The Mets started a three game series against the Padres on Monday night. The Padres were sitting in a playoff spot, just a game ahead of the Diamondbacks for the final Wild Card spot. Walker Buehler was getting the start for the Padres, while Nolan McLean was taking the mound for the Mets, hoping to add another entry to what was shaping up to be a fantastic first full season for the rookie pitcher.

The first inning was a challenge for McLean. It looked like it might be an easy inning after Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a line out right into McLean’s glove for a first out on the first pitch of the game. But back-to-back singles put two runners on with one out. Two more singles followed immediately after, but each one was hit to Carson Benge, and each resulted on an out at the plate with Benge throwing both Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado out at the plate on consecutive plays.

The Mets led off the bottom of the first with an A.J. Ewing single and a Francisco Lindor walk, putting two runners on for the Mets with no outs. Bo Bichette then hit a single to drive in Ewing as the first run of the game on his bobblehead night. Luis Robert Jr. drove in the Mets second run of the game two batters later, hitting a sacrifice fly to bring Lindor in to score.

The second was another difficult endeavor for McLean. Two walks and a hit batsman loaded the bases with no outs, spelling trouble for New York. Luis Rengifo hit a comebacker to McLean, who threw home for a force out to keep the Padres scoreless, but also kept the bases loaded with just one out. The Padres finally cashed in when Tatis, up for the second time in the game, hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Gavin Sheets and cut the Mets lead down to one run. Conenworth hit a single, but this time Ewing came through for McLean, throwing Xander Bogaerts out at the plate to end the inning. 

McLean and Buehler traded scoreless innings for the next few frames. McLean came out of the game after six innings, having allowed just the one run. Keeping it to one run was impressive given that he gave up six hits and four walks while only striking out three, which helped illustrate the full team effort on defense alongside McLean.

The Mets bullpen kept the Padres locked down, with Jonathan Pintaro, Nate Lavender, and Daniel Duarte combining for three scoreless innings, with Pintaro allowing the only hit of the final three innings. Daniel Duarte got the save with two strikeouts in the ninth inning.

Nolan McLean got the win, thanks to the spectacular defense (particularly that of his fellow rookies Benge and Ewing). The Mets play two more games against the Padres at home, with Tuesday’s game featuring Zac Thornton going against Padres’ deadline acquisition Robbie Ray.

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Win Probability Added

What’s WPA?

Big Mets winner: Nolan McLean, +26% WPA
Big Mets loser: Carson Benge, -7% WPA
Mets pitchers: +63% WPA
Mets hitters: -13% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Fernando Tatis Jr. double play in the seventh inning, +14.4% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Xander Bogaerts’ walk in the second, -8.7% WPA

The St. Louis Cardinals have momentum, but would that translate into a sweep of the day/night doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds Monday night? The ball was in the hands of Andre Pallante who’s turned into one of the Cardinals most reliable starters this season. The question was if the Cardinals bats would give him the run support he needed. The answer would come from the bat of Herrera and the hits and hustle of Jordan Walker, but the outcome would eventually fall into the hands of the Cardinals bullpen. They would also become victims of their own missed opportunities and mistakes.

The Cincinnati Reds were the first to score Monday night in the bottom of the 1st inning when Elly De La Cruz, Sal Stewart and JJ Bleday hit back-to-back-to-back singles to open their half of the inning loading the bases. Eugenio Suarez lifted a sacrifice fly to center to give the Reds a 1-0 lead, but that’s all they would get in the 1st after Pallante was able to nurse a double play out of Toglia.

In the top of the 4th inning, the Cardinals would begin their own rally when Iván Herrera (who had just remarkably thrown out Elly De La Cruz) blasted a 93 mph sinker into the right-centerfield seats to tie the game 1-1.

Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker hit back-to-back singles before Joshua Báez grounded into a fielder’s choice advancing Burleson to third. Alec would then score when Masyn Winn slapped a single into right field giving St. Louis a 2-1 advantage.

The Reds would squander a great scoring chance in the bottom of the 4th inning when Bleday and Suarez hit back-to-back singles leading off the inning giving Cincinnati runners at 1st and 3rd with no outs. However, they would get nothing when Pallante struck out Toglia and McLain before getting Rodriguez to weakly ground out to Burleson at first to end the inning. No soup for you!

The St. Louis Cardinals did something in the top of the 6th inning that I wish they did more often. They added to a lead. Jordan Walker got it started with a hustle double to left field. He was singled in by Nathan Church to up the Cardinals lead to 3-1.

