CENTENNIAL, CO - JUNE 11 : Colorado Avalanche GM Joe Sakic, left, and team's president and governor Josh Kroenke are in the press conference at Family Sports Center in Centennial, Colorado on Thursday, June 11, 2026. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images
Colorado Avalanche News
The Avalanche have plenty of talent and experience on the blue line, but each defenseman has one area where he can take another step in 2026-27. [Sports Illustrated]
As part of the NHL’s 32 in 32 series, Colorado’s fantasy projections for the 2026-27 season. [NHL]
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 04: Grant Holmes #66 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Truist Park on August 04, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves are once again in a position of avoiding a sweep. The New York Yankees pulled off two low-scoring wins and are looking to accomplish a third in this finale before the Braves return home to face the team just across the city.
Grant Holmes is currently boasting a 3.77 ERA and is coming off a successful outing against the Miami Marlins just five days ago. Reestablishing his starting campaign after a shaky first half of the season, Holmes has found his command and played up to what fans were expecting coming into the season.
It’s just been one game, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
The outing, however, was a sign that Holmes still has what it takes to keep his starting spot and put on a stellar performance. He will not only have to match that showing, but top it, as it’s uncertain what version of the Braves’ offense will show up after their recent losses. And they need all the defense they can muster to hold the Yankees’ offense.
As for New York, Cam Schlitter is set to take the start. Holding a 2.26 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and a five-pitch arsenal that’s touching high velocities, it’s no wonder Boston is keeping him in their conversations.
Though not coming off his best outing against St. Louis on August 3 with four earned runs in his three innings pitched, don’t get fooled, Schlittler is a beast on the mound. And it’ll take the dominant version of the Braves to stop him and avoid a sweep. They’ll have to strike early with Holmes on the defensive end to continue his strong stint.
One could only hope, but the Braves will have to execute if they want this hope to turn into action.
Luis De León’s second Norfolk start wasn’t as successful as his first. In four-plus innings, De León allowed six earned runs. In the second inning, he allowed three runs thanks to five straight singles. He started the fifth inning with a home run, a single, and a HBP. He exited after the HBP but both runners on base came in when Anthony Nunez gave up a grand slam.
The Tides rallied to tie the game in the eighth inning, but Nick Raquet gave up two runs in the bottom of the inning for the loss.
Enrique Bradfield had two hits and a bases-loaded walk from the top of the lineup and Creed Willems had two hits as well. Rece Hinds and Luis Vázquez had three hits apiece; two of Hinds’s were doubles. Those doubles were the only extra base hits of the game.
New top prospect Anthony Eyanson made his organizational debut and it went pretty well! The centerpiece of the Adley Rutschman trade allowed two run runs in five innings, both on solo home runs. He struck out nine batters, walked one, and allowed four hits total.
The Baysox had only four hits, but they made them count. Victor Figueroa homered in the second, then doubled in the fourth. He came in to score on Frederick Bencosme’s two-run double. Tavian Josenberger capped the scoring with a two-run home run in the sixth. Griff O’Ferrall walked ahead of Josenberger’s bomb.
High-A: Frederick Keys 3, Jersey Shore BlueClaws (PHI) 1
Another new prospect, Kyson Witherspoon, debuted today. Listed as the #7 prospect for the Orioles on MLB Pipeline, he allowed just one unearned run in 4.1 innings last night. That sounds great! But he also walked five guys. Ouch. He also gave up five hits, so there was a lot of traffic on the bases. He benefitted from a double play, a caught stealing (that he initiated), and a pick off.
The offense got on the board in the fourth inning with an RBI triple from Fernando Peguero. It was a two-hit, one walk day for Peguero. They added two more in the seventh when Leandro Arias doubled, moved to third on a single from Braylin Tavera, then scored on a wild pitch. Tavera later scored on a single Félix Amparo. Amparo had a three-hit game.
Another org debut! This time it was Harrison Kreiling, who came back in the Taylor Ward trade. He pitched a 1-2-3 first inning. In the second he walked two, then gave up a double and a single which resulted in two runs. He finished the inning and called it a day. The relief pitching was bad, with seven more runs allowed.
The offense was kept off the board until the seventh inning, despite having eight baserunners in the first six. DJ Layton hit two doubles, while Stiven Martinez had two hits and three RBI. Jordan Sanchez had a three-hit game.
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 02: Kelsie Whitmore #3 of the San Francisco Firebells in action against the Boston Hunters at Robin Roberts Stadium on August 02, 2026 in Springfield, Illinois. (Photo by Zoe Davis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
The first week of the Women’s Professional Baseball League is in the books, so let’s take a look at how the San Francisco Firebells did, and what’s coming up this week.
The Firebells kicked off their season with an 11-3 win over the Boston Hunters on Sunday. Kelsie Whitmore went three innings, allowing just one run on one hit with one strikeout and a walk. Amanda Gianelloni (2B) batted leadoff and went three-for-five with three RBI, setting the tone for the rest of the offense. Alexia George (C), Skylar Kaplan (RF), Joely Leguizamon (SS) and Jua Park (3B) all had multiple hits as well.
