Brock Beauchamp

There are so many things to talk about after the trade deadline, but we're going to stick purely to the game action in this piece. Kale Fountain swiped two bags and scored twice to pace Lake Elsinore’s win, while Luis Campusano plated two runs for El Paso. Miguel Mendez delivered six dominant innings for Fort Wayne, fanning seven and allowing no earned runs. Despite a lopsided loss, Marcos Castañon doubled and scored twice for San Antonio. Rosman Verdugo reached base three times for the TinCaps, and Vicarte Domingo recorded a two-inning save for the Storm. Benjamin cruises, Campusano sparks offense, but Chihuahuas stumble late Box Score Wes Benjamin kept El Paso in command for seven innings, limiting the damage to one run on four hits while striking out six. The left-hander walked two and exited with a 2-1 lead after the offense scored two in the fifth. That inning began with Rodolfo Durán’s single, followed by Forrest Wall being hit by a pitch. With two outs, Luis Campusano lined a single through the middle, driving in both runners. Nate Mondou then recorded his third hit of the night, an RBI single to right, pushing his season total to 47 RBI. Yonathan Perlaza provided late insurance in the ninth, lacing a run-scoring single to left that brought home Wall for a 2-0 lead. The advantage slipped away in the bottom half of the eighth. Harold Chirino entered and yielded five runs on four hits and a walk, taking the loss and a blown save after recording just two outs. Jason Blanchard allowed an inherited runner to score before escaping the frame, and El Paso never recovered. Wall reached base three times—one hit and two hit-by-pitches—and scored twice. Durán collected two singles and also crossed the plate twice, while Mason McCoy added a pair of hits. The Chihuahuas finished 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position but did flash the leather, turning a McCoy-to-Clay Dungan-to-Mondou double play and catching a baserunner stealing. Castañon’s extra-base pop, bullpen rebound in Missions’ 12-3 loss Box Score San Antonio took a seven-run punch in the second inning at Riders Field, yet several Missions found ways to stand out. Marcos Castañon opened the fifth with his 21st double of the season, moved to third on a walk to Kai Murphy, and crossed the plate when Wyatt Hoffman grounded into a run-scoring double play. Castañon later drew a walk in the seventh and scored again on Devin Ortiz’s force-play RBI, giving the infielder two runs, a double, and a free pass on the night. Albert Fabian supplied the other run, racing home after Hoffman was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Francisco Acuna lined his 13th double, Anthony Vilar collected two singles, and Murphy reached twice with a single and a walk, matching Castañon for the club lead in times on base. Victor Lizarraga (2-8) was tagged for 10 runs over two innings. Stephen Jones surrendered two more in the third, but the bullpen stoped the bleeding after that. Kevin Kopps worked two scoreless innings with two strikeouts, Andrew Moore followed with 1 2/3 shutout frames and four punchouts, and Ryan Och closed the night by retiring all four batters he faced across 1 1/3 innings. The Missions finished with six hits and three walks but went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position, stranding six. Mendez dazzles over six, Verdugo reaches three times as TinCaps edged late Box Score Miguel Mendez continued his dominant High-A season, scattering two hits across six innings and striking out seven, yet Fort Wayne fell 2-0 at Parkview Field. The right-hander (7-3, 1.32 ERA) did not allow an earned run; the visitors scratched across an unearned tally in the second when a passed ball and subsequent wild pitch opened the scoring. Rosman Verdugo set the tone at the plate, reaching base three times. The second baseman singled in the third, drew a two-out walk in the first, and was plunked during an eighth-inning rally that ultimately fizzled. Jack Costello provided the TinCaps’ only other knock, a seventh-inning single that moved him into scoring position before a groundout ended the threat. Despite drawing four walks and absorbing two hit-by-pitches, Fort Wayne finished 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight. After Mendez exited, Fernando Sanchez handled the seventh and eighth. The righty worked 2 innings but surrendered an insurance run on two late hits. Ruben Galindo fired a perfect ninth to keep the deficit at two. Defensively, catcher Oswaldo Linares erased a pair of attempted basestealers and teamed with Ryan Jackson and Jack Costello on a third-inning caught stealing that helped Mendez work around traffic. Jackson also reached base twice, drawing a walk and wearing a pitch, while Kai Roberts coaxed a free pass of his own. The TinCaps will look to spark the offense tomorrow, but Thursday night belonged to their pitching staff, which allowed just four hits in the setback. Fountain’s speed and bullpen lock down lift Storm to 3-1 victory Box Score Kale Fountain set the tone on the bases, and a trio of Lake Elsinore arms made the lead stand as the Storm edged past Inland Empire, 3-1, Thursday night at The Diamond. Fountain coaxed a walk to open the second, swiped second, and scored when Alex McCoy drilled a ground-ball single through the right side. The designated hitter was back at it in the seventh, drawing another free pass, stealing his second bag of the night, and sprinting home on B.Y. Choi’s line single to center that put the Storm in front for good. Lake Elsinore added insurance in the eighth when Kasen Wells walked, stole his 28th base, took third on a balk, and dashed home on a wild pitch. Fountain reached three times, scored twice, and now owns six steals, while Choi, McCoy, and Zach Evans each chipped in a hit. Evans also walked and swiped his 14th bag, and McCoy nabbed his fifth. Right-hander Braian Salazar scattered three hits over 3 1/3 innings, his lone run coming on a wild pitch in the second. Bernard Jose (2-2) followed with 3 2/3 dominant, hitless frames, punching out five to earn the win. Vicarte Domingo needed just 18 pitches to handle the final two innings, collecting his fourth save. The defense helped early, with Yendry Rojas, Chase Valentine, and Choi turning a 4-6-3 double play to erase a first-inning threat and keep the Storm rolling toward the finish line. Padres Transactions Padres designated LF Trenton Brooks for assignment. LHP JP Sears roster status changed by Padres. LHP Nestor Cortes roster status changed by Padres. Padres designated C Martín Maldonado for assignment. 