Boston, MA - March 18: Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown signals for an and-one. The Celtics played the Golden State Warriors at TD Garden on March 18, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Surrounded by thousands at Boston Common, Jaylen Brown took his final bow in the city he’s called home for the last decade Sunday afternoon.
Brown held his “741 Frequency Fest” block party in downtown Boston to celebrate his 10 seasons with the Boston Celtics. It was his last chance to say goodbye before officially embarking on his debut season alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers following this offseason’s blockbuster trade.
“Listen, I’m at a loss for words,” Brown told a sea of Bostonians. “When I got to this city, I said I’m going to go to war for this city. I met so many great people here. People that helped me in the community, that motivated me on my journey. People that have supported me even when I didn’t support myself at times.”
Brown continued: “I just want to say thank you to Boston, thank you to the city, and I love you.”
The entire time, he sported his 2024 Celtics championship ring.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and rappers A$AP Ferg, Joyner Lucas and Lil Baby were among those in attendance for the emotional gathering. Wu presented Brown with a “Jaylen Brown Way” Boston street sign, while Ferg joined him on stage to perform his debut single, “Just Do It,” which the two released in 2024.
There were food trucks, a 741 Performance pop-up shop set up, and a large sign that read “Thank You, Jaylen,” which hundreds of fans plastered with messages of gratitude for the 2024 NBA Finals MVP. It was as sentimental as it was a difficult day for the city, which has embraced Brown as one of its own, to reflect on everything he’s meant since becoming a Celtic over 10 years ago.
Brown went from a split reception filled with both cheers and boos on draft night to undergoing 119 playoff battles before helping Boston raise its record 18th championship banner. He began his career as a rookie rummaging for minutes off the bench to signing a historic $304 million contract extension in 2023 — all while remaining committed to his promise to impact the community through various initiatives aimed at leaving Boston a little bit better than when he arrived.
That he did.
Not only did Brown help the Celtics reclaim their place as the most winning franchise in league history, but he also became Boston’s most authentic athlete. He was as visible on the court as he was in classrooms across Boston’s inner-city neighborhoods, stopping by schools in Dorchester and Roxbury to connect with kids who rarely got the chance to watch their heroes perform live.
Brown went the extra mile, even when it wasn’t required to, making it his own obligation as someone who never forgot where he came from. From draft night to his farewell, Brown always carried the lessons taught by his mother, Mechalle Brown, and his late grandmother, Dianne Varnado, who passed away in 2023.
Few athletes succeed in Boston, whether homegrown or acquired through trade or free agency. Fewer earn the kind of respect fans across New England will forever hold for Brown. Plenty make their stop here, win a title, take their duckboat ride across the city and go about their business at the end of the pit stop. But that isn’t the case with Brown. He became much more than an honorary Bostonian. He wasn’t born here, but in a matter of a few years, it was as if he’d been here from the very beginning of his journey.
That’s rare.
There aren’t many whose impact spanned so far it could rally an entire army at Boston Common for one final goodbye.
Brown is now in Philadelphia, playing for one of Boston’s most historic rivals and joining forces with one of its most hated villains in James. Still, it doesn’t matter. When the time comes, and the tribute video draws the attention of 19,000-plus people inside TD Garden, that respect will once again become apparent.
As deserved, Brown will receive his flowers, his applause, and the unwavering love he secured through a decade of living up to the standard of the Celtics uniform. That’ll always be here waiting for him, regardless of however many trips he makes back to Boston or what uniform he’s wearing.
That’s the bond he forged, and it will live on long beyond his departure from Boston.
Joel Hofer broke out in a major way during the 2025-26 season for the St. Louis Blues.
He started a career-high 43 games and played in a career-high 46. He posted a .910 save percentage, the second-highest of his NHL career, and a career-high 2.61 goals-against average. He also registered the second-most shutouts in the NHL with six, which was once again a career-high.
But his success goes further. According to moneypuck.com, Hofer posted 11.7 goals saved above expected, tying for the 11th most in the NHL.
Hofer checked off every box of a No. 1 starter. He showed he could handle an increased workload while not only keeping his level of play but also improving. At 26 years old, the 6-foot-5 Canadian netminder gave the Blues every reason to believe he is the No. 1 goaltender above Jordan Binnington right now and heading into the future.
There are a few challenges Hofer faces heading into the 2026-27 season. The first obvious challenge is that the Blues need Hofer to replicate his success. With a career save percentage of .909 and consistent performances over the past three seasons, there is a high level of confidence that Hofer will replicate that production.
The second challenge is that Hofer enters a critical season for his future. This campaign will be the second and final season of Hofer's two-year, $3.4 million contract. A strong performance as a No. 1 should earn him a long-term deal at a very respectable price, especially due to the demand for goaltenders and his age. An element that should help Hofer feel more secure about his future with the Blues is that he is a restricted free agent.
Unless he is traded or signs an offer sheet after the Blues tender him a qualifying offer, he'll be back with the Blues. His play during the season will determine how long the deal is, the dollar amount, and whether he signs a deal in-season, as the Blues have done very frequently with RFAs performing at a high level.
But the final challenge Hofer faces is the one he has no control over: Binnington's performance. Binnington remains a fan favorite, an experienced veteran goaltender with a Stanley Cup, an Olympic silver medal, and plenty of NHL success. Binnington, too, is entering the final year of his contract, but he is an unrestricted free agent and can sign with any team on July 1, 2027.
There have been plenty of trade rumors surrounding Binnington, but so far, the Blues have elected to keep the 33-year-old.
If Binnington posts similar numbers to his .873 save percentage as he did during the 2025-26 season, Hofer should have no issues locking down the No. 1 role. But if Binnington bounces back to his 2024-25 season, he'll likely steal starts from Hofer and see the Blues crease become more of a tandem.
The Blues have aspirations of making the playoffs, and they'll need excellent goaltending to do so. Can Joel Hofer overcome these challenges and be the man for the job?
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Nearly a year ago, the NBA formally launched its investigation into whether the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer circumvented the salary cap through a team sponsor called Aspiration.
That's a long investigation, and one that has stalled a trade to send Leonard to Toronto. While Pablo Torre and other reporters have done their part to keep the story going, the most common reaction now is, "What is going on with that? Is the NBA just trying to sweep it under the rug?"
No, although the league certainly would like this all to go away and not be a dark cloud hanging over the opening of a new season. While the investigation is technically still open, the findings from the report (done by the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz) have been turned over, and the Clippers, Ballmer and the league are talking, potentially moving toward a settlement, league sources have told NBC Sports. Here is now ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne described the situation last week in an appearance on ESPN 710 radio in Los Angeles (hat tip ClutchPoints).
