Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert practiced on Monday for the first time since July 31.
Herbert had been wearing a walking boot for two weeks due to an injury to the plantar fascia in his right foot.
The fifth-year quarterback did not participate in full-team drills but took part in 7-on-7 exercises.
Coach Jim Harbaugh was thrilled to see Herbert back on the field in his yellow No. 10 practice jersey.
“I felt like music should be playing. I thought I heard music. Voices of angels, maybe,” Harbaugh said. “It felt great. He looked great with a capital G. No drop-off, pinpoint accuracy, really good.”
While wearing the walking boot, Herbert continued to attend meetings and do some conditioning work. He will gradually increase his practice participation as the Chargers prepare for their season opener on Sept. 8 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Justin Herbert warms up before the game
In addition to Herbert’s recovery, finding a reliable backup quarterback is still a concern.
Easton Stick, who started four games last season after Herbert injured a finger on his throwing hand, has had difficulties in the two preseason games. He played the first half against the Seattle Seahawks and Rams but has had three turnovers and led the Chargers to only three field goals.
Harbaugh mentioned that Stick will start in Saturday’s preseason finale at Dallas.
Luis Perez was signed on Aug. 7 and played the entire second half last Saturday against the Rams. Max Duggan, a seventh-round pick from last year, was released on Monday.
After a four-day visit to Nashville that included joint practices and a 16-15 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Saturday, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said his team has a lot of areas to improve.
He joked that this was a polite way of saying there were many mistakes.
“It’s the optimistic way of saying that there’s a lot of things that we screwed up,” Macdonald said. “If you look at it positive, like good, all right, we know that we’ve got to work on, let’s get after it. But time’s ticking. There’s a sense of urgency behind it.”
With only one preseason game left against Cleveland at Lumen Field on Saturday at 7 p.m., Macdonald is focused on getting the team ready for the new scheme and the upcoming season opener against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 8.
It’s a big challenge, but Macdonald believes his team can meet it.
“We’ve got to make some of these mistakes go away as we move forward,” Macdonald said. “The guys know that and expect some big-time jump here this week.”
Mike Macdonald watches fro the sidelines
Macdonald did not say which players will play against the Browns, but he wants to see better performance from the Seahawks’ third down defense.
“(Tennessee) converted like 4 of 7 third-and-10-pluses, which is a huge no-no,” Macdonald said. “We looked at our execution in those situations.
You can’t be getting man penalties on third-and-long in the fringe area. So, you know, there’s a lot of room for growth on defense. I thought we took a step back this week.”
One positive from the game against the Titans was running back Kenny McIntosh, who led the team with 46 rushing yards on eight carries and caught two passes for 17 yards. McIntosh, who missed much of last season due to a knee injury, is aiming to secure the third running back spot behind Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet.
McIntosh has been getting most of the snaps in the preseason games but is still waiting for his breakout performance. His goal is to stay healthy and make the most of his chance to prove himself.
The Atlanta Braves, already struggling with injuries, received more bad news on Monday. Third baseman Austin Riley will be out for at least the rest of the regular season after breaking his right hand.
Riley was hit by a 97 mph fastball from Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jack Kochanowicz in the first inning of Atlanta’s 3-1 win on Sunday. An MRI revealed the fracture, and he will be sidelined for six to eight weeks, missing the rest of the regular season and likely part of the playoffs if the Braves make it.
The Braves were two games ahead of the New York Mets for the final wild-card spot before their upcoming three-game series against the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies.
The Braves have won their division for six straight years, but this streak is at risk as injuries have left them seven games behind the Phillies. They are now focused on securing a wild-card spot, currently holding a two-game lead over the Mets.
Austin Riley watches his home run in the 5th inning
Along with Riley, the Braves have already lost NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. and ace pitcher Spencer Strider to season-ending injuries. Key players like second baseman Ozzie Albies, center fielder Michael Harris II, and catcher Sean Murphy have also missed significant time.
This is Riley’s second major injury this season. He previously missed two weeks in May with a strained muscle near his rib cage. Now facing a serious injury, the Braves have a significant gap in their lineup. Since the trade deadline has passed, their options to replace him are limited.
Riley hit 37 home runs last season and has 153 home runs for Atlanta since his debut in 2019. After Riley’s injury, Luke Williams, who is hitting .118 this season, filled in at third base but may not be a long-term solution.
The Braves might shift Whit Merrifield, currently filling in at second base, to third base and give top prospect Nacho Alvarez another chance.
