Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day:
1. Dodgers roster move incoming?
The Dodgers had an injury scare yesterday when star catcher Will Smith took a foul ball off of his throwing hand and exited the game. MLB.com’s Sonja Chen writes that x-rays on Smith’s hand came back negative, but given the importance of having multiple catchers available at all times, it wouldn’t be a shock if Los Angeles made a roster move to shore up their catching depth in the event that Smith is even day-to-day. Ben Rortvedt seems like the most likely choice to join the Dodgers’ roster in the event a third catcher is needed, but Chuckie Robinson and Chris Okey are also available at Triple-A. None of those players are on the 40-man roster, meaning they would need their contract to be selected before being brought up to the majors.
2. Pitchers’ duel in Pittsburgh:
Speaking of the Dodgers, they’re in Pittsburgh for a series against the Pirates. Today’s game will feature a particularly exciting pitching matchup, as the Dodgers will send two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell (2.41 ERA) to the mound for his eighth start of the season opposite likely NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, who has a 2.05 ERA across 28 starts and has struck out 28.6% of his opponents. While Snell has missed most of the 2025 campaign due to injury, the lefty sports a 31.7% strikeout rate with a 2.78 ERA since the start of the 2022 season. The two aces will face off at 6:40pm local time in Pittsburgh this evening.
3. Series Preview: Guardians @ Rays
Despite both clubs entering deadline season as sellers, the Guardians and Rays have managed to hang around the periphery of the AL Wild Card race into September. Cleveland is just three games back of the Mariners as they head to Tampa for a four-game set this weekend. The Rays are even closer at just 2.5 games back. That makes this upcoming series one that could have massive implications on the outlooks of both franchises. Things will kick off later today with Logan Allen (4.42 ERA) on the mound for Cleveland opposite Ryan Pepiot (3.70 ERA). On Friday, Guardians righty Gavin Williams (3.26 ERA) will take on Rays rookie Ian Seymour, who has a 2.97 ERA in 33 1/3 innings. Tanner Bibee (4.77 ERA) and Shane Baz (4.98 ERA) will face off on Saturday as they both try to finish strong amid disappointing seasons. The series will wrap on Sunday with Guardians rookie Parker Messick (2.08 ERA in three starts) taking on Rays righty Drew Rasmussen (2.74 ERA).
Go Rays.
Was watching that Dodgers and Pirates game, Dodgers had the bases loaded with no outs, and Pirates sat them down. Dodgers are having trouble with the Pirates…
Good games yesterday, almost a comeback win for the Yankees.
That happened twice in the first two games…bases loaded with none out…Pages didn’t come through either time.
Dodgers are having trouble with everything right now.
Shoe: The Dodgers are a funny team. All those injuries to the P staff and they’re still in first place.
The Bucs have dominated the Dodgers in Pittsburgh in ‘24 & ‘25.
LAD need MVG (most valuable gut) , Muncy back urgently for their lineup to have any depth. Teo getting out of months long funk would help too.
Hope the Real Fresh Prince heals and gets back in the lineup quickly.
Was commenting on the shenanigans Sheehan pulled with the switcharoo with that kids first mlb hit. I’m almost certain he put it back in play. Bucs have been beating up the big guys in the last few weeks. I expect it to happen again today.
Say what you want about the Pirates, but they do have good pitching. If their offense was close to average, they would be contenders.
I’ll say this about the Bucs. I always liked them since The days of Leland smoking in the dugout.ha! That’d be something for the Bucs to be moved to the ALE . Move Tampa in the NLE (who knows how long that club is gonna exist) that would be a great revenue for the pirates, and a good rivalry Sox, Jays, Yankees. Just a crazy thought is all.
Sox had the same problems with them last week. Teams with nothing to play for can be pesky this time of year
Rortvedt was pulled from his game yesterday
Looking like a Pirate sweep. LA does not looking like a WS team this year.
Nobody is. The Tigers and the Mets looked gassed up and down the lineups yesterday. Everyone is stumbling toward the finish line, hoping to catch new fire come October…
Brewers/Tigers v. Brewers would be intersting. But in LA’s case, they have been under whelming, bad ABs, bad base running, bad defense, puzzling pen use, and disappointing years from Teo and Conforto. Yeah they have pitching injuries, but who hasn’t?
