
Fantasy baseball: Reactions to MLB trade deadline deals
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Jul 31, 2025, 06:46 PM ET
The 2025 MLB trade deadline has arrived, with contending teams deciding what they need to add before 6 p.m. ET this evening, Thursday, July 31. This is the place to find out the fantasy baseball implications as a result of the major wheeling and dealing.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have dealt away Eugenio Suarez. Now, do the Miami Marlins send Sandy Alcantara to a contender? How many current members of the Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates will be wearing new uniforms come tomorrow?
Every season’s trade deadline has its own unique set of answers and repercussions. Eric Karabell and Tristan H. Cockcroft will analyze and provide an outlook for all of the key players on the move, as well as new opportunities that may arise from those left behind when all the dust has settled.
Note: Not every single transaction warrants the attention of fantasy managers, but for those trades that do merit analysis, you’ll find them listed below.
Carlos Correa traded from Twins to Astros
The Houston Astros offense has been plagued by injuries this season, from Yordan Alvarez‘s near-three-month absence due to a fractured right hand, to Jeremy Pena‘s rib fracture that has cost him the past month, to Isaac Paredes‘ recent hamstring injury that’s expected to cost him extended time. Pena, by all accounts, should be back in action this weekend. That’s what makes Correa’s acquisition so surprising.
Correa will shift to third base in his second tour with Houston, bringing extra position flexibility in fantasy leagues once he appears in 10 games there. He should move directly into the heart of the order for an Astros offense that ranks only 17th for the season in runs per game.
Correa, the No. 30 shortstop on the Player Rater and ranked 37th at the position in fantasy points, is no less risky on the injury front as a soon-to-be-31-year-old than he has been across the previous nine seasons — and more of a “name brand” than true value nowadays. The best that can be said for the move is that he’ll again have the Crawford Boxes to shoot for in left field, though park factors reveal that Minnesota’s Target Field was no worse a power environment for him.
Consider Correa to be what he has been to date: A 12-team mixed-league middle-infielder, which means that in our standard game, he’s best used as a daily streamer, feasting most on left-handed starting pitching. — Cockcroft (7/31)
Camilo Doval traded from Giants to Yankees
The New York Yankees continue to stockpile “2024 closer disappointments turned 2025 rebounds,” adding Doval to a deep mix of talented right-handers. Control has long been Doval’s weak spot, as it caused his second half of 2024 5.73 ERA, which ultimately cost him his closer role. While he did rein things in long enough to recapture the role in June, he does have a 5.32 ERA and a 15.0% walk rate in 21 appearances since June to reintroduce similar questions.
That’s sure to keep him a few steps from the closer role in the Bronx, likely slotting in behind Devin Williams, Luke Weaver and probably even newly acquired David Bednar — and that means a drop-off in fantasy value due to his trading in save chances for holds.
All-Star Randy Rodriguez should get the first crack at the closer job for the San Francisco Giants, and his elite control and filthy slider give him a chance at a top-10 valuation if he’s indeed the full-time guy. He should be added immediately in fantasy leagues, although it’s worth mentioning that Ryan Walker, the team’s Opening Day closer, does have a 3.03 ERA in 31 games since losing the role in May. — Cockcroft (7/31)
Dustin May traded from Dodgers to Red Sox
May, 27, was recently demoted from the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation to a long relief role, He is not having a strong season, but at least he has been healthy after missing the 2024 campaign having his elbow repaired. May finally surpassed 100 MLB innings. Few expected him to post a 4.85 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP along the way, though. His home numbers were fine, but a 7.09 road ERA is scary. Pitching in Fenway Park — that is, well, the road for him — half the time may be a problem. The Boston Red Sox need rotation help, though. Fantasy managers can do better. — Karabell (7/31)
Charlie Morton traded from Orioles to Tigers
Morton, 41, has misleading numbers this season. He went 0-6 with a 9.45 ERA in April, quickly losing the trust from fantasy managers who relied on him for more than a decade, then he lost his rotation spot. With few options, the Orioles gave him another chance in late May and Morton has gone 7-1 with a 3.88 ERA since then, with more strikeouts than innings. The result was a trade to a contender. Morton has ugly overall numbers, but now that he is on a contender, it may be time to rely on him again. — Karabell (7/31)
Bailey Falter traded from Pirates to Royals
Falter, 28, doesn’t possess elite stuff, but it had gotten tough for fantasy managers to ignore a 3.73 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP this season. Falter is not much of a strikeout pitcher, so his fantasy value is muted in that respect, but still he is among the top-65 starting pitchers in ESPN fantasy scoring this season. Falter didn’t achieve this success because he was pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates, so moving on to the Kansas City Royals certainly shouldn’t hurt him. Falter is not the most exciting fantasy option, nor is there great upside, but he’s having a good season and probably should be rostered in more than 5% of ESPN leagues. — Karabell (7/31)
Taj Bradley traded from Rays to Twins for Griffin Jax
Bradley, 24, continued to underachieve based on his strikeout stuff this season, ultimately earning himself a trip back to Triple-A. Perhaps a change of scenery will help him. Bradley has a career 4.70 ERA over 67 starts and 354 innings, but also a solid strikeout rate that keeps fantasy managers interested. Will moving on to the Minnesota Twins solve the issues with control and home runs? Perhaps. Take a chance on him in deeper formats. This remains an arm with a future.
Jax, 30, stood next in line for saves with Jhoan Duran dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies. He is likely to handle a setup role with the Tampa Bay Rays, with RHP Pete Fairbanks sticking around. Jax has a bloated 4.50 ERA, but don’t read too much into that. He is among the leaders in holds with 21, and he is seventh among all qualified relief pitchers with a 36.4% strikeout rate. Expect Jax to continue piling on the holds and whiffs with the Rays. Cole Sands may be closing games for the Twins. — Karabell (7/31)
Nestor Cortes traded from Brewers to Padres
The San Diego Padres added further starting pitching depth, having traded two of their recent starters (Ryan Bergert, Stephen Kolek) and a host of prospects earlier in the day, by getting Cortes from the Milwaukee Brewers. “Nasty Nestor” is recovering from a left elbow flexor strain, but is ready to return after making a pair of solid rehabilitation starts for Triple-A Nashville. He was, however, the No. 19 starting pitcher in 2022 and No. 44 in 2024, illustrating the potential he can have when healthy.
Getting out of Milwaukee’s American Family Field, which granted hasn’t played quite as hitter-friendly in recent years as it had in the past, and into San Diego’s Petco Park will be good for him, and at the very least he should have streaming fantasy appeal with a chance at a top-50 rest-of-season positional valuation. — Cockcroft (7/31)
Phil Maton traded from Cardinals to Rangers
Fantasy managers who were hoping that Maton might take over as the St. Louis Cardinals closer were crushed when he was traded to the Texas Rangers, where he’ll most likely serve in a similar primary setup role. Maton was just outside the top 50 among pure relievers (meaning you don’t include any full-time starters with RP eligibility) in fantasy points, which seems about right. As for the Cardinals, this indeed makes it likely that JoJo Romero will lead a possible committee — if it’s not his job alone — including Riley O’Brien, Matt Svanson and/or Kyle Leahy. — Cockcroft (7/31)
Jose Caballero traded from Rays to Yankees
It’s not often that the MLB leader in stolen bases gets traded, but such was the case for Caballero, who essentially changed dugouts mid-game following Thursday’s rain delay (though by rule, he couldn’t be immediately activated). He’s the categorical leader despite making only 66 starts, and just as he was for the Tampa Bay Rays, he probably won’t be an everyday player for the New York Yankees.
There’s an outside chance that Caballero could threaten shortstop Anthony Volpe ‘s starting job, considering Volpe’s inability to reach his statistical ceiling and defensive struggles of late. Volpe’s fantasy managers should have concern about his playing time over the coming weeks. The upshot here is that Caballero will likely play less frequently for his new team, hurting his value and frustrating his rotisserie managers, but it shouldn’t be a significant amount. — Cockcroft (7/31)
Mike Yastrzemski traded from Giants to Royals
The Kansas City Royals have had by far the least productive outfield in baseball this season (.262 combined wOBA) and recently lost promising-but-disappointing rookie Jac Caglianone to the injured list, so the addition of Yastrzemski gives them a reliable, even if unextraordinary, upgrade. “Yaz” has one of the keenest eyes at the plate, his chase rate placing in at least the 80th percentile in every one of the past six seasons, and his 23.1% K rate this season represents a career best. Expect him to play regularly for the Royals the rest of the way, with relevancy in points leagues slightly larger than ESPN’s standard (think: five outfielders) and deeper. — Cockcroft (7/31)
Merrill Kelly traded from Diamondbacks to Rangers
Kelly is having an excellent season, his third such in the past four — the lone exception being 2024, when he missed nearly four months due to a shoulder injury. He’s currently ranked 21st among starting pitchers with his 285 fantasy points, and he has done so despite calling one of the better hitting environments, Chase Field, his home.
The move to Texas’ Globe Life Field should enhance his prospects of maintaining a true ERA well below what the metrics expect — his has been at least two-thirds of a run better than his Statcast expected ERA in each of the past three seasons and he has had a lower ERA than xERA in all seven of his MLB seasons — and he’s sure to maintain a regular spot for the duration for a Texas Rangers team that was in sore need of help in the rotation.
