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After the Yanks bludgeoned Boston Sunday, it was time to scoreboard watch. Most notably, could the Padres do us all a solid and knock off the Rays? To the surprise of absolutely no one, the answer was no. So while the Yankees put more distance between themselves and Boston and clinched the season series between the two eternal rivals, there was no ground gained on Tampa.

Elsewhere, a former Baby Bomber achieved a career milestone while a future Hall of Fame hurler further stated his Cooperstown case.

Tampa Bay Rays (82-54) 5, San Diego Padres (72-65) 4 (F/11)

Bloody Devil Magic. The Padres looked to have this game wrapped up, with a ninth-inning lead and Mason Miller on the mound. Since joining the Padres last season, the All-World closer had surrendered precisely two home runs over 79.2 frames as he took the mound Sunday. So, of course he promptly gave up a game-tying two-run blast to Johnny DeLuca. But hold on. This was no run of the mill home run.

As I said, bloody Devil Magic. After a scoreless 10th, the Dads took a lead in the 11th. But it was all for naught. A DeLuca ground ball to Xander Bogaerts ended in an error and re-tied the game. Then, former Yankee farmhand Jorge Mateo ended it with a walk-off single.

Other Games

Chicago White Sox (72-64) 1, Minnesota Twins (65-72) 5: For all intents and purposes, this one was over before the opening frame came to a close. Minnesota plated three in the home first, more than enough for starter Zebby Matthews. Matthews took a shutout into the ninth before the Pale Hose managed to scrape across a run. Matthews’ day ended with 8.1 innings allowing that lone run. That continues a strong run, as he has pitched to a 3.21 ERA in his last seven outings, averaging 6 IP/start.

Houston Astros (69-68) 6, New York Mets (61-76) 3: LaMonte Wade, Jr. was Sunday’s hero for Houston. His pinch-hit two-run home run gave the Astros a lead they never surrendered. The victory keeps H-town two games ahead of their intra-state rival Rangers.

Texas Rangers (67-70) 7, Milwaukee Brewers (85-52) 4: Texas won Sunday to stay in the mix in the AL West and Wild-Card races. But for Yankees fans, Gary Sánchez was the story. The Kraken clubbed the 200th home run of his career, 138 of which came in pinstripes, in defeat. Sigh. We’ll always have the second half of 2016.

Cleveland Guardians (69-68) 11, Kansas City Royals (62-76) 1: Welcome to the José Ramírez Show. The Cleveland third baseman has been mired in his worst offensive season since 2015. Not Sunday, however. Ramírez homered and drove in four as the 3-4-5 batters for Cleveland combined to plate 10 runs.

Baltimore Orioles (68-69) 8, Athletics (53-84) 5: Gunnar Henderson has had a rough 2026. But on Sunday, he looked every bit the young superstar. Four hits, two of which left the yard, led to three runs scored and five batted in as the Os swept the As.

Toronto Blue Jays (68-70) 7, Seattle Mariners (64-73) 0: For one day at least, Max Scherzer was “Mad Max” again. While tossing seven frames of one-hit shutout ball, Scherzer punched out 10. The last of those moved him ahead of Gaylord Perry for ninth all-time on the career strikeout list.

Well, these were supposed to be the three easiest of the 13 games in 13 days. That doesn’t mean the Cubs can’t recover and have a good stretch of games. It’s just that logistically speaking, you’d have wanted to grab at least two and hopefully three while rested and against the team drifting in the wrong direction as the season winds down. Instead, the Cubs only got one. They waived 2020 First Round pick Ed Howard over the weekend and so what was supposed to be a celebration of Jon Lester and Jody Davis and the 150th Anniversary Cubs stars, it ended up rather bittersweet.

If your name was Pete Crow-Armstrong, you had a crazy good weekend. Sometimes we throw around phrases like coming out party on the big stage. The thing is, PCA announced his presence last year and then started shouting from the rooftops months ago. This crazy stretch is just shy of a half season of games. I don’t know that we are there, but at some point in time, it isn’t a hot stretch but a level up achieved. He led off another game with a homer. The Reds didn’t read his script for the weekend, but for the second time in recent memory he led off the game with a homer and then came back and homered again in the ninth. Unfortunately, the one in this one was a consolation prize and not the walk-off that the last one was.