Cleveland Guardians’ Alex Cobb pitches in the first inning of a baseball game
Alex Cobb was put on the 15-day injured list on Monday by the Cleveland Guardians due to a broken nail, adding to the team’s rotation troubles.
Cobb, who was acquired from San Francisco in a trade on July 30, has made two starts for the AL Central leaders. At 36 years old, Cobb earned his first win in nearly a year last week by allowing one run and three hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs.
He had not pitched this season for the Giants due to hip surgery last October.
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee delivers during the first inning of a baseball game
Cleveland brought Cobb in to strengthen a rotation that has faced injuries throughout the season.
To fill Cobb’s spot on the roster, the Guardians promoted left-hander Anthony Gose from Triple-A Columbus. They also moved left-hander Sam Hentges to the 60-day injured list. Hentges, who hasn’t pitched since July 10, recently sought a second medical opinion.
The Guardians will start a three-game series against the Yankees in New York on Tuesday.
Houston’s Justin Verlander is set to come off the injured list and start the last game of a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday.
“It’s big getting JV on the mound. It’s getting one of the best back in there,” manager Joe Espada said. “We know what he means. We know he’s part of this winning culture and getting him back is a big boost for our team, especially down the stretch.”
The 41-year-old ace has not pitched since June 9 due to neck stiffness. He made two rehab starts in the minor leagues, with his most recent appearance being four innings for Double-A Corpus Christi on Thursday.
Espada was asked if the three-time Cy Young Award winner would be on a pitch count since he threw just 57 pitches in his last rehab outing.
Justin Verlander pitches to the first inning
“We’ll see how the outing goes and how efficient he is,” Espada said. “I don’t want to put a number because he can surprise us. But we’re going to keep a close eye on his workload for sure.”
Verlander is 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA in 10 starts this season. This is his second stint on the injured list this year, having also missed time earlier in the season due to inflammation in his right shoulder.
The Astros have just started a stretch of 18 games without a break and Espada mentioned they will use a six-man rotation at least until they get through this period.
Houston has turned things around and entered Monday’s games with a season-best 11 games above .500. The Astros are leading the AL West by four games over the second-place Mariners.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have put third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes on the 10-day injured list due to lower back inflammation.
Hayes, who won a Gold Glove last year, has had difficulty hitting for power this season. The 27-year-old is batting .233 with four home runs and 25 RBIs in 96 games. His OPS of .573 is the lowest of his career and significantly lower than the .762 OPS he had in 2023.
To fill Hayes’ spot on the roster, the Pirates called up outfielder/first baseman Billy McKinney.
Ke’Bryan Hayes hits a home run in the 9th inning
McKinney has batted .285 with five home runs and 18 RBIs this season across Class A Greensboro and Triple-A Indianapolis.
McKinney, who joined the Pirates in a trade with the New York Yankees last December, has played in 311 major league games with six different teams, hitting .209 with 34 homers and 86 RBIs.
The Pirates also recalled reliever Hunter Stratton from Indianapolis and designated reliever Ryder Ryan for assignment. Additionally, outfielder Josh Palacios’ rehab assignment ended, and he was sent back to Triple-A.
After playing with a sprained left ankle for eight days, Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte was taken off the active roster on Monday.
The Diamondbacks placed Marte on the 10-day injured list ahead of their three-game series in Miami.
Marte hurt his ankle during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on August 10 when Garrett Stubbs slid into him at second base.
Marte missed three games but aggravated the injury while pinch hitting against Tampa Bay on Sunday. He had been the designated hitter on Saturday, where he had a single and a walk in four at-bats.
“Ketel needs some time off,” said Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo on Monday. “He was trying to play through it but made the ankle sprain worse. We hope his time on the injured list will be as short as possible.”
Marte is currently third in the National League with 30 home runs and has 81 RBIs in 116 games. His strong performance has helped Arizona to a 69-56 record, putting them just one game behind San Diego for the top NL wild-card spot.
Ketel Marte is checked by an assistant trainer
“We thought he was healed, and he seemed to be improving,” Lovullo said. “But he was practicing intensely, and it flared up again.”
The Diamondbacks have a 28-13 record since early July but were swept in three games by the Rays before starting their series in Miami.
Marte has returned to Arizona, and Lovullo doesn’t expect him to need any more tests.
Rookie Adrian Del Castillo hit his first career grand slam and drove in six runs to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 9-6 victory over the Miami Marlins on Monday night.
Del Castillo, a Miami native, homered for the third time since being called up from the minors on August 6. He also had a two-run single and stole his first career base. He is hitting .333 with 14 RBIs in his first nine games with Arizona.
