sign a U-22 initiative deal at 18 years, 156 days old.
The Manhattan native’s deal with the Red Bulls had been set to expire next winter, The Athletic reported, and the new one puts in place a mechanism for the MLS club to be in a good position when the highly touted player eventually moves on to the next stage of his career.
Red Bull New York forward Julian Hall (16) kicks the ball against Orlando City SC during the first half at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday, August 1, 2026, in Harrison, New Jersey. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
“This club has been a huge part of my development, and I’m grateful for everyone who has believed in me and helped me get to this point,” Hall said in a statement released through the Red Bulls. “I feel like I’m continuing to grow as a player, and I’m excited to keep working, keep improving and help this team achieve our goals.”
Hall has been nothing short of impressive this season, recording 12 goals and five assists across all competitions and becoming the youngest player to record a hat trick in MLS history when he did so in a May 13 win over the Crew.
The impressive campaign has drawn the attention of a number of European clubs that are showing interest in bringing the teen overseas.
Marseille of France’s Ligue 1, Newcastle United of England’s Premier League, Atletico Madrid of Spain’s La Liga, Germany’s Red Bull Leipzig — owned by Red Bull New York’s parent company Red Bull GmbH — and Premier League side Hull City are all said to be interested in Hall, amNewYork reported.
The new deal with the Red Bulls will keep Hall from leaving the club for free as he would have if he departed after his current contract expired.
In an interview with ESPN, Hall said that “as a kid it’s always been a dream to go to Europe,” but his focus right now is to “help the team and progress forward.”
Julian Hall has signed a four-year contract extension with the Red Bulls. ISI Photos via Getty Images
Hall’s international services are still up in the air, with Poland having attempted to recruit him to play for its national team, which he is eligible to play for through his heritage. Hall came up through the U.S. youth national team program.
In a conversation with The Post earlier this month, head of Sport Julian de Guzman said that he “would not be surprised if Julian gets called up to a senior men’s national team before the end of this year.”
That group includes his dad — longtime Lakers star Mychal Thompson. The elder Thompson made that clear during an appearance on the “Locked On Heat” podcast on Wednesday.
Los Angeles Lakers icon Mychal Thompson looks on from the sidelines. NBAE via Getty Images
When speaking about Klay’s fit with the Heat and the Lakers, Mychal said, “Very similar fit; it have been perfect on either [team]. He fit perfectly here with Luka [Dončić], and Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler, and the outside shooting the Lakers need, the outside shooting that Luka Dončić loves to have around him. But it’s the exact same of perfect fit in Miami too.”
Klay ended his 13-season tenure with the Warriors after joining the Dallas Mavericks via free agency in 2024.
The Lakers reportedly offered Thompson a huge contract at the time, but Klay signed a three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavericks instead, largely because he thought the team had a clearer path to winning a championship.
Klay Thompson of the Miami Heat speaks to the media during an introductory press conference at Kaseya Center on August 25, 2026, in Miami, Florida. (Getty Images) Getty Images
“I wanted him to be [on the] Lakers; I thought the Lakers would be perfect for him the last three years, especially when he became a free agent a few years ago, when the Lakers are pursuing him heavily,” Mychal said. “I thought he’d be perfect at the time to team up with LeBron and Anthony Davis to provide that outside shooting, along with Austin Reaves, that we needed.”
Mychal, who has worked as a Lakers radio color commentator for over 20 years, was then asked what the problem with his Lakers pitches to Klay.
“The only thing I could figure out is, since I work for the Lakers, and I travel with the Lakers, I guess he just don’t want to be on the road with me, in [the] hotel,” Mychal said somewhat jokingly.
“He don’t want me knocking on his door to be checking on curfew, make sure he’s there. So I guess that’s why [he] figured, ‘I’m not going there to have my dad follow me on the road!'”
Klay will instead joining a retooled Heat team after it acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster trade with the Bucks this offseason.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 24: Gabby Williams #1 and Janelle Salaun #13 of the Golden State Valkyries celebrate the win against the Minnesota Lynx after the game at Target Center on August 24, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Valkyries defeated the Lynx 80-66. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – AUGUST 24: Gabby Williams #1 and Janelle Salaun #13 of the Golden State Valkyries celebrate the win against the Minnesota Lynx after the game at Target Center on August 24, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Valkyries defeated the Lynx 80-66. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Liberty are back in the win column following a 109-102 victory over the Indiana Fever. Leonie Fiebich came up big with 20 points, helping the Liberty hold off a stellar Indiana backcourt led by Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell.
On Thursday, the Liberty will face one of their toughest remaining tests before the WNBA’s FIBA World Cup break. New York enters the matchup at 23-15 and clinched a playoff berth on Sunday after a Fire loss.
On the other side, the Golden State Valkyries are 27-11 and have won both matchups this season.
Game Info & Broadcast Details
Matchup: New York Liberty (23-15) vs. Golden State Valkyries (27-11)
Date: Thursday, August 27, 2026
Tip-off Time: 8 PM ET/5 PM PST
Venue: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY)
TV Channel: Prime Video
Livestream: Prime Video
Head to Head: Liberty vs. Valkyries
Golden State leads the season series 2-0.
The Valkyries won the first matchup 87-70 at Barclays Center on May 21, then defeated New York 76-67 in San Francisco on June 28. That makes Thursday’s game the final regular-season meeting between the two teams — and potentially a preview of a playoff matchup.
The Liberty are hoping to put another good outing together against a playoff team. After struggling to generate consistent offense in both meetings, Thursday provides New York with one final regular-season opportunity to solve Golden State before the FIBA break.
“It’ll be a really good test for us,” Sabrina Ionescu said, “especially toward the end of the season at seeing where we’re at, what we need to improve on, what we need to work on, but also knowing our strengths and what we do offensively and really trusting in that. Not letting their defense … make us tentative or soft.”