"I know that the investigators have presented initial findings, but they're still making calls and putting things together. But they are having conversations with Balmer and his lawyers already. They're talking about it. I don't know if you would call it a settlement or some kind of negotiation, but that's already happening...
"The conversations have been more about this failure to supervise and the nature of the introductions that were made between the Clippers and Kawhi's people rather than direct evidence of salary cap circumvention done by Steve Ballmer. If you're doing the easy parlance, that would be the murder charge. That's a really serious charge that's very hard to prove."
What we could see is something not unlike what we have seen in far more serious cases before, such as when the government convicts a mob boss for federal income tax evasion — everyone knew that wasn't his actual biggest crime, but it's what the government could prove and lock him away for.
If the NBA wants to come hard for Ballmer he would fight, and the process would be lengthy. Under the CBA, with any punishment the league might hand down against the Clippers, Ballmer or Leonard would have to go before a neutral arbitrator, who would decide whether the punishments were appropriate. That decision could be appealed — and you can be sure Ballmer would. He has the means to drag this out for a long time, potentially moving into the court system. Also, you can be sure that if Leonard faces any punishment, the players' union will step in on his behalf and fight it.
Which is why the sides are talking, but finding a settlement has the league walking a tightrope. On one side, they would need a punishment Ballmer would accept and not fight. On the other side, if the punishment is too lenient, every other owner would say, "If that's the price to pay to get a superstar extra money to come to my team, I'm in." Much like with tampering in free agency, it would quickly become the league norm.
What are the potential punishments for the Clippers? First, a fine for Ballmer and the organization, but also a suspension for Ballmer and/or other Clippers executives. The Clippers almost certainly lost draft picks through this process, but how many and what rounds? Finally, what, if anything, is the punishment for Leonard?
While there is no official deadline for the investigation to wrap up and the announcement of charges or a settlement, the on-hold Leonard trade to Toronto kind of creates one around training camps starting in about a month. Both the Raptors and Clippers either need that trade to go through or be called off early in camp, they can't go into the season like this.
All of which means we may see some action later this month, but this also could well drag into 2027. This investigation, which started in September 2025, could drag well into the new NBA season. And it would be a talking point.
The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.
Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. These players are all 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 82 NHL games.
Osburn was the Sabres fourth-round pick at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas. The Plymouth, MI native is a product of the Compuware youth hockey system and played for Youngstown of the USHL in his draft year. After scoring 23 points for the Phantoms as a 17-year-old, the offensive-minded blueliner broke out in 2024-25, scoring 41 points (10 goals, 31 assists) in 55 games and was named the USHL’s Defenseman of the Year.
Where will Connor Hellebuyck end up?
The 19-year-old impressed at the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase for Team USA and got on the radar for the 2026 IIHF WJC in Minneapolis this December, but his performance as a freshman for the University of Wisconsin pushed him over the line. He posted 21 points (6 goals, 15 assists) in 33 games for the Badgers, and had to step up into a larger role at the WJC when Cole Hutson was injured early in the tournament.
Elite Prospects says that Osburn’s “activation looks instinctive; he instantly joins the play at the right moments and stays inside passing lanes. From the point, he uses stop-starts and heel-to-heel skating to pull in defenders before slipping down the boards. In the rush, he manipulates defenders with crossovers, weight shifts, and fakes, then walks inside for a scoring chance.”
Sarfaraz Ahmed sacked after 194-run loss at Lord’s
White-ball coach Mike Hesson steps in
Pakistan have taken instant and dramatic action after back-to-back thrashings by England, ousting their head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and sending seven squad members home.
The tourists lost by an innings in the series opener at Headingley before going down by 194 runs at Lord’s as England took an unassailable 2-0 lead.
NEW YORK (AP) — David Shuman has joined the New York Islanders’ ownership group as a limited partner, subject to NHL approval.
Shuman’s venture capital firm, Lateralus Holdings, and the team announced his minority investment on Monday. The Islanders did not disclose financial terms or what percentage Shuman is getting other than to say there will be no changes to day-to-day business and hockey operations or front office leadership.
Scott Malkin and Jon Ledecky serve as governor and alternate governor, with Oliver Haarmann, Dewey Shay and John Collins also listed as co-owners.
“David is one of the most passionate Islanders fans I know and an extraordinary builder of companies," Ledecky said in a statement. “That mindset will be invaluable as we continue to invest in this organization and in this community.”
In addition to founding Lateralus Holdings, Shuman serves as chairman of Oura and webAI.
“Hockey has been a constant in my life since childhood, both as a fan and a player, and the 1980 Miracle on Ice combined with the Islanders’ four consecutive Stanley Cup championships cemented a lifelong passion,” Shuman said in a statement, referring to the Islanders' glory days of the early '80s. "I’m honored to help support the Islanders’ future and their drive for a fifth Cup.”
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 28: Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers hits a single against the Chicago Cubs in the third inning at American Family Field on June 28, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers are set to begin a long stretch of games against NL Central foes, as they’ll start with four games against the Cubs at Wrigley. The Brewers, who sit at 85-52, are currently firmly in first place in the division, with an eight-game lead over the 77-60 Cubs. The Crew has won five consecutive series to build on their lead, while the Cubs have lost three straight series to the Mariners, D-backs, and Reds.
On the injury front, reliever Abner Uribe is expected to return for this series after missing the last couple of weeks with a right forearm flexor strain. Not far behind him is left-handed reliever JoJo Romero, who joined Uribe on his recent rehab assignment after an appendectomy in mid-July. Brandon Woodruff is still unexpected to return this year, though it’s possible he makes it back in a later postseason series, while Rob Zastryzny and Joel Kuhnel both have TBD returns. Brian Fitzpatrick, Quinn Priester, and Angel Zerpa are all out for the season.
Chicago is without shortstop Dansby Swanson (mid- to late September return), as well as a whole bunch of pitchers. That group includes Edward Cabrera (September), Justin Steele (potentially September, but in a relief role), Shelby Miller (potentially September), Ben Brown (September, though recently pulled off rehab assignment), Phil Maton (TBD), Hunter Harvey (TBD), Gavin Hollowll (September), Riley Martin (out for season), Cade Horton (out for season), and Porter Hodge (out for season).