Del Castillo mentioned, “Just trying to keep having fun with these guys and have to keep winning for sure.”
According to STATS, Del Castillo is only the third major league catcher to record at least six RBIs and a stolen base in a single game, following Jerry Grote in 1981 and Johnny Bench in 1974.
Joc Pederson and Jake McCarthy also homered for the Diamondbacks, who have the best record in the league since July 1, despite being swept in a three-game series at Tampa Bay over the weekend.
Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt gave up four runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. Pfaadt (8-6) struck out four and walked two.
Pfaadt said, “Our stuff wasn’t as sharp as we expected. We got through it and got the team win. That’s all you can really ask for.”
Brandon Pfaadt pitches in the 3rd inning
In the third inning, Del Castillo hit a drive that curved foul near the upper-deck stands in right field on his second pitch against Adam Oller. He then connected on a 3-1 fastball and sent it over the center field wall for a 4-0 lead.
Del Castillo commented, “That’s usually not a good thing — home run foul — they say strikeout comes after that. Definitely was not trying to strike out there. Just adjust my sights and thinking bigger part of the field on the next pitches.”
The Diamondbacks managed to load the bases without a hit after Oller (0-1) hit McCarthy and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with pitches and walked Pavin Smith.
Del Castillo mentioned he lost track of how many family and friends were there, but there was a big cheer after his home run.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said, “He had an army of people here supporting him. We were with him in celebration. We needed every bit of his offensive support tonight.”
Nick Fortes hit a home run for Miami in the third inning, but Pederson responded with a solo home run in the fifth, his 20th of the season.
The Marlins closed the gap to 5-4 after Pfaadt was replaced by Connor Norby’s RBI fielder’s choice and Kyle Stowers’ run-scoring single. Kevin Ginkel came in and got a double-play grounder from Fortes to end the inning.
In the seventh inning, Del Castillo drove in two more runs for Arizona with a single, and McCarthy added a two-run home run in the eighth.
Adrian Del Castillo watches after hitting a grand slam
Lovullo said, “We’re about creating traffic, giving ourselves opportunities and having the right people in the right spot coming up and slug.”
Oller gave up five runs and three hits in 4 2/3 innings during his Marlins debut. The 29-year-old Oller walked four, hit two batters, and struck out two.
Marlins manager Skip Schumaker commented, “Oller has good stuff, good breaking ball. They only got three hits off him. But when you give up six free passes, that will cost you at the big league level.”
Before the game, Arizona put All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left ankle and recalled Smith from Triple-A Reno.
Miami recalled Norby from Triple-A Jacksonville and designated infielder Emmanuel Rivera for assignment.
Justin Turner returned to Dodger Stadium on Monday night for the first time since leaving the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022, after spending nine years with the team and winning a World Series as their determined third baseman.
“It was one of the best things that ever happened to my career, getting a chance to put on this uniform that so many great players have worn throughout the years and be on some teams that have done some historic things,” Turner said before the game.
“It’s really something that I feel honored to be a part of.” Now 39 years old, Turner is playing first base for the Seattle Mariners, who were starting a three-game series against the NL West leaders.
Turner received a second standing ovation before his first at-bat in the second inning. He grounded out to third base—his old position with the Dodgers—to end the inning.
His wife, Kourtney, and their red-haired son Bo, born on July 4, joined him behind home plate for a pregame ceremony. They watched a video of his career highlights with the Dodgers, and the team gave Turner a $10,000 check for his foundation and three framed photos of him in action.
Justin Turner stands next to his wife
With Turner’s walk-up music “Turn Down for What” playing, he shared hugs with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and pitchers Clayton Kershaw and Joe Kelly, among others.
“What’s up, LA?” Turner said as the crowd stood and applauded. “I just want to say from the bottom of my heart thank you guys so much for nine of the most incredible years of my life. You guys made this one of the most special times and I can’t say thank you enough.”
Turner and his wife, married in 2017 by former Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser, were well-known for their civic contributions in Los Angeles. They used their foundation to support homeless veterans, sick children, and youth baseball organizations.
From the dugout, Turner would always shake hands with the military hero of the game, introduced between innings, and give them an autographed baseball.
During his time in LA, Dodgers fans wore fake red beards to honor Turner.
“In my nine years here I don’t think there’s been a bigger fan favorite,” Roberts said. “Fans just really identified with him.”
Justin Turner smiles in the dugout
After the 2013 season, Turner was let go by the New York Mets and became a free agent. Just before the next spring training, he found a new team in Los Angeles.