St. Louis would score another run two batters later when Blaze Jordan singled to left scoring Church, but Bryan Torres who was walked was thrown out trying to advance to third. The good news is that the Cardinals now had a 4-1 lead.

The Reds would try to claw their way back into the game in the bottom of the 6th inning when Bleday and Suarez would hit back-to-back one out singles. Bleday then scored when Toglia stroked a double to left cutting the Cardinals lead down to 4-2. The Reds could have had another run when McLain flied out to left and then Bryan Torres threw the ball over home plate seemingly to Toledo, but Cincinnati did not send the runner at third and Pallante backed up the play so the Cardinals lead remained 4-2. It would end up not mattering as Rodriguez connected on a two-run single to tie the game 4-4.

Andre Pallante did not have his A game, but he did give the Cardinals 6 innings while allowing 10 hits and 4 earned runs while striking out 5 and walking 1. Peter Strzelecki (Scrabble 3.0) took over in the bottom of the 7th inning with the mission of keeping the game tied until the Cardinals offense could wake from its mid-inning slumber and retake the lead. He was successful in the bottom of the 7th.

The Cardinals mounted a threat in the top of the 8th inning when Jordan Walker led off with a single and stood at first base while Baez and Fermin failed to move him forward. He did advance to second when Masyn Winn walked. Jordan Walker’s hustle helped give the Cardinals the lead when he stole third base and then scored on a smart at-bat by Bryan Torres who guided a seeing-eye single into left-center to give the Cardinals a 5-4 lead. If only Winn had taken Walker’s cue and stole second when Walker took third, the Cardinals lead would be bigger. Unfortunately, Blaze Jordan struck out to end the Cardinals 8th so Winn and Torres were stranded.

Peter Strzelecki was the Cardinals bullpen answer for the bottom of the 8th inning, too. The only drama he allowed wasn’t his fault at all as Suarez hit a ball that hit the third base bag and ricocheted into left field for a double. The Reds would strand the pinch-runner for Suarez when Strzelecki got Toglia to fly out to short center to end the Cincinnati 8th.

I could sense that the Cardinals fanbase was collectively trying to will the bats into giving us insurance runs in the top of the 9th inning when JJ Wetherholt beat out an infield single to deep short. Unfortunately, it would all be for naught after Herrera struck out, Alec Burleson grounded into a force and Jordan Walker struck out. That meant the Cardinals makeshift game 2 bullpen would have to hold onto a 1-run lead in the bottom of the 9th.

That huge responsibility fell onto the shoulders of Peter Strzelecki who tried to toss a third inning of relief. He struck out McLain to start the Reds 9th then did the same to Rodriguez for the second out. Unfortunately, the final out would be elusive as pinch-hitter Dane Myers would tie the game 5-5 with a home run into the left field seats. At least pinch-hitter Stephenson flied out to center to send the game into extra innings.

Emilio Pagan was the Reds reliever for the top of the 10th inning. Jordan Walker was the Cardinals “free” runner starting the inning at second base. Joshua Baez was first up for the good guys. He was hit in the hand by a pitch, but it was ruled that he swung so it was a foul ball and not first base for him. Baez ended up whiffing on a 96 mph fastball high in the zone. Next up was José Fermín. He drew a walk thanks in part to a smart ABS challenge. It was then Masyn Winn’s turn. He fell behind 0-2, but managed to work the count full before he was called out on a check swing that did not look like a good call. Manager Oli Marmol’s righteous protest got him tossed from the game. After pinch-hitter Pereira grounded into a force to end the Cardinals 10th, that meant they would go into the bottom half needing to stop the Reds from scoring to extend the game.

That wishful thinking didn’t happen as Elly De La Cruz hit a ball through Blaze Jordan at third into the left field corner off of Cardinals reliever Justin Bruihl to spoil the St. Louis doubleheader sweep hopes giving (literally) the Reds a 6-5 victory. What can you say except that’s what happens in baseball sometimes.

It’s game 3 of the St. Louis Cardinals vs the Cincinnati Reds as they’ll clash again Tuesday night. Kyle Leahy will make the start for the Cardinals while Andrew Abbott is the scheduled starter for the Reds. First pitch at Great American Ball Park is set for 5:40pm central time.

DENVER –– Kyle Tucker was out of answers on Monday.