1B Ryan O'Hearn roster status changed by Padres. C Freddy Fermin roster status changed by Padres. Athletics traded RHP Mason Miller and LHP JP Sears to Padres for RHP Henry Baez, RHP Eduarniel Núñez, SS Leo De Vries and RHP Braden Nett. RHP Mason Miller roster status changed by Padres. RF Ramón Laureano roster status changed by Padres. Milwaukee Brewers traded LHP Nestor Cortes, SS Jorge Quintana and cash to Padres for LF Brandon Lockridge. Baltimore Orioles traded 1B Ryan O'Hearn, RF Ramón Laureano and cash to Padres for LHP Boston Bateman, RHP Tyson Neighbors, RHP Tanner Smith, SS Brandon Butterworth, SS Cobb Hightower and 1B Victor Figueroa. Kansas City Royals traded C Freddy Fermin to Padres for RHP Ryan Bergert and RHP Stephen Kolek. Athletics traded RHP Mason Miller and LHP JP Sears to Padres for RHP Henry Baez, RHP Eduarniel Núñez, SS Leo De Vries and RHP Braden Nett. Padres optioned 3B Will Wagner to El Paso Chihuahuas. Baltimore Orioles traded 1B Ryan O'Hearn, RF Ramón Laureano and cash to Padres for LHP Boston Bateman, RHP Tyson Neighbors, RHP Tanner Smith, SS Brandon Butterworth, SS Cobb Hightower and 1B Victor Figueroa. Toronto Blue Jays traded 3B Will Wagner to Padres for C Brandon Valenzuela. Baltimore Orioles traded 1B Ryan O'Hearn, RF Ramón Laureano and cash to Padres for LHP Boston Bateman, RHP Tyson Neighbors, RHP Tanner Smith, SS Brandon Butterworth, SS Cobb Hightower and 1B Victor Figueroa. Milwaukee Brewers traded LHP Nestor Cortes, SS Jorge Quintana and cash to Padres for LF Brandon Lockridge. View full article

The Padres continue to churn transactions, acquiring Nestor Cortes from the Milwaukee Brewers. Going to the Brewers is Padres prospect Brandon Lockridge, per Jon Heyman. The move comes with Cortes rehabbing from a flexor strain that led the Brewers to transfer him to the 60-day injured list on April 6. Cortes, 30, has appeared in just two major league games this season, pitching only eight innings before going down with injury. The limited work produced a 9.00 ERA, 11.84 FIP, and –0.2 WPA. San Diego’s evaluation centers on Cortes' larger body of work. In 2024 with the Yankees, the southpaw logged 174 1⁄3 innings across 31 games, posting a 3.77 ERA, 3.84 FIP, 22.8 percent strikeout rate, and 5.5 percent walk rate. That campaign followed an All-Star showing in 2022, when Cortes delivered 158 1⁄3 innings of 2.44 ERA ball with a 3.12 FIP and 26.5 percent strikeout rate. His career encompasses 576 innings with a 4.21 FIP and 24.6 percent strikeout clip. Cortes joins a Padres rotation that already includes Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, and Michael King. The club has used 11 different starters this year while navigating arm injuries and workload limits. Cortes is on track for a mid-August return; his rehab assignment is expected to begin once he completes the throwing progression set by San Diego’s medical staff. The Padres will be responsible for the remainder of his $7.6 million salary. Once activated, Cortes will give manager Mike Shildt a left-handed option in the rotation. The Padres, who entered deadline day ranked ninth in the National League with a 4.06 rotation ERA, gain another starter for the final two months and a potential postseason run. Leaving the Padres is center fielder Brandon Lockridge, 28, who has divided 2025 between Triple-A El Paso and San Diego. In 79 Triple-A at-bats, he owns a .291/.408/.468 slash, seven steals in seven tries, and an .876 OPS, figures backed by a .284 wOBA and 84 wRC+. Over 88 plate appearances with the Padres, he is hitting .216/.258/.261, has swiped eight bases, and carries a .234 wOBA with 49 wRC+. FanGraphs logs 28 starts in left, 13 in center, and three in right, underscoring his defensive range. Lockridge joined San Diego in a July 2024 trade that sent right-hander Drew Thorpe to New York, boosting depth View full article

San Diego fortified its infield depth by acquiring 26-year-old left-handed bat Will Wagner from Toronto for 24-year-old switch-hitting catcher Brandon Valenzuela. Wagner spent most of 2025 shuttling between Buffalo and the big-league club. In 18 International League games, he produced a .268/.342/.451 slash, good for a .792 OPS across 79 plate appearances. That accounts for a .322 wOBA and 106 wRC+, suggesting league-average production with above-average on-base skills. With the Blue Jays, Wagner appeared in 40 major-league games, posting a .237/.336/.298 line over 132 trips to the plate. He has logged time at second, third, and first this season, giving the Padres a versatile left-side option who pairs double-digit walk rates with modest power. Valenzuela heads to Toronto after spending the year as San Antonio’s primary catcher. Through 81 Texas League games, the Sonora native owns a .232/.313/.390 line in 352 plate appearances, including 14 doubles and 11 homers. His walk rate sits just over 10 percent, and he has handled southpaws appropriately while maintaining steady switch-hit splits. Valenzuela’s defensive résumé features regular work behind the plate and occasional first-base starts; he has allowed five steals against two caught-stealing this season, numbers primarily in line with his prior career rates. View full rumor

Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote today (in the wake of the blockbuster Mason Miller trade) that the Padres plan to keep Robert Suarez at the trade deadline. Internal discussions currently favor holding the right-hander, even as president of baseball operations AJ Preller continues fielding calls on other roster pieces. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale likewise notes that there are “no current plans” to trade Suarez, though conversations could persist up to the deadline. Suarez is earning $10 million this season and holds player options valued at $8 million apiece for 2026 and 2027. If he remains healthy in 2025, it is likely Suarez declines the option and becomes a free agent after the season. On the field, Suarez has converted 30 of 33 save chances while working 44 2⁄3 innings across 47 appearances. His 26.6 percent strikeout rate and 6.9 percent walk rate closely track his 2024 marks, and a 2.34 FIP (per MLB.com’s All-Star announcement) sits more than a full run below his 3.43 ERA, indicating run prevention largely supported by underlying indicators. Excluding the addition of Miller, the Padres’ choice to retain Suarez would keep a bullpen trio of Suarez, Miller, and setup man Jason Adam intact for the stretch run while deferring any decision on the closer’s future until he decides on his option after the season. View full rumor

Designated hitter Rodolfo Durán’s eighth-inning homer and go-ahead tenth-inning double lifted Triple-A El Paso past Round Rock. At Double-A, Devin Ortiz capped a three-hit night with an eighth-inning two-run double as San Antonio defeated Frisco. Brandon Butterworth collected three hits, finishing Fort Wayne’s 10-inning comeback with a walk-off single. Lake Elsinore’s Kasen Wells homered and doubled, driving in three, yet the Storm dropped an extra-inning heart-breaker. Relievers Alek Jacob, Tyson Neighbors, and Garrett Hawkins secured victories for their clubs. Padres Transactions San Diego Padres optioned RHP Stephen Kolek to El Paso Chihuahuas. San Diego Padres recalled RHP Ryan Bergert from El Paso Chihuahuas. Durán Delivers in 10th as Chihuahuas Outlast Express Box Score El Paso erased an early three-run hole, then leaned on Rodolfo Durán for the decisive blows in an 8–6, 10-inning victory at Dell Diamond. After walking in the third and homering in the eighth to knot the game, the designated hitter opened extras by ripping an RBI double, giving him a 3-for-5 night with three runs, two RBI, a double, and his fifth homer. Durán’s eighth-inning blast capped a comeback that began with a four-run third. Singles from Durán, Brandon Lockridge, and Tim Locastro loaded the bases, Yonathan Perlaza plated the first run with a single, and Luis Campusano forced in another with a walk. Nate Mondou and Mason McCoy followed with consecutive RBI knocks, pushing El Paso in front. Locastro reached four times on four walks and swiped his 19th base, while Lockridge reached three times and stole his seventh. The bullpen preserved the win. After Logan Gillaspie covered five innings, Alek Jacob struck out four over 1 2/3 hitless frames and earned the decision. Miguel Cienfuegos allowed the inherited runner to score in the 10th but closed the door for his first Triple-A save. Campusano’s grounder in the 10th was thrown away, allowing two insurance runs to score. El Paso finished 4-for-17 with runners in scoring position yet drew nine walks and stole three bags. Ortiz’s late double powers Missions to 7–4 road win Box Score San Antonio jumped in front immediately when Moisés Gómez launched a two-run homer to left in the first inning, and the Missions never trailed. Albert Fabian added a sacrifice fly in the second, giving Enmanuel Pinales breathing room. The right-hander used it well, working six innings and allowing just two earned runs while striking out three to earn his sixth victory of the year. He was backed by an infield that turned a third-inning double play started by Devin Ortiz and later wiped out a leadoff walk with another twin killing. After Frisco tied the game in the fifth, Brandon Valenzuela stole second and scored on Marcos Castañon’s two-out single in the sixth to push San Antonio back in front. The Missions loaded the bases in the seventh, and Valenzuela’s walk forced home Ripken Reyes for a 5–3 cushion. Ortiz delivered the knockout blow in the eighth. With two aboard, the third baseman ripped a line drive into the left-field corner for his 11th double, plating pinch-runner Wyatt Hoffman and Reyes. Ortiz finished 3-for-5 and swiped third after the double. Reyes was on base three times and scored twice, while Castañon chipped in a pair of hits. Jake Higginbotham fanned four in 1 2/3 innings of relief, and Tyson Neighbors recorded the final four outs for his first save. Butterworth’s Walk-Off Single Completes TinCaps’ Three-Run Comeback Box Score Fort Wayne trailed 3–0 in the seventh before rallying for a 4–3, 10-inning win at Parkview Field. Braedon Karpathios opened the seventh with a walk, and Rosman Verdugo singled. After Kaden Hollow’s sacrifice, Oswaldo Linares hammered a two-run double, trimming the deficit to one. An inning later, Brandon Butterworth led off with a single and Ryan Jackson walked; Verdugo knotted the game with a run-scoring single. The tie held until the 10th, when automatic runner Leo De Vries began on second. Butterworth, already with two hits, lined a single to left as De Vries dashed home with the decisive run. The center fielder finished 3-for-5, reached base three times, and collected his 46th RBI. Garrett Hawkins (8-1) secured the victory with two scoreless innings, striking out two. Clark Candiotti, the opener, also worked two scoreless frames, Sam Whiting surrendered one run in 3 ⅓ due to five walks, and Misael Tamarez added 1 1/3 shutout innings. Verdugo went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run, Linares’ double pushed his RBI total to 15, and De