The Liberty have the size advantage — it’s crucial they create looks for Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart. Golden State is tops in the WNBA in opponent field goal attempts inside the restricted area and opponent’s field goal percentage.
Getting into and finishing in the paint against this team is incredibly challenging and will take a lot of determination if the Liberty want to get into the paint. The Liberty are second on offense in field goal percentage inside the restricted area — they should find quality scoring opportunities on each possession.
New York has the rest advantage as well. This is New York’s first game since Saturday night while this is Golden State’s third game this week. To make matters worse for the Valkyries, they’ve been on the road all week with one more game to go… all the way in Portland. Oof.
The key tonight will be three point shooting. The Valkyries lead the WNBA in three pointers attempted per game at 30, but are seventh in percentage at 34.6 percent. How will that look on tired legs? We’re about to find out.
Note: The World Cup break is drawing closer, and players will be making their way to Berlin soon. Golden State’s Gabby Williams, Janelle Salaün and Cecilia Zandalasini are among those expected to depart following this game, while New York will soon lose Breanna Stewart, Marine Johannes, Pauline Astier and Leonie Fiebich to their national teams.
Liberty vs. Valkyries Injury Report
Liberty: Satou Sabally – Not with team (head)
Valkyries: No players listed on the injury report
Player to Watch: Janelle Salaun
Janelle Salaün has emerged as one of Golden State’s most important offensive weapons, particularly when the Valkyries need someone to create a shot.
Salaün is second on the team in scoring and leads the Valkyries in both three-point attempts and three-point percentage. She comes off the bench and it’s no wonder why she’s the leading candidate for Sixth Player of the Year.
Salaün can get buckets from anywhere on the court, and when games slow down and scoring becomes more arduous, her ability to create her own shot will become even more valuable. Salaün only played 18 minutes last night, so we’ll see how Natalie Nakase manages her rotations tonight.
Leonie Fiebich Returns: What to Watch in Her Second Game Back
BROOKLYN, NY – AUGUST 22: Leonie Fiebich #13 of the New York Liberty is introduced before the game against the Indiana Fever on August 22, 2026 at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With Leonie Fiebich back in the saddle, the Liberty can start thinking of what a potential playoff rotation will be. Fiebich allows Chris DeMarco to experiment with more lineup combinations, keep two starters on the court in non-garbage time minutes at all times, and make life easier for everyone on the team. Fiebich does a lot of things at a high level, and that versatility allows the Liberty to look like their true selves. Leo’s not on a minutes restriction, so she’ll be out there for as long as she needs to be.
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 26: Jake McCarthy #31 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates in front of Nasim Nuñez #26 of the Washington Nationals after hitting a double during the first inning at Nationals Park on August 26, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last night was not the worst loss of the season, but it was the most humiliating. They got taken to the woodshed by a bad Rockies team. It will be a quick turnaround from that disaster, as they play a day game this afternoon. The boys will look to salvage a split.
The struggling CJ Abrams is still limited to DH duties. He is one of only a couple lefties in the lineup though. With Gabriel Hughes’ reverse splits, we will see a lot of righties. Andres Chaparro is at first base over Abimelec Ortiz in this one. Brady House, Jorbit Vivas and Keibert Ruiz are also back in the lineup. Jake Irvin will be on the mound.
The Rockies are making some changes at the bottom of the order. Superstar Hunter Goodman is out of the lineup, with Brett Sullivan catching instead. Zac Veen is also back in the lineup and is playing left. That moves Jake McCarthy to DH. As mentioned, Gabriel Hughes is on the mound.
After last night’s loss, this team has a lot of soul searching to do. Blake Butera rightly called out his team’s poor effort. Hopefully this lights a much needed spark under these players. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are sitting as a slim -107 moneyline favorite at Oracle Park tonight as they begin a four-game set with the San Francisco Giants.
However, my Diamondbacks vs. Giants predictions are targeting San Fran on the moneyline amid their impressive offensive form, and Landen Roupp's success in the Bay Area.
Find out more in my MLB picks for Thursday, Aug. 27 before first pitch at 9:45 p.m. ET.
Who will win Diamondbacks vs Giants today: Giants (-103)
The San Francisco Giants enter this contest swinging it well, carrying a 113 wRC+ across the last week. That profile plays against Jose Cabrera, who has allowed seven earned runs over his last two outings while struggling with command.
Cabrera has not pitched in the big leagues since July 8 and owns a 5.46 FIP across four appearances this season, making him tough to trust.
Landen Roupp is not in peak form either, but he has been more reliable at Oracle Park, posting a 3.50 FIP while allowing just 0.60 HR/9 at home.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are hovering around league average offensively, and Roupp’s home profile gives San Francisco the cleaner edge.
Play this pick up to -130.
COVERS INTEL: The Giants are consistently squaring up the baseball with a 47.9% hard-hit rate and 13% barrel rate in their last seven games. For the season, San Fran's hard-hit rate sits at 37.5%.
Diamondbacks vs Giants Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (+109)
I’m targeting the Over 8.5 in the Bay Area.
Arizona has a 101 wRC+ over the last week, which is respectable enough to contribute here. Roupp has held his own at Oracle Park, but he is not untouchable, and San Francisco’s bullpen owns a 4.03 FIP over its last 31.2 frames.
The Diamondbacks’ relief corps has been even more vulnerable. Over the last week, Arizona’s pen owns a 5.95 FIP while surrendering 2.36 HR/9. The Giants should have a clear scoring path against both Cabrera and a struggling bullpen given their recent offensive form.
Arizona has enough offensive life to chip in, strengthening the Over case.
Play this pick down to +100.
Diamondbacks vs Giants home run prediction: Rafael Devers (+442)
Rafael Devers is one of the hottest power hitters in baseball at the moment. He has smacked four home runs over his previous seven games while carrying a ridiculous .500 ISO during that span.
