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After winning seven straight games, to include sweeping the Dodgers, the Atlanta Braves have lost two games in a row to subpar opponents. With the Phillies on their tale, the Braves need to win games that they are supposed to win to keep the lead, and the game today against the Nationals is one of those games.

Grant Holmes will be taking the mound to face the Nationals for the third time this season.  In his first outing in late May he pitched 5.0 innings and surrendered two earned runs on six hits and recorded a season high ten strikeouts on two walks. His second outing, which took place at the end of July, went 4.2 innings and gave up three earned runs on five hits to include three HRs. He only had four strikeouts in that game.

Holmes should be watching out for Jorbit Vivas and Dylan Crews who both have a HR against him in six at-bats. Daylen Lile has two HRs in four at-bats, so it will be interesting if this because a nemesis scenario as time goes on.

For the season, Holmes has been a reliable arm for the Braves having amassed 128.2 innings of 3.71 ERA ball. If he could get to 6.0 innings today, the bullpen would sure appreciate it.

Brad Lord will be pitching for the Nationals and the players on the Braves roster have mixed against him.  Ozzie Albies has a .929 OPS in nine at-bats, Ronald Acuña has a HR and 1.125 OPS in eight at-bats, Drake Baldwin has a .777 OPS in nine at-bats, and Michael Harris has a HR and 1.000 OPS in nine at-bats. However, Matt Olson leads the team with eleven at-bats against him but only has a .182 OPS. Yes, OPS, not batting average, and no other player with at least four at-bats against Lord has an OPS above .600.

Lord has arguably been one of the bright spots for the Nationals pitching this season with an ERA of 3.75 in 69.2 innings. His underlying metrics show that he has been a bit on the fortunate side with a low strikeout rate of 21.5 percent, a high walk rate of 9.4 percent, and an expected ERA (xERA) of 4.12.

Lord has already faced the Braves twice this season. His first outing was in April where he pitched 2.2 innings in relief. He gave up a run on two hits. His second outing was in late May where he came in on long relief where he pitched 3.0 innings and struck out three and gave up zero runs.

Of his thirty-three appearances, only four have been starts, and they have all been in the opener capacity, so the odds heavily favor that happening again today.

Even with injuries it was very apparent last night that the Nationals are still a formidable force on offense. The Braves need to get to Lord early and force him to stay as an opener style performance to get to the weak Nationals bullpen.

This is clearly not a “must win” game, but the Braves really need to win this one with the Phillies being one of the hottest teams in MLB right now playing against a struggling Diamondbacks squad.

First pitch is at 1:05 EDT

Game Info

Game Time: Wednesday, September 2nd, 1:05 pm EDT

Location: Nationals Park, Washington, DC

Watch: BravesVision

Radio/Audio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

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The Boston Red Sox are home favorites as they wrap up a three-game clash with the Seattle Mariners this afternoon at Fenway Park.

My Mariners vs. Red Sox predictions expect the home team to capitalize on Bryce Miller's mound struggles to earn a win on Wednesday, Sept. 2, with first pitch slated for 4:10 p.m. ET.

Who will win Mariners vs Red Sox today: Red Sox moneyline (56.5%)

For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.

The Seattle Mariners rank 29th in xwOBA with just 3.6 runs per game over the past 30 days, and starter Bryce Miller’s underlying numbers skyrocket away from pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park.

His home 2.52 xERA and 3.67 xFIP jump to 3.80 and 4.04 marks, respectively, on the highway, where Miller has also surrendered a .346 wOBA and .239 ISO.

So, with the Boston Red Sox ranking second in wOBA, fourth in ISO and seventh in xwOBA while averaging 5.4 runs per game over the past 30 days, I’m happy to back them to 57.4% this afternoon.

COVERS INTEL: The Red Sox rank second in bullpen xERA and third in xFIP while pitching the third-most innings in the second half.

Mariners vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (51.2%)

While there’s no sugarcoating Boston starter Patrick Sandoval’s 5.32 xERA and 4.59 xFIP across his past seven starts, he’s still allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of those outings.

Additionally, I’m anticipating statistical correction to his .356 BABIP, the ninth-highest mark among all starters with at least 30 innings pitched during the stretch.

With the Mariners also ranking 30th in wOBA against lefties and 21st in wOBA on the highway, this Under 8.5 is in play to 53.5%.