Vries scored once, as the TinCaps celebrated the comeback. Wells’ late blast not enough as Storm edged in extras Box Score Lake Elsinore spent much of Wednesday night battling uphill, only to see its tenth-inning comeback fall a run short. After the visitors opened the scoring with a first-inning tally, starter Kash Mayfield steadied the game by scattering five hits and one run while striking out five over four innings. The Storm drew level in the fifth. Carlos Rodriguez ripped a leadoff double into the right-field corner, moved up on a grounder, and raced home when Kasen Wells dunked a single into center. Two frames later, pinch-hitter Victor Figueroa sneaked a base hit through the left side, and Wells’ sharp opposite-field double chased him home to make it 2–2. Adam Conrad kept the game even through the eighth, rolling a sixth-inning double play and adding two scoreless frames. Lake Elsinore put runners aboard in both the eighth and ninth innings but could not push across the go-ahead run. The 66ers plated three in the top of the tenth, two of them unearned, handing Tanner Smith a tough-luck loss. The Storm were undeterred. With one out in the bottom half, Ryan Wilson dropped the free runner at third with a grounder, and Wells followed by launching a towering two-run homer to left, his second long ball of the year. Cobb Hightower then reached on an infield single, but a strikeout and flyout ended the rally. Wells finished 2-for-4 with a homer, double, walk, three RBI, and his 27th stolen base, reaching safely three times. Lamar King Jr. added two hits. View full article

1. The Dylan Cease pivot — from ace to trade chip Mid-week, it was revealed that San Diego is “open” to moving rental ace Dylan Cease even as the club positions itself as a buyer. His 30.0 K% and 21.6 K-BB% still scream frontline talent, yet a 4.64 ERA (vs. 3.53 FIP) hints at positive regression another contender might pay for before he reaches free agency this winter. If Cease departs, Preller already has replacement concepts in motion: Sandy Alcantara: Dennis Lin says the Padres have explored a buy-low on the 2022 Cy winner, who’s battling post-TJ rust (6.66 ERA, 16.7 K%) but carries only one guaranteed season of salary. Charlie Morton: Talks with Baltimore center on the 40-year-old right-hander (5.58 ERA, 22.5 K%), whose 4.58 FIP and short-term cost make him a cheaper stop-gap. Preller’s willingness to shop Cease while lining up replacements underscores how fluid the final hours could be. 2. Arms other clubs want from San Diego Ken Rosenthal reports that rival scouts are circling several controllable Padres pitchers: Stephen Kolek (4.28 ERA, 9.9 K-BB%), Ryan Bergert (2.84 ERA, 23.1 K%), plus Double-A duo Henry Baez and Braden Nett. San Diego could flip one for MLB help while preserving depth. 3. The outfield search after Boston shut the door Sean McAdam says Boston rejected a blockbuster offer of Cease, prospect Ethan Salas, and another piece for Jarren Duran, making a swap “unlikely” this summer. Preller quickly pivoted: Luis Robert Jr.: The power-speed star (26 SB, .636 OPS) is controllable through 2027 but pricey due to injury history and upside. Ramon Laureano: Also covered in the same report, Laureano’s .861 OPS and +3 DRS make him a lower-cost rental fit. Steven Kwan: Cleveland’s Gold Glove leadoff man (.741 OPS, 13 DRS) brings elite bat-to-ball skill and team control through 2027, but the Guardians are asking for a haul. 4. A new name for the DH spot Dominican insider Héctor Gómez reports that talks with Atlanta over Marcell Ozuna have “intensified.” The rumored package sends prospects Francis Peña and Bergert east for a rental bat slashing .235/.361/.390 with 13 HR, far from his 39-homer peak in 2024, and would thin San Diego’s pitching depth. 5. What it all means In seven frenetic days, the Padres have been linked to four starters, four outfielders, one DH, and one catcher while dangling Cease and multiple upper-level arms: If Cease is dealt, replacement pitchers (Alcántara, Morton) and in-house reinforcements (Michael King’s pending return) soften the blow. If the rotation stays intact, those pitching prospects become trade chips for bats like Robert, Kwan, Laureano, or Ozuna. If prices soar, as they have with high-end relievers, Preller can stand pat. The goal remains one “impact bat” with years of control and an innings-eater to slot behind Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove, without surrendering the top of the farm, particularly top prospect Leo De Vries. Whether the result is a headline splash or a mosaic of marginal gains will be decided in the waning hours, but one thing is clear: no Padre, not even Dylan Cease, is untouchable, View full article

Dennis Lin and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic have reported that the Padres are kicking the tires on Athletics' closer Mason Miller. They're also still pursuing Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran, but we've covered that elsewhere. The 26-year-old right-handed Miller owns the game’s top average four-seam velocity at 101.2 mph and has converted 20 saves in 38 outings. Through July 30, he has worked 38 1/3 innings with a 3.76 ERA, a 2.86 FIP, and a 39.1 percent strikeout rate, while holding opponents to a .246 batting average on balls in play. Miller still earns the league minimum $765,000 and is under club control through 2029, an attractive fit for a Padres payroll that has little wiggle room. Oakland’s price is correspondingly high. Sources say the president of baseball operations, A.J. Preller, is willing to discuss either of his premier prospects—shortstop Leo De Vries or catcher Ethan Salas—to obtain Miller or controllable outfielders Jarren Duran and Steven Kwan. De Vries, 19, is thriving at High-A and is the Padres' top prospect, while Salas remains sidelined by a lower-back stress reaction but is still a teenager. Despite having one of the better bullpens in baseball, San Diego is weighing changes. Closer Robert Suarez carries a 3.50 ERA and a 3.28 FIP over 43 2/3 innings, but he can opt out of the two years and $20 million left on his deal after the season, making him a potential trade chip. Miller started six games as a rookie in 2023; the Padres have recently transitioned former relievers Michael King, Seth Lugo, and Stephen Kolek into starting roles, so that background could add further appeal if a deal is reached. View full rumor

