The Baltimore Orioles and top catching prospect Samuel Basallo agreed to an eight-year, $67-milli...

The Baltimore Orioles and top catching prospect <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/17667" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/17667">Samuel Basallo</a> agreed to an eight-year, $67-million contract extension, a source told <a href="https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/1958951667694514543">Jeff Passan of ESPN</a>.Basallo will reportedly receive a $5-million signing bonus as part of the historic deal. The pact also includes a 2034 option, per <a href="https://x.com/JonHeyman/status/1958885677036192188">Jon Heyman of MLB Network</a>.Basallo's deal, which is the largest pre-arbitration extension for a catcher, will start next season and can max out at $88.5 million with performance bonuses and escalators, according to <a href="https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/1958882531572420837">Passan</a>.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The 21-year-old has played in just four games after making his MLB debut Sunday. He's gone 4-for-14 with five RBIs since getting promoted but hit 23 homers with 67 RBIs and a .966 OPS over 76 contests in Triple-A this season.Basallo's reported deal is also interesting considering the Orioles already have <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12256" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12256">Adley Rutschman</a> as their starting catcher. The 27-year-old two-time All-Star has struggled during an injury-plagued 2025 campaign but is arbitration-eligible through 2027.

HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 17: Samuel Basallo #29 of the Baltimore Orioles bats in the seventh inning of his MLB debut against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on August 17, 2025 in Houston, Texas.

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Report: Orioles, Basallo agree to 8-year, $67M extension

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — JR Motorsports driver Connor Zilisch will attempt to race at Daytona I...

<div>
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — JR Motorsports driver Connor Zilisch will attempt to race at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, less than two weeks after breaking his collarbone during a <a href="https://x.com/TVJacksonWang/status/1954321820657852457">nasty, slip-and-fall accident in victory lane</a>.
The Xfinity Series points leader said Thursday he has been cleared to return and will be in the car for qualifying and will attempt to race all 100 laps at Daytona. He will have Parker Kligerman on standby at Daytona, just in case.
Zilisch, a 19-year-old driver who expected to compete in the Cup Series next year for Trackhouse Racing, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-watkins-glen-zilisch-collarbone-0b392919e3424619e5d2f69d6a2c69cf">had surgery last week</a> to insert a plate to stabilize the broken bone. His foot caught on his window net at Watkins Glen on Aug. 9, causing him to fall head-first onto the concrete.
<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>
With three races left in the regular season, Zilisch has a seven-point lead on Justin Allgaier. He would earn points just by starting the race and would earn points even if Kligerman replaces him in the car.
Zilisch already has shown a penchant <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-zilisch-fall-injury-4f03b64a004d2e8bdcfbd6d5fee18f47">for being a quick healer</a> this season. After a one-race absence at Texas Motor Speedway because of a back injury from a crash at Talladega Superspeedway, Zilisch had posted 11 consecutive top-five finishes and five wins since his return.
___
AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>
</div>

WATKINS GLEN, NEW YORK - AUGUST 09: Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Registix Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Mission 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 09, 2025 in Watkins Glen, New York.

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Zilisch will attempt to race less than 2 weeks after breaking collarbone

The Boston Red Sox placed outfielder Wilyer Abreu on the 10-day injured list with a right calf st...

The Boston Red Sox placed outfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/13925" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/13925">Wilyer Abreu</a> on the 10-day injured list with a right calf strain, they announced ahead of a pivotal weekend road series with the New York Yankees.Abreu's IL stint is retroactive to Aug. 18.Boston selected outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding roster move.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Abreu hasn't played since exiting Sunday's game against the Miami Marlins with the injury. He has yet to undergo an MRI or any additional testing to determine the severity of the strain, manager Alex Cora said, according to <a href="https://x.com/gfstarr1/status/1958636380025942512">Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald</a>. However, the skipper added that he's hopeful Abreu can return after the minimum 10 days, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/jcmccaffrey/status/1958642996653465763">Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic</a>.The 26-year-old has hit a team-leading 22 homers with 69 RBIs and an .811 OPS over 108 games. His contributions have the Red Sox sitting in the AL's second wild-card spot, one-and-a-half games behind the Yankees for the top position.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
Cora said with Abreu out, Ceddanne Rafaela will play more CF than 2B,” especially against righties.”— Gabrielle Starr (@gfstarr1) <a href="https://twitter.com/gfstarr1/status/1958637352512868732?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Garcia, whose moniker is "The Password," is the No. 3-ranked prospect in Boston's minor-league system, per <a href="https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/redsox">MLB Pipeline</a>. He's gone deep 20 times with 73 RBIs and an .875 OPS across a combined 99 games in Double-A and Triple-A this year.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The look on Jhostynxon's face when he heard the news 🥹 <a href="https://t.co/R6VAiD7oD4">pic.twitter.com/R6VAiD7oD4</a>— Red Sox (@RedSox) <a href="https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1958657033353171078?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The 22-year-old will likely make his first big-league start Friday at Yankee Stadium, Cora said, according to <a href="https://x.com/timbhealey/status/1958637028977082672">Tim Healey of the Boston Globe</a>.Boston also recalled infielder David Hamilton and right-hander Richard Fitts from Triple-A, while utility player Abraham Toro was designated for assignment.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 15: Wilyer Abreu #52 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after striking out against the Miami Marlins during the fifth inning at Fenway Park on August 15, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Red Sox place Abreu on IL, promote Jhostynxon Garcia