Kelly is one of the more underrated fantasy pitchers, illustrated by his near-20% availability in ESPN leagues, and he’s a plenty handy one to have as a third/fourth/fifth starter on your staff, even if his ceiling isn’t much higher. — Cockcroft (7/31)
Willi Castro traded from Twins to Cubs
Castro, 28, is helpful in fantasy because he is eligible at three infield positions (all but 1B) and the outfield. That utility comes in handy in deeper formats. It would be more helpful if Castro was a bigger statistical contributor. He stole 33 bases in 2023. He scored 89 runs in 2024. This season, Castro boasts a .742 OPS, just above league average and consistent with prior seasons, but with only 10 home runs, nine stolen bases, 48 runs and 32 walks (and only 27 RBI, somehow!). He is outside the top-150 hitters in ESPN fantasy points.
The Chicago Cubs don’t appear to have any room for Castro as a regular, unless they push rookie Matt Shaw aside at 3B, but Shaw boasts a 1.119 OPS since the All-Star break, with four home runs and three steals in 12 games. Castro has a .488 OPS since the break. Shaw has 1.5 WAR this season, Castro 0.5. Still, Castro, a switch-hitter doing his best work this year versus left-handed pitching, can fill in for regulars and amass some fantasy value that way, in theory. — Karabell (7/31)
Ryan O’Hearn and Ramon Laureano traded from Orioles to Padres
The San Diego Padres, behind aggressive general manager A.J. Preller, plugged yet another of their roster holes, acquiring the left-handed hitter they desired while also landing a quality fourth outfielder/platoon mate for left fielder Gavin Sheets in Laureano.
The American League’s starting DH in the All-Star Game, O’Hearn had a sensational first half of the season (through 54 Baltimore Orioles games) sporting a .340/.428/.558 hitting line, but he has regressed sharply since with .226/.320/.368 rates over his last 49 games. O’Hearn’s true value is probably near the midpoint of those numbers. He’ll likely slot in as a good platoon-mate for someone like Jose Iglesias (with Jake Cronenworth shifting to first base on those Iglesias days).
The move from Baltimore’s Camden Yards, one of the best hitting environments for a lefty, to San Diego’s Petco Park, represents a steep decline for O’Hearn, but he should remain a capable corner infielder for fantasy leagues that use them, and a solid streamer against righties in our standard game.
Laureano has been sensational across the past two-plus months, batting .328/.393/.557 with 10 home runs over his last 51 games, backed by the best contact-quality numbers he has ever registered in the majors. By all rights he should keep getting regular at-bats for so long as that lasts, as he’s actually ranked higher among outfielders on the Player Rater (41st) than O’Hearn (50th). However, chances are that the Padres will “pick and choose his spots” and therefore relegate him to similar streaming status in fantasy. — Cockcroft (7/31)
Jesus Sanchez traded from Marlins to Astros
The Houston Astros desperately needed a lefty-hitting bat in their lineup, and they get a league-average option in Sanchez, the No. 60 scorer among outfield-eligibles in ESPN standard leagues. Sanchez isn’t great, but he hits right-handed pitching well, he can run a little (25 stolen bases since the start of 2024). All of his numbers should improve leaving Miami’s pitcher-friendly ballpark for Houston.
Sanchez should handle left field for the Astros, perhaps in a platoon (since he has a dreadful .393 OPS against left-handed pitching), and Jose Altuve figures to move back to second base full-time. Journeyman Taylor Trammell has been leading off against right-handers. Sanchez may inherit that spot, which would help his numbers. Sanchez may be at least a top-50 fantasy outfielder over the season’s final two months.
As for the Miami Marlins, there isn’t much to watch in their outfield other than All-Star Kyle Stowers. Perhaps it is time to give prospect Victor Mesa Jr. a long look. The Marlins received RHP Ryan Gusto for Sanchez. He probably goes into their rotation, and the change in home ballparks is quite stark, but this is not someone to covet in fantasy. — Karabell (7/31)
Cedric Mullins traded from Orioles to Mets
Mullins, a fantasy star back in 2021 when he hit .291 with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases, has not come particularly close to those numbers since then. This year, he is hitting .229 with 15 home runs and 14 steals and is sitting on a .305 OBP for a third consecutive season. He ranks just 49th among outfield-eligible players in scoring for ESPN standard leagues. He has been better in July, hitting .290/.346/.522 with three home runs and six steals. Perhaps moving to the contending New York Mets will keep the better stats flowing.
Mullins, 30, is an upgrade for the Mets, whose center fielders are hitting a combined .218 with a .301 OBP this season, but this trade should not alter his statistical trajectory much for 2025. A left-handed hitter these days (he used to switch hit), Mullins is hitting just .204/.272/.417 against right-handed pitching. He figures to hit no higher than sixth or seventh in the lineup. Expect 2B/OF Jeff McNeil, miscast in center field, to move around the diamond, or perhaps he will push 3B/2B Brett Baty aside at second base.
The Orioles may play Colton Cowser regularly in center field and perhaps give Heston Kjerstad another chance at regular playing time. He has been struggling at Triple-A Norfolk. — Karabell (7/31)
David Bednar traded from Pirates to Yankees
It’s been a rough trade deadline for fantasy managers of closers, as four of the top 26 pure relief pitchers in terms of fantasy points scored have now been traded, and another three of those 26 hail from bullpens that have since added another team’s closer, meaning a lot of competition for saves due to the consolidation.
However, unlike with the Detroit Tigers (Will Vest ranks 12th!), New York Mets and San Diego Padres, Bednar’s arrival in pinstripes is unlikely to result in any closer controversy. Devin Williams (for all his struggles) still appears to be entrenched as the New York Yankees finisher, and Luke Weaver has been successful enough in the role during the 2024 postseason (and earlier this year, as well as in setup duty) for the duo to maintain the one-two pecking order in the bullpen.
Bednar, 25th on the aforementioned list, is having an exceptional season, reminiscent of his best years in 2021-22. Though the move from Pittsburgh’s PNC Park to Yankee Stadium represents a threat to his ERA/WHIP, he’s riding a career-best 33.1% K rate and should slide in as one of the top hold-getters in his new role. Unfortunately, that role brings with it a big drop-off in fantasy value, particularly in rotisserie leagues that don’t given any reward for holds.
The Pittsburgh Pirates still seem likely to trade Dennis Santana, a successful fill-in during Bednar’s brief April stint in the minors, so they might soon be looking at a 2026 closer audition between pitchers like Braxton Ashcraft and Isaac Mattson. Mattson might be more deserving, but Ashcraft has the more appealing ceiling. — Cockcroft (7/31)
Eugenio Suarez traded from Diamondbacks to Mariners
Seattle gets Suarez for a package including 1B prospect Tyler Locklear. The Mariners reunite with Suarez, their starting third baseman from 2022-23, and improve a position they’ve struggled mightily to fill; their third basemen since Suarez left have a collective .290 wOBA for 2024-25, ranking 21st. The move deepens their lineup, which is a positive for strong-performing, heart-of-the-order hitters Julio Rodriguez, Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena, even if the upshot is only a handful more runs and RBIs and a slightly better chance of turning over the lineup more quickly.
For Suarez, however, the move from Arizona’s Chase Field to Seattle’s T-Mobile Park represents a noticeable downgrade. Statcast’s three-year park factors place T-Mobile dead last (and by a substantial margin) in run scoring and 22nd in home runs (24th for righties alone). While Chase Field was also a below-average home run environment, it did rank third in runs.
The 2025 Mariners rank 27th in wOBA at home (.296), and during Suarez’s time in Seattle in 2022-23, he had a wOBA only 11 points higher at home, but a BABIP 19 points lower than on the road. His production is going to take a hit, perhaps thwarting a run at his career high in home runs (49 in 2019). Still, there’s every reason to believe he can still be a top-10 third baseman the rest of the way (though his odds are greater in rotisserie scoring).
One streaming strategy note: The Mariners already sport one of baseball’s most strikeout-prone offenses. Their 23.0% rate ranking 24th, and Suarez’s addition pushes them further in that direction. Tuck that away as you consider opposing starters.
Locklear, the centerpiece of the Diamondbacks’ return, had just been recalled by the Mariners. We’ll see whether he gets a similar, immediate chance with his new team. He’d be a better choice at first base than Tristin English and his three-true-outcomes approach at the plate would warrant deep-mixed and NL-only attention if he indeed sticks in the majors. Suarez’s departure also improves the chances that Jordan Lawlar, the Diamondbacks’ top prospect currently sidelined with a hamstring injury at Triple-A Reno, will get a chance to play regularly for them once he’s healed. — Cockcroft (7/31)
Harrison Bader traded from Twins to Phillies
Bader is not among the top-75 scorers for outfielders in ESPN points leagues, and this trade to the Philadelphia Phillies may not alter that. The defensive-minded Bader is more valuable in roto/categories formats, as he has already reached double digits in home runs and stolen bases, the fourth time he has achieved this. Give Bader credit for his best walk rate since 2020, and he may reach a career high in plate appearances, too.
The Phillies needed a center fielder who could both hit and field well, and Bader is a clear upgrade on Johan Rojas and his .569 OPS, as well as platoon left fielder Max Kepler and his .654 OPS. However, Bader will be hitting in the bottom of the Philly lineup. Assume Brandon Marsh slides over to left field, perhaps in a platoon. Bader’s addition may cost Kepler his job and also means we aren’t likely to see a Justin Crawford promotion in 2025.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Twins have an opening in center field, and perhaps speedy DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and his .378 OPS (not OBP, OPS) over 95 big-league PA gets a chance to fill it. Prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez is on the injured list at Triple-A. — Karabell (7/31)
Kyle Finnegan traded from Nationals to Tigers
Finnegan is one of 13 pitchers with 20 or more saves, tied with new San Diego Padres RHP Mason Miller, but the comparisons surely end there. Finnegan, 33, has a bloated 4.38 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP, with the lowest strikeout rate of his career. His career ERA is 3.66 with a 1.31 WHIP. He mattered in fantasy roto leagues because the lowly Washington Nationals kept giving him save chances, and that’s about it.