Power and speed headlined the Padres’ farm Tuesday, though all four clubs fell. Forrest Wall launched a shot and Luis Campusano doubled during El Paso’s late 4–3 push. Devin Ortiz opened San Antonio’s night with a leadoff homer, while Moisés Gómez’s RBI double kept the Missions close. Braedon Karpathios reached four times for Fort Wayne, and shortstop Cobb Hightower piled up three hits and a steal before Lake Elsinore’s rally stalled, 6–5. Catcher Lamar King Jr. swiped two bases. Padres Transactions Optioned RHP Stephen Kolek to El Paso Chihuahuas. Recalled RHP Ryan Bergert from El Paso Chihuahuas. Wall’s Solo Blast, Seventh-Inning Rally Can’t Lift El Paso Past Express Box Score A shaky first inning left El Paso chasing from the outset, and despite a spirited push in the seventh, the Chihuahuas fell 4-3 on Tuesday night at Dell Diamond. Forrest Wall jump-started the offense in the fourth, driving a pitch over the wall in left-center to trim the deficit to three. Three frames later, El Paso loaded the bases when Luis Campusano ripped a leadoff double, Clay Dungan and Tim Locastro followed with consecutive singles, and Mason McCoy added a sharp knock to left. Catcher Cody Roberts forced in a run with a four-pitch walk before an infield fly and fielder’s choice grounder halted the surge one run short. Earlier, defensive miscues compounded the damage of two first-inning walks, staking the home side to a three-run cushion. Right-hander Matt Waldron steadied the game, working six innings before turning it over to the bullpen. Omar Cruz and Bryan Hoeing combined for two scoreless frames to keep the deficit at a single run. Locastro reached twice, stole a base, and supplied an RBI, while Roberts logged a hit and walk from the nine-hole. Ortiz’s Leadoff Blast, Gómez’s Late Double Highlight Missions’ 4–2 Setback Box Score Devin Ortiz wasted no time jump-starting San Antonio, turning a pitch into a towering drive that cleared the left-field wall. Braden Nett protected the early lead, breezing through three scoreless frames while piling up four strikeouts. Momentum flipped in the fourth when a sacrifice fly and a flare to center gave the RoughRiders the lead. Jared Kollar held his own through the middle innings, and the offense threatened in the sixth as Wyatt Hoffman drew a walk and swiped second. That forced a pitching change, but a strikeout stranded two runners after a Francisco Acuna walk. Ortiz sparked another rally in the eighth, beating out an infield single. Moisés Gómez followed by rifling a line-drive double into the left-field corner, bringing Ortiz all the way around to trim the deficit to 3–2. Acuna worked his second free pass of the night to put the tying run in scoring position, yet a deep fly to left ended the surge. An insurance homer in the bottom half widened the gap, and a ninth-inning flyout, grounder, and strikeout closed out the contest. Addison Kopack’s third-inning double and Romeo Sanabria’s early single accounted for San Antonio’s other hits, while Marcos Castañon flashed leather and added a line-drive knock to right. Karpathios Stays Hot at the Plate, but TinCaps Slip 6–0 at Parkview Field Box Score Fort Wayne mustered plenty of traffic but never found the timely swing in a shutout loss Wednesday night. Right fielder Braedon Karpathios was one of few highlights with a single to right in the second and dropped another knock into left two frames later. He kept the pressure on by drawing walks in both the sixth and eighth, twice advancing into scoring position, but the rally spark never caught. Starter Ian Koenig scattered early contact, erasing a first-inning bunt with a quick strikeout and leaning on his defense for a crisp 5-4-3 double play that closed the second. The left-hander navigated four scoreless innings before the visitors broke through on a two-out liner to left in the fourth, then scratched out two more runs in the sixth to widen the gap. Luis Germán inherited the seventh and nearly escaped, yet an infield misplay allowed a run to cross ahead of a two-run homer that pushed the deficit to six. Josh Mallitz followed with a scoreless eighth, and Christian Ruebeck punched out two in a tidy ninth to finish the night on a high note. Leo De Vries coaxed a pair of walks and showcased his arm from shortstop on a twisting grounder deep in the hole. The TinCaps, however, stranded nine runners. Hightower’s Three-hit Night and Late Scramble Come Up One Run Shy for Storm Box Score Cobb Hightower set the tone with a leadoff double, and Lake Elsinore spent the rest of the evening trading blows before a bases-loaded chance in the ninth slipped away in a 6–5 loss at The Diamond. Hightower crossed on Lamar King Jr.’s line-drive single in the first, then Fountain’s heads-up baserunning manufactured the go-ahead tally in the fourth when he walked, stole second, and trotted home on Alex McCoy’s sacrifice fly. King Jr. struck again an inning later, lifting a fly to center that plated Hightower after the shortstop’s infield single and a walk pushed traffic into motion. A rocky top of the sixth flipped the scoreboard, but the Storm answered right back. Kavares Tears drew a free pass, and McCoy rifled a two-bagger to left that scored him. Moments later, Kasen Wells reached on a misplay at second to deliver McCoy and knot the game at five. Inland Empire eked out the decisive run with a two-out grounder back to the pitcher in the seventh. Lake Elsinore