The Los Angeles Dodgers have designated veteran outfielder Jason Heyward for assignment and activated Chris Taylor from the injured list on Thursday.
Heyward, 35, has spent parts of 15 seasons in the major leagues with teams including the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Dodgers.
This season, Heyward appeared in 63 games for the Dodgers, hitting .208 with six home runs and 28 RBIs.
Chris Taylor slides past Tyler Fitzgerald in the 7th inning
He had a key three-run homer in the eighth inning of the Dodgers’ 6-3 victory over Seattle on Tuesday night. He has been with Los Angeles for the past two seasons.
Taylor, a 33-year-old infielder and outfielder, had been on the injured list since July 25 due to a right groin strain. He played five games in a minor league rehab stint, going 6 for 18 with two doubles and four RBIs.
Before his injury, Taylor played 64 games, batting .167 with three home runs and 15 RBIs.
Osvaldo Bido struck out six batters in five innings and won his third consecutive start, leading the Oakland Athletics to a 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday.
Lawrence Butler, Miguel Andujar, and Darell Hernaiz each had two hits, helping Oakland even the four-game series.
Bido (5-3) has been one of the A’s standout pitchers for the past two months and delivered another strong performance against the Rays. He allowed one run and two hits while matching the longest winning streak by an A’s starting pitcher this season. JP Sears and Mitch Spence have also won three straight starts.
“He has been on a good run and he seems to be getting more confident,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said, mentioning that Bido has been working on changes to his pitching mechanics.
“I tip my cap to Bido for making those adjustments and being able to repeat them.
Kameron Misner catches the ball in the 3rd inning
I think that’s why we’re seeing the success we are.”
After walking two of the first three batters he faced, Bido retired nine in a row and extended his scoreless streak to 18 innings before José Caballero’s RBI double in the fourth inning.
“I’ve just been working a lot and making my adjustments,” Bido said through an interpreter. “I’m just trying to keep going. I’ve been getting good results and we just keep working.”
Five A’s relievers combined for four scoreless innings. Mason Miller pitched the ninth for his 20th save, the third-highest by a rookie in team history.
Christopher Morel had two singles and Kameron Misner got his first major league hit for the Rays.
The A’s scored twice off Rays starter Jeffrey Springs in the second inning. After Butler and Tyler Nevin started the inning with back-to-back singles, Zack Gelof drove in Butler with a sacrifice fly, and Hernaiz followed with an RBI double to left.
Paul Skenes struck out nine batters in six impressive innings, Bryan De La Cruz hit a three-run double during a six-run fifth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates won 7-0 against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night.
Skenes (8-2), the rookie who started last month’s All-Star game, gave up only two hits and one walk. He had a 1-1 record with a 4.15 ERA in his previous three starts. With 17 starts and 92 innings this season, Skenes has struck out 110 batters.
Having pitched 131 1/3 innings in both the major and minor leagues during his first full professional season, the Pirates might reduce his innings later in September. Despite this, he performed strongly against the Reds.
“I feel good,” Skenes said. “I think we’ve learned as we’ve gone along. But I’m comfortable with the work I’ve put in over the offseason and at the beginning of the season. I think it is paying off.”
Bryan Reynolds hits a single in the 5th inning
Skenes dominated the Reds with his fastball, which reached 100 mph.
“Execution of the four-seam fastball, I think he went back to it, the ability to execute it on both sides of the plate, especially against his arm side away to right-handed hitters,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said when asked about Skenes’ success.
“I thought he was really good and when he needed a pitch, he was able to go there.”
Ben Heller pitched two innings and Hunter Stratton closed the game in the ninth, completing the five-hit shutout. This was the Pirates’ ninth shutout of the season. The Reds were shut out for the 11th time this season and lost five of their last seven games.
De La Cruz had two doubles and a single. He came into the game with no extra-base hits in 66 plate appearances since being traded from Miami to the Pirates on July 30.
Rookie Spencer Schwellenbach retired 19 batters in a row, and the Atlanta Braves won 3-2 against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night, taking two of three games in their series.
After Schwellenbach (5-6) gave up a single to Bryce Harper in the first inning, he didn’t allow another batter to reach base until Bryson Stott’s infield hit off his glove with two outs in the seventh inning.
“I really wanted that last one,” Schwellenbach said through clenched teeth. “I’ve gotta squeeze the glove and come up with the ball.”
J.T. Realmuto then hit a run-scoring double, which cut Atlanta’s 3-1 lead and ended Schwellenbach’s night. Pierce Johnson struck out Brandon Marsh to stop the threat and worked around two walks in the eighth inning, getting Trea Turner to ground into a double play to end the inning.
Raisel Iglesias struck out the side in the ninth inning for his 28th save in 30 chances, extending his scoreless streak to 15 innings.
