2026 PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #21

Fatigue is the headline story. The report tells two very different stories across the roster. On the offensive side, Bichette, Robert, Schanuel, and Berti are fully rested — that’s the nucleus of a lineup that should be firing on all cylinders. D. Smith and Altuve need monitoring (Tired/Available) but are too valuable to sit. C. Moore and T. Gray are legitimately worn out and should be kept on the bench.

On the mound, the rotation actually looks serviceable for this series specifically. Gray gets 2 days of rest before Game 1 — tight but workable for the ace. Ashcraft slots into Game 2 with nothing concerning. Arrighetti goes Game 3 with enough turnaround. The real bonus is C. Morton and J. Tong — both fully rested — taking Games 4 and 5 and giving the back of the rotation some fresh life. Baz (Worn Out, 0 DOR) and Francis stay in the pen for now.

The two new bullpen additions — R. Borucki (Grade 8) and R. Pressly (112 DOR, returning from a long rest) — are the most exciting names in this report. Borucki grades out as the second-best arm in the pen behind Harris, and Pressly is a fresh high-grade arm who hasn’t been overworked. Those two could genuinely stabilize the late innings alongside Harris, especially with Alvarado showing some fatigue.

Bottom line: Home field, a rested lineup, and a rotation that lines up well for 5 games. Good matchup timing to build some momentum heading into the final 47 games.

Overview

A tough one to swallow at home. Sacramento came out swinging from the very first inning — a 4-run 1st set the tone — and the Expos never recovered. Six home runs for the Capitals against a Tampa pitching staff that had no answers all night. The score was 7-0 before Tampa even had a chance to breathe.

Pitching

B. Francis got the ball for Game 1, and it was over quickly — 1.1 innings, 5 earned runs, 4 home runs allowed, ERA now at 10.95. An absolutely brutal start. C. Morton came on in long relief and actually pitched decently — 4.2 innings, 1 ER (ERA improving to 7.96). C. Dana finished in mop-up duty and also struggled — 3.0 innings, 5 earned runs, 2 HR (ERA 15.00).

For Sacramento, M. Vasil was sharp — 5.2 innings, 2 ER, 7 strikeouts, remaining undefeated at 6-0 with a 3.57 ERA. C. Winn handled 2.1 scoreless innings in relief.

Offense — Sacramento Capitals

A monster offensive night with 6 home runs across the lineup. H. Goodman led the way — 2-for-2 with a HR and 2 RBI (plus 2 walks). A. Call (HR, 2 RBI), F. Lindor (HR, 1 RBI), B. Rooker (HR, 1 RBI), K. Carpenter (HR, 1 RBI), and E. Clement (HR, 2 RBI) all went deep. Sixteen hits and 11 runs — Sacramento hit Tampa’s pitching from every angle.

Offense — Tampa Bay Expos

The Expos were limited to 7 hits and 2 runs. B. Bichette continued his consistent ways (2-for-5, now .326). J. Wood drove in both Tampa runs with a 2-RBI double. The rest of the lineup was quieted by Vasil and the Sacramento bullpen — Muncy went 0-for-5, Berti 0-for-4.

Overview

Sacramento’s bats stayed hot, and their ace C. Sale stifled the Expos’ lineup across 6.1 innings. Tampa’s pitching had no answers again — four home runs allowed, and a rough start from J. Tong set the tone early. Down 0-2 in the series and in serious need of a reset.

Pitching

J. Tong got the start and was chased after just 1.2 innings — 6 earned runs on 4 hits, including 2 home runs. His ERA climbs to 5.94 (record now 2-7). S. Arrighetti entered and provided 4.1 innings of work, allowing 3 earned runs — not great, but the most serviceable outing of the night. R. Pressly made his debut in the series — 2.0 innings, 1 ER, 1 HR, ERA 6.92 in his first appearance. R. Borucki was the lone bright spot — 1.0 scoreless inning, ERA still 0.00.

For Sacramento, C. Sale (13-2, 2.96 ERA) was dominant — 6.1 innings, 3 ER, 8 strikeouts. Another elite performance from a true top-of-rotation arm.