still had one last push: King Jr. walked and stole second with two outs in the ninth, Tears joined him on another pass, and McCoy’s sharp grounder was mishandled to load the bags. Pinch-hitter B.Y. Choi battled but went down swinging, leaving the potential winning run at second. King Jr. reached twice and swiped a pair, while Hightower added singles in the fifth and eighth and stole his seventh bag of the year. Top Prospect Performance Leo De Vries, SS: 0-for-2, 2 BB Kash Mayfield, LHP: Did Not Play Ethan Salas, C: Did Not Play Boston Bateman, LHP: Did Not Play Humberto Cruz, RHP: Did Not Play Kruz Schoolcraft: Not Yet Assigned Isaiah Lowe, RHP: Did Not Play Henry Baez, RHP: Did Not Play Braden Nett, RHP: 3 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 K Cobb Hightower, SS: 3-for-5, 1 K, 1 2B, 1 SB Kale Fountain, 1B: 1-for-3, 2 BB Tirso Ornelas, OF: Did Not Play Bradgley Rodriguez, RHP: Did Not Play Ryan Wideman: Not Yet Assigned Kavares Tears, RF: 0-for-2, 3 BB Tyson Neighbors, RHP: Did Not Play Victor Lizárraga, RHP: Did Not Play Francis Peña, RHP: Did Not Play Romeo Sanabria, 1B: Did Not Play Ryan Bergert, RHP: N/A (Active MLB roster) View full article

Katie Woo of The Athletic is reporting that the Padres are interested in acquiring the Cardinals' JoJo Romero. The Padres continue to inquire on the relief market despite already leading baseball with a 2.99 bullpen ERA and sending three relievers to the All-Star Game. General manager A.J. Preller has signaled interest in adding a second high-leverage left-hander to lessen the workload on Adrian Morejon and Jeremiah Estrada, both of whom rank among the league leaders in appearances. St. Louis southpaw JoJo Romero fits that description and remains under club control through the 2027 season. Across 34 innings in 2025, Romero owns a 2.12 ERA with a 2.88 FIP, 9.0 K/9, 4.0 BB/9, and just 0.3 HR/9. He has converted 52.9 percent of batted balls into grounders and stranded 76.4 percent of his baserunners. Statcast reports opponents have managed a .267 wOBA (.270 xwOBA) against him, with an average exit velocity of 89.1 mph and a 38.9 percent hard-hit rate. Because Romero is left-handed and can be optioned, the Padres could deploy him flexibly while maintaining roster depth. His combination of swing-and-miss capability (34 strikeouts) and home-run suppression falls in line with San Diego’s preference for power arms who limit damage late in games. With Emmanuel Clase now unavailable and Ryan Helsley’s market escalating, Romero represents a controllable alternative whose cost in prospect capital may align with Preller’s stated goal of “adding to a strength” without altering the club’s long-term pitching plans. View full rumor

Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome of The Athletic are reporting the Astros are pursuing a trade for Padres starter Dylan Cease. Sources briefed on Houston’s discussions say Dylan Cease tops the club’s trade deadline wish list, and the Padres right-hander fits the power-arm profile owner Jim Crane has targeted in past July moves. Cease, 29, has logged 118 1⁄3 innings over 22 starts with a 4.79 ERA and 153 strikeouts, good for 11.64 K/9. Under the hood, his 3.53 FIP, 3.64 xFIP, and 97.1 mph average fastball velocity sit near the league’s leaders, and a .320 wOBA against versus a .304 xwOBA points to run-prevention upside. Astros scouts watched Cease on July 23 in Miami, where he yielded two earned runs in five innings and punched out five; the outing kept his expected ERA at 3.53. Cease is earning $13.75 million in his walk year and will reach free agency this winter. Houston has a major-league-high 17 players on the injured list, among them starters Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia, and Lance McCullers Jr., plus sluggers Yordan Alvarez, Jeremy Peña, and Isaac Paredes. Healthy arms Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez need reinforcement, and Cease would form a high-strikeout trio. Acquiring the remaining salary would push Houston over the competitive-balance tax; Crane crossed that threshold for Justin Verlander in 2023, so cost alone may not deter him. Houston is also surveying the market for a bat, with Willi Castro, Jesús Sánchez, and Jake McCarthy mentioned as possibilities. View full rumor

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic recently wrote that the Padres are interested in trading for Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan, 27, who is earning $4.175 million in 2025 and will remain arbitration-eligible through 2027. In 99 games, he is hitting .285/.350/.411 with a .333 wOBA and 115 wRC+. FanGraphs has him at 2.8 fWAR, a top-20 mark among outfielders this season. Statcast lists Kwan at +3 Outs Above Average while he has logged 772 ⅓ innings, almost all in left field. The Padres have not found a consistent solution in left field since Jurickson Profar departed; FanGraphs’ preseason ZiPS write-up flagged the position as “likely to be a problem again” in 2025, and that has undoubtedly been the case. Adding Kwan would give San Diego an outfielder under control for two additional seasons, avoiding the rental profile common at the deadline. Because his 2025 salary is modest, his projected arbitration raises are unlikely to strain the club’s precarious financial position. With Kwan under control through 2027, any deal would address a present-day lineup need while providing payroll stability. The Guardians are reportedly seeking a robust package; Kwan’s 2.8 fWAR and two additional seasons of control elevate the asking price beyond typical corner-outfield rentals. View full rumor

