Stay updated on everything baseball with our morning MLB News & Moments articles. We’ve got you covered to keep you in the know.
With the Tampa Bay Rays finalizing the last piece of public funding for a new stadium, the future of all 30 teams is secure. That includes the A’s and their stadium, which is being built in Las Vegas and set to open in 2028. The new Rays stadium is aiming to open in 2029. That means, according to previous statements by Commissioner Rob Manfred, that MLB can turn its next focus (outside of anything related to the collective bargaining agreement) to expansion, which will be part of those CBA negotiations. From things I have read, it already feels like a foregone conclusion that Nashville and Salt Lake City will be the 31st and 32nd MLB franchises.
Today’s Headlines
Skubal Handles Emotions As Dodgers Top Tigers
The emotions were most definitely there. But once he went through that anticipated tough spot on a walk in from the bullpen after warming up before the game, Tarik Skubal was the Tarik Skubal that Detroit Tigers fans were used to seeing. Almost a month to the day after the Tigers traded the two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Skubal struck out seven over six innings to hand the Tigers a 2-1 loss. While Skubal didn’t factor into the decision, the Dodgers made sure he came out on top as Freddie Freeman lined a go-ahead single to center in the top of the eighth inning, scoring Teoscar Hernández. Skubal allowed one run on four hits and no walks in addition to those seven strikeouts. Tigers fans gave Skubal a rousing ovation after his tribute video finished and he made his way into the Dodgers’ dugout after wiping away tears while acknowledging former teammates and team personnel. But when the game started, Skubal took the mound in the bottom of the first to a mix of “Skoooob” cheers and some boos. Then he turned in another high-caliber performance in the stadium he called home for the last seven seasons before the trade.
Welcome back, Skub 🧡
— Detroit Tigers (Unoffical) (@nottigers.bsky.social) 2026-08-28T22:39:09.155Z
Tarik Skubal strikes out the side in the 3rd inning!
Max Clark and the @Tigers draw first blood against Tarik Skubal!
After Robbery, Phils Rebound In Grand Fashion
In a matter of just a couple of minutes, the Philadelphia Phillies went from having their heart ripped out to ripping the heart out of the Los Angeles Angels. It is the type of game that can make a difference in the pursuit of a postseason berth, much less a division championship. Two batters after Angels right fielder Wade Meckler made a tremendous robbery of Bryson Stott’s potential go-ahead three-run homer in the top of the ninth, pinch-hitter Edmundo Sosa cracked a decisive two-out grand slam for a 5-3 Phillies victory. That kept the second-place Phillies five games behind Atlanta in the NL East and increased their lead over the No. 3 wild card San Diego Padres to three games. Meckler’s theft of Stott echoed then-Angels right fielder Jo Adell’s best of his three robberies in a single game this year.
Schlittler Gets 200th, Yanks Benefit From Blunder
Some baserunning mistakes are excusable. This was not one of those. While New York Yankees rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler continued his pursuit of the AL Cy Young Award with a solid start and notching his 200th strikeout of the season, a baserunning blunder hindered the Boston Red Sox, who fell 1-0 in the opener of a four-game series. Schlittler fanned eight over 5⅔ shutout innings, allowing just two hits but walking five. Paul Goldschmidt accounted for the scoring with a third-inning homer to left field, his 17th of the season. The Red Sox had one golden opportunity to score off Schlittler. That came in the fifth inning as Anthony Seigler had a leadoff walk and Ceddanne Rafaela singled with one out. The next batter, Wilyer Abreu, hit a rather routine soft liner to center that center fielder Trent Grisham jogged in and caught and tossed to second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. But for some reason, Rafaela had strayed too far off first with a runner in front of him on second and was an easy out trying to get back to the bag. Rafaela nearly atoned for that mistake as he had a one-out single in the seventh and went to third on Abreu’s double on the next pitch. Willson Contreras lofted a fly ball to shallow left field that led to Cody Bellinger uncorking a 99.7 mph one-hop bullet to nail the speedster at the plate. The second-place Yankees stayed four games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East and are now three games ahead of the Red Sox, who hold the No. 2 AL wild card, 5½ games up on the Cleveland Guardians.
