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The concept of individuality and team results is one of the things that makes baseball so interesting, as its inner cruelty and unfairness add a layer of confusion to many of the results we witness every day. Exhibit A: the Giants have now gone more than two weeks without scoring more than four runs in a game, which seems almost impossible in this day and age (the Phillies scored six in an inning today, for instance). This has meant that many of their excellent pitching performances have been for naught, as it happened again today for an excellent Landon Roupp.
However, this concept will probably continue to play out on a more notorious stage as long as Paul Skenes plies his trade in Pittsburgh. Despite his excellence, Skenes now carries a losing record despite having the second-best ERA in the National League. Forty-two pitchers now have more wins than the Pirates’ ace, even as we acknowledge that wins are not a great stat, it just seems like a mean prank from the baseball gods. On Tuesday, 30 teams took the field and 29 of them scored at least one run… all except the Pirates.
Today’s Headlines
Freddie, Set Them Free, Man
The Dodgers and Mets played a tense NLCS in 2024, which was followed by a hard-fought series a few days ago in New York, in which the Mets took a small bit of revenge by taking two of three. With a chance to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their current affair, the Dodgers battled back and shocked the Metropolitans. After a quick first inning in which LA took a 4-1 lead headlined by a Max Muncy homer, New York methodically got back into the contest, first with a Juan Soto two-run homer off Clayton Kershaw that gave clear 2019 NLDS vibes, and then with a two-run fifth that gave the Mets a 5-4 lead. After the Dodgers failed to score in the bottom of the eighth despite a second-and-third, no-out situation, Huascar Brazobán came in to save the game, only to serve a meatball to the inspired Muncy, who promptly hit a 408-foot bomb to tie the game. After the Mets did not cash in the ghost runner, LA had a clear advantage, and Freddie Freeman made the most of it. With two on and one out, Freeman hit a deep fly ball to left, where Brandon Nimmo took an adventurous route to the ball that ended as a generous double that scored Tommy Edman. With the 6-5 win, the Dodgers are only one game back of the Mets for the best record in the NL, with two games left to go in this heavyweight matchup.
Freddie Freeman #WALKOFF!
Ruff Loss for Paul
In Bark at the Park night in Pittsburgh, with several pups wearing Paul Skenes gear, we were treated to a superb pitchers’ duel between Skenes and Houston’s Lance McCullers Jr., as both starters were locked in from the get-go. Skenes was his usual dominant self, allowing only one walk and three hits over eight innings, as he lowered his ERA to 2.05. However, McCullers was a tad better, as he went six scoreless frames with seven Ks, as the Pirates were unable to provide any run support for their ace. Houston’s Christian Walker hit a fateful solo homer that made Skenes a tough-luck loser, as his record now stands at 4-6. While the frustration was evident for Pirates fans, especially after the bullpen allowed two more runs for a final score of 3-0, it is clear that Skenes has ascended to the upper echelon of pitching in 2025. As for McCullers, he earned his first win since 2022, after losing two full seasons to injury.
Paul Skenes lowers his ERA to 2.05, 2nd-best mark in the NL 👏
Feelin’ Bryce
Mired in a rare four-game losing streak, the Phillies welcomed back their star, as Bryce Harper had missed the previous five games due to injury. The jolt from having a full lineup was immediate, as the Phils stormed to a six-run first inning, including homers from Trea Turner and Harper himself. From that point forward, Philadelphia cruised and ultimately earned an 8-3 victory, with Cristopher Sánchez making the most of the lopsided run support to earn his fifth win of the season. Turner would add a second homer to his ledger, while Alec Bohm had a nice four-hit day, adding to a banner day for the Phillies.
Bryce Harper slugs a HR in his return, Trea Turner homers twice as the @Phillies snap a 4-game slide.
Finally!
It is hard to find any positives around the Rockies in 2025, which is why they are usually not featured in this space. However, they accomplished something they had failed to do since last September—earn a series win. As it usually happens for Colorado, things looked bleak from the start, as starter Chase Dollander had to leave after three innings and a 2-0 deficit to the Marlins, meaning that the bullpen would have to carry the rest of the game. Colorado’s pen would be nails, sniffing that coveted series win. With only four hits and one walk allowed the rest of the game, the bullpen gave the offense a chance to turn things around, which first came in the form of a two-run fifth frame that tied the game. The breakthrough moment of the contest came in the eighth, as catcher Hunter Goodman hit his tenth homer of the year to give the Rockies a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish. Colorado fans can now breathe easy, even if it is for one day, and they will now try for a (gasp!) sweep.
The @Rockies secure a series win in Miami.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Land of the Friedl
As it is wont to happen, the Cincinnati Reds were in yet another close game, holding on to a tight 4-2 lead in the home ninth. With a runner on second, Milwaukee’s Jake Bauers appeared set to tie the game with a homer, as a ball hit straight to center field had the distance and trajectory to clear the fence. However, Cincinnati’s TJ Friedl timed his jump expertly to deny Bauers, ending the game on a nice walk-off catch. The 4-2 win was a nice reprieve for the Reds, as they saw their ace, Hunter Greene, leave the game early with an apparent groin injury.
TJ FRIEDL ROBS A GAME-TYING HOMER TO END THE GAME 🤯
Welcome to the Big Leagues
Kansas City’s touted rookie Jac Caglianone made his awaited MLB debut tonight, facing the Cardinals on the road. With the Royals already holding a 2-0 lead, Caglianone stepped up to the plate and appeared en route to a dream first plate appearance, as he hit a long drive that looked like a sure extra-base hit. Alas, he is now facing major league competition, and Cardinals center fielder Victor Scott II gave him a quick dose of his new reality. The web gem prevented Caglianone from earning an MLB average, as he would finish the day with an 0-for-5, albeit with no strikeouts. It was not all bad for the rookie, though, as the Royals came back from a tough 7-2 deficit to ultimately win 10-7 on the strength of 6.1 scoreless innings from the bullpen.
Victor Scott II robs Jac Caglianone in his first Major League at-bat! 😱
I Wanna Be Your…
The Mets-Dodgers game was last night’s premier matchup, giving us a glimpse of the two best teams in the National League and a potential playoff preview. For all the seriousness and gravitas of such a game, there was still a nice moment of levity caught by the cameras. While batters tend to use several artifacts to warm up before an at-bat, New York’s Brandon Nimmo took it to another level, swinging a literal sledgehammer to prep up. The unconventional warm-up was somewhat effective, as Nimmo went 1-for-5 with an RBI.
Brandon Nimmo was swinging a … sledgehammer?! 😅
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾Milwaukee’s Brandon Woodruff was hit by a line drive while rehabbing in AAA, which may push his return to the majors even further. The team announced further testing for this week, which may provide clarity regarding his status.
⚾ Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene will undergo an MRI later today, as he suffered groin discomfort that pulled him from last night’s start against the Brewers. He has already endured a stint on the IL earlier this season with a similar groin issue, so the Reds are likely to be more cautious this time around.
Articles You Should Read
When the Brewers Grounded and Pounded the White Sox — Davy Andrews, Fangraphs
Seeds of Soto Trade Blooming for the Nationals — David Venn, MLB.com
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