Things didn’t go quite as well for the Firebells on Thursday, as they lost 13-8 to the New York Heights. Ela Day-Bédard, Jua Park and Liz Gilder were knocked around for six, four and three runs respectively after Andreanne Leblanc pitched a scoreless first inning. Leblanc (P/1B) led the team on offense as well, going three-for-four with two RBI. Alexia Jorge (C) scored two runs, and Jill Albayati (LF/1B) knocked in two as well, but the Firebells fell a few runs short of a comeback, even with a five-run sixth inning.
As of the time this is being written, Friday and Saturday’s games have not yet been played, so I will include those in next week’s round-up.
Now, let’s take a look ahead at what this week has on deck for the Firebells:
Wednesday, August 12th – vs. Los Angeles – 4:30 p.m. PT
Friday, August 14th – vs. Los Angeles – 4:30 p.m. PT
Saturday, August 15th – @ New York – 11:00 a.m. PT
What time do the Giants play today?
The San Francisco Giants wrap up this weekend series against the Detroit Tigers this afternoon at 1:05 p.m. PT.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 07: Brenton Doyle #7 of the Chicago White Sox catches a fly ball against the Cleveland Guardians during the fifth inning at Rate Field on August 07, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies started their week on a high note by completing their sweep of the Kansas city Royals. Unfortunately, they were then promptly swept themselves by one of the best teams in baseball in the Tampa Bay Rays. Now the Rockies are on the road for a nine game road trip, starting with a series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Rockies dropped a close game on Friday against the redbirds. They scored just two runs despite having plenty of baserunners. Then on Saturday, Jake McCarthy was the star of the show. He went 4-for-5 with two home runs and a perfect bunt single in a Rockies victory.
Meanwhile, we are just under one week out from this year’s trade deadline. The Rockies turned four Major League players into eight different prospects from a variety of organizations. Let’s take a quick look at how everyone fared in their first outings wearing new uniforms.
RHP Seth Halvorsen to Los Angeles for RHP Nick Frasso and OF Landyn Vidourek
Right-handed pitcher Seth Halvorsen was on the 15-day injured list when he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has since been activated and sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets. The Dodgers organization quickly put Halvorsen into a late inning role with their Triple-A team and he’s done well so far. In six appearances and 6.1 innings Halvorsen has yet to give up an earned run. He’s allowed four hits and two walks while tallying eight strikeouts and going 2-for-2 in save opportunities.
Right-handed reliever Nick Frasso made five appearances with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, giving up just one earned run in 5.2 innings with eight strikeouts and only one walk. Frasso was then called up to the Rockies’ roster to make his Major League debut. Frasso was called upon for his first big league action in the 11th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays and gave up two runs—one earned—on two hits. He fared much better in his second appearance, which came against the St. Louis Cardinals, pitching a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.
Toolsy outfielder Landyn Vidourek hasn’t quite found his swing with the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies, but he has consistently gotten on base and even slugged his first two home runs for the Rockies organization. In his first 16 games he is hitting .163/.379/.306 with a double, 11 RBIs, 17 walks, and 20 strikeouts.
OF Brenton Doyle to Chicago White Sox for RHP Mason Adams and INF Carlos Vielma
Two-time Gold Glove winner Brenton Doyle is already adjusting to outfields away from Coors Field. In his five games following the deadline, Doyle has already recorded an outfield assist, been part of a double play, and made some of the spectacular catches we’ve grown accustomed to from him. However, his bat has yet to take off. Doyle is 2-for-9 with no extra-base hits, though he does have a steal.
Right-handed starter Mason Adams made his Rockies organizational debut with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes last night. He spun four scoreless innings with five strikeouts and a walk while giving up three hits while making his first appearance in the notoriously hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
16-year-old infielder Carlos Vielma is off to a strong start in his first four games with the Rockies’ Dominican Summer League DSL-Colorado. Vielma has gone 8-for-15 to start his time with the organization with a double, four runs, four RBIs, and one walk to two strikeouts.
RHP Antonio Senzatela to Milwaukee for LHP Mark Manfredi and INF Juan Martinez
Long-time Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela’s first 1.1 innings and two appearances with his new club were scoreless and hitless with a strikeout and a walk. His third and most recent appearance was less successful. On Friday against the Minnesota Twins he gave up two earned runs on three hits and was saddled with the loss.
Left-handed reliever Mark Manfredi had a difficult PCL debut with the Albuquerque Isotopes. In his first appearance with the Rockies organization he lasted just 0.2 innings and gave up four earned runs on two hits and two walks, although he did strike out two hitters. Manfredi’s second appearance was much better. He pitched 1.2 innings and gave up just one earned run on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts.
Switch-hitting infielder and a stand-out for the Brewers at this year’s Arizona Complex League, Juan Martinez already has two triples in four games with the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies. Martinez is 5-for-18 to start his time with the Rockies organization and has two RBIs.
RHP Victor Vodnik to Miami for RHP Aiden May and INF Connor Norby
Hard-throwing righty Victor Vodnik has hit some bumps with his new team in Miami with many of the same issues that troubled him with the Rockies. In two appearances and three innings of work, Vodnik has given up three earned runs on two hits, two walks, and a hit batter.
New right-handed starter Aiden May looked excellent in his debut with the High-A Spokane Indians despite being on a hard pitch count of 75 pitches. May was largely flawless through his first four innings of work. He didn’t give up any earned runs and allowed just one hit and one walk. May gave up a single in the fifth inning and an earned run was credited to him after being allowed to score by the bullpen. He finished the night with six strikeouts in 5.2 innings.