The Detroit Tigers should know better than to present Finnegan the ninth inning, so RHP Will Vest should be safe for saves. Finnegan should be among numerous right-handers vying for the top setup role, though. The Tigers keep adding ordinary bullpen depth you may have heard of (Paul Sewald, Luke Jackson, Rafael Montero), but not necessarily reliable leverage options. Feel free to move on from Finnegan, rostered in 28.8% of ESPN leagues.
The Nationals may look to LHP Jose Ferrer for saves, though he isn’t exactly preventing runs (4.78 ERA) or missing many bats (20.1% K rate), either. — Karabell (7/31)
Mason Miller and JP Sears traded from Athletics to Padres
In an out-of-left-field move that immediately spawned speculation that another trade will be forthcoming, the San Diego Padres added to their already best-in-baseball bullpen (2.93 relief ERA) by acquiring Miller, the hardest-throwing and among the most promising young closers in baseball. It sets up a grand debate about the Padres’ ninth inning strategy, as they already have the majors’ top save-getter in Robert Suarez (30) and have now added one of the top long-term positional bets — one with four more years of team control.
Someone loses out significantly in fantasy terms here, either Suarez or Miller or perhaps both, if one is selected ahead of the other to close, or if they’re used in a co-closership. Additionally, if this leads to a Suarez trade, as has been immediately speculated, then he could either pose a threat to his new team’s closer or be demoted to setup relief there as well. As mentioned with the Ryan Helsley trade, holds carry less reward (2 points) than do saves (5) in ESPN standard leagues, and holds are typically less plentiful than saves.
Suarez and Miller have both had their moments this season, such as Suarez saving 21 of the Padres’ first 64 games with a 1.84 ERA, or Miller posting a 1.74 ERA and 32.9% strikeout rate over his last 20 appearances, but each has also had his share of hideous outings. On a contending Padres team, Miller could be an easy top-five, universally rostered fantasy relief pitcher, perhaps even a contender for the No. 1 spot. Suarez, who isn’t quite the strikeout artist that Miller is, ranks fourth among true relievers in fantasy points.
Sears, meanwhile, has been one of the most overlooked “good, but not great” starting pitchers in the game over the past three seasons. Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park was a miserable environment for an extreme fly-baller like him (an MLB-leading 39.3% rate), and San Diego’s Petco Park will do wonders to improve his streaming appeal in fantasy. Like other starters traded thus far (Paddack, Soroka), he has leapt a good notch or two on the streamers ranking list.
Back in Sacramento, shortstop Leo De Vries is a heck of a get for the Athletics. He’s a top-shelf prospect who, in two years or so, could be ready to begin a stellar MLB career. Dynasty managers will like that his future will no longer involve Petco Park, though we’ll see how the team’s new venue in Las Vegas eventually plays.
As for the identity of the team’s new closer, expect a committee from which anyone could emerge: Elvis Alvarado, Michael Kelly, Sean Newcomb, Jack Perkins and Justin Sterner might all see chances. Perkins, one of the team’s top prospects, is the most intriguing for fantasy purposes, although the Athletics probably won’t win often and, therefore, will have limited save chances. — Cockcroft (7/31)
Shane Bieber traded from Guardians to Blue Jays
It’s rare for a pitcher still on the mend from Tommy John surgery to get moved at the deadline, but Bieber, who last threw a big-league pitch in April 2024, is nearly ready for duty. Bieber fanned seven hitters over four effective innings for Double-A Akron on Tuesday, and he may need only one or two more rehab outings. Once activated, the Toronto Blue Jays may have Bieber on a pitch count, but there is statistical upside, too. LHP Eric Lauer could move to a swingman role.
Bieber, 30, posted a 3.22 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP over parts of seven seasons for the Cleveland Guardians, earning the 2020 AL Cy Young and other Cy Young votes in 2019 and 2022. A fastball/slider pitcher mostly, with an effective changeup and knuckle curve, Bieber has never walked more than 40 hitters in a season. Perhaps it is too optimistic to presume he will return to being a top-20 fantasy starting pitcher over the final six weeks of this season, but it seems wise to add him. Bieber is currently just 18.8% rostered. Go get him. — Karabell (7/31)
Zack Littell traded from Rays to Reds
One of the most surprising performers of 2025, Littell’s 234 fantasy points to date rank 32nd among full-season starting pitchers (i.e. exclude Shohei Ohtani from the group). That’s a placement more shocking if you consider he has done it despite sporting the majors’ sixth-lowest strikeout rate (16.6%) among ERA qualifiers as well as calling Tampa’s George M. Steinbrenner Field his home. Littell deserves plenty of credit for the improvements he has made to his control over the past three seasons, as he ranks second in walk rate (3.9%), ninth in zone rate and 14th in first pitch strike rate among that same qualified group.
That said, Littell ranks only 46th among those 64 qualifiers in flyball rate and Statcast has his expected ERA sitting more than one run higher than his actual number, so we’re all patiently waiting for regression to strike. But here’s the wild part: With George M. Steinbrenner Field grading as such a hitter-friendly environment, Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park actually represents an upgrade for him as far as park factor goes, even if it’s only by a hair. Littell remains a streaming option more than an every-start candidate, so keep avoiding him against more loaded, HR-heavy offenses. — Cockcroft (7/31)
Michael Soroka traded from Nationals to Cubs
His has had an under-the-radar solid comeback campaign, as Statcast reflects that he should have a 3.32 ERA, rather than the 4.87 he actually possesses. Among pitchers leaning in that wrong direction who have faced at least as many as the 343 batters that he has, only Trevor Williams and Ben Brown have a wider divide in that department. That’s something the Cubs surely saw while scouting prospective starter acquisitions.
Soroka should be a mainstay for the Cubs for so long as he can stay healthy — he averaged 58 professional innings from 2021-24 — and he’ll surely benefit from the huge upgrades in terms of run support (the Cubs lead the majors in runs per game, while the Washington Nationals rank 19th) and bullpen support (the Cubs rank 13th in relief ERA to the Nationals’ dead last). There’s sneaky-good streaming potential here as a result of the trade. — Cockcroft (7/31)
Jhoan Duran traded from Twins to Phillies
Duran, one of the hardest throwers in the sport and a top-10 closer from fantasy draft day, should step right into the closer role for the desperate Philadelphia Phillies. Manager Rob Thomson often prefers a committee arrangement, but not here. LHP Matt Strahm and RHP Orion Kerkering will handle setup duties. LHP Jose Alvarado and RHP David Robertson will soon join them.
Duran has struggled a bit the past few weeks, and his strikeout rate is down from prior seasons, but give him important games to save and all should be well. This may be a top-five closer the rest of the season, and NL-only managers should get him. As for the Minnesota Twins, RHP Griffin Jax has had a leverage role all season and — a rough Wednesday outing notwithstanding — should be next in line, but rumors of him being moved in a trade are out there. Add RHP Louis Varland in case he gets a chance. He’s having the better season. — Karabell (7/30)
Ryan Helsley traded from Cardinals to Mets
Hours after strengthening their bullpen with the acquisition of dominating submarining right-hander Tyler Rogers, the New York Mets further fortified their relief corps by trading for one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in baseball in Helsley. Both are likely to slide into setup roles behind closer Edwin Diaz, meaning that Helsley, formerly the St. Louis Cardinals‘ closer, is this year’s example of the pitcher whose fantasy value in most formats dries up overnight.
Helsley hasn’t performed as well this season as last — his ERA up by nearly a full run (including a 0.80 Statcast expected ERA increase) — but he has pitched well lately, He has a 0.82 ERA and eight saves across his past 11 appearances and continues to get elite grades with his slider. Yes, as a setup man, he’ll still garner two-point holds in ESPN leagues, making the move less catastrophic than in it’ll be traditional rotisserie formats, but it’s still bad news universally, being that saves are worth five points and holds-getters tend to see lower totals in the category. Helsley can still carry value in our standard game and perhaps even vulture a save, but he had 81 fewer fantasy points as a closer than did Diaz, the No. 2 scoring reliever.
Back in St. Louis, Phil Maton would be the obvious replacement for Helsley, except he’s a trade candidate himself. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol could go with a committee of JoJo Romero, Riley O’Brien and perhaps Kyle Leahy, if Maton also goes. Romero is the one fantasy managers should add, being that he has a 0.36 ERA, 28.4% strikeout rate and 15 holds in his past 29 outings, not to mention that he enjoyed moderate, albeit brief, success in the role in 2023. — Cockcroft (7/30)
Seranthony Dominguez traded from Orioles to Blue Jays
It has been quite a week for the Baltimore bullpen, which first lost closer Felix Bautista to a shoulder injury, and has now seen both Gregory Soto and Dominguez, two logical fill-ins for Bautista, traded elsewhere. In Toronto, Dominguez will return to his former setup role, from which his 127 fantasy points are tied for 69th among relievers.
