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MLB News & Moments You Should Know: 8/20/2025

The team that never loses just took two losses in one day

Pablo Figueroa
MLB Morning News 8/20/2025

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Today’s Headlines

 

The Power of Goodbye, Ball

Playing in a minor-league stadium with an open roof has made the season tough for the usually stingy Tampa Bay pitching staff, and it was made even worse by having an angry Yankees team visiting. Following a long rain delay that lasted more than two hours, the Bombers made a statement right from the get-go, going back-to-back-to-back in the first inning, as Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton set up a 3-0 lead. This would be just a prelude for the rest of the game, as the Yankees would end up with nine homers, as Bellinger and Stanton would add another, while ex-Ray José Caballero also clubbed a pair. The multi-homer efforts were complemented by back-to-back solo homers from Jazz Chisholm Jr., Jr. and Ben Rice in the fourth inning. This was the second time this season the Yankees have hit nine homers, which is their franchise high. At the end of this fireworks display, the Yanks cruised to a 13-3 win, with 11 of their 16 hits going for extra bases.

The Corner of 44th and 12th  

With the Phillies looking more and more certain to win the NL East, the rest of the season is all about setting up their pieces for a deep playoff run. Games like yesterday’s serve as a reminder as to why they can become dangerous, with a unique blend of power pitching and power hitting. Even as a late bullpen mishap prevented him from earning a win, Cristopher Sánchez was dominant, matching his career high with 12 strikeouts over 6.1 innings. He was backed up by Kyle Schwarber’s 44th homer, along with a solo blast from Bryson Stott and a clutch two-run dinger from J.T. Realmuto that gave Philly its lead back in the eighth. This led to a 6-4 win over the Mariners, as closer Jhoan Duran made quick work of Seattle to earn the save, as the Philadelphia staff combined to strike out 15 batters.

 

Walk the Walk(-off)

In a promising pitching matchup that did not disappoint, the visiting Astros sent out Hunter Brown to face the Detroit Tigers and Tarik Skubal. Both hurlers were at the top of their game, trading zeroes throughout the whole game, as neither would allow before departing. Brown (8 baserunners and 6 Ks over six innings) lowered his ERA to 2.36, while Skubal (5 baserunners and 10 Ks over seven frames) left his at a sparkly 2.32, as their Cy Young cases continue to be really strong. The early pitching duel carried over to the bullpens, as the game remained scoreless through nine, and a winner would have to be decided by way of the Manfred man. While Will Vest held his own and stranded the ghost runner, Houston’s Kaleb Ort was not as lucky, allowing a couple of walks to load the bases and set up a do-or-die at-bat against Gleyber Torres. With a full count and the bases loaded, Torres did not bite at a sweeper well outside the zone, forcing in the winning run for a 1-0 victory.

 

Let’s Win Two

The Milwaukee Brewers had lost only once during the month of August, and now took two losses in a single day. After Monday’s second game was postponed, the timing was not friendly to the Brew Crew, as the Cubs finally broke through to post a memorable day at Wrigley. Game 1 was marked by an early offensive explosion, with Chicago storming to a 5-0 lead before settling for a 6-4 victory after Milwaukee made a run at tying the game. Game 2 was a much more straightforward affair, as Jameson Taillon settled down after allowing a first-inning run to pitch six innings and earn his eighth win of the season. Aside from the pair of Ws, the Cubs also had a lot to celebrate in the form of Owen Caissie’s first career homer, as the rookie drove in four runs between the two contests. Despite the sweep, Milwaukee still holds a seven-game lead in the division.

 

Best Moments From Yesterday

 

Run Home, Jack!

Elly de la Cruz’s speed accomplishments are well documented, even as he has not run as often to steal bases this year. He is still capable of plays almost no one else can make, though, as evidenced by this hit-and-run that saw Elly score from first on what looked like a routine hit to right field. Even as the Angels’ outfield tried to rush a throw back to the infield, de la Cruz was too fast for them, barely beating the ball to score the fourth run for the Reds. With Hunter Greene dealing (12 Ks in 6.1 innings), it looked as if Cincinnati would cruise to an easy win, but a late bullpen implosion meant that they had to win dramatically in the ninth, tagging closer Kenley Jansen for two runs in what would become a 6-4 win for the Reds, as they remain quite alive in the NL wild card race.

Double Triple 

Even as Arizona’s season will be seen as a disappointment, its future is still hopeful because it will still employ players like Corbin Carroll. In last night’s 6-5 win over the Guardians, Carroll delivered the kind of hitting line only he can produce, with a two-hit day that included two runs, a stolen base, and an RBI. However, both of his knocks were triples, giving him his fourth game of 2025 with multiple three-baggers. Carroll became the first player since Carl Crawford in 2004 to achieve this rare feat in a single season, and he still has 35 games to go.

 

Home Plate Office 

Following Monday’s postponement of what was already a make-up game, the Cubs’ and Brewers’ doubleheader got started at a really weird time for a Tuesday, with first pitch coming at 1:20 pm CST. This meant that the stands were half-empty, with most people around Chicago probably busy at work. However, one fan decided to have the best of both worlds. The home broadcast caught this scene in the later innings, as one fan in the bleachers appeared to be busy with his laptop while also catching the game. Many of us are guilty of pretending to work while watching baseball, but this was at a whole ‘nother level.

 

Injuries and Other Moves

 

⚾ After suffering a hamstring injury doing a split in Monday’s game, Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. underwent an MRI that revealed no structural damage. While the team decided to be cautious and hold him out for yesterday’s game in Pittsburgh, he could be available for a quick return to the lineup.

⚾ Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez has been placed on the 10-day IL with a right thumb UCL sprain. While the injury could become season-ending, the team announced Alvarez will be re-evaluated in a couple of weeks to decide if he can return and play through the pain. Regardless of the outcome, surgery will be required at some point for the young backstop. 

⚾ Following last week’s much-publicized bat-throwing incident, Mariners outfielder Victor Robles has received a 10-game suspension from MLB. This means that even though he is still rehabbing in the minors, Robles would immediately serve his suspension if and when he is called up to Seattle. Robles will appeal the suspension, but the Mariners will have to make a decision regarding his return, as he would count against the 26-man roster. 

 

Articles You Should Read

 

Logan Webb Shouldn’t Try to Fit In — Mike Baumann, Fangraphs

Mendoza and Cairo Make History for Venezuela — Jessica Camerato, 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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