The list of pitchers he joins is impressive. Strider again in 2023 (130 innings), Randy Johnson in 2001 (130⅔ innings) and Gerrit Cole 133⅓ innings in 2019.
It is also a red flag.
Strider had Tommy John surgery in 2024. Cole had a reconstruction with an internal brace in March 2025 and lost a season. Johnson is the only one who did this and stayed healthy, and he was 37.
Misiorowski is 24, and the Brewers have the best record in baseball. Milwaukee has never won a World Series. Down the stretch, the Brewers have to balance that drive versus keeping their star healthy.
He went six innings against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, giving up three runs on four hits and a walk with nine strikeouts. He punched out No.200 in the third inning, and that was the exact moment he surpassed his work load for last season.
Misiorwski threw 129⅓ regular-season innings last year between Triple-A and the big leagues, plus 12 more in October. He matched that Sunday in the third inning. There are seven weeks left and he's at 133 innings.
The Brewers have already flinched. They scratched him July 12 in Pittsburgh with arm fatigue. He skipped the All-Star Game after making the team for the second straight year. He came back July 21 following a 12-day layoff, and they pulled him after four inning and 65 pitches.
Traditionally, the process is to add 20% to 30% to last year's total to protect a young arm. That would get Misiorowski 12 more starts of five innings. The Brewers have said they will tailor it to how Misiorowski feels and it pitching.
What makes this unique is what Misiorowski can do with the innings he does pitch. Against the Rockies last month, 66 of his 83 pitches hit 100 miles an hour. He touched 104.7 mph. He threw 33 fastballs at 103 or better, more than twice as many as anyone had ever thrown in a game since tracking began.
Over his last 15 starts, he has a 1.05 ERA with 144 strikeouts in 94.1 innings.
The Brewers have their best roster in franchise history and arguably the best pitcher in baseball right now. Every inning they let him go this regular season is one they may want in October.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 09: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Yankee Stadium on August 9, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“Max Fried and Gerrit Cole combined to allow two runs through 13.1 innings in the opening contests. Should similar events unfold today, a sweep is tantalizingly close.”
So said the idiot who authored today’s game thread. And the monkey’s paw curled.
Similar events unfolded as Cam Schlittler delivered a masterful performance and the bullpen held Atlanta scoreless for the final two innings of regulation. Alas, you have to score runs to win baseball games. Today, like most days, New York strugged to do that. And it cost them in a 2-1 loss in 10.
“And I took that personally” were Michael Jordan’s infamous words from The Last Dance.
Judging by how Schlittler came out of the gate today, the fireballer was still umm … disgruntled, about his previous start. Touching 100 mph in the first inning with the fastball, Cam whiffed five of the first six Braves he faced. Entering today featuring his heat 90 percent of the time, through two frames Schlittler was also leaning on his curveball more than usual, with the hook accounting for 20 percent of his pitches.
Mike Yastrzemski led off the third with a double (no perfecto or no-no for Cam today). Showing he has more than just blow-away gas in his arsenal, Schlittler proceeded to pitch to contact to strand the grandson of the Red Sox legend. A pop out to first followed by a pair of fly balls. No harm, no foul.
The middle innings were more of the same from Cam, relying on his number one to hold down the Braves lineup. The Yaz double was the last time that Atlanta got to Schlittler for several innings. After surrendering the two-bagger, Cam retired 12 consecutive Braves, keeping them out of the run column and giving the beleaguered Yankee offense a chance to break through.
In the home sixth, the Yanks finally had a golden opportunity to get on the board. After an Austin Wells single, Trent Grisham ripped a double down the right field line to put runners on the corners with one out and the heart of the lineup looming.
Ben Rice then hammered a ball… directly at Ronald Acuña Jr. and his cannon of an arm. With Acuña coming in on the ball, sending Wells would have been an all-time bonehead decision. That left the job up to Heliot Ramos, who proceeded to strike out swinging. Just like that, the Yanks’ best chance to score to that point was extinguished.
