Ramon Laureano celebrates after a home run in the 8th inning
Travis d’Arnaud had a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning in his first game back in a week, helping the Atlanta Braves beat the Washington Nationals 4-2 on Saturday night. This win marked the Braves’ sixth victory in their last seven games.
Orlando Arcia and Ramón Laureano each hit solo home runs, and Whit Merrifield contributed with two hits, two walks, and a run scored for the Braves.
“Cautiously optimistic, I guess,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said about how his team is coming together. “We just have to keep fighting. It is probably what I envisioned for the rest of the way — these close games.”
The Braves have won their last five games by two runs or fewer.
Four Braves relievers pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings, and Pierce Johnson earned his second save with a perfect ninth inning. He replaced Rasiel Iglesias, who was unavailable after pitching in three games over four days.
“Dylan (Lee) hadn’t pitched in a while, and the out by (Aaron) Bummer was huge against a really dangerous hitter,” Snitker said. “Grant (Holmes) pitched around some traffic, and Pierce only threw four pitches. Those guys were really good again.”
Jake Irvin pitches in the 1st inning
Nationals rookie José Tena went 3 for 4 with a two-run homer, the first of his career. CJ Abrams and Andrés Chaparro each had two hits for Washington, which left eight runners on base after scoring just two runs on 10 hits the night before.
“We have to start driving in some runs,” said Nationals manager Dave Martinez, who managed his 1,000th career game. “We’re scoring two runs a game. We have to do a better job hitting the ball hard in the middle of the field.”
Braves starter Charlie Morton pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up two runs and eight hits with two walks. He struck out six.
He was pitching in front of several former teammates as the Braves celebrated Alumni Weekend.
Zach McKinstry celebrates with Jake Rogers in the 9th inning
Tarik Skubal earned his major league-leading 15th win as the Detroit Tigers defeated the Chicago White Sox 13-4 on Saturday night, handing the White Sox their 99th loss of the season.
Matt Vierling, Colt Keith, and Zach McKinstry all hit home runs for Detroit, which won three out of its last four games. Keith and Jake Rogers each had three RBIs, and Vierling scored three times.
Skubal (15-4) struck out eight batters in five innings, giving up three runs and eight hits.
“Tarik has been incredible the entire year,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “It shows he’s human a little bit and had a couple things not go his way. We’ll take that outing, especially when we put up the offense that we did.”
Skubal, who also leads the majors with a 2.58 ERA, had trouble gripping the ball. The temperature was 86 degrees at first pitch on a humid night.
“I’ve thrown in hotter games and more humid games. I don’t know what was going on with the balls today, but I wasn’t a fan of them,” Skubal said.
Andrew Vaughn hits a single in the 3rd inning
“I’ve never thrown out that many balls before. I don’t really want that to be a story either. That’s not an excuse or anything. It happens. You’ve got to learn to pitch around some things and deal with it because it’s not going to be the last time that happens.”
Corey Julks had three hits for the White Sox, who are getting closer to setting a franchise record for most losses in a season. Chicago had a club-worst 106 losses in 1970.
The record for most losses in a season belongs to the Cleveland Spiders, who went 20-134 in 1899. The 1962 New York Mets hold the modern record with 120 losses.
“I don’t think we try to focus on that,” Julks said about approaching 100 losses. “We just go day by day. As we’ve been playing, I think everything is starting to come along a little more, but you’ve got to show up ready to play each day and play hard.”
Ky Bush (0-3) gave up five runs and eight hits in three innings for Chicago (31-99) in his fourth career start.
The White Sox are now 3-10 under interim manager Grady Sizemore, who took over from the fired Pedro Grifol on August 8.
Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Casey Kelly celebrates with catcher Luke Maile after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates
Triple-A Louisville manager Pat Kelly sometimes enjoys having a bit of fun when telling his players they’re moving up to the majors.
On Friday night, Kelly did just that when he approached his son Casey on the field after a postgame fireworks show and asked him what he was doing the next day.
Casey Kelly, a pitcher and former first-round pick who had spent six years in the Korean Baseball Organization before the Cincinnati Reds signed him to a minor league deal this month, replied: “I’m starting for you tomorrow.”
But he wasn’t. Instead, he was heading back to the major leagues. When Pat Kelly delivered the news to Casey, surrounded by their family, there was no joke or laughter—just a heartfelt moment between father and son, who hadn’t expected this after Casey’s long stint in the KBO.
