PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a tying three-run homer, Austin Riley added a go-ahead RBI triple and the Braves used a late rally to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4 Sunday, extending their lead in the NL East to five games.
Acuña hit a 100.5-mph fastball off Phillies reliever Alex McFarlane deep into the right field seats in the top of the eighth inning to tie the score 4. It was home run No. 16 this season for Acuña, and it was the seventh consecutive fastball over 100 mph thrown to him by McFarlane.
After getting the first out of the inning, Mike Yastrzemski singled and Drake Baldwin doubled ahead of Acuña’s homer.
McFarlane hadn’t allowed a run since Aug. 11 — the only run he allowed since being called up in July.
In the ninth inning, Ozzie Albies legged out a double off Phillies closer Jhoan Duran (2-5) and Riley followed with a triple off the centerfield fence, giving the Braves the lead.
Dylan Lee (6-0) earned the win in relief of Tyler Mahle, and Raisel Iglesias picked up his 31st save. Mahle allowed two unearned runs in six innings.
Philadelphia wasted a strong effort from starter Aaron Nola, who allowed one run on four hits in seven innings. Nola has gone eight consecutive starts allowing three runs or fewer, his longest such stretch of starts since 2019.
In the seventh inning, Kyle Schwarber hit his MLB-leading 42nd home run and pinch-hitter Derek Hill added a solo shot, his 10th of the season, for the Phillies.
Up next
Braves RHP Grant Holmes (9-5, 3.62 ERA) will face Phillies LHP Jesus Luzardo (13-5, 3.02) in the finale of the four-game set on Monday afternoon.
The Mets rallied for four runs in the eighth inning to defeat the San Francisco Giants 4-2, earning a series win.
Here are the key takeaways...
-- The Mets’ bats were held silent through the first seven innings, but that all changed in the eighth inning. Trailing 2-0, Brett Baty made things interesting by hitting a pinch-hit, solo home run just over the orange line at the top of the left field wall. Baty's second career pinch-hit home run cut the Giants' lead in half.
Later in the inning, with runners on the corners and two outs and after the Giants intentionally walked Juan Soto, Bo Bichette demolished a hanging breaking ball from Carson Seymour for a no-doubt three-run shot. Seemingly in the blink of an eye, the Mets went from down one to up two, swinging the game completely in their favor.
-- Kodai Senga, who came into the game 5-for-5 in save opportunities, set the Giants down 1-2-3 to remain perfect in that role.
-- Christian Scott looked great out of the gates, retiring the first 11 batters that he faced. But the Giants rallied with three straight singles in the third, the final of which being a two-run single from Jung Hoo Lee, putting the Giants up 2-0.
Carson Benge has been outstanding defensively in right field this season, but with two outs and a runner on first in the inning, Benge threw to third instead of hitting the cutoff man, allowing the batter Jonah Cox to reach second base on the throw. That, in turn, allowed both runners to score on the Lee blooper of Semien.
Benge made up for it later in the game, though, when he made a spectacular diving catch to end the top of the sixth.
-- More poor defense helped chase Scott from the game in the fifth. With a runner at first and one out, a would-be double-play ball to first base bounced off of Mark Vientos’ glove and into the outfield, putting runners at second and third. Nate Lavender came in to clean things up by striking out Rafael Devers to prevent any runs from scoring, but Scott's day was done.
Overall, it was a strong appearance for Scott, who went 4.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and no walks.
-- Making just his third career major league appearance, 24-year-old Cesar Perdomo shut the Mets down for 6.0 innings. The lefty did not allow a run while giving up just three hits. He struck out four and walked one, and while he left in line for the win, the Giants' bullpen couldn't make it stand.
-- Tobias Myers, just called up from Triple-A Syracuse, pitched a scoreless eighth for the Mets, allowing a single and striking out a pair. It was his first major league appearance since July 11, and he came away with the win.
Game MVP
Bichette, who came up huge in the clutch with his three-run blast.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 06: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run to tie the game in the eighth inning during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, September 6, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Phillies cannot get the eighth inning right. They’ve tried several pitchers as the team’s primary setup man this season, and all of them have proven unable to do the job consistently. On Sunday, they gave rookie Alex McFarlane a shot at the role.
He also did not succeed.
McFarlane gave up a game-tying three run home run to Ronald Acuna, Jr, and the Braves scored another in the ninth, sending the Phillies to a gut-punch of a loss.
The story of the game should have been Aaron Nola. The rejuvenated veteran pitched seven strong innings, scattering four hits, to give up a single run. If not for an epic 15-pitch at bat against Mike Yastrzemski in the third, Nola might have been able to pitch another inning. (If only.)
The Phillies’ offense started off well, taking advantage of a Braves error in the first to score a couple of runs via Luis Arraez sacrifice fly and Alec Bohm double.
That lead seemed comfortable, but with one out in the eighth, McFarlane gave up consecutive hits. He got ahead of Acuna 0-2 but chose to throw five straight fastballs after that. It’s nice to be able to throw 101 MPH, but when Acuna is fouling them off, an off-speed pitch or two might be warranted. (Catcher Garrett Stubbs deserves his share of the blame here too.) Instead, McFarlane left one where Acuna could do some damage.