The Tampa Bay Rays promoted shortstop prospect Carson Williams to the majors, they announced Thur...

The Tampa Bay Rays promoted shortstop prospect <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/16372" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/16372">Carson Williams</a> to the majors, they announced Thursday.Williams is the top prospect in the Rays' minor-league system and No. 47 overall, according to <a href="https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/top100/?mlbkw=ds-g-&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=22901140704&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADq9DwBgsVR37ax2ITp8UnFlBof7R&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwh5vFBhCyARIsAHBx2wyaWLBDXvZdc95yN-Y93hzZJ0O8wb9JT2U0dWwtRI8bnLo8epFdqEEaAnDtEALw_wcB">MLB Pipeline</a>.The 22-year-old recorded 23 homers, 55 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases with a .765 OPS over 111 games in Triple-A this season.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Rays selected Williams with the 28th pick in the 2021 draft.To make room for Williams on the active roster, Tampa Bay placed infielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12593" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12593">Ha-Seong Kim</a> on the 10-day injured list with low back inflammation. Outfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12532" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12532">Stuart Fairchild</a> was transferred to the 60-day IL to open Williams' 40-man roster spot.

PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA - MARCH 13, 2025: Carson Williams #65 of the Tampa Bay Rays runs to third base on an RBI single hit by Brayden Taylor during the fourth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Boston Red Sox at Charlotte Sports Complex on March 13, 2025 in Port Charlotte, Florida.

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Rays call up top prospect Carson Williams

Jake Paul confirmed he will face Gervonta "Tank" Davis in an exhibition fight Nov. 14 at State Fa...

Jake Paul confirmed he will face Gervonta "Tank" Davis in an exhibition fight Nov. 14 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, with the event to be broadcast on Netflix."Gervonta has been disrespecting my name for too long," Paul <a href="https://x.com/jakepaul/status/1958228098157298015">wrote</a> Wednesday on X. "His nickname might be Tank, but I'm an FPV drone, and I'm about to disable tiny boy."Paul was discussing a potential bout with Anthony Joshua, but talks fell apart over network issues, according to <a href="https://x.com/MikeCoppinger/status/1958194588889633104">Mike Coppinger of Ring Magazine</a>.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Paul's team pushed for a fight with Joshua but was denied by one major state, while another disapproved of the event, per <a href="https://x.com/pugboxing/status/1958208395644919979">Lance Pugmire of Boxing Scene</a>.Meanwhile, Davis was set for a WBA lightweight championship rematch with Lamont Roach Jr. in August but decided to take the Paul exhibition instead, according to <a href="https://x.com/MikeCoppinger/status/1958196725644132724">Coppinger</a>.Roach took to social media after the announcement to insinuate that Davis is ducking him by fighting Paul.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Told ya lol 🦆🦆🦆🦆— Lamont Roach Jr (@OneOf1x) <a href="https://twitter.com/OneOf1x/status/1958198600581709985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Former WBC interim lightweight champion Ryan Garcia also expressed his thoughts about the bout.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Boxing is officially the WWE— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanGarcia/status/1958203097613799719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The 28-year-old Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) last fought at 200 pounds when he took on Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in June, while the 30-year-old Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs) most recently retained his 135 crown after a draw with Roach in March. Paul and Davis were in talks to meet in an exhibition during the summer before the latter ended up agreeing to his first bout with Roach.Paul and Davis will use larger gloves and will likely fight under similar weight rules to those accepted by Paul's brother, Logan, and Floyd Mayweather Jr. during their 2021 exhibition. The older Paul was capped at 190, and Mayweather was limited to a weight of 160.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 11: Jake Paul attends Netflix's Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 3 - Historic All-Women Fight Card at Madison Square Garden on July 11, 2025 in New York City.

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Jake Paul to fight Gervonta Davis in exhibition on Nov. 14

The Pittsburgh Pirates will select the contract of Bubba Chandler on Friday to initially have the...

