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The White Sox are one of the few AL teams to beat as the home stretch of baseball approaches, and a lot of the credit goes to Will Venable. The sophomore skipper has led Chicago to first in the division with a 67-61 record, giving him a huge leg up in this year’s AL Manager of the Year Award. 

But Venable can’t get too comfortable. Two games ahead of the White Sox are the Red Sox, who were 37-47 at the end of June, staring down the barrel of being the biggest disappointments this season but emerged as one of the strongest AL wild card teams since the All-Star break. And interim manager Chad Tracy is receiving high praise for steering the Bosox back into the playoff hunt. Kevin Cash’s unwavering first-place standing with the Tampa Bay Rays the AL East also makes him a formidable MOY frontrunner.

For Venable to win AL MOY, the White Sox must win the division. Here are three things the franchise and Venable can do to secure the AL Central.

Find a pitching diamond in the rough
The quickly-fatiguing pitching staff needs a boost. Since the beginning of August, Venable has been forced to get creative with his permutations of openers, starters and relievers. An arm is an to him, and how you pitch matters more than where in the game you pitch. Venable managed to squeak two wins from games played with only relievers on the bump, but the luck is starting to run out.

Chicago’s pitching needs a hero in September. Luis Castillo has been a stand-up starter since the trade deadline, but the White Sox need more, and there are two possibilities: Davis Martin or Drew Thorpe.

Martin needs to come back from his blistered finger looking like the early Cy Young candidate he was with a 8-1 record from March through May, with a 2.00 ERA, 71 strikeouts, 14 walks, and just three home runs allowed. He was a force to be reckoned with, with command and presence on the mound that made him look a lot older and wiser. Martin’s time off will hopefully be the reset he needs to finish the season strong.

Otherwise, Thorpe needs to be the pitcher’s version of Tristan Peters: An underrated and unexpected workhorse who emerges out of nowhere. Thorpe has been working his way back to Chicago, but timing his return and ensuring he’s ready to dive into the deep end will be challenging. Thorpe only has 22 innings under his belt since 2024, and began his recovery just over a month ago. And he was hardly an experienced hand before TJS, tossing only tossed nine inconsistent games before his injury. Expecting Thorpe to be able to keep pace sprinting while he’s still learning to walk is a tall order, but dropping a series to the Mets would warrant an expedited return. If Thorpe can give the White Sox at least three starts that last into the fifth while giving the team a chance to win, he’ll make a huge impact.

Eliminate silly mistakes
Venable can’t afford another embarrassing mistake. Despite some of his brilliant platoon and pinch-hitting decisions, his naïvité and newness to managing aren’t lost. His least forgiving misstep was losing track of the mound visits in an eventual 8-2 loss to the Guardians on August 7, which forced Noah Schultz off the mound prematurely.

A smaller but equally-costly error recently committed was not walking Pete Crow-Armstrong leading off the 10th of the first White Sox-Cubs game at Wrigley, with the score tied and PCA’s run having no meaning.

Despite his willingness to take responsibility for his poor decisions, Venable can’t afford another blunder.

Win more games than Boston
Evading a collapse as catastrophic as Detroit’s last year should be the top priority for Chicago. Getting a fair pitcher back and eliminating bad decisions will help, but Venable needs to win games, period. 

Chicago has five divisional series ahead of them, and it can’t be understated how important it is to win them. Winning at least eight of those 16 games is pivotal, although the standard should be much higher.

Also, Venable has to take the winnable games on the schedule. Excluding the Tigers and Guardians, the White Sox face four teams with a .500 record or worse. Winning 10 of those 15 games is table stakes. Setting the bar lower would not be MOY-worthy.

Together, those 18 wins should be enough to at least keep pace with Boston. But if Venable wants to win MOY and finish first in the second-easiest division in the league, he must come out on top of the Red Sox when all is said and done. If the Red Sox win more games than Chicago, Chad Tracy is the obvious MOY choice.

Yesterday, the Milwaukee Brewers became the first team to reach 80 wins with a 2-1 series-opening victory over the Braves and ace Chris Sale.

Things will get a little easier — although not quite easy — against Atlanta’s starting pitcher for today’s game, Martín Pérez. The 35-year-old Pérez doesn’t throw hard (89.3 mph average fastball velocity this year), but he’s hung around in the majors since 2012 thanks to his ability to limit barrels and induce ground balls. He’s having the second-best season of his career, with a 3.15 ERA and 133 ERA+, although — as you might expect from someone with that profile — his 4.14 FIP is quite a bit worse.

On the mound for Milwaukee will be rookie right-hander Logan Henderson, who has a 2.44 ERA through 17 career starts with the Brewers. Henderson has missed some time due to injury in each of the last couple of seasons, but when healthy, he’s been a revelation. He’s made 12 starts this year, pitching to a 2.70 ERA and an even-more-impressive 0.87 WHIP.