Jhoan Duran tried to keep the game tied in the ninth, but he hasn’t always been at his best in tie games and that continued on Sunday. A leadoff single followed by a triple gave the Braves their first lead of the game.
In the bottom of the ninth, Bryson Stott led off with a single and made it to third base with one out. But Bryan De La Cruz hit a line drive right at the shortstop, and Edmundo Sosa predetermined that he was going to swing no matter what, and the Phillies stranded the tying run at third.
The Phillies will need to quickly shake off this gut punch. The series concludes with a Labor Day matinee, and if they want to preserve any realistic chance at winning the division, they’ll need to salvage a split of the series.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 04: Garrett Mitchell #5 of the Milwaukee Brewers hits a double in the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 04, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the third straight series, the Milwaukee Brewers failed to win the series finale. With the playoffs looming and a deep run expected by the fanbase and franchise alike, it doesn’t bode well for anyone’s confidence.
To pour more salt into an already festering wound, the Brewers were looking to Kyle Harrison to provide length and give an exhausted bullpen a break. Furthermore, coming off one of the worst starts of his career, Harrison was due. Unfortunately for him and the Brewers, the Reds were eyeing their third straight series win, and they got it.
Harrison couldn’t even settle into the game before Dane Myers opened the bottom of the first inning with a lead-off double. Shortly after an Elly De La Cruz walk, Tyler Stephenson drove in the first run to give the Reds a 1-0 lead.
After another baserunning mistake made by the Brewers in the top of the second inning, the Reds were back in business. De La Cruz and Sal Stewart went back-to-back with sacrifice outs to extend their lead over Milwaukee to 3-0.
Harrison’s outing continued to worsen in the bottom of the third, as he allowed his third walk of the game to lead off the inning. After a couple of punchouts and looking like he was finding a rhythm, Juan Brito doubled to center field to drive in the Reds’ fourth run of the game.
With the game in the early stages and the Reds running away with things, the Brewers offense needed to find something; cue a Jake Bauers home run. Bauers hit a two-run blast to cut the Reds’ lead in half, driving in Jackson Chourio to make the game 4-2. Later in the inning, Cooper Pratt played small ball and dropped a sacrifice bunt to bring home Garrett Mitchell, who reached base on a triple, to pull the Crew within 4-3.
Pat Murphy, trying to instill any sort of confidence in Harrison and his fastball again, sent him back out to the mound for the bottom of the fourth inning. The Reds quickly responded on offense as De La Cruz hit his 23rd home run of the season to push the lead back to three runs. It took another base hit and his fourth walk of the inning to force Murphy to remove Harrison from the game.
Harrison threw 92 pitches in just 3 2/3 innings, with 41 of those being balls. His command issues led to four walks in the afternoon, matching a season high in that category. Overall, he has given up 19 hits in his last two outings, including six homers. Harrison has been a key piece to the Brewers’ success this season, and with the playoffs a few weeks away, they desperately need him to get back on track… quickly.
The Brewers offense kept them in the game, racking up back-to-back walks before Mitchell drove in a run to make it 6-4. Turang crushed his 31st double of the season to bring around the tying run to complete the Brewers’ comeback. Unfortunately for the Brewers and their bullpen, that was the closest they would get to grabbing a lead.
De La Cruz continued to be a thorn in the Brewers’ side this series as he smacked his 25th double of the season, and his second of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. The double brought two more runs around and put the Reds up 8-6. Overall in the series, De La Cruz collected seven hits, five RBIs, two home runs, and two walks, no doubt taking the player of the series award, if there was one.
The Reds were finally held quiet throughout the bottom of the sixth and seventh, and the Brewers did put together a last-ditch attempt over the final two innings, but ultimately couldn’t come up with the big hit. Pratt and Turang drew back-to-back walks to lead off the top of the eighth inning. Bo Naylor collected his first hit as a Brewer with a base hit to left field to drive in a run to make it 9-7.
Then, in the bottom of the eighth, the final nail was driven into what was another frustrating bullpen disaster for the Brewers. The Reds stepped up to the plate and drove in three runs to put the game out of reach. The Brewers were only able to scratch across one run in the top of the ninth, leaving the tying run in the on-deck circle for a 12-8 loss.
This is the first series the Brewers have dropped to the Reds since the final series of the 2025 season, when they dropped two of three. The Brewers will be headed back home after a week on the road to take on the same opponents they did over the last week. They’ll start against the Cubs in a three-game series on Labor Day afternoon, with first pitch at 1:10 p.m.
Sep 6, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) and left fielder Mauricio Dubon (14) react to a victory against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Just when hope was fading and the Braves were staring down a second straight loss to the Phillies which would have dropped their NL East lead to three games, La Bestia showed up in a major way.
Ronald Acuña Jr.’s three-run homer in the eighth inning erased a 4-1 deficit. Austin Riley’s RBI triple in the top of the ninth scored Ozzie Albies, who led off with a double, to complete the comeback and help the Braves pull out a 5-4 win over Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park.