Mariners vs Red Sox home run prediction: Wilyer Abreu (16.9%)

Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu has a single homer across his past 16 games, and he's a ripe candidate to kick the skid tonight. Abreu has posted a high-end .213 ISO against right-handed pitchers, and Miller has a .236 ISO vs. left-handed hitters on the road.

Mariners vs Red Sox weather

The weather forecast calls for comfortable temperatures hovering around 72 degrees with a crosswind in the 11-mph range. The elements will have little impact at Fenway Park this afternoon.

Mariners vs Red Sox odds

• Moneyline: Mariners 46.5% | Red Sox 57.4%
• Run line: Mariners +1.5 (63%) | Red Sox -1.5 (40.8%)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (52.4%) | Under 8.5 (52.4%)

Mariners vs Red Sox trend

The Boston Red Sox have won 34 of their last 50 games (+12.85 Units / 18% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Mariners vs. Red Sox.

How to watch Mariners vs Red Sox and game info

Mariners vs Red Sox latest injuries

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The Orioles have not overwhelmed teams with their offensive firepower, but the team keeps finding ways to win games. Pete Alonso has generated some AL MVP chatter, and Coby Mayo looks like Barry Bonds against lefties, but the majority of the lineup has provided inconsistent production this season.

So how does a team filled with streaky hitters maximize its chances to win games? It turns to the hot hand at the right time.

The Orioles entered last night’s game in Colorado leading all of baseball with 34 RBIs by pinch hitters. Craig Albernaz, along with the big brains in the front office, have routinely put the right player into the right position at the right time. Guys like Leody Taveras, Colton Cowser, Dylan Beavers and Tyler O’Neill do not boast above average stat lines, but they have all made the most of their opportunities when grabbing a bat late in games.

The late-inning magic led to Baltimore beat writer Jake Rill proclaiming that a pinch-hitting resurgence was fueling Baltimore’s playoff push. The story featured quotes from Albernaz discussing the mindset of players on the bench. He pointed out the work that players do to stay ready and shared that the team educates hitters on which pitchers they could face in late-game situations.

Rill’s story ran before O’Neill hit the injured list with a rotator cuff strain, but pinch-hitting remains a significant part of Baltimore’s strategy. In fact, Albernaz just picked up two more options to break a game open late.

The Orioles claimed former All Star Luis Robert Jr. to help out down the stretch. Robert Jr. fills a need as a right-handed outfielder with some pop at the dish. Robert Jr. can play all three outfield positions. He’s healthy, and he posted a 128 wRC+ over 75 at bats in August.

Baltimore doesn’t need Robert Jr. to match his 130 OPS+ from 2023, but they committed $5 million because they believe he can make an impact in September. He’s a career .285/.359/.497 hitter against lefties, and he represents a clear offensive improvement over recently acquired rookie Christian Franklin. The Orioles placed Franklin on the 10-day injured list when they activated Robert Jr.

Cowser was the top story in baseball yesterday after his walk-off robbery, but he entered last night’s game slashing .159/.255/.227 against southpaws. The Orioles have turned to Taveras against lefties, but his .203/.274/.244 falls well below Robert Jr. In a way, the move addressed one of Baltimore’s greatest weaknesses on the offensive side of the ball

But Robert Jr. wasn’t the only heavy hitter to join the club yesterday. The Orioles also recalled Heston Kjerstad to serve as a power bat off the bench. The Arkansas product may receive an occasional start in the corner outfield, but he won’t be used as a defensive replacement anytime soon. Baltimore added the former first-round pick to make an impact at the dish. And now, with Pete Alonso in need of extra at bats as the DH, Kjerstad could be limited to pinch-hit opportunities late in games.

With rosters expanding to 28, the Orioles continue to carry three catchers. Carlos Narváez has yet to inspire much confidence at the plate, so look for Baltimore to deploy the bench bats if/when Narváez finds himself in a late-inning situation. Christian Encarnacion Strand remains an intriguing option to deliver a clutch hit, and Basallo could grab a bat on days that Narváez gets the start.