The Pittsburgh Pirates will select the contract of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/17585" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/17585">Bubba Chandler</a> on Friday to initially have the highly touted right-hander pitch out of the bullpen, manager Don Kelly confirmed Wednesday.Chandler is the top pitching prospect in all of baseball and No. 7 overall, according to <a href="https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects?mlbkw=ds-g-&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=22901140704&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADq9DwAKXXDk7WV6J2Q5OX6fpIC2E&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw5JXFBhCrARIsAL1ckPvwJ89VjL9TE9RLWh0ytv3da3jAWNzIIi6XtXfb8aUj8Ruz6WzwBrYaArjWEALw_wcB">MLB Pipeline</a>."Really excited about bringing Bubba up," Kelly told the media following a 2-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, according to <a href="https://x.com/KevinGormanPGH/status/1958249264963793268">Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review</a>. "He's going to be in a bulk role. ... He's going to have an opportunity to earn starts like all of our guys have."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Chandler owns a 4.05 ERA with 10.9 K/9 over 100 innings (24 starts) in Triple-A this campaign. He was selected in the third round of the 2021 draft.Pittsburgh could deploy a 2026 rotation that includes NL Cy Young favorite <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/17521" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/17521">Paul Skenes</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8236" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8236">Mitch Keller</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/15909" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/15909">Jared Jones</a>, and Chandler.

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 14, 2025: Bubba Chandler #57 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the second inning of a Spring Breakout game against the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark on March 14, 2025 in Clearwater, Florida.

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Pirates promoting top prospect Chandler for bullpen role

Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker is searching for answers after the team was shut ou...

Houston Astros first baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/3836" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/3836">Christian Walker</a> is searching for answers after the team was shut out for a third straight game for the first time since 1985."I think it's just a weird clip in the game," Walker said Tuesday following a 1-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers, according to <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/houston-detroit-tigers-score-shutout-20823728.php?taid=68a53a3f9ebb270001b84054&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter">Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle</a>. "You can drive yourself crazy looking for one thing or one reason to blame it on."I think just collectively we need to be better," Walker added. "Whether it's reading the game and reading the situation and knowing when to be aggressive or maybe finding a way to change up our approach or maybe find a way to approach these starters a little differently. But we've been facing some good arms, too."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>On Tuesday, the Astros were stymied by AL Cy Young favorite <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/11799" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/11799">Tarik Skubal</a>, who allowed just three hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts over seven innings.The team's lineup hasn't scored a run via a hit in 32 innings dating back to Sunday's contest against the Baltimore Orioles."I think we're just going through a little stretch that good teams and every team goes through," manager Joe Espada added. "This team is going to hit."Houston still sits atop the AL West standings despite the drought. The Seattle Mariners are 1.5 games back after losing four straight.

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 05: Christian Walker #08 of the Houston Astros looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 05, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

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Walker seeks solutions amid Astros' offensive woes: 'Can drive yourself crazy'

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is dealing with left hamstring inflammation...

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8267" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8267">Vladimir Guerrero Jr.</a> is dealing with left hamstring inflammation and is considered day-to-day after undergoing an MRI, manager John Schneider said Tuesday, according to <a href="https://x.com/ArdenZwelling/status/1957904371737587754">Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet</a>.Guerrero will be out of the lineup Tuesday for the second contest of the three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates."Just inflammation. ... It was kind of precautionary for him, and he's feeling a little bit better today," Schneider told reporters, according to <a href="https://x.com/thehazelmae/status/1957905007589708274">Hazel Mae of Sportsnet</a>. "Just trying to be as careful as we can with him, and glad we kind of got him out when we did."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Guerrero left Monday's game against the Pirates in the fifth inning with hamstring tightness.Sportsnet showed video of Guerrero pointing to the back of his upper leg during the first inning. He remained in the game and made a defensive play in the third inning in which he did the splits.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Bo and Vlad do it AGAIN 🤯 <a href="https://t.co/bpLCwHpSX3">pic.twitter.com/bpLCwHpSX3</a>— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1957590558915826005?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Guerrero has appeared in all but one of Toronto's 125 games this season. He leads the Blue Jays with 21 home runs and an .894 OPS.The 26-year-old's been incredibly durable throughout his career, missing just 13 contests over the last six campaigns. He's never been on the IL in his seven-year career.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 8: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on in a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on July 8, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

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Blue Jays' Guerrero day-to-day with hamstring inflammation 

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider isn't worried about an incident involving Pittsburgh Pir...

