July 25th, 2025

⚾ Headlines Around the League

Mariners acquire Josh Naylor from D-backs in trade to boost lineup for playoff push

Rodríguez, Arozarena, Polanco Go Deep as Mariners Outslug Angels to Open Series

Clement’s Payback Blast, Lauer’s Gem Fuel Jays’ Rout of Tigers

Donovan, Contreras Make History in Cardinals’ Slugfest Over Padres

Kurtz Sets Rookie Record as A’s Top Astros Behind Severino’s Gem

Short slate of games today, but we still got some quality baseball. In case you missed it, Josh Naylor is headed to the Mariners in a trade for a couple of prospects. More on that below.

I also want to take a look at the standings and where teams are stacking up as we inch closer to the deadline. But first, let’s start with the best thing I saw today.

Ernie Clement came through with a huge homer for the Blue Jays right after the Tigers intentionally walked Barger to get to him. I don’t think there’s a better feeling in baseball than going deep after an intentional walk forces you to the plate. The Tigers tried to single out Clement and he made them pay.

Oh, and he gave us a top 3 bat flip of the year while he was at it. Check it all out below.

Seattle made the first big splash of the Trade Deadline, acquiring veteran slugger Josh Naylor from Arizona in a move aimed at solidifying their offense for the final stretch of the season.

• Naylor joins Seattle as a proven left-handed bat, bringing a .292 average, .807 OPS, 11 HR, and 59 RBI in 93 games this season — a clear upgrade at first base where the Mariners have struggled for production all year.

• The return to Arizona includes two Top 30 prospects, with LHP Brandyn Garcia (No. 13) and RHP Ashton Izzi (No. 16) heading to the D-backs, a modest price for a proven rental bat.

🔥 Notable Performances

Hitting

Pitching

📊 Final Scores and Highlights

Mariners 4, Angels 2

Seattle rode solo shots from Julio Rodríguez and Jorge Polanco and a clutch two-run homer by Randy Arozarena to edge the Angels in Anaheim. Rookie Logan Evans delivered five strong innings and Andrés Muñoz slammed the door in a tense ninth.

🔑 Key Moments

• Trout set the tone early by doubling and scoring on Nolan Schanuel’s RBI single in the 1st to give the Angels a quick 1–0 lead.

• Rodríguez evened things up in the 5th, turning around a Kikuchi fastball for a game-tying solo homer to right — his 15th of the season.

• Arozarena followed minutes later, smoking a two-run shot to left that brought home Cal Raleigh and put Seattle up 3–1.

• The Angels chipped back in the 7th when Zach Neto punched a two-out RBI single to left, cutting the deficit to one.

• Polanco gave the Mariners breathing room in the 8th, launching a solo homer to right-center to make it 4–2.

• Muñoz worked around a bases-loaded jam in the 9th, coaxing a game-ending lineout from Schanuel to seal his 23rd save.

📊 Notable Stats

Seattle Mariners

• Julio Rodríguez: 2-5, HR (15), RBI, SB (20)

• Randy Arozarena: 1-4, HR (19), 2 RBI

• Jorge Polanco: 1-3, HR (16), RBI, BB

• Logan Evans: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K (W, 4-3)

• Andrés Muñoz: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K (Save, 23)

Los Angeles Angels

• Mike Trout: 1-2, 2B, 3 BB, 1 R

• Nolan Schanuel: 2-5, RBI

• Zach Neto: 2-4, RBI

• Yusei Kikuchi: 4.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K (L, 4-7)

Blue Jays 11, Tigers 4

Ernie Clement crushed a three-run homer just two pitches after a gutsy intentional walk, and Eric Lauer turned in eight dominant innings as the Blue Jays continued their AL takeover with a blowout win in Detroit.

🔑 Key Moments

• Jahmai Jones opened the scoring for Detroit in the 1st with a solo shot to left-center, but it would be the Tigers’ only run until garbage time in the 9th.

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. tied it in the 6th with a laser double down the line to score George Springer, setting the table for a game-breaking moment.

• After the Tigers intentionally walked Addison Barger, Ernie Clement stepped up with two outs and launched a no-doubter to left — a three-run homer that gave the Jays a 4–1 lead and sparked a rout.

• Joey Loperfido followed with a solo blast of his own, going back-to-back with Clement to extend the lead and crush Detroit’s momentum.

• Barger returned in the 7th with a two-run triple, ripping a line drive to right that cleared the bases and pushed the lead to 8–1.

• Nathan Lukes capped things off with a 420-foot homer in the 8th, a two-run blast that put Toronto into double digits on the night.

📊 Notable Stats

Toronto Blue Jays

• Ernie Clement: 2-4, HR (5), 4 RBI, SF

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: 3-5, 2B (21), 2 R, 2 RBI

• Addison Barger: 1-4, 3B (1), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB

• Nathan Lukes: 2-5, HR (6), 2B (8), 2 R, 2 RBI

• Eric Lauer: 8.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 6 K, 0 BB

Detroit Tigers

• Jahmai Jones: 1-4, HR (4), RBI

• Spencer Torkelson: 1-4, HR (22), RBI

• Dillon Dingler: 2-4, 2B (13)

• Reese Olson: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Cardinals 9, Padres 7

Brendan Donovan and Willson Contreras each blasted three-run homers in the same inning — a feat St. Louis hadn’t accomplished since 2003 — powering the Cardinals to a 9–7 victory in a wild opener against San Diego. The win also marked Oliver Marmol’s 300th as manager.

