On a mission: After Luis Castillo’s excellent home debut at Rate Field, he looks to shut the Mets down. | Photo by Joe Sullivan/MLB Photos via Getty Images
After a thrilling victory on Friday night, the White Sox (67-61) are back in action on the South Side against the Mets (58-71).
Trade deadline acquisition Luis Castillo, 33, will start on the mound for the South Siders. Castillo enters this game with a 4.99 ERA and a 4.52 FIP in 115 1/3 innings this season. It has not been the finest year for Castillo, who has only accumulated 0.8 fWAR in 2026. Since the White Sox acquired him, Castillo has had three starts, and Castillo’s numbers were not good in two of them. However, on August 12 against the Reds (61-68) Castillo was fantastic, only allowing one hit and striking out 10 in seven shutout innings. That masterful performance against Cincinnati was the only home game of the three, so perhaps Castillo really enjoys the home cooking on the South Side. Hopefully, Castillo manages to build on that excellent game.
The White Sox offense will be facing starter Christian Scott, 27, a right-handed pitcher. Scott enters this game with a 3.51 ERA and a 3.36 FIP in 84 2/3 innings, accumulating 1.9 fWAR on the season. This will be Scott’s first career appearance against the White Sox. The Mets drafted Scott in the fifth round in 2021, and he has been in the organization ever since.
Here are tonight’s starting lineups:
First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on CHSN, and ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000 AM will have the radio coverage. We look forward to discussing this matchup with you.
KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 21: Vinnie Pasquantino #9 of the Kansas City Royals looks on during the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, August 21, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Tanner Gatlin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Royals are already riding their longest winning streak of the season and look to make it even longer tonight. The team’s most consistent pitcher, Michael Wacha, will take the mound for the Royals. Wacha is tied for the AL lead in Quality Starts and is fourth overall. So he’s not just consistent, but he’s been pretty dang good.
Drew Anderson will start for the Tigers tonight. I have to be honest, I couldn’t remember ever seeing him pitch before, so I wondered if he was a rookie. It turns out, however, that he’s been pitching in the big leagues for nearly 10 years, since 2017, and is 32 years old. Whoops.
Anderson was a reliever for most of the year, but with the Tigers still dealing with myriad rotation injuries and then trading away their two best starters at the deadline, he was summoned to action. In three starts since rejoining the rotation, he hasn’t pitched deep into games, but he’s been effective with a 2.84 ERA. That comes with a measly 7.8% K-BB% and a 4.90 FIP. So Tigers fans probably don’t feel super comfortable with him on the mound, However, as the Royals have seen with Daniel Lynch IV and Randy Dobnak, those kinds of results can last a handful of starts, at least.
As you can see in the above graphic, Anderson is a five-pitch pitcher. He gets at least some chase or some whiff on every pitch; his changeup is regarded very favorably and has the results to match. That’s of particular interest to me because it comes in at only 5 average MPH slower than the four-seamer, and generally you want more difference in the two pitches. Wacha, in contrast, features 13 MPH in his average velocities – one of the reasons his changeup does so well.
Lineups
I’m not really sure why Tyler Tolbert is in there instead of John Rave, but at least some of us will be happy about it. Either way, it’s a lineup that goes at least six deep, even if at least one player is batting higher than he would in a competitive team’s lineup. Fingers crossed the Royals can get things done tonight.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 22: Kade Anderson #13 of the Seattle Mariners looks on during warm ups prior to the game against the Chicago Cubs at T-Mobile Park on August 22, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This pitcher’s on fire, his heater enthralls,
The batters complain about his wicked curveball
But Kade he don’t care, you can talk to the wall, oh no no
Double-A was too easy for you, you found it a bore, oh no no
[DRUM FILL INTENSIFIES]
Taken third overall, a gift from above
They whiff at the slider, ground out on the curve
They miss the fastball despite the read on the gun
We found you in the rotation, we thought the season was done
KAAAAAAAAAAADE
KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADEEEE
Lineups:
You might have heard that Kade Anderson is making his debut tonight. In prime time on Fox. In front of an expected sell-out crowd. Against the Cubs, currently boasting the best lineup in the big leagues and the likely NL MVP. So like, no pressure, kid.