Milwaukee’s offense is led by Jake Bauers, Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, William Contreras, and Garrett Mitchell, who have pretty consistently made up the top few spots in the order. Christian Yelich has slid down in the order but has played well lately, while Andrew Vaughn and Joey Ortiz have both quietly been consistent of late. Sal Frelick, Cooper Pratt, Gary Sánchez, Luis Lara, and David Hamilton all play regularly, too. As a team, Milwaukee is hitting .255/.338/.397 (.735 OPS ranks fifth), with 126 homers (last), 683 runs scored (third), and 135 steals (tied for fourth)
Pete Crow-Armstrong is turning in an MVP season, as he’s hitting .283/.377/.577 with 38 homers, 91 RBIs, 99 runs, and 32 steals. Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Alex Bregman, and Michael Busch are all regular contributors offensively, while Nico Hoerner is having a bit of a down year but is still hitting .263/.318/.356. Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya share catching duties, and Michael Conforto is also in the outfield/DH mix. Pedro Ramírez, Matt Shaw, Tyrone Taylor, and Gabriel Arias round things out. As a team, Chicago is hitting .251/.339/.428 (.767 OPS ranks first), with 187 homers (third), 725 runs scored (first), and 101 steals (10th).
On the mound, Aaron Ashby, Trevor Megill, and the soon-to-return Uribe lead the bullpen. Ashby has a 3.24 ERA and 13 wins, spanning 75 innings with 104 strikeouts. Megill leads the team with 25 saves and sports a 2.24 ERA, while Uribe has been even better with a 2.05 ERA. Chad Patrick, DL Hall, Bryse Wilson, Antonio Senzatela, and Grant Anderson (who is more than likely the odd man out upon Uribe’s return) round things out. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.37 team ERA (second), including a 3.46 starter ERA (fourth) and a 3.25 bullpen ERA (third). They’ve struck out 1,320 batters (second) across 1,225 2/3 innings.
Jacob Webb leads Chicago’s bullpen with 60 appearances, sporting a 2.87 ERA and team-high nine saves in 15 chances. Daniel Palencia has dealt with injuries and honestly hasn’t been all that good when on the field, with a 4.19 ERA over 19 1/3 innings, though he is 3-for-3 in save chances. Ryan Zeferjahn, acquired from the Angels at the deadline, has struggled with a 5.79 ERA over 9 1/3 innings, as has Caleb Thielbar (4.97 ERA). Ryan Rolison (2.79 ERA over 51 2/3 innings), Trent Thornton (3.45 ERA over 44 1/3 innings), and old friend Aaron Civale (1.54 ERA over 23 1/3 innings) have all been solid, and fellow old friend Colin Rea (4.48 ERA over 126 2/3 innings) has worked in a starter/long-relief swing role. As a staff, the Cubs have a 4.14 team ERA (14th), including a 4.32 starter ERA (18th) and a 3.90 bullpen ERA (12th). They’ve struck out 1,057 batters (26th) over 1,224 2/3 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Monday, August 31 @ 6:40 p.m.: LHP Kyle Harrison (10-3, 2.79 ERA, 3.29 FIP) vs. RHP Clay Holmes (5-6, 2.26 ERA, 3.35 FIP)
Harrison continues to impress in his first season in Milwaukee, with a 10-3 record, 2.79 ERA, 3.29 FIP, and 127 strikeouts across 103 1/3 innings. He took a no-decision in Milwaukee’s extra-innings loss to the Mets last week, working five innings with one run allowed on six hits and a walk, striking out five. Harrison has made three appearances against Chicago, totaling 13 innings with a 1.38 ERA and 22 strikeouts. That includes a pair of starts while with Milwaukee this year, spanning 12 innings with two runs allowed and 20 strikeouts.
Holmes, 33, is one of Chicago’s deadline acquisitions, coming over from the Mets. He’s made four starts in a Cubs uniform, spanning 23 innings with a 1.96 ERA, 3.69 FIP, and 10 strikeouts. The veteran right-hander went seven scoreless innings in a no-decision against the D-backs his last time out, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out five. Holmes, a former longtime Pirate, has made 18 appearances (two starts) against Milwaukee, with a 1-3 record, 5.96 ERA, and 24 strikeouts across 25 2/3 innings.
Tuesday, September 1 @ 6:40 p.m.: LHP Robert Gasser (4-5, 4.59 ERA, 4.44 FIP) vs. LHP Matthew Boyd (8-3, 3.99 ERA, 4.67 FIP)
This spot, originally Dustin May’s, has now flip-flopped with Gasser after Gasser stepped in to finish out May’s start against the Mets last week when May exited after just one pitch (he was alright and started in Sunday’s series finale against the Rangers). For the season, Gasser is 4-5 with a 4.59 ERA, 4.44 FIP, and 78 strikeouts across 82 1/3 innings. He stepped in nicely in that game against the Mets, going 5 1/3 innings with one run allowed on six hits and two walks, striking out six to earn the win. Gasser’s lone start against the Cubs came back in 2024, when he went six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in a no-decision.
Boyd, 35, was an All-Star for the first time in his career last season, but he’s taken a slight step back while dealing with injuries in 2026. Across 17 starts this year, he’s 8-3 with a 3.99 ERA, 4.67 FIP, and 76 strikeouts over 97 frames. The left-hander has taken the loss in two of his last three starts (the third start was a no-decision in a game the Cubs would lose in extra innings), allowing 13 runs (12 earned) over 17 1/3 innings against the Cardinals, Mariners, and D-backs. Boyd has made five career starts against Milwaukee, going 2-2 with a 9.00 ERA and 19 strikeouts across 23 innings. That includes one win and one loss last season, when he allowed nine runs over 10 1/3 innings.
Wednesday, September 2 @ 6:40 p.m.: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (14-5, 1.73 ERA, 2.14 FIP) vs. LHP David Peterson (7-7, 5.11 ERA, 4.05 FIP)
Misiorowski, who is now just a few weeks away from officially wrapping up what appears to be an NL Cy Young-winning season, is 14-5 this year, with a 1.73 ERA, 2.14 FIP, and 222 strikeouts over 151 innings. He hasn’t shown quite as much swing-and-miss stuff in his last few outings but he’s still keeping opposing teams off the scoreboard, as he’s totaled 18 innings with three runs allowed (1.50 ERA) and 18 strikeouts in wins against the Dodgers, Braves, and Mets. Misiorowski has made four starts against the Cubs, going 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 28 strikeouts across 20 frames. That includes a pair of wins this year, as he’s totaled 12 innings with just one run allowed and 16 strikeouts.
Peterson, who turns 31 on Thursday, is a former long-time Met who was acquired by the Cubs in late June. While his season numbers aren’t great, he’s been better with the Cubs, pitching to a 3.90 ERA, 4.31 FIP, and 46 strikeouts across 55 1/3 innings in 11 appearances (10 starts). He’s taken a no-decision in each of his last two appearances, spanning 11 innings with four runs allowed and 14 strikeouts against the Mariners and Reds. Peterson has faced Milwaukee seven times in his career (six starts), going 4-1 with a 3.44 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 34 frames. That includes a win in his Cubs debut back in June, tossing 5 2/3 innings with two runs allowed and two strikeouts.