“We kind of just stared at each other for a good couple of seconds,” Casey Kelly said. “And then he started to cry and I started to cry.”
The tears soon stopped as there was too much to do.
By Saturday morning, Casey Kelly was in Pittsburgh. By that night, he was on a major league mound for the first time in 2,159 days. By the end of the ninth inning, the 34-year-old Kelly was celebrating his first career save after pitching three perfect innings in a 10-2 win.
Cincinnati Reds players in the 3rd inning
“This has just all been a whirlwind of a month,” Kelly said. “Just trying to soak it all in.”
There’s a lot to think about. Kelly was drafted 30th overall by the Boston Red Sox in 2008 when he was 18 years old. He made it to the majors with San Diego in 2012 and played for the Padres, Atlanta, and San Francisco, with a 2-11 record and a 5.46 ERA in 26 games.
Kelly went to the LG Twins of the KBO in 2019, where he finally found success, developing a changeup and slider he could rely on and learning how to handle a lineup through multiple innings.
Results soon followed. Kelly went 73-48 with a 3.31 ERA in six seasons with the Twins. Even though he wondered if his skills were still good enough for major league hitters, he admits that the idea of returning to the majors seemed more distant as he moved from his late 20s into his mid-30s.
Things changed in late July when LG released him, with his ERA at 4.51. The Reds, needing help due to injuries to their pitching staff, decided to sign Kelly to a minor league deal.
Kelly joined Louisville to play for his dad, with no other expectations than to show the Reds’ front office that his 35-year-old arm still had something to offer and maybe prove something to himself as well.
“You know, there’s a little bit of doubt in your mind of ’Can I still do it over here?’” Kelly said.
Baltimore Orioles vs Cincinnati Reds
Against the Pirates, he could. Kelly came in for rookie Julian Aguiar with a six-run lead. He retired all nine Pirates he faced, including two by strikeout. He threw 25 of his 38 pitches for strikes, using his location and off-speed pitches to keep the Pirates guessing on a night when his fastball reached 92 mph.
His performance gave Cincinnati’s tired bullpen a much-needed break and might have lifted a team struggling during the second half of the season, affecting their playoff hopes.
“Casey did his part for sure,” Cincinnati manager David Bell said. “The good vibes, the positive response, that’s just who our team is. Casey fits right in.”
For now, and hopefully in the future, Kelly feels that after 16 years since being drafted and more than five years away, everything is back in play.
“I really feel like pitching-wise, it’s the best I’ve been, being able to throw everything where I want to,” he said. “And, obviously you have those days where they’re not.
But, you know, I’m confident in my skills now as a pitcher. Again, this league is so hard. It’s the best of the best. So we’ll just see what happens.”
Francisco Lindor gestures after hitting a grand slam in the 4th inning
Francisco Lindor hit a two-out grand slam in the fourth inning, right after Manny Machado made an error, and then added a leadoff home run in the seventh to lead the New York Mets to a 7-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night.
Lindor hit home runs from both sides of the plate, and Harrison Bader also hit a home run for the Mets, who have won two of the first three games in their four-game series against the Padres, who are also in the NL playoff race.
“It feels pretty cool to hit home runs from each side, for sure,” Lindor said. “It’s one of those where as you run the bases, it’s like, ’Wow, my swing is good. I’m aligning pretty good.’ ”
David Peterson (8-1) pitched 7 1/3 strong innings for the Mets, who bounced back well from their 7-0 loss on Friday night, when they only had two hits, including one against Joe Musgrove, who pitched seven excellent innings.
Lindor now has 27 home runs, tying him with Pete Alonso for the team lead. It was his 19th career game with multiple home runs and his seventh grand slam in his 10-year career.
Michael King pitches in the 1st inning
Lindor hit his grand slam as a left-handed batter and his solo home run as a right-handed batter.
“That means my body aligned perfectly today,” Lindor said. “When I rack and rotate from one side and then turn around and rotate perfectly on the other side, that means my body’s in a good spot.
That’s what I try to do day in, day out. I come out and do my work early to put my body in position where it’s ready to fire from both sides.”
Lindor’s five RBIs provided more than enough support for Peterson, who had only one rough inning against the Padres, who were holding the NL’s second wild-card spot going into the game. The Mets are trailing Atlanta for the final wild-card spot.
Lindor’s grand slam traveled 417 feet into the right-center seats, exciting a large group of Mets fans behind the third base dugout.
Michael King (11-7) got the first two batters out but then gave up a single to Starling Marte. Francisco Alvarez hit a line drive right to Machado at third base, but it slipped out of his glove for an error. King then hit Jeff McNeil with a pitch, loading the bases for Lindor.
