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Today’s Headlines
Not Toying Around
On Shohei Ohtani bobblehead day, the LA crowd arrived earlier than usual to pack Dodger Stadium and cheer for their phenom, who happened to be starting on the mound. Ever the showman, Ohtani did not disappoint, carrying a chip on his shoulder from last week’s tough outing against the Rockies. Facing the Reds this time, Ohtani’s only blip came via a Noelvi Marte solo homer in the third, but he was stretched out enough to toss 87 pitches and reach five innings, which qualified him for his first win of 2025. Shohei’s final line showed him in vintage form, with only two hits and two walks allowed, versus nine strikeouts – he also had a hit and scored a run as a batter. With Enrique Hernández and Dalton Rushing contributing two RBI apiece, the Dodgers cruised to a 5-1 win to secure the sweep and now open a two-game lead over the Padres in the NL West.
The @Dodgers sweep! 🧹
Shohei Ohtani strikes out 9 and earns his first win of the season on his bobblehead day! pic.twitter.com/kilyeCBkew
— MLB (@MLB) August 28, 2025
Eastern Promises
Not so long ago, the NL East race seemed dead and buried. With the Mets slumping and the Phillies riding their top-notch pitching, it all looked in line for Philadelphia to dominate for the rest of 2025. New York has suddenly made things interesting, as they completed a sweep to now have 10 straight wins in Citi Field over their rivals, securing the season series in the process and turning the final 29 games into a dramatic chase for the title. The finale was headlined by rookie Nolan McLean, who earned his third win of the season in as many starts, tossing a gem with eight scoreless innings and six strikeouts, while lowering his ERA to a pristine 0.89 mark. As the Mets stormed to a quick 3-0 lead, it was all downhill from there, with a 6-0 final score that could end up becoming the turning point in this rivalry.
NL East just got a lot more interesting 👀
The Mets and Phillies will meet in just 12 days for a four-game series in Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/xex8SIW2L3
— MLB (@MLB) August 28, 2025
NFL Prep
With the NFL season just around the corner, we just had a score that would look quaint in football circles, but certainly makes headlines in a baseball setting. With the Rangers trying their best to stay relevant in the AL Wild Card chase, they just delivered their biggest offensive outburst in more than a decade, destroying the Angels with a 20-3 final score. The Halos actually opened the scoring in this game, but were quickly torn apart by a vicious Rangers offense that scored seven runs in the first two frames against starter Jack Kochanowicz. The lead ballooned to a whopping 12-3 before the Angels waved the white flag and sent third baseman Oswald Peraza to the mound, only for him to be shellacked to the tune of eight runs in an inning. When it was all settled, Texas had amassed 22 hits and four walks, including four homers and five doubles, with a staggering three different players finishing with five RBI (Adolis García, Joc Pederson, and Kyle Higashioka). As the old saying goes, everything is bigger in Texas.
The @Rangers score their most runs in a game since 2011! pic.twitter.com/JNI21huLiN
— MLB (@MLB) August 28, 2025
Double Bubba
There are very few non-Skenes reasons to watch the Pirates these days, but it is now looking like Bubba Chandler may be the next big thing around PNC Park. While the team has been playing out the string for a while now, the development of their top talent is paramount for 2026 and beyond, with Chandler looking to make the most of it. As the Pirates announced he would be used in a flexible reliever role, Bubba came into last night’s game as a swingman, as opener Carmen Mlodzinski went only three frames. Facing the Cardinals, the rookie Chandler showed what all the hoopla is about, limiting St. Louis to only a hit and a walk in four scoreless innings. With a Tommy Pham double plating two runs in the sixth, the Pirates took a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish, turning Chandler into the pitcher of record. He now can boast an impressive start to his career, with a save and a win over his initial two outings, which include a 0.00 ERA.