It’s 2010s weekend at the park, so I think the Cubs being sponsored by Motorola’s Razr is very on-theme. Just thinking about it gives me traumatic flashbacks to when you only got 300 text messages a month on a mobile plan and I was always afraid to open my T-Mobile bill at the end of the month. I guess that was more of a late 2000s thing but spiritually it is the 2010s to me.
News:
The Mariners officially called up LHP Kade Anderson to make his big-league debut. LHP Jhonathan Díaz was DFA’d to make room for Anderson on the 25-man roster.
With Kade Anderson officially called up today, nothing has been formalized regarding whether the Mariners will return to a six-man rotation, back to the piggyback, move a starter to the bullpen, or put a starter on the IL. It sounds like the team is waiting for the results of Woo’s bullpen tomorrow to determine which direction they’ll go in.
Additionally, Matt Brash threw a bullpen yesterday; he’s scheduled to throw to live hitters sometime this week.
Game information:
Game time: 4:15 PT
TV: FOX (exclusive) with Aaron Goldsmith and John Smoltz
Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 16: Blade Tidwell #46 of the San Francisco Giants pitches at Oracle Park on August 16, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s time for the meat between the baseball bread that is the sandwich series. Or something like that. In other words, it’s Game 2 of the three-game set between the San Francisco Giants and the Boston Red Sox.
Righty Blade Tidwell takes the mound for San Francisco, as he makes his 12th appearance and fourth start of the season. The 25-year old has yet to record a decision, and has a 4.33 ERA, a 3.79 FIP, and 20 strikeouts to 10 walks in 27 innings. After pitching wonderfully in his first two starts of the season, Tidwell got rocked his last time out, allowing six runs in 4.1 innings against the Colorado Rockies.
For the Red Sox, it’s 29-year old left-hander Patrick Sandoval (no relation). Sandoval has made seven starts this season, after returning in July from a nearly two-year absence due to Tommy John surgery. The southpaw is 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA, a 3.67 FIP, and 35 strikeouts to 16 walks in 34 innings. He got rocked in his last start, allowing seven runs in four innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
It’s an injury list that has included at various points Juan Soto (twice), Jorge Polanco (twice), Francisco Lindor, Luis Robert Jr., Marcus Semien, Francisco Alvarez and Mark Vientos.
The Mets were set to play their 129th game this season Saturday night, and Bichette had appeared in all but one of them.
It’s the kind of durability he can cautiously appreciate after missing significant action the previous two seasons.
“Part of it is luck, right?” Bichette said before the Mets faced the White Sox at Rate Field. “I think I did a good job of getting strong this offseason. I didn’t have much of a choice after injuries two years ago and then last year with the knee. But I think I did a good job to get strong enough to get a whole season.”
New York Mets third baseman Bo Bichette (19) hits a home run during the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It probably hasn’t hurt that Bichette, 28, switched to a physically less demanding position at third base after playing shortstop his first seven seasons in the major leagues.
Even so, Bichette played shortstop for much of the two-month stretch Lindor was sidelined by a calf strain.
But freak injuries often can’t be avoided.
Last season with the Blue Jays, Bichette sustained a knee injury in a home plate collision and missed the final month of the regular season and most of the postseason before returning for the World Series.
In 2024, a calf strain limited Bichette to appearing in 81 games.
“The key to it is make sure you give it enough time because with the calf just walking puts stress on it,” Bichette said. “That is why it’s the toughest injury to come back from, I think.”
The Mets are seeing their best version of Bichette in August.
He entered play with a .947 OPS for the month and on Friday hit his 13th home run of the season.
With the surge, Bichette owned a .706 OPS for the season, the highest it has been all year.
MEts merch shop
47 Brand logo cap
1986 eco tote bag
Mets fiber beach towel
14-ounce sculpted relief mug
Customizable jersey
Color block logo backpack
New York Post receives revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase.
