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With two teams scoring 12 or more, and the other two scoring three or fewer runs, it was a day of extremes across the Dodgers minor-league affiliates.

Player of the day

Setting the tone as the leadoff batter, Charles Davalan provided a three-hit performance in a 13-run effort for the Loons on the road. Outstanding offensively as of late, in particular, Davalan has recorded multiple hits in 11 of his last 12 appearances.

Coming around to score three times, Davalan also benefited from the success of those behind him, with five of the Loons’ first six hitters recording multiple hits. Elected player of the month for his success in July, Davalan is intent on not slowing down in August.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

In Bobby Miller’s return, the talented right-handed pitcher punched out three and allowed a solo shot as the Comets thrashed the Bees in a win with a 10-run gap between the two teams. All nine starting hitters for the Comets reached base safely and scored a run—Zach Ehrhard and Alex Fitzgerald led the team with three RBI each.

Because of Miller’s short outing, the Comets turned to Landon Knack for length, with the young right-hander providing 5.1 innings, also allowing just one run. Between the two of them, Knack and Miller allowed no free passes.

Double-A Tulsa

Committing nearly as many errors (3) as they had hits (4), the Drillers lost 5-2 to the Hooks with Logan Wagner hitting a solo shot in his first game in Double-A. This Wagner home run was only one of two extra-base hits for the visiting Drillers.

Only a day after he recorded three free passes, Josue De Paula had a more trying performance, striking out three times, although he was responsible for scoring one of the Drillers’ two runs.

After reaching 100 innings on the year by covering 5.1 frames in this game against the Hooks, Adam Serwinowski suffered his third loss in his last four starts, allowing three runs.

High-A Great Lakes

Leadoff hitter Charles Davalan is closing in on a .300 average with a three-for-six performance to lead a magnificent offensive effort as the Loons put 13 past the Dragons in a win on the road. Davalan, alongside Emil Morales, hit multi-run home runs.

You can’t get to a number quite as high as 13 without contributions from several different names, and near the bottom of the order, it was Jaron Elkins standing out. The center fielder recorded four RBI on a pair of hits. Lastly, Hyun-Seok Jang’s dominant outing is worthy of praise, striking out 10 in 5.1 innings.

Single-A Ontario

For eight innings, the Tower Buzzers held the Storm to zero runs, and while Jholbran Herder nearly cost them the game in the ninth, he stranded a pair to take the 3-2 win. This outstanding pitching performance from the Tower Buzzers staff included four scoreless innings out of the bullpen from Javier Bartolazzi.

The Tower Buzzers double play combination provided the scoring, with shortstop Joendry Vargas hitting a two-run triple in the first and a few innings later, second baseman Kellon Lindsey delivering a solo shot.

Transactions

The Tower Buzzers activated right-handed pitcher Cam Leiter off the injured list. Right-handed pitcher Bobby Miller began a rehab assignment with the Comets.

Wednesday’s scores

• Salt Lake 2, Oklahoma City 12
• Corpus Christi 5, Tulsa 2
• Dayton 5, Great Lakes 13
• Lake Elsinore 2, Ontario 3

Thursday’s schedule

• 4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Jacob Frost) at Dayton (Stharlin Torres)
• 4:35 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Zach Root) at Corpus Christi (Brett Gillis)
• 5:35 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Gavin Stone) at Salt Lake (TBD)
• 6:05 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) at Lake Elsinore (Lan-Hong Su)

In baseball circles, his reputation proceeds him.    Bob Nightengale has been covering America’s Past Time for USA Today since before Isaac Parades was even born.    We ask Bob three questions for the loyal followers exclusively at The Crawfish Boxes.   

Q: Do you feel the Astros did “enough ” at the deadline?    Was there a move you would’ve liked them to make?

A: I would have loved to see the Astros get another starting pitcher, but the asking price was exorbitant, as we saw. We’ll see if they can survive the final two months without another veteran starter. I do love the fact they obtained Daulton Varsho. He’s having a down year, but he’s an outstanding center fielder and is considered an ultimate gamer. He’ll fit in great in the Astros’ clubhouse with his fiery personality. 

Q: Who challenges the Astros the rest of the way in the west if you had to choose one?    Seattle or Texas?