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider isn't worried about an incident involving Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2452" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2452">Tommy Pham</a> that caused the benches to clear during Monday's 5-2 loss.Both benches and bullpens emptied after Pham flipped his bat and exchanged words with Blue Jays catcher <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4412" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4412">Tyler Heineman</a> following a seventh-inning walk.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Benches clear between the Blue Jays and Pirates after Tommy Pham and Tyler Heineman exchange words. <a href="https://t.co/kpa3EAeGyt">pic.twitter.com/kpa3EAeGyt</a>— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1957608958153355509?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>"I'm not worried about Tommy Pham's opinion about anything, really," Schneider said after the game.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I'm worried about our defense, I'm worried about our at-bats, and I'm worried about pitching. That happens in the heat of the moment, and we have to worry about us. ... I'm not really worried what Tommy Pham thinks about anyone."No punches were thrown after the benches cleared as <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2931" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2931">George Springer</a> calmed down Pham while escorting him to first base.Heineman said the moment between him and Pham was confusing because he didn't say anything to prompt such a response."It was weird, man. It was weird. Unprovoked and super weird," Heineman said, according to <a href="https://x.com/ArdenZwelling/status/1957627032575070443">Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling</a>. Pham responded to Heineman on social media, seemingly in regard to the third pitch of the at-bat, which was a sinker that was called a ball but was close to hitting the corner of the zone."Bitching about a ball not being called a strike to the umpire when it's clearly below the zone and away is disrespectful not only to the umpire but the hitter as well," Pham <a href="https://x.com/TphamLV/status/1957643757219635643">wrote</a> on X. "So, like I said when I flipped the bat, f--k him. Dude has two years in the show. I know the zone."The Blue Jays and Pirates resume their three-game series Tuesday.

PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 18: Tommy Pham #28 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pushes Ty France #2 of the Toronto Blue Jays after flipping his bat following a walk in the seventh inning at PNC Park on August 18, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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Jays' Schneider 'not worried' about Pham's opinion after benches clear

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo came to Ketel Marte's defense on Sunday after repo...

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12530" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12530">Geraldo Perdomo</a> came to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/3555" href="/mlb/players/3555">Ketel Marte</a>'s defense on Sunday after reports claimed that teammates were frustrated by the All-Star second baseman's tendency to ask for days off."I want to get something clear about my teammate," Perdomo said following a 6-5 loss to the Colorado Rockies, according to <a href="https://x.com/RomeroJoseM/status/1957213410829242647">Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic</a>. "I'm tired of this. It's going to be for all reporters and all the writers. This is the second time something came out (about) Marte."Please, he just wants to play baseball. I don't want to speak as a teammate, I want to speak as a brother. He just wants to play baseball. Just leave the guy alone, it's been too much for him. I feel he doesn't deserve that.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"Whatever happened in the past, it was in the past. We're playing good baseball right now, and I feel like we just want to have fun and we just want to play. Just please, please, you guys have to stop."D-Backs players and other members of the organization were bothered when Marte missed three games after his house was burglarized during the All-Star break in mid-July, according to a report in <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/08/diamondbacks-teammates-reportedly-frustrated-with-ketel-marte.html?utm_source=twitter">The Arizona Republic</a>. The 31-year-old, who said he lost $400,000 worth of items, spent the majority of the time in the Dominican Republic instead of in Scottsdale, where the incident took place, after he was placed on the restricted list. The 2024 NL MVP finalist also requested to sit out the final contests before the break, but he suited up in the Midsummer Classic.Some reportedly believe his absence contributed to Arizona's front office selling off key pieces at the trade deadline.In another situation last year, Marte's teammates were reportedly irritated that he asked for a day off in the final week of the 2024 campaign amid a tight wild-card race that ended with the club missing the playoffs due to a tiebreaker.Another report in <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2025/08/17/mlb-trade-deadline-grades-standings-playoff-picture/85695644007/">USA Today</a> claimed the D-Backs are going to listen to offers for Marte in the offseason after having a private meeting upon his return from his extended All-Star break.Marte signed a six-year, $116.5-million extension in April.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 11: Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates with Geraldo Perdomo #2 of the Arizona Diamondbacks after Perdomo hit a home run against the Texas Rangers in the third inning at Globe Life Field on August 11, 2025 in Arlington, Texas.

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Perdomo defends Marte after reports of D-Backs being upset over days off

The Philadelphia Phillies placed ace Zack Wheeler on the injured list Saturday with a right upper...

The Philadelphia Phillies placed ace <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2917" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2917">Zack Wheeler</a> on the injured list Saturday with a right upper extremity blood clot.The clot is near his right shoulder and there's currently no timeline for his return, head athletic trainer Paul Buchheit told reporters, including <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6557719/2025/08/16/phillies-zack-wheeler-injury-blood-clot/?source=user_shared_article">The Athletic's Charlotte Varnes</a>.Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski applauded doctors for finding the clot.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"It could have been a much more trying situation than it is," Dombrowski said, according to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/phillies-zack-wheeler-4c00fbbc8c16a9af64e983ef0dbbc856">The Associated Press</a>.Designated hitter <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4761" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4761">Kyle Schwarber</a> said something was off when he didn't see Wheeler in the clubhouse before Saturday's game against the Washington Nationals."It's a scary situation, right?," Schwarber said, per <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/zack-wheeler-blood-clot-injured-list">Byron Kerr of MLB.com</a>. "Anytime that you hear anything that visceral like if it's a blood clot, that is scary stuff. I want to get him back in here and hear from him and hopefully it's not going to be too serious. "Baseball is baseball. When it comes to someone's health we need him healthy first. He's got a family. We want to get him feeling good for them and then get him back to speed whenever we can."Wheeler is one of the NL Cy Young favorites, posting a 2.71 ERA with an MLB-leading 195 strikeouts over 149.2 innings.The 35-year-old has never won the award. He finished second in voting in 2024 and 2021.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 11: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on during the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park on September 11, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Phillies place Wheeler on IL with blood clot

Houston Astros closer Josh Hader doesn't expect to pitch again in the regular season while he rec...

