Matthew Liberatore obliterated in loss to Royals

Olson’s home run was his 30th. He hit a solo shot off Miles Mikolas in the first inning. Olson has now reached the 30-homer plateau in five seasons. It’s the third time he’s reached 30 home runs in a season in five years with the Braves. Olson is hitting .264 with an .876 OPS and 68 RBI.

Acuña’s home run was his ninth. He hit a solo home run in the first inning off Miles Mikolas. Acuña played just 10 games from the end of May to July 29 due to injury and hit .194 with no home runs and one RBI. Since then, he’s hit two home runs with four runs scored over his last three games. Acuña is hitting .240 with a .782 OPS and 24 RBI in 59 games this year.

Mikolas gave up nine hits, walked one and struck out three. He fell to 3-8 with the loss. Mikolas allowed four runs in the first four innings before finishing his outing by putting up zeroes in the fifth and sixth inning. The 37-year-old right-hander allowed three home runs to the Braves and has now allowed 26 home runs this season. Only Jeffrey Springs has allowed more home runs (28). Sporting a 5.67 ERA, Mikolas is off the fantasy radar for his next start against the Phillies on the road next Thursday.

In exchange for Castillo, the Mariners will acquire right-handed reliever Seranthony Dominguez, outfielder Nolan Jones, and catcher/outfield prospect Boston Smith. The Whit Sox will also take on all of Castillo’s contract, which pays him 22.75 million the next two years with an option for 2028. The Mariners have long been rumored to explore trading a starting pitcher with Emerson Hancock and George Kirby’s name bandied about, but it’s Castillo who will be heading to Chicago. The right-hander is not the same hurler he was a few years ago when he was among the very best in the sport, but he’s a solid mid-rotation option for a team that has played well above expectations with an excellent chance of reaching October. He’s more streamer than fantasy stalwart, but perhaps the change of scenery helps Castillo find the form of the previous campaigns.

Pérez allowed one hit, walked two and struck out six. He improved to 7-6 with the win. Pérez didn’t allow a baserunner until the fourth inning and Brady House got the only hit against him with two outs in the sixth inning. The crafty left-hander lowered his ERA to 3.24. He’s lined up to face the Yankees on the road next weekend.

Sanoja’s fourth homer was hit 377 feet off Zac Thornton in the second. He’s batting .267/.306/.401 in 295 plate appearances in his utility role. It’d be better for the Marlins if he wasn’t starting quite this much versus righties — he’s come in at .242/.283/.344 against them — but at least he does add value with the glove wherever he’s playing. He started in right and later moved to third today.

Both runs came on Tyrone Taylor’s homer in the second. Phillips went out to start the sixth, but he was pulled after Bo Bichette’s leadoff single. John King replaced him and got a popup and a double play to end the inning. The win was just Phillips’ third in 12 starts and 16 relief appearances, though he has a nice 3.53 ERA. He would have been a candidate to return to the pen soon if the Marlins were buying at the deadline, but since that seems off the table, he’ll probably remain a starter and face the Angels next weekend.

There aren’t many three-inning saves in four-run games, and it was particularly surprising to see Bachar left in that long on one day of rest after pitching Thursday, but he had an easy time in retiring nine of the 10 batters he faced. It’s his second save this year and fifth since he debuted in 2024. He has a 3.84 ERA in 58 2/3 innings this season.

Thornton didn’t give up much hard contact today, but he did allow a two-run homer to Javier Sanoja in the second. The other runs came following an error from Francisco Lindor to start the first and a HBP to open the fourth. Thornton dropped to 2-2 with a 2.88 ERA through six starts. He’ll pitch in Pittsburgh next weekend.