Initially, Turner failed his physical with the Dodgers, so his guaranteed contract was changed to an invitation to spring training as a non-roster invitee. Turner, who is from Long Beach, walked into the clubhouse on his first day and saw Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Kenley Jansen, Adrian Gonzalez, Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, and Hanley Ramírez.
“It was kind of a pinch-me moment, like do I belong in this room with all these people?” he recalled.
Turner made the team just before the club left for Australia to start the 2014 season against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Turner became a first-time All-Star in 2017. He had six hits in 13 at-bats in the National League Division Series, including a game-winning home run in the ninth inning of Game 2 against the Chicago Cubs.
Turner and Chris Taylor were co-MVPs of the NL Championship Series. Turner batted .333 with two homers and seven RBIs. The Dodgers lost the World Series to the Houston Astros, with Turner hitting just .160.
Justin Turner talks to Shohei Ohtani
In 2020, the Dodgers won the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, with Turner hitting two home runs. He was taken out late in Game 6 after testing positive for COVID-19 but returned to take celebratory photos with his teammates, which broke MLB rules. Turner later apologized.
After the 2022 season, the Dodgers decided not to pick up his $16 million option for the next season, making him a free agent. Turner played for Boston in 2023. Earlier this year, he signed with Toronto and was traded to Seattle last month.
“In my emotional side, I wish he was a Dodger forever,” Roberts said. “That’s just not the way sports works, but he’s always a Dodger to me and we’re going to be friends forever.”
Roberts became a first-time manager after the 2014 season and credits Turner and Gonzalez with supporting him in front of the team, which built trust.
Justin Turner walks back to dugout
“For that I’ll always be indebted to those two guys in particular,” he said.
Turner is now focused on helping the Mariners make a postseason run, but when his playing career ends, he would consider working for the Dodgers.
“Obviously if that opportunity presented itself it would be something that I really, really took into consideration,” he said. Roberts supported Turner as a future big league manager.
“He’s probably the smartest player I’ve ever had, understanding all the facets of the game on the field, off the field, responsibility as a professional athlete,” he said.
“Being a field manager is something that’s on his radar. He and the organization have a huge respect and admiration. It seems like a no-brainer for me.”
Spencer Steer hit a go-ahead RBI double during a four-run sixth inning, and the Reds defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 on Monday night to end a three-game losing streak.
TJ Friedl, with three hits including his 10th homer, helped Cincinnati in the first game of a seven-game trip. Ty France added two hits and two RBIs.
The Reds had been swept by Kansas City at home over the weekend.
“Getting swept, it’s never fun, but you move on,” Friedl said. “That’s what this team does well. You can’t dwell on the past.”
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 26th homer for Toronto, and Ernie Clement also homered. Kevin Gausman (11-9) gave up four runs, three earned, and five hits in five-plus innings, taking his first loss since July 5.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider felt Gausman deserved better.
“Some close misses around the zone,” Schneider said. “They fouled off, it seemed, like half of his pitches.”
The Blue Jays, now in last place, lost for the third time in four games.
Ty France celebrates after hitting a double
Tyler Stephenson sparked Cincinnati’s sixth-inning rally when he reached base on a passed ball by Alejandro Kirk on strike three. Friedl then singled, leading to Gausman’s exit.
Ryan Burr took over and allowed Steer’s go-ahead double. Jeimer Candelario struck out, but France hit a two-run double and scored on Jake Fraley’s double. All three doubles off Burr were hit to right-center.
Tony Santillan (1-1) earned the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Julian Aguiar, who allowed two runs and four hits in four innings during his major league debut.
“He settled in nicely,” Friedl said of Aguiar. “He was filling up the zone, he was attacking early. His stuff looked good from center field. I liked the way he was commanding his pitches.”
The Reds promoted Aguiar from Triple-A Louisville to start in place of injured All-Star Hunter Greene (elbow).
Francisco Alvarez reacts after hitting a home run in the 9th inning
Francisco Alvarez broke out of his slump with a solo home run and one out in the ninth inning, giving the New York Mets a 4-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night.
J.D. Martinez hit a two-run home run early in the game, and Tyrone Taylor had an RBI single as the Mets closed to within 1 1/2 games of idle Atlanta for the final National League wild-card spot.
“We talk about how deep our lineup is, but we need these guys to get going,” New York manager Carlos Mendoza said. “As a hitter, when you get a hold of one like that, it can get you back on track. Hopefully that’s the case here.”
Ramón Urías hit a game-tying home run in the seventh inning for the Orioles, who fell a half-game behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East.