A: I still think Seattle is the team you have to watch. Their starting rotation is nothing short of phenomenal. They just can’t seem to hit. If they ever put it together offensively, they’ll be awfully dangerous.

Q: Finally, Yordan.  If he continues this blistering pace the final two months, where would rank that in terms of individual performances the past quarter century?

A: Alvarez is producing the greatest single season since future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera in 2012. Cabrera was the last Triple Crown winner, hitting .330 with 44 homers and 139 RBI. Now, Alvarez could be joining the exclusive club. If Alvarez simply stays healthy and produces anything like he has the past four months, he will be the unanimous MVP winner.

Yordan Alvarez has played at an MVP level all season. Now healthy, Josh Hader and Jeremy Peña have performed like All-Stars, while Hunter Brown appears to be rounding into form.

Those four are the Astros’ best players, and losing any one of them would be a major blow to the team’s postseason hopes. But it will take more than those four for Houston to maintain its lead in the American League West. These three players could go a long way toward determining the Astros’ fate:

Cristian Javier
Javier followed up his five-scoreless-inning relief appearance last week in Anaheim with a quality start Monday against the Blue Jays, allowing three runs over six innings. His velocity was up, he threw first-pitch strikes to 16 of 24 hitters, held Toronto to an 86.1 mph average exit velocity and generated a 42% chase rate.

The Astros did not add a starting pitcher at the trade deadline, so they are counting on Peter Lambert to sustain his surprising season while Javier, Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski regain their form after lengthy injury layoffs.

Javier is the most accomplished of the group, but even after allowing three runs over his last 11 innings, he will take the mound next with a 6.59 ERA. He showed flashes of his old self after returning from Tommy John surgery last season, but a shoulder strain has derailed much of his 2026 campaign.

Isaac Paredes
Paredes’ .249/.346/.413 slash line is right around his career mark, but the Astros need more if he’s going to bat directly behind Yordan Alvarez, whose 81 walks are the second most in the league. Alvarez has also been intentionally walked 23 times this season; no one else has more than nine.

With Alvarez and Jeremy Peña batting ahead of him, Paredes is going to come to the plate with runners on base more often than not. That has been the case in 20 of his last 30 plate appearances. In those situations, Paredes is 1-for-16 with three walks and a hit by pitch.

Mired in an 0-for-16 slump, Paredes popped out in his only at-bat Wednesday after Joe Espada said he wanted to give him “a mental break.” Unexpected production from the bottom of the lineup has helped offset Paredes’ recent slide, but the Astros will need him producing at a much higher level when he returns to the starting lineup Friday in San Diego. Otherwise, opponents will have little reason to pitch to Alvarez.

Bryan Abreu

Abreu tossed a 1-2-3 inning against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, extending his scoreless streak to 10 appearances. He now owns a 1.27 ERA over his last 22 outings after posting a 7.91 ERA through his first 22.

It’s been a tale of two seasons for Abreu. With Josh Hader on the IL, he opened the year as the Astros’ closer before quickly being banished to mop-up duty. He has since reclaimed his role as Houston’s top right-handed reliever.

 
He entered the season with a career 32.7% strikeout rate and a 10.8% walk rate. His velocity has started to climb, and while his chase rate remains near the bottom of the league, it has gradually improved.

Abreu’s dreadful start was a major reason the Astros found themselves 11 games under .500 through their first 51 games, but it may have an unexpected benefit.

Wednesday marked his 44th appearance in the Astros’ 116th game of the season. At the same point in 2025, he had already pitched in 52 games. Through 116 games in 2024, he had made 58 appearances, and in 2023, he had made 54.

He should be one of the freshest late-inning relievers in the American League heading into the stretch run.

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It's a slightly reduced slate on getaway day, but there is MLB action from noon until late, and I'm breaking down all the action with today's MLB moneyline picks.

I'm going with a chalk-heavy approach in these MLB picks, but there is some value to be found on underdogs, notably the San Diego Padres at even money against the Arizona Diamondbacks to cap off Thursday, Aug. 6.