Infielder Connor Norby was the only player acquired with MLB experience despite his struggles with the Baltimore Orioles and Miami Marlins. Norby seems to have taken to his new home with the Rockies organization well. Assigned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes after the deadline, Norby has played all four games so far at second base. Meanwhile, his bat has shown signs of life. Norby is 6-for-18 with a double, two home runs, three RBIs, two walks, and four strikeouts. He’s alsso swiped two bags.
Connor Norby with his second dinger in two games for the Topes!
Now that the dust has fully settled on the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline, who do you think will find the most success in their new home? Let us know in the comments!
Welcome, Kevin Gausman, to the family! And DO NOT scare us like that!
I’m sure I’m not the only one when, on his 14th pitch as a Cub Friday, Gausman took a line drive off his ankle by Kansas City’s Salvador Perez and he was hobbling around. The thought in my head couldn’t be avoided: “Of course. We, as Cub fans, can’t have nice things.”
But Gausman shook off the zinger and got out of the inning allowing just the run set up by the ricocheted liner out into short right field. Gausman cruised through seven innings, including four 1-2-3 innings. He, of course, gave up the complimentary Cubs Starter solo home run (I want to retire this phrase!), but in total, Gausman allowed only four hits and a walk while striking out four. The nearly-perfect performance (66 of his 96 pitches were for strikes) was a joy to watch. Keep it up, Kevin.
Offensively, most of the damage was from the top three in the order. PCA was 1-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored, two RBI and a stolen base. Seiya Suzuki followed, going 2-for-5 with two RBI. Alex Bregman finished the top three going 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.
At the other end of the lineup, Pedro Ramirez went 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored. Michael Busch added a pair of hits in three at-bats.
BIG complaint — Caleb Thielbar needs a break. He’s been a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde, but Friday he allowed two runs on three hits in 0.1 IP. Two games before that against the Dodgers, Thielbar allowed four hits, including a home run, and gave up four runs in 0.1 IP. And two games prior to that against the Cardinals, he gave up a solo home run in 1.0 IP. Yes, those were sandwich around two good performances, but he needs a reset. The two home runs mentioned above are two of 10 that Thielbar has given up this year.
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Jay Staph (Just Baseball): Pete Crow-Armstrong Has a Real Shot to Win NL MVP. “For the first time since 2023, the NL MVP race may come down to the wire, as a new challenger has emerged: Cubs CF Pete Crow-Armstrong.”
Cory Sparks (North Side Baseball): Clay Holmes’ Pitching Style Fits Cubs Perfectly. “Clay Holmes and the Cubs’ infield defense will sing a harmonious tune from the moment he steps on the mound.”
Aldo Soto (Sports Mockery): Who’s On the Chopping Block in the Chicago Cubs Bullpen? “The Chicago Cubs bullpen has been shaky throughout the 2026 season, and who would have thought back in April that Jacob Webb wouldn’t only be good, but he’d be one of the best relievers in MLB?”
Elias Schuster (Chicago Cubs On SI): Cubs Share Bad News on Matt Shaw’s Status as Season Enters Crunch Time. “The good news is that they don’t have to feel rushed at this point, but he’s still the kind of bat and versatile position player you’d like to have in the dugout at such a crucial point in the season.”
With her rich vocals, captivating guitar style, and hefty catalog of well-crafted original songs, she has entertained audiences in true southern style, and has garnered 21 music industry nominations, including 3 for “Song of the Year.” An indisputable triple threat – as singer, songwriter, and guitar player – her own unique blend of “country flavored southern fried blues” appeals to fans across the genres.
A seasoned veteran of the road, Kight has no plans to slow down. She’s writing and recording more new songs and performing more live shows, taking her roots music to the fans. No matter the city or the venue, wherever she’s making music, she’s at home. It’s what she does. It’s what she loves.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
Though he was selected by Golden State in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft without having played in college, Ellis now has the opportunity to give back to an HBCU near his hometown of Jackson, Mississippi.
But that’s not why Ellis has raised the collective eyebrows of Dub Nation.
Instead, it’s for an interesting statement Ellis made to ESPN in a story announcing his new role. The 2006-07 NBA Most Improved Player discussed how his Warriors teams, though less talented and not nearly as successful, helped set the stage for Golden State’s dynasty led by Steph Curry.
“That’s what I dealt with. And people know that,” Ellis told ESPN’s Myron Medcalf. “Real people that know basketball and all that, they know that. They know the team that I was dealt with.
“If you switched me and Steph out with the team that won the championships, it’d be the same thing. So you’ve got to take the good with the bad, and that’s cool. It put me in a position to make money for me and my family. I ran with that.”
It certainly is a bold statement from Ellis, who played for the Warriors from 2005 until being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks midway through the 2011-12 NBA season — in part to allow Golden State to build around Curry.
Ellis was a talented player in his own right; he averaged 19.6 points and 4.4 assists on 46.5-percent shooting during his time in the Bay. And Ellis wasn’t surrounded by as much talent, especially once Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson departed from Golden State.
