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Today marks a week since the wheeling and dealing of the trade deadline hit its frenzy. Some of the marquee pitchers struggled in their first starts, which makes sense on some level. Not only were they just days away from uprooting their families and joining a new team, but they felt the pressure to perform as if the entire pennant race depended on their initial outing. But now, as some of these pitchers make their second starts, as Tarik Skubal of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Freddy Peralta of the Tampa Bay Rays and Casey Mize of the San Diego Padres do today, that frustration from their first games will be poured into their second ones. Who bounces back and who doesn’t?
Today’s Headlines
Miz Notches 200th K, Brewers Walk It Off
It certainly was not the crispest of games for the Milwaukee Brewers, but it had all the elements of a typical Crew victory. Right-handed starter Jacob Misiorowski became the first MLB pitcher to reach 200 strikeouts this year (second-fastest in MLB history) and Jake Bauers homered and drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning of the Brewers 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins. The Miz struck out nine to give him 204 this season, going six innings and allowing three runs. Bauers, who hit a fifth-inning solo homer that put the Brewers up 2-1, ended a game that included some crazy circumstances by lacing a single to left-center, with automatic runner Brice Turang speeding home and sliding in just ahead of the throw. Ji Hwan Bae was signed just before the game and put down a key bunt, Christian Yelich pinch-ran in a big spot and rookie right fielder Luis Lara made two crazy catches, one in the top of the 10th, to keep the Brewers in this one. Oh, yeah, and Jackson Chourio homered again as the Brewers improved MLB’s best record to 74-44.
Jacob Misiorowski just set a Brewers franchise record by reaching 200 K’s in 129.1 innings. The previous record was 145.2 innings by Corbin Burnes in 2021.Per Elias Sports Bureau, only Spencer Strider (123.1 in ‘23) reached that mark faster in MLB history.
— Casey Drottar (@caseydrottar.bsky.social) 2026-08-09T18:48:01.948Z
Schwarbombs Back In Style As Slugger Hits Pair
Kyle Schwarber is back to hitting homers, which can only mean one thing. The Philadelphia Phillies are about to get hot again. Schwarber snapped a 17-game homerless drought with a pair of Schwarbombs, but the Phillies needed RBI singles by Bryson Stott and Derek Hill in the bottom of the 12th inning to pull out a 7-6 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Schwarber hit a three-run blast off Jays right-handed starter Shane Bieber in the third inning, then a solo shot also off Bieber in the fifth to give him 35 homers, matching Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros for the MLB lead. Phillies left-handed starter Jesús Luzardo struck out 12 over seven innings, but the bullpen coughed up the lead by allowing three runs in the eighth.
E-Rod, D’backs Take Season Series From Dodgers
In an atmosphere that certainly had a bit of a postseason feel to it, the Arizona Diamondbacks did a couple of unexpected things. First, left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez threw 115 pitches to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2. Second, the victory won the season series with the Dodgers 7-6. Not that the D’backs and Dodgers are likely to come down to a tiebreaker, but it was the first time since 2018 that Arizona took the season set. Rodriguez shouldered the load by going seven innings, striking out a season-high nine and allowing two runs. This was the fourth time this season Rodriguez had kept the potent Dodgers lineup in check and it took the most pitches he has thrown in a game since Sept. 9, 2019. Ketel Marte powered the offense with a two-run homer, his 20th of the season, in the first inning against Dodgers left-handed starter Justin Wrobleski. The Dodgers have lost eight of their last nine, yet still have a 7½-game lead in the NL West over the second-place D’backs.
Rookie Helps White Sox Stay On Top
In life, a little rain must fall. Sometimes it does so before you make your MLB debut. That is what happened with left-hander Hagen Smith, the Chicago White Sox’s No. 2 prospect. He was called up and, following a nearly 2½-hour rain delay, tossed two shutout innings and was credited with the win in his MLB debut, a 5-3 White Sox win over the Cleveland Guardians in a critical AL Central showdown. The upstart White Sox took the final two of the three-game home series and lead the Central by 3½ games over the Detroit Tigers, with the Guardians and Minnesota Twins tied for third another half-game back. Carson Montgomery hit a three-run homer as part of a four-run third inning for the White Sox.
Wilson Breaks Shortstop Errorless Record
Not too many people really pay attention to defense until a player commits an error or has a bad stretch in the field. But Jacob Wilson of the A’s is making news for all the right reasons. Wilson handled four chances flawlessly in a 4-3 win over the Boston Red Sox, who lost their second straight after nine consecutive victories. That gave Wilson 111 games without an error, breaking the record for an MLB shortstop that was held by Mike Bordick of the Baltimore Orioles in 2002. Perhaps due to the spike in strikeouts between 2002 and 2026, Wilson has handled 327 chances during his streak to Bordick’s 544.
By The Numbers
12 Veteran right-handed reliever Craig Kimbrel signed with the Kansas City Royals, who will be the 12th team he plays for once he appears in a game. Kimbrel’s 440 saves rank fifth in MLB history.
2-9 The New York Yankees fell to 2-9 in extra-inning games with a 2-1 loss in 10 innings to Atlanta.
7 Tampa Bay Rays speedster Chandler Simpson batted third and produced a 4-for-5 day in a 4-1 win that completed a three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners. Simpson has hit in seven of the nine spots in the batting order this year.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Moonlight Moment
The Philadelphia Phillies, who play in the upcoming Field of Dreams game against the Twins, did a cool thing by recognizing four players who were on the team’s active roster but never got into a game. Tim Gradoville, Tim Lahey, Jeff Singer and Will Toffey each threw out a ceremonial first pitch.
A Very Early Trip To The Showers
After being called for a balk the day before, Atlanta ace Chris Sale decided to chirp at the umpiring crew as it took the field before Sunday’s game instead of having a conversation, which he later did.
That’s A Lot Of K’s
With the Blues’ Max Scherzer climbing into the No. 10 spot on the career strikeout list and Toronto playing in Philadelphia, the right-hander got a chance to meet Phillies legendary left-hander Steve Carlton. Scherzer passed Walter “Big Train” Johnson on Saturday.
Max Scherzer and Steve Carlton, No. 10 and No. 4 on the all-time strikeout list. Pretty cool
— Tim Kelly (@timkellysports.bsky.social) 2026-08-09T17:25:18.780Z
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever-turned-starter Griffin Jax went on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort and is set to get a second opinion on the injury.
⚾ Right-handed starter Zack Littell, released by the Washington Nationals following the trade deadline, was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Littell is making $7 million this year, with the Nationals responsible for all but the prorated MLB minimum that the D’backs will pay.
⚾ The San Diego Padres signed outfielder Austin Hays, who was just released by the Chicago White Sox.
⚾ Milwaukee Brewers rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt was placed on the 10-day IL with a strained right hamstring. The Brewers added Ji Hwan Bae to the major-league roster after just signing him.
⚾ Miami Marlins first baseman Kyle Stowers left Sunday’s game with left hamstring discomfort and will undergo further testing.
Articles You Should Read
The Ohtani economy: A 2-mile ride to Dodger Stadium for $85 — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times
Twins, Pohlad must keep spending to regain fans’ trust — Aaron Gleeman, St. Paul Pioneer Press
Why local companies invest in ads for Phillies games — Erin McCarthy, Philadelphia Inquirer
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