The Daily Diamond Buzz Show

Nothing is underway yet, and there are no finals on the board, so all fifteen games are still to come. My marquee matchup is in San Diego, where the Yankees send Gerrit Cole against former Yankee Michael King. That’s the kind of pitching matchup that makes you settle in early, because either guy can control the entire tone of a game. In Pittsburgh, Paul Skenes gets the assignment against the Angels and Walbert Ureña. The Angels won yesterday, but today brings a completely different challenge with Skenes on the mound. I’m also watching Atlanta at Philadelphia. Aaron Nola starts for the Phillies against Tyler Mahle, one day after Philadelphia took the opener. September divisional baseball always carries a little extra weight, and familiarity can turn every at-bat into a chess match. If you want one more pitching matchup for the radar, Detroit’s Jackson Jobe faces Cleveland’s Gavin Williams after the Tigers shut out the Guardians yesterday. Plenty of arms, plenty of pressure, and no shortage of Sunday intrigue.

Did You Know? In 1962, catcher Harry Chiti became the first Major League player traded for himself: Cleveland sent him to the New York Mets for a player to be named later, then received Chiti back as that player.

Dean's Take: Expanding September rosters to thirty players with twenty-eight active per game

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network

Nobody has reached the finish line yet today, and nothing is in progress, so all fifteen games remain ahead of us. My first circle goes around Tampa Bay at Texas, where Drew Rasmussen opposes Jacob deGrom. The Rays took yesterday’s game, 7 to 6, and now Texas hands the ball to one of the most electric pitchers of his generation. In San Diego, the Yankees send Carlos Rodón against Robbie Ray. The Padres won yesterday, 3 to 2, so New York will be looking to answer in another matchup featuring serious left-handed power on the mound. I’m also watching Atlanta at Philadelphia. The Braves won yesterday, 5 to 2, but the Phillies come back with Zack Wheeler against Martín Pérez. That is exactly the kind of response game where a frontline starter can change the tone of a series. Three strong pitching matchups, three very different settings, and plenty at stake as September baseball starts tightening the screws.

Did You Know? On April 23, 1964, Houston Colt .45s pitcher Ken Johnson became the only major leaguer to lose an official nine-inning no-hitter, falling 1-0 to the Cincinnati Reds.

Dean's Take: Challenge-based ball-strike reviews versus a fully automated strike zone

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network

We start in Cleveland, where it’s Detroit Tigers 6, Cleveland Guardians 6, live in the bottom of the seventh with nobody out. That’s the only game in progress right now, and we don’t have a final on the board yet today. These clubs are also scheduled to play again, with Andrew Sears lined up against Foster Griffin. Later, I’ve got my eye on Atlanta at Philadelphia because Chris Sale against Cristopher Sánchez has the feel of a serious left-handed pitching duel. That’s the kind of matchup where one mistake can decide the whole night. And out west, the Yankees visit San Diego with Max Fried facing Walker Buehler. Big names, big market energy, and two starters who know what a high-pressure game feels like. I’m not trying to read you all fifteen games still coming. Those are the matchups that jump off the page, while Detroit and Cleveland are already giving us the day’s first bit of drama.

Did You Know? On August 4, 1982, Joel Youngblood became the first player in Major League history to record hits for two different teams in two different cities on the same day.

Dean's Take: Reseeding the MLB playoffs after the Wild Card round

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network

Nothing is underway yet, and we don’t have a final on the board, so all nine games are still ahead of us. My first circle goes around St. Louis at Los Angeles, where Quinn Mathews faces Tarik Skubal. The Cardinals took yesterday’s meeting, and now Skubal gets the ball with a chance to answer for the Dodgers. I’m also watching Tampa Bay at Texas. Shane McClanahan against Cal Quantrill gives that game an interesting contrast, with McClanahan’s power from the left side bringing the real electricity. Then give me Milwaukee at the Cubs, because rivalry baseball at Wrigley in September always carries a little extra edge. Logan Henderson goes for the Brewers against Kevin Gausman, after Milwaukee won yesterday’s matchup. One more arm worth your attention is Sandy Alcantara, who starts for Miami at Kansas City opposite Michael Wacha. There are no live games to update and no completed games today, but the pitching menu coming later has plenty of bite.

Did You Know? On August 24, 1919, Cleveland Indians pitcher Ray Caldwell was struck by lightning with two outs in the ninth inning, regained consciousness, and recorded the final out of a 2-1 complete-game victory over the Philadelphia Athletics.

Dean's Take: Why Hall of Fame voters should value peak dominance more than career longevity

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network

Nothing has started yet, and nothing is final, so all 15 games remain ahead of us today. I’m starting in Arizona, where Andrew Painter takes the ball for Philadelphia against Taylor Clarke and the Diamondbacks. Painter is the name that grabs me there, and every appearance gives Phillies fans another chance to watch his development on a major league mound. At Wrigley Field, Milwaukee sends Jacob Misiorowski against David Peterson and the Cubs. Misiorowski brings the kind of raw power that can take over a game, but Chicago gets him at home in a matchup I’ll be tracking closely. Then we finish under the lights in Los Angeles. Yoshinobu Yamamoto starts for the Dodgers against St. Louis, whose pitcher remains to be determined. That uncertainty adds another layer, but Yamamoto is the attraction. When his command and complete arsenal are working together, I want a seat for every pitch. It’s a loaded Wednesday, and those are my three circles on the schedule.

Did You Know? On July 3, 1966, Atlanta Braves pitcher Tony Cloninger became the only pitcher in Major League history to hit two grand slams in one game, and his nine RBIs set the single-game record for a pitcher.