In all he hit five home runs this weekend. That’s pretty crazy. You are in a subset of a subset with five homers over two games. I well remember players like Ryne Sandberg, Sammy Sosa and Alfonso Soriano slowly drifting from guys who stole more bases than hit homers to the reverse. Naturally, I would then expect that day would come for Pete. I hadn’t considered before this weekend the possibility that he might have more homers than steals this year. He’s now leading 38 homers to 32 steals. It’s far from over, but it is very possible he could end up with more homers than steals already. There are 25 games left in the season. In the 25 games leading up to tonight he stole six bases. I’d actually suggest at this point it is very likely he finishes with more homers.

Aside from Pete, the offense created a bit of traffic (nine hits and a walk) but did not sustain any offense when Pete wasn’t homering. The pitching wasn’t good, particularly Shōta Imanaga. Once again, the Cubs have an issue to deal with. I’m not sure they can keep running him out there. He’d had a really nice stretch of games, but it just isn’t working. Once again I’d rather see Javier Assad or Colin Rea in that spot. That’s not an easy decision to make. He looks healthy, so you’d just be removing him from the rotation. They gave him an extra rest day where they had an off day to work with, but he didn’t really look any better. Maybe you let him pitch again Saturday in Miami. But I’m not sure how you then have him pitch again the following Wednesday. Things now look like they are going to get tight.

This team, man. I think one of my most repeated tropes through the years, though not at any point this year, is Lucy moving the football and Charlie ending up on his back trying to figure out what went wrong. I think I’m now on the ground seeing little stars swirling around my head. Everything felt like it was under control, I started to really believe in this team and then we got rug pulled. Again.

No fun.

Three Positives:

• Pete is a monster. Two more homers. Dare to dream? He’s two homers shy of Kyle Schwarber for the major league lead. Second in runs. Seventh in hits. Second in triples. Tied for sixth in RBI. Fifth in steals. 12th in on base. Second in slugging. Second in OPS. Those are all MLB ranks, not NL. Just an insane season.
• Ian Happ had two singles and a walk. He scored twice. He and Pete scored four of the five runs.
• Caleb threw a perfect inning with three strikeouts. There were very few clean innings for Cub pitching all weekend long.

Game 137, August 30: Reds 7, Cubs 5 (77-60)

Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.

THREE HEROES:

• Superhero: Ian Happ (.132). 2-3, BB, 2 R
• Hero: Alex Bregman (.067). 1-4, 2B, R
• Sidekick: Nico Hoerner (.035). 2-3, SF, RBI

THREE GOATS:

• Billy Goat: Shōta Imanaga (-.458). 5 IP, 8 H, BB, 6 R, 4 K (L 8-10)
• Goat: Seiya Suzuki (-.091). 0-5
• Kid: Tyrone Taylor (-.074). 0-2

Note: Imanaga’s game score preliminarily looks like the 10th worst WPA game score of the year for the Cubs.

WPA Play of the Game: Hector Rodriguez’ three-run homer with two outs in the fourth gave the Reds a one-run lead. (.337)

Cubs Play of the Game: Pete’s lead-off homer. (.103)

Cubs Player of the Game:

Game 136 Winner: Pete Crow-Armstrong received 75 of 76 votes.

Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)

The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.

• Pete Crow-Armstrong +29
• Alex Bregman +24
• Ben Brown +13.5
• Javier Assad +12
• Carson Kelly +10.5
• Edward Cabrera -12.5
• Jameson Taillon -13
• Nico Hoerner -14
• Dansby Swanson -17
• Caleb Thielbar -18.5

Scoreboard Watching: Braves win (five ahead of Cubs). Dodgers win (five up). Padres lose (five back). Brewers lose (eight up). Phillies win (Cub lead is now tiebreaker only).

Up Next: Those Brewers come to Wrigley field after dropping Sunday’s game against the Rangers in Milwaukee. Game one of a four game set and game four of 13 straight games. Clay Holmes (5-6, 2.26) starts for the Cubs. He’s been exceptional when healthy, including a 1-2, 1.96 mark with the Cubs in four starts.

25-year-old lefty Kyle Harrison (10-3, 2.79) starts for the Brewers. He’s having a terrific season for the Brewers. He threw seven scoreless in a start at Wrigley in May. He’s allowed only two runs in 12 innings of work against the Cubs.

It doesn’t get any easier here.

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Another Monday is here, but the start of the week isn't so bad when there's a packed slate on the diamond. 

Our experts have found plenty of MLB picks with value at Polymarket, highlighted by the Phillies and Brewers winning on Aug. 31.