Thursday, September 3 @ 6:15 p.m.: RHP Logan Henderson (9-2, 2.48 ERA, 3.29 FIP) vs. RHP Kevin Gausman (8-11, 4.52 ERA, 3.60 FIP)
Henderson continues to impress in his rookie season, as he’s now made 14 starts with a 9-2 record, 2.48 ERA, 3.29 FIP, and 86 strikeouts across 76 1/3 innings. He picked up his third straight win against the Rangers on Friday night, going seven innings with one run allowed (a solo homer) and allowing no other baserunners with seven strikeouts. This would mark Henderson’s first career appearance against Chicago.
Gausman, 35, is another deadline acquisition of the Cubs, joining them from the Blue Jays. The 14-year veteran has made five starts with Chicago, with a 3-1 record, 5.14 ERA, 4.08 FIP, and 29 strikeouts over 28 innings. He’s had two rough outings (five innings with five earned runs against the Reds and 4 2/3 innings with six earned runs against the Nationals) but also two solid seven-inning outings (no runs against the D-backs, two runs against the Royals), so it just depends which version shows up. Gausman has made eight career appearances (six starts) against Milwaukee, going 2-0 with a 1.99 ERA and 46 strikeouts across 40 2/3 innings. That includes a no-decision while with the Blue Jays earlier this year, when he went five frames and allowed three runs with five strikeouts.
How to Watch & Listen
Monday, August 31: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Tuesday, September 1: Brewers TV and nationally on TBS; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Wednesday, September 2: Brewers TV and nationally on MLB Network; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Thursday, September 3: Exclusively televised nationally on Fox/Fox One; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
This is a big series for both squads, and the pitching matchups tell the story. Give me a series split.
AKRON, OH - AUGUST 19: Devin Fitz-Gerald #3 of the Harrisburg Senators celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning during the game between the Harrisburg Senators and the Akron RubberDucks at 7 17 Credit Union Park on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Lindsey Matier/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
After a blazing hot start to Devin Fitz-Gerald’s Nationals career, in which he posted a 132 wRC+ and had a May as hot as any month ever from a Nats prospect, he earned a promotion to Double A in early June, simultaneously climbing many top 100 prospect lists. The hit tool looked as advertised, but the sudden increase in power output was a welcome surprise as well, as Fitz-Gerald hit 12 home runs in 51 games at High A.
A slowdown in production is expected when any prospect moves up a level, but to say Devin Fitz-Gerald hit a wall in Double A at first would be an understatement, as from his callup on June 7th to the end of June, he posted a -1 wRC+, hitting .137 with just a .178 slugging percentage. His influx of power output he had in High A suddenly vanished, and it seemed his hit tool and approach went with it, as he was swinging at everything, struggled to draw walks, and struck out too much.
July was an improvement for Fitz-Gerald, as he swung less, leading to more walks and less strikeouts, but he still wasn’t tapping into much of the power which made him a game wrecker at High A, posting a .306 slugging percentage and 82 wRC+ on the month. Through almost two months at Double A, Fitz-Gerald was looking somewhat overmatched, causing some fans and analysts to begin to lose some faith. Others however, who understood the kind of talent they saw earlier in the year, were willing to hold the line and bet on him to figure it out.
Sure enough, August was a breakout month for Fitz-Gerald at Double A. He swung at pitches in the zone about as much as he did in June, but he chased outside the zone 13% less, and made more contact overall when he did swing. The power stroke finally returned for Fitz-Gerald as well, as he swatted 3 home runs in August, as compared to just 1 in June and July combined. Overall, Fitz-Gerald hit .310 and posted a 139 wRC+ in August, much more in line with the numbers he was posting earlier in the season.
There is still questions to be answered about Fitz-Gerald’s profile, such as if he can sustain his power numbers for longer periods of time in the upper minor leagues, but his season teaches us something important when it comes to prospect scouting as a whole: it is important to demonstrate patience with players, especially ones going through changes.
For Fitz-Gerald, that change wasn’t just a promotion to a new level, but dealing with his mother’s tragic cancer diagnosis, and having to be gone from home for months at a time to play baseball. There can be more to a players surface level numbers than meet the eye, and a bad month or two doesn’t mean he should be written off entirely.
I expect Fitz-Gerald will begin the 2027 minor league season at Double A, where hopefully Eli Willits will be next to him playing Shortstop, creating one of the most exciting middle infield prospect duos in Nationals minor league history. With another offseason to bulk and work on his swing, hopefully Fitz-Gerald can continue to add more power output to his game, as when he combines his plus hit tool with the ability to pop balls over the fence, he’s as dangerous a hitter as the Nationals have in their farm system.
A momentum building series win over the Chicago Cubs where there was drama in all 3 games, the Diamondbacks would look to carry that momentum into their 4 game series against the struggling San Francisco Giants. The good news going into this series is the Dbacks have had the Giants number in 2026, winning 8 of the 9 games they have played, but the Giants lineup of MLB the show randomly generated names would be doing their best to play spoiler to the Dbacks and attempt to deny them from gaining any ground on the Padres or Phillies in the NL Wild Card race.
Three’s (Mid) Company
The Diamondbacks starting rotation depth has been tested multiple times throughout 2026 but more so the last month plus as the Snakes have had to rely heavily on arms like Mitch Bratt, Kohl Drake and Jose Cabrera to fill in those gaps. While the expectations were on the low end for the young arms, outside of Bratt’s 7 shutout innings against San Diego earlier this month, the results have been less than ideal as they have only gone 6 innings or longer in 2 of the 20 combined starts, both of which were by Mitch Bratt.
The fellas and I agreed that these short outings from the young arms are leading to the bullpen being used more often than most would like, which could be a recipe for disaster with only a month left to go. If this team is to complete their playoff push and sneak into October, they are going to need their starting pitching to carry the load a bit more and try to keep the big bullpen arms from being overused.
Noot Scootin’ Boogie
The lone acquisition for the Diamondbacks at the trade deadline was off to a rough start at the dish, as the three of us and many other D’Backs fans and writers were starting to get worried that Lars Nootbar would be another black hole in a lineup that at times already has too many spots, but the last 10 games from Noot Noot (.310/.355/.724 for a 1.079 OPS) has the three of us hoping that Lars has adjusted to his new team and found his footing at just the right time. Gabe, Brandon and I were all on the same page in saying that if Nootbar can at least be a .750-.780 OPS hitter the rest of the way, then that could be a big boost for this offense and provide a bit more length in the lineup.