Raisel Iglesias celebrates after the last strike in the 9th inning
Adam Duvall homered for the Braves, whose streak of six straight division titles is now in serious doubt. They are still six games behind the Phillies and will face them again in a four-game series in Philadelphia next week.
“Now, all the games are big,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker, whose team currently holds the final NL wild-card spot. “None are any more important than the others because it’s just about winning games.”
Schwellenbach, a surprising addition to the rotation after losing ace Spencer Strider to a season-ending injury, struck out nine batters, all swinging, over 6 2/3 innings.
“That was kind of my mindset right when they called me up,” he said. “We need a guy and I’m gonna be that guy.” Manager Brian Snitker praised the 24-year-old’s calm demeanor, confidence, and variety of pitches.
“He throws strikes and he’s got secondary pitches,” the manager said. “His velocity stays the same the whole game, I think because he uses all of his pitches.”
Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez (9-9) gave up nine hits and three runs in six innings, though it could have been worse. The Braves left six runners on base in the first four innings.
J.T. Realmuto celebrates after hitting a double in the 7th inning
Duvall hit his 11th homer to lead off the sixth inning, adding to Atlanta’s lead. It was his first home run since hitting two against the New York Mets on July 26. He went 3 for 3 after struggling with a 1-for-29 slump.
“It felt good to put the barrel on one finally,” said Duvall, who is hitting just .186. “It’s been a tough year.”
The Phillies took the lead in the first inning after Kyle Schwarber reached base on Schwellenbach’s only walk. Harper followed with a single, and Nick Castellanos drove in the run by beating out a potential double play.
Atlanta tied the game in the second inning with a ground-rule double by Gio Urshela, who joined the team this week after Austin Riley went on the injured list with a fractured hand.
Whit Merrifield began the third inning with a bunt single and scored the go-ahead run on Matt Olson’s double off the right-field wall. The Phillies made a mistake in a rundown that inning, but Sánchez managed to get out of the jam.
Ernie Clement homered for the third game in a row, and the Toronto Blue Jays scored 5 runs in the second inning to take an early lead and defeat the Los Angeles Angels 5-3 on Thursday night.
Clement’s homer came on a fastball from right-hander Mike Baumann that was above the strike zone. According to MLB, it was the second-highest pitch hit for a home run since pitch tracking started in 2008.
“I probably shouldn’t be swinging at pitches like that one,” Clement said. “I’ve struck out on that pitch a couple of times this year. I just try to get the barrel to the ball with two strikes.”
Angels manager Ron Washington had a different view. “Sometimes you do the impossible,” Washington said.
The Blue Jays, who had swept a three-game series against the Angels last week, have now won four straight games against them and eight of the last 10 meetings.
Niko Kavadas hit a three-run home run for his first major league hit, connecting off Toronto right-hander Tommy Nance with two outs in the ninth inning.
Michael Baumann pitches in the 1st inning
“Definitely a big relief,” Kavadas said. The Angels lost for the eighth time in 10 games, shortly after announcing a two-year contract extension for general manager Perry Minasian.
“We hadn’t scored a run in 17 innings and then we finally broke through,” Washington said. “Hopefully that gives us a boost for tomorrow.”
Los Angeles had lost 3-0 to Kansas City on Wednesday.
Reliever Ryan Burr started for the Blue Jays, who pushed back all their regular starters by a day to give them extra rest. Toronto and Boston are set to resume a suspended game in the top of the second inning on Monday before playing a second game later that day.
Right-handed Burr allowed two hits and left after Jo Adell led off the second inning with a single. Adell finished 3 for 4.
Jake Meyers and Ben Gamel greets each other in the 6th inning
Spencer Arrighetti outperformed Corbin Burnes, Ben Gamel drove in two runs in his debut with Houston, and the Astros increased their lead in the AL West to a season-high 5 1/2 games with a 6-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.
Arrighetti (6-11) allowed three hits in six innings, struck out six, and walked one. Burnes (12-6) gave up five earned runs in 5 2/3 innings, continuing a rough stretch for the Baltimore ace who had allowed a career-high eight runs in his previous start against Boston.
Houston has now won nine straight road games, its longest streak since an 11-game run in 2018.
Gamel, who was acquired off waivers from the New York Mets, hit RBI singles in the fourth and sixth innings, the only innings in which Houston scored. The Astros have gone 62-39 since their 7-19 start and have built a strong lead over second-place Seattle in the AL West.
Corbin Burnes pitches in the 1st inning
They were 10 games behind after a loss to the Chicago White Sox on June 18. The Orioles fell 1 1/2 games behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees.
Burnes allowed eight hits, all singles, which came in two key innings and were costly for the Orioles. Yordan Alvarez and Gamel had RBI singles in the fourth inning, and Gamel drove in another run in the sixth.
It was Gamel’s first multihit game since September 13, 2022, when he was with Pittsburgh.