Despite Baltimore’s success, pinch hitting is not the easiest task. It’s difficult for players to remain engaged and not overthink during their only opportunity of the evening. Robert Jr. is a veteran that has played in two big cities, but Kjerstad has less than 300 plate appearances under his belt. The 27-year-old has faced plenty of adversity during his time in professional baseball, and he must feel some extra pressure to perform now that he’s back in the big leagues.

The coaching staff will do its best to keep Kjerstad in the right frame of mind. At a minimum, it pays to have options at this point in the season. Albernaz has made a habit of maximizing his options in the second half, and the Orioles will need to keep riding the hot hand if they hope to make the playoffs.

It got a little weird at times, but the Yankees had control for the vast majority of last night’s game in Anaheim, a welcome return to normalcy after an ugly 10-1 blowout loss on Monday. Homers by Spencer Jones and Jazz Chisholm Jr. got them off on the right foot, and while stranded baserunners and a shaky sixth from Gerrit Cole allowed the Angels to stay in the ballgame, the Bombers pulled away late with some key insurance runs. They thus regained the game they lost on Boston yesterday (they’re now four games ahead of the Red Sox), and remained 4.5 back of Tampa Bay.

Here’s what else was going on around the American League on Tuesday night.

Tampa Bay Rays (83-55) 6, New York Mets (62-77) 2

The Mets might have scored a surprising victory at the Trop on Monday, but for those who have been exposed to more than their fair share of the Mets over the years, the Tuesday night showdown against old friend Freddy Peralta went exactly as expected. The one-time Brewers ace was traded from Queens a month ago when that experiment went sour, and given the opportunity, he of course spun six innings of three-hit ball while fanning seven, getting burned on a Francisco Lindor leadoff homer but really nothing else.

Meanwhile, the Rays got to Sean Manaea via the ol’ “death by a thousand paper cuts” approach. They sprayed 11 hits on him in 5.2 innings, getting their first couple runs on RBI knocks from Junior Caminero and Ryan Vilade before breaking it open a bit with three in the sixth. Nick Fortes doubled down the left-field line to plate Chandler Simpson, Fortes scored on a sacrifice fly, and Yandy Díaz swatted a 396-foot homer to make it a 5-1 game.

Despite the deficit, the Mets did have a chance to get back into this game. Garrett Cleavinger walked the bases loaded with one out in the seventh, bringing Mark Vientos to the plate as the tying run. Kevin Cash called upon Tyler Wells, who got Vientos to foul out before walking Lindor to bring home one of the runners. The moment was there for Juan Soto … and he popped up.

Alas. The Mets never got another man on base, the Rays tacked on an insurance run, and that was that.

Other Games

Boston Red Sox (75-64) 6, Seattle Mariners (65-74) 9: Amid an 8-15 tailspin that may have finally put the nail in the coffin for their 2026 season, the Mariners began September on a better note. They’re gonna need more than a few Hail Marys to save themselves, but they at least had the decency to snap their skid against Boston rather than waiting until they left town. The M’s treated September call-up Jedixson Paez like a minor leaguer in his Red Sox debut, blasting him for eight runs on 10 hits in 3.2 innings, with Dominic Canzone and the red-hot Randy Arozarena both going yard. Paez’s fellow rookie Lazaro Montes broke into the bigs in style with an RBI single off Paez in the third for his first career hit; he later took Wyatt Olds deep to check off his first career homer as well.

Bryan Woo tossed six solid innings with one earned run allowed, but because the 2026 Mariners are the 2026 Mariners, not even wins with nine runs scored come easy. Seattle led 9-1 entering the sixth, when Boston plated an unearned run with the help of an error by third baseman Brock Rodden. Eli White hit a two-run double a couple innings later and Yankees legend Jahmai Jones clobbered a two-run shot to make it a 9-6 ballgame in the ninth. So Seattle brought in Andrés Muñoz to slam the door, and he did the job for the final two outs.

Chicago White Sox (73-65) 5, Houston Astros (70-69) 1: The White Sox held serve on their three-game lead over the Guardians in AL Central by punching back after the Astros took the Monday opener. Ronel Blanco was effective in four scoreless innings for Houston, but 88 pitches forced him from the game early. The door was open for the Pale Hose to do damage against Kai-Wei Teng and Tatsuya Imai, and they obliged, with both Colson Montgomery and Randal Grichuk delivering two-run doubles. Sean Burke delivered 5.1 innings of one-hit shutout ball to lead the way for the White Sox on the mound.