The slugger owns a 48.5% fly-ball rate at home this season and a 55% fly-ball rate over the last week. Even better, he has turned 36.4% of those recent fly balls into home runs.
With Cabrera prone to the long ball at 1.53 HR/9 this season and Arizona’s bullpen also allowing too many homers lately, Devers has multiple paths to another bomb tonight.
Play this pick down to +400.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 58-70, -20.33 units
Over/Under bets: 70-54, +5.77 units
Diamondbacks vs Giants weather
Weather at Oracle Park looks cool and clean tonight, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures falling from 66°F to 63°F. Winds start around 9 mph before easing to 3–5 mph, and rain chances sit at 0% throughout. No delay concern, though the cool air could slightly limit carry.
Diamondbacks vs Giants odds
Moneyline: Diamondbacks -107 | Giants -103
Run line: Diamondbacks -1.5 (+152) | Giants +1.5 (-168)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+109) | Under 8.5 (-126)
Diamondbacks vs Giants trend
The Over is 5-0-2 in Roupp's last 7 starts as an underdog. Find more MLB betting trends for Diamondbacks vs. Giants.
How to watch Diamondbacks vs Giants and game info
Location
Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
Date
Thursday, August 27, 2026
First pitch
9:45 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Jose Cabrera (0-2, 5.60 ERA)
Giants starting pitcher
Landen Roupp (7-13, 4.34 ERA)
Diamondbacks vs Giants latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Atlanta Braves (78-55) have announced themselves as World Series contenders this week with a pair of wins over the LA Dodgers (80-53). Tonight, they go for the sweep.
Last night's game had the feel of a playoff game. Atlanta struck first when Matt Olson launched his 37th home run of the season in the first, but Los Angeles answered quickly scoring once in the second and twice in the third thanks to a two-run blast from Tommy Edman that gave Los Angeles a 3-1 lead. The Braves rallied in the fourth. Austin Riley drove in a run with a sacrifice fly before rookie catcher Drake Baldwin ripped a two-run double, turning a deficit into a 4-3 Atlanta advantage. Baldwin finished with three hits and two RBIs. Atlanta added another run in the sixth when Sean Murphy connected for a solo homer to make it 5-3. The Dodgers battled back in the seventh. Mookie Betts singled home Shohei Ohtani, and Edman later drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 5-5. The game ultimately was decided in the ninth. Lane Thomas doubled against Dodgers’ closer Tanner Scott before Riley was intentionally walked. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker countered with Ha-Seong Kim, who delivered a two-out walk-off single to left field, scoring Thomas and sending the Braves to a dramatic 6-5 victory.
The victory gave Atlanta consecutive one-run wins to open the series. It was their third win in a row and maintained their lead in the NL East at 4.5 games over the Phillies. The Dodgers are still comfortably ahead in the NL West but now its game on in the race for the top two seeds in the National League. Milwaukee has a two game lead over the Dodgers for the top seed and the Braves are now within two games of the Dodgers.
Los Angeles hands the ball to its ace, Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-7, 2.61 ERA). The righthander takes the mound tonight in excellent form. Over his last five starts, he has compiled a 1.97 ERA and recorded quality starts in four of those five outings. The Dodgers have won his last three starts and five of his last six. Atlanta counters with veteran left-hander Chris Sale (12-9, 2.20 ERA). The southpaw has been nearly untouchable at Truist Park carrying a 1.65 home ERA. Sale has posted a 2.70 ERA over his last five starts overall and produced a quality start in each of the five.
The Game within the Game Tonight: Chris Sale has allowed just eight home runs in 135 innings. The Dodgers rank fifth in the National League with 168 home runs. Who blinks tonight?
Lets dive further into today’s game and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game Details and How to Watch: Dodgers vs. Braves
Date: Thursday, August 27, 2026
Time: 7:15PM EST
Site: Truist Park
City: Atlanta, GA
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, FS1, BravesVision, Spectrum SportsNet LA
Peacock offers one of the most comprehensive live sports streaming lineups available today, bringing together the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, Premier League, NCAA football, NCAA basketball, golf, motorsports, and major global sporting events in a single service.
The Latest Odds: Dodgers vs. Braves
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: LA Dodgers (+111), Atlanta Braves (-119)
Spread: Dodgers +1.5 (-217), Braves -1.5 (+177)
Total: 6.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers – Dodgers vs. Braves for August 27
Braves: Chris Sale Season Totals: 135.0 IP, 12-9, 2.20 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 166K, 28 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Dodgers vs. Braves
Mookie Betts is 5-14 including 1 HR in his career against Chris Sale
Freddie Freeman is 4-12 including 2 HRs against Sale
Teoscar Hernandez has struck out 8 times in 20 ABs against Sale
Ha-Seong Kim is 2-5 including 1 HR in his career against Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Yoshinobu Yamamoto has struck out 9 batters in each of his last 2 starts
Chris Sale has struck out 6+ hitters in each of his last 6 starts and 8+ in 4 of the 6
Matt Olson’s HR last night was his 1st since August 16
Drake Baldwin is riding a modest 3-game hitting streak (6-12)
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Dodgers vs. Braves
The Dodgers are 54-79 on the Run Line this season
The Braves are 72-61 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 60 times in Atlanta’s 133 games this season (60-67-6)
The OVER has cashed 62 times in LA’s 133 games this season (62-70-1)
Expert picks & predictions: Dodgers vs. Braves for August 27
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Braves:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Dodgers on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 6.5
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The resurgent Boston Red Sox are headed to the Bronx to take on the New York Yankees in their biggest series of the 2026 regular season.
Things were much different the last time these clubs faced off in late June at Fenway Park. Boston entered that four-game series seemingly at rock bottom with a 32-46 record, while New York sat pretty atop the American League East standings at 48-31.
The Red Sox pulled off a stunning sweep of their storied rival, marking the start of a historic run that included a franchise-record-tying 15-game win streak. Since the start of that series on June 25, Boston has been the best team in baseball with a 41-14 record.