The Orioles, however, will need to find another ninth inning fill-in for Bautista, who will miss at least a couple more weeks, from among a group of relievers that hasn’t seen any other active individual score more than 88 points. Andrew Kittredge, the team’s most effective reliever in July (2.19 ERA, 3 holds), and Yennier Cano, who has a 2.98 ERA the past three years but hasn’t previously stepped up when granted the chance to close, are the most likely options. — Cockcroft (7/29)
Chris Paddack traded from Twins to Tigers
My, how much things can change in a year. At this time last season, the Detroit Tigers traded away right-handed starter Jack Flaherty while in “seller” mode, only to make a Cinderella run to the playoffs thereafter. This year, they’re clear contenders, and in fact the favorites to represent the American League in the World Series, and they’ve now acquired a solid, even if not Flaherty-caliber, right-handed starter in Paddack.
Before you scoff at Paddack’s 4.95 ERA or his outside-the-top-100 starters fantasy point total, appreciate the potential benefits of his move 600-ish miles southeast. First, the Tigers call a much more pitching-friendly environment their home than do the Minnesota Twins, as Statcast rates Comerica Park 19th for run scoring and 18th for home runs, compared to sixth and 11th for Target Field, which could prove plenty relevant for a fly ball-oriented pitcher who tends to do his best work at home (0.45 career home/road ERA differential; 1.06 this year). Second, the Tigers have more of their tougher pitching matchups in the books already than have the Twins, with only 12 remaining games against top-eight teams in runs per game to the Twins’ 25.
Paddack’s prospects as a streaming fantasy option have therefore improved as a result of the trade, even if only slightly, though he remains the same durability concern, with his 111 innings this year already his most since 2019. — Cockcroft (7/28)
Ryan McMahon traded from Rockies to Yankees
McMahon, 30, certainly is not having his best season, even as he may surpass his career high of 24 home runs. Perhaps joining a pennant race will invigorate him statistically. McMahon boasts four career playoff plate appearances, none since 2018. The obvious angle here for fantasy purposes is that any Colorado Rockies hitter leaving the friendly, altitudinous confines of Denver’s Coors Field is likely to see a drop in production. McMahon boasts an .856 OPS in home games this season and a mere .589 mark on the road. For his career, the splits are not quite as lopsided (.818 vs. .664).
Still, McMahon should play regularly at third base for the New York Yankees, perhaps losing some plate appearances versus left-handed hitting (if only he could platoon with 1B Paul Goldschmidt!), and likely hitting sixth or seventh in the lineup. McMahon should see ample RBI opportunities and, for a lefty pull hitter, there is the attraction of Yankee Stadium’s short right field. This isn’t the worst destination for McMahon, but his value (even in a down season) surely slips. Get him in AL-only formats, but don’t expect top-10 (top-20?) 3B numbers, either.
The Rockies acquire a few pitching prospects fantasy managers can ignore — really, we can ignore most every Rockies pitcher — and there is a vacancy at third base to likely be filled by a boring (at least statistically), right-handed hitting veteran with little power such as Orlando Arcia and Kyle Farmer. Meh. This is not a baseball team trying to win baseball games this season. Except for NL-only formats, we can ignore any of McMahon’s replacements. — Karabell (7/25)
Josh Naylor traded from Diamondbacks to Mariners
This is a good move for the Seattle Mariners, as their offense lacks first-base production, though fantasy managers may not enjoy the repercussions. Naylor hit .324 with an .855 OPS in home games at Arizona’s Chase Field, but Seattle’s T-Mobile Park is arguably the toughest place to hit these days. Naylor is the No. 28 hitter in ESPN points formats, and a top-five first baseman in both roto/categories and points leagues, boasting the best plate discipline (9.4% walk rate) and contact rate (86%) of his career. He has already reached a career-best 11 stolen bases, too.
Naylor should blend in nicely and lengthen Seattle’s strikeout-heavy lineup, perhaps earning the No. 5 spot behind C Cal Raleigh and OF Randy Arozarena, with SS J.P. Crawford and OF Julio Rodriguez entrenched in the first two spots. There will be myriad RBI opportunities. Naylor, with only 11 home runs after launching 31 blasts for last season’s Cleveland Guardians, is a different hitter this season, and this move probably won’t help for power, but he remains a valuable player.
The Arizona Diamondbacks received two minor league pitchers in the deal, neither of whom warrant fantasy attention. Other players may be on the move before next week’s trade deadline. For now, career minor leaguer Tristin English may see regular playing time at first base. English, 28, hit .340 with 11 home runs at Triple-A Reno. The Diamondbacks could platoon him with established veteran 1B Pavin Smith (currently on the IL with a strained oblique), who hits right-handed pitching. — Karabell (7/25)
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Sports
Marching bands! Big entrances! Sing-alongs! 36 of our favorite game-day traditions
Published
41 mins agoon
August 24, 2025By
admin
There’s nothing quite like the energy, emotion, pageantry and good ol’ fashioned fun that takes place every fall weekend at college football games.
There are time-honored traditions that date back many decades. There are century-old marching bands and pulsating techno hits. There are rampaging animals, covered wagons, antique cars and even storied rocks. There are quaint customs and there are controversies — it wouldn’t be college football without controversy, right?
With another season upon us, we’ve gathered a collection of our college football reporters’ favorite game-day traditions. We were looking for moments fans could count on and look forward to experiencing every time they go to the stadium, so we didn’t include celebrations of a win or rivalry moments that may happen only once every other year or so.
And by no means are we ranking these traditions or labeling these “better” than some that we surely left out. Every school has its own quirks and unique features that are near and dear to that team and its fans. But here’s a sampling of the wild, wacky, wonderful ways that college football strikes a special chord in the sports landscape.
Dramatic entrances
Osceola and Renegade planting the spear, Florida State: Since September 1978, Osceola has led his horse, Renegade, onto the field before kickoff of every Florida State home game and planted a spear at midfield in what has become one of the best-known college football entrances. Bill Durham, an FSU graduate, came up with the idea and got approval from the Seminole Tribe of Florida for the practice to begin. The Durham family continues to provide the Appaloosa horse that is used, and Osceola wears regalia that is authentic to the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Watching Osceola rear Renegade up on his hind legs to plant the flaming spear with 80,000 fans chanting is truly a sight to see. — Andrea Adelson
“Enter Sandman,” Virginia Tech: After installing the first videoboard at Lane Stadium in 2000, Virginia Tech decided it needed a new walkout song too. “Enter Sandman” by Metallica won out over “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Sirius.” A few years later, the tradition truly took off after a marching band member started jumping up and down during the song as a way to warm up. Now, the entire stadium jumps as the opening bars begin to play, bursting into raucous approval when the team runs out of the tunnel and onto the field. Multiple times over the years, a seismograph detected notable activity during “Enter Sandman.” And in a full circle moment, Metallica was in concert at Lane Stadium in the spring of 2025 and played its iconic song. To no one’s surprise, seismic activity again was detected. — Adelson
The Smoke, Miami: Believe it or not, the Hurricanes have come out of their tunnel onto the field for all their home games through “the smoke” since the 1950s, when the program was struggling to both win games and draw fan support. According to the university, school transportation director Bob Nalette proposed using fire extinguishers to produce smoke for players to run through as a way to drum up fan interest. In his spare time, Nalette welded a pipe together to billow said fire extinguisher smoke. The entrance took on iconic status in the 1980s as the program rose to prominence. — Adelson
Touch the Banner, Michigan: The Wolverines pride themselves on being the winningest program in college football history, but their famous pregame tradition began with the team off to a 1-5 start in 1962. The M Club, run by former letterwinners from all of Michigan’s athletic teams, asked coach Bump Elliott if letterwinners could welcome the football team before home games. They soon displayed a giant banner that reads “GO BLUE M CLUB SUPPORTS YOU,” which Michigan players and coaches leap to touch as they run out of the tunnel while “The Victors” plays. — Adam Rittenberg
Rubbing Howard’s Rock and running down The Hill; Gathering at the Paw, Clemson: Clemson has two of the most well-known pregame and postgame traditions in college football: Rubbing Howard’s Rock before running down The Hill to enter the stadium, and allowing fans onto the field postgame, win or lose, to meet at the midfield paw. Howard’s Rock, originally from Death Valley, California, was placed at the top of The Hill on the east side of the stadium in 1966. But after former coach Frank Howard told the team before a game against Wake Forest in 1967 they could rub the rock if they gave “110-percent effort,” the tradition of rubbing the rock, then running down the hill, before every game began. Gathering at the Paw also began under Howard in 1942 when Memorial Stadium opened, as a way for fans and players to gather together. — Adelson
Touching tributes
Hawkeye Wave, Iowa: Not every cherished college football tradition goes back decades and decades. In 2017, those inside Kinnick Stadium — fans, players, coaches and officials — began “The Wave,” acknowledging the child patients inside University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, which is just across the street. After the first quarter, everyone turns toward the hospital, where the patients and their families wave from the 12th floor windows. The tradition began after Krista Young suggested the idea on a Hawkeye fan Facebook page. A social media surge followed and The Wave began for the start of the 2017 season — Rittenberg
