July 30th, 2025

⚾ Headlines Around the League

Brewers 9, Cubs 3 — Vaughn’s Grand Slam, Priester’s Streak Power Crew Again

Yankees 7, Rays 5 — Volpe Sparks Offense, but Errors Cloud Victory

Padres 7, Mets 1 — Soto Scare Ends in Relief, But Mets Crumble Late

Pirates 3, Giants 1 — Ashcraft Shuts Door as Pirates Clinch Series in San Francisco

Dodgers 5, Reds 4 — Smith Delivers in Ninth as Dodgers Rally Past Reds Again

Tuesday was an interesting one around the league. A few solid games, but the big headlines for me were the Brewers beating the Cubs again and the Yankees finding a way to take down the Rays.

Let’s start with the Brewers — they might honestly be the best team in baseball right now. Andrew Vaughn has been on an absolute heater and delivered again with a massive grand slam. There was a bit of a scare with Chourio leaving the game with a hamstring issue, but early reports say he should be fine. On the mound, Quinn Priester looked solid. He got into a little trouble in the sixth, but his ability to command the zone and force weak contact or groundballs is exactly why he’s been so valuable. Highlight of the night goes to Vaughn and this fantastic angle of his grand slam:

Now... the Yankees. Where do I even start? If you were on Yankees Twitter last night, it was a rollercoaster. Volpe made a brutal error in the first and fans were rightfully losing it, but give him credit, he bounced back. Between him and Bellinger, the offense came through to snag a much-needed win.

We might see Amed Rosario get some run at short soon, and I saw some rehab footage of Luis Gil today — his stuff looked pretty sharp. Maybe they just have to ride it out and hope things settle once the roster gets healthy.

Unfortately there were also a few more injuries around the league.

• Ronald Acuña Jr. (Braves) – Left game with Achilles tightness, seen in walking boot. IL expected. I also saw a clip of him holding back tears so it is likely not great.

• Juan Soto (Mets) – Fouled ball off foot, X-rays negative. Day-to-day

• Byron Buxton (Twins) – IL with rib inflammation.

• Jacob Wilson (A's) – IL with left forearm fracture. Could be back this season but his ROY campaign is likely done.

🔥 Notable Performances

Hitting

Pitching

📊 Final Scores and Highlights

Brewers 9, Cubs 3

Milwaukee leaned on two of their low-key trade pickups as Andrew Vaughn erupted for six RBIs, including a grand slam, and Quinn Priester extended his personal win streak to nine games in a dominant victory over Chicago.

🔑 Key Moments

• The Cubs struck first on a Dansby Swanson RBI forceout, but Anthony Seigler answered with a sac fly to tie it in the 2nd.

• Vaughn’s sac fly in the 3rd gave Milwaukee a 2–1 lead, then he added an RBI single in the 5th as part of a rally that pushed the lead to 5–1.

• Jackson Chourio tripled and later left with right hamstring cramps after scoring on William Contreras’ RBI double.

• In the 6th, Vaughn delivered the knockout blow — a 409-foot grand slam to left-center that sent American Family Field into a frenzy.

• Nico Hoerner homered for the Cubs in the 6th, but the Brewers’ bullpen held strong behind Aaron Ashby’s 3.1 innings of relief.

📊 Notable Stats

Brewers

• Andrew Vaughn: 3-for-4, HR (10), 6 RBI, R, SF

• William Contreras: 2-for-4, 2B (19), RBI, 2 R

• Jackson Chourio: 2-for-3, 3B (4), R

• Quinn Priester: 5.2 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K (W, 10-2)

Cubs

• Nico Hoerner: 3-for-4, HR (4), RBI, R

• Pete Crow-Armstrong: 1-for-2, RBI, BB

• Seiya Suzuki: 1-for-4

• Colin Rea: 4.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER

Yankees 7, Rays 5

Anthony Volpe had one of his most productive games of the season at the plate, helping fuel a Yankees comeback with a go-ahead RBI, aggressive baserunning, and a towering home run. But two costly errors from the shortstop kept the door open for Tampa Bay, forcing New York to grind out a nervy win at Yankee Stadium.

🔑 Key Moments

• After a first-inning error by Volpe led to an unearned run, Jonny DeLuca capitalized with a two-run triple to give the Rays an early 2-0 lead.