Rain washed out El Paso’s visit to Sugar Land, but the system sparkled. In Double-A, Henry Baez fired five innings and Brandon Valenzuela homered as San Antonio rode a five-run first to a 6–1 win. High-A Fort Wayne erupted for four in the seventh; Brandon Butterworth delivered three RBIs and Leo De Vries homered in a 9-4 triumph. Single-A Lake Elsinore cruised 9-1 behind B.Y. Choi’s four RBIs and six sharp frames from Abraham Parra. Padres Transactions No Roster Moves. El Paso and Sugar Land postponed by rain The game will be made up when the Chihuahuas travel to Texas in mid-September. Five-run first, Baez’s steady arm pace Missions past RockHounds Box Score San Antonio’s offense erupted for five two-out runs in the opening frame, and Henry Baez made them stand up, guiding the Missions to a 6–1 victory Sunday night at Nelson Wolff Stadium. After singles by Francisco Acuna and Brandon Valenzuela set the table, Albert Fabian drove both home with a ringing double to left. Moisés Gómez followed with a sharp RBI double, Kai Murphy lined a run-scoring single, and Marcos Castañon capped the rally by launching his first triple of the year to center. Baez (4-2) scattered four hits over 5 efficient innings, surrendering one run while striking out two and issuing no walks. Andrew Moore bridged the sixth, and the trio of Kevin Kopps (1 2/3 IP, three strikeouts) and Jake Higginbotham (1 1/3 IP) combined to blank Midland the rest of the way. Valenzuela added insurance in the seventh, belting his 12th homer deep to left with two outs. The switch-hitting catcher finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI, and thwarted a rally in the third by picking off a runner at first. Fabian matched him with a 2-for-4 night and drove in a pair, while Gómez collected two hits, including his 18th double, and Murphy and Castañon each plated a run. Devin Ortiz reached twice and doubled in the sixth before being cut down at third on a relay from right field. The victory backed Baez’s season ERA to 1.96. Butterworth, De Vries spark seventh-inning surge as TinCaps top Kernels Box Score Fort Wayne struck first when Kai Roberts singled to open the game and trotted home on Brandon Butterworth’s RBI knock, but the real fireworks came late. Luis Gutierrez kept the TinCaps in front early, allowing one run through the first five frames. Overall, he pitched 5 2/3 innings and limited Cedar Rapids to four runs on seven hits without a walk. Right fielder Braedon Karpathios helped him out of the second by throwing out Andy Lugo trying at third after an RBI double, preserving a 1-1 game. Leo De Vries reclaimed the lead in the fifth, blasting his eighth homer to right. An inning later, the Kernels nudged ahead, but Fort Wayne responded with a four-run seventh. De Vries walked, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored when Butterworth launched his 11th homer to left. Singles by Karpathios and Kaden Hollow, a walk to Rosman Verdugo, and an Oswaldo Linares hit-by-pitch pushed across another run before Ryan Jackson coaxed a bases-loaded walk to make it 7-4. Butterworth finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs, while De Vries went 2-for-5, reached three times, and scored twice. Hollow added a double, single, walk, and his first stolen base at High-A. Eiker Huizi entered after the sixth-inning damage and fanned three over 1 1/3 scoreless frames to earn the win, with Fernando Sanchez and Garrett Hawkins combining for the final two innings. Roberts’ RBI forceout and Jackson’s run-scoring single provided insurance in the ninth, pushing the TinCaps to a 9-4 victory built on 14 hits and clean defense. Choi’s Four RBIs Back Parra’s Six-Inning Gem as Storm Roll, 9-1 Box Score B.Y. Choi was the catalyst all night, driving in four runs on three hits to power Lake Elsinore past Stockton. The second baseman knotted the game in the second with a two-out single to center, then lashed a run-scoring double down the left-field line in the fourth before adding a two-run single through the right side in the fifth. He finished 3-for-3 on the night. Choi’s double started a three-run fourth that also featured Chase Valentine running home on a groundout and Cobb Hightower’s RBI single to center. Hightower went 3-for-5, walked once, and knocked in two. Valentine scored twice, collected two singles, walked twice, and stole his 11th base, while Alex McCoy crossed the plate three times and swiped second after a fifth-inning walk. Designated hitter Kale Fountain provided the exclamation point, launching his first Lake Elsinore homer to left-center leading off the eighth. Zach Evans chipped in three singles and stole his 12th bag, and the Storm finished 7-for-17 with runners in scoring position. Right-hander Abraham Parra (3-3) set the tone on the mound, limiting Stockton to one run on two hits over six innings while striking out five. Braian Salazar followed with 2 spotless frames, and Kleiber Olmedo struck out the side in the ninth to close out a staff two-hitter. The trio combined for 11 strikeouts. Top Prospect Performances Leo De Vries, SS: 2-for-5, BB, K, HR Kash Mayfield, LHP: Did Not Play Ethan Salas, C: Did Not Play Boston Bateman, RHP: Did Not Play Humberto Cruz, RHP: Did Not Play Kruz Schoolcraft: Not Yet Assigned Isaiah Lowe, RHP: Did Not Play Henry Baez, RHP: 5 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 K Braden Nett, RHP: Did Not Play Cobb Hightower, 3B: 3-for-5, BB, 2B Kale Fountain, 1B/DH: 1-for-4, 2 BB, HR Tirso Ornelas, OF: Did Not Play Bradgley Rodriguez, RHP: Did Not Play Ryan Wideman: Not Yet Assigned Kavares Tears, OF: 0-for-5, BB, 2 K Tyson Neighbors, RHP: Did Not Play Victor Lizarraga, RHP: Did Not Play Francis Pena, RHP: Did Not Play Romeo Sanabria, 1B: 1-for-4, K Ryan Bergert, RHP: Did Not Pla View full article

