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Finally, we have arrived in September. The month that everyone points to as the biggest month of the season. Every pitch, every walk, every strikeout, every homer is magnified as wins take on greater importance and losses feel like a gut punch.
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Today’s Headlines
In A Pinch? Call Smith
Of all the things that have let the Los Angeles Dodgers down this season, it has been their offense. With a star-studded lineup, the bats have been rather ho-hum. That was especially true in the first two games of this weekend’s series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. But when it came time for a big hit, the Dodgers sent the right player to the plate. Will Smith led off the bottom of the ninth inning with his fourth career walk-off homer as the Dodgers pulled out a 5-4 win over the D’backs to avoid a sweep. With the second-place San Diego Padres falling 7-2 to the Minnesota Twins, the Dodgers saw their NL West lead grow to two games. Smith’s walk-off homer puts him two shy of Jason Giambi’s MLB record of six. Smith’s big hit was needed after Dodgers left-handed reliever Tanner Scott surrendered a tying three-run homer to D’backs star Corbin Carroll in the eighth inning. That spoiled a terrific outing by Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who struck out 10 and allowed one run in seven innings.
Yankees’ Streak Ends As Judge Hits No. 358
Milestones come and go, often a round number that is easy to remember to it resonates with fans. But not many can say number 358 and know what that means unless you are a Yankees fan. Aaron Judge hit a solo homer in the top of the first inning of the Yankees’ 3-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox, snapping a seven-game winning streak. Fittingly, the decisive run scored via the long ball as Lenyn Sosa snapped a 2-2 tie with a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth inning. The second-place Yankees lost a game in the AL East chase as the first-place Toronto Blue Jays avoided a sweep by the Milwaukee Brewers 8-4. The Yankees also saw their advantage over the third-place Boston Red Sox dwindle to a half-game with Boston’s 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Judge’s blast tied him with Yogi Berra for fifth place in club history with 358 career homers. It is the first time there has been a new name in the Yankees’ top five since 1966. Judge is likely to pass Joe DiMaggio’s 361 this season for fourth place. Babe Ruth hit 659 of his 714 career homers with the Yankees. Another Yankees slugger, Giancarlo Stanton, nearly joined Judge in the homer column, but his third-inning drive to right field was robbed by Mike Tauchman.
Duran’s Inside Job Fuels Red Sox
Jarren Duran is an extra-base machine with electrifying speed, which is why his name was being bandied about at the trade deadline, puzzling. But the Red Sox left fielder hasn’t let that bother him. He turned in another dazzling highlight with a tiebreaking inside-the-park home run to spark the Red Sox to a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The victory snapped the Red Sox’s five-game losing streak at Fenway Park. With the score tied 1-1 and two runners on, Duran hit a scorching liner to right-center. The Pirates’ right fielder Alexander Canario couldn’t cut off and skipped to the triangle. There, center fielder Oneil Cruz had trouble digging it out, and by that time, Duran was speeding his way around the bases and scored standing up.
Jays Avoid Sweep By Brewers
In the battle between the top teams in the AL and NL, the MLB-leading Milwaukee Brewers took the first two of a three-game series. But the Blue Jays weren’t about to roll over. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a go-ahead single and the Jays took advantage of uncharacteristic sloppiness to hand the Brewers an 8-4 defeat. While the Brewers (85-53) only had one error, they had mistakes on the basepaths and on defense that aided the Jays. Not that they needed much help as they tagged Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff for 10 hits and eight runs (five earned) in 4⅓ innings. The win was capped by embattled closer Jeff Hoffman working around two singles to get the final three outs a day after being booed off the mound at Rogers Centre.