To why he has been historically poor at home during his debut Dodgers season: “I don’t really know. If I knew, I’d probably have figured it out by now.”

To why he hasn’t been able to maintain any semblance of consistency since signing a $240 million contract this offseason: “I feel like I’ve tried just about everything. And every time I feel like I’m turning a corner, I get hit with a roadblock.”

To why, in a year on track to see him set career lows in batting average (.232) and OPS (.700), he hasn’t been able to deliver on the weighty expectations that accompanied him to Los Angeles as a four-time All-Star and top-of-the-market free agent.

“First time in my life,” he said, when asked if he’s ever endured a season like this.

Indeed, just when it seemed like Tucker was making progress recently –– over a 15-game stretch from July 24 to Aug. 9, he hit .298 with four home runs and more walks (8) than strikeouts (6) –– the 29-year-old slugger came plummeting back to earth last week, when his season-long Dodger Stadium struggles cratered to a new low.

Tucker went 0-for-19 on the team’s seven-game homestand. He was sat (or, perhaps more accurately, benched) on Saturday in what manager Dave Roberts had hoped would serve as a mental reset amid his home hitting problems. And before the start of a three-game road series in Denver on Monday, he was unable to cite specific solutions to his mounting frustrations at the plate.

“If I knew, I’d obviously change something,” he reiterated. “But just gotta keep playing.”

“You can’t stop,” he later added.

Tucker has voiced that mindset on several occasions earlier this season. And whenever he’s gone on the road, things seemingly start to click.

Entering Monday, he was batting .275 in road games with nine home runs, 37 RBIs and an .840 OPS (numbers pretty much in line with his career-long norms).

Problem is, whenever he goes back to Dodger Stadium, his production completely dries up: .189 average, two home runs, 17 RBIs and a .558 OPS this year.

Among all qualified MLB hitters this year, only Washington Nationals infielder Nasim Nuñez has a worse OPS in home games.

According to Codify Baseball, Tucker is the only MLB hitter to have an 85-game home span with a batting average below .182, an on-base percentage below .288 and a slugging percentage below .266 (in at least 338 plate appearances) since the pitcher’s mound was lowered in 1969.

“It’s not like I’m trying harder on the road than I do at home,” Tucker said. “That’s not the case. That’s just kind of how it’s shaken out.”

After getting booed on several occasions during last week’s week-long 0-fer, Tucker was asked if there has been added frustration in struggling so mightily in front of a new fan base.

“Whether it’s my first year or 10th year with a team, I think it’d be frustrating regardless,” he said. “Whether it’s on the road or at home, it would be frustrating, just not helping the team win games.”

He also downplayed the significance of the day off Roberts gave him on Saturday, when the manager cited apparent “frustration” he saw amid Tucker’s home slump.

“He just told me he was gonna give me the day off,” Tucker countered. “Just to try to work through stuff swing-wise and whatnot throughout the day.”

Later, when asked about the difficulty of handling such a disappointing 2026, Tucker then tried to take an optimistic view of the rest of the year –– which could still be salvaged by a return to form in time for the postseason, but for now continues to be hampered by a simple inability to hit at home.

“You just got to keep going, try and at least pick out the positives, and just try and ride with that,” Tucker said. “Just keep on moving to the next day and hope for something to build on.”

The Mets beat the Padres, 2-1, in the opener of a three-game series on Monday night at Citi Field.

---

Here are the takeaways...

- The Mets immediately got to Padres starter Walker Buehler in the first inning. AfterA.J. Ewingstroked a single to left-center and Francisco Lindor walked, Bo Bichette found the hole between first and second to drive in Ewing and give New York a 1-0 lead. With one out and the infield in, Luis Robert Jr.fouled three pitches off after getting into a 1-2 hole before lining a sacrifice fly to center field to increase the Mets' advantage to 2-0.

New York's offense went cold after its quick start, with just one batter reaching base from the second through the sixth inning (a third-inning walk by Lindor) as Buehler settled in. 

Up 2-1 in the eighth inning, the Mets had a chance to tack on after back-to-back singles from Marcus Semien and Polanco to start the frame. But Francisco Alvarez and Ewing struck out before Lindor grounded out to third base. 

- It was a bizarre first inning for Nolan McLean, who allowed four hits (with three of them flared at around 75 mph off the bat) but zero runs. That's because Carson Benge, who entered play Monday with one of the best outfield arms in baseball (in terms of both value and strength) nailed runners at the plate on back-to-back plays.