That being said, most of Dub Nation would agree Ellis wasn’t quite in the same realm as Curry.
And though we never truly will know if the Warriors would have won four titles — or perhaps more — had Curry been traded instead of Ellis, there probably aren’t many regrets from fans or the organization.
The statistical comps for Alex Sarr are somewhat worrisome. | Getty Images
It’s August, which means it’s time for the annual statistical doppelgänger series.
Refresher: over the next few weeks, I’ll be running Wizards players through an algorithm built atop a database of every player season from 1977-78 to present. The algorithm compares players across 14 statistical categories and determines which player seasons from NBA history are most similar. The system is dubbed: The Statistical Doppelgänger Machine.
The Machine was borne from the desire to do something other than the eyeball comps, which often relied on superficial similarities like skin color, height, and perceived style. Mileage may vary, but I personally got tired of hearing about the next Magic, next Larry, or next Jordan.
If you look at these two through The Statistical Doppelgänger Machine, they’re practically twins. | Getty Images
Results from The Machine have been interesting through the years, at least to me. While position isn’t one of the factors, it weirdly tends to produce comps from the same general grouping. The outputs are sometimes surprising — different styles and perceived player types producing similar results.
This year’s Wizards produced one result so on the nose it kinda pisses me off, which you’ll see below. One comp (that I’ll be writing about in a few days) was so startling that I went back and double-checked to make sure I’d run the process correctly.
Enough preamble. Today, let’s talk the non-rookie player most likely to become a bona fide NBA star: Alex Sarr.
The second overall pick in 2024 (he’d go No. 1 in a re-draft, in my opinion), Sarr improved markedly in his second season. At least when he could stay on the floor. Last season, he managed just 48 games and 1,300 minutes. As a rookie, he made it 67 games and 1,800 minutes. For those who don’t feel like doing the math, that means he missed about 30% of the team’s games his first two seasons.
My guess is that he would have played more if the Wizards had been trying to win, but it’s impossible to know for sure. It’s similarly difficult to know how seriously to take aspects of his performance. When I analyzed his performance ekg in May, I noted the decline in his production as the season wore on. Was that decline indicative of his true abilities or a symptom of a team committed to losing?
That’s impossible to know and is one of the perils of prolonged tanking.
To the doppelgängers:
Kristaps Porzingis | 2015-16 | New York Knicks | Age: 20 — This comp is perfectly annoyingly infuriating, mainly because it just might fit too well considering Sarr’s history of missed games and the fact that he’s dealing with a fractured right foot this summer. Porzingis was an enormously talented big man (7-3) whose career has been pocked with an array of leg and foot injuries. This comp season was Porzingis’ rookie year. He played 72 games, which was his career high.
Jared Sullinger | 2014-15 | Boston Celtics | Age: 22 — This comp is less worrisome, primarily because it’s more easily dismissed. This was first of consecutive good seasons from Sullinger. His career cratered when his weight ballooned. That seems unlikely to be an issue with Sarr.
Bobby Portis | 2017-18 | Chicago Bulls | Age: 22 — The production per possession was eerily similar between the two, though Sarr’s overall performance grades out better in my PPA metric. One major difference: Portis was one of the worst defenders I’ve ever seen who actually tried, and Sarr was a very good defender when he was trying.
Marvin Bagley III | 2020-21 and 2021-22 | Sacramento Kings and Detroit Pistons | Ages: 21 and 22 — Like Sarr, a second overall pick in his draft. Unlike Sarr, he went ahead of generational stars like Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. It’s arguable that Stephon Castle could go No. 1 in a redraft, but Sarr would still land second. I want to dismiss this comp, though I’m not sure we should. Some key differences: defense (Bagley wasn’t a rim protector and was weak defending in space), and playmaking (Sarr averaged more than twice as many assists on a per possession basis). You might want to say “shooting,” but Bagley shot 34.3% from deep in the first of these two comp years on 4.7 attempts per 100 team possessions and then his shot got worse. And Bagley’s health has been a major issue throughout his career.
Chet Holmgren | 2023-24 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Age: 21 — Hey great, another injury-prone big man. This was Holmgren’s rookie year because he missed what should have been his first season with a broken foot. He played all 82 games, missed 50 games the following season with a hip fracture, and appeared in 69 regular season games last season. He’s been a terrific defender and versatile offensive threat, who’s been good enough to merit a maximum contract extension that starts this season.
If you’re not happy with these comps, well…the names don’t get a whole lot better, in part because the next few are different seasons from the same names — Sullinger, Bagley, Holmgren each have other seasons in the top 10 “similar” seasons. One fairly promising name lanes ninth: Jaren Jackson Jr.
I qualified “promising” because while Jackson has sublime defensive abilities (he was Defensive Player of the Year in 2023), I also think he’s gotten overrated overall. His high usage and below average offensive efficiency puts a drag on the team’s offense, and his rampant fouling undercuts his defensive value. Sarr doesn’t foul nearly so much.
One way I’ve looked at doppelgänger results is to see how long it takes to get to a Hall of Famer. In Sarr’s case, it’s a while — a Chris Webber season from his time with the Bullets shows up in the 190s. But seasons from Thomas Bryant and Andray Blatche show up sooner.