“Bat-to-ball skills — they’ve always been there,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “He’s had some success against their starter.”
Jake Meyers’ bunt single made it 4-0, and an error by Burnes on the play left runners on second and third. Shay Whitcomb then added a two-run single to chase Burnes from the game.
On Thursday, the San Diego Padres sent knuckleballer Matt Waldron to Triple-A El Paso and brought up right-hander Logan Gillaspie.
This decision followed Waldron giving up a career-high 10 runs on 12 hits in 4 1/3 innings during an 11-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins the day before, which stopped a potential three-game sweep.
Logan Gillaspie pitches in the 8th inning
In his last three starts, Waldron allowed 22 runs in 14 1/3 innings. For the season, he has made 26 starts with a 7-11 record and a 4.79 ERA.
Gillaspie has not recorded a win or loss this year but has a 3.24 ERA in seven appearances.
Jacob deGrom has made significant progress toward returning to a major league mound this season, even though the Texas Rangers are not likely to make the playoffs.
DeGrom pitched in a game for the first time since April 28, 2023, throwing 29 pitches over two innings in a minor league rehab assignment at Double-A Frisco on Thursday night.
The defending World Series champions were 10 games behind in the AL West with 34 games left to play, so deGrom’s return might not impact the playoff race.
However, it is important for the 36-year-old pitcher and the team that signed him to a $185 million, five-year contract before the 2023 season despite his injury history. He had only made six starts before needing his second major elbow surgery.
“It’s very important,” said deGrom, who struck out three batters after giving up two hits and a run at the start of his outing.
Jacob deGrom is in rehab
“That way, I can treat the offseason a little bit more normal. If I don’t get out there, it’s going to feel like I’ve been rehabbing all that time through, whatever that is, almost a year and a half.”
DeGrom thought his location was off, but he threw 21 pitches for strikes. He used fastballs, including one at 100 mph for his first strikeout, along with sliders and a few changeups.
DeGrom said he will likely use only these three pitches in his games this season and isn’t sure how many more rehab outings he will need.
“I don’t think we’ve gone that far yet,” deGrom said. “One step at a time. Make sure I bounce back tomorrow, then we’ll come up with a plan from there.”
On the day their closest rival fired its manager, the Houston Astros achieved their largest division lead of the season.
Spencer Arrighetti, Ben Gamel, and Shay Whitcomb—players who aren’t usually the biggest stars for Houston—helped the Astros secure a 6-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.
Just over two months ago, Houston was 10 games behind in the AL West, but now they hold a 5 1/2-game lead over Seattle.
“This team finds ways to just stay in the fight,” manager Joe Espada said. “It’s something that has been here since I first got here.”
The Mariners did not play on Thursday but were occupied with firing manager Scott Servais. They may have missed their best chance to catch the Astros.
After making seven straight appearances in the AL Championship Series, Houston was 7-19 early this season.
Jake Meyers and Ben Gamel greet each other in the 6th inning
Since then, the Astros have gone 62-39. Arrighetti, a rookie right-hander, gave up three hits in six innings against the Orioles. Gamel, who made his debut with the Astros after being claimed off waivers, had two RBI singles.
Whitcomb added a two-run single in the sixth inning.
“I give credit to a lot of people. It starts from our front office, and all the way down to player development,” Espada said. “For us to win, we need everyone — and I mean everyone.”
This win was the ninth consecutive road victory for the Astros, and it came against a Baltimore team that is contending for first place in the AL East with the New York Yankees and was pitching its ace, Corbin Burnes.
Luis Severino outperformed Dylan Cease, and the New York Mets defeated the San Diego Padres 8-3 on Thursday night in the first game of a four-game series between National League playoff contenders.
Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil each had three hits, and Mark Vientos drove in three runs for the Mets, who are now 4-0 against the Padres this season and have won six of their last nine games. The Mets had a total of 17 hits in the game.
Before this game, the Padres were tied with division rival Arizona for the top wild card spot, while the Mets were two games behind the Atlanta Braves for the final wild card position.
With their 11-4 loss to Minnesota on Wednesday, the Padres have now lost two games in a row for the first time since the All-Star break. They had been 22-8 in that period.
The Padres had previously eliminated the 101-win Mets in the wild-card round in 2022 and went on to the NL Championship Series.
For the Mets, this game marked the beginning of a 10-game road trip that includes three games against the Diamondbacks.
Jesse Winker watches the ball after making a connection in the 1st inning
“Winning the first game is huge for us,” Severino said. “Hopefully we continue to do that. We showed today we have a good team that can hit.
Cease is a great pitcher and we went out there and got a couple hits against him and knocked him down before seven innings. If we can do that from now on we’re going to be good.”
The Mets extended their 3-1 lead by scoring five runs in the ninth inning against Logan Gillaspie, who had been called up earlier in the day from El Paso after knuckleballer Matt Waldron was sent to the same Triple-A team.