That remarkable turnaround has placed the Red Sox in the second AL Wild Card spot with one month left in the campaign. This weekend’s series is a likely playoff preview, as New York would host Boston in the AL Wild Card Series if the season ended today. If the Sox take at least three of four at Yankee Stadium, they will overtake the Yankees for the top spot in the Wild Card standings.
Suffice to say, there’s plenty at stake heading into Friday’s series opener. Here are the top storylines for the weekend:
“They can say whatever they want… but they’re not really in a position to be talking, considering how the standings are,” he said of Sox fans trolling him. “Whatever they want to say, it’s just kind of useless. It just goes in one ear and out the other.”
The Red Sox were seven games behind the Yankees when Schlitter made those comments. Now, they’re 2.5 games back with a chance to overtake their archrival for the top AL Wild Card spot and second place in the AL East.
Boston owns a 41-14 record since June 25, when it started its four-game sweep of New York. The Yankees have gone a modest 27-26 in that span.
Postseason implications
If the Red Sox win at least three of their four games in the Bronx, they will overtake the Yankees and move into position to host the Wild Card Series at Fenway Park as the No. 1 AL Wild Card.
Last year, New York hosted Boston in the Wild Card Series and won in three games.
Reinforcements coming?
Outfielder/designated hitter Roman Anthony, shortstop Trevor Story, and utility infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa are currently rehabbing at Triple-A Worcester. All three are in Worcester’s lineup for Thursday night, but there’s a chance at least one of them will join the big-league club in New York this weekend.
The question is, who gets sent down? Role players like Nick Sogard, Mickey Gasper, Anthony Seigler, Andruw Monasterio, and Jahmai Jones have stepped up during Boston’s remarkable turnaround.
Inserting Anthony back into the lineup should be relatively simple, but Story and Kiner-Falefa will shake up the infield mix, and it’s far from a guarantee that either will be impactful. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has some difficult decisions to make.
Who’s hot
Red Sox
Mickey Gasper: .417/.576/1.167, 5 HR, 12 RBI in nine games since call-up on Aug. 17.
Jarren Duran: .321/.345/.643, 2 HR, 5 RBI over last eight games (game-winning extra-innings grand slam on Tuesday).
Erik Miller: 0.00 ERA, 18 K, 3 BB in 10 appearances since joining Boston at Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline (10.1 IP).
Yankees
Luis Garcia Jr.: .306/.354/.569, 5 HR, 11 RBI in 19 games since joining New York at Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.: .435/.519/.739, 1 HR, 5 RBI over last seven games.
Cam Schlittler: 1-0, 1.47 ERA, 22 K, 6 BB over last three starts (18.1 IP).
Who’s not
Red Sox
Wilyer Abreu: .048/.130/.095, 0 HR, 1 RBI over last five games.
Jake Bennett: .5.73 ERA, 21 K, 7 BB over last four starts (22 IP).
Patrick Sandoval: 5.66 ERA, 21 K, 12 BB over last four starts (20.2 IP).
Yankees
Heliot Ramos: .113/.230/.189, 0 HR, 1 RBI in 16 games since joining New York at Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline.
Trent Grisham: .162/.326/.324, 2 HR, 5 RBI over last 10 games.
Jose Caballero: .100/.222/.100, 0 HR, 3 RBI over last 13 games.
It was back to winning ways yesterday with another 2-1 day to keep the August heat turned up on the pitcher and MLB player props.
It's about time the Brewers slow down Jacob Misiorowski with a big lead in the NL Central, bettors will see the best of Yoshinobu Yamamoto tonight vs. Chris Sale and the Dodgers wins dipping, and finally, I'll show you where you can find a better price when a pitcher's Over 2.5 earned run prop pops to the Over.
These are my favorite strikeout and pitcher props for Thursday, August 27.
Best MLB strikeout props and starting pitcher picks today
Player/Team
Pick
Odds
Jacob Misiorowski
Under 8.5 strikeouts
-108
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Over 6.5 strikeouts
+124
Giants first-five team total
F5 TT Over 2.5
+124
Strikeout prop: Jacob Misiorowski Under 8.5 strikeouts (-108)
Jacob Misiorowski can coast into his NL Cy Young win this year, but the innings are stacking up, and the Milwaukee Brewers are 6.5 games up on the Cubs for the top spot in the NL Central. This is a young arm with 145 innings already and a hopeful long playoff run ahead. He threw just 130 innings all of last year, so Milwaukee has plenty of reason to manage his workload. The projection today is 91 pitches and 7.55 strikeouts.
The righty has had a long leash in his last two starts, throwing 98 and 96 pitches while recording 18 outs in both, yet he failed to reach seven Ks in both outings. There are plenty of routes to this Under: he could be on a tighter leash, fail to reach nine Ks even with a full workload, or have his start shortened by the threat of rain.
Then there's the possibility of big winds blowing out today at Citi Field, which could make things even tougher. The projections think this is a full strikeout too long and one of my favorite bets on the MLB picks page.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SNY, Brewers.TV
Strikeout prop: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Over 6.5 strikeouts (+124)
I'm betting on motivation and a long leash from Yoshinobu Yamamoto today. The Los Angeles Dodgers are in danger of being swept by the Atlanta Braves, something that's already happened three times since the start of July. L.A. needs the best of Yamamoto today, and the matchup against Chris Sale should bring out the best in an elite pitcher who has a track record of thriving in higher-leverage opportunities.
The L.A. starter has a 100-pitch leash and has hit this prop in 50% of his starts since the start of July, while coming off back-to-back nine-strikeout outings. Atlanta is a Top-15 K% matchup, and even if this is slightly below 50% probable, the price is still solid expected value.
I have this around 48% today, putting the fair price at just under even money after accounting for the margin.
Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
Where to watch: BravesVision, SportsNet Los Angeles
Giants prop: First-five team total Over 2.5 (+124)
I understand this doesn't sound like a pitcher prop, but the Arizona Diamondbacks are starting Triple-A call-up Jose Cabrera, and I want to bet his Over 2.5 earned runs at +117. This is a pitcher with an outs market of 14.5 and isn't expected to sniff the 16th out. So why would I bet +117 and risk the heartbreak of giving up unearned outs when I can get +124 for just runs?
It makes no sense, and that's why you should bet the Giants' first five innings team total Over instead of a bad, short-leashed pitcher Over earned runs. THE BAT is projecting 2.46 earned runs from Cabrera but 2.63 runs for the Giants through the first five innings.
Today's lesson: If you like an Over 2.5 earned runs prop from a bad pitcher who likely isn't going more than five innings, the opposing first-five team total Over is almost always the better option and offers better value.
Time: 9:45 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCS-Bay Area, Dbacks.TV
Josh Inglis' 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 24-20, +6.37 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Paige Lorenze got real about the WAG life and why she's "obsessed" with her viral moment at the Queen's Club Championships in 2024 with husband, American tennis star, Tommy Paul.
Paige Lorenze got real about the WAG life and why she’s “obsessed” with her viral moment at the Queen’s Club Championships in 2024 with husband, American tennis star Tommy Paul.
At the time, fans called out Lorenze for repeatedly grabbing and “clawing” at Paul’s neck in a PDA moment while the pair posed with the winning trophy.
“I’m obsessed with that [picture of us with the trophy] … by the way, whenever something happens like this that is sort of like talked about a lot, I am making more jokes than anyone,” Lorenze, 28, said during an appearance on the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast.
Tommy Paul and Paige Lorenze posing with the trophy after he edged out Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti to win the 2024 Queen’s Club Championships in London on June 23, 2024. Getty Images
“That whole week after I was clawing the f–k out of his neck. We were making so many jokes about it … It’s also not that f–king serious. What are we talking about?
“Tommy won Queens … and in the [United Kingdom], the reporters are very intense and the paparazzi are very vocal, [saying] ‘Paige, kiss him! Hold onto him!’
“And I was very overstimulated. By the way, I would’ve done this overstimulated or not. I’ll claw the f–k out of that man. That’s my f–king man — would do it all again. [I] can’t wait for him to win another tournament because I’m going to do it again. I’m gonna double down.”
Paige Lorenze during an appearance on the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast. YouTube/Not Skinny But Not Fat
Lorenze joked that she has zero regrets over “her death grip” on Paul’s neck.
“The last few rounds of photos there was this really awkward moment where I was grabbing onto his neck and posing, and there was this really funny photo that that went viral and everyone was like, ‘Holy s–t she’s clawing the f–k out of his neck [and] making a whole thing about her death grip,'” Lorenze recalled.
“And I’m like, ‘Yeah, have you seen how hot Tommy is? Babe, you’re lucky I wasn’t choking him out.'”
The Dairy Boy founder added that she’s currently going through the process to change her last name legally to Paul.
“It’s an honor to me to have his last name … I want to share my last name with my children and I just love him so much,” she said.
“I’m traditional in that way. I think marriage is so beautiful and it was never a question (to change my name).”
Tommy Paul and Paige Paul, formerly Paige Lorenze, at their wedding at Old Westbury Gardens on Long Island, New York, on July 14, 2026. Instagram/@lutes_bartlett
Lorenze brought up her future kids a few times and explained that she wants a big family.
“Tommy wanted to have kids before we even got married,” she said. “He wants to be a dad so bad.
“… We’ll have kids soon … I’m so excited. I want a lot of kids, like five or six. I just love big families.”
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 15: A general view of the Houston Rockets logo on court prior to the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Toyota Center on January 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the calendar about to switch over to September, the NBA inches closer and closer to a new season. The Houston Rockets and the rest of the NBA won’t officially be back on the court until the end of the month, when teams start training camp, but the Rockets are still filling out the end of their bench as the season approaches.
The Rockets’ likely main rotation of their five starters plus reserves, Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard, Steven Adams, Marcus Smart, and Bogdan Bogdanović, is set in stone to start the season. Players like Clint Capela and Jae’Sean Tate will play sparingly depending on other players resting and injuries. Other players on the roster, such as rookie Bruce Thornton, will spend most of their time with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The Rockets did make another move Wednesday as they fill out their last two-way deal.
Who is Rafael Castro?
Rafael Castro is a 6-10 center out of George Washington. Castro played all four seasons in college, spending three of them at Providence before transferring to George Washington. Castro is a defensive-minded center but also showed some offensive skills.
In his junior and senior years, he averaged 15.6 points and shot 64.4 percent from the field. However, it was on defense that he made his name, as he was a two-time Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team selection and a finalist for the 2025-26 Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year Award. Castro averaged 1.52 blocks and 1.48 steals in his final two seasons in college. Castro played three games for Milwaukee in this year’s Summer League, where he averaged 2 points and 2.4 rebounds in 13.3 minutes a game
Castro will spend most of his time with the Vipers as he continues to develop his skills, since playing in the G League will give him the minutes he needs to round out his game. Chances are slim that he will play at all for the Rockets this season, with the team already having three centers, but as in every season, you never know how it will play out.
In a related move, the Rockets released guard Tristen Newton, who played mainly for the Vipers last season. The Rockets also released another guard, JD Davison, a few weeks ago, as the backcourt rotation was already set with Fred VanVleet’s return and Smart as his backup.
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 22: Colorado Rockies pitcher Gabriel Hughes (43) pitches in the first inning during a game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 22, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals close out their four-game series this morning at Nationals Park. Colorado enters at 52-81, while Washington enters at 62-73.
Monday’s 13-3 loss extended the Rockies’ losing streak to a season-high seven games. During that stretch, Colorado was outscored 57-24, the rotation went 0-7 with a 9.64 ERA across 32.2 innings, and the offense averaged just 3.4 runs per game.