Offense — Sacramento Capitals

Four more home runs for the Capitals in this one. K. Carpenter led the charge — HR and 3 RBI. M. Busch went 3-for-3 with a home run and 2 RBI. J. Marsee and B. Rooker each homered as well. C. Cowser added 2 RBI. Sacramento has now hit 10 home runs in just two games — their power is a real problem for this series.

Offense — Tampa Bay Expos

Slim pickings offensively. N. Schanuel was the lone bright spot — a solo home run with 2 RBI. K. Tucker went 2-for-4 with a double. B. Bichette drove in a run but was otherwise quiet. The bottom half of the lineup — Ruiz, Berti, Robert, Wood — combined to go 0-for-14.

Overview

A completely different feel after two blowout losses. S. Gray was masterful and held Sacramento’s potent lineup to 1 run across 8 innings. A tight, well-pitched ballgame that Tampa needed desperately to get back in the series.

Pitching

S. Gray was the story of the night — 8.0 innings, 1 ER on 4 hits, 4 strikeouts. Allowed just one home run (C. Durbin, 4th inning) and was in control the entire way. His ERA drops to 4.21, and he picks up the win to go 6-9. That’s the ace showing up at the right time. H. Harris closed it out with a clean 9th inning for his 2nd save of the year, ERA holding at 2.49.

For Sacramento, T. Glasnow (now 6-6) was solid but outdueled — 5.2 innings, 2 ER, 10 strikeouts. E. Diaz worked a scoreless 2.1 innings in relief.

Offense — Sacramento Capitals

Held to 5 hits and 1 run — a completely different look from the first two games. C. Durbin provided the only damage with a solo home run. Gray simply kept them off balance all night, and the usually dangerous lineup — Lindor, Rooker, Goodman — was quieted.

Offense — Tampa Bay Expos

Quiet but effective. B. Bichette was the offensive star — 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, 2 RBI, and a walk. His average now sits at .328. That was essentially the entire offensive output, but it was enough. Tucker added a double. Tampa struck out 12 times as a team — Glasnow and Diaz made them work — but Bichette’s big swing in the 1st inning set the tone.

Key Takeaways

Gray’s 8-inning gem was exactly what this team needed — his best start in weeks
Harris continues to be the most reliable arm on the staff
Bichette is in a legitimate hot streak — .328 and carrying the offense
Series now 1-2, still an uphill climb, but the momentum has shifted

Overview

Another blowout for Sacramento. C. Morton lasted just 1.2 innings before the wheels came off, and S. Imanaga was virtually unhittable across 6.2 innings. Tampa’s offense managed just 5 hits and 1 run — the team is in a serious funk at the plate outside of Bichette.

Pitching

C. Morton drew the Game 4 start and was hammered — 1.2 innings, 6 earned runs, 2 HR, ERA ballooning to 9.18, takes the loss (now 2-3). C. Dana followed with his best outing yet — 3.1 innings, 1 ER, 6 strikeouts (ERA improving from 15.00 to 8.53 — meaningful progress). R. Pressly worked 2 innings with 1 ER (ERA 6.60). R. Borucki tossed another 2 scoreless innings, keeping his ERA at a pristine 0.00.

For Sacramento, S. Imanaga (6-7, ERA 3.64) was excellent — 6.2 innings, 1 run allowed, 3 walks but zero damage done. Another quality outing from a deep Sacramento rotation.

Offense — Sacramento Capitals

Three more home runs — F. Lindor (2 RBI), B. Rooker (2 RBI), and K. Carpenter (1 RBI) all went deep. C. Durbin was the contact machine — 3-for-5 with three doubles. M. Busch went 3-for-3 with an RBI. Sacramento now has 13 home runs across 4 games in this series.

Offense — Tampa Bay Expos

Just one run and five hits. N. Schanuel scored the lone run. B. Bichette managed a single to push his average to .327 but was otherwise kept quiet. Tucker, Wood, Vazquez all went hitless. The offense has gone flat outside of Bichette and the series is slipping away fast.