Perhaps inevitably, New York’s failure to score immediately haunted them. Schlittler looked to catch a break on 3-1 pitch to Acuña, ultimately striking him out. Matt Olson, however, did not strike out. A rocket off his bat just cleared the fence in right field, putting Atlanta up 1-0. Schlittler recovered to escape without further damage.
His final line on the day: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 11 K. It was another brilliant outing as Schlittler and Dylan Cease trade haymakers in a heavyweight bout for the AL Cy Young Award. It was Cam’s 15th start this season allowing one or fewer runs, best in the big leagues.
With Brent Headrick and David Bednar each having pitched back-to-back games, Aaron Boone needed to turn elsewhere for innings. For the eighth, he chose Kervin Castro. Castro rewarded his skipper with a clean eighth, keeping the deficit at one as the offense was quickly running out of chances.
With the Yankees down to four outs, “The Big Sleep” came through with a big swing. Trent Grisham obliterated a solo home run, his 11th high-leverage long ball since the start of last season, to tie the game and get Schlittler off the hook for the loss.
With the game knotted at one, Paul Blackburn came on for the ninth and retired Atlanta in order, punctuated by a strikeout looking of Olson. Unfortunately, Raisel Iglesias carved through the heart of the Yankee lineup like a hot knife through butter, sending the Yankees and Braves to bonus cantos for the second time this weekend.
It didn’t take long for the Manfred Man to score. Michael Harris II, leading off against Blackburn in his second inning of work, singled up the middle and plated the second Braves run of the day. And that was all Atlanta needed. Jazz Chisholm Jr. started the bottom of the 10th at second. He finished the inning and the game standing there, with Spencer Jones popping up, George Lombard Jr. grounding out, and Ryan McMahon going down on strikes. Whatever. You’re not getting many games to extras scoring only one run, let alone winning them.
The loss drops the Yankees to 7-6 this season when they have the chance to lock down a sweep. The only solace is that the Red Sox actually lost a series to the A’s at Fenway, so the game-and-a-half edge for the top Wild Card spot remains untouched.
The Yanks’ next opponent, Seattle, is currently playing the AL East-leading Rays. Once that’s decided, both the M’s and Yanks are off on Monday before convening in the Bronx on Tuesday night. It’ll be Ryan Weathers vs. Bryan Woo with first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm ET.
Randy Vasquez ranks in the third percentile in both xBA and xERA. He allows a ton of quality contact and bleed hits, which will lead to plenty of traffic on the bases.
This is a great spot for the Houston Astros as a whole to string together hits and keep the train moving. That won't afford opportunities to pitch around Yordan Alvarez.
He ranks third in the majors in RBIs and is a 100th percentile hitter in xwOBA, xSLG, and xBA.
Play to +110.
Jeremy Pena Over 0.5 singles (-155)
Jeremy Pena picked up at least one single in 60% of his games this season, and this is a prime spot to add to that output.
Vasquez owns a poor 1.41 WHIP despite strong walk suppression numbers because of his inability to limit hits. That sets up well for Pena, who owns an impressive .312 batting average against right-handed pitching this season.
Pena has hit .300 or better against each of Vasquez's three most-used pitches vs. righties, giving him few options to attack and get Pena out.
I'd bet Pena up to -170.
Fernando Tatis Jr. Over 0.5 singles (-110)
Cristian Javier has given up hits in bulk, allowing 10.28 per nine innings. He has struggled against righties in particular, allowing a .305 average.
That's good news for Fernando Tatis Jr., who has singled in 55% of his games this season and 65% when isolating home dates.
While Tatis Jr. does have some barrel ability in his bat, he has struggled hitting for power against fastballs. His ISO sits at .073 facing four-seamers, and that is by far Javier's most-used pitch.
I like Tatis Jr. to pick up a single, and would bet this to -133.