It coincided largely with the Mets playing their best baseball of 2026, with 11 victories in 16 games entering play.
“I’m just focused on finishing strong,” Bichette said. “The competitor in me sees the opportunity for me to still have a good year and I am still focused on that too, but I just want to have a strong finish. In a way I am proud of my ability to come back from a tough couple of months to start the season. Also knowing that a tough couple of months doesn’t make your season.”
New York Mets third baseman Bo Bichette (19) pumps his chest after hitting a home run during the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
As for the Mets’ improved play, Bichette said the Aug. 3 trade deadline — at which point several veteran players were dealt to other teams — served as a reset point.
“The burden of having a bad season was kind of lifted when the trade deadline happened,” Bichette said. “It gave the guys ability to just go out there and try to become better baseball players. Go out there and just try to win and it’s been real fun.”
Bichette, who can opt out from his three-year contract worth $126 million after the season, said it’s still too early to say which direction he will head.
But it’s clear Bichette is thinking strongly about a possible return next year.
“I think there are a lot of positive things,” Bichette said. “I am having a really good time right here right now. There are a lot of really good young players that make it fun to come here and a lot of really good players that have been around, so I am enjoying my time here.”
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani throws live batting practice before Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium. (Luke Hales / Getty Images)
Shohei Ohtani took a significant step Saturday toward his return to two-way duties.
The Dodgers star, who hasn’t pitched in a game since July 3, pitched a live batting practice session, throwing 30 pitches to also-rehabbing catcher Will Smith. Ohtani had been throwing bullpen sessions up to this point.
“I didn’t have a check-in with Shohei, but everything from the coaches [is] really positive.” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the second of three games against the Pittsburgh Pirates. “We’re getting there. So, today was a good day.”
Ohtani looked close to his normal self, even exchanging a few “gotcha” laughs with Smith, like when he induced an infield pop-up.
Ohtani likely will throw another live batting practice session before potentially returning to the rotation.
“I think if it were up to Shohei, he’d be in a game in a few days,” Roberts said. “But I would assume another live BP, but we’re gonna make sure we talk to him and get with the training staff as well.”
Roberts added that Ohtani’s knee issues, which were the primary reason for Ohtani’s break from pitching, are “behind us.” Roberts noted that Ohtani is rested and has adjusted his pitching mechanics.
“That’s more of the pitching department, but I do know that the land — and the land being closed versus opening up a little bit more — took a little bit of pressure off [Ohtani’s knee],” Roberts said. “That’s why this [is] live and the lives are good,” Roberts added, “because you’re actually facing hitters and you can kind of see if the mechanics — how they play.”
Andy Pages might have surgery
Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages drops his bat after taking a pitch off his left hand during the third inning against the Pirates on Friday at Dodger Stadium. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages is leaning toward surgery to repair the fractured left hand he sustained after being hit by a 100-mph sinker from Pittsburgh pitcher Bubba Chandler on Friday.
Pages is expected to miss roughly four weeks regardless of whether or not he has surgery.
“I think they’re probably leaning towards some type of surgery,” Roberts said. “I don’t think it changes the timeline. I think it’s certainly gonna be four weeks as the floor for [Pages] to be back with us, but, like I told him in the X-ray room, the season is not over for him, and we expect him back [at] full health.”
Tyler Glasnow, who hasn’t pitched since May 6, is penciled in to start Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves, without any limitations, Roberts said.
Justin Wrobleski, dealing with forearm inflammation, will be in the bullpen when he returns from the 15-day injured list.
“I see him slotting into relief and being a two-or-three-inning guy,” Roberts said.
Edwin Díaz will be used in less-stressful situations upon his return from neck inflammation before potentially resuming closing responsibilities.
“It’s more of getting him back healthy, and then putting him in some softer landing situations to get the confidence, to get the feel, and the trust of executing pitches [and] getting major league hitters out,” Roberts said.
And Smith continues to be on an upward trajectory after stacking reps with Ohtani.
“Getting Will in the batter’s box to take at-bats ... it’s just good to see the [competition] from both those guys,” Roberts said.