Key Takeaways

Morton’s ERA is now 9.18 — he cannot be trusted as a starter at this point
Borucki continues to be a bright spot — 4.0 scoreless innings across two appearances
Dana’s improving ERA (8.53) shows some genuine progress, even if still elevated
Series now 1-3 — Tampa needs a must-win in Game 5 just to avoid a home series collapse

Overview

A forgettable finale. Arrighetti was chased in the 3rd, Berrios was dealing, and the Expos offense mustered just 4 hits all game. Sacramento’s 3rd-inning 5-run explosion buried Tampa early, and it never got interesting after that.

Pitching

S. Arrighetti started and struggled badly — 2.2 innings, 6 ER on 8 hits, including a homer (ERA climbs to 5.88, now 1-3). R. Pressly had his cleanest outing of the series — 2.1 scoreless innings, ERA improving to 5.71. R. Borucki tossed another 1.2 hitless innings — still sporting a pristine 0.00 ERA across 4+ innings in this series. J. Alvarado had a rough closing shift — 2.1 innings, 4 ER (ERA climbs to 5.85), a concerning outing for the closer.

For Sacramento, J. Berrios (8-6, 3.92 ERA) was excellent — 7.0 innings, 1 ER, 8 strikeouts. Another quality outing from a deep Sacramento rotation that thoroughly outpitched Tampa in this series.

Offense — Sacramento Capitals

A balanced attack led by E. Clement (3-for-5), H. Goodman (HR, RBI), A. Call (2 RBI), and F. Fermin (2 RBI). The 3rd-inning 5-run explosion was the knockout blow. C. Durbin continued his outstanding series — another hit and RBI.

Offense — Tampa Bay Expos

Just 4 hits and 1 run. K. Tucker scored the lone run. J. Wood drove in Tampa’s only RBI. B. Bichette singled but was contained at .327. The bottom half of the lineup — Ruiz, Berti, Vazquez, Schanuel — went completely silent. Berrios simply had their number all night.

Key Takeaways

Alvarado’s ERA has climbed to 5.85 — his closer role needs a serious look
Borucki is the one genuine bright spot out of the bullpen all series
The offense averaged just 2.2 runs per game — that’s the real problem
Series loss seals a rough homestand: Tampa goes 1-4

Series Results
Game Winner Score
Game 1 Sacramento 11-2
Game 2 Sacramento 10-3
Game 3 Tampa Bay 4-1
Game 4 Sacramento 8-1
Game 5 Sacramento 10-1

Series runs: Sacramento 49, Tampa Bay 11. That gap tells the whole story.

Series Storylines

Sacramento’s Power Was Overwhelming. The Capitals hit double-digit home runs across the series and posted 10+ runs four times. Their rotation — Sale, Vasil, Imanaga, Berrios — was as good as any staff Tampa will face all year. This was a mismatch.

Pitching Depth Is the Core Issue. Without Gray on the mound, Tampa had no answers. Francis, Tong, Morton, and Arrighetti each started a game, and each got knocked around badly. The rotation behind Gray is in serious trouble with 47 games remaining.

Gray’s Game 3 Gem Kept It From Being a Sweep. His 8-inning, 1-ER masterpiece was the only real bright spot on the mound all series. That’s the ace doing his job when it matters.

Bichette Carried the Offense Alone. He was the only consistent bat in the lineup, finishing the series right around .327. The rest of the lineup — Wood, Altuve, Tucker, Schanuel — struggled all week. Tampa averaged just 2.2 runs per game.

Borucki Is a Keeper. The new Grade 8 arm posted a 0.00 ERA across 4.1 innings in this series. He should be in high-leverage situations moving forward.

Alvarado Is a Growing Concern. His ERA has now climbed to 5.85 after a rough Game 5 finish. The closer role may need to be revisited in favor of Harris if this continues.

Series MVP (Tampa): B. Bichette — the only consistent presence in the lineup all series long. Biggest Concern: Rotation depth behind Gray and Alvarado’s recent struggles. Silver Lining: Borucki’s emergence as a legitimate high-leverage pen arm

Chicago attempted a late rally in the seventh when Henry Davis launched a two-run homer of his own, but the Gainesville bullpen slammed the door. Chase Shugart recorded the final five outs to secure his fourth save of the year.

