The Yankees’ 16-run outburst against the Red Sox was already plenty loud, but Austin Wells made sure it came with a historic twist. The catcher homered twice in the same nine-run eighth inning, becoming the first player to come off the bench and go deep twice in one inning.
Pete Crow-Armstrong keeps finding his way into the spotlight, and this weekend gave the Cubs outfielder another big one. Crow-Armstrong blasted two more home runs on Sunday, pushing his total to five over the last two games.
The stage was Sunday Night Baseball, which only adds more shine to what he did in a series against the Reds. Over the weekend, he went 8-for-16 with 8 RBI as Chicago scored 30 runs but still dropped two of three at home.
The Cubs are now tied with the Phillies for the top NL Wild Card spot.
Max Scherzer turned back the clock against the Mariners, and the numbers came with a milestone attached. The Blue Jays right-hander struck out 10 while throwing seven scoreless innings on Sunday, moving past Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry on the all-time strikeout list.
Scherzer now sits ninth, just behind Justin Verlander. It’s also been his best stretch of the year.
The three-time Cy Young winner posted a 3.62 ERA over six starts in August as Toronto tries to hang around in the AL Wild Card race. Since returning from the IL, he’s allowed two earned runs or fewer in all but one outing.
The Rays got a strange break and turned it into another win, their fourth in a row. With Tampa Bay leading late, Padres outfielder Samad Taylor tracked down the final out yesterday but ran into the wall as he made the catch, knocking the ball loose and sending it over the fence for a game-tying home run.
The play, which was shown in a video link via MLB on X, led to a rough blown save for Mason Miller. Miller had gone more than a calendar year without surrendering a homer, but he’s now allowed one in back-to-back appearances.
Tampa Bay has won six of seven and has stretched its AL East lead back to four and a half games.
In Other News...
Rays Roster Expansion Could Shape Their AL East Push
The Rays enter September with a division lead and the kind of roster decision that can quietly shape a pennant race. With expansion around the corner, Tampa Bay is weighing extra depth for the final push, and the names in the mix reflect the sort of flexible help teams often want when the schedule gets tighter and every series carries more weight.
Mason Englert, Victor Mesa Jr. and Ty Johnson are among the players being considered for promotion, giving the Rays options on the mound and in the outfield as they try to manage the grind ahead. Nothing has been announced yet, which leaves the picture still open, but the possibility alone underscores how the club is trying to reinforce itself without losing sight of the AL East chase. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Face A September Call That Could Spark Their Playoff Push
September always brings a little roster-watching intrigue, and this year is no different for the Rays as the calendar flips and Major League Baseball expands active rosters from 26 to 28 players. Tampa Bay has some decisions to make about how to use those extra spots, and Theo Gillen has at least entered the conversation after a strong run in the minors. The No. 2 prospect has helped create a buzz inside the organization, even if he has not yet reached Triple-A or landed on the 40-man roster.
For now, though, the more likely path looks more conventional. The Rays are expected to lean toward recalling infielder Carson Williams and adding a pitcher from the minors, a move that would give the club immediate depth without rushing Gillen into the spotlight. Still, the fact that his name is even part of the September discussion says plenty about where the organization stands, and it leaves open a longer-term question about when his progress will force the issue. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Farm System Has A New Name Fans Need To Watch
The Rays farm system has taken on a different look lately, and Theo Gillen is now the name sitting at the top of the board in FanGraphs latest rankings. Hes joined near the top by Caden Bodine, while Aidan Cremarosa still holds the distinction of being the systems top pitcher even after a stint on the Injured List. Its the kind of refresh that matters in Tampa Bay, where the pipeline is always part of the bigger conversation.
There has also been some roster churn around the edges, with the club releasing Austin Slater and adding Jared Oliva on a minor league deal. Meanwhile, the Triple-A level has continued to offer plenty to follow, with Xavier Isaac and Bodine among the players making noise there. For a Rays organization that leans heavily on depth and development, the next wave is starting to sort itself out, even if the picture is still shifting. [Read more 🡒]