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MLB News & Moments: Javier Assad beats Tarik Skubal… really

The Tigers try to get in on the Ewing Theory committee.

Pablo Figueroa
MLB Morning News 11 Hours Ago

Stay updated on everything baseball with our morning MLB News & Moments articles. We’ve got you covered to keep you in the know.

On day one following a notable trade deadline, it can be hard to keep track of all the old faces in new places around MLB. Of course, seeing the new digs for Skubal, Arraez, and Liam Hicks is pretty evident, but there are literally dozens of players who are now wearing a different uniform. Conveniently, MLB keeps a nice tracker of every transaction, which you can find here.

 

Today’s Headlines

 

Take Five

In one of the most electric atmospheres of the season, the Cubs hosted the much-hyped Dodgers debut of Tarik Skubal, as a raucous crowd was witness to a game that lived up to the billing. Skubal’s immediate returns were positive, striking out Pete Crow-Armstrong to begin his Dodger tenure as part of a streak of six straight retired batters to start the game. What’s more, Kyle Tucker’s solo homer gave Skubal an early lead, but that would be all the damage allowed by Chicago’s unlikely hero. Javier Assad, the Cubs’ ultimate utility pitcher (he entered the game with 9 starts and 9 relief appearances), could not match Skubal’s electric stuff but was able to keep the Dodgers at bay, ending his night with only one run allowed over 5.2 frames. LA’s new ace had lost the lead in the third with a Dansby Swanson solo blast in the third, and then lost the game by allowing a second run, this time with a well-placed chopper from Nico Hoerner. Skubal’s final line of two runs allowed over six, with six Ks, was certainly good, but could not help a Dodgers offense that continued its recent funk, as the four bullpen arms that relieved Assad retired the final 10 batters of the game with nary a peep. Chicago added some late insurance runs to win by a final 5-1 score, sending the Dodgers to their first five-game losing streak of 2026.

Good Genes

Despite the bitter aftertaste of Monday’s opener against the Cardinals, the Yankees came into game two with plenty of buzz around the Bronx, as prospect George Lombard Jr. would make his MLB debut. While that move is probably the final nail in the coffin for the failed Anthony Volpe era, any kind of homegrown Yankee shortstop is bound to create hype and expectations. For one day, Lombard delivered in a major way, creating both an immediate impact on the field and a heartwarming moment in the stands. With his parents in attendance, George’s little brother, Jacob, was also making a debut of his own, as he played in his first Minor League game, starting for the single-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. George’s solo homer lit up Yankee Stadium, good for his first career hit, run, and RBI. A few minutes later, Jacob would also hit a homer, as their parents enjoyed what should be the proudest day of their lives. Amid all this excitement, the Yankees played a clean, solid game all around, as Ryan Weathers and the bullpen completed a shutout for a nice 2-0 victory.

First Impressions

In game one of their great defensive experiment, the Phillies’ musical chairs worked wonders. Playing his first game in right field since 2022, Bryce Harper showed that the baseball gods have a sense of humor, sending the first pitch of the game his way, albeit for an easy catch that set the tone. The newly arrived Luis Arraez took his first Philly at-bat with two runners on and did what he does best: slapping a line drive to center field and scoring Trea Turner, as his new fans gave him a standing ovation. The early 1-0 lead would serve as enough inspiration for starter Jesús Luzardo, who took advantage of a diminished Washington lineup to carve the opposition, tossing a season-high eight innings with no runs allowed versus seven strikeouts. Arraez would add a second RBI hit to keep his status as the NL batting leader intact, as the Phillies closed the contest with an easy 5-0 victory. To also make a nice first impression, the other former Giant, Caleb Kilian, tossed a scoreless ninth, as he and Arraez have officially switched from a lost season to the middle of a playoff race.

Oh To be Seventy Again!

Following the hiccup of two straight losses and much of the media calling them trade deadline losers, the Milwaukee Brewers went back to what they do best – winning. For all the chatter around Milwaukee’s perceived lack of action, they remain one of the most well-rounded teams in the league, backing it up by being the first team to reach 70 wins in 2026. This also marked a new franchise-best result, reaching 70 in only the 113th game of the season. The game was the quintessential Brewers formula, relying on a strong starter (Logan Henderson went six frames with two runs allowed and eight strikeouts), an elite bullpen (three scoreless), and timely hitting matched with just enough power. Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn hit solo homers as part of an 11-hit effort, as all other Milwaukee hits were singles. While Pittsburgh would also have two solo homers, the rest of their offense stalled, with only two at-bats with runners in scoring position. The 4-2 win reinforced Milwaukee’s position as the best team in MLB, showing that they may be just fine after all.