Houston Astros closer <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5307" href="/mlb/players/5307">Josh Hader</a> doesn't expect to pitch again in the regular season while he recovers from a left shoulder capsule sprain.Hader, who was shut down Friday for three weeks, said it will take him another three weeks to build up after not throwing, according to <a href="https://x.com/brianmctaggart/status/1956799416632791544">Brian McTaggart of MLB.com</a>.However, the six-time All-Star is hopeful he can return for the postseason in a one-inning role, per <a href="https://x.com/Chandler_Rome/status/1956799597080084671">Chandler Rome of The Athletic</a>.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Astros manager Joe Espada said last week that the left-hander will seek a second opinion on his injury before determining next steps.Hader has been a big piece for the AL West-leading Astros, authoring a 2.05 ERA with 27 saves and 13.0 K/9 over 48 appearances this season.Houston owns a half-game lead over the Seattle Mariners for top spot in the division.

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 15: Josh Hader #71 of the Houston Astros looks on between pitches in the tenth inning during a game against the Minnesota Twins at Daikin Park on June 15, 2025 in Houston, Texas.

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Hader hopeful he can pitch in postseason after shoulder injury

Philadelphia Phillies closer Jhoan Duran wasn't limping Saturday and said he feels "100%" after t...

Philadelphia Phillies closer <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/10794" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/10794">Jhoan Duran</a> wasn't limping Saturday and said he feels "100%" after taking a comebacker off his foot during Friday's game against the Washington Nationals, according to the <a href="https://x.com/ScottLauber/status/1956771256339996912">Philadelphia Inquirer's Scott Lauber</a>.Duran had to be carted off the field, but the team later announced X-rays were negative.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Jhoan Duran took a line drive off the foot and had to be carted off the field <a href="https://t.co/R3KM6S8PB8">pic.twitter.com/R3KM6S8PB8</a>— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) <a href="https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1956529882420158655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Duran was Philadelphia's marquee acquisition at the trade deadline, with the Phillies sending prospects Eduardo Tait and Mick Abel to the Minnesota Twins for the reliever.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The right-hander hasn't given up a run in four innings since joining the club. Duran entered Friday sporting a 1.86 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 53.1 innings on the season.Veteran <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/372" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/372">David Robertson</a> entered the game in relief of Duran to close out a 6-2 Phillies victory.Robertson, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5517" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5517">Matt Strahm</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/17198" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/17198">Orion Kerkering</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/13730" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/13730">Tanner Banks</a> would be among the candidates to save games if Duran misses extended time.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 9: Jhoan Duran #59 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after the final out in a team victory over the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on August 9, 2025 in Arlington, Texas.

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Phillies' Duran feels '100%' day after taking liner off foot

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman believes manager Aaron Boone has dealt with the pr...

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman believes manager Aaron Boone has dealt with the pressure of an intense media market well during the team's inconsistent season."He has stayed levelheaded and even-keeled," Cashman said Friday, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6556650/2025/08/15/yankees-brian-cashman-aaron-boone-accountability-2/?source=emp_shared_article">Chris Kirschner and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic</a>. "He knows how tough this sport is. He's invested in these guys heavily, as we all are."Trying to explain away a difficult play or a bad performance for some time while the storm is upon us is not an easy task to navigate or deal with and remain cool, calm, and collected. He's obviously done an amazing job of working through that."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Cashman also supported Boone's approach to addressing players' mental mistakes and struggles, despite the media, fans, and even Yankees legends like Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez questioning whether the team is being held sufficiently accountable."I'm not an advocate of becoming Randy 'Macho Man' Savage or John Cena from WWE and providing a power drive to finish off the victim - the victim being someone struggling at the plate, struggling defensively, struggling on the mound," the 58-year-old executive added. "And now you're hearing it externally, and their family and friends are all hearing it. Then internally, now, they're getting piled on also. In many cases, you've got to understand what the atmosphere is like."The Yankees sit 6.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the division lead and 1.5 games up on the Cleveland Guardians for the AL's final wild-card spot."We're the defending American League champs trying to re-defend that," Cashman said. "Obviously, right now, we're not in control of the division. Our first goal is to try to win the American League East and automatically punch the ticket that way. If not, we'll be fighting to punch a ticket a different way."We have a lot of time on the clock, but not enough time at the same time. I don't want to misrepresent (that) there's not urgency, because there is."New York has a 23-32 record since June 13 after leading the AL East by seven games in late May following a 35-20 start.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 01: Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees walks back to the dugout after a pitching change in the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Yankee Stadium on April 01, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City.