José Caballero runs after hitting a home run in the 10th inning
José Caballero hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning off Joe Kelly, breaking the tie after Tampa Bay lost a 4-0 lead early in the game. The Rays ended up beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-8 on Saturday night.
“That helped us a lot,” said his teammate Junior Caminero. “I probably screamed out there more than he did.”
Jonny DeLuca started the 10th inning as the designated runner on second base, moved to third on Josh Lowe’s groundout, and scored when Caballero hit a homer to left-center off Kelly (1-1).
“There are some times that he comes in and he’s lights out and other times he labors,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s certainly been inconsistent.”
Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips gave up the tying homer to Caminero at the start of the ninth inning but then struck out the next three batters.
Shohei Ohtani hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning after he had become the fastest player in major league history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases the night before.
Clayton Kershaw pitches in the 2nd inning
Ohtani led off the bottom of the 10th against Garrett Cleavinger and hit a high fly ball to right field that was caught.
The designated runner Miguel Rojas moved to third and scored on Mookie Betts’ sacrifice fly to center field, leaving the Dodgers behind 9-8. Freddie Freeman then grounded out to second to end the game.
“Guys are taking good at-bats. There’s fight,” Roberts said. “Tonight we just didn’t pitch well. We had a chance to win and we just couldn’t put them away.”
Manuel Rodriguez (3-3) got the win with one inning of relief. Cleavinger picked up his fourth save.
“Our offense did a great job putting up two (runs) which made it much easier,” Cleavinger said. “The guys really swung well against some good arms.”
Trailing 5-3, Max Muncy hit a double to start the fifth inning, advanced to third on Tommy Edman’s groundout, and scored on Rojas’ single. Ohtani then hit his homer, which was met with chants of “MVP! MVP!”
In the 2024 MLB season, Jordan Montgomery, a left-handed pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks, has faced significant challenges both on and off the field. His season has been marked by underperformance, and he has voiced frustration with his former agent, Scott Boras.
During a recent interview, Montgomery mentioned that a Zoom call with the Boston Red Sox went well but was marred by what he perceived as Boras mishandling the situation. Montgomery expressed a desire to move past these issues and focus on his current performance.
Scott Boras responded to Montgomery’s comments with a statement emphasizing his commitment to his clients and his professional responsibilities. Boras, a highly regarded agent in baseball, acknowledged that he understands the frustration players might feel but stressed that he cannot discuss specifics without Montgomery’s permission. He reiterated that all decisions are ultimately made by the clients and wished Montgomery well in his future endeavors.
Jordan Montgomery (NFL)
Montgomery entered the open market last offseason with high expectations following his successful stint with the Texas Rangers, where he played a key role in their World Series win. Despite this, he ended up signing a one-year, $25 million deal with the Diamondbacks just before the season started. Montgomery’s decision to change agents shortly after this signing suggests dissatisfaction with how his representation handled his market value.
Boras, known for his prominent role in the industry, has faced scrutiny as some of his clients have not secured as lucrative deals as anticipated. Blake Snell, the 2023 NL Cy Young Award winner, and Cody Bellinger, who had a standout season, both signed contracts that fell short of expectations relative to their performance. This has led to questions about Boras’s effectiveness in negotiating deals for his clients.
Montgomery’s 2024 season has been notably rough, with a 6.44 ERA and 1.67 WHIP, leading to his recent shift to the bullpen. Injuries and a delayed start to the season have contributed to his struggles.
Despite these issues, the Diamondbacks remain competitive, holding the top NL wild-card spot and being only a few games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. Montgomery’s past performance, including his impressive 2023 season with the Rangers and Cardinals, highlights his potential, even as he navigates a difficult year.
Barry Bonds experienced a moment of unexpected emotion when the Pittsburgh Pirates informed him of his induction into their Hall of Fame. The announcement was significant for Bonds, and he fully embraced the occasion when it arrived.
On the induction day, he donned a gold jacket and joined fellow honorees Jim Leyland and Manny Sanguillen, celebrating the event by taking pictures in front of his plaque at PNC Park. Despite this recognition, Bonds chose not to focus on the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, which he has yet to enter despite his impressive career.
Bonds, who celebrated his 60th birthday last month, reflected on his career with the Pirates. He began his major league career with the team in 1986 as a young player and was pivotal in their success during the early 1990s, leading them to three consecutive National League East titles.