MLB moneyline picks for August 6

Matchup	Pick
Angels vs Orioles	-186
Athletics vs Reds	-156
Mets vs Guardians	-104
Pirates vs Brewers	-127
Blue Jays vs Cubs	-113
Tigers vs Mariners	+117
Nationals vs Phillies	-317
White Sox vs Red Sox	-178
Marlins vs Braves	+133
Twins vs Royals	+117
Padres vs Diamondbacks	+100

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of August 6.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for August 6

Angels vs Orioles: Orioles (-186)

Orioles win probability: 65%

I want to bet against the juice, but the Los Angeles Angels have one of the worst offenses over the last 30 days, strike out more than anyone, and are deploying a starter in Ryan Johnson who suppresses hard contact but not much else. They traded one of their best hitters, Jo Adell, at the deadline, and simply won't put up much resistance against Brandon Young.

Meanwhile, the Baltimore Orioles have about a league-average offense in the last month. That'll be enough.

Athletics vs Reds: Reds (-156)

Reds win probability: 61%

The A's showed some promise early, but with Nick Kurtz sidelined again, Brent Rooker out for the season, and Zack Gelof not quite game-ready, the offense has completely dried up.

And even aside from the injuries, the Athletics own the second-worst road offense in baseball this season with an 82 wRC+ (league average is 100). Even at a hitter-friendly park like Great American Ballpark, I give the Cincinnati Reds the edge to get the job done at home. 

Mets vs Guardians: Guardians (-104)

Guardians win probability: 51%

We've only got coin-flip odds here because Nolan McLean is starting for the New York Mets, so I'll grab the home team. Foster Griffin makes his Cleveland Guardians debut, and the Mets have already waved the white flag on the season. I don't necessarily believe in Griffin's long-term success with one of the slowest fastballs in the game, but as long as he keeps locating, he should keep the Mets at bay.

Pirates vs Brewers: Brewers (-127)

Brewers win probability: 56%

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft has hit a wall. Over his last six starts, he owns a 6.75 ERA and has allowed nine home runs in 30 2/3 innings. Ignore the 4-1 record in that span, because the Pirates have given him enough run support to withstand those headwinds. Ashcraft did not, however, pick up the win against the Milwaukee Brewers when he surrendered five runs in five innings on July 11. Milwaukee's a well-oiled machine and has the third-best home record in MLB.

Blue Jays vs Cubs: Blue Jays (-113)

Blue Jays win probability: 53%

Very tempted to take the hometown Chicago Cubs as underdogs here, but the starting pitching matchup between Dylan Cease and David Peterson is too lopsided to ignore. The Toronto Blue Jays should be somewhere around -125 on the moneyline even with an offense that wouldn't hit water if it fell out of a boat.

Tigers vs Mariners: Tigers (+117)

Tigers win probability: 46%

Framber Valdez is an extreme ground-ball pitcher, which will help him navigate the winds blowing to right field at T-Mobile Park tonight. I don't give him the edge over Bryce Miller, who has been excellent, but this is a terrific value play on the Detroit Tigers, who have won four of five on this West Coast road swing.

Nationals vs Phillies: Phillies (-317)

Phillies win probability: 76%

It's Miles Mikolas vs. Cristopher Sanchez. It's as lopsided a pitching matchup as you'll see. I can't, in good conscience, go with the underdog in a cheeky bit of counterprogramming. 

White Sox vs Red Sox: Red Sox (-178)

Red Sox win probability: 64%

Until the Chicago White Sox can wake up an offense that owns an 81 wRC+ over the last 30 days, I won't be backing them in a matchup like this. While Ranger Suarez hasn't gone deep into either of his starts since coming off the injured list, the Boston Red Sox have the best bullpen ERA in baseball this year, so they are equipped to deal with extra use if the lefty gets the early hook.

Marlins vs Braves: Marlins (+133)

Marlins win probability: 43%

As good as the Atlanta Braves have been at Truist Park, this is a rock-solid value play. The Miami Marlins aren't especially good, but veteran lefty Martin Perez has largely been smoke and mirrors, with his 4.42 expected ERA far higher than his actual 3.24 ERA on the season. 

Twins vs Royals: Twins (+117)

Twins win probability: 46%

The Minnesota Twins have hit the skids offensively, especially since Byron Buxton went down with yet another injury. But I like getting plus money on the better overall team, as I don't think the starting-pitcher matchup between Bailey Ober and Michael Wacha gives the Kansas City Royals this much of an advantage.