MLB expert picks for today

Pick	Probability
Josh Inglis: Phillies vs. Diamondbacks Over 8.5	49%
Jon Metler: Brewers ML	50%
Dustin Saracini: Rays -1.5	43%
Joe Osborne: Phillies ML	53%

Probabilities courtesy of Polymarket. For help understanding Polymarket probabilities, see our odds calculator.

Josh Inglis' expert pick: Phillies vs. Diamondbacks Over 8.5

Price: 49¢ at Polymarket

There are still some flat 8s on the board this morning for a game projected for nearly 10 total runs, with a fair probability of 56% on the 8.5-run total.

Aaron Nola is in decent form over his last four starts, but he still gives up dingers at one of the highest rates in baseball and ranks among the Bottom 20 MLB starters in barrel rate (Barrel%) since June 1.

On the other side, Brandon Pfaadt is a perfect fade candidate. He's coming off his biggest workload of the season at 103 pitches, and his numbers are starting to regress toward his expected numbers after some unsustainable production.

He's allowed four home runs over his last two starts, with nine runs allowed. Looking at the later innings, both clubs sport bullpen ERAs that rank in the bottom half of the league.

This SP matchup is one where the total should not be 8.0, which is why the market is moving that way.

• Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
• How to watch: NBCS-Philadelphia, Diamondbacks.TV

Jon Metler's expert pick: Brewers moneyline

Price: 50¢ at Polymarket

This is obviously a critical game and series for both teams. The Brewers don't want to give the Cubs any life in the NL Central race, while Chicago is running out of time to close the gap on Milwaukee — which currently holds an eight-game lead. 

This wager comes down to the depth and swing-and-miss ability of the Brewers' bullpen. Both teams are likely to manage this game aggressively, and with Kyle Harrison and Clay Holmes on the mound, I don't expect either starter to work deep. 

That gives Milwaukee an edge, as I trust its bullpen to win the middle-relief innings and bridge the gap to the back end. The Brewers are trading at 50 cents on Polymarket, but I make them closer to a 53-cent favorite, giving us enough of an edge to hit the button on Milwaukee.

• Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
• How to watch: Marquee, Brewers.TV

Dustin Saracini's expert pick: Rays -1.5

Price: 43¢ at Polymarket

I just can't quit the Rays — and for good reason. They're the fourth-best cover team in baseball (55.2%) and should have no problem with the Mets today.  

Robert Stock has been as shaky as they come for New York, allowing seven earned runs off 10 hits against the Brewers his last time on the mound.

With an xERA of 4.90 this year, he'll struggle to keep one of the most potent offenses in baseball off the basepaths. A struggling starter with a taxed bullpen behind him usually isn't a recipe for success.

I'll take Tampa to dominate from first pitch, and I'm playing this up to 48 cents at Polymarket.

• Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
• How to watch: SNY, Rays.TV

Joe Osborne's expert pick: Phillies moneyline

Price: 53¢ at Polymarket

Aaron Nola has found his form at the right time of the season. He’s allowed two earned runs or fewer in five of his last six starts while posting at least seven strikeouts in four straight. 

The same can’t be said for Brandon Pfaadt, who's been knocked around for nine earned runs over his last two outings. Philadelphia also holds clear hitting and bullpen advantages.

Over the past two weeks, the Phillies rank seventh in OPS against righties compared to 21st for Arizona, while the bullpens rank eighth and 23rd in ERA.

The Phillies look like undervalued favorites here and are well positioned to extend their 13-2 tear in pursuit of the top wild-card spot.

• Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
• How to watch: NBCS-Philadelphia, Diamondbacks.TV

More MLB best bets for today

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is accompanying his teammates on a six-game West Coast road trip this week, fueling speculation he could be nearing a return to the active roster.

The three-time AL MVP hasn't played in three months due to a stress fracture in his rib, but the possibility that he soon could take part in on-field activities would be a major step forward in the recovery process.

“I’m sure it will be ramped up and a lot more involved,” manager Aaron Boone said before Sunday's game against the Boston Red Sox. “Hopefully out there, [he will] start to get on velocity and things like that. He’ll be part of the pregame stuff and just get more entrenched into getting ready to come back.”

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It's a loaded 12-game slate across the big leagues tonight, and I've pinpointed my best MLB moneyline picks for every single contest. 

See it all in my MLB picks for Monday, Aug. 31. 

MLB moneyline picks for Aug. 31

For help understanding Polymarket probabilities, see our odds calculator.