AL Wild Card Rock Fight

Texas Rangers (69-70) 8, The Athletics (53-86) 5: Houston’s loss allowed the under-.500 Rangers to trim the Astros’ AL West lead back down to one game. Texas has been fortunate to draw the hapless A’s this week at home, and they’ve done what they’ve needed to do. The 8-5 final score belies the fact that Texas led this 8-1 through six thanks in great part in a 4-for-5, five-RBI night from Brandon Nimmo, and three of the A’s runs were scored off former Nationals righty Trevor Williams, who was only signed that day.

Baltimore Orioles (69-70) 2, Colorado Rockies (52-86) 4: It took the O’s just over four months to finally get back to .500 on Monday night with a miraculous catch by Colton Cowser to clinch it. Now they’re right back under after stumbling at Coors. A Jackson Holliday homer in his dad’s old stomping grounds tied it up at 2-2 in the seventh, but Baby Bomber alum T.J. Rumfield struck the decisive blow on a two-run homer after the stretch. The O’s had been just a half-game behind Cleveland for the Wild Card, but now they’re a game and a half back.

Cleveland Guardians (70-68) 6, Toronto Blue Jays (68-71) 1: The Jays entered a three-game set in Cleveland hoping to cut into the Guardians’ lead for the last Wild Card spot and instead took a step back (to 2.5 games behind). Gavin Williams dominated the opener, fanning 13 and allowing just two hits and an unearned run across seven brilliant innings. Patrick Bailey, Angel Genao, and Angel Martínez each hit two-run homers for the Guardians as they turned a 1-0 deficit in the fifth into a 6-1 final.

Happy Wednesday everybody.

Yesterday, the Athletics kicked off their September slate by dropping their fifth straight game and second straight against the Texas Rangers. While the Rangers are vying for postseason baseball, the A’s are on a collision course toward 100-plus losses for the third time in manager Mark Kotsay’s tenure. Given the number of injured players and league worst pitching staff, it seems a matter of when not if the team crosses that benchmark.

Since John Fisher assumed full ownership control of the Athletics in 2016, the club has often overachieved, winning games and making three postseason appearances despite his limited investment in the team.

Before the A’s played last night, the announcement regarding the Los Angeles Angels changing ownership sent shockwaves throughout the sport. It is a particularity bitter pill to swallow for A’s fans, as Fisher will have one less competitor for the worst owner in the league award.

There remains a possibility that Fisher will follow in Arte Moreno’s footsteps and sell the team for a massive amount of money a few years after they get settled in Las Vegas. Until then, fans of the Green and Gold must hope that he increases his investments to keep A’s competitive amidst a changing league.

The new general manager and his staff should receive full authority to upend how this organization operates, from upgrading its player development infrastructure, bolstering its major-league pitching staff and ultimately guiding this historic franchise back to the playoffs.

In the meantime, there are 22 A’s games left before what is expected to be a long, lockout-impacted offseason. Injury-prone outfielder Denzel Clarke seeks to make an impression over the next few weeks, while the team’s young pitchers, including Gage Jump, J.T. Ginn and Elvis Alvarado, aim to end their seasons on a positive note.

Which players are you looking forward to watching over the season’s final stretch? What keeps you coming back despite how this season has unfolded? Also, what qualities should the team look for in its search for a new President of Baseball Operations?

A’s Coverage:

• A’s Rally Too Late in 8-5 Loss to Rangers
• Your 2026 Hacktastic A’s
• Losing Streak Hits Four, A’s Lose To Rangers 8-1
• Athletics Considering James Click For GM Vacancy
• Get the best of Athletics Nation on the new SB Nation app
• How defensive whiz Clarke’s return will impact A’s
• How A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell brought taking a knee to MLB and what happened afterwards
• A’s Lose 5-3 in Frustrating Performance
• Orioles Defeat A’s 4-3 in 10 Innings
• A’s Plan to Test Top Pitching Prospect Jamie Arnold at Next Level
• A’s Take Series With Finale Win Over Twins 7-4
• 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:

• What Los Angeles Angels sale means for franchise, MLB
• Padres call up 20-year-old catcher Ethan Salas, their No. 1 prospect
• Rutschman out of lineup again with elbow issue that could linger for rest of season
• What’s at stake in September? There’s plenty
• One prospect from each of the 30 MLB teams who deserves more national attention
• Baltimore Orioles claim Luis Robert Jr. from New York Mets
• Luis Rengifo Diagnosed With Torn ACL
• Ketel Marte apologizes to Torey Lovullo, hears boos in return
• Historic NINE homers at Wrigley cap off Cubs’ record-setting (62) August
• White Sox add veteran bats Tommy Pham, Jake Cave
• Here is what the playoff picture looks like entering September
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

This will be a great opportunity for these two A’s minor league prospects to test their skills as they move one step closer to making their big-league debuts.

How do you feel about the Angels’ ownership changing hands?

Further proof of why the A’s should have made more of an effort to retain Sean Newcomb in free agency this past offseason. It also shows just how impactful Nick Kurtz is to this team.

Which of these two All-Stars would you prefer the A’s keep long term?

Good morning everyone!

The Mariners bats came to life yesterday as rookie outfielder Lazaro Montes had a debut to remember in a 9-6 M’s victory over the Red Sox. The two squads are set to square off again today with first pitch at 1:10pm PT.

In Mariners news…

• The Mariners are coming off their worst month by run differential in nearly 50 years. Ryan Blake tried to make sense of it all.
• Zach Mason says it’s time for a change around here — the Mariners must fire Humpy.
• Mariners prospect Carlos Jiménez is having a breakout season for the Everett AquaSox. Miguel Riera has the story.

Around the league…

• The Arte Moreno Era is coming to an end in Anaheim — the longtime Angels owner is selling the franchise to Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke for a record $4 billion valuation.
• Mike Trout was pretty candid in his remarks about the sale, saying this will hopefully “get that winning culture back.”
• The Padres called up top catching prospect Ethan Salas, who is now the youngest active MLB player at just 20 years old.
• Roayls right-hander Carlos Estévez will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery.
• ESPN spoke anonymously to several players to get their unfiltered thoughts on the salary cap and the looming lockout.
• Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray admitted that a recent viral video of him performing as Troy Bolton from High School Musical was in fact him.
• Benjamin Hill broke down the 10 best minor league promotions happening in September.
• Rays slugger Junior Caminero is having a great season — but he’s also grounding into double plays at record pace. Daniel R. Epstein at Baseball Prospectus wonders if he has a shot to make history on that front too. ($)
• Did you know the Pittsburgh Pirates haven’t had Fangraphs playoff odds greater than 1% in September since 2016? Luke at Bucco Ball yearns for a team that is worth watching late in the season.
• The strange season for Ketel Marte simply won’t end.

Last night we saw two debuts and both went about as well as you could possibly imagine. Yohandy Morales and Jared Simpson were both thrown into the fire, but came out stronger. The two debutants helped lead the Nats to an uplifting win with their families in the crowd. 

Yohandy Morales is the bigger name of the two, but he still had to earn his stripes. After being selected in the second round of the 2023 draft, Morales steadily climbed through the minor leagues. Before this season, he never put up bad numbers, but also never fully broke out.

Like so many Nats prospects, things changed this season. In AAA, Morales finally turned his impressive raw power into consistent home runs. He hit 25 homers at AAA this season. You can make a decent argument that he should have been called up sooner, but he is finally here now. 

Morales found out he was getting called up while he was fishing in the rain with Trey Lipscomb. When Devin Pearson called him, his screen kept freezing. However, the message was eventually received and he called his family.

Morales’ family was in the building last night and went crazy when their boy took AJ Smith-Shawver deep in the third inning. He got a splitter inside and turned his hands inside, driving the ball out to left field. It was a surreal moment for the 24 year old and his family.

Yohandy Morales’ family had to go through a lot to get to this point. His father was a baseball player in Cuba, but eventually defected. He tried to reach the big leagues himself, but could not make it. Instead, his son is the one living out his dream and you could see the emotion when his boy hit that homer.

The slugger’s night was not done after that homer though. He got two more hits including a double that almost went over the wall. Instead it banged half way up the wall and he had to settle for a double. Later in the game, he also got a single, meaning he was only a triple shy of the cycle.