The Rockies have responded with two straight wins. They snapped the streak Tuesday behind an encouraging major-league debut from Mason Adams, who allowed one run over four-plus innings while striking out five. They followed it Wednesday with a 13-1 win powered by a loud offense and seven innings of one-run ball from Tanner Gordon.
Now they have a chance to leave Washington with three wins in four games.
Rookie right-hander Gabriel Hughes gets the ball for Colorado in his ninth major-league start, still looking for his first win.
Hughes enters at 0-5 with a 6.54 ERA, though the expected numbers are more encouraging. His 3.46 xERA, .230 xBA and 4.5% barrel rate suggest the quality of contact against him has been better than the surface results.
The pitch mix is still fastball-heavy. Hughes throws his four-seamer 55% of the time, and his fastball usage climbs over 60% when including the sinker. The four-seamer has not missed many bats, but it has limited damage, holding hitters to a .324 xSLG and a 28.2% hard-hit rate.
His hard-contact suppression is encouraging, but his low chase rate, low whiff rate and modest strikeout rate are working against him.
The curveball is the pitch to watch behind the fastball. Hughes has thrown it only 10.5% of the time, but hitters have a .326 xSLG against it with a 31.4% whiff rate and a 52.9% strikeout rate. It is still a small sample, but the numbers are interesting.
Washington counters with Jake Irvin, who gives the Rockies a unique look but is also a pitcher they should have a chance to hit.
The 29-year-old righty enters today with a 6.53 ERA in August. He has completed six innings in each of his last two starts, but the overall month has still been rough.
Standing 6-foot-6, Irvin gets excellent extension and works from a lower slot, with a 27-degree arm angle. He works with six pitches, anchored by three fastballs: a four-seamer, sinker and cutter. The four-seamer leads the arsenal at 28.2%, followed by his curveball at 23.4% and sinker at 19.7%. The cutter checks in at 15.8%, while the sweeper and changeup are used less often.
The curveball has been his best pitch by run value. It is not a big 12-6 shape. It is tighter, with more horizontal action, and the velocity gap is real: his fastballs sit in the low 90s, while the curveball averages around 78 mph.
After Wednesday night’s 13-run outburst, the Rockies have a decent chance to keep the offense moving if they force Irvin into the zone and avoid letting the curveball steal too many easy counts.
Connor Norby starts at second base after hitting his first career grand slam Wednesday night. Norby has hit .310/.408/.571 with two home runs and nine RBI in 14 games since joining the Rockies. Troy Johnston gets the start in right field after going deep last night and hitting .318/.444/.636 over his last seven games. Zac Veen is also back in the lineup, starting in left field.
And then there is the 63-win chase.
Colorado needs to finish 11-18 to reach 63 wins, and the schedule does not exactly open up after this series. Twelve of the Rockies’ remaining games come against sub-.500 teams: Baltimore, Detroit, St. Louis and Seattle. That sounds helpful until you put the group together. Those four teams are a combined 257-277, good for a .481 winning percentage.
A .481 winning percentage is exactly what the Rockies managed in April. They have not played at that level in any month since.
A 62-win team and a 63-win team are both bad teams. But after three straight seasons with 100 or more losses, including 119 losses in 2025, the Rockies need some kind of finish line worth tracking.
So, does getting to 63 wins matter? Maybe. Maybe not.
But beating Washington this morning would make the tough road to 63 feel a little more manageable.
The frenetic fight to make the MLB postseason in the American League has left oddsmakers in a state of constant chaos.
Key Takeaways
The Guardians saw their playoff odds jump by 33.1 percentage points over the last week.
The Twins lost 28.5 percentage points in postseason probability over that same span.
Oddsmakers view the White Sox as the strongest World Series contenders among the teams in in the AL wild-card picture.
The race for the AL wild card is one of the closest in recent memory. Seven teams are within 5.5 games of earning the third and final spot, which the Guardians hold entering Thursday's slate. The Guardians are also just 2.5 games behind the AL Central-leading White Sox, meaning Cleveland could overtake Chicago for the division lead and push the White Sox into the wild-card places.
Data from baseball analytics platform FanGraphs shows noticeable changes for teams over the week ranging from Aug. 19 up to and including Aug. 26.
Team
Aug. 26 Probability
Aug. 19 Probability
Change
Chicago White Sox
77.6%
63.5%
+14.1%
Cleveland Guardians
62.5%
29.4%
+33.1%
Houston Astros
44.4%
57.5%
-13.1%
Seattle Mariners
41.9%
32%
+9.9%
Texas Rangers
32.9%
38%
-5.1%
Baltimore Orioles
15.8%
9%
+6.8%
Toronto Blue Jays
13.4%
22.1%
-8.7%
Minnesota Twins
10.5%
39%
-28.5%
Detroit Tigers
2.3%
14.2%
-11.9%
These percentages are very similar to the implied probabilities of MLB betting odds listed at FanDuel.
As of Thursday morning, these are the odds for teams in wild-card picture to make and miss the postseason
Team
Make Postseason
Miss postseason
Chicago White Sox
-600
+410
Cleveland Guardians
-168
+132
Houston Astros
+118
-148
Seattle Mariners
+138
-176
Texas Rangers
+198
-265
Baltimore Orioles
+440
-670
Toronto Blue Jays
+470
-700
Minnesota Twins
+920
-2,200
Detroit Tigers
+1,600
-10,000
Who is in the best position?
The regular season ends Sept. 27, leaving teams with exactly one month to make their final postseason pushes.
Although the White Sox are heavy favorites to make the postseason, they still have two series against the Twins and battles with the Astros, Guardians, and Tigers - all of whom are in the hunt for the wild card.
The Guardians get the Blue Jays, Tigers, Orioles, Twins, and White Sox, among others. The remaining strength of schedule for the two top AL wild-card contenders rank 28th- and 26th-hardest, respectively, of 30 teams, according to Tankathon.