During this time, he also secured his first two National League MVP awards. Bonds credited his years with the Pirates as formative, calling it “the greatest stop for me” that prepared him for future achievements.
Barry Bonds (MLB)
The Pirates have continued to honor Bonds’ contributions to the team, with his impressive stats including 175 home runs and 251 stolen bases, keeping him among the top ten in these categories.
Despite the team’s failure to progress beyond the NL Championship Series during his tenure, Bonds’ departure from the San Francisco Giants, where he had family ties, softened any past tensions. His recent induction into the Pirates’ Hall of Fame was a surprise to him and a poignant reminder of his legacy with the team.
Bonds remain absent from the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, primarily due to the controversy surrounding his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs. Despite his stellar career, he did not receive the necessary votes during his ten years on the ballot and was also overlooked by the Contemporary Player Committee in 2022. There remains a possibility that he could be reconsidered by the committee in 2025.
Currently, Bonds finds peace with the accolades he’s received from the Pirates, viewing them as a means to honor and educate others about the impact of Black players in baseball.
He expressed a desire for any further honors to occur while his mother is still alive, acknowledging her presence at the ceremony and hoping that any future recognition aligns with her enduring support. Bonds remains focused on celebrating his legacy and contributions to the sport, even if other forms of recognition remain elusive.
Derek Jeter has made it clear that he will not participate in any future Old-Timers’ Day games, stating that he fears he might injure himself if he were to play. Despite this, he has pushed back against claims that his decision to not participate is the reason the Yankees have stopped holding the game.
Jeter emphasized that he does not make decisions regarding the event and suggested that any questions about the discontinuation should be directed to Hal Steinbrenner, the Yankees’ owner.
The Yankees halted the Old-Timers’ Day game in 2020 due to the pandemic, and in the years following, they have replaced it with a Q&A session. Jeter’s return to the event after leaving his role with the Marlins did not include participation in the game, reinforcing his stance that he will not be involved in such activities in the future.
CC Sabathia, a former Yankees pitcher, expressed disappointment over the absence of the game. Sabathia, who made an appearance honoring the 2009 World Series team, indicated that he would have participated if given the chance.
Derek Jeter (MLB)
He joked about still being able to pitch while playing catch with his teenage son and suggested that it would be enjoyable to see former teammates participate in a modified game, perhaps even a softball version.
Jorge Posada, another Core 4 teammate of Jeter and Sabathia, agreed with Jeter’s perspective and expressed skepticism about the practicality of the game. At 54, Posada admitted that he struggles with physical activities and feels that participating in a game would be too challenging. He supported the idea of enjoying the event without the added pressure of trying to play competitively.
David Cone and Mariano Rivera, both former Yankees players, were more open to the idea of reinstating the Old-Timers’ Day game in the future. Cone reminisced about the fun of previous games and indicated that he would welcome another opportunity. Despite acknowledging the challenges in organizing such an event and ensuring the health of participants, Cone remained hopeful that a game might be possible at some point.
The Los Angeles Lakers are strategically planning for LeBron James’s eventual retirement by targeting Luka Dončić as a potential future star. Kevin O’Connor from The Ringer revealed that the Lakers are keeping their future draft picks, indicating they are thinking long-term rather than making immediate trades for short-term gains. This foresight suggests that the Lakers are preparing for life after James while maintaining a competitive edge.
LeBron James, despite being 39 years old, continues to perform exceptionally well, having averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.3 rebounds per game last season. His performance shows no significant decline, but his retirement remains uncertain. A significant goal for James is to play alongside his son, Bronny, who was recently drafted by the Lakers. This milestone could influence his decision to retire after achieving this personal dream.
Luka Dončić (NFL)
James’s career is poised to be one of the greatest in NBA history, with achievements including four championships, four MVP awards, and numerous All-Star appearances. He also holds the record for the most points scored in NBA history and is fourth in all-time assists, with the possibility of moving up further. His legacy is well-established, but the Lakers face the challenge of ensuring continued success post-James.
Anthony Davis is expected to remain with the Lakers, but he has not yet demonstrated the capability to lead a championship team on his own. The Lakers will need to acquire another high-profile superstar to pair with Davis. Luka Dončić, who led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals and was the league’s scoring champion, is seen as a top candidate to fill this role.
The Mavericks are likely to make every effort to retain Dončić long-term, similar to Dirk Nowitzki’s career. Nevertheless, the Lakers might attempt to secure Dončić, emphasizing their commitment to finding a superstar to guide them through the post-James era. This move underscores the Lakers’ strategic approach to building a competitive team for the future.
