Paul Sewald picks up 23rd save in win over Cards

The O’s got after Holmes in the second inning, generating a mini two-out rally that was capped with a two-RBI double by Christian Encarnacion-Strand to put the O’s up 2-0. After the Braves drew the game even at 2-2 in the top of the fourth inning, Holmes would give up a sacrifice fly to Jackson Holliday, who drove home Taylor Ward to put the O’s back up 3-2. Holmes would induce back-to-back grounders in the fifth inning to get out of a jam with two runners on in what would be his final inning. Holmes remains a steady option on the mound for the Braves and his fantasy managers, having allowed three earned runs or fewer in every start since May 1st, when he allowed five earned runs to the Rockies. He is next scheduled to start on Wednesday on the road against the Mets.

Davis was thrown out at home in the third inning while trying to score on a sacrifice fly, but he made up for it in the fifth inning when he singled to drive home Marcell Ozuna to give the Pirates their first run of the night. Davis was one of three hitters to tally two hits in this one and he has now hit safely in four of his last six games.

Despite not being his sharpest, McClanahan still turned in a decent outing. His changeup starred and forced eight of his 13 total swings-and-misses as the Guardians’ right-handed hitters consistently flailed at it low and below the zone. Those whiffs didn’t turn into many strikeouts though because McClanahan was much less precise with two strikes. Still, he likely could’ve hung on for six or even seven innings if he didn’t have any workload constraints, but left this game with only 71 pitches. He hasn’t reached 90 pitches in over two months as the Rays try to get him through the regular season fully healthy and with as little fatigue as possible before the playoffs following a two-year layoff. Next up is a matchup against the Rangers at home.

Fortes and the Rays poured it on against the Guardians here with 11 runs, their second double-digit outburst this week. They only managed two home runs on their way to such a crooked number and as a team went 6-for-16 with runners in scoring position. Fortes was responsible for two of those knocks and was never retired. He’s put up a strong .281 batting average on the season while splitting reps at catcher.

Hedges’ ninth inning home run was a reenactment of the meme where Chris Paul’s three cut the lead to 42 as it helped the Guardians get within eight runs. Still, that was his third home run through eight July games and he’s somehow currently one of the hottest hitters in the league with a 1.082 OPS over his last 15 contests. Check out your window to make sure pigs aren’t flying, play the lottery, and go crazy because apparently anything is possible.

Cantillo worked very, very hard to record just 11 outs in this one. The Rays stacked their lineup with six right-handed batters against the left-handed Cantillo and they gave him fits. His curveball was his only reliable pitch as the command of both his fastball and changeup were completely nonexistent. That forced him to regularly fall behind in the count and fight through many long at-bats with runners on base in this short outing. He has not been able to build upon the solid momentum he built before the All-Star break with nine earned runs through 8 2/3 innings since returning and will try to right the ship against the Reds in Cincinnati next time out.

On a night where Cam Schlittler struck out 12 hitters, Harper fell victim to Schlittler twice, striking out on three straight pitches in the first inning and looking in a seven-pitch at-bat in the seventh inning. He would strike out a third time against David Bednar to kick off the ninth inning to cap a tough night for himself and his teammates. Harper is 0-for-7 with six strikeouts in his last two games.

Bednar blanked the Phillies in his lone inning of work to secure the 1-0 shutout win for the Yankees. Bednar needed just nine pitches to get through the inning and used five of those pitches to strike out Bryce Harper. Bednar is a perfect three-for-three in save opportunities this month and hasn’t allowed an earned run over 8 2/3 innings.

In a game that featured six combined hits between the two teams, Goldschmidt’s was the only one that put a run on the board. He smashed a solo homer in the fourth inning off Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo to put the Yankees up 1-0, which was all they would need to pick up the win, as Cam Schlittler blanked the Phils for 7 1/3 innings. Goldschmidt has struggled mightily this month and entered the day slashing .140/.178/.233. Hopefully this homer can help him turn a corner.

This was one of those starts where you could see how sky-high Sasaki’s potential still is. He was back to buzzing 99 and 100 mph fastballs over the first few innings and commanded it exceptionally well on the edges of the plate. That set up his splitter to terrorize the Mets hitters. In total, it forced 15 whiffs – by far the most it has in a single game so far this season – and a nearly 50% chase rate. It was simply diabolical and so effective that it morphed into his primary pitch during his second and third trips around the Mets’ lineup. It was also the first time in his career that he completed seven innings against a team that isn’t the Angels. This is now back-to-back lights out starts by Sasaki out of the All-Star break and it might finally be time to take him seriously. Next up is a matchup against the Mariners at home.