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Step aside, college football, it’s still baseball season. And while we might be in the dog days of August and treading towards September’s season end, there’s still plenty to pick apart. From a pair of NL East bouts, a late-night clash in the NL West, and updates to the AL East. With September 1st a day away and playoff seeding on the line, everything in baseball matters more than the first fledgling steps of the college football season.
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Today’s Headlines
Turner Takes It
Following Thursday’s offensive explosion, Philadelphia and Atlanta engaged in another far more muted affair on Saturday. Its loudest exclaims came early, and its most important came late. Tied 1-1 in the top of the 10th, Atlanta third baseman Nacho Alvarez Jr. of all people, flung an RBI single to right. Philadelphia responded, loading the bases with two outs for shortstop Trea Turner. Turner, to fit in with the rest of the night, went for subtlety, squeaking a two-run single to walk off Atlanta 3-2. With their win and — spoiler — a Mets loss, the Phillies are back to a six-game lead in the NL East.
D-Backs Dice Dodgers
Before their eventual 6-1 win, the Arizona Diamondbacks couldn’t touch the Los Angeles Dodgers. More specifically, they couldn’t touch LA starter Tyler Glasnow. The D-Backs languished against the righty through six, with just two hits to their ledger. Corbin Carroll added a third to start the seventh, cranking a solo shot to center. And from there, Glasnow was within reach. Arizona would score three in the seventh and ninth for an oddly easy win. The Dodgers’ usual stars were silent, with Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernández combining for two hits and four walks.
Miami Outmatches The Mets
Down 8-2 following a dud from starter David Peterson, the New York Mets seemed dead in the water. Then, they started to swim upstream. Mets third baseman Mark Vientos put in a powerful stroke, launching a three-run homer in the third. One inning later, Juan Soto hit a solo shot to make it 8-6. Soto then paddled the Mets beside the opposing Miami Marlins with another longball, this time a two-run dinger to tie things at eight. But an Agustín Ramírez single and a Connor Norby sac fly broke the tie. Norby would spray a two-run double in the ninth, sinking the Mets 11-8 and ensuring the Fish survive the tide.
Brewers Hammer Hoffman, Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays reliever Jeff Hoffman’s terrible, no good debut season in the Great White North only got worse. Tied 1-1 with the Milwaukee Brewers in the ninth, the Jays turned to Hoffman. The result? Back-to-back homers from Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich, two groundouts, a walk, and an Isaac Collins double. Hoffman exited with the Jays down 4-1, and his season ERA up to 5.11. Should that hold, it’d be Hoffman’s worst since a 9.28 mark in 2020 as a Colorado Rockie. And as far as the Brewers are concerned, that’s a-okay. The Blue Jays are now just two games up in the AL East.
Buccos Beat Boston
What might’ve been a layup for the recently roaring Boston Red Sox was a brick off the backboard. The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Sox in Fenway again. But unlike Friday, it wasn’t even close, ending 10-3. Things spiralled toward an eventual surrender thanks to a three-run fifth inning and a five-run sixth for the Buccos. Boston starter Dustin May is on the hook for most of the damage. His day included eight hits allowed, six earned runs, four walks, and just five strikeouts. Through five starts, his ERA in Boston’s red-and-blue is now 5.68. Boston, meanwhile, is back to third in the AL East.
New York Survives, Chicago Can’t Capitalize
Tied 2-2 with a man on third and just one out in the bottom of the 10th, the Chicago White Sox were going for the upset. When that failed, they hoped to withstand the New York Yankees’ offense at the top of the 11th. When that failed — courtesy of a single from Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger and two doubles, –well, the White Sox were down to hopes and prayers. Despite Pope Leo’s fandom, those went unanswered. For the White Sox, it’s loss #88. For New York, it’s a 5-3 win that extends their winning streak to seven.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Soto’s Spectaculars
With two home runs and two walks on Saturday, Juan Soto cemented himself further into the history books. He became the first player in MLB history with 35+ homers in three straight seasons for three different teams, and the first player with at least 10 homers, 10 steals, and 25 walks in one calendar month.
35 HOME RUNS FOR JUAN SOTO pic.twitter.com/7jk9rjPeQ6
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 30, 2025
Huh?