How to watch Astros vs Padres and game info
Location
Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Date
Sunday, August 9, 2026
First pitch
8:20 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
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.
BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 9: Max Muncy #3 of the Athletics splinters his bat on a ground out against the Boston Red Sox during fourth first inning at Fenway Park on August 9, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The A’s managed to string together a pair of wins! A day after snapping their nine-game losing streak the club made it two in a row as they won their road trip and series finale against the Boston Red Sox in a close 4-3 contest. They now sit at 47-71 and will stay out of the league cellar for another day.
The Athletics got out to a quick start in this one against a Red Sox club going with a bullpen game. A pair of hits started this game and the A’s were in early business. The club did well to cash in at least one run off an RBI groundout from Tyler Soderstrom, but it also felt like a minor wasted opportunity to give their starting pitcher some breathing room before taking to the mound.
It was right-hander J.T. Ginn on the bump today making his second start since getting activated off the injured list with a blister. He was looking good in this one, allowing just one run to score in the second to knot this game up at one apiece.
A couple innings later it was Soderstrom back up to bat and this time he hit a leadoff triple to start the fourth. He’d come in to score on the next pitch thanks to another RBI groundout, this one from rookie infielder Tommy White.
Boston would take the lead in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a throwing error from Ginn. He wasn’t charged with two runs on his final line but for all intents and purposes they were his responsibility. Ginn would pitch one more frame before departing this game, leaving down 3-2 and in line for a loss.
J.T. Ginn: 6 IP, 5 H 3 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 95 pitches
Not the most dominant start we’ve seen from Ginn but he didn’t have his best stuff on the mound. He did well to battle through and give the club six solid innings and giving the offense a chance to make up the difference.
With their backs up against the wall and the final frames approaching the bats needed to push across just one run. They’d manage to do just that in the top of the eighth when catcher Jonah Heim smacked an RBI double to bring home Jeff McNeil and tie this game at 3:
Just one inning later the A’s would retake the lead for the first time since the fourth. A single off the bat from Alika Williams and then a pinch-steal from Donovan Walton set up the go-ahead run for Max Muncy. Facing the left-handed flamethrower Aroldis Chapman, Muncy connected on an RBI double to make it 4-3 A’s:
Lefty Hogan Harris was called on in the ninth to seal the deal. He walked the tight rope as he put a the winning run on base, but he managed to nail down his 11th save and the team’s 47th win of the season.
The road trip is over and the Athletics are likely already on a plane back home. The squad didn’t enjoy the greatest road trip, one that saw them go 2-4 but they ended it on a high note. The squad now welcomes the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays to town for the first of three games tomorrow night. Lefty Jacob Lopez is scheduled to take the ball for the home team, his fourth since rejoining the rotation. The results have been good so far as he’s allowed just five runs in 21 1/3 innings. Tampa has deadline acquisition Freddy Peralta going for them.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 09: Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves follows through on his seventh inning home run against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 09, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Not the flashiest way to end the series, but a win, nonetheless.
The Atlanta Braves might have been struggling waking their bats up, but somehow avoided being swept by the New York Yankees with a 2-1 win in extras.
A homerun knocked in by Matt Olson was the first run of the game in the top of the seventh and put the Braves on the board to kick things off.
The Yankees wouldn’t accept a shut-out, however, and knocked a solo shot of their own—courtesy of Trent Grisham—during the bottom of the eighth to tie the Braves 1-1.
The problem with both teams during this series is the lack of offensive production to put themselves in a good spot early on. In this game specifically, there wasn’t any action from anyone until late in the game, which could’ve gone differently, considering that New York’s previous two wins in the series were low-scoring ones.
Grant Holmes came out and finished the job on his end (6.0 IP/ 3 H/ 0 ER/2 BB, 2 K), bringing his ERA to 3.47 and holding the Yankees off during his stint. It wasn’t until Didier Fuentes came in for Dylan Dodd that the Yankees would see some action with Grisham’s home run.