Letting Opportunities “Split” Away
Going into the series the Diamondbacks were a full game behind the San Diego Padres for the 3rd Wild Card spot in the NL, but thanks to a lot of help from the D’Backs expansion brothers in the Tampa Bay Rays they were able to leave San Fran a half game ahead of the Pads. Normally that would have us absolutely amped up that we were able to leap frog the Padres and get back into a WIld Card spot, but the fellas and I all felt the same in saying that it felt like the Diamondbacks left a prime opportunity to leave with an even bigger lead on the table as even just 1 more win in this series would have given the Snakes a 1.5 game lead, with a sweep giving them a 2.5 game lead.
Gabe mentioned that a 2.5 game lead wouldn’t be a big enough gap to fully secure any kind of playoff spot, it would have put a lot of pressure on the Padres to make up as much ground as they could before the final series of the year when the Snakes and Padres meetup in San Diego. Brandon also pointed out that a sweep of the Giants would have kept Arizona just 3 games back of the Phillies and Cubs for that first Wild Card spot and the chance to even host a Wild Card series. A series split doesn’t technically have a winner or loser, but with the missed opportunities for the D’Backs to gane even more ground in their playoff push had us all feeling like they really came away from this 4 gamer as losers.
The Phightin Phils
The three of us turned our attention to the next series ahead of the Diamondbacks as the red hot Phillies, winners of 8 of their last 10, would be coming to Chase Field for a big 3 game set starting on Monday night. The big talking point heading into this Phillies series is the potential return of Diamondbacks 2nd Baseman Ketel Marte after the wild drama filled last few weeks became the talk of the baseball world. We all acknowledged that there will most certainly be a mixed reaction from the Snakes fans in attendance, but the hope is that the clubhouse will be ready to welcome Ketel back with open arms and be ready to focus on winning ballgames, as Ketel is a critical bat to have for this final month.
While the focus has mostly been on the Padres and the 3rd and final Wild Card spot, the D’Backs are still within striking distance of both the Phillies and the Cubs for the 1st or 2nd spot, so a series win or even a series sweep of the Phils could be the kind of juice the Snakes need to get them fired up and ready to hopefully play their best ball and finish out the regular season on a high note and with as much momentum heading into October.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 28: Nate Lavender #94 of the New York Mets throws against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning at Citi Field on August 28, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Caean Couto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome back to Monday Stat Party, a weekly series showcasing some of the most curious and nostalgia-inducing statistical developments from the past week of Mets baseball. What unites each entry is the sense of intrigue which they aim to spark, and the unbridled love of the game’s anomalies from which they arise. Without further ado, let the stat party begin.
TUESDAY
Zac Thornton became the first Mets pitcher with at least six quality starts in their first 10 career games since Steven Matz. The only other Mets debuting since 2000 to accomplish that feat were Dillon Gee, Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, and Noah Syndergaard.
Carson Benge notched his 11th three-hit game of the season, overtaking the record for a Mets rookie set by Pete Alonso (10) in 2019.
Christopher Morel’s eighth-inning ground out registered a 114.6 mph exit velocity, marking the second-hardest-hit ball by a Met this season.
WEDNESDAY
Dustin May’s one-pitch start marked the shortest outing for an opposing starting pitcher in Mets franchise history. The record was previously held by Cubs right-hander Frank Castillo, who retired leadoff hitter Vince Coleman on three pitches before being relieved due to a right shoulder strain at Wrigley Field on August 10, 1991. The previous record for the shortest start in Citi Field history was held by Bartolo Colon, who threw just four pitches before exiting against the Royals on June 21, 2016, after leadoff hitter Whit Merrifield lined a ball off Colon’s right hand.
THURSDAY
Brett Baty’s 106.8 mph line out off Jacob Misiorowski was the fifth-hardest-hit batted ball anyone has mustered off Miz’s four-seam fastball over his two-year career.
Jackson Chourio became the fifth player to record four or more hits, two or more homers, and at least one stolen base in a game against the Mets, joining George Altman (May 15, 1962), Maury Wills (May 30, 1962), Steve Finley (May 30, 1999), and Ozzie Albies (June 30, 2021). Chourio also became the first home or visiting player to do it at Citi Field.
Jackson Chourio is batting .353 with 3 homers and a 1.036 OPS in eight career games at Citi Field, where he made his debut on Opening Day in 2024. That OPS ranks 12th-best among players with at least 35 plate appearances at the ballpark (Troy Tulowitzki leads the pack with a 1.368 OPS in 58 career plate appearances at Citi Field, with Brandon Lowe and Miguel Cabrera next on the list).
The Brewers are now 20-6 against the Mets in their last 26 regular-season meetings, dating back to September 21, 2022.
The Mets suffered their 12th loss of the season in which they recorded three or fewer hits, tied for the second-most such games in MLB this season behind only the Guardians (13).
FRIDAY
Nate Lavender recorded a 10th straight scoreless appearance to begin his career, tying left-hander Jack Leathersich (debuted in 2015) for the most scoreless appearances to begin a career in franchise history. Joe Smith (debuted in 2007) holds the franchise record with 17 straight.
SATURDAY
Nolan McLean’s 2.83 ERA through 35 career games is the ninth-best among Mets pitchers with a minimum of five innings per outing, behind: Jerry Koosman (2.30), Matt Harvey (2.38), Dwight Gooden (2.47), Jacob deGrom (2.56), Jon Matlack (2.64), Kodai Senga (2.74), Tom Seaver (2.76), and Noah Syndergaard (2.82).
Over his last 11 starts, McLean has tallied 66.1 innings pitchedwhile posting a 1.76 ERA. McLean is the ninth Met since 2000 to record an 11-game single-season span with an ERA below 2.00 while averaging six or more innings per outing, joining: Johan Santana, R.A. Dickey, Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz, Zack Wheeler, and Max Scherzer.
McLean recorded his 18th start of six or more innings pitched this season, tied for sixth-most in the majors. That total is already tied for third-most by a Met in a season since 2020, trailing Chris Bassitt (23 in 2022) and Max Scherzer (19 in 2022).
SUNDAY
Francisco Lindor hit his 155th home run as a Met, moving past Dave Kingman and into sixth place on the franchise’s all-time leaderboard.
A.J. Ewing racked up his 22nd stolen base of the season, tying Lee Mazzilli in 1977 for second-most by a Mets rookie behind only Mookie Wilson (24 in 1981).
Zac Thornton’s 2.93 ERA through 11 career games is the 12th-best among Mets pitchers with a minimum of five innings per outing, behind: Nolan McLean (2.23), Jim McAndrew (2.26), Tom Seaver (2.43), Matt Harvey (2.44), Steven Matz (2.52), Rob Gardner (2.59), Anthony Young (2.62), Rick Aguilera (2.74), Masato Yoshii (2.77), Nolan Ryan (2.85), and Jason Isringhausen (2.92).