The Astros face a tough stretch with upcoming series against the Red Sox, White Sox, and Guardians, while their remaining schedule ranks 13th in difficulty. By contrast, the Mariners have the easiest remaining schedule, which features eight games against the Angels, seven against the Athletics, and three against the Rockies.
The Rangers have the most difficult upcoming schedule among AL wild-card contenders, ranking 10th in the category. The Orioles are 17th; the Blue Jays are 29th; the Twins are 25th; and the Tigers are 21st.
The strength-of-schedule rankings for AL wild-card contenders are as follows:
White Sox: 28th
Guardians: 26th
Astros: 13th
Mariners: 30th
Rangers: 10th
Orioles: 17th
Blue Jays: 29th
Twins: 25th
Tigers: 21st
World Series odds
As the race to make the wild card continues, the Dodgers continue to have a comfortable lead in World Series odds. FanDuel lists the back-to-back champions at +160 (38.5% implied chance), well ahead of the closest challengers, the Brewers (+750) and Yankees (+800).
The Rays (+1,100), Red Sox (+1,300), and Cubs (+1,400) fill out the list of the next challengers. The team in the wild-card picture with the shortest World Series odds is the White Sox, at +2,500.
Winning a series and still losing ground in the playoff race is not ideal for any ballclub, but the timing couldn’t be any more unfortunate as was for the Dbacks after taking 2 of 3 from the Cincinnati Reds and still dropping a game in the standings to the scorching hot Padres and Phillies, as the snakes would then welcome the #1 Wild Card team (at the moment at least) in the Chicago Cubs to town for a tough 3 game series. As we discussed on the last episode of Dbacks Dispatch, we all agreed that a series win would be the bare minimum requirement if the Diamondbacks want to stay afloat in this race, as dropping this series or even getting swept by the hands of the Cubs could potentially be a brutal blow to the D’Backs playoff chances.
Tipping Culture Is Out Of Hand!
The first topic of this episode came from Monday nights 7-0 clubbing from the Cubbies, as Merrill Kelly would continue his struggling ways in August (better this start than previous at least), as the most sign of life the Diamondbacks would show all night would be when D’Backs bench coach Jeff Bannister and pitching coach Brian Kaplan would be in a yelling match with Cubs 3rd-Base coach Quintin Berry and other members of Chicago’s bench over Berry reading Merrill’s pitch grips and relaying that information to the Cubs hitters which Kelly would later call “bush league”.
“I think it’s bullshit when it comes from a coach.”
Pitcher Merrill Kelly and the Dbacks coaches were pissed after catching Cubs third base coach Quintin Berry seemingly relaying signs to hitters pic.twitter.com/FA029H7JYR
The fellas and I discussed whether or not we were in agreement with the mainstay, or if this was something that the Diamondbacks potentially overreacted to at the moment. We were all in agreement that while some things like what Quintin Berry did could be seen as “bush league” depending on ones point of view, the blame should mostly be on Merrill for tipping his pitches, as even Torey Lovullo looked into it and found that nothing the Cubs did was against the rules and this most likely was Merrill just finding an outlet to vent his frustrations for a very subpar month of August.
Waldy and the Walk-Off Factory
After getting blanked 7-0 in Monday night’s affair, the Cubs starter Clay Holmes was copying Kevin Gausman’s homework from the night before as he also kept the D’Backs offense on their toes and shut them out through his 7 innings of work. It looked like it would be another night where the Snakes offense appeared to forget to offer rum and cigars to Jobu before the game. Thankfully for the D’Backs (and all of our mental well being) the offense decided to show up fashionably late top the party and get 3 runs back in the 8th (1 off a Gabi check swing double and 2 more on a Perdomo single) and get the team right back into the fight by making it a 1 run deficit. It looked like the D’Backs comeback might fall just short as Jose Fernandez sat at 2nd base with 2 outs, Ryan Waldschmidt would once again come up big in the clutch and would launch a walk off 2-Run shot into the left field bleachers for his 3rd bomb on the year and 2nd walk off home run of his short career.
Ryan Waldschmidt is the only MLB player with multiple walk-off home runs when trailing this year
Only others with 2 walk-off HR at all this season: Colton Cowser & Ketel Marte https://t.co/tOEifDbq67
Gabe, Brandon and I discussed just what was going through our minds during that rally in both the 8th and 9th innings along with what emotions went through our heads during Waldys big moment in the 9th. Gabes frustration from watching Kepler and the struggling offense in person had him ready to chug a few more tall boys to drown his sorrows but the exciting comeback and walk off from Waldschmidt had him leaving the stadium with a happy buzz and happy that all the snowbird Cub fans left without the same feeling. Brandon mentioned that it was so nice to see the Snakes get what we call “MLB The Show’d” on the Gabriel Moreno check swing double, he also gave manager Torey Lovullo credit for the decisions he made with the bench that led to this crazy comeback.
Ace-uardo Rodriguez Flies The L
Trying to follow up an ending like Tuesday night’s walkoff excitement is always a tough task, but if there was anyone that would be able to answer the call and build off that win into a series victory over a strong wild card opponent that would be the Diamondbacks 2026 Ace Eduardo Rodriguez.
So far it has been the best year for Rodriguez in Sedona red and teal with his 2.50 ERA (lowest since 3.30 in 2023 and only time being below 3), 162 IP and 1.19 WHIP being his best marks by far and some of his best numbers since his days pitching in the American League, and that kind of performance is what the Snakes needed as their struggling offense would only be able to muster 2 runs of support for ERod but it was more than enough as Rodriguez would go 7 shutty (might have been helped by a no call on a potential balk with PCA at 3rd base in the 6th) with 9 strikeouts. This outing adds on to his resume of his impressive outings against some of the best teams in the NL this year.
#Dbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez in '26 versus top NL competition.