If you’re not worried enough by the presence of Porzingis and Bagley in the top five, the extended list is chock full of talented players who had disappointing careers due to injuries, attitude, or limitations. At the risk of sending all you readers off to stare into the abyss, the list includes names like Jabari Parker, Jahlil Okafor, and Michael Beasley — in addition to Bryant and Blatche. sigh
Okay, that’s enough on Sarr and his comps. The next player through the machine has some bizarre and wildly encouraging comps.
NBA's rule change last season to not count last second heaves as missed FGs for players had a big effect on their behavior.
A new research paper by 2 Texas Tech professors, James W. Kemper & Noah Liptack, found players took that shot 94% of the time last season after taking it… pic.twitter.com/63X248sJq6
“NBA’s rule change last season to not count last second heaves as missed FGs for players had a big effect on their behavior.
A new research paper by 2 Texas Tech professors, James W. Kemper & Noah Liptack, found players took that shot 94% of the time last season after taking it 58% in the decade prior.
The paper said the most reluctance to shoot, before the rule change, was ‘concentrated among efficient shooters and players in contract years.’”
While it should come as no surprise that not penalizing players for last second shots led to an increase of attempts, the amount of change (58% to 94%) is quite drastic. That said, the 36% rise was over a decade, when three-point attempts were less common.
As a math teacher, I found the methodology and formulas interesting as well.
Play-by-play. We use ESPN play-by-play data (ESPN, 2026) for the NBA and WNBA covering the 2015–16 through 2025–26 seasons, obtained via the sportsdataverse hoopR (NBA) and wehoop (WNBA) packages (Gilani, 2021; Gilani & Hutchinson, 2021).1 For every possession, these records report the players involved, the event type, the game clock, the period, the running score, and shot coordinates. Together, they let us reconstruct what each offensive player chose to do in the final seconds of a quarter and recover the model’s statistical state variables—specifically, the time remaining t, the shot distance d, and the score margin m.
Their conclusion offers a comprehensive overview of not just basketball, but risk-taking as a whole:
“By removing the individual statistical penalty for end-of-quarter shots, we observed an immediate, near-universal alignment of player behavior with collective team success. These findings transcend basketball, offering a broader cautionary tale for organizational economics: poorly calibrated performance evaluations inevitably breed strategic subversion. When designed correctly, eliminating distorted metric penalties serves as a highly effective lever to align individual incentives with overarching organizational goals.”
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The Detroit Tigers evened up their three-game road series against the San Francisco Giants with an 8-0 victory on Saturday evening at Oracle Park. Jackson Jobe threw five scoreless innings in his triumphant return from Tommy John surgery and the offense used a six-run seventh to blow things open.
For the final episode of the nine-game West Coast road trip, right-hander Troy Melton will climb the hill looking to seize the series. The 25-year-old’s two games have both been seven-inning, shutout efforts, allowing 6 hits and four walks while striking out nine for a 2.66 FIP and a 0.71 WHIP — good enough to earn his sixth and seventh wins of the season.
While Melton continues his impressive run this summer, his strikeout numbers peaked in mid-July when he K’d nine batters in two straight games over 11 innings of work. Over his last three starts, however, his numbers have fallen to five, five and four, respectively, stretching across 19 frames, but he is still getting the job done.
For the Giants, fellow righty Logan Webb climbs the hill in the midst of what is a bit of a down year by his standards. The 29-year-old, who accrued at least 4.1 fWAR per season over the past five years, suffered through a rough July, in which he posted a bloated 6.59 ERA and extremely mediocre 4.76 FIP over 28 2/3 innings, giving up 29 hits (four home runs) and eight walks while striking out just 17 and hitting a couple of batters for a 1-2 record over that stretch.
However, Webb opened up August with a strong showing against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, tossing six frames of shutout ball on five hits and a walk while striking out eight. Has the three-time All-Star turned the corner? Find out on Sunday afternoon in the series finale.
Detroit Tigers (57-60) vs. San Francisco Giants (49-68)
Time (ET): 4:05 p.m. ET Place: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California SB Nation Site:McCovey Chronicles Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 118: RHP Troy Melton (7-1, 1.58 ERA) vs. RHP Logan Webb (7-7, 3.74 ERA)
CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 01: Austin Hedges (27) of the Cleveland Guardians bunts during a MLB game against the Texas Rangers on July 01, 2026 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Yes, Collin Holderman had an awful night and the Guardians lost to the White Sox, but the headline is that the Guardians actually tried to squeeze bunt RHYS HOSKINS home.
In the SECOND inning, with one out and Rhys Hoskins on third and Travis Bazzana on first, Austin Hedges laid down a squeeze bunt to try to score Hoskins. Hoskins, running through a vat of January-tempered molasses, was tagged out. It was truly dumbfounding strategic thinking… clearly coming from the dugout. Stephen, baby, STOP THIS. It’s idiotic.
If the Guardians can find a way to win this afternoon, I will agree to forgive everything that has come before. That’s how important this game is. 2:10PM. Another bad starter who will somehow handle Cleveland’s lineup, looks like.
Please, Vogt, do not intentionally give the other team outs. The guys are doing a good enough job of that on their own.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 08: Richie Palacios #1 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after hitting a two-run single during the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on August 08, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It wasn’t to the same degree as Friday night, but for the second straight day, the Yankees beat the Braves with some dramatics. Ben Rice’s eighth-inning home run ended up proving the difference, despite an Atlanta rally attempt in the ninth inning. George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones also had nice days, as the Yankees eked out another needed one-run win, this time on Old-Timers’ Day.