Matchup	Pick
Giants vs Braves	40%
Mets vs Rays	62%
Padres vs Reds	58%
Marlins vs Nationals	52%
Mariners vs Red Sox	61%
Tigers vs Twins	56%
Brewers vs Cubs	51%
A's vs Rangers	68%
White Sox vs Astros	46%
Orioles vs Rockies	45%
Yankees vs Angels	55%
Phillies vs Diamondbacks	54%

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of Aug. 31.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for August 31

Giants vs Braves: Giants

Giants win probability: 40%

The Giants are a heavy underdog here at 40%, but they have the better pitching profile. Anthony Molina tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings in his first outing since being traded, and while he doesn't pitch deep into games, the Giants' pen is in good form. They own a 3.77 xERA over the last week with minimal walks and homers. 

Bryce Elder, meanwhile, owns an FIP over four at home, and the Atlanta Braves starter has posted a 4.03 xERA over the last month. The Giants have a 111 wRC+ in their last seven games, and Elder is the more vulnerable arm here. 

San Fran wins the opener. 

Mets vs Rays: Rays

Rays win probability: 62%

The Rays send Ian Seymour to the mound tonight, and while he's had some home run troubles lately, the left-hander faces a Mets lineup in awful form. They have a 69 wRC+ in the last week and just a .111 ISO. Seymour has a respectable 4.13 FIP at home as well. 

New York counters with Robert Stock. He's posted a 5.03 xERA across his previous five starts with serious command issues. Tampa is coming alive offensively lately with a 99 wRC+ in its previous six contests, and a 109 mark at home this season. 

The Rays have the edge, but if this number moves, resort to the run line. 

Padres vs Reds: Padres

Padres win probability: 58%

Michael King is the far more consistent arm right now. The righty has compiled a 3.10 xERA over his last two starts while giving up just 0.66 HR/9 and limiting opponents to a 22.9% hard-hit rate. 

Brady Singer owns a 5.74 FIP during that same span, allowing 1.54 HR/9 and a troubling 53.8% hard-hit rate. San Diego isn't in great offensive form, but this matchup screams value, and King has been reliable lately. 

Take the Padres, but also lock in the run line if this moves at all. 

Marlins vs Nationals: Marlins

Marlins win probability: 52%

The Marlins have a better pitching setup tonight. Ryan Gusto hasn't allowed a single earned run over his last two starts, and while he doesn't pitch very deep into games, Miami's pen has held its own lately. 

Will Dion takes the hill as an opener for the Nationals, and he has a 6.38 FIP over his previous three outings with home run issues. Washington's relief corps is also struggling with a 6.55 FIP across the last week. 

Miami has the edge. 

Mariners vs Red Sox: Red Sox

Red Sox win probability: 61%

We're looking at two ball clubs in horrendous offensive shape at the moment, but Payton Tolle's recent success is a clear advantage for the Red Sox. He sports a 2.99 FIP in his last two starts, and the Mariners struggle against left-handers, posting an 87 wRC+ this season. 

George Kirby's underlying metrics suggest he's been much better than the numbers suggest, but the righty has still allowed 12 earned runs over his previous three outings. 

Boston's lineup should capitalize. 

Tigers vs Twins: Twins

Twins win probability: 56%

The Tigers have been literally invisible offensively. They've scored only nine runs in their last six contests, posting a 19 wRC+. Taj Bradley is dealing, collecting a 2.44 FIP in his last two outings with minimal home run damage. 

Jackson Jobe has also pitched well, but I simply cannot overlook Detroit's struggles at the dish, and the Twins are swinging it a mile better. 

Brewers vs Cubs: Cubs

Cubs win probability: 51%

The Cubbies get a tough matchup against Kyle Harrison tonight, but they're a force against left-handers, posting a 126 wRC+ this season. Chicago is also raking at the moment with a 138 wRC+ in the last week. 

Clay Holmes has held his own since coming over via trade, posting a 3.08 FIP in his last 12 1/3 frames. The Brewers are swinging it well as well, but they're not as efficient on the road. 

A's vs Rangers: Rangers

Rangers win probability: 68%

The Rangers have a ridiculous 141 wRC+ in their last six games, and it helps Jacob deGrom is on the mound. He's limited opponents to a 29.2% hard-hit rate in his previous two starts while collecting a 2.46 FIP. 

Gage Jump has pitched well recently for the Athletics as well, but I refuse to overlook how Texas is swinging it. They are jumping on everything, and deGrom gives the stability. 