On the first play, Ty France singled, with Jake Cronenworth thrown out trying to score as Benge nabbed the second out. The next batter, Jackson Merrill, lined a single to right, but Benge came up firing again and nailed Manny Machado at the plate. Benge's throw that got Machado was the third-fastest of the Statcast Era, coming it at 103.9 mph (h/t Sarah Langs).

McLean's second inning was also adventurous. He loaded the bases on a pair of walks sandwiched around a hit-by-pitch, and followed that by getting a grounder back to the mound (and the putout at the plate), limiting Fernando Tatis Jr. to a sacrifice fly that went to the warning track in left field, and getting more help from his outfield defense. This time it was Ewing, who threw out Xander Bogaerts at home after Cronenworth singled to left.  

With the Mets' outfielders throwing out three runners at the plate over the first two innings, they became the first team since at least 1906 to accomplish that feat. 

As far as McLean, his first strikeout didn't come until there was one out in the fourth inning, and he dealt with traffic on the bases for most of the night.

But McLean allowed just one hit after the second inning (on a soft liner that bounced out of Semien's glove) and retired nine of 10 hitters at one point. 

Overall, McLean allowed one run on six hits while walking four and striking out three as he lowered his ERA for the season to 3.34. He threw 103 pitches (68 strikes), which was one pitch shy of his season-high.

- Jonathan Pintaro worked around a leadoff bloop single (the runner was immediately erased on a double play) and a two-out walk to toss a scoreless seventh inning. He then got the first out of the eighth before being replaced by Nate Lavender, who retired the next two batters on two pitches.

-  Daniel Duarte struck out a pair in a perfect ninth to notch the save.

Highlights

Nolan McLean snags the liner for the first out of the game! pic.twitter.com/CCxdKOG6hp

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 17, 2026

"Haven't they gotten the scouting report?"

Carson Benge with his 8th outfield assist of the season! pic.twitter.com/VpXgrx73iu

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 17, 2026

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME, STOP RUNNING ON HIM!"

Carson Benge nails back-to-back runners at the plate! pic.twitter.com/E0BTOphs2Y

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 17, 2026

A.J. EWING'S TURN!

The Mets have thrown out three Padres at the plate in the first two innings! pic.twitter.com/XmKj8ZlDgS

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 17, 2026

Nolan McLean was pumped out after A.J. Ewing's outfield assist pic.twitter.com/nqp7RnMO2d

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 17, 2026

Marcus Semien turns the double play on Fernando Tatis Jr. pic.twitter.com/17TyzKrvxo

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 18, 2026

Jonathan Pintaro and Nate Lavender retire the Padres in the 8th inning on 3 pitches pic.twitter.com/5wf4TWwz6H

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 18, 2026

Daniel Duarte locks down the save and the Mets have won four straight! pic.twitter.com/hZShfm88XV

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 18, 2026

What's next

The Mets and Padres continue their series on Tuesday night at 7:10 on SNY.

Zac Thornton gets the start for New York, opposed by Robbie Ray for San Diego.

The Orioles took the field tonight in pursuit of a four-game sweep against the first-place Rays. The offense put the team in a position to pull it off, but the bullpen failed to hold the advantage. Yennier Cano allowed three runs in the seventh, and the Rays got the last laugh with a 7-6 win.

Coby Mayo got the Orioles on the board with the fourth longest home run of the season. Mayo has salivated at the sight of lefties this season, and he took Rays starter Shane McClanahan to task. Mayo got ahead in the count before receiving a fastball down the middle. The 24-year-old barreled the ball and sent it 468 feet to an area of Tropicana Field that does not see many baseballs.

Brandon Young got through the first two innings unscathed but gave one back in the third. Young caught too much of the plate with a 2-2 fastball, and Yandy Díaz evened the score at one with a solo shot.

The Orioles offense did not waste any time reclaiming the lead. Jackson Holliday led off the fifth with a single to right, and Mayo responded with another extra-base hit against a southpaw. Mayo ripped a ball down the left field line to put two runners in scoring position with nobody out. Gunnar Henderson struck out swinging, but Christian Encarnacion-Strand came up with the big hit. With the infield playing in, CES smoked a ball up the middle to provide Baltimore a 3-1 advantage.