Severino (9-6) allowed only one run and five hits in five innings while striking out five. He had just pitched his second career shutout in a 4-0 win against Miami and managed to keep the Padres in check for four innings while the Mets built a 3-0 lead.
He gave up three of his four walks in the fifth inning, along with a hit and a stolen base, but allowed only one run. San Diego loaded the bases with no outs from two walks and a single. Mason McCoy scored when Jake Cronenworth hit into a double play.
Manny Machado walked and stole second, putting runners on second and third, but Xander Bogaerts grounded out.
“We were good. Just a little trouble in the fifth inning there, walking the first guy there, the No. 9 hitter,” Severino said. “As a pitcher I can’t do that. I have to attack that guy. Bases loaded, no outs, big situation, give up one run, glad we got out of that inning.”
Tommy Nance pitches in the 8th inning
Severino mentioned he felt “pretty good” after pitching nine innings in his last game.
“I feel like everything was there,” he said. “Fastball command was good. Had a good cutter. Didn’t feel tired. I knew my leash was going to be a little bit shorter because of how many pitches that I threw last time. But I feel pretty good.”
Cease (12-10), who pitched his first career no-hitter against Washington on July 25, allowed three runs on a season-high nine hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
Cease fell behind 1-0 after two batters when Francisco Lindor and Vientos hit consecutive doubles. The Mets went up 3-0 in the fourth inning after Jesse Winker singled and Jose Iglesias doubled with one out. Winker scored on a passed ball, and Iglesias scored on Jeff McNeil’s infield single.
The Padres allowed 17 or more hits in consecutive games at Petco Park for the first time since April 8-9, 2006.
A team with connections to the Korean community has won Japan’s famous high school baseball tournament called the “Koshien” for the first time.
On Friday, Kyoto International High School won the prestigious championship by beating Kanto Daiichi High School 2-1 with a tie-breaking run in the 10th inning. This tournament, which happens twice a year in the spring and summer, is one of Japan’s most watched sports events.
The championship is held at the Hanshin Koshien stadium in the western Japanese city of Nishinomiya.
The win is followed closely in Japan and also in South Korea, where baseball is very popular.
Kyoto International High School’s members celebrate after winning
The result is expected to highlight the improving relations between these two neighboring countries, but it also brings up the difficult history between them, due to Japan’s harsh colonization of Korea that ended in 1945 after Japan’s defeat in World War II.
A South Korean residents organization commented that the victory “brought together the hearts of all ethnic Korean residents in Japan as one and served as a bridge between South Korea and Japan.”
Mindan, or the Korean Residents Union in Japan, also noted that South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol paid attention to the game.
Kyoto International High School was founded in 1947 for Japan’s Korean population, many of whom had been brought to Japan as forced labor during the Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945.
The Chicago Bears have made notable changes to their defensive lineup with two recent trades. On Saturday, the Bears acquired defensive tackle Chris Williams and a 2025 seventh-round pick from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a sixth-round pick.
This move follows a trade the previous day with the Seattle Seahawks, in which the Bears sent a sixth-round pick to acquire Darrell Taylor. These transactions highlight the Bears’ proactive approach to addressing concerns about their defensive line depth.
Chris Williams, who is 26 years old, began his career with the Indianapolis Colts, where Bears’ coach Matt Eberflus was the defensive coordinator. Williams has since been on practice squads with the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns, but his previous performance with the Colts, where he recorded six tackles in 13 games, impressed Eberflus. Williams expressed confidence in fitting into Eberflus’ defensive scheme, which emphasizes a fast and aggressive style of play.
Darrell Taylor (NFL)
Despite being listed as a fifth-string defensive tackle on Cleveland’s depth chart, Williams had a strong performance in his final preseason game, recording two sacks, one of which led to a safety.
The Bears’ trade also involved sending a seventh-round pick to the Browns, which was originally acquired from the Miami Dolphins in the deal for wide receiver Chase Claypool. With this trade, the Bears now have a total of seven draft picks for the 2025 NFL Draft.
In addition to acquiring Williams, the Bears’ trade for Darrell Taylor has been a topic of discussion. Eberflus highlighted Taylor’s distinct rushing skills and high motor as valuable assets to the team.
Taylor, who had a solid 2023 season with the Seahawks, is expected to bring versatility and competition to the defensive line. Eberflus noted that Taylor would need some refinement but praised his effort and performance.
The Bears’ strategy to find an edge rusher was also briefly mentioned. Initially, the team pursued Matthew Judon of the New England Patriots, but negotiations fell through over contract extension terms, leading Judon to the Atlanta Falcons.
Eberflus indicated that the Bears would continue to rotate their edge rushers, including Taylor, and make decisions based on performance and competition among the defensive linemen.