Spirit of Chucky Mullins, Ole Miss: Nearly 36 years after his death, Chucky Mullins remains an endearing figure at Ole Miss. He was paralyzed in a 1989 game against Vanderbilt while making a hit near the goal line on Commodores fullback Brad Gaines and died less than two years later after suffering a pulmonary embolism. As the Ole Miss team takes the field at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium before games, each player touches a bust of Mullins that sits midway between the tunnel and the field. On the platform where the bust sits is Mullins’ mantra: “Never quit.” — Chris Low
Mr. Two Bits; “Won’t Back Down,” Florida: The Gators have two traditions that are immediately recognizable. Since 1949, every home game has started with the “Two Bits” cheer, started and popularized by George Edmondson. He would wear a yellow shirt, blue-and-orange striped tie and whistle, and exhort the crowd to chant. “Two Bits. Four Bits. Six Bits. A Dollar. All for the Gators, stand up and holler!” Beginning in 2013, with Edmondson in his 90s, a celebrity “Mr. Two Bits” began to lead the pregame cheers. Then in 2017, a new tradition started after Gainesville native Tom Petty died. At the end of the third quarter, the crowd sings Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” in addition to the longstanding “We are the Boys.” — Adelson
Music that gets you moving
“Jump Around,” Wisconsin: No team has developed a wilder midgame tradition than Wisconsin’s “Jump Around,” the House of Pain song of the same name, played between the third and fourth quarters at Camp Randall Stadium. The song made its Badgers debut at the 1998 homecoming game against Purdue. Ryan Sondrup, an injured tight end for the Badgers who entered the athletics marketing department, was tasked with finding songs that could spark the crowd during games. He came back with “Jump Around,” which has sent Camp Randall shaking ever since. — Rittenberg
JUMP AROUND‼️ pic.twitter.com/7TqyN3OXyY
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) November 17, 2024
The Bounce House, UCF. After UCF scored its first touchdown at its new on-campus stadium on Sept. 17, 2007 — against Texas, no less — rollicking club hit “Kernkraft 400” by Zombie Nation blared from the speakers. Spontaneously, the crowd started jumping wildly, causing the stadium to vibrate and “bounce.” Thus, the birth of not only a tradition but a stadium nickname. Now the song is played multiple times during games and serves as a way to get everyone fired up, with the crowd chanting along and cheering “U-C-F!” — Adelson
“Sweet Caroline,” Pitt. Back in 2008, former Pitt football player Justin Acierno was working at the school and tasked with improving the student fan experience during games. What would keep them interested? With the help of student organizations and athletic department employees, they came up with a plan: Play Neil Diamond’s 1969 classic “Sweet Caroline” at the end of the third quarter of football games. The plan worked. Acierno made sure some of the lyrics were more Pitt friendly — subbing in “Let’s Go Pitt” during the chorus. The sing-along first happened against Buffalo in Week 2 of the 2008 season, and the rest is history. — Adelson
“Sandstorm,” South Carolina: It’s certainly not unusual to hear the techno instrumental song “Sandstorm” by Finnish DJ Darude at a sporting event, but South Carolina has staked a special claim to it in the world of college football. The connection can be traced to Sept. 24, 2009, when the Gamecocks were hosting No. 4 Ole Miss. With time winding down and South Carolina leading 16-10, and the Rebels facing a key third down, the pulsating beat blasted throughout Williams-Brice Stadium, whipping the crowd into a frenzy. “A rave breaks out in Columbia,” ESPN announcer Chris Fowler said as fans and players jumped and gyrated. The Gamecocks got that stop, “Sandstorm” roared again, Ole Miss failed on fourth down, and the upset — and new tradition — were sealed. Now anywhere South Carolina folks gather, you can expect to hear the anthem, and Darude himself appeared at Willy B to perform it for a game against Kentucky in 2023. — Steve Richards
“Dixieland Delight,” Alabama: The Crimson Tide mark the beginning of the fourth quarter by playing “Dixieland Delight,” by the band Alabama, even though it’s written about a Saturday night in Tennessee. But that’s neither here nor there. It’s a beloved sing-along, the height of the form, but enterprising Tide fans also managed to insert a few of their own lyrics, including a four-letter greeting to their friends over in Auburn. (And LSU, and Tennessee too.) It became such a source of frustration that the university banned the playing of the song in 2014, then agreed to revisit it in 2018 with the #DixielandDelightDoneRight campaign, encouraging fans to say “BEAT” Auburn instead of the other word, with the stadium speakers attempting to drown out the ne’er-do-wells. Good luck with all that. — Dave Wilson
That’s dedication
Midnight Yell, Texas A&M: The Aggies love their traditions, and the SEC move and social media have exposed them to many new audiences, many of whom seem bewildered. But college football is about local customs, and watching a game at Kyle Field is one of the best environments in the sport because of the devotion of A&M fans. To wit, the Aggies routinely draw more fans the night before a game than many schools do on game day to “practice” the yells they’ll perform on game day, a tradition since 1931. — Wilson
Midnight Drummers’ Circle, Notre Dame: At midnight the night before Notre Dame football home games, fans will flock to the school’s Main Building (better known as the Golden Dome) to witness a performance by the drumline of the Band of the Fighting Irish that kicks off the game-day experience. The drummers’ circle is one of multiple Golden Dome concerts by the band during the lead-up to home games — the trumpet section also holds performances outside the Main Building at 4:10 on Fridays, and the whole band performs two hours before kickoff on game day on the Dome’s steps. — J.J. Post
Early mornings at the Tip Top Lounge, Iowa State: Cyclones fans have always showed up, even in the lean years before Matt Campbell built them into a consistent winner. The parking lots are filled with old school buses and rowdy fans, many of them powered from a pre-sunrise visit to a local watering hole known as the Tip Top Lounge. Originally started as a sandwich shop in 1950, it turned into a bar in 1962, and opens at 6 a.m. on game days, fueling fans with chili and Fireball shots, a breakfast of champions in Ames. — Wilson
Card stunts, Cal. Here is a bit of college football trivia. Cal students invented card stunts, the practice of handing out cards to a crowd to create a massive design, for The Big Game against Stanford in 1914. The practice continues today, directed by a rally committee that sets up the stunts and sorts cards to give to students for every home game. The cards drew national attention, and the ire of coach Justin Wilcox, last season during the game against San Diego State, when students kept throwing them onto the field. Officials whistled Cal for two 15-yard penalties as a result. Wilcox then took the mic of the referee and scolded fans, telling them to knock it off. — Adelson
Getting revved up
Ramblin’ Wreck, Georgia Tech. Described on the school’s website as a “one-of-a-kind mechanical mascot,” the 1930 Ford Model A Sport Coupe painted gold and white has led the Georgia Tech football team onto the field before every home game since Sept. 30, 1961. But why? In the 1940s and 1950s at Georgia Tech, it became a sort of “rite of passage” to own a shoddy, beat-up car — or “ramblin’ wreck” — kept alive thanks to the engineering ingenuity of its students. As a tribute to that spirit, the school looked for a pre-World War II Ford to serve as its mechanical mascot and found it in 1960. It took a year for the school to convince the owners to sell it, and the Wreck debuted that season against Rice. — Adelson
Sooner Schooner, Oklahoma: Every Oklahoma score at Owen Field is followed by a victory ride from the Sooner Schooner, a scaled-down version of the covered wagons used by pioneers to settle the land known as Oklahoma in 1889. The Schooner debuted in 1964 and became OU’s official mascot in 1980. Spirit squad members from the RUF/NEKS and RUF/NEK Lil’ Sis drive the Schooner, which is led by ponies appropriately named “Boomer” and “Sooner.” While there have been some notable crashes, its voyage around the field remains an integral part of game days in Norman. — Rittenberg
Vol Navy, Tennessee: It’s the most famous navy in college football. Each fall Saturday when Tennessee plays a home football game, boats of all sizes set sail for Neyland Stadium, which is located on the banks of the Tennessee River. As you wind your way down Neyland Drive en route to the games, the orange Tennessee flags waving from the procession of boats flap in the wind, on both the warmest and coldest of days. The boats, many decked out in orange, dock at marinas on the river’s banks, making for an easy walk to the stadium. Sometimes the parties on the boats are as entertaining as the games themselves, certainly the postgame parties when the Vols win. — Chris Low
Strike up the band
Script Ohio, dotting the i, Ohio State: Ohio State fans are very into their state. Chants of O-H! must be followed by I-O! The “I” in Ohio carries extra meaning, as some Buckeyes fans have shown even after death. Ohio State’s band has its own memorable spin on the state name, spelling out Ohio in script form at home games, and then inviting a senior sousaphone player to high-step and dot the i, before bowing to all four sides of Ohio Stadium. The Ohio State Marching Band, or The Best Damn Band in the Land, began doing script Ohio and dotting the i during the 1938 season, and it remains one of the most electric moments during Buckeyes home games. — Rittenberg
Stanford Band halftime show, Stanford: Very few things are off limits for the Stanford Band, known for its irreverent and sometimes controversial halftime performances. The shift away from a traditional band began in 1963, after its longtime director was dismissed. The band went on strike for the first two games of the football season. The new director leaned into the culture of the era, allowing students to play rock ‘n’ roll songs, “scatter” to get into place as opposed to traditional marching, and script humorous formations that often served as punchlines, social commentary or poked fun at opponents. The Stanford Band has drawn ire and/or been disciplined for, among other things, ridiculing UCLA, Catholicism (Notre Dame), Mormonism (BYU) and the spotted owl (Oregon). — Adelson