White Sox vs Astros: White Sox

White Sox win probability: 46%

The White Sox get to face the vulnerable Peter Lambert tonight, who has an ERA over 10 recently and a 6.15 xERA in his last two outings.

Chicago is producing lately with a 115 wRC+ in the last week, and while Anthony Kay hasn't been great for them over the last couple of weeks, Houston is not swinging it consistently, and it isn't an efficient lineup against left-handed hurlers. 

Orioles vs Rockies: Rockies

Rockies win probability: 45%

It's not often where I'd back the Rockies, but Kyle Bradish's struggles give them a clear opportunity to take advantage tonight. The righty has a 7.89 xERA over his last two starts with major home run issues, and Colorado is in respectable offensive form. 

Baltimore faces Tanner Gordon, who has a 2.48 xERA recently while limiting the long ball. The Orioles are producing lately at the dish, but Bradish's inability to limit hard contact will hurt them early. 

Yankees vs Angels: Yankees

Yankees win probability: 55%

The Yankees are the team in better offensive form, sitting well above the league average in wRC+ lately. While Walbert Urena is throwing the baseball well, he is not untouchable by any means.

Elmer Rodriguez allowed just three earned runs last week in his first start in the big leagues since June, keeping New York in the game. 

With the Angels struggling to string together runs, the Bronx Bombers are the play. 

Phillies vs Diamondbacks: Phillies

Phillies win probability: 54%

Aaron Nola has really started to come into his own in what has been a poor season to his standards. The right-hander sports a 3.49 xERA over the last month, and he'll face a Diamondbacks offense that has posted just a 72 wRC+ in their previous seven games. 

Arizona's Brandon Pfaadt owns an FIP over six in his last two starts while allowing 2.92 HR/9. The Phillies carry a 107 wRC+ over the last two weeks into tonight's matchup. 

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In two months as the Angels’ interim general manager, John Mozeliak has reoriented the team’s draft selection priority from “closest to the majors” to “best available,” traded one-third of the major league roster to seed a barren minor league system, fired three coaches and completed a restructuring of the front office.

On Monday, he has scheduled the first meeting of the new leadership group in baseball operations.

We’ll get to that restructuring, but none of the decisions so far resolve two of the most compelling questions in Anaheim: Who is going to be running the Angels next year? And, with this year’s Angels flirting with the first 100-loss season in franchise history, are the Angels going to be much better next year?

To the latter question: Probably not.

Read more:Shaikin: 'One person can begin change.' For the Angels, a long-overdue new hope

“With the starting pitching we have, if we have the ability to be more consistent with our offense, you can definitely squint and see a better club out there,” Mozeliak told me. “But it’s going to take a few pieces to do that.”

Uh oh. That sounds discouragingly like the Angels of the past decade: We’re undermanned, but we want to be competitive, so we’ll sign a few lower-tier free agents and hope we can sneak into the playoffs with an 83-win season. In the real world, the Angels clinched their 11th consecutive losing season before the calendar turned to September.

Mozeliak has said he did not believe that the Angels need to rebuild, that the resources available to a team in the second-largest market in the majors should preclude outright tanking. In theory, that should mean that Mozeliak could trade José Soriano for shortstop Arjun Nimmala, 20, now the Angels’ top prospect, comfortable that owner Arte Moreno could buy a quality free agent to replace Soriano in the starting rotation.

In reality, Mozeliak cannot rightly tell Moreno that the Angels are one or two free agents from winning. And, as Mozeliak said, “It’s not the most robust free-agent class of all time.”

The Angels rank 26th among the 30 major league teams in runs scored, so Mozeliak might well focus on offensive upgrades. Standout names among free agent hitters this fall: Luis Arraez, Gleyber Torres, Jake Bauers ... Taylor Ward, anyone?

With the infusion of talent from the draft and the trade deadline, analyst ratings for the Angels’ minor league system have risen from among the worst in baseball to middle of the pack. It’s a start. If next season is about building, why not just play the kids?

Rookie Denzer Guzman is batting .218, with a .263 on-base percentage and a .341 slugging percentage.

“We’re starting a 22-year-old at third base,” Mozeliak said. “Most 22-year-olds are finishing their senior year in college. He’s competing. There’s a lot of upside in him, but that requires a little patience.”

Of the 12 prospects Mozeliak acquired at the trade deadline, he said he anticipated two — designated hitter/catcher Moises Ballesteros and infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr. — would have a chance to make next year’s team. The Angels also would prefer not to replace Soriano from a blossoming corps of young arms.