White Red Hot

At this point, it is almost becoming boring to talk about another Red Sox win. At the same time, the way these Sox are playing makes it hard to look away, as they are riding this incredible streak playing a fun, dynamic brand of baseball. Boston’s latest victim was their sock siblings from Chicago, who quickly fell behind 6-0 and could not stop this unstoppable red machine. Starter Davis Martin matched his worst start of the season by allowing nine runs, while Erick Fedde would relieve him and allow an additional five, as Boston earned its sixth straight win with a 14-2 laugher. Seven Red Sox players had exactly two hits, highlighted by a Caleb Durbin grand slam in the first and a pair of Wilyer Abreu solo homers, as Boston ended with 15 hits and is now 10 games over .500. In a weird statistical quirk, Brayan Bello earned a save in this game, the first of his career, after pitching the final three innings of the contest.

 

By The Numbers

 

895 Atlanta’s Matt Olson played in his 895th consecutive MLB game, a streak that dates back to May 2021. This tied Stan Musial for the eighth-highest streak in MLB history, and now Olson will need close to another full season of play before vying for seventh – Joe Sewell’s 1,103 straight.

21.17 At 21 years and 63 days, George Lombard Jr. made his MLB debut, becoming the youngest player to start at shortstop for the Yankees since Derek Jeter, who did it in 1995 at the tender age of 20.

8 The Tigers downed the Mariners with a lopsided 8-0 win, as they have now scored at least eight runs in six straight games. This is the third time in franchise history such a streak has happened for Detroit, with the last one dating back to 1927. Imagine what Skubal could do with this kind of run support.

 

 

Best Moments From Yesterday

 

Bye, Bye World Cup Fever

For most of June and July, the World Cup took over the United States, and baseball was an unexpected part of the festivities, with many foreign visitors discovering the joy of baseball and its stadiums. This unofficial partnership may have found its final moment, as Spain’s Ferran Torres was invited to toss out the ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium, only weeks after he scored the championship goal a few miles away. The athletic Torres had no problem tossing a strike, while Yankee fans got to see something they have not seen in a while: an actual world champion wearing pinstripes.

Into the Wild

The A’s have plummeted in such dramatic fashion, going 10-33 since being at .500 not too long ago, that it would be fair to say that all losses are simply piling up in an indistinguishable way. And yet, there are some Ls that simply sting more than others, regardless of the standings. Facing the Reds, the nomad Athletics initially blew a 3-0 lead but managed to retake the advantage late, heading into the eighth with a 4-3 score in their favor. Reliever Hogan Harris allowed a couple of walks but settled down to retire the next two hitters, setting up a chance to escape the inning. He proceeded to put Eugenio Suárez into a hole, with a quick 0-2 count that gave Harris plenty of options, but he unraveled first with a wild pitch that allowed the tying run to score, and then with a full-count ball four that also eluded the catcher, allowing the Reds to score twice without the benefit of a hit. In fact, Cincinnati failed to record a hit over their final three innings, but still found a way to steal this win with a 5-4 score, as closer Emilio Pagán survived a scare to notch his 12th save of 2026. In the case of the A’s… there is not much left to say.

Thrill of a Lifetime

Riley Greene was not particularly nice with Seattle on the field, recording three hits and a homer as part of Detroit’s 8-0 drubbing of the Mariners. However, Greene managed to create a core memory for a Seattle young fan, handing him a foul ball that instantly ensures that he will probably love baseball for all his life. The excitement of this tiny fan is the kind of thing we should always appreciate from this beautiful game.

 

Injuries and Other Moves

 

⚾The Nationals are placing star outfielder James Wood on the 10-day IL with an oblique strain. The move has been described as precautionary by Washington’s management, and becomes another white-flag move for a franchise that could have pushed towards an unlikely playoff spot. Wood has been one of the best hitters in the sport during 2026, with an OPS well above .900 and 30 homers.

⚾ Nick Kurtz is back on the IL, as the A’s announced several post-deadline roster moves. Kurtz has not recovered from his strained right thumb, and the franchise has no reason to keep him on the field amid a lost season. Pitcher Jeffrey Springs was also placed on the IL due to right hip discomfort, while their version of Max Muncy has been recalled. 

⚾ Home Run Derby champ Jordan Walker was a late scratch against the Yankees due to right knee inflammation. In a similar case to the Nats, St. Louis traded away several pieces and is not expected to contend, making the decision to be cautious with Walker a bit easier. In the meantime, he should be considered day-to-day. 

 

Articles You Should Read

 

The Cubs’ Pitching Staff is no Longer Held Together with Chewing Gum — Kiri Oler, Fangraphs

Under the Radar Deadline Pickups — Will Leitch, MLB.com

 

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Pablo Figueroa

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Pablo Figueroa is a Baseball Writer here at Pitcher List, with experience as a writer since 2013. He lives in Aguascalientes, Mexico - proud home of Los Rieleros. When he´s not thinking about baseball , he's a husband, owns two dogs, watches random episodes of The Sopranos , plays padel, and works on his day job to pay the bills.

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