Even baseball’s best and brightest get a little lost. Just look at the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds.
Not a single player knew what was going on pic.twitter.com/Q1jwkfJrSi
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 30, 2025
Kwanderful
Steven Kwan wants his fourth-straight Gold Glove.
Steven Kwan, that is just RIDICULOUS! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/BbY1nBeZ8e
— MLB (@MLB) August 31, 2025
One, Two, Witt
First, what a dive. Second, what a hose.
Bobby Witt Jr. takes away a hit with a superb diving stop! pic.twitter.com/AIpir4Nmho
— MLB (@MLB) August 31, 2025
Monasterio Is Money
Milwaukee’s Andruw Monasterio is a Jekyll and Hyde-type of defender. Thankfully, he was more of the former yesterday.
Andruw Monasterio stops this 106 MPH liner off the bat of Addison Barger to keep things scoreless in Toronto! pic.twitter.com/dpj3BbU02G
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 30, 2025
Strawbbery
Myles Straw, take a bow.
Myles Straw takes one back! 😮 pic.twitter.com/HGS5dhQJMe
— MLB (@MLB) August 30, 2025
Basallo Blasts Off
It was bound to happen, and finally, it did.
Samuel Basallo hits his first Major League home run! pic.twitter.com/v70zqA2Xxv
— MLB (@MLB) August 31, 2025
Fernando asks for Forgiveness
Here’s how you turn a Twins fan into a member of the Frair faithful.
Fernando Tatis smoked a BP rocket that accidentally hit a kid in the stands…
But he immediately made it right by giving him a signed ball.
Pure class 👏 @tatis_jr @TalkinTwins pic.twitter.com/FMD7d8oGsM
— Big League Digest (@BigLeagueDigest) August 30, 2025
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ He’s back! The Milwaukee Brewers reinstated star outfielder Jackson Chourio on Saturday from the 10-day IL. Chourio is returning from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him since July 29. Also hopping off the IL is southpaw Robert Gasser, though he will head to Triple-A for now. To make it all fit, Milwaukee optioned outfielder Brandon Lockridge and DFA’d infielder Oliver Dunn.
⚾ The good news for the Washington Nationals? The season is almost over. The bad news? All-Star pitcher MacKenzie Gore is going on the 15-day IL due to left shoulder inflammation. Through 27 starts, Gore sprouted a 4.15 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and a 5-13 record. Right-hander Mason Thompson will replace Gore on the roster and in the rotation in the meantime.
⚾ The Boston Red Sox are reportedly in agreement with All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman on a one-year extension with a vesting option in 2027. The extension will net Chapman $13.3 million next year. More importantly, it keeps Chapman where he’s thrived, pitching to a 1.04 ERA, 74 strikeouts, and 26 saves through 57 appearances.
⚾ Though suspected, Diamondbacks outfielder/first baseman Pavin Smith is unlikely to return in 2025. Smith is battling a strained left quad and will probably run out of time before he can return from it, according to manager Torey Lovullo.
⚾ Spencer Turnbull is staying in the Midwest, officially signing with the Kansas City Royals on a minor league contract after opting out of a deal with the Chicago Cubs.
⚾ The New York Mets and their ever-changing bullpen keep churning through arms. Lefty José Castillo is the latest casualty, being DFA’d to make room for veteran Chris Devenski.
⚾ The arms of the Baltimore Orioles were busy. For starters, righty Vinny Nittoli is opting out of his minor league deal with the O’s and will depart for free agency. Veteran Matt Bowman is also leaving the O’s, in this case, being released. Cody Poteet, on the other hand, will go to Triple-A Norfolk after being activated from the 60-day IL.
⚾ After exiting Friday’s game due to injury, the Pirates placed infielder Ronny Simon on the 10-day IL yesterday. Simon injured his left shoulder on an awkward slide. Infielder Cam Devanney will replace Simon, and after six years in the minors, might finally make his big league debut.
Articles You Should Read
Ranking the best moves from Trade Deadline, 1 month later — Brian Murphy, MLB.com
History alert! 9 stat chases to watch down the stretch — Jason Foster, MLB.com
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