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There is a lot of ownership news spinning around pro sports right now and not much of it is good. However, the San Diego Padres have new owners for a record price (see down below), which could have a sway in collective bargaining agreement negotiations. But increasingly, the primary owner of the Dodgers, Mark Walter, is under scrutiny for some questionable business dealings. He has already unloaded his share of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and is said to be in the market to do the same with the English Premier League men’s soccer club Chelsea. Would his alleged unsavory business moves cause him to sell the Dodgers? How would such a scandal reflect on the team’s accomplishments? Too early to tell, but not a good storyline to be floating around MLB at the moment.
Today’s Headlines
‘Personal Issue’ Keeps Marte From D’backs
In the thick of a playoff chase, three-time All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte was a no-show for the Arizona Diamondbacks‘ game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park to open a three-game series. The Diamondbacks, including manager Torey Lovullo, called it a “personal issue,” with Lovullo waking up to a message that Marte missing the game might be a possibility. While the D’backs waited for Marte to arrive at Fenway, he never did and was placed on the restricted list just before first pitch, calling up infielder Jose Fernandez, who was with the team already as a possible injury replacement for third baseman Nolan Arenado. Marte missed three games last year following the All-Star break after his Arizona home had been burglarized during the break. He returned to the Dominican Republic, spending two games on the restricted list and sitting out a third. The D’backs lost to the Red Sox 11-1 to remain a game behind the San Diego Padres for the third and final NL wild-card spot.
Crow-Armstrong Gets 30-30 With Walk-Off HR
He already has a three-letter chant fans bellow from the stands at Wrigley Field. But if Chicago Cubs star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong keeps this up, he might get another. Crow-Armstrong’s second homer of the game, a two-run blast leading off the bottom of the 10th inning, sent the Cubs to a 7-5 victory over the crosstown rival Chicago White Sox. It also gave Crow-Armstrong 30 homers and 30 steals for the second season in a row, the first player in Cubs history to do so. Crow-Armstrong also led off the game with a homer, becoming the sixth player in MLB history with leadoff and walk-off homers. But he almost didn’t get a chance to play hero as the Cubs continue to lead the NL wild-card race. The upstart White Sox did what the upstart White Sox do as pinch-hitter Andrew Benintendi cranked a two-run homer in the top of the eighth for a 5-4 lead. It was the third go-ahead pinch-hit homer by the White Sox this year, the most in MLB. Right-hander Jordan Hicks, who got the final out of the eighth, couldn’t close it out in the ninth. He issued two one-out walks, then gave up an RBI single to Nico Hoerner to send the game to extras.
Rookies Set Tone As Tigers Back In Wild-Card Tie
If the Detroit Tigers are going to go with the young players, the young players better produce. They certainly did in the opener of a three-game road series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. After being swept by the White Sox over the weekend, the Tigers bounced back with an 8-5 victory as rookie Kevin McGonigle homered and Brett Callahan drove in two runs for the second time in his two-day-old MLB career. The win put the Tigers back into a three-way tie with the Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers for the last AL wild-card spot. McGonigle’s 13th homer of the year was a two-run shot in the second inning that put the Tigers up 4-0. Callahan had a two-run single in a three-run sixth inning that made it 8-1. Tigers rookie Hao-Yu Lee went 3-for-3 with two walks and two RBIs.
Ohtani Cranks Pair As Dodgers Roll
OK, so momentum has to start somewhere, even if it is Coors Field. Shohei Ohtani blasted a pair of homers and Max Muncy added a 461-foot shot as the Los Angeles Dodgers cruised past the Colorado Rockies 11-5. The homers came as the Dodgers have struggled through August, including losing three of four over the weekend to the MLB-leading Milwaukee Brewers. For Ohtani, who want 4-for-5, it was just his second multihomer game of the season, but both have come in the past two weeks. Ohtani now has 29 homers, while Muncy has 25.
Padres’ Sale OK’d
The San Diego Padres are under new management. Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones were unanimously approved as the Padres’ new owners in a 29-0 vote by the other MLB owners. Such votes are usually unanimous to show unity for a new colleague. In this case, it is really two new colleagues as the married couple will run the team together, with Feliciano serving as the control person. Feliciano and Jones purchased the Padres from the Seidler family for a record $3.9 billion, surpassing the previous mark of $2.42 billion when Steve Cohen bought the New York Mets in 2020. Jones is the first Black woman to be a majority owner in an MLB team.
By The Numbers
1 Cincinnati Reds star shortstop Elly De La Cruz delivered the first walk-off of his career with his RBI leadoff double in the bottom of the 10th inning that scored Tyler Stephenson from second for a 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the second game of a doubleheader. The Cardinals won the opener 2-1.
16 Philadelphia Phillies ace left-hander Cristopher Sánchez became MLB’s first 16-game winner in a 6-5 victory over the Miami Marlins.
15 Kansas City Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr. hit his 15th homer of the season and drove in four in a 9-5 victory over the A’s.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Don’t Run
The Padres went 4-for-5 in the first inning, but failed to score a run. How? These two throws by New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge are why. In the second inning, the Padres loaded the bases with two walks and a hit batter, then a tapper back to the mound resulted in a third Padre being out at the plate. But wait, there’s more. After a sacrifice fly, another single, this one to left, resulted in a fourth runner being nailed at the plate in the first six outs. Those four plays made a difference as the Mets won 2-1.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ The Chicago Cubs placed shortstop Dansby Swanson and right-handed starter Edward Cabrera on the 10- and 15-day injured list, respectively. Swanson strained his oblique on a third-inning swing, while Cabrera has a blister on his right middle finger.
⚾ New York Yankees left-handed starter Max Fried went on the 15-day IL with a bone bruise to his left elbow. Left-hander Carlos Rodón (left elbow inflammation) was activated off the 15-day IL and will start today.
⚾ The Houston Astros will promote right-handed starter Ethan Pecko today to make his MLB debut. Pecked is ranked sixth among Astros prospects by Baseball America and MLB Pipeline.
⚾ With first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (right wrist soreness) and third baseman Maikel Garcia (strained muscle in left hand) returning from the 10-day IL, the Kansas City Royals DFA’d outfielder Starling Marte.
⚾ Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz was activated off the 10-day IL following two displaced fractures in his left hand.
⚾ Colorado Rockies right-hander Michael Lorenzen was designated for assignment after posting a 7.08 ERA in 26 appearances.
Articles You Should Read
How Muncy went from A’s cast-off to longest-tenured Dodger — Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times
It’s never too early to think about a White Sox-Cubs World Series — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune
Meet Joshua Baez, whose debut might be the best in MLB history — Paul Mooney and Katie Woo, The Athletic
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