The MOB, Rice: The Stanford Band has a kindred spirit in Rice’s MOB (the Marching Owl Band), which is a small but mighty and scrappy group that, like Stanford, uses brainpower to take aim at opponents. In 1973, the MOB mocked two Texas A&M institutions: the Aggie Band’s military style (the MOB goose-stepped in imitation) and beloved mascot Reveille (forming a fire hydrant while playing “Oh Where, Oh Where, Has My Little Dog Gone?”). Band members were cornered in a supply closet by angry Aggies and had to be rescued by a box truck backed up to its doors. In 2007, they were reprimanded by Conference USA for a halftime skit called “Todd Graham’s Inferno,” whereupon band members searched through the circles of hell for the coach who had just left Rice for Tulsa after one successful season. Wherever sacred cows are found, the MOB will look to make ground beef. — Wilson
Marching 100, Florida A&M: When you take a trip to the “highest of seven hills” for a football game, you can expect a spectacular performance by the world-renowned Marching 100. Halftime performances start with their signature “Slow One,” as each band member holds one leg up at a 90-degree angle and slowly switches legs. The 100 then quickens the pace, followed by the band filling the field as the show begins. The band was founded in 1892 by Dr. William P. Foster and has grown to be one of the world’s most recognizable marching bands. From Paris Fashion Week to multiple Super Bowls to two presidential inauguration parades, the 100 has been seen far and wide, but the ultimate experience happens at Bragg Stadium in Tallahassee. — Erika Leflouria
Sonic Boom of the South, Jackson State: As soon as you step foot inside Mississippi Veterans Stadium in Jackson, Mississippi, you can’t help but notice the rumbling from the bass drums, followed by the funky rhythm of The Temptations’ “Get Ready” from the Jackson State marching band to get fans’ pom-poms going. Fans arrive at the stadium ahead of time to witness the Sonic Boom take part in a Zero Quarter battle of the bands against the visiting unit, an HBCU pregame staple. Following the presentation of the colors, the band rocks the stadium with its trademark tune “We Came To Play” by Tower of Power. The Sonic Boom’s halftime performances are the main attraction, however, wowing fans with their signature “Tiger Run-On” and “JSU Rocks the House” fanfare. — Kalan Hooks
Animal planet
Ralphie’s Run, Colorado: Live animal mascots aren’t as common as they used to be in college football, but Colorado’s Ralphie remains an iconic presence before games at Folsom Field. Colorado selected Ralphie as its official mascot in 1966 and the next year, she began running around the field to lead the Buffaloes out of their tunnel. A group of Ralphie handlers make the U-shaped run with the bison, who ends up in a trailer near the visitors locker room. There have been six Ralphies, always female bison, which live on a ranch in an undisclosed location. — Rittenberg
Here Comes Bullet, Oklahoma State: Since 1988, Bullet, a black horse, has galloped onto the field following every Cowboys touchdown, carrying a spirit rider waving an Oklahoma State flag. The first of four horses who’ve since served as Bullet got plenty of work. In 1988, Barry Sanders won the Heisman Trophy while scoring an NCAA-record 44 touchdowns. — Jake Trotter
Flight of the Eagle, Auburn: In a tradition that goes back to the start of the 2000 season, an eagle with a 6½-foot wingspan majestically circles Jordan-Hare Stadium as the fans chant “Warrrrrrrrr” until it lands at midfield, then they finish with “Eagle!” There have been several eagles over the years performing the flight, and right now, there are two sharing the duties. And no, War Eagle is not the Auburn mascot. It’s the school’s battle cry that dates back to a Civil War veteran. — Low
Blaster the Burro, Colorado School of Mines: Since the 1990s, the Orediggers have brought out a live donkey to celebrate after every touchdown by the home team at Marv Kay Stadium. A member of the university’s Blue Key Honor Society will run alongside Blaster the Burro to the 50-yard line to celebrate the team’s score. Spoiler: There are two donkeys that carry the duty of Blaster; Winkie is the runner burro that you’ll see on game days, while Pepsi is the burro used for special university events. — Leflouria
Big fun at smaller schools
The Cannon, Toledo. Before each home game, at the end of each half and after every Toledo score, a Civil War-era model cannon is fired off. The tradition began in 1966, when a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity saw a cannon fired at a Texas game and decided to take the idea to Toledo. According to the school, another member of the fraternity “bartered his cannon for fraternity dues.” That cannon was in use until it was replaced in 2010. To this day, members of Pi Kappa Phi are responsible for operating the cannon during games. — Adelson
Purple Haze, East Carolina: It doesn’t get the pub of some of the other grand entrances in college football, but being there live to see East Carolina’s players racing onto the field at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium through a giant pirate skull amid clouds of purple smoke with Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” blaring on the jumbotron and a video of pirate ships waving ECU skull and crossbones flags and shooting off cannons on the high seas is about as cool as it gets. Jimi Hendrix and college football mixed together? That’s pure nirvana. — Low
Gone (sort of) but not forgotten
Red balloons, Nebraska: Since the 1960s, Husker fans would release red balloons after Nebraska’s first touchdown, turning the Lincoln sky into a sea of red. Due to a helium shortage, the school discontinued the tradition in 2022. But last season, Nebraska brought the balloon release back for its game against Colorado. Going forward, amid criticism for the impact the balloons have on the environment, Nebraska plans to hold the balloon release for select games only. — Trotter
Hand signs for Texas schools: At Texas, they Hook ‘Em with the index and pinky fingers. At Texas A&M, they Gig ‘Em with the thumb. SMU has two fingers up, the V for victory, which later became pony ears. Houston adds a middle finger to Texas’ sign to make a cougar paw — “unofficially, it indicates the students’ attitude toward UT,” Texas Monthly once wrote. At Texas Tech, they extend the thumb and index finger for Guns Up. TCU raises the first two fingers then bends the tips down, allegedly to look like the horns of the Horned Frog. Baylor fans make a bear claw to Sic ‘Em. Of the nine former Southwest Conference schools only Rice and Arkansas didn’t have hand signs. But the one they all had in common was turning Texas’ horns upside down. R.I.P. to the SWC. — Wilson
Playing with food
The State Fair of Texas and a Fletcher’s Corny Dog, Texas-Oklahoma: Texas and Oklahoma fans don’t share much affinity for each other, but they both agree that their annual rivalry game boasts the best setting in college football — the center of the State Fair of Texas. There’s a mutual respect for each other on the Midway that isn’t shared inside the stadium — fans in Baker Mayfield jerseys riding the 212-foot-tall Texas Star Ferris wheel with those in Colt McCoy’s threads. And it’s not game day without a Fletcher’s Corny Dog, who originated the battered and fried hot dog on a stick in 1942 and now sell more than half a million of them each year during the fair’s 24-day run. — Wilson
Tortilla toss, Texas Tech: Nobody seems to know for sure how and when it started, but since at least the late 1980s, Texas Tech students have been throwing tortillas onto the field after the opening kickoff. The university doesn’t endorse this tradition. But that hasn’t stopped the Red Raider faithful from slinging tortillas all around Jones Stadium. — Trotter
‘Greatest show in college sports’
White Out, Penn State: One of the best scenes in college football, for the biggest home night game of the season, is a White Out at Happy Valley. For the past two decades, Penn State fans dress in all white, creating a sea of white — and bedlam — throughout 106,572-seat Beaver Stadium. It’s an intimidating environment for the opposition and one of those experiences in college football that nobody can duplicate. Penn State has dubbed its White Out as the “greatest show in college sports.” This season’s is Sept. 27 against Oregon. — Low
The total package
Saturday night at Tiger Stadium, LSU: Where do you start when it comes to taking in an LSU football game? The tailgating, in particular the scrumptious food (jambalaya, gumbo and shrimp po’boys, all out of this world). And, yes, there are always beverage options available. The wardrobes and Mardi Gras beads are unlike anything else you’ll find in college football, and no trip to LSU is complete without visiting Mike the Tiger in his sprawling digs. And then there’s the Golden Band From Tigerland and those first four notes before breaking full bore into “Hold That Tiger.” It all adds up to college football pageantry at its finest. — Low
Sports
Overreactions or not? Breaking down the latest from AL’s top contenders
Published
4 hours agoon
August 24, 2025By
admin
-
David SchoenfieldAug 22, 2025, 07:00 AM ET
Close- Covers MLB for ESPN.com
- Former deputy editor of Page 2
- Been with ESPN.com since 1995
A few days ago, we checked in on what to believe and what not to in the National League. Well, the American League is perhaps even more chaotic.
The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are in the midst of a crucial four-game series at Yankee Stadium — with the final game on “Sunday Night Baseball” at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Both teams will try to make a statement and inch closer to the Toronto Blue Jays at the top of the division while staying ahead in the wild-card race.
The Blue Jays had been hot — except they just lost a series to the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates. The Houston Astros were recently shut out three games in a row (and four out of five) but kept their slim hold on first place in the AL West because the Seattle Mariners went 2-7 on a recent road trip, including a brutal three-game wipeout in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers might be back on track, and the Kansas City Royals are suddenly surging.
Let’s check on the current states of overreaction in the AL and make some verdicts.
Overreaction: Judge! Bellinger! Stanton! The Yankees are back, baby!
Calm down there, tiger. The Yankees took two of three from Minnesota. They scored 24 runs in sweeping St. Louis, and then they bashed nine home runs in a win over Tampa Bay.