Alvarez, who started the night with a .167 average since the All-Star break, hit a 3-0 fastball from Seranthony Domínguez (3-3) to left-center field for his first game-ending hit in the majors.
“I got behind and he took a good pitch 2-0,” Domínguez said. “He was patient and he made good contact.”
It was Alvarez’s first home run in 16 games, since July 26. Before starting his home run trot, he admired the 421-foot drive, then shouted, pounded his chest, and gestured toward the New York dugout.
Ramon Urias looks after hitting a home run in the 7th inning
“It’s been hard for him,” Mendoza said. “He cares so much and he wants to win. At times, when we’re struggling offensively as a team, he feels like he’s responsible.”
After rounding the bases, Alvarez threw his batting helmet into the air as he approached excited teammates waiting at home plate to celebrate New York’s eighth walk-off win of the season.
Just to be sure, he went back and stepped on home plate again.
“I don’t know if I missed it, but I came back to touch it,” Alvarez said with a grin. Edwin Díaz (4-1) pitched a perfect inning to earn the win.
Mets starter David Peterson was one out away from finishing the seventh inning without giving up an earned run. However, he balked home Ryan Mountcastle, who had reached base with a leadoff double, and then Ramón Urías hit the next pitch 432 feet to center field, tying the game at 3.
David Peterson pitches in the 1st inning
Peterson, frustrated, stood with his hands on his hips and stared at the sky as Urías rounded the bases.
“When I came up, I saw the (pitch) clock was low and that’s my fault. I should have stepped off, been able to kind of reset the clock,” Peterson said. “I threw a fastball on the balk, down in the zone, and should have switched to something else.
I think he saw that. Then we threw a sinker and he was able to hit it out.”
The left-hander ended with eight strikeouts, matching his season high, in a season-high seven innings. His failed pickoff attempt led to Baltimore’s first run in the fifth inning when Jackson Holliday’s groundout scored Urías, who had doubled.
“I felt very consistent with all of my pitches,” Peterson said, “like I could throw any pitch at any time.”
Trevor Rogers, who made his major league debut for Miami at Citi Field in August 2020, allowed three runs over 4 2/3 innings in his 10th career start against the Mets.
Trevor Rogers pitches in the 1st inning
The left-hander is 0-2 with a 7.11 ERA in four appearances for Baltimore since being acquired from the Marlins at the July 30 trade deadline.
“I thought he was OK,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “It’s nine righties against him, so not an easy matchup. But I thought he kept us in the game.”
Colin Selby and Keegan Akin combined to retire all 10 batters they faced in relief of Rogers, with eight strikeouts. Alvarez’s home run was New York’s first hit since the fourth inning.
Mark Vientos singled in the first inning, and J.D. Martinez drove the next pitch to right-center field, giving him 36 home runs and 98 RBIs in 103 career games against Baltimore.
Paul DeJong hit a two-run home run, and Seth Lugo pitched seven strong innings as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Los Angeles Angels 5-3 on Monday night, extending their winning streak to five games.
Lugo (14-7), who had struggled with a 5.23 ERA and a 2-3 record since the All-Star break, allowed four hits and three walks while striking out eight batters. This performance tied him with Chris Sale of the Braves and Tarik Skubal of the Tigers for the most wins in the league.
Salvador Perez added two hits and three RBIs for the Royals, who have outscored their opponents 37-7 during their winning streak. Kansas City never trailed in any of these games against the Twins, Reds, and Angels.
“It’s something we all feel together,” Lugo said. “It’s a team sport and we’re all doing it together.”
Lugo only gave up two hits until the seventh inning, when Brandon Drury walked, and Mickey Moniak and Jo Adell hit doubles, bringing the Angels to within 3-2. Lugo responded by getting Taylor Ward to pop out and end the inning.
Carson Fulmer pitches in the 1st inning
Kris Bubic allowed a homer to Zach Neto in the eighth inning before John Schreiber closed the game in the ninth for his second save.
“We battled him, battled him, battled him,” Angels manager Ron Washington said about Lugo. “At the end, we got some runs on him, but we just couldn’t put him away. If you can stay with a good pitcher like that, usually toward the end, hopefully you get an opportunity.
We started getting to him in the seventh, but by that time he’d already done his damage.”
Washington also confirmed that hitting coach Johnny Washington was ejected during the game for arguing balls and strikes.
“He thought he had to do what he had to do to protect his hitters,” the manager said.
Carson Fulmer (0-4) allowed three runs—two earned—and five hits with three walks over four innings for Los Angeles.