• Jonathan Aranda extended the Rays’ lead to 3-0 with a solo homer to right center in the 3rd, but the Yankees responded swiftly.

• With two outs in the bottom of the 3rd, Cody Bellinger tied the game with a clutch three-run blast—his 20th of the year.

• Anthony Volpe put the Yankees ahead in the 4th with an RBI single, then scored again on a throwing error after an aggressive steal of third.

• In the 8th, Volpe delivered again—this time with a solo home run to extend the lead to 7-4.

• Devin Williams allowed a run in the 9th following Volpe’s second error of the night, but struck out Jonathan Aranda to secure the save and preserve the win.

📊 Notable Stats

Yankees

• Anthony Volpe: 2-for-4, HR (15), 2 RBI, 2 R, SB, 2 E

• Cody Bellinger: 1-for-3, HR (20), 3 RBI, BB

• Paul Goldschmidt: 1-for-4, RBI

• Max Fried: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 9 K

• Devin Williams: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, Save (17)

Rays

• Jonathan Aranda: 2-for-5, HR (12), 2 R, RBI

• Jonny DeLuca: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 3B

• Josh Lowe: 1-for-4, 3B, R

• Joe Boyle: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 6 R (4 ER), 3 BB, 6 K, HR

Padres 7, Mets 1

Juan Soto's early exit cast a shadow over the Mets’ night, but the real damage came later, as San Diego exploded for six unanswered runs in the final three innings to take the series with a 7–1 win at Petco Park.

🔑 Key Moments

• In the 4th, Juan Soto fouled a pitch off his left foot, limped away in pain, and left the game shortly after; X-rays came back negative and he’s listed day-to-day with a contusion.

• Tied 1–1 in the 6th, Jackson Merrill ripped a clutch RBI triple to give San Diego the lead, his second run-scoring hit of the night.

• In the 7th, Elias Díaz broke it open with a two-run double to left, and Manny Machado followed with a towering three-run homer—his 20th—to cap a six-run barrage.

• New York’s lone run came in the 5th on a sac fly by Starling Marte, but they managed just four hits on the night and went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

• Luisangel Acuña, filling in for Soto, flashed his athleticism with a sliding catch in center to rob Xander Bogaerts in the 5th.

📊 Notable Stats

Padres

• Jackson Merrill: 2-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI

• Manny Machado: 1-for-4, HR (20), 3 RBI

• Elias Díaz: 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI

• Ryan Bergert: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 K

Mets

• Starling Marte: Sac fly RBI

• Mark Vientos: 2-for-4

• Sean Manaea: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 K

• José Buttó: 1.2 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 2 BB

Pirates 3, Giants 1

The Pirates rode clutch hitting and dominant relief pitching to take the series from the Giants at Oracle Park, winning their seventh game in the last eight behind a strong showing from Braxton Ashcraft and a go-ahead knock from Joey Bart.

🔑 Key Moments

• Willy Adames opened the scoring in the 4th — He launched a solo homer to left-center, his 16th of the year, giving the Giants a 1-0 lead.

• Liover Peguero answered quickly in the 5th — The young shortstop blasted his first homer of the season to tie it up 1-1, continuing to make his case for more playing time.

• Justin Verlander danced through traffic — Despite walking four, he kept Pittsburgh in check through five innings, striking out seven and allowing just the one solo shot.

• Joey Bart came through in the 8th — With the bases loaded, Bart punched a grounder through the left side to score Nick Gonzales and break the tie.

• Peguero added insurance — He grounded out later in the inning, bringing home a second run to make it 3-1.

• Braxton Ashcraft was lights out in relief — The righty retired all nine batters he faced in order, bridging the game to Dennis Santana, who slammed the door in the 9th for his 6th save.

📊 Notable Stats

Pittsburgh Pirates

• Liover Peguero: 1-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 K

• Joey Bart: 2-3, RBI, BB

• Tommy Pham: 3-4, 2B

• Braxton Ashcraft: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (Win)

• Dennis Santana: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K (Save)

San Francisco Giants

• Willy Adames: 1-3, HR (16), BB

• Casey Schmitt: 1-3, 2B

• Justin Verlander: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K

Dodgers 5, Reds 4

The Dodgers overcame a shaky start from Tyler Glasnow and a career-worst night for Shohei Ohtani at the plate, rallying late to beat the Reds for a second straight game thanks to clutch hits from Will Smith and Freddie Freeman.