The rally pushed Atlanta’s division lead to five games and means it will at the very least keep the division lead where it was entering the series should the Braves lose Monday afternoon’s series finale.
Acuña, who also had a sacrifice fly, tied his season high with four RBIs in the win, hitting his 16th homer, which may be his most impactful of the season. Mike Yastrzemski and Drake Baldwin set the stage for the bomb as the baserunners, working a walk and a single, respectively, to bring up Acuña as the tying run.
After a season that hasn’t lived up the slugger’s lofty expectations, he now has hits in eight of his last nine games, including four straight multi-hit games and six multi-hit games in that span. Over the last nine games, Acuña is 17-for-34 with three doubles, two homers, six runs and seven RBIs.
Raisel Iglesias allowed a leadoff single to Bryson Stott in the bottom of the ninth. He reached third with one out after a groundout and a passed ball. But Iglesias got Bryan De La Cruz to line out to short and struck out Edmundo Sosa on three pitches to secure his 31st save.
The Braves dug themselves an early hole with a pair of unearned runs in the first inning on Mauricio Dubón’s throwing error which negated a potential 6-4-3 double play.
Instead, his fifth error of the season gave the Phillies two runners in scoring position with no outs. A Luis Arraez sacrifice fly followed by Alec Bohm ’s two-out RBI double staked Philadelphia to a 2-0 lead behind a pair of unearned runs.
The Phillies threatened a few more times in the next two innings — including putting runners on the corners with one out in the third — but Mahle escaped that jam unscathed and really settled in from there, retiring the final 11 batters he faced.
He finished allowing the two unearned runs on four hits over six innings, striking out three and walking none. He lowered his ERA through six starts with the Braves to 1.24.
The Braves scraped across one run in the sixth on Acuña’s sacrifice fly, but squandered a few chances over the middle innings which made it seem like Mahle was headed for a tough-luck loss.
Solo homers from Derek Hill and Kyle Schwarber in the seventh inning dug the Braves into an even deeper hole.
Phillies starter Aaron Nola was excellent, taking a perfect game into the fourth and allowing one run on four hits over seven innings, striking out five and walking one.
The same can’t be said for Philadelphia’s bullpen, though. Rookie Alex McFarlane blew his first career save, giving up all three of the runs in the eighth. Phillies closer Jhoan Duran (2-5) then took the loss for giving up the run in the ninth.
Dylan Lee (6-0) recorded the win with a scoreless eighth inning in his first appearance since Aug. 31.
The Braves go for the series win Monday afternoon (1:05 p.m. ET) with Bryce Elder Grant Holmes starting against Philadelphia’s Jesus Luzardo.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 06: Michael Arroyo #96 of the Seattle Mariners talks with the media before his MLB Debut against the Athletics at T-Mobile Park on September 06, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been a whirlwind 12 hours for Michael Arroyo, who got notice just after finishing his game last night for Triple-A Tacoma that he would be getting on a plane from Albuquerque to Seattle to make his big-league debut. Arroyo got on a plane in Albuquerque at 6 AM; by 10 AM he was in the Mariners clubhouse, where Randy Arozarena gave up his extra locker to accommodate Arroyo; and at 11:45 AM, he was meeting with the media for the first time as a member of the big-league club.
But even though he said it was a surprise to get the call, Arroyo appeared composed and calm. It’s the same unflappable demeanor Arroyo has brought to each stop at the minor leagues, where he’s progressed steadily since making his stateside debut in 2023. Arroyo’s numbers are eerily consistent at every level; even if he’s struggled initially to adjust when he’s jumped levels, he’s always come back the next season and conquered it, making the necessary adjustments for success. The consistency is the thing he says he’s proudest of, and the thing to which he credits his ascent to the big leagues as a 21-year-old.
“I have maintained my consistency in everything I’ve done,” Arroyo said. “I wasn’t trying to change too much, just keep doing what I’ve been doing and enjoying the game.”
Enjoying the game is a lesson that came to Arroyo at a young age, when he was playing with much older players as a member of Colombia’s national team. There have only been 34 Colombian-born players in MLB; when he takes the field, Arroyo will the the 35th, and the ninth active Colombian player. It’s a much smaller fraternity than, for example, the Dominican-born or Venezuelan-born players, and he credits his fellow Colombian players with putting their arms around a teenaged Arroyo and teaching him how to be a professional but also have fun with the game.
“[On the Colombian team], I learned how to really enjoy the game. When you’re a younger player with less experience, you want to do everything totally perfect, try to force big things, try to prove yourself. And being around those older guys, they told me to just relax, be myself, enjoy the game, and that really helped me. Even now I try not to get my emotions get way too high. Just enjoy the game.”
That consistency is the thing that most stood out to Dan Wilson about Arroyo this spring.
“One thing that has impressed my is his ability to stay very even. He’s a kid who’s very mature for his age. As he’s jumped levels, things don’t seem to affect him one way or the other. He just continues to be who he is.”