Padres vs Diamondbacks: Padres (+100)

Padres win probability: 50%

Kohl Drake ain't it. Look, Walker Buehler ITYOOL 2026 isn't either, but Drake has allowed three home runs in 13 innings at the MLB level and 11 more in 66 frames at Triple-A this season. The San Diego Padres don't handle lefties, which is somewhat surprising, but Fernando Tatis Jr. has been exemplary in the split. At even money, the Friars are the pick.

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Good morning! After falling 15.5 games behind the (at the time) division leading Yankees at the start of play on June 25th, the Red Sox are now tied with New York in the loss column with 51 a piece. (The gap between them is still a game though because the Red Sox have two extra contests to play. In fact, one of them is tonight as the Yankees have the day off and the Red Sox play the White Sox in a series finale at Fenway.)

But for better or worse — and I have mixed emotions about this — the Yankees are no longer leading the division. Because unlike the Yankees, who completely cratered once the Red Sox swept them in a four games series at Fenway, the Rays did the exact opposite after suffering the same fate.

Since July 19th, when the Red Sox completed a four game sweep of the Rays to move within six games of the division lead, little has changed in the division gap. That’s because Rays have gone 12-4 in their last 16 games, meaning the Sox have only picked up a measly half a game on them despite going 12-3 over the same span.

So here’s the question: Can the Red Sox catch the Rays and win the division?

Logic says no. The Red Sox are still missing Garrett Crochet, Roman Anthony, Curtis Mead, and Adley Rutschman, and despite the possibility of those guys coming back and helping the Sox in a potential postseason run, there’s little regular season runway for them to make a big difference in a division comeback given none of them have timetables for a return.

Then there’s also the issue of the upcoming Rays schedule being extraordinary soft. Tampa does not play a team with a record above .500 again until August 28th (so expect their hot streak to continue). On top of that, the Rays don’t come to Fenway again this year. So the only head-to-head matchup the Sox have left to make up ground is a three game set at the terrible Trop starting September 18th. (This is also a good time to mention that the Red Sox and Rays are 5-5 against each other this year, so taking that series is a must not just to potentially pick up ground, but because it will also determine who has the tie breaker. Remember, there’s no Game 163 anymore.)

Lastly, the Sox are probably going to run into some rotation problems soon. Patrick Sandoval is skating on very thin ice with his walk rate, and both Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett are set to blow by career highs in innings pitched this year. In other words, the engine that’s propelled this run this incredible comeback to this point might partially run out of gas soon.

So yeah, unfortunately logic says the Rays are going to be difficult to catch. But then again, has logic mattered with this team in the last six weeks? They’re 30-5 in their last 35 games, have won nine straight series, have an active seven game winning streak right now, and have laughed in the face of every other obstacle placed in their path so far this summer.

So what do you think? Is the division attainable? Talk about this and whatever else you’d like, and as always, be good to one another.

Casey Mize had a forgettable first start to his tenure with the San Diego Padres. The former Detroit Tigers starter, who was acquired at the Trade Deadline along with Robbie Ray from the San Francisco Giants, was expected to give the Padres a legitimate starter who could provide quality outings and length each time he steps on the mound. He did not meet either of those expectations when he took the mound for the first time in a San Diego uniform against the Arizona Diamondbacks and turned in the worst start of his career on Wednesday night.

Mize was touched up for two runs in the bottom of the third inning but completely fell apart in the top of the fourth when the San Diego starter was knocked out of the game. Mize finished his start after 3.1 innings. He allowed eight runs in nine hits with three walks and a strikeout. The bullpen took over the remainder of the game and allowed an additional two runs as the Padres lost 10-4 at Chase Field.

The San Diego offense was controlled by Arizona’s rookie left-hander Mitch Bratt, who cruised through seven innings allowing just one hit and three walks with nine strikeouts. Bratt was able to record his first win of the season with his dominant outing. The Padres showed some life in the top of the ninth inning, but it was too little too late. Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a solo home run to left-center field and after San Diego loaded the bases Gage Workman hit a three-run double to give the Padres four runs.