Before we get into today’s lineup, I wanted to share some news for those of you who haven’t seen it. When right-hander Brandon Woodruff left Milwaukee in late July, his plan was to undergo shoulder surgery, but his shoulder has reportedly shown remarkably unexpected healing, and his surgeon, Dr. Keith Meister, is no longer recommending surgery. Given the way Woodruff’s season has gone, it’s hard to fault anyone for not getting too optimistic just yet, but you never know. Even seeing him pitch out of the bullpen before the end of the year would be an unexpected — but pretty great — way for his season to end.

As for the lineup, no massive surprises today. Leading off will be Jackson Chourio, followed by Brice Turang and William Contreras, who went 4-for-4 with an RBI yesterday in a game the Brewers won by one run. Behind Contreras are Jake Bauers, the team leader in home runs with 22, and Andrew Vaughn, starting at first base with Bauers in right field. Rounding out the lineup are designated hitter Christian Yelich, third baseman Joey Ortiz, center fielder Luis Lara, and shortstop Cooper Pratt.

As usual, you can catch today’s game on Brewers.TV, WTMJ 620, and the Brewers Radio Network. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. CT.

The Braves could badly use a win Saturday afternoon in Milwaukee.

They’re 1-4 on their four-game, seven-day road trip this week entering this 2:10 EDT game at American Family Field. The Phillies, meanwhile, have won seven straight games to trim the NL East lead to four games.

Atlanta hopes Martín Pérez (8-7, 3.15 ERA) can return to his normally solid form after a rocky start Monday at the Twins.

Milwaukee is starting rookie right-hander Logan Henderson (7-2, 2.70) in his first career appearance against the Braves.

Tune in on BravesVision, 680 or however you watch/listen to the Braves and see if they can force a rubber match in Sunday night’s series finale at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

Winning is nice. I like winning. Do you like winning? The Yankees have been winning.

With a victory in the Bronx last night, the Bombers have clinched a winning week, and will have two opportunities to make it a perfect week. Meanwhile, the Orioles, whom they just swept, bounced back to beat the Rays for the fourth time this week. That assistance from Baltimore has allowed New York to pull within three games of first place in the AL East.

The Yankees grabbed the initiative in the first of 10 games in this critical late-August homestand, finding more answers than the Blue Jays in a 3-1 win. Cam Schlittler wasn’t his absolute best, but still kept Toronto at bay while a hulking homer from Spencer Jones which just stayed fair proved the pivotal highlight. This Saturday afternoon will feature a familiar matchup on the mound as New York looks to take the series and get their revenge for last weekend.

I’m feeling some personal dèja vu from my last recap, which involved the Yankees playing the Blue Jays—with Ryan Weathers against Dylan Cease as the pitching matchup. That game, if you’ll recall, ended with the ever-so-rare extra-innings win on the road (despite a ninth-inning debacle) which kicked off the current five-game winning streak they find themselves riding. Ben Rice hit a huge two-run homer in the 10th inning to atone for his critical error the previous frame, and the Bombers escaped with a 1-2 split of that weekend’s battle.

Weathers and Cease both pitched brilliantly, but both ended with no-decisions. Cease left on the hook for the loss thanks to a booming double by George Lombard Jr. followed by an RBI hit from José Caballero (and a failed a Matrix choreography shoot). Weathers completed his sixth consecutive quality start with 7.1 innings of one-run ball, continuing his sensational second half. If he continues this roll and the bats meet him halfway, we could be looking at a breezy series win. We’ll see if the Jays have adjusted their approach from then.

It’s a day game after a night game, so there are some changes to announce from last night’s lineup. With the right-handed Cy Young candidate Cease on the hill, Aaron Boone’s card will look more familiar. Trent Grisham goes back to his leadoff spot ahead of Rice and Heliot Ramos. Luis García Jr. and Jones will bat ahead of Lombard in the middle third, then Jazz Chisholm Jr., Austin Wells, and third baseman Caballero pull up the rear. Hello Kitty will unfortunately not be able to come off the bench today.

For what it’s worth: the struggling Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who was placed on the concussion IL the previous weekend, is back in the Blue Jays’ lineup. New Jersey icon Davis Schneider was optioned to make room. Guerrero has obviously played quite a bit better at Yankee Stadium than at Rogers Centre. It’s a shame the latter is his home ballpark.

How to watch

Location: Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY

First pitch: 1:35 pm ET

TV broadcast: YES, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | SN590 THE FAN (TOR)

Streaming: Gotham Sports App, MLB.tv (out-of-market only)

For updates, follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Twenty years ago today, Dustin Pedroia made his major league debut in Anaheim. It was a big moment for Red Sox Nation. The transition from the 2003-2005 Red Sox teams was happening and they were calling up a player who would define the next decade of Boston baseball.