Miscellaneous Mets stat of the week:
The Mets have gone 11 seasons without a Gold Glove Award winner, with their last one being Juan Lagares in 2014. That marks the second-longest drought in the majors, behind only the Nationals (Adam LaRoche in 2012).
DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 25: Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres (25) laughs with Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez (28) in the dugout during the game between the Detroit Tigers versus the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday August 25, 2026 at Comerica Park in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Well, barring a real miracle, the Detroit Tigers 2026 season is a lost cause. After playing themselves back into contention by the middle of August, they’ve absolutely cratered since getting swept by the Chicago White Sox. A massive payroll expansion, multiple talented rookies added to the mix, Jackson Jobe’s return from Tommy John surgery, and the ongoing brilliance of Kevin McGonigle’s AL Rookie of the Year caliber season have not been enough to overcome the hellscape that was May’s 6-22 debacle. The season is a failure and there will be plenty of accounting of blame to place when this is all said and done, but for now, there are several things the Tigers should do in September to start setting themselves up for the future.
The obvious overriding theme here, is play the kids.
For starters, the Tigers should set Gleyber Torres free. The veteran second baseman has been a stabilizing, professional presence in the lineup, and a mentor to younger players, but his physical decline has cut down his playing time in both of his two seasons with the Tigers. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Tigers sign him again this offseason in free agency. Even so, this has nothing to do with performance. It just makes sense to place Torres on unconditional waivers this morning, giving contending teams a chance to claim him on Monday and assume the roughly $3.5M still owed to him this season. That move would be good for Torres, who at 29 years old may not have many cracks at the postseason left in his career. More importantly for the Tigers, it opens up second base and playing time for their multitude of young players who primarily work at second and third base.
Play the kids in the infield
Hao-Yu Lee is already up, and a report from Emily Waldon indicates that infield prospect John Peck is to be promoted from Triple-A Toledo to the major leagues for his debut. Peck can play second, third, and shortstop, and overall is a pretty good defender. He’s not exactly a slam dunk defensive shortstop, but he’s good enough to hang there, and likely a plus defender everywhere else. Peck and Brett Callahan have basically moved up in lockstep, and while one is a left-handed hitting corner outfielder and the other a right-handed hitting infielder, there are plenty of similarities as both are good defenders with a nice mix of speed and power, who could both use a little more plate discipline to make them staples of the Tigers bench next season. Neither got much time at the Triple-A level, particularly Peck, but they’re both eligible in the Rule 5 draft this offseason, and the Tigers need to work with them in the big leagues, see what they’ve got, and give them each some experience to take into the offseason.
The other obvious call-up is 24-year-old second baseman Max Anderson. I’ve tended to be the low man on Anderson among prospect writers on the Tigers’ system, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t talented. The issue is that he’s pretty limited defensively, and despite good bat-to-ball skills and above average raw power, he entered the season still decidedly a free swinger who chases too much and gets himself out on pitcher’s pitches rather than being selective enough to get more pitches he can drive. On that latter score he’s made some nice progress this season in his first full look at the Triple-A level, chasing a little less and finally taking his walks. He’s earned a look at the major leagues as well. Anderson is a below average second baseman in my opinion, with decent hands but mediocre range, agility, and arm strength, and at a listed 5’11” he doesn’t really have the big frame preferred in a first baseman either, though his glove would play there. Still, he can hit, and the Tigers might as well see what they’ve got in him before the season ends.
To facilitate all this, releasing Torres is the obvious move, and one would expect that Torres would be pleased to get a crack at October baseball with another team. If he’s really not that interested and prefers to stay, that’s fine. He’s a good leader and has plenty of knowledge to pass along to younger teammates, but his playing time needs to be cut down so the Tigers can embrace the youth movement.
Experiment with the bullpen
The Tigers committed to Kenley Jansen as their closer last offseason, and while he’s been much better since June 1, it’s gone pretty poorly overall. He struggled when the Tigers really needed him in April and May, and at his best since then he’s just been okay. Jansen stands at 493 saves, and his status as one of the great relievers of all-time isn’t in doubt. Here in the waning years of his Hall of Fame caliber career, no doubt he would like to reach 500 saves and the Tigers would probably like to have something like that to celebrate, but he’s not going to get there this year anyway. He has 17 saves and 5 blown saves on the year, and it’s impossible to imagine a scenario in which he saves seven of the final 26 games.
Instead, the Tigers might as well give at least a few of those chances to lefty Drew Sommers, who has emerged as the Tigers’ best reliever in the second half. There’s no reason to cut Jansen loose, as the Tigers don’t have much in the way of compelling relief options in Toledo, but they’ve got to start thinking ahead. Sommers doesn’t really profile as a pure closer type, and high leverage work in the seventh and eighth innings really isn’t much different than closing games, but it would be good to see him get a crack at a save or two.
We’d also like to see 26-year-old right-hander Yilber Diaz recalled back to Detroit to work in the bullpen. Guys in their 30’s like Tanner Rainey aren’t part of the future Tigers bullpen, but Diaz might be if he can lock in control of his fastball-slider combination. Probably, as with veteran outfielder Corey Julks, the Tigers are just doing Rainey a bit of a solid by getting him some major league paychecks for being a good soldier stashed in Triple-A all season. Rainey’s recent velo burst is at least vaguely interesting, but he’s always had pretty good stuff, he’s 33, and he’s never thrown strikes with any consistency.
Once again, play the kids.
Turn the kids loose
The final part of this is stylistic more than anything. I’m decidedly not a big sacrifice guy, and the hit and run isn’t utilized much anymore, both because of high strikeout rates for pitchers, but also because a team like the Tigers already goes first to third well on singles. However, working on stealing bases, trying to work on bunting for base hits a little more in cases like Max Clark, who has the speed to beat them out for hits, and working on elements of situational hitting like right-handed hitters doing the other way with runners on base, would be advisable.
The Tigers aren’t just going to throw caution to the wind and make tons of outs on the basepaths. For coaches and players, no matter the circumstances, winning the day’s game is still the goal. That doesn’t mean this isn’t a good time to try and turn the younger players loose to experiment, make outs without major consequence, and try to push the limits and improve.
Modern pitchers are a lot harder to steal on than in the old days. The quick, compact deliveries utilized by most pitchers gives a lot less time in which to run, and makes reading first moves to the plate crucial. Yet just about everyone is running more than the Tigers do, and they rank last in all of baseball with just 40 stolen bases. 28 other teams have more than 50 stolen bases this season, and 17 different teams have at least doubled the Tigers’ stolen base totals. They’ve got to get a lot better at this, and with a faster, younger team, they have the personnel to run way more often now.