Unfortunately, Young failed to deliver a shutdown inning. Ryan Vilade trimmed the lead in half with a solo homer, and Richie Palacios reached base with a two-out single. Young came within one strike of escaping the inning with the lead, but former Oriole Jorge Mateo smoked an 0-2 slider for a go-ahead, two-run homer.

Once again, the Orioles offense came to life for their starter. Facing former teammate Tyler Wells, the Orioles followed Tampa’s blueprint from the prior inning. Pete Alonso quickly evened the score at four with an opposite-field homer. Henderson came through with a two-out single, and Encarnacion-Strand delivered a big fly to secure a 6-4 advantage.

The Orioles did not provided Young another opportunity at a shutdown inning. Instead, Craig Albernaz handed the ball to Cam Sanders. Sanders continued his Cinderella start to his Baltimore career with two shutout innings. Sanders struck out three and did not allow a base runner in the fifth or sixth innings.

Baltimore had its bullpen setup after a blowout win yesterday, and Sanders bridged the gap with two strong innings. Regrettably, things did not go as planned.

Yennier Cano replaced Sanders in the seventh and failed to record an out. Cano allowed a leadoff single to Taylor Walls, plunked Díaz, and surrendered a run-scoring single to Jonathan Aranda. Junior Caminero followed with an infield single, and Albernaz summoned Josh Walker with the Birds clinging to a one-run advantage.

Jonny DeLuca flipped the one-run deficit into a one-run lead for Tampa Bay. With the infield playing in, DeLuca delivered a perfect Baltimore chop that skied over Encarnacion-Strand at third.

The inning could have continued to spiral, but Henderson helped stop the bleeding with a wonderful play at short. Chandler Simpson ripped a ball up the middle, but Henderson picked the ball, tagged second, spun and fired to first for a double play. The Orioles intentionally walked Vilade with two outs, and Walker got Cedric Mullins to fly out to left field.

Baltimore attempted to battle back in the eighth. Carlos Narváez worked a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and made it to third base with only one out. The Rays summoned All-Star closer (and former Oriole) Bryan Baker to face Pete Alonso. Alonso looked at multiple fastballs before striking out on a changeup, and Jackson Holliday grounded out with the tying-run still 90 feet away.

Rico Garcia kept it a one-run game with a scoreless eighth, but Baker returned for his first five-out save of the season. Coby Mayo popped a ball up, and Gunnar Henderson grounded out for the first two outs. Encarnacion-Strand punched a two-out single the other way, and Dylan Beavers entered as a pinch-runner. Albernaz sent out Leody Taveras to hit for Jeremiah Jackson, but Taveras went down swinging for the final out.

Baltimore won a pair of one-run games at the start of the series before smoking the Rays 10-2 last night. The offense showed plenty of life again tonight by out hitting the Rays 14-12. Unfortunately, Tampa Bay is a good team. It’s difficult to fault the Birds for only taking 3-of-4 on the road, but this team needs every win it can get if it hopes to secure that final playoff spot.

Nevertheless, Baltimore should return home feeling confident. They’ll start a three-game series against the Yankees with Shane Baz set to face Carols Rodón. The Orioles are 61-64.

The long and winding road trip for the Atlanta Braves will be getting off to a bit of a delayed start. Just a few minutes before Atlanta was set to do baseball battle with the Minnesota Twins, inclement weather hit the area surrounding Target Field in Minneapolis and now there’s a rain delay. Ivan was onto something when he posted the picture of that thunderstorm in today’s preview.

Anyways, keep it right here as we’ll have updates for you going forward. Hopefully we won’t be waiting for all that long!

We will be starting tonight's game in an @uponor
rain delay and we will provide more details when they become available pic.twitter.com/qCWJerkf5g

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 17, 2026

UPDATE [7:42 p.m. ET]: CJ Nitkowski over on The Website Formerly Known as Twitter just posted that there’s an estimated start time of 8:30 p.m. ET, so you can go ahead and pencil that in.

Game #125
Currently in a feign delay. Estimated 8:30PM ET start time. pic.twitter.com/aPurLDGcuk

— CJ (@CJNitkowski) August 17, 2026

UPDATE [8:30 p.m. ET]: Both teams are on the field and we’re ready to go. Come on and join us in the game thread!

Ketel Marte was placed on the restricted list by the Arizona Diamondbacks ahead of their matchup against the Boston Red Sox on Monday, Aug. 17.