Jackson Wolf fanned eight over six dominant frames, and Forrest Wall’s two-run double keyed El Paso’s 5–1 win. Francisco Acuña’s 10th-inning homer highlighted San Antonio’s late charge before the Missions fell, despite Jagger Haynes’ five strong innings. Brandon Butterworth collected two singles as Fort Wayne was blanked, while Sean Barnett swiped his first High-A bag. Nate Mondou reached four times, and Tim Locastro pilfered two bags. Cobb Hightower drove home two early, yet Lake Elsinore couldn’t overcome a late rally despite Zach Evans’ ninth-inning double in defeat. Padres Transactions No Roster Moves Wolf fans eight, Wall’s two-run double propels Chihuahuas past Space Cowboys Box Score Jackson Wolf carved through the Sugar Land lineup, striking out eight over six innings as El Paso secured a 5–1 victory at Southwest University Park. The lone run against the left-hander was unearned, and he limited damage to five hits and two walks before turning a two-run edge over to the bullpen. The Chihuahuas broke through in the third. Rodolfo Durán coaxed a leadoff walk, and Clay Dungan lashed a double into right to move him to third. Brandon Lockridge lifted a sacrifice fly that plated Durán, and, with two outs, Nate Mondou dragged a perfect bunt single to score Dungan for a 2–0 lead. Wolf’s night carried into the seventh, when El Paso’s bats supplied breathing room. Dungan bounced a one-out single, Lockridge was hit by a pitch, and Forrest Wall ripped his 15th double off the left-field line to bring both runners home. Yonathan Perlaza followed with an infield single that chased in Wall, capping the scoring. Mondou finished 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI, reaching in all four trips. Wall went 2-for-4, drove in two, doubled, and swiped his 21st base, while Dungan scored twice on a two-hit night. Lockridge and Perlaza each added an RBI, and Tim Locastro drew two walks before stealing his 17th and 18th bags. Bryan Hoeing bridged the seventh and eighth with two shutout frames, and Francis Pena needed just 11 pitches for a spotless ninth, sealing Wolf’s fourth Triple-A win. Acuña’s two-run blast sparks late rally, but Missions drop extra-inning thriller Box Score The Missions staged a furious comeback in the 10th, but an eight-run effort from Midland proved too much in an 8–6 defeat Saturday night at Nelson Wolff Stadium. Starter Jagger Haynes set the tone early, striking out six across five innings while allowing two runs. Right-hander Stephen Jones followed with 1 1/3 scoreless frames, and Tyson Neighbors stranded a runner in a scoreless seventh. San Antonio’s bats awakened in the sixth. Anthony Vilar worked a leadoff walk, advanced on a groundout, and dashed home on a wild pitch to put the Missions on the board. After Romeo Sanabria singled and stole second, Albert Fabian rifled a game-tying RBI single to right. Devin Ortiz immediately added another knock to score Fabian, capping a three-run inning. The extra innings turned turbulent. Ethan Routzahn (0-2) was tagged for five runs—four earned—in the top half of the 10th. Down 8–3, the Missions refused to fold. Placed runner Kai Murphy scooted to third on a wild pitch, and Marcos Castañon ripped his 20th double to left to drive him in. Midland recorded two quick outs, yet Francisco Acuña launched his eighth homer deep to left-center, a two-run shot that sliced the deficit to two. The rally stalled there, but the late surge showcased the lineup’s resilience. Ortiz reached base three times, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Acuña’s lone hit produced two runs, while Vilar went 1-for-3 with a double and scored twice. Butterworth’s two hits not enough as TinCaps fall in Cedar Rapids Box Score The TinCaps mustered six singles but could not unlock the scoreboard in Saturday’s 7–0 loss at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Brandon Butterworth continued his steady stretch at the plate, going 2-for-4 with liners to left in the fourth and eighth innings. Ryan Jackson matched him with a pair of knocks, while Sean Barnett singled to open the fifth, promptly swiped second for his first High-A steal, and later walked. Kai Roberts also reached on a free pass, yet Fort Wayne finished 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight. Eric Yost skirted trouble in a scoreless first despite his own pickoff throw sailing wide of first. The right-hander was charged with three runs in 3 2/3 innings, allowing just two hits but issuing three walks and striking out three. Nick Wissman needed only five pitches to end the fourth, and Will Varmette followed with 3 1/3 frames, surrendering two earned runs while fanning five. Josh Mallitz recorded the final out of the eighth. Fort Wayne’s defense kept the scoring down in the sixth when first baseman Brendan Durfee squeezed a pop-up in foul territory and, after Andy Lugo broke for third, fired to shortstop Leo De Vries to complete a slick double play. Cedar Rapids tacked on single runs in the fifth and sixth and added two insurance tallies in the eighth, spoiling Butterworth’s multi-hit night and a solid seven-reach performance by the TinCaps’ top third of the order. Hightower’s two-run single gives Storm early spark, but late offense fades Box Score Lake Elsinore jumped in front at Banner Island Ballpark, but the lead didn’t last. In the second, Kale Fountain punched a ground-ball single, Ryan Wilson coaxed a walk, and Chase Valentine followed with another free pass to load the bases. Cobb Hightower then shot a single into center, plating Fountain and Wilson for a 2–0 lead. Right-hander Bryan Balzer retired the side in order in the first, yet a pair of wild pitches and a run-scoring groundout allowed the home club to pull even in the second. An on-field delay and a two-run double in the third ended Balzer’s night, and the Storm never regained momentum. Fountain reached in the sixth on a throwing error and scampered all the way to third on the play. Kasen Wells’ RBI groundout trimmed the deficit to 7–3. The Storm threatened again in the eighth, loading the bases on a Tears walk, a Wells walk, and Wilson’s second pass of the night, but a strikeout and a flyout ended the inning. Zach Evans provided a late highlight by scorching a two-out double to the gap in the ninth, his second hit, but it was the final baserunner of the evening. View full article