The middle of the order is leading the way. Aaron Judge is back off the injured list. Cody Bellinger has proven to be one of the most unheralded pickups of last offseason, on his way to his most home runs since his MVP season of 2019. The big shocker has been Giancarlo Stanton, though. He missed the first two-plus months of the season because of what was described as a double tennis elbow, as if he had spent the offseason working on his backhand slice, preparing for the French Open. In 46 games since returning in mid-June, he’s hitting .311/.389/..642, producing what is easily his highest OPS since his MVP season of 2017, and has been so hot that the Yankees played him a few games in right field to keep his bat in the lineup (allowing Judge to DH while working on returning to the field) even though Stanton is less mobile than the monuments in center field.
So, it has been a nice stretch after losing records in June and July. But there are still issues. Max Fried, who starts Friday night, is scuffling, with a 6.80 ERA over his past eight starts. He hasn’t had a quality start since June. The back of the bullpen is still sorting out things, as David Bednar has replaced Devin Williams as the closer (and blew the save Wednesday, although the Yankees won in extra innings), but Camilo Doval and Jake Bird, two other trade deadline acquisitions, haven’t made an impact. There could still be a terrific bullpen here, especially if Williams gets straightened out, but let’s hold off on declaring that.
And Judge still hasn’t played the outfield. Though manager Aaron Boone played Stanton in right field at Yankee Stadium, where there is less ground to cover, he hasn’t played Stanton in the field on the road, leaving him as a part-time player for now. Ryan McMahon, the team’s other big deadline move, has been getting on base but has one home run in 22 games with the Yankees.
VERDICT: OVERREACTION. You can make the argument that if everything was clicking for the Yankees, they have the most upside and deepest roster in the AL: a potential ace in Fried, a potential No. 2 in Carlos Rodon, a potential wipeout bullpen, the best hitter in the sport in Judge and power up and down the lineup. They haven’t played that well against the top teams in the AL, however, including a combined 4-13 record against the Red Sox and Blue Jays, and Fried’s current struggles are a big concern. Let’s not put the Yankees in the playoffs yet.
Overreaction: The Red Sox have to win this series against the Yankees
The likeliest scenario in a four-game series between two evenly matched teams is, of course, a split. That would leave the Red Sox where they started the series, one game behind the Yankees and in third place in the AL East, but potentially in a much tighter wild-card picture. Still, after winning their first five games in August, the Red Sox went 3-7 in their past 10 games entering the Yankees series, so that makes this series a little more pressure-packed even for a late-August Red Sox-Yankees showdown.
Most frustrating, the Red Sox lost two games in extra innings in that 3-7 stretch and also lost both games that Garrett Crochet started. He had one bad start against the Houston Astros, lasting four innings in his worst start of the season, and then the bullpen blew a 3-1 lead to the Miami Marlins as Greg Weissert and Steven Matz allowed ninth-inning home runs when Aroldis Chapman was unavailable to close. Chapman had pitched the previous games and had thrown only 14 pitches over the two outings, so it was a dubious decision by manager Alex Cora (Chapman had appeared in three consecutive games earlier in the season).
One key for the Red Sox down the stretch: How much will Cora push his top pitchers? Crochet is already past his innings total of 2024 and hasn’t pitched on four days’ rest since June 18, with rest periods of seven and nine days during that span. Chapman has had a dominant season but has pitched just 48 innings in 53 appearances and has rarely made even back-to-back outings. The Yankees series begins a stretch for Boston of 13 games in 13 days and 19 in 20, so Cora will have to make some decisions with his rotation.
VERDICT: OVERREACTION. Is there urgency to turn things around? Of course. Is this a do-or-die series? No, it’s still too early to make that claim, especially with the Red Sox still in a solid wild-card position (granted, chasing down the Blue Jays remains the ultimate goal). On the other hand, this eight-game road trip to New York and Baltimore looms large, given the Red Sox are just 28-34 on the road– and the Orioles have been playing better of late. A bad road trip could be disastrous. Check back next week.
Overreaction: The Blue Jays — not the Tigers — are now the best team in the AL
The Blue Jays have gone 48-26 since May 28 — the second-best record in the majors behind Milwaukee since that date. They have the highest OPS in the majors since then and only the Brewers are close to them in runs scored (Boston has scored the third-most runs and is 50 runs behind the Blue Jays since May 28). It hasn’t been just Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette either. George Springer and Addison Barger have mashed, Daulton Varsho has had a big August and role players such as Davis Schneider, Joey Loperfido, Ernie Clement and Tyler Heineman have been excellent. Toronto has a sneaky deep lineup.
Oh, and Max Scherzer has suddenly reeled off five straight quality starts.
On the other hand, the Tigers seem back on track after that stretch in July when they lost 11 of 12. They’ve won four series in a row, granted, three of those were against the Los Angeles Angels, Chicago White Sox and diminished Minnesota Twins, but they also just swept the Astros, knocking around Framber Valdez in the series finale Wednesday and tossing shutouts in the other two wins. Charlie Morton has helped stabilize the rotation with three excellent starts in his four turns with the Tigers, and the bullpen — with added reinforcements from the trade deadline — has been much better in August after struggling in July. Kerry Carpenter has also been mashing since his return in late July.
VERDICT: OVERREACTION. If you’re buying Scherzer and Eric Lauer as frontline starters and all the surprising offensive performances, then it’s not unreasonable to suggest the Blue Jays are the team to beat. Some of those offensive numbers are skewed by that crazy series at Coors Field when they scored 45 runs in three games, however, and when considering the entire season, the Tigers still have the better run differential (as do the Yankees and Red Sox). The Jays’ bandwagon is gaining momentum, but the AL still feels like one big group of teams that will all finish 92-70.
Overreaction: The Astros can’t hit, and the Mariners can’t pitch
Does anyone want to win the AL West? It doesn’t seem like it (you can even throw in the Texas Rangers, who were tied with the Mariners on July 30 but have gone 6-13 since then in playing a difficult August schedule). The Astros are hitting just .226 in August with a .649 OPS. Carlos Correa has been their best hitter, so it’s hard to criticize that trade, but Jesus Sanchez has hit .150 with one RBI for Houston while rookie Cam Smith has fallen into a slump. Getting back Yordan Alvarez, who just began a rehab assignment, will be a big lift if he’s healthy.
As for the Mariners, they have their top five starters healthy for the first time, but this road trip exposed their secret: Their rotation is vastly overrated. The Mariners are 26th in rotation ERA on the road. Bryan Woo is the only starter of those five with an ERA under 5.00 on the road. Logan Gilbert has a 2.22 ERA at home and 6.00 on the road. Luis Castillo‘s road OPS is nearly 300 points higher than it is at home. They pitch well at home because T-Mobile Park is such a pitcher-friendly park. The Mariners still have two road trips remaining: a nine-game trip to Cleveland, Tampa and Atlanta, and then a six-game trip to Kansas City and Houston.
VERDICT: NOT AN OVERREACTION. Both concerns are legitimate. The Astros’ offense hasn’t been terrible this season, but it rates as middle of the pack, and Correa is replacing the injured Isaac Paredes, so he’s not an upgrade. Seattle’s rotation struggles on the road — and lack of bullpen depth — are perhaps an even bigger concern. The season series is tied 5-5. FanGraphs projects a dead heat for the division title. The teams will meet once more in Houston during the second-to-last weekend of the regular season — and that series might decide the AL West.
Overreaction: The Royals will make the playoffs
As the Red Sox, Astros and Mariners have stumbled over the past 10 games, it opened the door for the Royals, who won five in a row and seven of eight to inch closer in the wild-card race (with Cleveland right there, as well). Bobby Witt Jr. is raking in August, Vinnie Pasquantino has been crushing home runs and, further proof of the unpredictability of the trade deadline, Mike Yastrzemski and Adam Frazier, two seemingly minor pickups, have been outstanding.
The Royals are doing this without Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic, but Noah Cameron continues to pitch well and fellow rookie Ryan Bergert, who came over in the Freddy Fermin trade, has delivered three good starts. Just like last year’s team, the Royals have that spark of optimism rising at the right time.
VERDICT: NOT AN OVERREACTION. We’ll learn more about the Royals with this weekend’s series in Detroit and then the rematch next weekend in Kansas City. Otherwise, however, their schedule is pretty soft the rest of the way, including a season-ending road trip to Anaheim and Sacramento against two teams that will be playing out the string. The vibes are good. The Royals will sneak in as a wild-card team.
Sports
Overreactions to the dog days of August: Brewers’ dominance, Mets’ struggles and more from the NL
Published
4 hours agoon
August 24, 2025By
admin
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David SchoenfieldAug 19, 2025, 07:00 AM ET
Close- Covers MLB for ESPN.com
- Former deputy editor of Page 2
- Been with ESPN.com since 1995
Whew. That was some weekend. The Milwaukee Brewers kept winning — until they finally lost. The New York Mets kept losing — until they finally won. The Los Angeles Dodgers made a big statement, the Philadelphia Phillies suffered a crushing injury, and the Chicago Cubs managed to win a series even though their bats remain cold.
What’s going on with these National League contenders? With fan bases in euphoria or despair, let’s make some verdicts on those current states of overreaction.
Overreaction: The Brewers are unquestionably MLB’s best team
“Unquestionably” is a loaded word, especially since we’re writing this right after the Brewers reeled off 14 consecutive victories and won a remarkable 29 of 33 games. They became just the 11th team this century to win at least 14 in a row, and you don’t fluke your way to a 14-game winning streak: Each of the previous 10 teams to win that many in a row made the playoffs, and four won 100 games. Baseball being baseball, however, none won the World Series.