Officially announced by Fanatics on Wednesday, all 32 NHL teams are getting a "Hometown Remix" alternate jersey this season, and there's a chance we already know what the Philadelphia Flyers have up their sleeves for it.
According to Fanatics, these new "Hometown Remix" alternates are "Inspired by the fans, cities and culture that make each team feel like home," and the potential Flyers logo for the new threads appears to check that box.
Back on June 26, ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, the Flyers posted a photo of their draft war room to social media, with a black and orange Liberty Bell fixed to the floor at the center of the photo.
The never-before-seen bell seems a bit too, well, prominent to be a one-off thing just thrown out there, never to be used or seen again.
Many fans on social media are expecting the Flyers' "Hometown Remix" jersey to be either dark grey or black, and it's worth noting that the Flyers had black uniforms in the holster just two seasons ago before going with straight orange for home and white for away last season.
Previously, it was leaked on Reddit that the Flyers would have a black jersey, which would match the color of the bell, with the slick orange outline, in the social media post.
Flyers going with a new logo?
Adding a little bit more fuel to the speculation here, other NHL teams who have had their "Hometown Remix" jerseys revealed already are not using their default logo.
The Florida Panthers, for example, are set to have a hot pink, navy, and yellow jersey, with a hockey stick overlapping a palm tree over a sunset as their logo.
We won't know more until the 2026-27 season officially gets underway on Sept. 29, but it's entirely possible more leaks surface before then; in that case, you'll know about it here.
And, in addition to the jerseys, all 32 NHL teams, including the Flyers, will have "Hometown Remix" apparel and headwear, so we can expect this to be a pretty broad release once everything gets going in another month.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 11: Hunter Brown #58 of the Houston Astros pitches during the game between the Houston Astros and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Bryan Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
TONIGHT’S GAME: The first-place Houston Astros (65-64), who own a slim 1.0-game lead in the AL West over the Rangers, will play the middle game of their huge three-game weekend series against the A’s (49-80) tonight at Daikin Park.
RHP Hunter Brown (3-3, 3.67 ERA) will get the start tonight for the Astros opposite the A’s and LHP Jacob Lopez (5-4, 5.22 ERA).
DIESEL POWER: RHP Hunter Brown will make his 14th start of the season and his 11th since returning from a lengthy stint on the IL with a right shoulder strain. The 2025 All-Star has started to round into form over his last five starts, going 2-2 with a 3.14 ERA (10ER/28.2IP) with 29 strikeouts, a .186 opponent average (19×102) and a 1.08 WHIP.
THE TURNAROUND: After a slow start to the season, the Astros are 45-33 since May 22, which is the second-best record in the AL in that span. On that date, the Astros were 20-31, 11 games under, which is their low water mark for the season.
THAT’S OFFENSIVE: Among AL teams, the Astros rank first in slugging (.411), first in total bases (1779), third in home runs (170), third in runs scored (587), and third in OPS (.728). In the Majors, the Astros rank fourth in homers, trailing only the Nationals (183), Yankees (176) and White Sox (171).
PLAYERS’ WEEKEND: It’s MLB Players’ Weekend, which provides MLB players the opportunity to showcase the people, passions and causes that make them who they are on and off the field. After originally taking place from 2017-19 and then re-imagined in 2024, this sixth edition of Players’ Weekend brings personal stories and self-expression to life through custom bats and cleats, and a wide breadth of storytelling across MLB platforms.
THE DOG DAYS: The Astros will hold two Dog Days, tonight and tomorrow at Daikin Park. On both days, the first 500 dogs to enter the park will receive an exclusive Astros Dog Toy. There will also be fun activities for dogs to participate in and will be dog-related vendors in attendance in Hall of Fame Alley.
VS. THE A’S: This is the third of four series between the Astros and A’s this season, with Houston going 4-3 in their seven games. After this series, the two clubs will match up for a four-game series in Sacramento to end the regular season from Sept. 24-27.