“We don’t want to start reaching down to the minors to try to push someone that might not be ready,” Mozeliak said. “I think we’ve seen that here before.”

Read more:Interim GM John Mozeliak hoping to get Angels 'to a very successful place'

As Mozeliak restructures the roster, he is doing the same in the front office. He said he is elevating Matt Swanson – removed as scouting director by former general manager Perry Minasian — to oversee all of the Angels’ scouting operations: amateur, professional and international.

The rest of the leadership core, all from within the organization: Joey Prebynski to oversee player development, including a separate minor league director to be hired; Michael Lord to head research and development; and assistant general manager David Haynes, who will focus on major league personnel. Mozeliak said he will ask those leaders to evaluate their departments and make personnel recommendations.

“I think that exercise is going to happen over the next four weeks,” Mozeliak said.

That timeline could mean that the Angels do not hire a general manager by the end of the season, as the team originally outlined. Mozeliak said he has neither interviewed any candidates nor set up any interviews.

Read more:Shaikin: Angels finally play it smart and go on a franchise-jolting trading spree

Within the industry, former major league pitcher and current St. Louis Cardinals assistant general manager Randy Flores is considered the favorite, with Mozeliak remaining either as a president of baseball operations or a senior adviser.

Mozeliak insists he has not decided what he wants to do beyond the season, and he said his long working relationship with Flores in St. Louis will not preclude a round of interviews.

“I certainly understand that Molly [Jolly, the Angels’ team president] and Arte would want a very exhausting search,” Mozeliak said, “and one that isn’t just two degrees connected to Mo.”

If the Angels get to the end of the season without a general manager, who would make the call on whether to retain manager Kurt Suzuki and the coaches?

Read more:Angels fire pitching coach Mike Maddux and two assistants in staff shakeup

“Based on the timeline today, it would feel like it would be our group now,” Mozeliak said, “but time will tell.”

If the Angels dismiss Suzuki, that would allow a new general manager to hire a new manager. If Mozeliak decides to retain Suzuki, that could set up the awkward prospect of a new general manager inheriting a manager he did not choose, as Minasian did with Joe Maddon. In Minasian’s six seasons as general manager, the Angels had five managers.

The Angels could use a little more time. In 2027, they just might get it, and perhaps no organization could benefit more from it.

If owners lock out major league players for all or part of the season, in a year Mozeliak suggests might be best remembered for the development of minor league players, that might be no great loss for the Angels. Better than 100 losses, certainly.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Welcome to Monday A’s fans! Ready for another productive week ahead of us?

The Athletics let go of longtime General Manager David Forst last month, shaking up the front office in the biggest way since the departure of Billy Beane. Since then it’s been Dan Feinstein running the show, but no one expects him to be a serious contender for the final gig.

One name that has emerged is a name many A’s fans should be familiar with. Former Houston Astros GM James Click is on the Athletics’ radar to run their baseball operations, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

That would be an interesting choice to run things. Click is most well-known for his time in Houston, during which he oversaw plenty of success during that great run the Astros had. It all culminated in 2022 with the Astros taking home the World Series, the pinnacle of baseball. Shockingly though the team and Click went their separate ways that offseason, reportedly due to some behind-the-scene conflict with the owner.

Click however has plenty of experience working in a small-market organization. Before getting hired to the Astros’ GM Click had spent the better part of 15 years working in the Tampa Bay organization. It wasn’t long after his arrival that the Rays began turning things around, and the foundation that he and others left is still rewarding the small-market squad with nearly yearly playoff contenders.

Now imagine that kind of GM getting the head start that would come with the A’s gig. The big league team has the bones of a good roster but there are still moves that need to be made. The bullpen and pitching in general need an upgrade while the position-player group could stand to get deeper. Whoever the new GM will be has to address those two problems and with the A’s only in Sacramento for one more year the expectation (hope?) is that the team will finally be able to start spending at least near the middle of the league. Imagine what this group could have done with some decent pitching behind them.

We haven’t yet heard any other names connected to the A’s job and Click certainly won’t be the last. But the team could do worse than targeting an experience former front office executive. Who else would you like to see considered for the job?

We got a series against the Rangers starting tonight, and we’ll of course have coverage for you here. Have a great start to you week everyone.