The Brewers were just the sixth team this century to win 29 of 33. Cleveland won 30 of 33 in 2017, riding a 22-game winning streak that began in late August. That team, which finished with 102 wins but lost the wild-card series to the New York Yankees, resembled these Brewers as a small-market, scrappy underdog. The Dodgers in 2017 and 2022 and the A’s in 2001 and 2002 also won 29 of 33. None of these teams won the World Series, either.
For the season, the Brewers have five more wins than the Detroit Tigers while easily leading the majors in run differential at plus-168, with the Cubs a distant second at plus-110. Those figures seem to suggest the Brewers are clearly the best team, with a nice balance of starting pitching (No. 1 in ERA), relief pitching (No. 10 in ERA and No. 8 in win probability added), offense (No. 1 in runs scored), defense (No. 7 in defensive runs saved) and baserunning (No. 2 in stolen bases). None of their position players were All-Stars, but other than shortstop Joey Ortiz the Brewers roll out a lineup that usually features eight average-or-better hitters, with Christian Yelich heating up and Andrew Vaughn on a tear since he joined the club.
On the other hand, via Clay Davenport’s third-order wins and losses, which project a team’s winning percentage based on underlying statistics adjusted for quality of opponents, the Brewers are neck-and-neck with the Cubs, with both teams a few projected wins behind the Yankees. Essentially, the Brewers have scored more runs and allowed fewer than might otherwise be expected based on statistics. Indeed, the Brewers lead the majors with a .288 average with runners in scoring position while holding their opponents to the third-lowest average with runners in scoring position.
Those underlying stats, though, include the first four games of the season, when the Brewers went 0-4 and allowed 47 runs. Several of those relievers who got pounded early on are no longer in the bullpen, and ever since the Brewers sorted out their relief arms, the pen has been outstanding: It’s sixth in ERA and third in lowest OPS allowed since May 1.
Then factor in that the Brewers now have Brandon Woodruff and Jacob Misiorowski in the rotation (although Misiorowski struggled in his last start following a two-week stint on the injured list). The Brewers are also the best baserunning team in the majors, which leads to a few extra runs above expectation.
VERDICT: NOT AN OVERREACTION. The Brewers look like the most well-rounded team in the majors, particularly if Yelich and Vaughn keep providing power in the middle of the order. They have played well against good teams: 6-0 against the Dodgers, 3-0 against the Phillies and Boston Red Sox, 4-2 against the New York Mets and 7-3 against the Cincinnati Reds. They’re 5-4 against the Cubs with four games left in the five-game series. None of this guarantees a World Series, but they’re on pace to win 100 games because they are the best team going right now.
Overreaction: Pete Crow-Armstrong‘s struggles are a big concern
On July 30, PCA went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs in a 10-3 victory for the Cubs over the Brewers. He was hitting .272/.309/.559, playing electrifying defense in center field, and was the leader in the NL MVP race with 5.7 fWAR, more than a win higher than Fernando Tatis Jr. and Shohei Ohtani. The Brewers had started to get hot, but the Cubs, after leading the NL Central most of the season, were just a game behind in the standings.
July 31 was an off day. Then the calendar flipped to August and Crow-Armstrong entered a slump that has featured no dying quails, no gorks, no ground balls with eyes. He’s 8-for-52 in August with no home runs, one RBI and two runs scored. The Cubs, averaging 5.3 runs per game through the end of July, are at just 2.75 runs per game in August and have seen the Brewers build a big lead in the division.
Crow-Armstrong’s slump isn’t necessarily a surprise. Analysts have been predicting regression for some time due to one obvious flaw in PCA’s game: He swings at everything. He has the fifth-highest chase rate among qualified batters, swinging at over 42% of pitches out of the strike zone. It seemed likely that it was only a matter of time before pitchers figured out how to exploit Crow-Armstrong’s aggressiveness.
Doubling down on the regression predictions, PCA has produced strong power numbers despite a below-average hard-hit rate (44th percentile) and average exit velocity (47th percentile). Although raw power isn’t always necessary to produce extra-base power — see Jose Altuve — those metrics were a red flag that PCA might have been overachieving.
VERDICT: NOT AN OVERREACTION. OK, here’s the odd thing: PCA’s chase rate has improved in August to just 28%, but that hasn’t translated to success. His hard-hit rate isn’t much lower than it was the rest of the season (although his average fly ball distance has dropped about 20 feet). His struggles against left-handers are real: After slugging .600 against them in April, he has hit .186 and slugged .390 against them since May 1. He’ll start hitting again at some point, but it’s reasonable to assume he’s not going to hit like he did from April through July.
It’s not all on PCA, however. Kyle Tucker has been just as bad in August (.148, no home runs, one RBI). Michael Busch is hitting .151. Seiya Suzuki has only one home run. Those four had carried the offense, and all are scuffling at once. For the Cubs to rebound, they need this entire group to get back on track. Put it this way: The Cubs have won just three of their past eight series — and those were against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox.
Overreaction: The Mets are doomed and will miss the playoffs
On July 27, the Mets completed a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants to improve to 62-44, holding a 1½-game lead over the Phillies in the NL East. According to FanGraphs, New York’s odds of winning the division stood at 55% and its chances of making the playoffs were nearly 97%. A few days later, the Mets reinforced the bullpen — the club’s biggest weakness — with Ryan Helsley and Tyler Rogers at the trade deadline (after already acquiring Gregory Soto).
It’s never that easy with the Mets though, is it? The San Diego Padres swept them. The Cleveland Guardians swept them. The Brewers swept them. Helsley lost three games and blew a lead in another outing. The rotation has a 6.22 ERA in August. The Mets lost 14 of 16 before finally taking the final two games against the Seattle Mariners this past weekend to temporarily ease the panic level from DEFCON 1 to DEFCON 2. The Phillies have a comfortable lead in the division and the Mets have dropped to the third wild-card position, just one game ahead of the Reds. The team with the highest payroll in the sport is in very real danger of missing the playoffs.
VERDICT: OVERREACTION. The bullpen issues are still a concern given Helsley’s struggles, and Rogers has fanned just one of the 42 batters he has faced since joining the Mets. Still, this team is loaded with talent, as reflected in FanGraphs’ playoffs odds, which gave the Mets an 86% chance of making the postseason entering Monday (with the Reds at 14%). One note, however: The Reds lead the season series 2 games to 1, which gives them the tiebreaker edge if the teams finish with the same record. A three-game set in Cincinnati in early September looms as one of the biggest series the rest of the season. Mets fans have certainly earned the right to brood over the team’s current state of play, but the team remains favored to at least squeak out a wild card.
Overreaction: Zack Wheeler’s absence is a big problem for the Phillies
The Phillies’ ace just went on the IL because of a blood clot near his right shoulder, with no timetable on a potential return. The injury is serious enough that his availability for the rest of the season is in jeopardy. Manager Rob Thomson said the team has enough rotation depth to battle on without Wheeler, but there are some other issues there as well:
• Ranger Suarez has a 5.86 ERA in six starts since the All-Star break.
• Aaron Nola was activated from the IL on Sunday to replace Wheeler for his first MLB start in three months and gave up six runs in 2⅓ innings, raising his season ERA to 6.92.
• Taijuan Walker has a 3.34 ERA but also a 4.73 FIP and probably isn’t someone you would feel comfortable starting in a playoff series.
• Even Jesus Luzardo has been inconsistent all season, with a 4.21 ERA.
Minus Wheeler, that arguably leaves Cristopher Sanchez as the team’s only sure-thing reliable starter at the moment. Though a trip to the playoffs certainly looks secure, all this opens the door for the Mets to make it a race for the division title.
VERDICT: NOT AN OVERREACTION. Making the playoffs is one thing, but it’s also about peaking at the right time, and given the scary nature of Wheeler’s injury, the Phillies might not end up peaking when they need to. Nola certainly can’t be counted on right now and Suarez has suddenly struggled a bit to miss bats. There’s time here for Nola and Suarez to fix things, and the bullpen has been strengthened with the additions of Jhoan Duran and David Robertson, but even with Wheeler, the Phillies are just 22-18 since the beginning of July. Indeed, their ultimate hopes might rest on an offense that has let them down the past two postseasons and hasn’t been great this season aside from Kyle Schwarber. If they don’t score runs, it won’t matter who is on the mound.
Overreaction: The Dodgers just buried the Padres with their three-game sweep
It was a statement series: The Dodgers, battled, bruised and slumping, had fallen a game behind the Padres in the NL West. But they swept the Padres at Dodger Stadium behind stellar outings from Clayton Kershaw and Blake Snell, and a clutch Mookie Betts home run to cap a rally from a 4-0 deficit. Still the kings of the NL West, right?
After all, the Dodgers are finally rolling out that dream rotation: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, Snell and Kershaw are all healthy and at full strength for the first time this season. Only Roki Sasaki is missing. Yamamoto has been solid all season, Ohtani ramped up to 80 pitches in his last start, Glasnow has a 2.50 ERA since returning from the IL in July, Snell has reeled off back-to-back scoreless starts, and even Kershaw, while not racking up many strikeouts, has lowered his season ERA to 3.01. That group should carry the Dodgers to their 12th division title in the past 13 seasons.
VERDICT: OVERREACTION. Calm down. One great series does not mean the Dodgers are suddenly fixed or that the Padres will fade away. The Dodgers’ bullpen is still battling injuries, Betts still has a sub-.700 OPS and injuries have forced them to play Alex Freeland, Miguel Rojas and Buddy Kennedy in the infield. Check back after next weekend, when the Padres host the Dodgers for their final regular-season series of 2025.
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