As that was happening, there was plenty of other baseball action on Saturday. Let’s check in on some of it in today’s edition of the Rivalry Roundup.
Tampa Bay Rays (70-46) 3, Seattle Mariners (56-62) 2
The Rays used a bullpen game to pick up a win over the Mariners, as seven Tampa Bay pitcher combined to hold Seattle to just two runs. That makes five wins in a row and 15 victories in the last 19 games for the Rays, who maintained a 4.5-game AL East lead over the Yankees.
It was an unfortunate ending to the day for a Seattle fan, as they had their own Old-Timers’ Day of sorts at T-Mobile Park, celebrating its 50th years as a franchise by honoring its voted 50 best Mariners. The festivities included a ceremonial first pitch from aging former skipper/Yankees icon Lou Piniella, and Alex Rodriguez’s first time back in Seattle as an honored guest (he got a nicer hand than when he returned as a player, for sure). But the modern players continued to disappoint, falling four games behind 60-58 Houston in an ugly AL West race.
The Mariners took an initial lead thanks to a Josh Naylor solo homer in the second, but Victor Mesa Jr. hit one of his own to tie things back up in the fourth. That was the extent of the offense for a little while, as George Kirby was decent for the M’s, while a collection of Rays’ pitchers held things down as well.
The Rays eventually broke that deadlock in the sixth inning after Kirby had left. A Brendan Donovan error, a single, and a walk loaded the bases up for the Rays for Richie Palacios. Tampa Bay’s second baseman came through, lining a single to right that scored two runners.
Seattle got one run back in the seventh thanks to a second Naylor homer. In total, they finished with more hits than the Rays and they had their chances, but they couldn’t add any more. They got one last life line in the ninth inning via a lead-off Julio Rodríguez single, but Naylor couldn’t make it a hat trick, and Donovan later grounded into a game-ending double play.
Other Games
The Athletics (46-71) 7, Boston Red Sox (64-52) 3: Hallelujah, the Red Sox have lost a game — just their fifth L since July 4th. It seemed like this would be an addition to their ridiculous streak, as they scored two runs in the first inning, but the A’s then scored the next seven. Jonah Heim — whose two-run single give the Athletics their first lead — and Donovan Walton each had two RBI days, while pitcher Gage Jump overcame the bad first inning to strike out 11 in a very nice six innings. Boston did bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but this time for once, an opponent was able to snuff them out. They’re now a game and a half behind the Yankees for the top Wild Card spot, though well in front of Texas (who beat Baltimore 5-1) for the the lowest of the three spots.
San Diego Padres (61-57) 3, Houston Astros (60-58) 2: The Astros scored one run and had the go-ahead one at the plate in the ninth inning, but their comeback was too little, too late. The two teams traded a run each early, but a Jackson Merrill homer gave the Padres a lead in the third, and they added another in the fourth, and that lead held up for most of the game. Michael King had a plenty good day on the mound for San Diego, allowing just one run in six innings. Houston went on to threaten in the ninth, but didn’t have enough to completely rally. Their AL West lead was trimmed to half a game by the victorious Rangers.
Chicago White Sox (60-56) 6, Cleveland Guardians (58-60) 3: After a scoreless first five innings, the final couple were action-packed as the first-place White Sox added cushion to their edge on Cleveland. Chicago won thanks mostly to a five-run sixth inning. The Guardians had just scored the game’s first two runs in the top of the sixth, but the ChiSox answered in a big way in the bottom half. Munetaka Murakami homered, while Tristian Peters and Chase Meidroth also had big RBI hits in the frame.
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 07: Pete Alonso #25 of the the Baltimore Orioles looks on during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Friday, August 7, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tenley Wright/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Hello, friends.
Though the Orioles were within a half-game of a playoff spot just a few days ago, they’ve veered hard in the opposite direction and now it feels like it’s pretty close to where you can turn out the lights. Losing two out of the first three against the Rangers, the team they’re now chasing, has brought any positive thoughts anyone may have had to a screeching halt. Check out Tyler Young’s recap of last night’s game for more of the not-so-lovely totals from a 5-1 loss.
The final score obscures that this was yet another great starting pitching outing wasted by the team. Kyle Bradish allowed just a pair of unearned runs across six innings, and the unearned runs were, in true 2026 Orioles fashion, just about the most ridiculously stupid plays that you can imagine. The kind of stuff they’ve been doing all year as if they were rolling them off an assembly line, perfectly crafted exactly the same way.
Two plays of this nature last night prominently involved Gunnar Henderson. The first of these was a classic “contact play with a drawn-in infield,” the kind of thing where Orioles runners are routinely getting thrown out, only on a ground ball right at Henderson, he wasn’t able to throw home in time to stop what was then the tying Rangers run from scoring. Later in that same inning, Henderson was unable to cleanly field a grounder and he committed a throwing error while trying to stop a runner who was aggressively going home. The first of these was not scored an error, the second one was. Both were not good.