A’s Coverage:

• Your 2026 Hacktastic A’s
• A’s Swept By Orioles, Fall in Finale 8-5
• Athletics Considering James Click For GM Vacancy
• A’s Lose 5-3 in Frustrating Performance
• Orioles Defeat A’s 4-3 in 10 Innings
• This key change(up) could unlock big success for A’s prospect
• A’s Take Series With Finale Win Over Twins 7-4
• A’s Even Series with 4-2 Victory
• Separating The Wheat From The Chaff Not So Easy
• Amidst The Despair: The Position Player Talent Is There
• What Are The Next Steps For The A’s? ($)
• Where Each A’s Player’s Contract Stands Entering Offseason
• Why Athletics Will Have Scary Offense in 2027
• Red-hot Bolte looking to build on lessons from rookie season
• ‘Kid has been grinding’: Butler’s resurgence, leadership fuel A’s
• Underdog Athletics prospect Cole Conn playing like a big dog for Aviators
• Behind the Plate, the A’s Face an Offseason Reckoning
• Why The New GM Needs To “Clean House”
• A Seemingly Rock Bottomless Glass
• MLB Trade Grades: A’s Have Quiet Trade Deadline
• This key change(up) could unlock big success for A’s prospect
• Fustercluck 2026: The Real Reasons For A Disappointing Season

MLB News and Interest:

• Marte set to return to D-backs on Monday
• Mad Max makes more history, strikes out 10 to pass Perry for 9th all-time
• Mitch Garver Exercises Assignment Clause In Yankees Contract
• Yankees rookie SS George Lombard Jr. avoids knee damage
• Xavier Edwards Leaves Game Due To Possible Thumb Sprain
• Mariners put Emerson Hancock on IL with strained left adductor
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• Final out? Actually, an OF-assisted game-tying homer into the buffet!
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Burress just continues to smash the ball:

Baseball’s in this kid’s blood:

Always loved CBass:

Minor moves down on the farm:

Dodgers catcher Will Smith completed his minor league rehab assignment on Sunday night, catching six innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City and collected one single in three at-bats.

In all, Smith played five games for the Comets last week — four starts and 25 innings behind the plate, and once as designated hitter. He had four hits in 16 at-bats with a home run and two doubles, hitting .250/.250/.563. It’s expected that Smith will be activated off the 60-day injured list by the Dodgers on Tuesday, after missing nearly four full months with neck inflammation.

Blake Treinen also checked off what is usually the final box for rehabbing relievers, pitching in parts of multiple innings. The right-hander retired all four batters he faced with a popout and three groundouts, after pitching on back-to-back days on Wednesday and Thursday.

Treinen in seven rehab games — one with Ontario, six with Oklahoma City — pitched 6 1/3 scoreless frames with eight strikeouts, two walks, and two hit batters. Treinen last pitched for the Dodgers on June 19, and has been sidelined since with elbow inflammation. Like Smith, Treinen is on the 60-day IL and will require a corresponding move to make room on the 40-man roster.

Player of the day

Joendry Vargas, playing second base for Ontario, had three hits, stole a base, and drove in three runs. The final RBI came on an epic 16-pitch walk in the ninth inning with the bases loaded, adding an insurance run in the Tower Buzzers’ winning rally on the road to clinch a postseason berth.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

Matt Gorski drove in all the runs for the Comets to beat the El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres). Trailing 1-0, Gorski singled home the tying run in the seventh inning for Oklahoma City, then singled home the walk-off game-winning in the ninth.

Bobby Miller pitched a perfect top of the ninth inning for the win.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers were on the wrong end of a high-scoring affair, falling 13-10 to the Midland RockHounds (A’s).

Jake Gelof homered, his third in five games, and 29th of the season.

Josue De Paula had two hits, including a double.

Luke Fox was activated after missing a week and a half on the injured list, but had a disaster out an outing, walking four and allowing three singles and three runs while recording only two outs. It was just the seventh Tulsa start of the season for Fox, who missed three and a half months on the injured list with a hamstring strain, then got re-injured in the first inning of his second start back, 16 days prior to Sunday.

High-A Great Lakes

Four runs allowed in the first inning was too large a deficit for the Loons to overcome in a loss to the Lansing Lugnuts (A’s).

Charles Davalan and Mairo Martinus each homered and singled, driving in two runs.

Eduardo Quintero also had two hits.

Class-A Ontario

The Tower Buzzers rallied for four runs in the ninth inning to beat the Stockton Ports (A’s), and clinch a berth in the California League playoffs.

Right fielder Javier Herrera had two singles, a walk, a stolen base, two runs scored, and two driven in.