It was a disappointing effort all around for the Padres who were outhit 15-3 in the game. San Diego will have to get over the loss quickly and try to split the series with a win tonight in the final game of the series against Arizona at 6:40 p.m.

Padres News:

• Adrian Morejon has proven himself to be one of the most valuable arms in the San Diego bullpen. Randy Vasquez looked to be in line for a breakout season as a starter but has been knocked out of the rotation. Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball takes a look at both players in what has been both a fabulous and frustrating season.

• San Diego announced it will raise ticket prices for a sixth consecutive season in 2027.

• Despite an injury scare in Lake Elsinore, Nick Pivetta is moving forward in his rehab assignment.

Baseball News:

• The Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers played beanball as five players were hit by pitches and two players were ejected.

• Sonny Gray earned his 14th win of the season and pushed the Boston Red Sox current win streak to seven games.

• The Chicago Cubs finished off a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 7-6 win.

• The Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins, 4-1 for their seventh win in a row.

• The Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 10-4.

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The Cleveland Guardians head into today's contest against the New York Mets as -116 moneyline favorites as Foster Griffin makes his debut. 

With the lefty throwing the ball well, my Mets vs Guardians predictions target Cleveland to win this afternoon as they face the vulnerable Nolan McLean.

Read more in my MLB picks for Thursday, Aug. 6. 

Who will win Mets vs Guardians today: Guardians moneyline (-116)

The newly acquired Foster Griffin takes the hill today for the Cleveland Guardians. He was pitching well before the trade, posting a 3.44 FIP over his last four starts while allowing just 0.69 HR/9.

Griffin comes up against a New York Mets offense in poor form, posting just a 76 wRC+ over its previous seven games.

As for Nolan McLean, he has hit a rough spell, compiling a 5.43 xERA over his last two appearances while giving up 2.19 HR/9 during that span.

The Guardians are also in respectable offensive form, posting a 105 wRC+ over the last week. Griffin keeps New York at bay, and Cleveland will jump on the struggling McLean.

I’ll play this pick up to -130.

COVERS INTEL: The Guardians are a different offensive team at home, posting a 103 wRC+ compared to an 84 mark on the road. That matters against a pitcher in McLean who is vulnerable right now. 

Mets vs Guardians Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-103)

This total sits at 7.5, and the Over has the better path. New York’s offense is not in great form, but Cleveland’s bullpen creates real late-game risk. The Guardians relief corps has posted a 6.54 FIP over its last 18 innings while allowing 2.00 HR/9.

The Mets bullpen has been much steadier with a 2.76 xERA during that same span, so Cleveland may need to do more early damage.

Still, the Guardians are swinging it well enough right now to pressure McLean, and New York only needs to chip in against a vulnerable Cleveland pen.

I’ll play this pick up to -120. 

Mets vs Guardians weather

Conditions look warm and clean at Progressive Field this afternoon, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures sitting in the mid-80s throughout the game. Winds should stay light around 6–7 mph, and rain chances are very low. Weather should have minimal impact, though the warm air could slightly help carry.

Mets vs Guardians odds

• Moneyline: Mets +108 | Guardians -113
• Run line: Mets -1.5 (+178) | Guardians +1.5 (-186)
• Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-100) | Under 7.5 (-104)

Mets vs Guardians trend

The Cleveland Guardians have hit the game total Over in 20 of their last 35 games at home (+3.45 Units / 9% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Guardians.

How to watch Mets vs Guardians and game info

Mets vs Guardians latest injuries

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The Detroit Tigers’ winning streak came to an end on Wednesday night with a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. The bullpen day effort started strong, but Brenan Hanifee surrendered three runs without recording an out and the offense was Woo’d by the home team’s pitching, resulting in defeat.

Taking the mound in the series finale for the Motor City Kitties is left-hander Framber Valdez, who started the month off with a fine showing against the Athletics in Sacramento. The 32-year-old registered his 11th quality start of the season, allowing a pair of runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out six over seven innings, earning his sixth win with an 8-6 final score.

Valdez faced Seattle earlier this season on June 5 in Detroit, tossing five frames of one-run ball on five hits and two walks while striking out five, plus a hit-by-pitch for his third win of the 2026 campaign in a 7-3 final.