Uchenna Nwosu, the Seattle Seahawks’ premier edge rusher, has been diagnosed with a sprained MCL and is expected to be sidelined for two to six weeks. The injury occurred during the Seahawks’ preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns when Nwosu was struck by Browns guard Wyatt Teller. Following the injury, Nwosu was seen leaving the field with assistance and later received treatment in the medical tent.
In response to Nwosu’s injury, the Seahawks have made a move to bolster their edge rusher position by acquiring Trevis Gipson from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Seattle traded a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to Jacksonville for Gipson. This acquisition is part of Seattle’s strategy to reinforce their defensive line in light of the current injury setback.
Uchenna Nwosu (NFL)
Nwosu’s absence could significantly impact the Seahawks’ defense, possibly keeping him out for at least the first four games if he is placed on injured reserve. The timing of this injury is particularly challenging as it follows another trade where Seattle dealt Darrell Taylor to the Chicago Bears for a similar draft pick. This move leaves Seattle with a gap that Gipson is expected to help fill.
Trevis Gipson, who is 27 years old, brings with him a career total of 11 sacks from 48 games played over four seasons, including a standout performance in 2021 with seven sacks while with the Chicago Bears. Jacksonville had signed him to a one-year contract worth $1.3 million but with minimal guarantees. Gipson’s role with the Jaguars was mainly as a backup pass rusher.
The trade reflects Jacksonville’s adjustment to their roster dynamics, given the emergence of younger players like Myles Cole and D.J. Coleman. Jaguars coach Doug Pederson noted that the trade is beneficial for both Gipson and the team, as it provides Gipson with more playing time and gives Jacksonville valuable draft compensation.
The Cleveland Browns plan to keep running back Nick Chubb on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list for the start of the regular season. This means Chubb will miss the first four games of the season. He has been working to recover from a serious left knee injury sustained in Week 2 of the 2023 season. The injury led to two surgeries: the first in late September addressed the medial capsule, meniscus, and MCL, while the second in November repaired the ACL.
Despite the setback, the Browns are hopeful Chubb will return to play this season, although no specific timeline has been provided. General Manager Andrew Berry indicated in late July that Chubb still has some recovery ahead. Before Berry’s comments, Chubb had been seen performing full-speed sprints and agility drills, signaling positive progress in his rehab.
Nick Chubb (NFL)
Nick Chubb, a four-time Pro Bowl running back, had a standout record of rushing over 1,000 yards for four consecutive seasons, including a career-high 1,525 yards in 2022. This current injury is notable as it is his second major knee issue, following a similar injury during his college years at the University of Georgia in 2015.
With Chubb out, Jerome Ford is expected to lead the Browns’ backfield. Ford, who had a solid performance last season with 813 rushing yards, will be crucial in filling the void left by Chubb’s absence.
Additionally, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has announced that offensive tackles Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin will be activated from the PUP list, allowing them to potentially play in Week 1. Cornerback Greg Newsome and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson will also return from their respective injuries, and safety D’Anthony Bell will be back from the PUP list. The team is confident that these players will be ready for their season opener against the Dallas Cowboys on September 8.
Patrick’s future with the Broncos is under review, with sources indicating that the decision is particularly tough due to his established toughness and locker room popularity. The organization values his resilience, yet his recent injury history complicates their decision.
Sean Payton, the Broncos’ head coach, has publicly acknowledged Patrick’s grit and the respect he garners from his teammates. Payton highlighted Patrick’s veteran presence and the significant challenges he has overcome, though these factors may not fully mitigate the issues caused by his injuries.
Tim Patrick (NFL)
Patrick’s career has been marred by setbacks, including missing the entire 2022 season due to a torn ACL and the 2023 season with a torn Achilles tendon. Despite these obstacles, he worked his way up from the practice squad to a key offensive role in previous seasons, showing considerable perseverance.
After returning from two years of injury rehabilitation, Patrick participated actively in training camp and made a positive impression during the preseason, catching five passes for 44 yards and a touchdown. His approach to overcoming these hurdles reflects his resilience and determination.
The Broncos’ roster decisions are also influenced by their recent draft picks and acquisitions. With the selection of wide receivers Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele, and the signing of Josh Reynolds, Patrick faces increased competition. Similarly, running back Samaje Perine finds himself squeezed by the team’s depth chart, as they seem poised to keep only three running backs for the upcoming season.