Morales was not the only player to debut last night though. In the 8th round of that same 2023 draft, the Nationals selected Jared Simpson out of Iowa. For most of his career, walks have been a big issue for the lefty. Last season, he walked 57 batters in 52 innings. 

However, he has been in the zone more often this year and that has let him rise through the ranks. Simpson actually spent most of the year in Double-A. After being called up to AAA though, he continued to impress and it earned him a September call-up.

We talked to Simpson before and after the game, and the lefty is quite a funny guy. He said that he knew his stuff played in the MLB when Ronald Acuna fouled off his fastball instead of going yard. Simpson also said that facing Matt Olson was a cool moment because he used him a lot in MLB The Show. 

When Simpson got the call that he was going to the big leagues, he was actually at a Men’s Warehouse in Rochester buying clothes for a buddies wedding. Simpson had to buy some more clothes for his MLB debut too. He did not hide anything from the Men’s Warehouse employees, saying he told them he needed collared shirts because he was going to the big leagues.

Simpson also delivered on the mound. He came into a tight situation, with runners on first and second with nobody out. Simpson started his career with a twin killing, getting Drake Baldwin to ground into a huge double play. He ended the inning by getting Acuna to fly out.

The dream outing continued though. Simpson mowed down the Braves, getting nine outs on just eight hitters. A highlight of his night was painting a slider on the outside corner to Michael Harris to get his first career strikeout. 

Between Erik Tolman and now Simpson, the Nats have a couple new and exciting lefty relievers. Finding effective matchup lefties has been a big problem all season. However, if Tolman and Simpson continue to produce, they could lock down spots for themselves.

Overall, this was a great night for the organization and the two debutants. Neither are the most hyped prospects in the system, but both showed up and produced. That tells you a lot about the development system being put in place. There is true quality depth being built down in the minor leagues.

As we head to 2027 and beyond, hopefully we can see more of these lesser known names make impacts and find big league roles. Pumping out solid big leaguers is a way to find sustainable success. That is exactly what Paul Toboni is looking to do, and so far we are seeing a lot of positive signs. Yohandy Morales and Jared Simpson are just two examples of that.

The San Diego Padres haven’t been doing the best lately. After their ridiculously hot streak, they’ve cooled down significantly, dropping six of their last nine games. The Friars haven’t won a series since they swept the Minnesota Twins in their last homestand. They need a series win against the Cincinnati Reds, and the rubber match is the perfect stage.

Apart from Fernando Tatis Jr.’s two home runs, the Padres weren’t able to muster up much offense in Game 2. Reds starter Nick Lodolo limited the Friars to two runs over six innings before Cincinnati came back with two runs off of San Diego’s bullpen in the eighth inning. It’s the latest in a concerning trend from the Padres’ relievers. Hopefully, the club will be able to turn things around sooner rather than later.

Taking the mound

Brandon Williamson (CIN) v. Casey Mize (SD)

Williamson doesn’t have much experience at the big-league level, having made just 32 starts in parts of three seasons with Cincinnati. Much of that came in 2023, when Williamson made 23 starts for the Reds with a 4.46 ERA. He’s never been particularly effective, but has flashed some decent stuff.

Through six starts this season, Williamson owns a 6.11 ERA (28.0 IP). He’s given up four homers in that time, but has struggled more with command. The lefty has issued 20 walks this season, giving him a 1.64 WHIP. Williamson hasn’t pitched at the major-league level since April 29, so there could be some rust there.

It’s no secret that Mize has struggled as a Padre. Since joining the club, he’s given up an almost unbelievable 21 runs (16 earned). That’s resulted in Mize owning a 6.26 ERA across 23 innings with the Friars. He desperately needs to turn things around, and has proven that he can. Mize was one of the best AL starters, with a 2.70 ERA before being traded to San Diego.

It’s not totally his fault. Mize has been the subject of unfortunate circumstances. He hurt his ankle walking down the dugout steps and wasn’t pitching 100 percent in either start that he made during that time. Apart from his throwing error in his last start, Mize pitched quite well. He surrendered two earned runs across five innings versus the Tampa Bay Rays.

Batter up!

San Diego’s lineup simply couldn’t capitalize on their many scoring opportunities in Tuesday night’s loss. The Friars went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position, with all but Tatis struggling to cross home plate. They’ll need their offense working tonight in order to back up Mize.

1. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
2. Samad Taylor, LF
3. Manny Machado, 3B
4. Ty France, 1B
5. Jackson Merrill, CF
6. Luis Campusano, C
7. Dustin Harris, DH
8. Xander Bogaerts, SS
9. Jake Cronenworth, 2B

With newcomer Ethan Salas reported to be making his debut on Friday when the Padres return to Petco Park, it seems likelier that Campusano will handle catching duties in the series finale versus Cincinnati. The latter entered yesterday’s Game 2 as a pinch-hitter but will probably start today’s rubber match behind the dish.

Relief corps

Starter Randy Vásquez pitched quite well despite exiting in the fifth inning. He hasn’t been granted the same long leash he was at the beginning of the season, and was taken out by manager Craig Stammen quite early. The Padres went to Bradgley Rodriguez, Yuki Matsui, Adrian Morejon and David Morgan to finish the game. But it was, surprisingly, Morejon who gave up the game, surrendering two pivotal runs in the eighth inning.

That leaves Jhony Brito, Griffin Canning, Kyle Hart, Mason Miller and Wandy Peralta as options for Stammen to call upon once Mize exits. With the off day on Thursday, the Padres don’t have to worry too much about taxing the ‘pen, but it would be comforting to see a quality start from Mize.

Retail therapy doesn’t work.

We know this, right? Buying something new for yourself — or even just considering buying something new for yourself — can provide a nice little jolt of dopamine. It can brighten up your day and, depending on what it is, help you imagine new and better future versions of yourself. This is true whether it’s something big, like a house, or something small, like a new pair of shoes.

But, ultimately, that jolt of dopamine is only temporary. Material objects — no matter how much we lust over them, no matter what kind of future versions of ourselves they let us imagine — do not actually have the power to fix the underlying and fundamental issues that define the human condition. The existential realities of your life are not altered by a new pair of pants, no matter how comfortably they fit or how how much they make your ass pop.

It’s good to remind ourselves of this every now again. But baseball fans shouldn’t need that reminder. We have the trade deadline.

On the day that Adley Rutschman debuted for the Red Sox, I wrote about the annoying but stubborn fact that, because the trade deadline comes so late in the season and because baseball is a game in which any given player’s impact is mostly felt over the long haul, trade deadline acquisitions are rarely as impactful as we hope they’ll be:

Of the 44 remaining games, Rutschman’s probably only going to start around around 35 of them at most. If he maintains more or less the same level of production over those 35 games as he’s maintained all season, then we’re talking about 3-4 home runs, 6-10 doubles, and 25-30 total hits from Rutschman. That’s not that much!

Well, since that day, the Red Sox have played 22 games. Rutschman has appeared in 15 of them, making only 13 starts. He has just 1 homer, 1 double, and 9 total hits. He is slashing .170/.254/.245. And he’s not going to have much of a chance to bring those numbers up, because we’re going to see even less of him going forward:

I don’t think it’s fair to call the Rutschman trade a failure at this point, or even judge it all. There’s a not very far-fetched scenario wherein he comes back healthy next season and produces at an All-Star level. Maybe he even signs a team-friendly extension. Ten years from now we could look at the Rutschman deal as one of the moves that laid the foundation for a multi-year run of on-field success.

Bu, while it’s still too early to judge the trade overall, it may not be too early to judge the trade deadline — at least with respect to its impact on the 2026 Red Sox.

Viewed through the lens of helping the 2026 team, the Rutschman and Curtis Mead deals have been abject disasters. I’m not suggesting the logic behind the moves was bad — the Mead injury was as freak as it gets — but the results are what they are, and they are ugly.

Eli White has been good as a role player, but he is very much a role player, having had only 33 at-bats. Jake Rogers was fun for a few days. Erik Miller is really the only trade deadline acquisition who has worked out, and he has worked out fantastically. But, even still, middle relievers are only so impactful.

The trade deadline — much like the fall shopping season we find ourselves in right now as summer wanes and a new school year begins — brings with it the promise of renewal. But that promise is rarely kept for long. It’s been one month since the deadline and the 2026 Red Sox are more or less the same team today as they were back then. And guess what? You’re going to be the same person in your new ass-popping jeans, too. That’s not satisfying, but it is an immutable truth about life, one that the Red Sox are learning all over again.