The team shared the news on X that they were placing the three-time All-Star on the restricted list minutes before the game. They also announced that they recalled infielder José Fernández from Triple-A Reno. Fernández was listed as a third baseman and in seventh position on the batting lineup, which was posted shortly after the roster moves.

Nick Piecoro, the Diamondbacks beat reporter for The Arizona Republic, which is part of the USA TODAY Network, posted on X that Marte did not show up to Fenway Park for the game. He reported that the star infielder was in town with the team and was supposed to be the designated hitter for the series opener, noting that "Ketel Marte is doing OK physically, he just didn’t show up to the ballpark tonight."

Lars Nootbaar took Marte's place in the Diamondbacks' lineup as the designated hitter.

Last year, Marte missed three games after the All-Star break when he traveled home to the Dominican Republic. He apologized for his absence.

Marte is hitting .249 with 21 home runs and 67 RBI this season.

The Diamondbacks entered Monday night's game with a 66-59 record and one game behind in the NL wild-card race.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ketel Marte placed on restricted list, did not show up to Diamondbacks game

With Max Muncy in the cleanup hole, the Dodgers lineup faces the best the Rockies have to offer in Tomoyuki Sugano.

Tonight’s #Dodgers lineup at Rockies: pic.twitter.com/FSjLd9plJL

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 17, 2026

UPDATED LINEUP:

McCarthy LF
Beck RF
Carrigg CF
Castro 3B
Rumfield 1B
Norby 2B
Amador DH
Sullivan C
Tovar SS
Sugano SP https://t.co/YVDwxjXUOC

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) August 17, 2026

Monday’s game info

• Teams: Dodgers at Rockies
• Ballpark: Coors Field
• Start time: 5:40 p.m. PT
• TV: SportsNet LA
• Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)

The Mets created a bit of baseball trivia with this wild baseball riddle in the first two innings of Monday's 2-1 win over the San Diego Padres at Citi Field.

First, the riddle: How can the Padres get five hits, walk twice, add a hit-by-pitch, and go 3-for-4 with runners in scoring position, but score only one run on a sacrifice fly?

The answer is the bit of trivia from a pair of rookies, as right fielder Carson Benge became the first Mets player to record two outfield assists at home plate in the same inning, doing it on back-to-back plays to close the first inning, before left fielder A.J. Ewinggunned down a runner at home to end the second.

Since at least 1920, there had been no other team that recorded three outfield assists at home plate in the first two innings of a big league game. 

Tack on Nolan McLean getting a 1-2 putout in there and three rookies recorded four of the first six outs at the plate, and that proved to be crucial as the Mets grabbed a fourth straight win and another win in a one-run ballgame.

“Without those kids on the corners, we don’t win that game,” interim manager Andy Green said. "Nolan doesn't get to settle in and pitch six strong innings for us. That game coulda spun wildly different without them playing the outfield so well."

McLean's night got off to an unlucky start with consecutive one-out bloop singles to put runners on first and second. A third straight bloop to right started the history, as Jake Cronenworth got an ever-so-subtle wave from San Diego third base coach Bob Henley that proved to be most ill-advised as Benge got the Padres runner by at least a dozen feet thanks to a throw he uncorked at 99.9 mph. (h/t Sarah Langs)

"Haven't they gotten the scouting report?"

Carson Benge with his 8th outfield assist of the season! pic.twitter.com/VpXgrx73iu

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 17, 2026

Four pitches later, Jackson Merrill rocketed a ball (105 mph off the bat) for a base hit to right, and Manny Machado looked primed to score the first run of the ballgame until Benge's throw was perfect and Francisco Alvarez tagged the runner out to end the inning. 

After the game, Benge said he wasn't too surprised the Padres decided to test him. "Not really," he said. "I just looked up and threw the ball. I'm not worried about if they're running or not; I'm just trying to throw it as hard as I can to make him stop or get him out."

He is now the fourth player in the last 30 years to have outfield assists at home plate on consecutive batters, according to Langs.

And this throw from Benge was even faster than his first: 103.9 mph, the third-fastest throw on an outfield assist since Statcast tracking began in 2015 and the fastest of the 2026 season, per Langs. The rookie also became the first outfielder with two assists thrown at greater than 99 mph in an inning in the Statcast era.

The arm strength isn't too surprising as the one-time two-way player was "throwing 95, 97 [mph] off the bump," the interim skipper said.

“Special athlete, really confident,” Green said, relaying that Benge once said, “When you don’t have to strike a batter out, it's actually really easy to throw it over the plate.”