Rays First In AL To 80 Wins After Beating Padres
How dangerous are the Tampa Bay Rays? Their version of chaos was on display in a 9-4 victory over the San Diego Padres. Yandy Díaz and Cedric Mullins homered and drove in a pair, while Chandler Simpson had two hits, stole a pair of bases and scored twice as the Rays became the first AL team to reach 80 victories. Rays right-handed starter Shane McClanahan went a solid 5⅔ innings, allowing four runs, all coming after the offense used a five-run fourth inning to go up 6-0. The loss dropped the Padres’ lead over the Diamondbacks for the third and final NL wild card to half a game.
Reds Begin Brutal Finish By Bashing Cubs
The Cincinnati Reds are unlikely to make the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean they won’t have a say in who does. With every team on the schedule except for the final series of the regular season currently in playoff position, the Reds began that gantlet with an offensive explosion in a 10-8 victory over the Chicago Cubs. The Reds erased an early 3-0 deficit with a five-run sixth inning. Sal Stewart, Jose Trevino, Tyler Stephenson and TJ Friedl each hit home runs, while Elly De La Cruz had three hits and two RBIs for the Reds. Stephenson’s three-run homer capped the five-run outburst and put the Reds up 7-3.
Stadium Funding Clears Final Hurdle For Rays
The final step in acquiring public funding for a $2.3 billion stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays passed the Hillsborough (Fla.) County Commission by a 5-2 vote. The Tampa City Council passed the measure Wednesday 4-3. Breaking down the $2.3 billion, the Rays are responsible for $1.4 billion plus overruns, the county $800 million, and the city $80 million. The site of the new stadium is set to be at Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus. The Rays are targeting the beginning of the 2029 season to open the stadium.
By The Numbers
2022 Atlanta right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. hit cleanup for the first time in just over four years, getting three hits and scoring three runs in a 6-4 win over the Colorado Rockies. Acuna last hit cleanup Aug. 7, 2022.
28 Chicago White Sox slugger Colson Montgomery hit his 28th homer of the season in a 7-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
8 Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease struck out eight over six innings in an 8-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners in a rematch of last year’s AL Championship Series.
Best Moments From Yesterday
First Of Many
Minnesota Twins rookie outfielder Walker Jenkins made his MLB debut and notched his first hit with a fourth-inning single.
Two For One
Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. couldn’t catch this home run by the Rays’ Cedric Mullins, but one of his fans at Tropicana Field did. And then got another reward.
The Acuna Slide
Did Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. just create a new dance move?
Double-Play Defense
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto was in perfect position for a liner that deflected off starter Reid Detmers.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Two-way Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani threw about 20 pitches in a light bullpen session before the series opener vs. the Tigers. Ohtani is a strong possibility to start Sunday, although it is likely to be just a one-inning appearance.
⚾ MLB suspended a prospect from the Dominican Republic following an investigation that revealed a false identity and age. Through actions by the prospect’s trainer, the player in question agreed to a $2.8 million pre-deal with the Cleveland Guardians, claiming to be 13 or 14 years old, but is actually 16.
⚾ Atlanta right-handers Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep will undergo different surgeries. Schwellenbach will have surgery for the same elbow fracture he sustained last year, while Waldrep will have Tommy John surgery, putting him out into the 2028 season. Schwellenbach has been out since June 2025 and his return is unknown, with the earliest possibility being spring training.
⚾ Top Minnesota Twins prospect outfielder Walker Jenkins was officially added to the 26-man roster, with outfielder Alan Roden optioned to Triple-A.
⚾ Chicago Cubs left-handed reliever Hoby Milner was put on outright waivers. He was on the 15-day injured list due to an appendectomy, with his rehab assignment having just expired.
⚾ Larry Christenson, an 11-year MLB right-hander who was a member of the 1980 Philadelphia Phillies World Series championship team, died at the age of 72. He pitched a complete game as a 19-year-old in his MLB debut. He had an 83-79 record and 3.59 ERA in his career, all with the Phillies.
Articles You Should Read
Why Mets’ Green is prioritizing family over being full-time manager — Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic
A freak injury nearly led to an amputation; now he is a big-leaguer — Spencer Nussbaum, The Athletic
Adames seeks September return to Giants, improvement in 2027 — Susan Slusser, SanFrancisco Chronicle
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