To Wilson, that maturity in the clubhouse translates to Arroyo’s performance in the box. For a team that’s been lacking in on-base ability since Brendan Donovan went to the concussion IL, Wilson is encouraged about the type of at-bats Arroyo can bring to the team.
“He’s a kid who understands his swing. He understands the type of hitter he is, and he stays within that…He stays inside the ball really well and is able to use the whole field. He’s balanced during the at-bat, he’s tough to fool, and that puts him in a really good spot to be successful..A chance to put up some good at-bats, see some pitches, get on base and make some things happen, and that’s what we’re looking for him to do.”
Arroyo’s performance in the box has never been in doubt; the question has been where he’ll play in the field. Historically a second baseman, a big-league role that’s now blocked by Cole Young, the Mariners have tried Arroyo out in the outfield to try to get some positional flexibility. But Arroyo has drawn praise from infield coach Perry Hill, who has been working with Arroyo for several springs now, for his improvements on the dirt. Arroyo, for his part, speaks worshipfully of the legendary infield coach.
“It’s not something you think about when you sign with a team, but being able to work with Perry, I’ve learned so many great things, he’s taught me everything. I learned a lot and it’s stuff that I still put in place whenever I’m out at second base.”
For now, Arroyo will share time at second base with Cole Young, who has been perhaps showing some signs of fatigue down the stretch after leading the 2026 Mariners in innings played, posting up at second base day in and day out. The two form a natural platoon pair, with Young a lefty and Arroyo a righty, but the hope is each will hit enough to earn an everyday slot. For now, that might mean DH days or outfield days for Arroyo, who gets to join his long-time teammate Lazaro Montes in Seattle (Laz even offered to pick up Arroyo from the airport this morning; Arroyo declined, telling Montes to rest up for the day’s game). By a stroke of luck, Arroyo’s mother and brother – who he played with on the Colombian team – happened to be visiting Arroyo in Albuquerque and were able to make the trip up to see him in his debut when he will officially become the 35th ever Colombian-born MLB player. It’s something Arroyo, who did his first big-league media appearance wearing his Colombian flag headband, has been working toward since the day he signed.
“It means everything,” he said. “From the first moment when I signed in 2022, that’s my mentality every day. I want to be a big leaguer from Colombia.”
Four years later, Arroyo’s dream is about to come true, thanks to his consistency on the field and off.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: The sneakers worn by Izan Almansa #26 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game against the Brooklyn Nets during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 18, 2025 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Tom O'Connor/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Sep 1, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo (22) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Mariners will look to avoid the ignominy of being mopped at home – something that they’ve managed to avoid since August 2017 – by the lowly A’s this afternoon, but hey, we’ll be treated to another big league debut! In case you didn’t know, we love those around here, and it’s at least something to keep an eye on as the club plays out the string.
Lineups:
Michael Arroyo makes his long-awaited debut in Seattle batting eighth and playing second base, giving Cole Young a rare day off. Jhonny Pereda will be behind the dish for Bryan Woo while Cal Raleigh – whose hot hitting continued with a three-hit night on Saturday – will remain in the lineup at DH. Lefty rookie Gage Jump will start for the Athletics, so Weston Wilson once again will be at the hot corner. Sacramento’s lineup is fairly similar to last night’s, with the exception of Carlos Cortes being back in left field and Jonah Heim sitting in favor of Brian Serven. This will be the first time Jump has faced the Mariners since his Major League debut on May 26th, in which he gave up four runs over five innings. Something close to that would be more than welcome after last night’s beatdown from Jeffrey Springs.
ST. LOUIS, MO - AUGUST 30: Brandon Lowe #5 of the Pittsburgh Pirates speaks to the media after the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Sunday, August 30, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Ali Overstreet/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Pirates fans and fans across the country.
This week’s question we asked you about Brandon Lowe. Lowe has been arguably the most important player on the Pirates this season. The Pirates got him from a trade with the Houston Astros and the Tampa Bay Rays. The second baseman leads the team in home runs with 29 and RBIS with 83. Lowe has been the power bat that the Bucs have been missing over the past couple of seasons but the veteran will be a free agent after the season.
What we asked this week was do you think the Pirates re-sign Brandon Lowe this offseason? Here are the results :
According to you guys it does not look good for Lowe coming back as a Pirates next season. Just 29% of Pirates fans think that he will back, while a staggering 71% believe he will not be back in black and gold for the 2027 MLB season. The Bucs need to find a way to keep Lowe even if that means breaking the bank because of the veteran leadership and the power that he brings. I understand not wanting to pay a lot for a veteran second basemen but these results kinda surprise me. It has been a while since the Pirates have had a second basemen this good at the plate and I think it would be. mistake letting him a go after just one season. Having him paired up with some of the younger guys in the lineup like a Konnor Griffin and an Esmerlyn Valdez would be really nice.
Don’t forget to check out Fanduel as we head down the season’s home stretch. The Bucs currently sit at six games back in the Wild Card despite winning two games in a row, but you can still grab some MLB Playoff odds and props on home run hitters, leaders, etc…
Thanks for voting. We’ll be back soon with more Reacts!
