Baseball Connection

Justin Verlander and Shane McClanahan are the two frontrunners for AL Cy Young award. Verlander has been placed on the 15-day IL due do a calf strain and McClanahan was scratched from his latest start due to shoulder impingement. Aaron Judge and Albert Pujols are closing in on history. All this on today's episode.

The Dodgers are a whopping 50 games above .500. Meanwhile, three teams haven't even won 50 games this season. Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani powered up as they swept the Blue Jays in Toronto. The Phillies have Bryce Harper back but much of their success this summer came after they started to lean on the young guys. All this (and more) on today's episode.

The Mariners have extended Julio Rodriguez with a 13-year, $210 million contract. J-Rod has burst onto the scene as a rookie and is leading the Mariners' chase for a postseason berth. It's a complicated contract with several incentives but Julio gets a full no-trade clause and the potential to become a free agent before his age 30 season. We break down the full details on today's episode.

Kyle Stowers' first career home run came at an ideal moment. Stowers took White Sox closer Liam Hendricks deep with two outs in the 9th inning to tie the game, which set the stage for a walk-off victory in the 11th. Is Francisco Lindor really having an MVP-caliber season? Paul Goldschmidt is officially on Triple Crown watch. All this (and more) on today's episode.

Justin Verlander now has MLB-best marks with 16 wins and 1.87 ERA. He's 39 years old coming off Tommy John surgery, so this performance defies all logic. Verlander is cruising to another Cy Young award. Carlos Correa returned to Houston for the first time as an opposing player. The Mariners have baseball's easiest schedule for the rest of the way. Bryce Harper homered twice in his first rehab game while the Phillies walked it off against the Reds. All this (and more) on today's episode.

Walker Buehler underwent Tommy John surgery and will likely be out until 2024. The Dodgers just got one starting pitcher back from Tommy John but will now lose their ace for a long time. Fernando Tatis Jr. is finally getting his shoulder woes addresses. Judge is hitting HRs again and Pujols has notched his 693rd. All this on today's episode.

Bryce Harper is set to begin a rehab assignment this week. The reigning NL MVP expects to be back with the Phillies in about one week. The Orioles played their first primetime Sunday Night Baseball game since 2018 as they defeated the Red Sox 5-3. Joey Gallo looks like a new man in LA. Maybe he just needed a change of scenery. All this (and more) on today's episode.

Josh Hader will be given a break from closer duties in San Diego for now. Hader hasn't been his usual self this year and maybe the Brewers were on to something when they traded him. The Yankees have lost their sixth straight series. Albert Pujols stayed hot, going 4-4 with 2 HRs as he moved closer to the 700 HR milestone. All this (and more) on today's episode.

The Blue Jays rolled into the Bronx and unleashed a powerful 1-2 punch with George Springer and Vlad Guerrero Jr. atop their lineup. Springer went 5-5 and Vlad added a 3-run HR. Albert Pujols has had a great year in St. Louis. Pujols blasted his 690th career home run in Thursday's victory over Colorado. The Braves want to extend Dansby Swanson but they'll probably have to bid against other teams once he becomes a free agent this winter. All this (and more) on today's episode.

Dellin Betances has retired. Betances was on a minor league deal with the Dodgers but his best years came in Yankee pinstripes. The Yankees are in a rough stretch right now with the dog days of August in full swing. The Braves extended rookie CF Michael Harris II on an 8-year, $72 million deal. All this (and more) on today's episode.