Michael Harris II singled to drive in Ha-Seong Kim (pinch runner for Olson on second base) for Atlanta’s second and final run in the top of the 10th inning, which sealed the deal offensively. Tyler Kinley shut down the Yankees’ offense in the bottom of the inning to get the save and end the trip on a high note.
Choosing to ignore discussing the Chris Sale ejection news that was broken before the start of Sunday’s game, the highlight is that pitching has, in general, been a solid showing on the Braves’ side. It has a lot to do with moments like these, where it can buy the offense time to get things together and see what’s working, while the defense can hold their opposers off for a while.
This, however, can’t be the case for long.
Now, the Braves are set to return to Truist, where they’ll face another New York team that hasn’t had a series of quiet bats as of late.
The Yankees fell to the Atlanta Braves 2-1 in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon.
Here are the key takeaways…
--This was a good old fashioned pitchers duel in the Bronx. Cam Schlittler, coming off a rare poor outing against St. Louis his last time out in which he walked five, was excellent. The right-hander overpowered the Braves, striking out seven over his first three innings alone.
Schlittler’s armor finally cracked in the top of the seventh, as Matt Olson tagged him for a solo home run, blasting one 110.7 mph off the bat to give the Braves a 1-0 lead.
Still, it was a terrific day for Schlittler, who went 7.0 innings of one-run ball, allowing just three hits and striking out 11 without a walk. He lowered his season ERA to 2.21.
--Braves starter Grant Holmes was just as good. Holmes went 6.0 shutout innings and held the Yankees to just three hits. He only struck out two and walked two, but he induced eighth groundouts and kept the Yankees off-balance.
--The Yankees had a prime opportunity to get to Holmes in the bottom of the sixth, putting runners at second and third with just one out. But Ben Rice hit a hard line drive out to right, and Heliot Ramos went down swinging to end the inning.
-- Trent Grisham, who had been hitting just .157 in his last 30 games, delivered in a huge way in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs and nobody on, Grisham destroyed a solo homer off of Didier Fuentes, a no-doubt shot to right field to tie the game at 1-1.
-- Paul Blackburn kept the game tied with a scoreless top half of the ninth inning, including a strikeout. But he went back out there for the 10th, and Michael Harris II got to him right away with a leadoff single to score the free runner and give the Braves the lead. It was still a fairly good outing for Blackburn, who lowered his season ERA to 1.95.
-- The Yankees went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 10th, ending a frustrating day for the offense. The Yankees had just four hits as a team and went hitless with runners in scoring position.
Game MVP
Holmes, who held the Yankees to three hits over his six shutout innings.
Why The Maple Leafs Promoted Patrick O’Sullivan To Director of NHL Development
Patrick O’Sullivan has been named Director of NHL Development by the Toronto Maple Leafs, the club announced Sunday.
The promotion elevates O’Sullivan from his previous position as a development coach, a role he has held with the organization since the 2023-24 season. Over those three years he has worked within a specialized player-development group that includes Nik Antropov, Kyle Clifford, Denver Manderson and Jake Muzzin, focusing on technical skill refinement, video analysis and individualized biomechanics across the roster.
A Toronto native, O’Sullivan arrived with a strong playing foundation. Selected 56th overall by the Minnesota Wild in 2003, he set franchise records with the Mississauga IceDogs, won OHL and CHL Rookie of the Year honours in 2002, scored the game-winning goal for Team USA at the 2004 World Juniors and captured AHL Rookie of the Year after a 47-goal, 93-point season with the Houston Aeros. He played 334 NHL games with the Kings, Oilers, Hurricanes, Wild and Coyotes before transitioning into broadcasting and later player development.