In both the April and June updates to the SoxProspects rankings, Pedroia was the #4 prospect in the system. He was behind legends like Jonathan Papelbon (who would graduate while holding down the closer job), Jon Lester, Craig Hansen, and Jacoby Ellsbury. Hansen aside, that’s quite the top four guys.

Think of the possible back of the bullpen for 2006…

Pedroia was a second round draft pick in 2004 and made it to the majors just about two year later. As a shortstop. Yes, for a time there was a middle infield logjam with Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez, and Jed Lowrie. No one knew who would shake out at second base and shortstop. Well, Theo probably knew. Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis were taking the other two spots because of another trade. That trade was Hanley finding himself on the Marlins in exchange for Josh Beckett, the aforementioned Lowell, and of course, Guillmero Mota.

The rest of the lineup against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim that August night?

Coco Crisp, CF

Mark Loretta, 2B

David Ortiz, DH

Kevin Youkilis, 1B

Wily (not Fitzy) Mo Peña, LF

Mike Lowell 3B

Doug Mirabelli, C

Gabe Kapler, RF

and of course, Dustin Pedroia, SS.

Seeing Mirabelli listed you probably have a good idea who the starting pitcher was. You would be wrong.

This game was started by Kyle Snyder! Before he became the slow-walking pitching coach of the Tampa Bay Rays he was a pitcher for the Red Sox.

Snyder would be relieved by Kason Gabbard and Manny Delcarman.

Pedroia would be pinch hit for by Manny Ramirez. Manny doesn’t usually pinch hit at all, mostly because he’s in the lineup already. But there he was, ready to go.

The Sox would go on to lose that game but Dustin Pedroia would collect his first hit (a single to center field off Joe Saunders) and go on to have a great career. Starting with his Rookie of the Year the very next season. And an MVP. And three World Series rings.

He wasn’t even #15 yet in 2006. But he was a dirt dog.

Pedroia wouldn’t hit his first home run for a few more games – September 9th 2006 – and since the MLB Filmroom has zero Pedroia moments from his #64 days, I’ve taken the liberty of tracking it down.

Classic Don and Jerry reactions.

I’m sure someday he’ll start appearing as a regular in the Legends Box during Sox games and will get a fantastic response each time.

Can you believe it’s been 20 years? Do you have a favorite memory of Pedroia? A game you were at or watched?

The chances of New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton playing in the regular season have become more unlikely as he suffered another lower leg injury, this time a moderate-grade strain in his left calf.

Stanton was already on the injured list with a right calf injury, and this latest setback happened while he was running the bases during his rehab stint.

The 36-year-old has not played since April 24, and in his 24 games played, he hit .256 with three home runs and 14 RBIs.

"We're not ruling anything out," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Saturday, Aug. 22. "He'll obviously continue to work to try to get it right and hopefully be available. But obviously we're at a point in the calendar where it gets challenging, but you also never know."

Mauricio Dubón’s versatility continues to be a major asset for the Braves.

He’s playing second base for the second time this season for Saturday’s 2:10 p.m. ET game at the Milwaukee Brewers, giving Ozzie Albies a rare designated hitter day.

This is well timed because, as Scott Coleman pointed out, things have been trending down for awhile now for Albies.

Drake Baldwin is back atop the lineup against right-handed Brewers starter Logan Henderson, followed by Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson and Michael Harris II.

Albies, DHing for just the second time in his career (both this season), will hit fifth, followed by Dubón, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Riley and Jim Jarvis at shortstop.

This will be the first time anyone on the Braves’ roster has faced Henderson, who debuted last season and was on the injured list when Milwaukee traveled to Atlanta in June.

The Brewers are running back a similar lineup to the one from Friday’s series opener, making a few order swaps and bringing in Christian Yelich at DH after Gary Sanchez held the role on Friday.

Although Braves starter Martín Pérez is in his 15th major league season, only a handful of active Brewers have extensive experience against him. Sanchez (5-for-22 with two homers) is the only Milwaukee hitter with more than 14 career at-bats against Pérez.

Old friend William Contreras (4-for-10) actually has the best batting average on the team against Pérez aside from Joey Ortiz (3-for-4). Overall, the Brewers are a combined .281 against Pérez lifetime with six homers, three doubles, 18 RBIs, a .517 slugging percentage and .850 OPS.

Cody Bellinger is officially back. 

Both Bellinger and Aaron Boone confirmed that the Yankees are expecting the slugger to be activated from the IL ahead of Sunday's series finale with the Blue Jays in the Bronx. 

Bellinger has been sidelined just under a month due to a left hamstring strain. 

He has been progressing his way back over the past few weeks, and the team expected that he'd be able to make his return before the end of this weekend. 

Bellinger appeared in two rehab games, and has been deemed ready to come back.