🔑 Key Moments

• San Diego came out swinging, with Fernando Tatis Jr. scoring on a Luis Arraez double and Arraez later crossing the plate for a quick 2–0 lead in the 1st.

• Contreras got the Cardinals rolling with an RBI double in the bottom half before St. Louis exploded in the 2nd — Donovan launched a three-run homer to right, and minutes later, Contreras matched it with a three-run blast of his own to make it 7–2.

• The Padres responded in the 3rd, as Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado homered in back-to-back at-bats to close the gap to 7–5.

• Iván Herrera kept the pressure on, delivering an RBI single in the 4th and then a solo home run in the 6th — his third hit of the night.

• The bullpen came up huge, with JoJo Romero, Phil Maton, and Ryan Helsley combining for 3.2 shutout innings and six strikeouts to secure the win.

📊 Notable Stats

St. Louis Cardinals

• Willson Contreras: 2-3, HR (14), 2B (27), 4 RBI, BB

• Brendan Donovan: 3-5, HR (9), 3 RBI

• Iván Herrera: 3-4, HR (9), 2 RBI, BB

• Victor Scott II: 1-2, 2 R, 2 BB, SB (26)

• Sonny Gray: 5.0 IP, 11 H, 7 R (6 ER), 5 K (W, 10-6)

• Ryan Helsley: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K (Save, 20)

San Diego Padres

• Manny Machado: 3-5, HR (19), 2 RBI

• Fernando Tatis Jr.: 3-5, HR (17), RBI

• Luis Arraez: 2-4, 2 2B, RBI, BB

• Yu Darvish: 3.1 IP, 8 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 3 K (L, 4-7)

Athletics 5, Astros 2

Nick Kurtz added two more doubles to his sizzling rookie campaign, setting a new A’s record for extra-base hits through 65 games while leading Oakland to a 5–2 victory over the Astros. Luis Severino struck out eight in seven strong innings, and Carlos Cortes impressed in his first MLB start.

🔑 Key Moments

• Carlos Cortes broke the scoreless tie in the 2nd with a sacrifice fly to center, bringing home Lawrence Butler for his first career RBI.

• Nick Kurtz struck again in the 4th, ripping a two-out RBI double to right to put the A’s up 3–0 and break the A’s rookie XBH record in just 65 games.

• Luis Urías added insurance in the 6th, launching a solo homer to left-center — his 8th of the season — pushing the lead to 5–0.

• Luis Severino dominated on the mound, striking out eight over seven innings and allowing just four hits without issuing a walk.

• Carlos Cortes made a highlight defensive play, gunning down Taylor Trammell at second on a ball off the wall in the 3rd for his first big league outfield assist.

📊 Notable Stats

Oakland Athletics

• Nick Kurtz: 3-5, 2 2B (16, 17), RBI

• Luis Urías: 2-4, HR (8), RBI

• Gio Urshela: 3-4, R

• Carlos Cortes: 1-3, SF, RBI, OF assist

• Luis Severino: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 8 K (W, 5-10)

• Mason Miller: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K (Save, 14)

Houston Astros

• Taylor Trammell: 3-4, SB

• Victor Caratini: 1-4, 2B, R

• Jason Alexander: 6.0 IP, 11 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K (L, 1-5)

Orioles 4, Guardians 3
C. Morton: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 7 SO, 4 BB
S. Kwan: 2-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI

⚾ Must-Watch Games Today

🍎 Phillies (58‑44) @ Yankees (56‑46) – Bronx Bragging Rights on Apple TV+

🕖 7:05 PM ET | 📺 Apple TV+
Pitching Matchup: Taijuan Walker (3‑5, 3.75 ERA) vs. Will Warren (6‑5, 4.91 ERA)
Two postseason hopefuls clash in New York, with the Yankees looking to cool off Philly's power bats.

☘️ Dodgers (60‑43) @ Red Sox (55‑49) – West Coast Power Meets Fenway Fire

🕢 7:10 PM ET | 📺 NESN, SportsNet LA
Pitching Matchup: Emmet Sheehan (1‑1, 4.41 ERA) vs. Brayan Bello (6‑4, 3.23 ERA)
Brayan Bello and Boston host the Dodgers in a marquee interleague series loaded with playoff implications.

🌉 Mets (59‑44) @ Giants (54‑49) – Webb vs. Holmes Under the Oracle Lights

🕙 10:15 PM ET | 📺 NBCS BA, WPIX, KNTV
Pitching Matchup: Clay Holmes (8‑5, 3.48 ERA) vs. Logan Webb (9‑7, 3.08 ERA)
A late-night West Coast gem features two of the NL’s steadiest arms in a potential playoff preview.

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