For the Mariners, right-hander Bryce Miller will climb the hill looking to turn the page on a subpar July. If you Porcello out his seven-shutout-inning effort to start July, the 27-year-old put up a 5.48 ERA and 6.28 FIP across four starts, allowing 25 hits (five home runs) and eight walks while striking out 12 and hitting a batter over that 21 1/3-inning span, earning three losses in the process.

Miller tossed a gem against the Tigers back on June 6, serving up six shutout innings on just one hit and two walks while striking out nine to earn his second win in a 4-0 finale.

Here is a look at how the two hurlers match up on Thursday afternoon in Seattle.

Detroit Tigers (55-59) vs. Seattle Mariners (56-59)

Time (ET): 4:10 p.m.
Place: T-Mobile Park, Seattle, Washington
SB Nation Site:Lookout Landing
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 115: LHP Framber Valdez (6-7, 4.41 ERA) vs. RHP Bryce Miller (4-5, 2.80 ERA)

VALDEZ

MILLER

Rangers 6, Giants 0

• Bradford’s back, and you’re gonna be in trouble…
• Hey ya, hey ya, Bradford’s back…
• That was a fulfilling victory.
• And not least of which, among the fulfilling aspects of the victory, was the return of Cody Bradford.
• Bradford had a very solid outing for Texas, throwing 70 pitches in 4.1 innings and keeping the Giants off the board.
• Having not thrown more than 56 pitches in his five rehab appearances in the minors, 70-75 seemed like the most that Bradford would go this time out.
• Maybe if there were two outs in the fifth, Bradford would have been left in for one more batter in an attempt to get him the win. But with two on and one out, Bradford had done his job, and even if Tyler Alexander, coming into the game behind Bradford, got the “W” next to his name in the box score, Bradford felt like the winning pitcher in this outing.
• It was pointed out during the game that, of the players who appeared in Bradford’s last major league start for the Rangers, only two of them were still in the organization — Wyatt Langford and Justin Foscue.
• Langford, of course. But Justin Foscue isn’t someone I’d have guessed as the other part of the answer to that particular trivia question.
• The much-maligned Rangers bullpen — justifiably maligned of late, I would say — stepped up behind Bradford and kept the Giants off the board the rest of the way, resulting in the tenth shutout by the Rangers this season, and just the second since June 7.
• Even Cole Winn recorded a scoreless inning, in his first appearance since the unfortunate events in Houston this past Sunday. Way to go, Cole!
• Every Ranger starter got on base except for Cam Cauley, who got the start at second base as the Rangers shuffled their infield with Corey Seager getting the day off.
• It felt like every Ranger starter got on base in the third inning, when they put four runs up on the board, but it was only five players who got on base that inning, highlighted by a Justin Foscue two run triple.
• Foscue had been 0 for his last 11, and in a 2 for 23 slide, before recording what was the first triple of his major league career. And Joc Pederson pinch hit for him the next time up, so Foscue left the game on a high note.
• Not only was it the first triple of Foscue’s major league career, it was his first triple, period since 2023, when he was with Round Rock.
• Foscue has only registered six triples in the minors, for that matter, and never had one during his college career at Mississippi State.
• Tip of the cap to Giants left fielder Eddys Leonard, whose problems corralling the ball in the corner allowed Foscue to make it to third base.
• Ezequiel Duran, hero of the previous game, was just 0 for 3, lowering his OPS on the year to 787.
• Brandon Nimmo was 2 for 3 with a walk and an opposite-field homer that was just far enough to make it into the stands down the left field line, raising his OPS on the year to 787.
• Nicky Lopez had entered the game slashing .132/.227/.132 in his previous 46 plate appearances. He even contributed a pair of hits, though he also got thrown out trying to steal.
• Cody Bradford topped out at 90.5 mph with his fastball, averaging 88.8 mph. Tyler Alexander hit 92.8 mph with his fastball. Robby Ahlstrom’s sinker reached 95.1 mph. Chase Silseth maxed ouat at 96.8 mph with his fastball. Cole Winn’s fastball touched 96.2 mph.
• Wyatt Langford had a 103.8 mph double. Joc Pederson had a 103.0 mph single. Elias Diaz had a 101.5 mph fly out and a 101.0 mph fly out. Ezequiel Duran had a 100.2 mph GIDP.
• An off day for us to enjoy now.