Benge, with his 98th percentile arm strength, per Statcast, now has nine assists in his first 119 career games, good for fourth most among MLB outfielders. But it isn't just about arm strength, as Green credited Benge's work with the club's developmental staff to speed up his release time, which has “turned him into a different kind of elite.”

“It’s been ridiculous, honestly,” Green said. “It just doesn’t happen at this rate; you don’t get these opportunities, and then you don’t execute perfectly every time the way he has.”

Which throw did Benge like better? "Probably the second one, even though they both took a run off the board," he said.

So despite the Padres grabbing four straight hits in the top of the first, they scored zero runs as they made two outs on the bases.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME, STOP RUNNING ON HIM!"

Carson Benge nails back-to-back runners at the plate! pic.twitter.com/E0BTOphs2Y

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 17, 2026

All of the Mets' reactions to Carson Benge's back-to-back outfield assists in the first inning pic.twitter.com/QCkbBPUwXD

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 18, 2026

McLean, who threw just two balls in the first inning, lost his command to start the second, issuing two walks that sandwiched a hit batter to load the bases. After Fernando Tatis Jr. just missed a grand slam, getting under the ball for a 359-foot warning-track sac fly, Cronenworth grounded a sharp single to left that Ewing was charging all the way, and he got Xander Bogaerts by just a touch at the plate.

For Ewing, whose arm is not nearly as strong as his counterpart across the outfield – he's just in the 92nd percentile for arm strength – the run-saving play was his fifth assist in his 84th big league game.

It was a bang-bang play where the Mets got the call, and there was no challenge by the visitors.

This is the 13th time the Mets have recorded three outfield assists in the same game, a feat most recently accomplished by Mark Canha when he recorded all three (including two at home plate) in a game on July 23, 2023, while playing in front of the Green Monster at Fenway Park. 

A.J. EWING'S TURN!

The Mets have thrown out three Padres at the plate in the first two innings! pic.twitter.com/XmKj8ZlDgS

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 17, 2026

It’s time for both my favorite and least favorite series of the year — the Crosstown Classic! The White Sox will head a few miles north to face the Cubs at Wrigley Field. With both teams doing well this season and the White Sox winning the first-half series, the rivalry feels more competitive this time around than it has in the last few years. The Cubs have lost three of their last four games, barely escaping a sweep by the Cardinals, and just lost Dansby Swanson to injury. The White Sox, on the other hand, are coming off a sweep of the Tigers in Detroit.

Luis Castillo gets his first taste of the rivalry tonight as he takes the mound for the White Sox. Chase Meidroth, who has been the hottest hitter on the team, leads off. Randal Grichuk will DH tonight against the lefty pitcher, and Jake Rogers will catch and bat last.

Shōta Imanaga (8-9) will pitch for the Cubs, who will be without Swanson, with Pete Crow-Armstrong leading off.

First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. CT. You can watch on CHSN or Marquee Sports Network, depending on what you have, or listen on ESPN Chicago 1000.

Buster Posey affirmed his belief in first-year Giants manager Tony Vitello on Sunday by announcing he will return to the team next season.

With so many questions surrounding Vitello’s ability to manage in the big leagues, legendary Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow said he wasn’t surprised by Posey’s comments.

“He deserves to come back,” Krukow said while appearing as a guest on “The Sports Leader.” “You put a guy in that situation, he deserves to learn, and now let’s see what he does with what he’s learned next year.”

Krukow has been an defender of Vitello, who became the first college coach to make the direct jump to MLB manager.

Krukow said he believes Vitello has some growing to do as a manager and will need to focus on improving his relationships with older players.

“There’s such a thing of just giving those guys too much respect,” Krukow said. “… I don’t care how many years you’ve been there, you have to earn the respect of your manager and your coaching staff.”

Vitello has had his hands full this season. The Giants have been decimated by injuries, and he’s been without top free agent Harrison Bader, who is currently suspended without pay after allegedly aggravating a foot injury in a scooter crash.

In June, the Giants were at the center of controversy after Landen Roupp wrote a bible verse on the team’s Pride Night hat.

The Giants are fourth in the National League West with a 51-73 record.

They have one of the worst pitching staffs in baseball statistically, ranking fifth for most walks allowed (467) and ninth for highest ERA (4.36).

The team ranks in the bottom ten for runs scored (509) and just outside the bottom 10 for home runs (137).