Dean's Take: Why the Baseball Hall of Fame should shorten its waiting period from five years to three

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network

Nothing is underway and nothing is final yet, so all fifteen games remain ahead of us today. My first circle goes around San Francisco at Pittsburgh, where Logan Webb meets Paul Skenes. That is strength against strength, with two pitchers who can dictate the entire personality of a game. I’m expecting hitters to earn every comfortable swing. Out west, the Yankees visit the Angels with Gerrit Cole facing Grayson Rodriguez. The names alone make that one appointment viewing, and after Los Angeles beat New York 10 to 1 yesterday, the Yankees have an immediate chance to answer with Cole on the mound. I’m also watching Philadelphia at Arizona. Jesús Luzardo gets Eduardo Rodriguez after the Phillies edged the Diamondbacks 2 to 1 yesterday. That series already has a tight, tense feel, and another left-handed pitching matchup could keep it there. This is the first day of September. Every win feels heavier now, and every strong start can shape the stretch run.

Did You Know? Ed Porray, who pitched for the Buffalo Buffeds in 1914, is the only known Major League player born at sea.

Dean's Take: Why postseason performance should remain separate from regular-season awards

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network

We’ve got a full twelve-game schedule ahead, with no finals on the board and nothing underway just yet. My first stop is Texas, where the Athletics send Gage Jump against Jacob deGrom and the Rangers. Any deGrom start carries that big-event feeling because pure dominance is always sitting there within reach. In Boston, George Kirby gets the assignment for Seattle against Payton Tolle and the Red Sox. Kirby’s presence makes that one especially appealing, and Fenway has a way of turning any clean-looking matchup into something unpredictable. I’m also locked into Milwaukee and Chicago. Kyle Harrison goes for the Brewers, while Clay Holmes gets the ball for the Cubs at Wrigley. Late August baseball between clubs in the same division just feels heavier. Every mistake gets louder, every bullpen decision gets second-guessed, and every win can reshape the pressure heading into September. Those are my three circles on today’s card.

Did You Know? Chicago Cubs shortstop Jimmy Cooney and Detroit Tigers first baseman Johnny Neun turned unassisted triple plays on consecutive days, May 30 and May 31, 1927; Major League Baseball then went more than 41 years before its next unassisted triple play.

Dean's Take: Why MLB should allow teams to trade every amateur draft pick

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network

All fourteen games are still to come today, with nothing underway and no finals on the board yet. I’m starting in Toronto, where Logan Gilbert gets Max Scherzer. That’s a beautiful contrast and the kind of pitching matchup that can make every early run feel enormous. In Detroit, the Dodgers send Tyler Glasnow against Framber Valdez. Two established arms, two very different styles, and a matchup that deserves your attention from the first pitch. Then out West, Zack Wheeler faces Yusei Kikuchi as Philadelphia visits the Angels. Wheeler is the headliner there, but Kikuchi gives that game a fascinating left-handed counterpunch. I’ll also keep an eye on Boston and the Yankees, with Ranger Suarez opposing Will Warren, but Gilbert against Scherzer is my main event. On a Sunday with every game still ahead of us, the mound is where the star power lives.

Did You Know? On April 14, 2002, Seattle Mariners designated hitter Ron Wright played his only Major League game, striking out, grounding into a triple play, and grounding into a double play in three plate appearances.

Dean's Take: Why MLB should expand September active rosters to 30 players

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network

Nothing is underway yet and nothing is final, so all sixteen games remain ahead of us. The biggest assignment belongs to the Red Sox and Yankees, who have a doubleheader in New York. Jake Bennett faces Carlos Rodón in one game, while Boston’s other starter remains unannounced against Max Fried. That is a long day of rivalry baseball, and every inning tends to feel louder in the Bronx. Out in Detroit, I’m locked in on Blake Snell for the Dodgers against Keider Montero. Snell can make an entire lineup look uncomfortable when his fastball and breaking stuff are working together. We’ve also got a National League West doubleheader, with Arizona visiting San Francisco twice. Merrill Kelly starts one game for the Diamondbacks, Mitch Bratt starts the other, and the Giants have not announced either starter. Sixteen games, two doubleheaders, and plenty of meaningful baseball still to come. That’s a strong Saturday menu.

Did You Know? On April 22, 1959, the Chicago White Sox scored 11 runs on just one hit in the seventh inning of a 20-6 victory over the Kansas City Athletics.

Dean's Take: Why MLB should create a limited August waiver trade window

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network

Nothing is underway and nothing is final yet, so the entire Friday slate is still in front of us. The matchup that grabs me first is the Dodgers visiting Detroit, where Tarik Skubal gets the ball against Drew Anderson. Any night Skubal pitches is worth your attention, and facing that Los Angeles lineup makes this one especially compelling. In New York, the Red Sox and Yankees renew their rivalry with Patrick Sandoval opposing Cam Schlittler. I don’t need extra salesmanship for Boston and New York on a Friday night. The uniforms and the setting do the work. I’m also circling Houston at the Mets. Hunter Brown faces Christian Scott in a matchup between clubs that are always going to draw national attention. And if you love young power arms, Philadelphia sends Andrew Painter against Reid Detmers and the Angels. There are fifteen games coming, but those are the matchups setting the tone for me today on The Daily Diamond Show.

Did You Know? In 1962, the New York Mets acquired catcher Harry Chiti from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later, then returned Chiti to Cleveland as that player after he appeared in 15 games for the Mets.

Dean's Take: Why MLB should abolish the three-batter minimum for relief pitchers

Everything Baseball. Every Day. Every Era. — Baseball Nation Network