MVP-CALIBER:Yordan Alvarez holds the lead in all AL Triple Crown categories, ranking first in average (.321), first in HR (36) and first in RBI (90). Additionally, he leads MLB in OPS (1.052), OBP (.434), SLG (.618), and TB (283). In the AL, he ranks first in XBH (64), second in hits (147), walks (87), and runs (85), and tied for third in doubles (28)…
YOR-GONE!: DH Yordan Alvarez (36 HR) is just one homer shy of matching his career high in homers, which was 37, hit in 2022.
HIT PAREDES: 3B Isaac Paredes has gone 11 straight games without a strikeout, taking 45 plate appearances in those contests. He’s also hit safely in 10 of his last 13 games (since Aug. 7), while batting .375 (18×48) with five doubles, one home run, eight RBI, and a .986 OPS in that span.
AUGUST HEROES: 2B Jose Altuve is having a strong month, hitting .339 (20×59) with a .403 OBP and an .861 OPS in 17 games this month. Also, RF Cam Smith is hitting .296 (16×54) with four homers, 10 RBI and an .884 OPS in 17 games in August.
PEÑA SIDELINED: The Astros have been without SS Jeremy Peña the last two games due to a right hand contusion, suffered on a HBP on Wednesday. The Astros have been a different team with Peña in the lineup this season, going 43-33 in his 76 starts.
STREAK SNAPPED: 1B Christian Walker had his run of errorless games come to an end last night at an incredible 121 consecutive games. Prior to last night, he was the only qualified infielder in the Majors without an error on the season.
THE CLOSER: LHP Josh Hader has made 500 career appearances and is the 11th active pitcher to reach that milestone. Hader has been stellar since returning from injury in June, going 4-1 with a 0.87 ERA (3ER/31IP), 41 strikeouts, a .123 opponent average (13×106) and a 0.77 WHIP, while converting all 18 of his save chances in 32 appearances.
MY BOY BLU!: RHP A.J. Blubaugh has taken a commanding Major League lead in innings pitched as a reliever with 78.0, far ahead of second-place LHP Aaron Ashby (68.2IP). The Astros have not had a reliever lead the Majors in innings pitched since RHP Doug Jones (111.2IP) in 1992.
DOWN ON THE FARM: Several of the Astros minor league clubs are having success this season:
• Triple A Sugar Land: In the second half, the Space Cowboys (34-15) are in first in the PCL East Division.
• Class A Fayetteville: For the second half, the Woodpeckers are in first place in the South Atlantic League North Division with a 30-20 (.600) record.
• Rookie Level FCL Astros: The Astros won the Florida Complex League championship, finishing with a 42-11 (.792) record in the regular season.
• Rookie Level DSL Astros: The DSL Astros Orange finished with a 33-20 record and advanced to the DSL playoffs, going 1-1 so far in their current three-game series vs. the DSL Padres.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1988 – Rookie C Craig Biggio hits his first Major League homer, a go-ahead solo shot in the 10th inning, in the Astros 9-7 win in 10 innings at Wrigley Field. The homer comes off future HOFer RHP Goose Gossage in what was Biggio’s 33rd MLB game. The future HOFer Biggio would go on to hit 291 career HR, which ranks third in club history.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, August 21, 6:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; ESPN Radio (National); TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 19: Jackson Holliday #7 of the Baltimore Orioles steals home plate and scores in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 19, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Orioles picked up some momentum last weekend with a series win over the first-place Rays. The good vibes evaporated when the Birds lost three straight to New York, but Baltimore can right the ship today with another series victory over Tampa Bay.
Brandon Young (9-3, 3.52 ERA) will take the mound for the Orioles. Young lasted only four innings in his last outing against Tampa. He’ll look to keep the ball in the park this evening after surrendering three homers last week.
The Rays will counter with left-handed starter Shane McClanahan (9-6, 3.25 ERA). McLanahan failed to complete four innings last week against Baltimore, and the Orioles will look to build on that success tonight.