His most visible impact has come through sustained work with veteran centre John Tavares. The relationship stretches back more than two decades. As a teenager, Tavares cited O’Sullivan’s puck-handling, vision and shot mechanics as an early influence while watching him with the IceDogs. The two later connected through youth lacrosse and off-season training sessions. In Toronto, that foundation evolved into regular post-practice technical work. While now former Maple Leafs skating consultant Paul Matheson addresses linear power and edge control, O’Sullivan has focused on game-state micro-skills: lower-body leverage and blade-angle control for puck protection below the goal line, net-front redirection and tight-angle releases, and board retrievals under physical pressure.
Patrick O’Sullivan has been named Director of NHL Development.
O’Sullivan’s influence has extended across the roster. Max Domi has called him “probably the best development coach in the league,” crediting the combination of on-ice micro-reps and video breakdowns that improved his transitional playmaking and neutral-zone decision-making. Auston Matthews has used optional gameday skill sessions with O’Sullivan to maintain shooting mechanics and manage load during congested stretches.
John Tavares and Max Domi doing some skills work with Patrick O’Sullivan ahead the Leafs morning skate. pic.twitter.com/d17gW3Abgw
His approach is shaped by personal experience. In his 2015 memoir Breaking Away, O’Sullivan detailed the physical and psychological abuse he endured from his father, experiences that left lasting effects and a mistrust of rigid, hierarchical environments. That background has informed a coaching style built on clear communication, technical empathy and individualized support rather than punitive feedback.
The promotion arrives amid broader organizational change under general manager John Chayka. Elevating O’Sullivan recognizes three seasons of consistent, high-value work that has helped extend the productive windows of core veterans while supporting the technical growth of the rest of the roster. As Director of NHL Development, he will now take on expanded responsibility for how those programs scale across the NHL-level group.
For a franchise focused on both performance and sustainability, the move formalizes the contributions O’Sullivan has already made.
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Aug 8, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Zach McKinstry (39) heads to the dugout after scoring a run during the seventh inning on an RBI single by Detroit Tigers third baseman Kevin McGonigle, not shown, against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Detroit Tigers (57-60) vs. San Francisco Giants (49-68)
Time/Place: 4:05 p.m., Oracle Park SB Nation Site:McCovey Chronicles Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Troy Melton (7-1, 1.58 ERA) vs. RHP Logan Webb (7-7, 3.74 ERA)
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 27: Andrew Alvarez #54 of the Washington Nationals pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays at Nationals Park on July 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The rollercoaster that has been the 2026 Washington Nationals is one that has been defined by the pitching staff. Consistency has been incredibly hard to come by, and the highest highs have been paralleled by lows that often sit among the league’s worst.
Finding any sort of reliable pitching has been a year-long struggle, and one that has only been made more difficult by the recent trade of left-hander Foster Griffin, who was far and away the anchor of the rotation. Cade Cavalli has maintained an upward trajectory, pitching to a 3.57 ERA across a career-high 128.2 innings, but the revolving door of arms after that has seen concerningly low stability.
The search for reliable starters has led to the coaching staff and front office exhausting every possible avenue within the system, and that venture may have struck gold in southpaw Andrew Alvarez. The 27-year-old came into 2026 with just 23.1 career innings (all in 2o25) and began the season with AAA Rochester. His promotion to the big-league club came in mid-April, where he was utilized as a bulk reliever through the end of May.
Alvarez earned regular time as a starter to kick off June, and he’s gone out there every 5th day and shown that he deserves to stay there long-term. Despite his successes, questions have remained about his ability to work deeper into games and not just be a 4/5-and-dive type of arm. After working into the 6th inning just one time before the calendar flipped to August, he’s kicked things to a new level, right when the Nats need him the most.
With a playoff run still possible but time slowly ticking down, Alvarez has dazzled through 2 starts this month, throwing 6.1 innings of 2-run ball against the Philadelphia Phillies and 5.1 innings of 1-run ball against the Cincinnati Reds. His ERA has dropped down to a 3.76 mark across a modest 69.1 innings, and he’s right there behind Cavalli in terms of confidence from the fanbase and coaching staff.