"Very excited," Boone said. "He's had a very good rehab process here, and he's gotten tested well enough the past two nights and has gotten a handful of at-bats, so we feel like he's ready to roll."

Bellinger went 1-for-6 over his two Triple-A rehab games but was scorching hot before landing on the IL, hitting .322 with three doubles and a .903 OPS over his last 12 games. 

Getting him back in the mix will certainly be a huge boost for a Yankees offense that's been operating without three of their top bats in Bellinger, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton.  

Boone said we'll have to wait and see what the corresponding move and RF plan will be. 

The injuries have come in bunches for Giancarlo Stanton this season, and Saturday morning brought even more bad news for the veteran slugger. Stanton suffered a “moderate” left calf strain (not the right calf which he injured back in April, as Bryan Hoch reported) after falling while running. Although the Yankees don’t want to rule anything out, Aaron Boone told reporters he may not return this year.

The Yankees probably already had to prepare for the possibility that Stanton would be unable to contribute to their playoff run this October, and this news essentially seals the deal. The 36-year-old DH played in 24 of the first 26 team games this season, hitting .256/.302/.422 with three home runs before straining his right calf in Houston on April 24th. Since then, he’s struggled to get back into playing shape. In June, he tweaked that calf again, forcing him to miss more time. Now, with an injury to the other calf, his Murphy’s Law season continues.

There isn’t much to say other than, woof. It’s hard not to feel for Stanton, who has tried his best to return as a contributor for the stretch run; and we only need remember his exploits from 2024 to know how much of a difference-maker he can be. Alas, his body has refused to cooperate. That said, if this is indeed curtains for him in 2026, the Yankees’ general postseason plan doesn’t figure to change much. Ben Rice has been closer to a full-time DH since Luis García Jr. came aboard at the deadline, and a healthy Stanton in the mix would likely have just given the Yankees another pinch-hitting option late in games; likely not a starting role.

After this season, Stanton has one guaranteed year remaining on the megadeal he signed with the Marlins all the way back in 2015. There is a team option for 2028 which the Yankees are all but certain not to exercise. Will the Yankees give Giancarlo a chance for one last hurrah since they collect insurance when he’s on the IL anyway, or will they decide to at last conclude this wild, up-and-down saga of Stanton in New York? Time will tell.

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The Chicago White Sox will look to extend their lead in the AL Central as they host the New York Mets on Saturday night.

Luis Castillo has been inconsistent since joining Chicago, and I'm backing New York to take advantage and win in my Mets vs. White Sox predictions.

Read more to see all my MLB picks for Saturday, Aug. 22.

Who will win Mets vs White Sox today: New York Mets (+100)

Luis Castillo (4-9, 4.99 ERA) has seen his numbers take a sharp decline this year, and the underlying data might look even worse.

The Chicago White Sox starter is allowing a barrel rate of 9.9%, is allowing an average exit velocity of 90.0 mph, and is only striking out batters 20.1% of the time. 

The New York Mets have a lineup that can take advantage of this, as they rank third in MLB in hard-hit percentage (41.2%).

I expect New York to get to Castillo early and often tonight. I'm taking the Mets to win at -110 or better.

COVERS INTEL:The Mets have an air pull rate of 19.7% against fastballs and sliders off righties, two pitches that make up 69% of Castillo's arsenal.

Mets vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (+108)

Castillo is the weaker pitcher in this matchup, but I expect the White Sox to find success against Christian Scott (4-3, 3.51 ERA) as well.

Chicago is putting up an impressive 4.77 runs per game and has one of the lowest chase rates in the league at 28.9%.

That will be important against Scott, who is walking 9.5% of batters he faces (good for 3.7 walks per nine innings).

The Mets and White Sox combined for 10 runs last night, and have hit the Over in their last three meetings.

I'm backing the Over tonight at even money or better.

Mets vs White Sox home run prediction: Francisco Lindor (+376)

Castillo is having a rough time keeping the ball in the park this year, allowing 1.5 homers per nine innings.

He's given up three long balls in three games since joining the White Sox, and has allowed a concerning 10 home runs in his last six starts overall.

Francisco Lindor may only have 12 homers this year, but he's hitting .355 with a 66.7% hard-hit percentage off sliders this year, which is Castillo's second-favorite pitch.

With Castillo giving up dingers left and right, Lindor is a good bet to go deep on Saturday. 

Mets vs White Sox weather

A steady wind blowing out to right field should provide some help for both lineups tonight.

Mets vs White Sox odds

• Moneyline: Mets +100 | White Sox -104
• Run line: Mets -1.5 (+170) | White Sox +1.5 (-178)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+108) | Under 8.5 (-113)

Mets vs White Sox trend

Luis Castillo's teams have gone 3-8 straight up in his last 11 starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. White Sox.

How to watch Mets vs White Sox and game info

Mets vs White Sox latest injuries

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