If Henderson was hitting like he did two years ago and experiencing these lapses in the field, that would be one thing. Unfortunately for the team’s success this season, he’s not. Manager Craig Albernaz has taken Henderson to batting leadoff in some recent games, which I guess is hoping it sparks something by doing something different. Nothing is working. Henderson dropped a .590 OPS in July and is sitting on a .496 so far in August. The only reason that number isn’t lower is because he’s walked seven times; Henderson has yet to get an extra-base hit this month and he only has two hits in total.
As with so many other aspects of the team’s struggles this year, no one with any influence over the situation seems to have any idea what to do about it all. Henderson in particular seems like he slots into the classic Yogi Berra “ninety percent of the game is half-mental” and that’s the part where it’s going wrong for him. It seems to me that blunting that spiral of failure is one of the most important things that Albernaz could do in his first season as a manager and it’s not getting blunted. He probably didn’t imagine that was going to be on his list of problems when he took this job. Here it is all the same.
It’s almost a joke to bring up the wild card standings after all of this, but the fact remains that the Orioles are three games out of a spot with 45 left to play. They can get back to two games if they win today. Their next series against this is the Twins, who they also must pass. I think they are going to need to go 28-17 at a minimum from here on. That feels impossible. It will feel more possible if they were somehow able to rip off a six game winning streak. They’re going to have to start hitting again to do that.
Cade Povich and Kumar Rocker are the scheduled starting pitchers for a 2:35 game as the Orioles try to avoid being swept almost entirely out of the playoff picture.
The most recent Orioles victory on this day came two years ago. They beat the Rays, 4-1, to improve to 69-48 on the season. Just four of the 13 players who appeared for the Orioles in that game are on the active roster today. Zach Eflin’s seven shutout innings helped a lot, and each of Colton Cowser and Cedric Mullins homered in the win.
There is one lone former Oriole who was born on this day: Chuck Essegian, who made one pinch-hit appearance for the 1961 Orioles, turns 95 years old today. Happy birthday to him. Essegian played for a total of six teams across six years in the majors.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: actor Sam Elliott (1944), baseball Hall of Famer Ted Simmons (1949), actress Melanie Griffith (1957), singer-songwriter Whitney Houston (1963), football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders (1967), actress Gillian Anderson (1967), and actress Anna Kendrick (1985).
On this day in history…
In 48 BC, in a battle that involved over 75,000 men and where Julius Caesar was outnumbered over 2:1, Caesar defeated Pompey in the Battle of Pharsalus in modern-day Greece. After Caesar’s victory, Pompey fled to Egypt, and Caesar had the upper hand in the Roman Civil War.
In 1854 AD, Walden by Henry David Thoreau, the memoir of the transcendentalist, was first published.
In 1945, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb on Japan, killing around 35,000 people in Nagasaki.
In 1969, five people including actress Sharon Tate and coffee heiress Abigail Folger were killed in Los Angeles by members of the Manson Family.
In 1974, Richard Nixon resigned the presidency due to his coverup of the Watergate break-in.
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on August 9. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 07: Ronny Mauricio #0 of the New York Mets reacts after his tenth inning pinch hit game winning single against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field on April 07, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This was quite the high scoring affair, with the two teams combining for 20 runs on 23 hits and 13 walks. Trailing coming into the inning, Syracuse put up a six-spot in the bottom of the fourth, taking the lead and never looking back.
The Rumble Ponies didn’t exactly get a strong performance out of Gabe Davis, with the right-hander allowing three runs in three innings, but the bullpen was solid and kept the team in the game. Finding themselves down by a run going into the eighth inning, Mitch Voit and Emilien Pitre both singled and were then driven in by a Jefferson Rojas triple. Suddenly finding themselves on top by a run, Douglas Orellana was called in for the save and the right-hander threw a 1-2-3 ninth, shutting down the Yard Goats for his third save and Binghamton’s sixth straight win.
This one was a messy affair with multiple lead changes, but the Blue Rocks outlasted the Cyclones. Luke Gabrysh wasn’t particularly great, allowing three runs in four innings, but fellow trade deadline additions Sammy Stafura and Aidan Smith both had good games, Stafura going 3-4 with a double and Smith going 2-4 with a homer.
The Cyclones offense put up a good fight in game one but didn’t show up in game two. Wilmington right-hander Riley Maddox threw 6.2 shutout innings, getting removed for some reason (presumably because he hit 90 pitches, but God, what are we are finding acceptable nowadays? He was cruising and the majority of those 90 pitches were low stress pitches) with one out to go, which was recorded by Jacob Roberts. Brooklyn logged just three hits, all singles, and drew one unintentional walk.
Down by a run, the St. Lucie Mets plated three runs in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a Julio Zayas homer. Twenty-twenty-six draftees Aiden Robbins and John Smith III got on base in front of Zayas with consecutive singles, and viola. The Tortugas’ sole run came an inning prior, in the third, on a home run that Caden Wooster allowed.
In the first few innings, the score changed hands multiple times but both teams found themselves evenly matched at 6-6 as we moved into the middle innings. The St. Lucie bullpen completely imploded, allowing three runs in the fifth, four in the sixth, and two more in the seventh- those last two I guess are forgivable, as they were allowed by Julio Zayas.
Sunday brings another full slate of MLB action with plenty of opportunities to find value on the moneyline.