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 01: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees pitches during the first inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 01, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I don’t know about you, but when I saw the pitching matchup that was scheduled for Sunday’s series finale between the Yankees and Padres, I couldn’t help but smile. Not only will Gerrit Cole be starting on the hill for the Bombers, but he’ll be facing a former teammate, mentee, and close friend in Michael King. That sounds like a great way to spend the back half of the weekend.
The Yankees gave a good cushion to Carlos Rodón, and despite an early jam, he rallied to complete five quality innings. The bullpen entered lockdown mode from there, allowing one hit the rest of the way following Manny Machado’s homer. Cole will have the opportunity to add on to that brilliance while continuing his run of remarkable consistency dating back to June. Over his last 11 starts, Cole has refused to allow more than three runs in any of them. That steadiness has given the Yankees a nice extra bit of reliability as the pitching staff had dealt with its latest rash of injuries.
On the opposite end, King himself has also been in a groove. He’s working on a 15.2-inning scoreless streak, and posted a 2.21 ERA in August. With the exception of one start in Colorado on July 28th, he too has not allowed more than three earned runs. Yankees fans will remember his crossfire delivery which helps his stuff play up. He likes to pair the sinker with his frisbee sweeper which twists away from right-handed batters, then relies on his trusty changeup to deal with lefty hitters.
With that in mind, expect to see a lot of changeups.
Eight of the nine batters King will face this afternoon will face him from the left-side batter’s box, including the first six spots. George Lombard Jr. is the lone right-handed hitter; he’ll go seventh. Ben Rice will lead off ahead of Cody Bellinger and Luis García Jr. Spencer Jones has had an awesome series in his home county—he’ll clean up ahead of Jazz Chisholm Jr. and the switch-hitting Jasson Domínguez. After Lombard, it’ll be Ryan McMahon and Austin Wells to round out the card.
Aaron Judge continues to stay busy for the Yankees as he works his way back from a fractured rib that has had him on the IL since June 2.
Prior to their series finale against the San Diego Padres on Sunday, manager Aaron Boone told the media that the plan is still for Judge to face live pitching on Monday at Yankee Stadium, although the pitchers have yet to be determined.
Judge checked off another box earlier in the week by taking batting practice swings with the rest of the team while on their West Coast road trip and is nearing his long-awaited return.
New York comes back to the Bronx following Sunday's game and has an off day on Monday before beginning a six-game homestand against the Colorado Rockies and Mets starting on Tuesday night.
Asked whether Judge returning to the team on Tuesday is unrealistic, Boone answered, "I don't know. We'll see."
Meanwhile, Giancarlo Stanton, another injured Yankees slugger, has been hitting and still hasn't been ruled out for the rest of the season, per Boone.
Stanton has missed most of the season with a right calf strain, but was close to a return before suffering a setback and straining his left calf.
If you have watched some uninspiring Dodgers baseball this summer, you have likely had a singular thought during the team’s recent .500 stretch, or thereabouts, as of September 5:
Wait, the Dodgers spent how much for this offense to be this bad?!? Didn’t we just go through this lull last year?
While one always has to resist the urge to put on airs, it’s always a bit of an ego check to effectively get confirmation that Joe Davis and Orel Hershiser are unfamiliar with my work.
I’m not complaining. A throwaway line in a broadcast three seasons ago has led to quite a bit of unexpected copy.
After all, I have spent three seasons on the Jack in the Box beat with little fanfare, especially now that there’s a website that does what I was doing in my spare time for me. Naturally, this season will be the last one in which I keep daily track of the free gastronomical happenings caused by Dodger baseball.
Do a bit, they said. It’ll be fun, they said.
The lead broadcaster duo recently discussed their confusion over the team’s seemingly annual summer dip during the series against the Detroit Tigers. Those who are regulars at True Blue LA know that we have extensively covered the now-annual dip into mediocrity.
SportsNetLA broadcast, August 28, 2026, top of the third inning with Shohei Ohtani batting:
Joe Davis: “It’s crazy how similiar it is to last year, the slump that the Dodgers have. It started at almost the same exact time in early July … lasted about two months last year.”
/Ohtani grounds into a 4-6-3 double play
Davis: “Another double play. That’s been one of the mystifying things in this stretch and really all year. Even though they don’t have an exceptionally high ground ball rate. They hit into way more double plays than anybody. Part of that as you have touched on is that is they have more guys on in those situations.”
Orel Hershiser: “It’s a headshaker. Especially from power hitters that usually hit the ball in the air.”
/after Freddie Freeman walks, while Mookie Betts is up to bat, after Davis and Hershiser discuss the Chris Sale game to close out the Atlanta series
Davis: “No runs their last 14 innings.”
Hershiser: “You would think with [Tarik] Skubal coming back here, the offense would want to get him some runs early to get the nerves off of Skubal. I really think the offense wants to get going to get the nerves off themselves.”
Davis: “Sometimes that wanting and that trying becomes the problem.”
Quibbles aside, apart from Joe Davis insisting that nine batters batting in an inning is batting around, which requires ten batters, i.e., the person who led off the inning is now back up to bat. To their credit, Davis and Hershiser eventually noted that, apart from the Wild Card Series last year, the Dodgers’ offense was largely absent during the postseason tournament.