Jackson Holliday will bat leadoff and play second base. He’ll be followed by designated hitter Pete Alonso and first baseman Coby Mayo. Right fielder Tyler O’Neill will bat cleanup, and Gunnar Henderson will slide down to fifth against the lefty.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand will bat sixth and handle the hot corner. Left fielder Christian Franklin, center fielder Leody Taveras, and catcher Carlos Narváez will complete the lineup. Look for Colton Cowser and Dylan Beavers to be available as pinch-hitters after McClanahan leaves the game.
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the Orioles need wins to keep up in the wild card chase. Tonight would mark another step in the right direction.
Apr 21, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Before he was designated for assignment in May, Thomas this season hit .181/.222/.340 with a 50 wRC+ in 28 games and 100 plate appearances for Arizona.
In 431 career games and 381 starts over five major league seasons, Thomas in center field has totaled 13 Outs Above Average and six Defensive Runs Saved.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 15: Jared Jones #17 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during the game against the Boston Red Sox at PNC Park on August 15, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, August 22, 2026, 7:15 p.m. ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates are back on the national stage, the Pirates take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second match of a three-game set.
Getting the ball for the Pirates is Jared Jones, who is making his 15th start of the season. He pitched earlier this season against the Dodgers on June 10 at PNC Park, going four innings and giving up three hits and two earned runs as the Buccos won 9-8. He has struggled as of late, losing each of his last four starts, including his last appearance on August 15 against the Boston Red Sox. Jones pitched five innings, giving up four hits and one earned run in a 4-0 loss at home.
The Dodgers are handing the ball to Tarik Skubal for just the fourth time as a member of the team. He was acquired by the Dodgers from the Detroit Tigers in a blockbuster deal ahead of the trade deadline earlier this month. Skubal has struggled since arriving in Los Angeles, losing two of his three starts, including his latest appearance against the Milwaukee Brewers on August 16. He went six innings, giving up seven hits and one earned run in a 6-2 loss against the best team in the National League.
Location: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, FOX
Pitching Matchup: Jared Jones (2-5, 4.78 ERA) vs. Tarik Skubal (7-7, 2.85 ERA)
BD community, this is your gameday thread for today’s game. Chime off in the comments section below.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 16: Jacob Lopez #57 of the Athletics pitches during the top of the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Sutter Health Park on August 16, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Still looking for win #50. The A’s have another shot at it today after dropping the series opener to the Houston Astros last night.
Jacob Lopez is getting the ball to start today’s game. He’s done well in his second chance in the starting rotation so far. In six post-All Star Break starts he’s sporting a 2.48 ERA with a much stronger K?BB ratio. He went six full innings last time out, allowing just two runs on five hits against the Rangers.
As for Houston, they have right-hander Hunter Brown on the bump for them this evening. He’s taken a step back from his dominant performance last year but he’s still a tough pitcher to go up against. The A’s need to take advantage of every opportunity they have against him tonight.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 10: Christian Scott #45 of the New York Mets pitches in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on August 10, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mets Lineup
A.J. Ewing – CF
Francisco Lindor – SS
Bo Bichette – 3B
Carson Benge – RF
Jared Young – 1B
Luis Robert – LF
Brett Baty – DH
Marcus Semien – 2B
Francisco Alvarez – C
SP: Christian Scott – RHP
White Sox Lineup
Sam Antonacci – LF
Munetaka Murakami – 1B
Miguel Vargas – 3B
Andrew Benintendi – DH
Braden Montgomery – RF
Colson Montgomery – SS
Chase Meidroth – 2B
Tristan Peters – CF
Drew Romo – C
SP: Luis Castillo – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 7:10pm EDT TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
Aug 21, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; The “players weekend” bat of Texas Rangers right fielder Brandon Nimmo (24) as he prepares to bat in the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
BOSTON, UNITED STATES- APRIL 23: Yankees Giancarlo Stanton waits to go up to bat during a Boston Red Sox match against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts on April 23, 2026. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
It’s really something to see a true one-of-one. The first time it really stuck, it really happened to me, was Usain Bolt in 2008 in Beijing. With all due respect to what Michael Phelps did in those Olympics, there’s something primal about the 100m dash, something we’ve been doing as a species since Urk bragged to Gru he could get to that rock over there first. It was quite something for 14-year-old Joshua to see the seven fastest men in the world three steps behind this freak — and I say that with the utmost admiration.