The former 12th round draft pick in 2021 has been an absolute revelation for a Washington team that is pushing for a postseason berth, something that most fans and analysts thought impossible just a few months ago. He’s attacking hitters instead of exclusively attempting to paint corners, he’s flashing some of the most efficient arsenals that the Nats have seen this year, and he hasn’t allowed a home run in his last 51.2 innings, a remarkable feat and one that currently ranks 8th all-time in Nationals’ history.
His changeup and slider have fabulously complemented his low-90s fastball and have looked deadly when he can locate the heater in the zone. He’s getting it done without relying on top-of-the-line velocity, a fantastic sign for his overall development and ability to carry this success moving forward.
Sitting 4.5 games back of the 3rd Wild Card spot as of the morning of August 9th, it’s going to take some big-time performances for the Nats to make an appearance in October. They’re going to have to place even more weight on Alvarez’s shoulder in the coming month and a half, and the southpaw has proven that he’s up for the challenge.
The impact of Nelson’s death has already been felt by players and coaches around the league, including Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, Steph Curry and Tim Hardaway.
NBA players, including Steph Curry, and coaches, including Steve Kerr, reacted to Don Nelson’s death Sunday. New York Post
“Don Nelson was a true innovator whose influence on the game of basketball is still felt today. He consistently challenged conventional thinking, experimented with different lineups and styles of play and saw possibilities in the game that others did not,” Kerr said, from NBA insider Marc Stein’s report. “So much of what is now commonplace in the modern NBA can be traced back to the way Nellie approached the game. His impact on the Warriors is just as significant.”
Steve Kerr (above) said Nelson shaped some of the most memorable teams and moments in Warriors history. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
Kerr said Nelson shaped some of the most memorable teams and moments in Warriors basketball history when he coached the team from 1988-1995 and during a second stint from 2006-2010.
During Nelson’s time coaching the Warriors, he led them to the playoffs six times and became the NBA’s all-time winningest coach in 2010. He eventually moved to second on that list in 2022, when Gregg Popovich surpassed his victory total. Nelson won 1,335 regular-season games, and Popovich tallied 1,390.
Steph Curry (above) said Nelson played a big role in brining Curry to Golden State. Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
Curry, who had a long-lasting relationship with Nelson, said Nelson was one of the biggest reasons he was drafted by the Warriors.
“The story is he never liked rookies, but from Day 1 he challenged me and gave me an opportunity to be my best self on the court. He taught me a lot during our one season together [2009-2010], and I’ll never forget the night he became the winningest coach in NBA history in Minnesota,” Curry said. “We were so happy for him. He had an immeasurable impact on the sport and will go down as one of the greatest minds in the history of the game.”
Curry said Nelson is a true icon of basketball and said he will be dearly missed, sending his love and condolences to his family.
Hardaway played under Nelson twice in his career, when he was a member of the Warriors from 1989-1996 and with the Dallas Mavericks from 2001-2002.
Hardaway said Nelson meant so much to him “as a coach and as a person.”
“Nellie believed in me from the beginning and gave me the confidence and freedom to play my game. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity he gave me and the special years we shared with Run TMC,” Hardaway said of his on-court pairing with Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin. “Nellie was ahead of his time, and there was nobody else like him. He had an incredible impact on my career and on the game of basketball. I’m going to miss him, and my thoughts and prayers are with Joy, Donnies, and the entire Nelson family.”
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 20: the sneakers of KJ Simpson #25 of the Charlotte Hornets against the Sacramento Kings during the 2025 NBA Summer League Championship game on July 20, 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Aug 8, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Jack Dreyer (86) reacts after shutting out the Arizona Diamondbacks in the tenth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 09: Julio Rodríguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Saturday, August 9, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Rod Mar/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 08: Josh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at T-Mobile Park on August 08, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
So the Mariners’ 50th anniversary celebratory weekend hasn’t gone as planned on the field. Are any of that that surprised? Thankfully, both the alumni home run derby on Friday and the pregame ceremony last night reminded us that yes, there can still be joy in baseball. The M’s will look to salvage the series against the Rays this afternoon in their last home game for a bit before starting the long-dreaded mid-August road trip of facing the Yankees, Astros, and Brewers.
