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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Brandon Lowe has been performing exceptionally for the Tampa Bay Rays, hitting four home runs in his last seven games while excelling against right-handed pitching with a .297 average and a .909 OPS this season. He has hit 20 home runs against righties, with 11 of his 23 total home runs occurring on the road where he bats .314 in 43 games. Lowe is projected for continued success in a hitter-friendly park against A's starter JT Ginn.
Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes endured one of the most challenging starts of his young career on Tuesday, surrendering four earned runs on six hits, including two home runs, and two walks over just four innings against the Milwaukee Brewers. The uncharacteristic performance led to his season ERA increasing from 1.94 to 2.13 in a game where the Brewers delivered a dominant 14-0 victory and extended their winning streak.
Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan, a two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glover, stars in the pilot episode of MLB’s new original content series 'No Easy Outs' on YouTube. Kwan discusses how he has overcome challenges and battled with confidence throughout his career, emphasizing the importance of resilience for young audiences. He shares personal strategies like meditation and journaling to cope with insecurities and address racism, reminding aspiring players that it's normal to question their belonging in the game.
Cody Bellinger, acquired by the New York Yankees earlier this season, has proven to be an excellent fit, delivering above-average offense, strong defense across all outfield positions and first base, and quality baserunning. After declining an opt-out last offseason, he is now in a strong position to opt out of his $25 million player option for 2026, marking his third consecutive productive season. Although a Scott Boras client, the Yankees are expected to pursue a reunion through a potential free-agent bidding war.
Alex Bregman has delivered an MVP-level performance for the Boston Red Sox this season, despite a seven-week absence due to a quad strain. He is strongly positioned to opt out of the remaining two years and $80 million on his current contract to test free agency, having a much better season than in 2024. Although a Scott Boras client, there is mutual interest in Bregman securing a new long-term deal to remain with the Red Sox.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is a serious contender for the AL MVP, boasting 45 home runs and 98 RBI, significantly contributing to the Mariners' first-place tie in the AL West. Raleigh is on pace to set new catcher home run and potentially RBI records, despite playing in a pitcher-friendly park. Additionally, he has demonstrated surprising speed this season, going 13-for-16 in stolen base attempts.
New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge continues to be a leading candidate for the American League MVP award, showcasing an overwhelming statistical case. He is dominating in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging, accumulating 38 home runs, 88 RBI, and 94 runs scored this season. Judge's exceptional play is widely regarded as crucial to the Yankees maintaining their current playoff position.
The New York Mets have decided to transition pitcher Frankie Montas from his starting rotation role to the bullpen. This move creates an opening in the Mets' starting five, with prospects Nolan McLean or Brandon Sproat being evaluated as potential candidates to fill the vacant spot.
Washington Nationals prospect Cade Cavalli, a former first-round pick, made his season debut after recovering from Tommy John surgery in March 2023 and an early 2024 setback. In his first two MLB starts this season, the 26-year-old right-hander has shown promising raw stuff, featuring a 97.6 mph fastball with a 63% zone rate, a high-movement curveball, and a sinker. While his command is still developing, his diversified pitch mix against both right- and left-handed hitters suggests potential for future success.
San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease has significantly altered his pitch mix since late July, contributing to a 3.92 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 34.5% strikeout rate over his last four starts. He has increased his curveball usage against lefties and introduced a sinker primarily to right-handed hitters, reducing reliance on his four-seam and slider pitches. These adjustments aim to deepen his arsenal, making him less predictable and improving his ability to induce groundballs and increase strikeout efficiency in two-strike counts.
Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor has surprisingly accumulated 22 stolen bases in 24 attempts this season, including 11 steals in just 15 games since joining Seattle. Despite ranking in the bottom 3% for sprint speed, Naylor has proven to be a smart and opportunistic threat on the bases. While his strong bat remains his primary asset, his unexpected stolen base production is significantly contributing to the Mariners' success.
