Jackson Chourio kept the Brewers moving in the right direction yesterday, and he did it with another milestone swing. In Milwaukee’s 5-3 win over the Rangers, the left fielder reached 20 home runs for the third straight season. He got there in the bottom of the first against Cal Quantrill, turning an 89 mph cutter into a solo homer to right center and putting the Brewers on the board first.
That kind of power production at his age puts Chourio in rare company. He’s one of only 17 players in history to post at least three 20-homer seasons by age 22, according to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy. The group includes several active stars, among them Giancarlo Stanton, Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Carlos Correa, and Juan Soto.
Pete Crow-Armstrong had the loudest night of anyone on the slate. The Cubs outfielder went 4-for-6 and drove in six runs, and every RBI came on a home run in Chicago’s 17-5 rout of the Reds.
He started the game with a solo blast off Andrew Abbott in the first, then followed with a two-run homer in the second that helped put the Cubs in full control early. After a single in the fourth and a popout in the fifth, PCA came back up in the seventh and launched his third homer of the night, a three-run shot.
The performance pushed him to 9.1 fWAR on the season and added another big argument to his push to unseat Shohei Ohtani as the National League’s MVP.
Detroit had the day’s tightest finish, and the Tigers made it count. They beat the Dodgers 2-1 on a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth after a game shaped by strong pitching on both sides.
Keider Montero and Blake Snell each delivered quality starts, and Snell struck out ten over five innings. The bullpens then kept the score locked at 1-1 until the Tigers got their chance against Jack Dreyer.
Javier Báez opened the ninth with a double to left, Max Clark bunted him to third, and after two walks loaded the bases, Kevin McGonigle ended it with a walk-off single that brought Báez home from third. A few days ago, MLBTR’s Leo Morgenstern examined McGonigle’s Rookie of the Year case in the American League, and two-thirds of MLBTR readers picked him to win the award.
The Yankees and Red Sox split their doubleheader, setting up today’s game as the one that matters most in the season series. Boston took the opener 6-0 behind a shutout, but New York answered in the nightcap with a 9-2 win.
Max Fried, back on the mound for the Yankees, worked 3 2/3 innings, and the bullpen followed with 5 1/3 innings while allowing only one earned run. New York’s lineup also got to Boston’s Brayan Bello and Raymond Burgos.
With the split, the two clubs are now tied at six wins apiece in the season series, and the winner today will hold the tiebreaker if the teams finish with identical records. The Red Sox will turn to Ranger Suarez, while the Yankees will counter with Will Warren.
In Other News...
Dodgers Roster Shakeup Just Squeezed Out One Veteran Role Player
The Dodgers latest roster move brought some needed depth back into the mix, with catchers Will Smith and Dalton Rushing and left-hander Justin Wrobleski all coming off the injured list. Los Angeles also recalled infielder Alex Freeland from Triple-A, giving the club another versatile piece as it juggles the back end of the roster.
To clear space, the Dodgers designated catcher Ben Rortvedt for assignment, a reminder of how quickly the margins can tighten when injured players return at once. Outfielder Alek Thomas was sent to Triple-A as part of the same reshuffle, while top prospect James Tibbs III stays put there for now as the organization continues to sort out its next wave of options. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Catching Shakeup Begins As Will Smith Finally Returns
Will Smith is back on the active roster, and the Dodgers used a busy roster day to make room for him. Los Angeles activated Smith along with Dalton Rushing and Justin Wrobleski from the injured list, recalled infielder Alex Freeland from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned center fielder Alek Thomas, a flurry of moves that reflects just how much the club has had to juggle as it gets healthier.
The biggest shift came behind the plate, where Ben Rortvedt was designated for assignment to clear space for Smith after the catcher spent time on the 60-day injured list with neck inflammation. With Smith returning to the mix and Rushing also back, the Dodgers now have a different look at catcher, and the next question is how they sort out the playing time and depth chart from here. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Chose Caution With A September Call-Up Fans Wanted More From
The Dodgers had a chance to make their September roster move feel a little more electric, but instead they leaned into a safer, more practical option. Rather than bringing up one of the more buzzed-about young bats in James Tibbs III or Josue De Paula after Dave Roberts hinted a left-handed hitter might be on the way, the club recalled infielder Alex Freeland. It is the kind of choice that says as much about roster flexibility as it does about patience.
Freelands recent Triple-A numbers have been more modest than the kind of run that typically forces a promotion, while Tibbs has been the hotter name for those looking for a bigger jolt. Still, the Dodgers seem content to take the longer view with their top prospects for now, even if it means leaving fans to wonder when the next wave of youth will arrive. The move also keeps the outfield picture a little cleaner for Tommy Edman, which may have been part of the calculus all along. [Read more 🡒]