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Cashman: Boone has done 'amazing job' navigating New York market

Baltimore Orioles rookie right-hander Brandon Young lost his perfect game with two outs in the ei...

Baltimore Orioles rookie right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/18702" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/18702">Brandon Young</a> lost his perfect game with two outs in the eighth inning of Friday's 7-0 win after an infield single by Houston Astros second baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/10610" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/10610">Ramón Urías</a>.Young ended up allowing just that one hit by Urías with zero walks and six strikeouts over eight frames to collect the first win of his MLB career. The 26-year-old Texas native entered the outing 0-6 with a 6.70 ERA in 10 starts.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Brandon Young's perfect game bid ends with two outs in the 8th on an infield single. <a href="https://t.co/s3s6Ttphok">pic.twitter.com/s3s6Ttphok</a>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1956540257387569410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>"Growing up here, coming to games here, having family and friends here - it's hard to put into words, honestly," Young said postgame, according to <a href="https://x.com/JakeDRill/status/1956555277739888948">Jake Rill of MLB.com</a>.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Young and Urías were teammates earlier in the season before the latter was dealt to Houston at the trade deadline."He had a crazy performance today," Urías <a href="https://x.com/JakeDRill/status/1956558909725872412">added</a>. "He was great on the mound. He was mixing really well. That's the best that I've seen him."Astros manager Joe Espada said Urías ran the pregame meeting for hitters before facing Young to "give us some of their style and strategy," according to <a href="https://x.com/afkostka/status/1956545236714262759">Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner</a>.Only 24 perfect games have been thrown in MLB history. Domingo Germán was the last pitcher to accomplish the feat in June 2023 while playing for the New York Yankees.

HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 15: Brandon Young #63 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on August 15, 2025 in Houston, Texas.

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Orioles' Young loses perfect game in 8th inning vs. Astros

Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong isn't concerned about his team's struggles following ...

Chicago Cubs outfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12736" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12736">Pete Crow-Armstrong</a> isn't concerned about his team's struggles following Friday's 3-2 loss to the NL Central basement-dwelling Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs have gone 10-15 since the All-Star break to drop nine games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers, who are riding a franchise record-tying 13-game win streak."The Cubbies are going to keep playing the same baseball we played all year," Crow-Armstrong said postgame, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6556597/2025/08/15/pete-crow-armstrong-chicago-cubs-playoff/?source=emp_shared_article">Patrick Mooney of The Athletic</a>. "It's been an interesting two weeks, but we're fine. I don't think there's any worry in the world."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Crow-Armstrong snapped a 3-for-41 slump with a three-hit performance but was caught stealing in the ninth inning after sliding off second base in the one-run loss.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
PCA had this base stolen EASILY representing the tying run in the ninth, but he overslid way too far and got tagged out <a href="https://t.co/FPIju1a9XD">pic.twitter.com/FPIju1a9XD</a>— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) <a href="https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1956458270916288882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>"It becomes the self-inflicted pressure when you feel like you're not playing your part and contributing," Crow-Armstrong said. "At the end of the day, I think that's a bit of a more selfish approach. As Couns' (Craig Counsell) has been able to remind me - and JT (<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/43" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/43">Justin Turner</a>) or whoever I've talked to - it's always just about what else I have to offer."That's the hard part about this game. You might not be getting the action in center field and feeling like you're contributing. You may not be making the right decisions on the basepaths, like I have kind of shown recently. So, when stuff starts to kind of pile up like that, it sucks."The Cubs face the Pirates two more times during the weekend series.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 15: Pete Crow-Armstrong #4 of the Chicago Cubs reacts after being hit by a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field on August 15, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

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Crow-Armstrong: No 'worry in the world' about Cubs' slump

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Ryan Preece will start from the pole position Saturday night at Richmond Rac...

