August 15th, 2025

⚾ Headlines Around the League

Braves 4, Mets 3 — Albies Delivers in 8th as Olson Makes Franchise History

Tigers 4, Twins 3 — Torres’ 11th-Inning Sac Fly Lifts Detroit in Extras

Blue Jays 2, Cubs 1 — Scherzer Dominates, Vlad Jr. Sparks Late Rally

Nationals 3, Phillies 2 — Tena’s Go-Ahead Knock, DeJong’s Homer Power Washington

Guardians 9, Marlins 4 — Hedges, Ramírez Lead Cleveland to Fifth Straight Series Win

The Scene in Toronto Yesterday Was Something Special!

I can’t wait to see the Blue Jays back in the playoffs. Their last postseason win was in 2016, the year when Edwin launched that iconic 3-run walk-off in the Wild Card game to set up a Texas rematch in the ALDS.

All of this to say that the Blue Jays have one of the most electric home field crowds and they always bring the energy. That was very much the case yesterday, check out the end of the game here:

The AL East–leading Jays are now up 5 on the Red Sox and 6.5 on the Yankees. Vladdy and crew look primed for an October run, and I can feel postseason baseball creeping in.

Meanwhile, the Mets’ pitching issues refuse to go away. Just when it feels like they’re turning a corner, they lose another heartbreaker that sucks the air right out of the stadium.

Tonight brings some massive matchups:

Mariners vs Mets - 6:40 ET
Reds vs Brewers (Milwaukee chasing 13 straight) - 7 ET
Rangers vs Blue Jays - 7 ET
Padres vs Dodgers - 10 ET

But if you’re not watching Kershaw and the Dodgers vs San Diego, you might need to rethink your Friday night plans. This series is essentially for the division and will be full of fireworks after their last match up. I’ll be cracking open a couple cold beers and hanging with the dog tonight for what should be a fantastic Friday night game.

Enjoy your Friday and we will see you back here tomorrow. Cheers!
- Ryan

🔥 Notable Performances

Hitting

Pitching

📊 Final Scores and Highlights

Braves 4, Mets 3

Matt Olson played in his 741st consecutive game, passing Dale Murphy for the longest streak in Braves history, while Ozzie Albies powered the offense with three RBIs — including a clutch go-ahead double in the 8th — to lift Atlanta over New York at Citi Field.

🔑 Key Moments

• Francisco Lindor struck first for the Mets, crushing a solo shot to center in the third that gave New York the early edge.

• The Braves answered in the fourth when Ozzie Albies drove a fastball into the right-center seats, tying the game and silencing the Citi Field crowd.

• With two outs in the sixth, Ozzie Albies came through again, lining an RBI single to left to score Drake Baldwin and put Atlanta in front 2-1.

• The Mets clawed back in their half of the inning — Brandon Nimmo’s sac fly tied it, and Pete Alonso followed with a sharp RBI single to give New York a 3-2 lead.

• In the eighth, Michael Harris II ripped a double to center to tie the game, then Ozzie Albies delivered the knockout punch with a double to right, scoring Harris for a 4-3 Braves advantage.

• Raisel Iglesias slammed the door in the ninth, striking out one in a perfect frame to secure the win and the series for Atlanta.

📊 Notable Stats

Braves

• Ozzie Albies: 3-for-4, R, 3 RBI, 2B, HR

• Michael Harris II: 3-for-4, R, RBI, 2B, SB

• Bryce Elder: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 6 K

Mets

• Francisco Lindor: 3-for-4, 2 R, RBI, HR, SB

• Pete Alonso: 1-for-4, RBI

• Kodai Senga: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K

Tigers 4, Twins 3

The Tigers clawed back from an early 3-0 hole, tying the game behind Riley Greene and Colt Keith before Gleyber Torres delivered the decisive blow in the 11th to seal the win in Minnesota.

🔑 Key Moments

• Edouard Julien got Minnesota rolling with a no-doubt solo shot to right, part of a three-run third inning that put Detroit on its heels early.

• Down two in the fourth, Riley Greene breathed life into the Tigers’ dugout with a towering two-run homer to right, slicing the deficit to one.

• In the sixth, Javier Báez smoked a leadoff double, then scored on Colt Keith’s RBI single to knot the game at 3-3.

• The Twins threatened to walk it off in the 10th, but Spencer Torkelson gunned down Alan Roden at the plate on a fielder’s choice to keep Detroit alive.

• Starting the 11th on second, Colt Keith moved to third on a wild pitch before Gleyber Torres lofted a deep sacrifice fly to right, bringing him home with the go-ahead run.

• Rafael Montero slammed the door in the bottom half, striking out Royce Lewis to lock in the victory.

📊 Notable Stats

Tigers

• Colt Keith: 1-for-5, R, RBI

• Riley Greene: 1-for-4, HR (28), 2 RBI, BB

• Javier Báez: 2-for-4, R, 2B

• Tarik Skubal: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

• Rafael Montero: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (W, 2-3)

Twins

• Edouard Julien: 2-for-3, HR (3), RBI

• Luke Keaschall: 1-for-5, RBI, SB

• Bailey Ober: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

Blue Jays 2, Cubs 1

Max Scherzer turned back the clock with a masterful outing, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. provided the decisive blow as Toronto edged Chicago in a tense, playoff-like battle at Rogers Centre.