Will Smith, currently a Kansas City Royals player, is hitting .312 and leads the NL in on-base percentage (.414) while ranking fourth in OPS (.930). Despite his impressive performance, he risks not qualifying for the batting title due to MLB's minimum plate appearance rule, as his team has prioritized giving him extra rest this season. However, manager Dave Roberts has committed to ensuring Smith reaches the required 502 plate appearances to qualify for the batting title.
The San Francisco Giants have optioned top pitching prospect Carson Whisenhunt to Triple-A Sacramento, making a roster spot for Tyler Fitzgerald. In his first stint in the major leagues, the 24-year-old left-hander allowed eight runs over 14 1/3 innings across three starts, which included a strong performance against the Mets. Manager Bob Melvin highlighted Whisenhunt's time in the big leagues as a valuable learning experience, particularly emphasizing the need to improve his fastball location to enhance his off-speed pitches. Despite the demotion, the Giants remain confident that Whisenhunt will be better for the experience and see him as an important part of their future plans.
The New York Mets have officially moved right-hander Frankie Montas to the bullpen, effective Tuesday, amid his persistent struggles since returning from a spring training lat injury. Montas, who signed a two-year, $34 million deal, posted a 6.38 ERA in eight appearances (seven starts) for the Mets and has not pitched more than 5 2/3 innings in any outing. His demotion opens a rotation spot for Saturday, with top prospects Nolan McLean or Brandon Sproat potentially making their MLB debuts. Given his performance, it is anticipated Montas will not opt out of his contract after this season.
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto was instrumental in turning the eighth triple play in team history during Tuesday's game against the Dodgers. Neto expertly caught Shohei Ohtani's line drive, stepped on second base to get Miguel Rojas, and then quickly threw to first to tag out Dalton Rushing, completing the rare defensive highlight. This exceptional play, which showcased Neto's "unreal instincts" and status as a "defensive standout," helped preserve a 5-5 tie in the Freeway Series.
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani lined into a rare triple play during a game against the Angels, with shortstop Zach Neto catching his 86.8 mph line drive and turning it into an inning-ending triple play. Meanwhile, new details emerged regarding a lawsuit filed by a Hawaiian real estate investor and broker against Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo. The plaintiffs allege that Balelo exploited Ohtani's celebrity leverage to force their removal from a $240 million luxury housing development project in Hawaii, where Ohtani was set to be a key figure and resident.
Pete Alonso made New York Mets franchise history on Tuesday night, hitting his 253rd and 254th career home runs against the Atlanta Braves. His 253rd homer, a two-run shot off Spencer Strider in the third inning, officially surpassed Darryl Strawberry's 37-year-old franchise record. Alonso's two-homer game also marked his 25th multi-homer performance, lifting his season total to 28 home runs, and contributed significantly to the Mets' 13-5 victory which snapped their seven-game losing streak.
Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes endured one of his most challenging outings of the season on Tuesday, surrendering four earned runs on six hits, including two home runs, and two walks over just four innings against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers' relentless offense forced Skenes out of the game early in their dominant 14-0 victory. This performance caused Skenes' season ERA to rise from a league-leading 1.94 to 2.13, and marked the first time he allowed a first-inning run and only the second time he gave up multiple home runs this season.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brock Stewart has been placed on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation. Manager Dave Roberts described it as a "big blow" to the bullpen, though president Andrew Friedman expressed optimism that they "caught it at the very front end" and he will return for the stretch run. Stewart, acquired from the Twins on July 31, is set to undergo further testing Wednesday, having experienced shoulder soreness over the past four days, marking his third shoulder-related IL stint since last year.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin underwent season-ending internal brace and flexor tendon surgery on Tuesday. This procedure will sideline him for at least 8-10 months. Gonsolin has been out since early June due to elbow discomfort, and this marks another significant setback for the former All-Star, who also missed the end of 2023 and the entirety of last season due to Tommy John surgery.