The only way to get good at getting perfect jumps is by trial and error. There’s really nothing to lose, so it would be nice to see A.J. Hinch turn them loose and let them make their mistakes now rather than next season when their place in the standings will hopefully matter more. Either way, the club is behind the times here, and after switching out both first and third base coaches at various points this season, it would be nice to see those changes pay some dividends in the stolen base department. After finishing 10th best in baserunning ranking in 2025, the Tigers have fallen back to 22nd this season. There is clearly more work to be done in this area.
Another element of “turn the kids loose” is moving Max Clark to the leadoff spot. This is exactly what he’s built to do. He’s a classic leadoff hitter type with the addition boon of average raw power. It made sense not to rush him into that spot when the Tigers were still hoping to reach the postseason, but there’s no reason now not to get ahead of the game in this regard. Let him settle in atop the order and get used to setting the table and the tone for the Tigers’ offense.
The season is lost, but there is always work to be done to get better. It’s hard to know how hard the Tigers will push in 2027 to get back into contention, but they have enough pieces to expect a much better season if the front office can get its act together in free agency, and perhaps pull off a useful trade or two in regard to the brewing logjams at first and second base in particular. For now, the best thing they can do is take the governor off, play more aggressively, and let their big crop of talented rookies get some mistakes out of the way and learn to play the game closer to the edge of their ability at the major league level.
Chris Sale shut out the Dodgers and threw a 100 mph fastball in the process.
You could call it turning back the clock, but that would imply the Atlanta left-hander’s best days are behind him. And that’s hardly the case.
Sale struck out 11 in a five-hitter, lowering his ERA to 2.06. Only Jacob Misiorowski’s (1.73) is better, and Sale may be the only one capable of pushing the Milwaukee ace in the Cy Young race. At the very least, Sale has a good chance to post his eighth top-five finish in a Cy Young vote. He won in 2024, his first season with the Braves.
The 1-0 win over Los Angeles was Sale’s first complete game since 2019 and included his first time reaching 100 mph on a pitch since 2018. He was with Boston then, wrapping up a stretch of seven straight years (2012-18) finishing in the top six in the Cy Young vote. But a poor 2019 was followed by Tommy John surgery, and Sale’s future looked uncertain.
Since the Red Sox traded him to Atlanta for Vaughn Grissom, however, Sale has been an elite pitcher again. He finally won that elusive Cy Young in 2024, going 18-3 with a 2.38 ERA. He was 7-5 with a 2.58 ERA in 21 games last season, and this year he’s on pace to post an ERA under 2.20 for the third time as a starter. He also did that in 2014 with the Chicago White Sox and 2018 with Boston.
The 37-year-old Sale doesn’t have as much Cy Young hardware as Justin Verlander or Max Scherzer, but if he can pitch into his 40s like they have, his Hall of Fame case could look pretty solid. His career wins above replacement total — per Baseball Reference — roughly is the same as CC Sabathia’s. And Sabathia was voted in on the first ballot.
Sale is under contract with Atlanta for next season, and the Braves have a team option for 2028.
Trivia time
Sale’s only second-place finish in the Cy Young vote came in 2017. Who beat him out?
Performance of the week
While Sale tries to prevent Misiorowski from running away with the Cy Young Award, Pete Crow-Armstrong is putting in quite a claim for the National League MVP. He hit three homers with six RBIs for the Chicago Cubs in a 17-5 win over Cincinnati. Then the following day he went deep two more times. Crow-Armstrong is up to 38 homers on the year, just two shy of Kyle Schwarber’s major league-leading total.
Comeback of the week
The Reds scored seven runs in the top of the ninth to beat San Francisco 10-9. Héctor Rodríguez led off the inning with a homer to make the score 9-4. Then a single and two walks loaded the bases for Eugenio Suárez, whose grand slam brought Cincinnati within a run with still nobody out. Jose Trevino eventually tied it with a sacrifice fly, and Tyler Stephenson’s RBI single gave the Reds the lead.
Team of the week
The Braves were baseball’s only unbeaten team this week, going 6-0. They continue to hold Philadelphia at arm’s length in the NL East, leading the division by five games after Matt Olson’s walk-off single against Colorado extended Atlanta’s winning streak to seven.
The Braves swept three straight games against the Dodgers, winning each by a run. One of them was Sale’s gem. Another came on a walk-off single by pinch-hitter Ha-Seong Kim.
Big slate Monday! There is so much to get into with the MLB player propsmarket.
Join me as I break down three of my favorite MLB picksfor Monday, Aug. 31, including why Rafael Devers is going to light up Bryce Elder.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Ryan Gusto
Over 2.5 earned runs
+119
Jake Burger
Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI
-107
Rafael Devers
Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI
-136
Ryan Gusto Over 2.5 earned runs (+119)
The Washington Nationals find themselves in a great bounce-back spot against Miami Marlins right-hander Ryan Gusto, who's been pretty solid over his last few starts, but he has some telling underlying metrics that the Nationals should be able to exploit.
Despite Gusto's 1.26 ERA over his last three starts, he owns a 4.58 xERA while allowing a hard-hit rate of nearly 44%. On top of that, in his last three road starts, Gusto is allowing a 46% hard-hit rate, 10.8% barrel rate, and 32.4% elevation rate, while allowing 2.13 HR/9.
Over the Nationals' last six games, they have a strikeout rate under 20%, a wRC+ above 100, and a walk rate north of 10%. They should be able to get out to an early lead with how well this lineup has been seeing the ball.
Take this down to +110.
Home run sprinkles: Daylen Lile & Abimelec Ortiz
Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FS1
Jake Burger Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (-107)
Running it back with the Burger man after he cashed on an RBI single with a .105 xBA. He then followed that up with a 369-foot flyout to the warning track. Texas Rangers slugger Jake Burger has been making a ton of hard contact, and is ready for a big outing at the plate tonight.
In Burger’s last 10 games, he owns a .648 xSLG and .250 ISO, while generating a 50% hard-hit rate and 22.7% barrel rate.
This evening, he draws Athletics left-hander Gage Jump, who's dealt with some speed bumps against right-handed hitters this season. The last 60 righties he's faced are making nearly 10% barrel and 66% elevation rates, while owning a .328 xBA, .515 xSLG, and .204 ISO.
Burger, in his last 30 at-bats versus a left-handed pitcher, sports a .714 SLG, 1.047 OPS, and .428 ISO, generating a 45.5% hard-hit rate and 22.7% barrel rate.
Take this down to -110, or pivot to Over 1.5 total bases at plus money. And yes, sprinkle the home run, too.
He also goes Over this prop above 55.51% of his elite ratings on Batters-Box, a 272-game sample size.
Devers has been on an absolute tear over his last 10 games, sporting a .684 SLG and .342 ISO while generating a 13% barrel rate. Across his last 10 batted balls, he's hit four above 104 mph. His last three batted balls have all been base hits, while having an exit velocity north of 106 mph.