Yes, there were moments of individual glory, but let us not forget that the Dodgers had the lowest team batting average of any eventual World Series champion since 1966 (Baltimore, .200), hitting .203 while the Blue Jays collectively hit .269.
Just about every break, miscue, and happening had to break the Dodgers’ way to prevail in seven games.
As an aside, do you know who reads my work and actually references it, even without citation? Stephen Nelson.
What can I say? The customer is always right in matters of taste.
The Superteam that wasn’t
Chad Moriyama of Dodgers Digesthas an excellent breakdown of the answer to “are the Dodgers that bad offensively?”, which is a resounding “yes, the Dodgers are even worse than you remembered in July and August.” The wheels figuratively fell off when Will Smith went down with an injury, as the supposed superteam became super mortal in a hurry.
Thankfully, Smith has finally returned. And almost, as if on cue, the offense is showing signs of life against the Nationals.
Unlike Reggie Jackson of the New York Yankees in the late 1970s (allegedly?), Will Smith would never describe himself as the straw that stirs the drink. He’s just that taciturn and can’t tell a joke to save his life, which is a problem I can relate to.
See — absolutely terrible. There was a crime, and it was against comedy.
Smith and Shohei Ohtani were the only Dodgers to hit with any regularity in last year’s Fall Classic, so it was not a shock that the Dodgers offense sputtered when Dalton Rushing, Chuckie Robinson, and Eliézer Alfonzo had to pick up the slack. At the trade deadline, the lack of punch led to reunions with Hunter Feduccia and Ben Rortvedt. Rortvedt has since been designated for assignment, yet again, but actually cleared waivers this time.
If at first you don’t succeed, keep trying until your man gets to Oklahoma City.
In my view, the Dodgers are one of the biggest disappointments this season. Granted, one can disappoint and still succeed. Unlike the absolute train wrecks in Queens or Seattle, the season-long hangover in Toronto, or the clinic in how to alienate a fanbase in San Francisco, I compare the Dodgers to an underachieving A-student:
[The team was] billed as the second coming of the 1992 NBA Dream Team, which I didn’t buy for a minute; [and it’s] been less than the sum of the considerable parts.
If they end up pulling off the 3peat – great, I’ll zip it; but as built and as on the field, feels like an older, warmed over version of last year’s flawed championship model.
As someone who was an underachieving A-student for most of his life, it took a lot of humbling and therapy to realize that I was coasting in life on talent, not work ethic, and doing just enough to excel in less-than-optimal surroundings. Eventually, the crash between what is required and what you have been doing comes like a thunderclap.
To succeed in life, outside of nepotism, regardless of talent, you have to put in the effort, and 90% of that effort is just showing up and being attentive.
As often as I have disagreed with Roberts over the years, and apart from one mind-boggling decision to use Edwin Diaz last month, Roberts is largely not to blame for the team’s offensive malaise. After all, he’s not the one in the batter’s box.
The problem is that he keeps putting the accelerator down, and instead of this mighty offensive engine roaring to life, there’s a figurative sputtering sound before the car screeches to a halt, usually by double play.
This figurative car clearly has the best brakes in its class.
Breaking down those double plays is a topic for another day, because it’s one thing to hit a pitcher’s pitch into a twin killing; it’s another baffling thing to hit something that would usually be driven into the outfield in the air right into the ground to snuff a rally.
If you were fortunate enough to buy a supercar and it ended up performing like a Honda Accord that needed a tune-up, you would understandably be both concerned and deeply annoyed.
But are we even being fair?
However, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register recently asked whether everyone is just expecting too much from the Dodgers offense. To their credit, they said no, the expectations are valid:
“No. I don’t think you can expect too much of us. And we like that. We like that you think we should be scoring more,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said to that. “If you were content with us scoring three, four runs then we wouldn’t have a very good offense. I’m okay with you guys expecting more out of us. We expect more out of ourselves.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts takes a similar approach to the question.
“I don’t know. I would say, ‘No,’” he said. “Expectation for our offense is a good thing. It speaks to the talent we have.
“I expect more from our offense. And I think they do as well. … I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
And there it is – “the talent we have.” It’s the names in the Dodgers’ lineup that create the expectations which they aren’t meeting…
“I absolutely agree with that,” Roberts said. “That’s just Father Time. That’s reality.
“I think the reason people do have big expectations is the track record. But I still don’t expect this team offensively to fall off a cliff. … In the last two months, yes (it has).”
Mookie Betts pushed back at this narrative with Plunkett, if only by degree.
Betts agrees. But he adds another factor – hitting has gotten harder since they put up those numbers on the backs of their baseball cards. Every pitcher seems to throw 100 mph – or higher – these days and “a computer tells him (the pitcher) what to throw to get you out. And a computer tells them (the defense) where to play to get you out.”
“That was when guys were throwing 92, 93 when we did that. And we were younger, yes,” Betts said of the prime years of the Dodgers’ stars, exaggerating how quickly velocity has jumped in MLB.