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Expert MLB moneyline picks for August 9
Reds vs Nationals: Reds (-122)
Reds win probability: 55%
Cincinnati brings momentum behind a bullpen that is flat-out locking teams down, while Washington’s offense is sputtering down the stretch. With Brady Singer giving the Reds a dependable baseline on the mound, back Cincinnati’s bullpen to outlast the Nationals at a very reasonable road price.
Braves vs Yankees: Braves (+122)
Braves win probability: 45%
The Bronx faithful are getting restless as the Yankees offense is sputtering big time, managing a dismal .200 average and high strikeout numbers across the past 14 days. Atlanta provides huge value catching plus-money with Grant Holmes on the bump, especially against a cold New York lineup that is failing to produce timely hits.
A's vs Red Sox: Athletics (+223)
Athletics win probability: 31%
Boston’s steep -233 line pushes past anything I am comfortable laying, forcing us to grab the Athletics as massive underdogs. The Athletics will need J.T. Ginn to pitch out of his mind and keep Boston’s raking bats quiet, but catching a huge +223 payout makes this the only eligible play for this game.
Blue Jays vs Phillies: Blue Jays (+150)
Blue Jays win probability: 40%
Philadelphia at -170 is another market I am uncomfortable laying this much juice, so I am going with Toronto at +150 as the prediction. Veteran starter Shane Bieber steps onto the bump for the Blue Jays, giving them a veteran arm capable of silencing Philadelphia’s home crowd and pulling off the road upset.
Mets vs Pirates: Mets (+122)
Mets win probability: 45%
The Mets boast a late-inning relief corps that is utterly lights-out right now with a 1.85 ERA. Pitching Sean Manaea against Jared Jones gives New York a fantastic opportunity as road underdogs, particularly with Pittsburgh’s lineup struggling to cross the plate over the past two weeks.
Angels vs Marlins: Marlins (-138)
Marlins win probability: 58%
Los Angeles is riding the struggle bus at the plate with a dismal .600 team OPS over their last fortnight. Miami hands the ball to Ryan Gusto in a cozy home spot, making the Marlins a strong home favorite to control the action against a completely stalled Angels offense.
Twins vs Brewers: Twins (+213)
Twins win probability: 32%
Milwaukee’s heavy -223 line exceeds my comfort zone, shifting the play to Minnesota at better than 2/1 underdog odds. Young lefty Connor Prielipp gets the starting nod against Jacob Misiorowski. If the Twins can generate early traffic against Milwaukee’s pitching staff, this long shot offers massive plus-money value on the card.
Cubs vs Royals: Cubs (-150)
Cubs win probability: 60%
The Cubs are raking at an elite clip across the last 14 days, pacing the top five in MLB offense with a .345 wOBA. Matthew Boyd takes the mound facing a Royals squad that is severely lagging offensively, making Chicago a prime favorite right at a reasonable price.
Guardians vs White Sox: Guardians (-100)
Guardians win probability: 50%
With both divisional rivals struggling to score, this pick 'em matchup comes down to baseline execution. Joey Cantillo gets the start for Cleveland, giving the Guardians enough run-prevention stability to pull out a narrow victory against a White Sox team that is currently lacking offensive firepower.
Rockies vs Cardinals: Cardinals (-150)
Cardinals win probability: 60%
Colorado’s bullpen is leaking oil with ugly WHIP numbers, making road trips a high-wire act for the Rockies. St. Louis sends Michael McGreevy to the mound at home, setting up the Cardinals as a solid home favorite to capitalize on Colorado's ongoing relief and defensive metrics.
Orioles vs Rangers: Rangers (-138)
Rangers win probability: 58%
Baltimore’s bats are cold as ice, slumping to a dismal .190 team batting average over their past two weeks. Texas hands the ball to electric starter Kumar Rocker at Globe Life Field, making the Rangers a solid lay-the-juice home play against an abysmal Orioles lineup.
Tigers vs Giants: Tigers (-113)
Tigers win probability: 53.1%
Detroit is absolutely raking right now, leading all of Major League Baseball with a blistering 147 wRC+ over the last 14 days. Troy Melton leads the charge against Logan Webb, providing elite offensive support at nearly even odds to secure a big road victory in San Francisco.
Dodgers vs Diamondbacks: Diamondbacks (+117)
Diamondbacks win probability: 46.1%
The Dodgers bullpen is leaking oil in a big way, posting an ERA over 6 while walking over 13% of batters over the past two weeks. Catching Arizona as a plus-money home dog behind Eduardo Rodriguez gives us tremendous value against a Dodgers relief corps that simply cannot find the strike zone lately.
Rays vs Mariners: Rays (-108)
Rays win probability: 51.9%
Tampa Bay features a dominant late-inning bullpen that keeps opponent scoring under lock and key. With Seattle’s bullpen posting a disastrous 5.95 ERA over their last fortnight, the Rays hold a distinct late-game advantage at near pick 'em odds to close out a tough road win.
Astros vs Padres: Astros (+113)
Astros win probability: 47%
Houston is firing on all cylinders right now, pairing a raking lineup (134 wRC+) with a stingy 2.36 bullpen ERA. Getting the Astros at plus-money against San Diego offers exceptional value on a team that is outperforming almost everyone in baseball over the past two weeks.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
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