🔑 Key Moments

• Michael Busch broke the scoreless deadlock, turning on a pitch from Scherzer and launching a solo shot to right-center that gave Chicago a brief 1-0 lead.

• With the Blue Jays offense quiet all afternoon, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ignited the crowd in the seventh by crushing a two-run homer to center, flipping the game in Toronto’s favor.

• In the eighth, the Cubs threatened with two in scoring position and no outs, but Scherzer’s replacement, Brendon Little, induced three straight strikeouts — capped by a foul-tip punchout of Kyle Tucker — to preserve the lead.

• The Cubs made one last push in the ninth when Nico Hoerner singled, but closer Jeff Hoffman slammed the door with back-to-back strikeouts, freezing Dansby Swanson to seal the win.

📊 Notable Stats

Blue Jays

• Max Scherzer: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (78 pitches)

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: 1-for-3, HR (20), 2 RBI

Cubs

• Matthew Boyd: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

• Michael Busch: 1-for-3, HR (24), RBI

Nationals 3, Phillies 2

The Nationals celebrated Dylan Crews’ return from the IL with a gritty 3-2 win over the Phillies, fueled by Paul DeJong’s solo blast and José Tena’s clutch two-run single in the seventh. Washington’s bullpen shut the door, stranding the tying run at third in the ninth.

🔑 Key Moments

• Paul DeJong sparked the offense by launching a towering solo homer to left-center, tying the game at 1-1 and waking up the Nationals’ dugout.

• With two runners on in the seventh, José Tena ripped a sharp grounder through the middle, plating DeJong and Riley Adams to put Washington ahead for good.

• Kyle Schwarber gave the Phillies an early edge with a laser double into center, driving in Trea Turner.

• In the ninth, Max Kepler singled and advanced to third, but Cole Henry fanned Trea Turner to seal the victory.

• Dylan Crews, back from his oblique injury, added a single, a walk, and a stolen base while making a solid throw from right.

📊 Notable Stats

Nationals

• Paul DeJong: 1-for-3, HR (5), 2 R, RBI, BB

• José Tena: 1-for-3, 2 RBI

• Riley Adams: 1-for-4, 2B, R

• Brad Lord: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

• Cole Henry: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K, SV

Phillies

• Kyle Schwarber: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI

• Trea Turner: 3-for-5, R

• Bryce Harper: 1-for-4, RBI

• Jesús Luzardo: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 K

Guardians 9, Marlins 4

The Guardians kept rolling, storming back from an early 3-0 hole to take the rubber match over Miami for their fifth straight series victory. Austin Hedges fed off the home crowd with his first multi-hit game in nearly a year, while José Ramírez put on a clinic in baserunning and table-setting.

🔑 Key Moments

• Agustín Ramírez wasted no time putting Miami on top, driving a sharp grounder down the left-field line for a double that scored Xavier Edwards from second and set the tone for an early 3-0 Marlins lead.

• With the Guardians trailing in the first, Gabriel Arias chopped a grounder to short, plating José Ramírez and tying the score at 3-3 as Cleveland erased Miami’s fast start.

• The Marlins briefly regained the lead in the fourth when Heriberto Hernández punched a single into center, bringing home Liam Hicks to make it 4-3.

• Cleveland flipped the game in the fifth — Kyle Manzardo laced a single to left to score Steven Kwan, then Arias lifted a sacrifice fly to right, allowing Ramírez to tag and score the go-ahead run.

• In the seventh, Ramírez again made things happen with his legs, advancing to second on an error in right, then scoring on C.J. Kayfus’ high chopper to short for a 6-4 lead.

• Moments later, David Fry lined a single to left to score Arias, capping the three-run frame and putting the game out of reach.

• The Progressive Field crowd roared as Hedges came through in the eighth with a sacrifice fly to center, drawing chants of “Hedgey, Hedgey” as Cleveland added one more insurance run.

📊 Notable Stats

Guardians

• José Ramírez: 3-for-4, 3 R, RBI, 2 SB

• Austin Hedges: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI, SF

• Kyle Manzardo: 1-for-4, RBI, BB

• Gabriel Arias: 0-for-1, 2 RBI, SF, SB

• Tanner Bibee: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 5 K

Marlins

• Xavier Edwards: 2-for-4, R, BB, SB

• Agustín Ramírez: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, 2 BB

• Heriberto Hernández: 1-for-4, RBI

• Edward Cabrera: 5.1 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 6 K

Other scores around the league:

Orioles 5, Mariners 3
T. Sugano: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 SO, 1 BB
J. Rodriguez: 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Diamondbacks 8, Rockies 2
E. Rodriguez: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 6 SO, 1 BB
L. Gurriel: 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI

Like this newsletter? Help us keep the content free by sharing our newsletter and supporting our sponsors.

Thanks for reading!