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees open a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves in the Bronx on Friday...

5 things to watch

Matching up with a division leader

The Yankees' schedule after the All-Star break has been tough. Every series has seen them match up against a playoff team or a team that is in the hunt, and New York has held its own.

After taking two of three from the Phillies, they went 4-3 in Chicago against the White Sox and Cubs. But after dropping their series against the Cardinals, the Yankees will now see the NL East-leading Braves.

Atlanta has won seven games in a row and is currently the No. 2 seed in the National League. 

Similar to the Dodgers series, this could be a potential World Series preview.

Finally a break

The Yankees have an off day Thursday, their first in 13 days. 

It allows the overworked bullpen to reset and perhaps the day off can give the lineup a chance to get a blow after struggling for much of the last few weeks. 

The Yanks have scored more than three runs just twice over their last nine games. And their series finale against the Cardinals on Wednesday left a lot to be desired -- 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and 11 left on base.

Can newcomers get going?

It's only been a few games, and Luis Garcia Jr. and Heliot Ramos are still getting acclimated to life in pinstripes. 

This will be a good test against a Braves rotation that should include Chris Sale pitching one of these games.

Garcia is 3-for-11 with a home run in his first three games since being acquired, while Ramos is 1-for-7 in his first two. 

Both sluggers were acquired at the deadline to boost the anemic offense and while they've had moments, the Yankees need them to get rolling in their new attire to help New York get back to its winning ways.

Lombard's development

George Lombard Jr. had an amazing debut and a solid second game, and will look to keep that momentum going over the weekend.

Although we shouldn't expect the shortstop to be a world-beater at the plate, at least not yet, he'll get his real first test with a Braves team that can deploy some major arms, especially out of the bullpen. 

Let's see Lombard continue to get used to major league pitching, while his already-elite defense continues to shine.

Cam not good at home

Cam Schlittler is the frontrunner for the AL Cy Young, but he was roughed up his last time out. The Cardinals scored four runs in three innings off the right-hander earlier this week, and Schlittler will look to bounce back.

While Schlittler usually doesn't have two bad starts in a row, it's worth monitoring how he pitches at home. He has a 1.10 ERA on the road, but a 4.32 ERA at Yankee Stadium this season.

Can he buck that trend this Sunday?

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Luis Garcia Jr.

Garcia nearly had his Yankee moment in his first game, and has hits in each game he's appeared in since the trade. That should continue this weekend.

Which Yankees pitcher will have the best game?

Cam Schlittler

Schlittler will bounce back. He hasn't really had back-to-back clunkers this season.

Which Braves player will be a thorn in the Yankees' side?

Matt Olson

Olson is having a great season and it'll be hard to keep him from going yard this weekend.

Kyle Schwarber has been arguably the Phillies best and most consistent hitter this season, but even he too is not immune to slumps. In Schwarber’s case, he has not homered since July 18th and has hit only three round trippers since the start of July across a total of 112 plate appearances. To his credit, he still has a healthy on-base percentage over that span at .349, but the Phillies are at their best when Schwarber is slugging.

The 33-year-old Schwarber missed two games in June with what has been reported as an unspecified back injury and has completely changed his pre-game routine because of it, opting to hit indoors rather than out on the field as described in a recent article by Matt Gelb of the Athletic. In that article published on August 2nd, Schwarber insists that he is not hurt but also acknowledges that it will take time to return to 100%.

The back ailment, something Schwarber played through, was probably a bigger deal than anyone acknowledged.

“When you come back from an issue like that, it’s not going to be 100 percent right away,” Schwarber said. “That’s the thing about that. You’re not going to feel like you were right before it. I wish I did. But you’re going to find a way to get through it.”

From Matt Gelb in the Athletic.

There are other more tactile factors to Schwarber’s slump, such as his swing percentage on pitches outside the zone rising coupled with an uptake in general whiffs, but the mysterious back injury still casts a specter of doubt that maybe it too is playing a part in Schwarber’s power outage.

So, what’s your concern level about Kyle Schwarber’s health? Is the previous back injury a bigger deal than it was initially made out to be? Or is this just a run of the mill slump that comes for every player at some point?