<div>
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Ryan Preece will start from the pole position Saturday night at Richmond Raceway while trying to lock <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-richmond-playoffs-hamlin-dillon-b843c0799a11bbe891180ae8be0325eb">in a spot for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs</a>. 
Preece earned his second career pole in 212 Cup starts with a lap at 121.381 mph around the 0.75-mile oval in his No. 60 Ford.
“What a great car,” said Preece, whose previous pole came at Martinsville Speedway in April 2023.
<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>
With two races remaining in the regular season, Preece still can make the playoffs through the points standings, but a win would secure an automatic berth.
Tyler Reddick, who can lock into the 16-driver playoff field on points with a strong result Saturday, qualified second. AJ Allmendinger will start third despite his No. 16 Chevrolet failing prerace inspection twice, which resulted in a loss of pit stall selection and the ejection of car chief Jaron Antley.
Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five in qualifying.
Sweeping the top three starting spots, Preece, Reddick and Allmendinger were joined by six other winless drivers qualifying in the top 15: Brad Keselowski (sixth), Alex Bowman (ninth), Michael McDowell (10th), Austin Dillon (11th), Chris Buescher (12th) and Carson Hocevar (15th). It’ll be a tougher slog to get to the front for Ty Gibbs (22nd) and Kyle Busch (28th).
Three-time Cup champion Joey Logano, a two-time winner at Richmond, will start last in the 38-car field after being unable to turn a lap in qualifying. Logano hit the Turn 4 wall in practice because of a right-front tire problem on his No. 22 Ford.
Starting position is critical at Richmond, which tends to have long green-flag stretches when it’s easy to fall a lap down. Last August’s race had only three caution flags, which is tied for the fewest on a short track since the 2022 debut of the Next Gen car.
___
AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>
</div>

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA - AUGUST 15: Ryan Preece, driver of the #60 Kroger/Kleenex Ford, poses for photos after winning the pole award during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 - Practice at Richmond Raceway on August 15, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.

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Preece earns pole position in hunt for playoff spot at Richmond

NASCAR playoff desperation reached a controversial peak at Richmond Raceway last year.  At the me...

NASCAR playoff desperation reached a controversial peak at Richmond Raceway last year.At the mercy of securing a victory to make the 16-driver field that competes for the Cup championship, Austin Dillon wrecked Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin in the final two corners of the last lap <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-richmond-austin-dillon-6452ef2e180434775e24225feb2aeb6f">to claim his first win in nearly two years</a>.The celebration was short-lived <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-dillon-richmond-cup-series-e2e2634f00d194d4ab201adfe9e3a056">as NASCAR revoked Dillon’s playoff eligibility three days later</a> in determining the Richard Childress Racing driver <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-austin-dillon-55ff2e1a8e175d3747e49b88a4b64fe7">“crossed a line” with rough driving</a>.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“NASCAR drew a line in the sand,” Hamlin said Friday. “They’re not afraid to make hard decisions, and I think that’s very, very important to the governing of the sport, so it’s not a circus. And so I do feel a little bit better about it now than 12 months ago."Certainly, that was the first time we’d seen something like that, and NASCAR had a precedent to set. If you let that go, you open up a floodgate of crazy things that would be bad for the relevance and legitimacy of the sport. Everyone probably has a little better understanding now because of the ruling.”As NASCAR’s premier series returns Saturday night to Richmond, Virginia, with two races remaining in the regular season and three open slots in the playoffs, did Dillon’s win establish the new boundary of what’s permissible in pushing for a victory that guarantees a berth in the 10-race run to the title?For the Cup driver who has gone to greater lengths than anyone in aggressively moving rivals this season, the question is moot.“I think that was sort of a freak deal,” Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar said. “If you had them rerun the same play, I don’t think he gets both of them.“I don’t think we’ll ever see someone get one guy and then turn down and get the second guy. That was one of those once in a blue moon or lifetime things that was a perfect storm of chaos. They were all in the most perfect spots for him to win by all means necessary. It would be really hard to ever replicate.”If Richmond were to deliver another combustible finish, few are as willing to tangle with the competition as Hocevar.The Spire Motorsports driver has gotten sideways with a seemingly endless list of drivers — Ross Chastain, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Zane Smith <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-hocevar-fined-mexico-city-comments-12bdc6089cc54d4098c239848687cf53">are among the most aggrieved</a>. Sunday at Watkins Glen International, Hocevar angered Brad Keselowski in qualifying and then collided multiple times with teammate Michael McDowell during the race.Though he planned to iron out differences with McDowell, the 23-year-old Hocevar seems unconcerned about crossing a veteran with his No. 77 Chevrolet for a win.“I don’t take a head count of who’s frustrated with or mad at us,” he said. “It’s constantly changing by the week.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-michigan-carson-hocevar-b5f6d489b474e83947173c3a734ee18d">Despite a solid second season in Cup</a> with career-high second-place finishes at Atlanta and Nashville, Hocevar is 22nd in the points standings because of multiple mechanical failures. His only path to the playoffs is automatically qualifying with a win, which also holds for Kyle Busch, Ty Gibbs and Keselowski.At least one winless driver (and possibly as many as three) will make the playoffs on points. Tyler Reddick could clinch a playoff spot Saturday without a victory. In the battle for the final provisional spot, Chris Buescher leads Roush Fenway Keselowski Ford teammate Ryan Preece by 34 points.“If you’re in position and have the opportunity to win, I don’t want to think about what I should have done differently,” Preece said. “You need to be a racer and not leave anything on the table. You’ve got to do it with respect, but at the same time, a half-lap can change your entire season.”Ranked 28th in the standings, Dillon is in the same win-or-else position at Richmond as a year ago and is no less confident about the No. 3 Chevy’s chances on the 0.75-mile oval.“I’m pumped,” he said. “I just want to see if we can be as successful as last year. It was still a big day, and I’ll always remember it as one of my favorite wins. We got the trophy, just not the NASCAR playoffs spot.”Celebration cautionXfinity Series points leader Connor Zilisch underwent surgery Tuesday morning on the broken collarbone <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nascar-watkins-glen-zilisch-collarbone-0b392919e3424619e5d2f69d6a2c69cf">he suffered in a hard fall while celebrating his Aug. 9 victory</a> at Watkins Glen International. Though it’s unclear if Zilisch will return for the Aug. 22 race at Daytona International Speedway, his injury has made an impact with drivers now mindful of their exuberance upon exiting their cars in victory lane.“That was so frightening, so I think we’ll all think about it more,” Wood Brothers Racing driver Josh Berry said. “We’ve been strapped in the car for three or four hours. You get out, and it’s no different than being on a plane and standing up for the first time. Your legs are a little shaky.”Team Penske’s Austin Cindric said it might be a “rookie mistake” for a winner to leave the window net dangling outside the car (Zilisch got his left foot caught in the net trying to climb atop his roof).“I think about what happened to Connor often because the saying goes big trees fall hard,” said Cindric, who stands 6-foot-3. “That’s a long way for a big, tall guy to fall. It’s kind of an upsetting thing to watch and feel helpless about it.”<remove></remove>___AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA - AUGUST 15: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #6 BuildSubmarines.com Ford, and Noah Gragson, driver of the #4 ArmorGuard Ford, drive during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 - Practice at Richmond Raceway on August 15, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.