Starters are finally healthy; if LAD start playing better in the box and on the field and get on a roll, they should be in good shape.
But if they can’t get rolling by the end of this month, they’re not long for the playoffs.
@WVTiger: Agreed. The 6 NL team field seems set and not sure anyone will be managed in a way desperate to get a better seed if it means having key vets run on fumes in Oct.
Ditto AL except for that 3rd WC spot up for grabs to mediocre record clubs (Sea,Tex, Rays,KC,Clev).
@WestVillageTiger
Teams have realized that there is very little value in winning as many games as you can when we’ve seen with this playoff system that it doesn’t matter if you have rest days or not. Everyone is getting players enough rest and playing time and getting the issues out of the system in the regular season so they’re primed for the playoffs.
Pirates have the chance to sweep the Dodgers. Angels and Brew Crew are the only other teams that have swept the Dodgers this year.
Houston….
@Jerry Hairston Jr’s Toupee
Thank you for correcting me.
Its a nitpick….but Cubs also.
@Steelers 6x
I get it… I suck!
Hot Take: it doesn’t count as a pitching duel if the starters don’t last at least 6 innings.
@Black Ace57
Agreed. Should be pitching at least 9 innings each for a duel. Otherwise, it’s just a bullpen game as usual.
how many pitchers throw a complete game?
Considering that pitchers are on a set pitch count, most only go 6-7 innings
We’re not likely to see anything like Morris v Smoltz (1991, Game 7) ever again.
Cubs – our starter has a no hitter through 5, remove him from the game. Cubs lose.
@Citizen1
In Analytics We Trust!
Or by the catchy acronym…. I An(m) WET
Oh, the humidity
None IS, not are. Welcome.
Re: Ray’s and gardians. “both clubs entering deadline season as sellers, the Guardians and Rays have managed to hang around the periphery of the AL Wild Card race into September”
Thanks to the M’s lousy play
In the last month it so, the Dodgers have a losing record against teams under .500, and a very good record against teams over .500.
We really need Muncy back, because unfortunately they just seen to be playing the string out until the playoffs and could use his attitude, and bat. Plus he helps put everyone in their better positions on the field.
Recently the Dodgers remind me of the Shaq/Kobe Lakers towards the end of their run. Mailing it in and wanting to flip the switch. Between having to deal with Comforto all year being an offensive black hole to Scott and Yates being a pitching block hole, it’s hard to find the consistency they usually have.
I never have a good feeling when those two come out of the pen. Or when he comes up to bat. Pages is still growing, and he’s been inconsistent in clutch situations lately. But I think he’ll get it together.
And I honestly think Teo came back too soon from that groin injury because of the struggles the other guys were having, and it’s cost him. Guy started the season on fire and hasn’t been the same since the injury. There’s a reason he isn’t running as fast and getting to balls he did last year in the outfield. And his lower half is very involved in his swing. They need to rest him up more before the playoffs.
And I think once Edman and Muncy come back they can and will shut Teo down for a few more days.
Other than that, the record is good enough. Considering the above, and the fact I could expand on that a few times over and make legitimate points, the season could be going much worse for the Dodgers.
Looking forward to when they finally lock in as a team.
Good analysis, Another Dodger. What surprises me is Roberts seems to be the one just calling it in. I would like to see a little more fire from the manager. Can’t blame everything on Teoscar.
I think it was a way for him to get Teo to sit for a couple days. Because he also stressed that he was an everyday player. But he needs to rest now, and probably didn’t want to sit. Similar to Freddie in a way.
I think the note of a pitchers duel jinxed the game. I’m predicting 10-8 score. Toss up with who wins.
Any of my fellow Dodger fans who believe the Dodgers will get passed the first round of the post season are in denial.
Just to add to my previous post, Dodgers scored three runs in the bottom of the 9th. They had runners on 1st and second – 2 outs. Rushing, who had doubled already in the game, was due up. INSTEAD, Roberts sent up the third string catcher we just got from the Rays – Ben Rortvedt. Ben, who probably has not unpacked his bags yet, strikes out on three pitches. I am sure Dave will come up with a really bitchin’ good reason why he did that but the question will remain – WHY?
actually they scored 3 runs in the top of the 9th inning
Skenes beat Snell and that’s what matters