“I don’t care who you are. You can be Shohei or anybody, the best player in the league. You’re not hitting 100 (mph) consistently every day. Nobody is doing that. We’re facing 97, 98 every day. Then the guys who are 92, 93 – there’s something to it. Sometimes we hit it. Sometimes we don’t. That’s part of the human element of the game. But I think that part is getting missed. Y’all expect us to score six or seven (runs) every day, you know what I’m saying?
“The game is way harder than people give credit to. They think it doesn’t matter who’s pitching, we’re going to hit them. Shohei’s going to hit a homer (every at-bat).”
Respectfully, I think Betts is missing the mark here. Yes, it is wildly unrealistic for a baseball team to go 162-0, which is why I personally get so salty at those who get overly enthusiastic in the preseason. Yes, it is wildly unrealistic for everyone to be performing at peak offensive efficiency at all times throughout the year.
But no one is asking the right question here.
It is not a matter of whether the Dodgers are playing like All-Stars. No one is seriously arguing that the team is a failure just because everyone is not playing at their peak; the question is whether the team is playing well or not.
No one has compared Betts or Freeman to regular-season MVP candidates in a long while, and maybe never again. The problem is that the Dodgers are struggling to be average at the plate, which is unacceptable given the offensive firepower they have assembled.
From July 1 to the start of play on September 4, here’s a quick and dirty calculation of everybody’s OPS+, except Will Smith and Alex Freeland for either lack of playing time due to injury or being in the minors.
As a reminder, an OPS+ of 75 or less is poor, 100 is average, up to 120 is good, up to 140 is an All-Star, and 150+ is MVP-level production. Spoiler: any discussion beyond “good” for this stretch is academic.
Ohtani – 128, Raw OPS .833
Betts – 93, Raw OPS .698
Freeman – 121, Raw OPS .793
T. Hernández – 84, Raw OPS .668
Tucker – 71, Raw OPS .613
Muncy – 108, Raw OPS .760
Pages – 114, Raw OPS .773
Edman – 98, Raw OPS .711
Rushing – 123, Raw OPS .815 (in 26 games)
Rojas – 85, Raw OPS .671 (in 32 games)
Call – 67, Raw OPS .590 (in 23 games)
Feduccia – 64, Raw OPS .595 (in 22 games)
Rortvedt – 3, Raw OPS .370 (in 16 games)
K.Hernandez – 21, Raw OPS .434 (in 21 games)
Getting into gear?
Ohtani has been superhuman for so long that seeing him be just “above average” is a bit shocking.
While Betts and Teoscar have rebounded over the past week or so, reducing their performance to a single number puts the situation over the past two months at the plate in stark relief. The Dodgers have been paying premium prices for literally subpar performances from major contributors in the lineup, most notably Kyle Tucker, who homered at home for just the third time this season on September 4.
Pages and Rushing were performing admirably, but then injuries knocked them out of the lineup, to the team’s offensive detriment.
This roster isn’t supposed to be like the group of homegrown goobers that played in 2017 or 2018. Yes, those teams were flawed and felt less like collections of All-Stars and more of a homegrown product, which is a bit of a misnomer and inaccurate because just about every team signs free agents.
Apart from the hangover to start 2018 and the lull to end all lulls in September 2017, expectations about the offense went accordingly, and the 2017 and 2018 Dodgers got the job done until they didn’t.
Is it unreasonable to expect this year’s lineup to individually have an OPS+ over 120? Probably, almost certainly.
I understand that not all playing time is distributed equally, and that bench players or injury substitutes often cannot fill in without an offensive drop-off.
Is it unreasonable to expect this year’s lineup to individually have an OPS+ of at least 100? Not for the starters, certainly. It’s a collective problem that everyone will have to work through together, or, alternatively, folks will need to return from injury to some semblance of form. There are certainly some encouraging signs before the start of Labor Day.
Actual consistency is something that has felt missing for the past couple of months, and time will tell whether this play is leading to something or just another mirage.
The rebounds from Betts and Teoscar are a welcome sight to see. There’s still room to grow, and still time for people to, to quote Dave Roberts, “play like the back of their baseball card” over the final twenty-or-so regular season games of 2026.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 05: Griffin Canning #17 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the fifth inning of a game against the New York Yankees at Petco Park on September 05, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
New York Yankees (81-61) at San Diego Padres (74-68), September 6, 2026, 1:10 p.m. PST
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WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 07: DJ Herz #74 of the Washington Nationals catches the ball from the catcher while pitching to the St. Louis Cardinals during the second inning at Nationals Park on July 07, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As Nats fans evaulate arms currently within the system who could contribute to their next competitive team, one intriguing name has largely faded from the conversation. DJ Herz has not pitched in the major leagues since 2024, but his successful rehabilitation should remind fans why he was once considered an important part of the Nats future.
Herz underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2025, costing him that entire season and most of 2026. His initial rehabilitation assignment this summer was interrupted by a flexor strain, adding another obstacle to an already lengthy recovery. Since restarting the process, however, the 25-year-old left-hander has steadily worked his way from Single-A Fredericksburg to Double-A Harrisburg and now Triple-A Rochester.