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Controversial limits of rough driving could be tested again at Richmond

The Washington Nationals designated first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for assignment Thursday.  Lowe w...

The Washington Nationals designated first baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9902" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9902">Nathaniel Lowe</a> for assignment Thursday.Lowe was the highest-paid player ($10.3 million) on the active roster coming into the campaign after an offseason trade with the Texas Rangers. He went on to produce the worst numbers of his seven-year career.The 30-year-old recorded 16 homers, 68 RBIs, and a .665 OPS over 119 games with the Nationals. He's still arbitration-eligible through 2026.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Lowe was a 2022 Silver Slugger and 2023 Gold Glover with the Rangers.Outfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/17319" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/17319">Dylan Crews</a> was also reinstated from the 60-day injured list after being out since mid-May with an oblique injury. The 2023 No. 2 pick entered this season as one of the NL Rookie of the Year favorites before his extended absence.

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 20: Nathaniel Lowe #33 of the Washington Nationals looks on during a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Nationals Park on July 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.

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Nationals DFA Lowe, reinstate Crews after almost 3-month absence

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn't envision his club sitting in second place in the ...

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn't envision his club sitting in second place in the NL West in mid-August.However, that's exactly where the Dodgers find themselves after <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3324866" href="https://thescore.com/news/3324866">losing 6-5</a> to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday to drop all six games of the Freeway Series this season. The defending World Series champions were the favorites to repeat after a huge offseason and led the division by nine games July 3, but they've gone 12-21 since to fall one game behind the San Diego Padres."We put ourselves in this spot," manager Dave Roberts said postgame, according to <a href="https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-second-in-nl-west-heading-into-padres-series">Sonja Chen of MLB.com</a>. "But no, I wouldn't have expected us to be in second place right now."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9519" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9519">Shohei Ohtani</a> allowed four earned runs with seven strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings and added an RBI triple against his former team Wednesday. He isn't happy about where the Dodgers are in the standings either."Obviously, it doesn't feel good to fall into second place and to lose a lot of these games," Ohtani said through his interpreter. "We're doing everything in our power, having meetings, doing everything that we can to try to right the ship. We just have to do a better job."The Dodgers host the Padres for a three-game series starting Friday. The two clubs finish their season series with another three contests in San Diego on Aug. 22-24."I think that we've clearly dominated the division in the last decade," Roberts said. "Geographically speaking, winning a division, I think that they're trying to overtake us. ... That certainly brings out emotion. They got us a few years ago in the postseason and that was something, and we got them (last year)."Los Angeles defeated San Diego in five games during last year's NLDS en route to the title.

ANAHEIM, CA -AUGUST 12, 2025: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan (80) towels off the sweat in the dugout against the Angels in the fifth inning at Angel Stadium on August 12, 2025 in Anaheim, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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Roberts 'wouldn't have expected' Dodgers to be in 2nd place

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Tom Ruminski

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Brandon Wile

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