The last 60 lefties Elder has taken on own a .354 xBA, .522 xSLG, and .333 xwOBA. Over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, Devers owns an .880 SLG and 1.447 OPS, while maintaining a 65% hard-hit rate and 15% barrel rate.
The Giants slugger should be able to connect with something tonight, and hopefully it leaves the park. Take this down to -140, or take his bases.
Time: 6:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCSBA, BravesVsn
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 447-886, -13.6 units
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.
Aug 27, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) swings at a pitch against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Dodgers took their lumps on the road, dropping four of six games in Atlanta and Detroit. Most importantly they dropped all three games to the Braves, squandering the lead the Dodgers previously held over Atlanta for the race to one of the top two seeds in the National League postseason.
Offense was the key culprit in the poor week, with 11 runs scored in the first five games. All five of those games were decided by one run, eliminating any margin of error the Dodgers might have had, with three of the losses coming in the opponent’s last at-bat.
Player of the week
Teoscar Hernández had a productive week and his Sunday home run — his first in 27 days — was one of only two long balls during the week. Honorable mention to Tommy Edman, who hit the other home run and led the team with three RBI.
Pitcher of the week
Tyler Glasnow was fantastic coming off the injured list, allowing four runs in 12 innings in his two starts, with 13 strikeouts against only one walk.
The saving grace of a down week was the Dodgers postseason rotation — Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, Glasnow — combining for a 2.15 ERA with 38 strikeouts, five walks, and a 33.9-percent strikeout rate in 29 1/3 innings in their five starts.
Week 23 results
2-4 record 17 runs scored (2.83 per game) 15 runs allowed (2.50 per game) .557 pythagorean win percentage
Year to date
82-55 record 670 runs scored (4.89 per game) 517 runs allowed (3.77 per game) .616 pythagorean win percentage (84-53)
Miscellany
Rare thefts: Ha-Seong Kim and Michael Harris II each stole second base on Thursday night in Atlanta, with the Harris steal originally called out at second base but overturned upon replay review. Both were off Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and marked the first time in 82 career MLB games — including 81 starts and one legend-cementing relief appearance — that he allowed multiple stolen bases. Even with the two Braves swipes on Thursday, opposing runners this season are have only four stolen bases in 24 starts, and have been caught four times. In his career in those 82 games, Yamamoto has allowed 15 steals in 25 attempts.
One oh four: Fireballer Edgardo Henriquez has pitched his way into potential October important innings, including with 11 scoreless appearances out of his last 12 outings. In the eighth inning on Saturday, Henriquez struck out Dillon Dingler looking on a two-seam fastball on the corner.
The 103.6-mph pitch matched the fastest pitch of Henriquez’s career, also done in the sixth inning of June 2 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Those are the fastest two pitches of any Dodgers pitcher since 2008, the first year Statcast tracking pitch data.
Thursday: After leaving his Wednesday start with a middle-finger blister, Roki Sasaki was placed on the IL and Seth Halvorsen found his way back into the Dodgers bullpen.
The Dodgers are back for a nine-game homestand to start the regular season’s final month. This week they run the Matt Adams gauntlet, hosting the Cardinals and Nationals after a Monday off day. The day before Labor Day brings us the rare 7:10 p.m. Sunday start time.
The Boston Red Sox sit as heavy 61% moneyline favorites tonight when they welcome the Seattle Mariners to Fenway Park for a 6:45 first pitch.
Payton Tolle continues to deal, and my Mariners vs Red Sox predictions expect him to keep it rolling against an inconsistent Seattle lineup.
Find out more in my MLB picks for Monday, Aug. 31.
Who will win Mariners vs Red Sox today: Red Sox (61%)
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
The Boston Red Sox have the more reliable pitching profile tonight with Payton Tolle in strong form. The left-hander owns a 2.99 FIP across his last two starts, and this matchup plays in his favor against a Seattle Mariners lineup that has struggled against southpaws — posting an 87 wRC+ this season.
George Kirby’s underlying metrics suggest he has pitched better than his recent results, but the right-hander has still allowed 12 earned runs over his previous three outings. That creates an opening for a Boston lineup that owns a 102 wRC+ at Fenway Park.
With Tolle trending up, the Red Sox have the cleaner edge.
Play this pick up to 62%.
COVERS INTEL: Seattle's 68 wRC+ over the last week is a whole 31 points below their season average of 99. This is a clear opportunity for Tolle to deal.
Mariners vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (52%)
While neither lineup is absolutely flourishing right now, Kirby’s vulnerability and the bullpen profiles have me liking the Over with a low 7.5 total.
Boston’s relief corps owns a 4.71 FIP over the last week while allowing 1.30 HR/9. Seattle’s pen has not been much sharper, posting a 4.60 xERA during that same span.
This feels like the type of game where the Red Sox could do most of the scoring, but the Mariners would not need to chip in much to help push this Over.
Play this pick up to 60%.
Mariners vs Red Sox home run prediction: Julio Rodriguez (16%)
Julio Rodriguez may have just one home run over his last five games, but the underlying metrics are loud. The superstar owns a 20% barrel rate and 46.7% hard-hit rate during that span while putting 46.7% of his contact in the air.
Tolle has allowed a 48.3% fly-ball rate at home this season, and the Red Sox bullpen has also given up some home run damage lately.
With Rodriguez’s recent batted-ball profile and Fenway’s friendly left-field dimensions, there’s a real case for the slugger to leave the yard.
Play this pick up to 20%.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 61-72, -19.23 units
Over/Under bets: 72-57, +3.75 units
Mariners vs Red Sox weather
Weather at Fenway Park looks clean tonight, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures falling from 75°F to 70°F. Winds are light around 7–8 mph, and rain chances stay very low at 0–4%. No real delay concern, and conditions look mostly neutral for scoring.
Mariners vs Red Sox odds
Moneyline: Mariners 40% | Red Sox 61%
Run line: Mariners +1.5 (59%) | Red Sox -1.5 (42%)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (52%) | Under 7.5 (50%)
Mariners vs Red Sox trend
The Boston Red Sox have hit the moneyline in 35 of their last 50 games (+15.05 Units / 21% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Mariners vs. Red Sox.
How to watch Mariners vs Red Sox and game info
Location
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Date
Monday, Aug. 31, 2026
First pitch
6:45 p.m. ET
TV
Mariners.TV, NESN
Mariners starting pitcher
George Kirby (9-10, 4.02 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcher
Payton Tolle (8-6, 3.09 ERA)
Mariners vs Red Sox latest injuries
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.
Ryan Gusto
Jake Burger
Rafael Devers
COVERS INTEL: Seattle's