Across his first eight minor league rehabilitation appearances this season, Herz has posted a 3.71 ERA and recorded 21 strikeouts in 17 innings. He has not yet been fully stretched out, but reaching Triple-A represents a significant step forward. If he continues responding well physically, the Nationals could give him an opportunity to pitch in the major leagues before the season ends.
Herz’s last taste of the big leagues was in 2024, where he made 19 starts for the Nats, posting a 4.16 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 88 ⅔ innings. His inconsistency and occasional command problems were understandable for a 23-year-old rookie, but his ability to miss bats immediately stood out. Herz averaged nearly 11 strikeouts per nine innings, showing the kind of swing-and-miss ability that remains difficult to find among starting pitchers.
His best performance came against the Miami Marlins in just his third major league start. Herz struck out 13 batters, walked none, and allowed only one hit over six scoreless innings. He became only the second pitcher since 1901 to produce at least 13 strikeouts without issuing a walk within his first three career appearances. It was one of the most dominant starts by any Nationals pitcher in recent years and a glimpse of his potential when his fastball and changeup were working together.
Herz will still have plenty to prove. Returning from Tommy John surgery is rarely a smooth process, and the Nationals should prioritize his long-term health over squeezing a few extra innings out of him this season. Even if he returns, he may initially work in a limited role rather than immediately joining the rotation.
Still, Herz deserves to be included in Washington’s pitching plans. At his best, he has shown more strikeout upside than many of the organization’s other young starters. Whether his future is in the rotation or as a multi-inning weapon out of the bullpen, his stuff gives him a legitimate chance to become an important major league contributor.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 31: Gage Jump #61 of the Athletics throws a pitch during a game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on August 31, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Athletics have played spoiler all weekend, winning the first three games of the series against the Seattle Mariners to deal another blow to their division rivals’ playoff hopes.
The A’s need one more win to complete a four-game sweep in what has been one of their best-played series during an otherwise forgettable second half of the season. Despite sitting in last place, the A’s have a winning record against their American League West opponents. That is as much a reflection of the division’s mediocrity as it is of the A’s success against their divisional rivals this season.
This afternoon, rookie left-hander Gage Jump will start for the A’s. The 23-year-old enters his 19th start of the season with a 6-9 record, a 5.15 ERA, a 1.49 WHIP and 99 strikeouts in 92 2/3 innings.
Fatigue seems to be setting in for Jump, who has pitched a career-high number of innings this season between Triple-A and the majors. Over his past seven starts, the southpaw went 3-3 with a 6.31 ERA. In his previous outing against the Texas Rangers, Jump took the loss after allowing seven runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings.
Today, the left-hander will face Seattle for the second time in his career. He made his MLB debut against the Mariners in May, allowing four runs over five innings in a losing effort. Jump will look to earn his first win against Seattle and help the A’s win a fifth straight game.
The Athletics also have to be mindful of the rookie’s workload, as he is a big part of their future and the team has nothing left to play for this season .
Here’s how the Athletics will line up for the series finale in Seattle:
Designated hitter Max Muncy has been one of the series’ standout performers. He will look to hit a home run in his third consecutive game. Right fielder Lawrence Butler, another player swinging a hot bat, will look to extend his hitting streak to 15 games in the team’s final contest before returning to Sacramento.
Brian Serven is behind the plate, with starting catcher Jonah Heim getting the day off. Center fielder Denzel Clarke, who grounded out weekly in each of his at-bats yesterday, joins Heim on the bench.
Will the Athletics get more unexpected production from Serven and shortstop Alika Williams at the bottom of the order, or will the top of the lineup have to carry the offense?
Meanwhile the M’s will have righty Bryan Woo on the mound for them. The 26-year-old Bay Area native enters his 27th start of the season with a 10-9 record, a 4.25 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 148 1/3 innings.
While Woo has remained healthy, his performance has regressed from last season, when he was named an American League All-Star and finished with a 2.94 ERA. His decline is emblematic of a Mariners team, that as a whole, has failed to replicate the magic that carried it to within reach of last fall’s World Series.
In his last start against the Boston Red Sox, Woo earned the win after allowing one run over six innings. He will make his first start of the season against the A’s today. Woo has dominated the Athletics over his career, going 7–1 with a 2.22 ERA in his first 10 appearances against the Green and Gold. Since Woo does not issue many walks, A’s hitters will need to work deep counts and capitalize on mistake pitches, or it could be a long afternoon for the visitors.
The reeling Mariners continue to tap into their deep farm system for reinforcements, with highly touted infielder Michael Arroyo the latest player called up from Triple-A. Arroyo will bat near the bottom of Seattle’s lineup, which loses much of its production after the first six hitters.
With no off day tomorrow, the Athletics would greatly appreciate a quality start from Jump. To deliver one, he must limit the free passes and avoid leaving pitches over the middle of the plate against the likes of Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez and Randy Arozarena.
Time to send the Mariners out to sea. Let’s go, A’s!