Bubba Chandler is one of five Major League pitchers to earn a save and a win in his first two Major League games since saves became an official stat in 1969 👏 pic.twitter.com/r9NLfo5nQ5
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 28, 2025
Best Moments From Yesterday
As the World Spins
While the Seattle Mariners had already secured this year’s Vedder Cup, an early afternoon game against the Padres was the perfect chance to regain momentum as they continue to battle for the AL West. An uncharacteristic Bryan Woo start that saw him fail to reach six innings for the first time this season was aided by a clutch Eugenio Suárez three-run bomb, providing enough run support for Seattle’s eventual 4-3 win. However, the biggest moment from the game may have come from a truly bizarre sequence in the bottom of the seventh. With Josh Naylor at the plate, he hit a ball that appeared destined to be an innocuous foul ball, but instead took a weird Michael-Jordan-golf-ball-in-Space-Jam spin from home plate, to foul territory all the way back to fair, as a flummoxed Naylor failed to even run to first base. Alertly, Padres catcher Freddy Fermin threw to first for an easy out, while the local broadcast was simply in disbelief at what they just witnessed.
Why did it spin like that?
The baseball was SLICED 🤯 pic.twitter.com/hFTD82BW3u
— MLB (@MLB) August 27, 2025
When Mom Gets the Pizza Rolls
After blowing Tuesday’s game in dramatic fashion, the Blue Jays knew they had to take advantage of a debilitated Twins roster. Instead, a rollercoaster game emerged, with Minnesota responding to every Toronto rally en route to an 8-5 lead by the fifth inning. Despite a two-homer effort from Davis Schneider and solo blasts from Andrés Giménez and Ty France, the Jays were still down by a run in the eighth, with a real risk of losing more ground to the Yankees and Red Sox. Enter the heroics of Addison Barger, who hit a key two-run double to turn the game around. With the stadium rocking, an overly enthusiastic dugout, and Alejandro Kirk using his newfound speed to tie the game, a maniacal George Springer ran right behind him, scoring the winning run in the 9-8 final, and putting the exclamation mark with an emphatic celebration as he crossed the plate. The Rogers Centre is suddenly getting a few 2015 vibes as the home squad inches closer to a division crown.
Vibes are ELECTRIC in The 6 😤
(Cut4 x @CoronaUSA) pic.twitter.com/u1t9RCPXeV
— Cut4 (@Cut4) August 28, 2025
The Dog Days
In a traditional Bark at the Park event at Camden Yards, the home puppies may have been disappointed by the final score, as a late Ceddanne Rafaela two-run homer gave Boston a 3-2 win over the local Orioles. However, the biggest struggle in this game may have come from an adorable golden retriever in the stands. The cameras caught an interaction between said dog and its owner, as she was clearly enjoying a monster hot dog while the pupper could only watch in disbelief. It is still not known if this furry friend eventually got a piece of the ballpark bite, but let’s hope he got something before returning home.
It's a dog eat dog world! pic.twitter.com/ocSbeXku3M
— MLB (@MLB) August 28, 2025
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ The Brewers have placed closer Trevor Megill on the 15-day IL with a right flexor strain. The injury is not considered serious, as the team is taking a cautious approach as it prepares for the postseason. On a corresponding move, Milwaukee signed Erick Fedde as a spot starter, while Abner Uribe is likely to get most save chances in Megill’s absence.
⚾ Luis Robert Jr., Jr. has been placed on the 10-day IL with a strained left hamstring. The injury appears to be severe enough to make Robert miss the rest of the regular season, in a situation that will probably hamper his trade status for next offseason. Robert has a team option that could be picked by the White Sox, but his status will be closely monitored by many organizations.
⚾ Veteran pitcher Alex Cobb has been pulled from his rehab assignment by the Tigers, as he still appears unable to return to a big league mound. Detroit signed him to a one-year, $15 million deal for this season, but has received no production from Cobb. He could still be eligible for the playoffs, probably as a swingman, but the team expects a full recovery from his multiple hip issues.
Articles You Should Read
Has Anyone Seen Second Base — Davy Andrews, Fangraphs
The Secret to an Addison Barger Hit — Keegan Matheson, MLB.com
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