MLB umpire Jen Pawol is under a fresh wave of criticism after a rough sequence in the Padres-Blue Jays game left both dugouts angry and social media buzzing about what many are calling one of the worst calls of the 2026 season.
The trouble started in the second inning when Pawol called a strike on a pitch from Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman. Padres batter Sung-Mun Song tried to challenge the ruling, but Pawol turned it down, saying the request came too late. That set off Padres hitting coach Steven Souza Jr., who was ejected after arguing the timing of the challenge.
The frustration didn’t stop there. As the umpiring crew gathered to sort through the situation, both teams were visibly upset. Later in the game, Pawol issued a balk call that brought in a run for the Padres, and that decision drew clear reactions from Gausman and Blue Jays manager John Schneider.
The combination of those calls has fueled the backlash around Pawol’s performance, with plenty of observers pointing to the game as another example of the inconsistency that has followed her all season. Through 2026, she has remained near the bottom of the league in balls-and-strikes accuracy, according to current metrics, and former players and analysts have publicly questioned how she handles high-pressure moments.
Pawol continues to work games as the league’s only female umpire at the major league level, but the latest controversy has only added to the noise around MLB officiating. The online debate has only grown louder, with the ejection, the balk ruling, and the overall sequence all being cited as major flashpoints.
In Other News...
Dodgers Seem Ready To Make A Deadline Bet Fans Did Not Expect
Dalton Rushing has handled the Dodgers catching duties with Will Smith sidelined, and the early returns have given the club a workable bridge at a spot that can get thin in a hurry. Rushings offense has been solid enough to keep Los Angeles from feeling pressure to chase a big-name catcher, even as the organization continues to monitor how he handles the role on a day-to-day basis.
For now, the more likely deadline move appears to be adding catching depth at the minor-league level rather than bringing in a major-league regular. The Dodgers are still balancing Rushings development with Smiths recovery, and there is at least a sense that the club may be more comfortable with the current path than it has let on publicly, even if that remains only part of the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Prospects Gave Fans Plenty To Notice During Futures Game Break
The Futures Game break gave Dodgers fans a quick look at two of the organizations better-known outfield prospects, with Josue De Paula and Mike Sirota both handling left field for the National League. De Paula also helped himself at the plate with a single, a small but useful reminder that the Dodgers farm system keeps producing players who can show up on a bigger stage and look right at home.
Back in the minors, the rest of the system kept moving along with the kind of mixed bag that usually fills a midseason update, from home runs to strong pitching performances across the affiliates. Great Lakes, Oklahoma City and Ontario all had notable individual efforts to track, and with more games on the schedule soon, there will be another chance for these prospects to keep making their case before the next round of attention shifts back to the big club. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Finally Have A Real Blake Snell Return Timeline
Blake Snell is finally moving into the next phase of his recovery, with the Dodgers set to send the left-hander out on a rehab assignment this week after elbow surgery. It is the first concrete step toward getting him back into the rotation, and it gives the club a clearer sense of how the rest of his buildup will unfold.
The expectation is for Snell to make four to five rehab outings as he works toward a workload of about 90 pitches before rejoining the major league roster. For a Dodgers staff that has been waiting on more certainty, the assignment matters because it turns his return from a vague hope into a real process, even if the final date still has some room to breathe. [Read more 🡒]