Lineups:
The Rays have not yet put out a fancy lineup graphic, so an MLB dot com screenshot for them it is. Lefty Ian Seymour will get the start for them today, which means we’re treated to Weston Wilson manning the hot corner and hitting eighth as Brendan Donovan continues to work back to full strength after coming off the IL last week. Despite it being a day game after a night game, Cal Raleigh is once again behind the plate to catch Emerson Hancock while hitting seventh. The rest of the lineup remains unchanged, and hey, maybe ten total bases last night was just what Josh Naylor needed to catch a spark down the stretch.
TEMPE, AZ. - MAY 16, 2022. Boaters navigate Tempe Town Lake, an artificial lake that contains Colorado River water conveyed through the Central Arizona Project Aqueduct. The lake is a popular place for waterside recreational activities. It holds about 977 million gallons of water and loses about 1.7 million gallons a day to evaporation in the hot and dry climate. Growth in the greater Phoenix area is fast outpacing the supply of water. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Today’s Lineups
DODGERS
DIAMONDBACKS
Shohei Ohtani – DH
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Andy Pages – CF
Corbin Carroll – RF
Freddie Freeman – 1B
Gabriel Moreno – C
Tommy Edman – 2B
Ketel Marte – DH
Mookie Betts – SS
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Kyle Tucker – RF
Ildemaro Vargas – 2B
Teoscar Hernandez – LF
Tim Tawa – CF
Enrique Hernandez – 3B
Tyler Locklear – 1B
Ben Rortvedt – C
Ryan Waldschmidt – LF
Justin Wrobleski – LHP
E. Rodriguez – LHP
We came into this weekend with the season series tied 5-5. The first two contests have been split, each being won by the narrowest of margins, and could have gone either way. And, so, we reach Sunday for the rubber game, both in this set and of the entire 2026 campaign. The good news is, if we see the Dodgers again this year, it’s going to be in the playoffs. I’m fine with that. Eduardo Rodriguez had a rough outing last time out, against the Padres, allowing 11 hits over five innings. However, he was victimized by a .440 BABIP, and it’s hard to blame him for that kind of thing. His FIP actually dropped in that start. Here’s to better this afternoon.
I’m kinda amused that, after last night, the number of “Why is Torey bunting?” complaints this year is probably about the same as the number of “Why isn’t Torey bunting?” complaints this year. Yes, bunting a runner from second to third is normally a waste of an out, now we don’t have to worry about pitchers coming to the plate. But it does increase your odds of scoring something – albeit at a decline in the chances of a big inning. When you’re down by one and must score or the game is over, it makes sense to maximize those odds. Now, Tawa failed to execute on his two attempts. But if it had worked, the tying run might well have scored on McCann’s infield single.
All told, this year there have been 39 actual sacrifice bunt attempts by Arizona (as classified by BR, which is only ones resulting in a ball in play, so Tawa’s last night would not count). Those have resulted in 27 successes, eight hits and four failures (where the lead runner was out). All told, they have contributed +50% to Win Probability, so you’d be hard pushed to call it a failed tactic. I’ve a feeling we all suffer from confirmation bias in this area, with people remembering the times their preferred tactic was not followed by Torey Lovullo, and in particular the occasions when things didn’t work out.
CorbinCarrollEnthusiast on the guest recap this afternoon. I believe he is unbeaten in that role this season, so I hope the streak continues!
Yordan Alvarez Over 0.5 RBIs
Fernando Tatis Jr. Over 0.5 singles