🔑 Key Moments

• Tommy Edman got things rolling early — His two-run homer in the 2nd gave LA a quick lead, though the Dodgers struggled to build momentum from it.

• The Reds responded in the 4th with fireworks — Jake Fraley crushed a two-run homer to tie it, and Noelvi Marte followed with a solo shot to give Cincinnati a 3-2 lead.

• Bases loaded, nobody out in the 5th looked dangerous — But Jack Dreyer and Ben Casparius combined to hold the Reds to just one run, thanks in part to Edman’s slick sliding forceout at second.

• LA roared back in the 7th — Walks from Michael Conforto set the table, and Will Smith and Freddie Freeman followed with back-to-back RBI singles to tie the game at 4–4.

• James Outman sparked the winning rally in the 9th — After entering as a pinch-runner, he raced around from first to score on Smith’s two-out double down the left field line.

• Alex Vesia shut the door in the 9th — The lefty retired the Reds in order to earn the save and lock down the Dodgers’ series win.

📊 Notable Stats

Dodgers

• Will Smith: 2-for-5, 2B (17), 2 RBI

• Freddie Freeman: 3-for-5, RBI

• Tommy Edman: 1-for-4, HR (12), 2 RBI

• Tyler Glasnow: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 3 K

• Alex Vesia: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K (Save)

Reds

• Jake Fraley: 1-for-1, HR (6), 2 RBI, BB

• Noelvi Marte: 1-for-3, HR (7), RBI

• Nick Lodolo: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 11 K

Other scores around the league:

Red Sox 8, Twins 5
L. Giolito: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 5 SO, 2 BB
B. Lee: 3-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI

Phillies 6, White Sox 3
J. Luzardo: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 4 SO, 1 BB
K. Schwarber: 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Marlins 5, Cardinals 0
S. Alcantara: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 4 SO, 3 BB
V. Bellozo: 2.0 IP, 3 SO, 1 BB

Astros 7, Nationals 4
J. Hader: 1.0 IP, 3 SO
B. Sousa: 1.1 IP, 2 SO

Angels 8, Rangers 5
K. Higashioka: 3-4, 3 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI
R. Detmers: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO

Guardians 10, Rockies 4
L. Allen: 7.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 3 SO, 1 BB
K. Manzardo: 3-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI

Tigers 12, Diamondbacks 2
B. Hurter: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 3 SO
W. Perez: 3-5, 4 R, 1 RBI

Orioles 16, Blue Jays 4 (G1)
C. Morton: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 2 SO, 3 BB
G. Henderson: 3-4, 3 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI

Orioles 3, Blue Jays 2 (G2)
B. Young: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 6 SO, 2 BB
C. Martin: 1.0 IP, 2 SO, 1 BB

Royals 9, Braves 6
S. Lugo: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 5 SO, 4 BB
V. Pasquantino: 3-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Athletics 6, Mariners 1
L. Severino: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 6 SO, 2 BB
S. Langeliers: 2-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI

⚾ Must-Watch Games Today

🔵 Cubs (62‑45) @ Brewers (64‑43)

🕑 2:10 PM ET | 📺 FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin, Marquee
Shota Imanaga (7‑4, 3.12 ERA) vs. Freddy Peralta (12‑4, 2.81 ERA)
These rivals are neck and neck in the NL Central — and two All-Star arms square off.

🌟 Dodgers (63‑45) @ Reds (56‑52)

🕖 7:10 PM ET | 📺 SportsNet LA, FDSN Ohio, MLBN
Shohei Ohtani (0‑0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Nick Martinez (9‑9, 4.69 ERA)
Ohtani returns to the mound in Cincinnati in a must-see start for the NL West leaders.

💣 Rays (54‑54) @ Yankees (58‑49)

🕖 7:05 PM ET | 📺 FanDuel Sun, Amazon Prime Video, MLBN
Zack Littell (8‑8, 3.72 ERA) vs. Will Warren (6‑5, 4.82 ERA)
The Wild Card race heats up as the Rays look to climb back over .500 in the Bronx.

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