Skubal Dominates Royals
August has been a rough month for Detroit Tigers ace left-hander Tarik Skubal. But if his last start of the month shows anything, he is ready to carry the Tigers into the postseason. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner tossed seven shutout innings as the Tigers rolled past the Kansas City Royals. In taking two of three from the second-place team in the AL Central, the Tigers not only regained the best record in the AL, but they became the first AL team to win 80 games and extended MLB’s largest division lead to 9½ games. While Skubal has two seven-inning shutout efforts in August, he also has given up six, four and three runs (twice) in his other August starts. Jake Rogers sparked a four-run fifth inning with a two-run triple. Skubal, who looks like he could repeat as the Cy Young, has eight starts this season of seven or more shutout innings.
Contenders Make Late Adds
With the deadline to have a player in the organization and be eligible for the postseason, a handful of names found new homes.
⚾ The second-place Cubs made two acquisitions as they pursue a playoff spot, claiming right-handed starter Aaron Civale off waivers from the Chicago White Sox and signing first baseman Carlos Santana, recently designated for assignment and released by the Guardians.
⚾ The Blue Jays claimed infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kiner-Falefa was 81 plate appearances shy of a $250,000 bonus. The move comes after the Pirates released left-handed starter Andrew Heaney when he was 8⅓ innings from earning a $100,000 bonus.
⚾ Right-hander Walker Buehler, released by the Red Sox, signed with the Phillies.
⚾ Infielder Luis Urías returned to the Brewers, signing a minor-league contract after being released by the Athletics.
By The Numbers
⚾ Justin Verlander needed 121 pitches to strike out 10 in five innings of the San Francisco Giants‘ 13-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles. At 42 years, 192 days, Verlander became the oldest player to have a double-digit strikeout game since Randy Johnson did it in 2008 at 44 years, 347 days old with the D’backs.
⚾ Byron Buxton established a new career high for home runs when he hit his 29th in the Twins’ victory over the Padres. Buxton hit a two-run shot in the third inning to surpass the 28 he hit in 2022.
⚾ Right-hander Jacob deGrom struck out six in five shutout innings as the Texas Rangers beat the Athletics 9-6, sweeping their AL West foe for the first time since 2015.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Portraits With A Purpose
The Giants continued their annual tradition of having player portraits drawn by pediatric cancer patients displayed on the scoreboard.
Beating Cancer
Yet another young cancer patient had something to celebrate. A White Sox fan rang the bell, signifying that she has beaten cancer.
Careful What You Ask For
Giants shortstop Willy Adames likes to celebrate. So after dousing a teammate with Gatorade during a postgame interview, Adames faked like he was going to do the same to the fans. Then they said to do it. So he did.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis L. Ortiz, under investigation for their ties to gambling, had their paid leave extended indefinitely.
⚾ Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward was carted off the field and taken to a Houston hospital to have stitches close a cut over his right eye after he crashed into the left-field fence.
⚾ Right-handed reliever Jose Urena, who has pitched for four teams already this season, signed a deal with the Los Angeles Angels. When Urena appears in his first game, he will tie Oliver Drake (2018) and Mike Baumann (2024) for most MLB teams in a single season at five.
⚾ Houston Astros right-handed starter Luis García Jr. will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start today vs. the Angels. It will be Garcia’s first game since May 1, 2023, following Tommy John surgery and an extensive recovery process.
⚾ Shortstop Sal Stewart, the Cincinnati Reds‘ No. 4 prospect and No. 86 in baseball, will be promoted today to make his MLB debut.
⚾ The Kansas City Royals will be calling up three rookies, with one set to make his MLB debut. That would be catcher Carter Jensen, the Royals’ No. 1 prospect and No. 88 in baseball. The other two returning to the majors are slugger Jac Caglianone and right-handed reliever Luinder Avila. Caglianone has been on a rehab assignment following a strained right hamstring.
⚾ The Washington Nationals are promoting left-handed starter Andrew Alvarez to make his MLB debut today.
Articles You Should Read
Why the Dodgers aren’t moving Betts back to right field — Dylan Hernandez, Los Angeles Times
Here is why De La Cruz’s power numbers have slipped — Mark Sheldon, MLB.com
At 20, top Twins prospect Jenkins doing what All-Star-caliber players do — Aaron Gleeman, The Athletic
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