Sunday scores

• Oklahoma City 2, El Paso 1
• Midland 13, Tulsa 10
• Lansing 9, Great Lakes 5
• Ontario 10, Sotckton 7

The week ahead

• Oklahoma City at Round Rock (Rangers)
• Tulsa vs. Wichita (Twins)
• Great Lakes at Lake County (Guardians)
• Ontario vs. Rancho Cucamonga (Angels)

Recaps

Uh… For the first time in a long while, this was a Sunday in the regular season without a scheduled Diamondbacks game. Still, there was action of relevance, in particular the Padres coughing up another late lead in Tampa, on the way to getting swept at the hands of the Rays. However, the Phillies won, and moved into a tie for the first wild-card spot with the Cubs, who lost. Here’s where we stand, ahead of The Most Important Series of the Season™ against Philadelphia, which gets under way at Chase Field tonight.

Team news

[Arizona Sports] Ketel Marte to address teammates at Chase Field ahead of Phillies series – Ketel Marte plans to address his Arizona Diamondbacks teammates Monday afternoon when he arrives at Chase Field ahead of his expected return to the ballclub, Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro reports. The three-time All-Star is eligible to come off the injured list on Monday ahead of a critical three-game home series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Marte was placed on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 20 due to left knee inflammation. The move came after Marte did not show up to Fenway Park for the D-backs’ game against the Boston Red Sox on Aug. 17 and did not tell Lovullo or the team he would be absent.

[SI] D-backs Face Biggest Playoff Implications Yet in Series vs Phillies – The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Philadelphia Phillies at Chase Field starting Monday, August 31 for a critical three-game series with massive National League Wild card implications. While it’s impossble for the D-backs to catch the Phillies in this series alone, it’s crucial that they win the series if they are to have any hope of catching them. Arizona currently leads the season series two games to one.

This is a few days old, but still makes for interesting reading. And your word of the day is “weenus”…

[Fangraphs] Scouting Notes on the Rehabbing Cubs and Diamondbacks Pitchers – I asked Gallen about something very specific and weird that I’ve been interested in for a while — his elbow skin. When I first shot Gallen on high-speed video, his weenus (the skin at the tip of one’s elbow) was flapping all over the place. “You’re the first person to ask me this on the record, I think,” he said. “I’ve had people send me a message on social media or whatever, but yes I have seen it. I have no idea why. I would like to think I’ve got a lot of skin and have a fast arm, that’s what I tell myself. But yeah I have no idea. I’ve been tagged in a handful of pictures with my weenus, essentially, and I guess I have a lot.”

And, elsewhere…

[ESPN] Curaçao routs Nevada to win Little League World Series title – For the past two weeks, Curaçao Little Leaguers were focused and disciplined about what they ate, when they slept and how they practiced for youth baseball’s biggest tournament. Now, the champs can relax and enjoy a treat or two.Juriënsly De Windt and Shardijon De Lanoi each drove in three runs, and Curaçao won its second Little League World Series title, beating Nevada 11-2 in Sunday’s championship game. “Every kid [will eat] McDonald’s,” Curaçao coach Railison Gijsbertha said, smiling alongside three beaming players who couldn’t wait to take the trophy home to their tiny island nation in the southern Caribbean Sea for the first time in 22 years.

[MLB.COM] 250 for 250: Top 10 bloopers – 1. Canseco’s header leads to homer, May 26, 1993. You’ve seen it a million times. In 1993, Cleveland’s Carlos Martinez drove a ball to right field that Jose Canseco tracked toward the wall at old Cleveland Municipal Stadium. He reached up to make the catch, but then the ball inexplicably bounced off the top of his head and over the wall for a homer. Everyone had a laugh in the moment, and the chuckles have continued for more than three decades.

Mutiny (2026)

• Rating: Sea-plus
• Dir: Jean-François Richet
• Star: Jason Statham, Annabelle Wallis, Roland Møller, Adrian Lester

I think the above is recycling a similar joke I made on a previous Jason Statham movie. However, that’s fine, because Jason is basically recycling his own previous movies too. To be clear, I’ve no problem with this. You know what you’re going to get, and I am comfortable with the script being created through a game of Mad Libs: Jason Statham Edition. A former ______ goes up against ______, in order to save _______. In this case, the blanks can be filled in with British cop, pirates, and human trafficking victims respectively. Didn’t we have the last one, fairly recently? Oh, yeah: A Working Man.

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