Of course Bolt did that two more times in those Games, then broke his own record at the World Championships in Berlin a year later—still the fastest time ever recorded—and then in London, and just for good measure took home the gold in the 100m and 200m in Rio in 2016. The greatest sprinter of all time and a 100th-percentile outcome for what the human body can be. Bolt went out with a whimper though, pulling up lame in the 4x100m relay final at the 2017 World Championships. A hamstring injury mid-race spelled the end of one of sports’ great, fiery comets.
You almost never get to go out on your own terms, especially in athletics. Eventually, your body—the thing that earned you a living, the thing that elevated you over pretty much the entire global population—lets you down. Giancarlo Stanton is also a true one-of-one. You could make a compelling argument that nobody in the history of baseball has boasted his raw power. Perhaps nobody in the sport has ever had so many home runs where the defenders simply didn’t move upon contact:
And of course, like A-Rod in 2009, there’s a very good chance the Yankees don’t even make the World Series in ‘24 if Stanton doesn’t hammer the ball like he can. Cleveland in particular had no answer whatsoever to the ALCS MVP, who showered Guardians pitching with four clutch homers. He had a 1.048 OPS that postseason and likely walks away with 18 career playoff homers and a .926 OPS in 202 plate appearances.
And as ever, you almost never get to go out on your own terms. Giancarlo Stanton was last on an MLB field on April 24th, and a couple calf strains later—most recently this week—his 2026 season is likely over. With labor unrest on the horizon, and just one guaranteed year left on his massive contract, you wouldn’t be in the wrong to assume Stanton’s career is effectively over. Yes, the Yankees may keep him around because it’s just one year, the Marlins are kicking in some cash, there’s probably insurance on the contract, maybe he plays a bit next year and is on one of his now-legendary heaters … but the news coming down yesterday felt like a coup de grâce.
For all his power and all his talent, Stanton always felt a little out of place — perhaps partially because of that one-of-a-kind power tool. His 13-year, $325 million contract was always real money but also always seen as “someone else’s problem,” with few in the industry thinking the Marlins, particularly the Jeffrey Loria Marlins, were going to keep him through the length of the deal. When he came to the Yankees as the reigning NL MVP after the glorious ride that was 2017, it felt like a near-coronation that the Baby Bombers were going to run the table in the AL for the foreseeable future.
Instead, he had a strong season even as the promised Twin Terrors of he and Aaron Judge didn’t quite take off in the way we thought. From there on, we were penciling in IL time every year. Even as Stanton slugged through Octobers, he was always great but not always on the field. The last two seasons have been particularly challenging, if Big G doesn’t play again this year that’ll be a combined 101 appearances since the start of 2025. He’s been quite productive in those 101 games, two full wins which is quite something for an all-stick, no legs DH. Playing in just 31 percent of team games, as ever, is the catch.
If this is the end for Stanton, not only do we close a chapter of Yankee history; nearly a decade with MVP-caliber bats ostensibly in the middle of the order, but we likely see the end of what was an outside shot at the Hall of Fame. So much of Stanton’s case was going to be how close he could get to 500 home runs. He sits at 456 at press time, if he wants to hang around the league I’m sure some team will sign him on the cheap — he’ll get every penny of that $325 mil no matter what the Yankees decide to do — and try and capitalize on the chase.
Stanton will also be 37 next Opening Day, with a persistent problem in his lower half. At the start of the year he had two skills, hit the ball hard and jog softly around the bases. We don’t know if that skillset has been reduced to just a single one. Remember, the initial calf injury popped up when he was simply moving to second base on a walk.
Maybe this World Series homer sums up Stanton’s time in the Bronx. It was huge! It was important! It came in one of the most crushing losses in recent club history.
If this is it, thanks for everything Giancarlo. We will likely never see pop like yours again.