Atlanta (x2), LAD (x4), Milwaukee (x2), Chicago (x1)
9 starts, 1.81 ERA, 1.02 WHIP 54.2 IP, 42 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 14 BB, 46 K
Absolutely dominant.
— Arizona Diamondbacks | Stats & Info (@DbacksStatsInfo) August 26, 2026
Brandon, Gabe and I talked about how much of a blessing this kind of season has been from Rodriguez in a year where the Diamondbacks starting pitching depth has been pushed to its limits, while also asking each other if this season has made up for his rough 2 seasons to start his D’Backs career. Gabe believes that Rodriguez has almost single handedly saved this team from being well out of the wild card race with the performances we’ve gotten out of him and that his health has been a big factor to his success to his start this year. Brandon decided to steal Merrill’s nickname and dub Eduardo the “Mainstay” of the 2026 staff due to him making all his starts and being healthy when seemingly every other starter has had issues in that area, and in regards to his contract he believe4s that its turned the thought process on ERod’s deal from MadBum territory of “oh no how do we get rid of this guy” to “can we keep in for a few more years?”.
Giant(s) Series On The Horizon
After finishing the quick homestand with a record of 4-2 and leaving the same way they entered the desert, one game back of the Padres for that 3rd WIld Card, the Diamondbacks would be taking a trip to San Fran for a short 4 game road trip as they would matchup against the 2nd to last place Giants. The Diamondbacks have enjoyed their previous 9 meetings as they have lost just 1 game against San Francisco and have used them as their interdivisional punching bag throughout 2026.
The fellas and I agreed that while we have had what Borat would call “Great Success!” against the Giants this year, we have struggled against San Fran in past years during previous wild card races (I still have nightmares about that late September series in 2024) and the Snakes winning 3 of 4 or even sweeping the 4 game set could set them up very nicely going into a huge 3 game series against the Phillies.
In the end, these incidents probably won’t matter much to the Cubs’ postseason chances.
But I think they’re both worth discussing, especially on an off day as we await the Cubs’ return to Wrigley Field for an important seven-game homestand.
The two things I’m talking about are:
The Diamondbacks getting upset Monday about Cubs third base coach Quintin Berry allegedly relaying signs to Cubs hitters
The missed balk call on D-backs pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez on Wednesday
That stemmed from this — and yes, there was a LOT of profanity!
“I think it’s bullshit when it comes from a coach.”
Pitcher Merrill Kelly and the Dbacks coaches were pissed after catching Cubs third base coach Quintin Berry seemingly relaying signs to hitters pic.twitter.com/FA029H7JYR
Upon further review, Lovullo indicated he received a satisfactory explanation from Michael Hill, Major League Baseball’s senior vice president of on-field operations, which apparently absolved the Cubs.
“I stand corrected,” Lovullo told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s game. “I had a chance to call ‘Couns’ and apologize to him. I told him that we were wrong and they were doing everything right.
“It’s a very intense time of the year, and a lot goes on. It’s two teams trying to protect their turf. (Counsell) got it, hung up the phone and (we) went our ways and told them that I’d take care of our clubhouse, which I did.”
“Everything the Chicago Cubs were doing was perfectly legal and within the boundaries of the rules,” Lovullo said. “Yes, they were (relaying information), and good for them. They did a good coaching job; they took advantage of one of our vulnerabilities. Merrill was giving away a couple of his pitches, and the base coaches were relaying it to the hitter or the base runner.”
“Everybody’s paranoid,” Berry said. “It happens to us all the time. You’re always like, ‘Is there something? Can we clean up on our side? Do they have something?’ That’s the way the game is. Everybody’s thinking about it. Everybody’s trying to keep their house clean. You worry about that. You can’t control anything else.”
These two teams won’t face each other again this year, unless somehow they both make the postseason and wind up in an October series down the line. That’s very unlikely, but… it would probably be pretty intense after all of that.
The other incident during this series cost the Cubs a run on Wednesday.
Situation: The game is scoreless in the top of the sixth. Pete Crow-Armstrong led off with a double and went to third on a ground out. One out later, Michael Busch was at bat when this happened:
Bit of confusion in the 6th w/ #PCA on 3rd and 2 outs. All #Cubs involved thought a balk was incurred as Pete started towards home. Looked like Eduardo Rodriguez stepped off the rubber, however briefly, before the pitch.@Cubs#GoCubsGo#Dbackspic.twitter.com/EtdpVzf30m
The umpires conferred and said “no balk.” PCA was livid and had to be restrained by Berry to avoid getting tossed (and contact with the umpires, which might have resulted in a suspension).
Turns out PCA was correct:
Pete Crow-Armstrong on non-balk: "They’re out there every day like we are. Their one job is to get calls right & if they get it wrong they're supposed to talk about it, figure it out & get it right. And they didn't. … I think they find new ways to screw something up every day." https://t.co/kQbRW823ba
The umpires admitted their mistake… too late for it to make any difference. If the correct call had been made. the Cubs would have had a run and led 1-0. Would that have made a difference in the final score of the game? It’s possible. Instead of it being 1-0 in the eighth, when Ryan Zeferjahn entered and allowed Arizona a second run, it would have been 1-1 — assuming everything else went in sequence as it did in the actual game, which isn’t a sure thing either.
So my suggestion: Why not allow calls like this to be reviewable? That would have taken away any need for argument and risk of a player being ejected. In my view, there are a fair number of non-reviewable plays of this nature which really should be subject to review.
The Cubs didn’t lose this game because of this call, but it certainly would have made a difference if it had been made correctly.
All the Cubs can do is pick up and try to win the next game. They begin a stretch of 13 games in a row without an off day Friday at Wrigley Field, and seven of those games are against the division-leading Brewers. Go Cubs.
COVERS INTEL: The Giants are consistently squaring up the baseball with a 
Jacob Misiorowski
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Giants first-five team total