Final Score: Gainesville 7 – Chicago 4

Win: Jack Flaherty 6-10 (5.12)
Loss: Hunter Brown 11-8 (2.60)
Save: Chase Shugart #3

Final Score: Chicago 3 – Gainesville 1

Win: Noah Cameron 12-2 (2.64)
Loss: Chase Petty 0-1 (5.06)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #25

Final Score: Gainesville 6 – Chicago 4

Win: Zac Gallen 3-16 (7.06)
Loss: MacKenzie Gore 3-9 (6.51)
Save: Chase Shugart #4

Tied 1-1 in the ninth, the Mobsters broke through against Gainesville’s bullpen. Willy ADAMES cracked a clutch, two-out, two-run triple to deep left, and Julio Rodriguez quickly followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 4-1. Aroldis Chapman retired the side in order in the bottom half to slam the door.

Final Score: Chicago 4 – Gainesville 1

Win: Logan Gilbert 8-5 (3.08)
Loss: Wandy Peralta 1-3 (2.24)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #26

Final Score: Chicago 4 – Gainesville 1

Win: Jesus Luzardo 13-5 (3.20)
Loss: Ben Brown 2-6 (8.17)
Save: Aroldis Chapman #27

Final Score: Gainesville 5 – Chicago 4

Win: Yuki Matsui 5-3 (3.36)
Loss: Jhoan Duran 5-5 (2.92)

Corktown gets on the board right away. After a Jose Caballero leadoff double, a pair of groundouts bring him home. Ray cruises hitless until the fifth, when Austin Hays’s 2-run homer puts Fremont in the lead. Another walk and a Joey Bart double put runners on 2nd and 3rd, and a groundout makes it 3-1 Fremont. The Cannons follow it up in the sixth with a Teoscar Hernandez 2-run HR to go up 5-1, and Ray is removed.

A brief rain delay doesn’t slow the Cannons. A pair of doubles in the seventh from Nolan Gorman and Shohei Ohtani bring in one, then Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singles home Ohtani to make it 7-1.

After the first inning, Alcantara is cruising, but a 2-run homer from Nate Lowe ends the streak and cuts the lead to 7-3. A sac fly from Nick Castellanos in the eighth brings in Caballero to make it 7-4, but Alcantara strikes out Anthony Volpe with a runner on second. A walk from Luisangel Acuna in the ninth briefly brings hope, but the Cycle go down 7-4 in the end.

W: Sandy Alcantara (3-10)
L: Robbie Ray (7-8)
S: Robert Suarez (15)

HR: FRE- Teoscar Hernandez (14), Austin Hays (4); CRK- Nate Lowe (8)

Corktown gets on the board right away, as a leadoff double from Jazz Chisholm is followed by a home run from Ben Rice to go up 2-0. Mike Yastrzemski answers for Fremont in the second with a 2-run HR of his own. Fremont takes the lead in the fourth inning after Elly de la Cruz singles and steals second, then Teoscar Hernandez singles him home.

The lead is short-lived. In the fourth inning, Dollander walks Dane Myers to put two on with two outs. Luisangel singles in a run to tie it, then Logan O’Hoppe bloops in another. Jazz Chisholm strikes the big blow, hammering a 3-run HR to put the Cycle up 7-3.

The Cannons go right back to work in the top of the fifth, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s 2-run homer cutting the Cycle lead to 7-5. Fremont gets two on in the sixth, but Luis Urias flies out. Guerrero Jr. doubles in the seventh, but Byron Buxton lines out. The Cycle gets two on in the bottom of the seventh, but Anthony Volpe grounds out. Dylan Dodd shuts down the Cannons 1-2-3 in the ninth, and Corktown wins their first of the series 7-5.

Chisholm goes 2-4 with a homer, double, and 3 RBI. De la Cruz steals his 30th bag of the season and his 4th of the series.

W: Carmen Mlodzinski (6-2)
L: Colin Rea (4-7)
S: Dylan Dodd (1)

HR: FRE- Teoscar Hernandez (15); CRK- none

Elly de la Cruz singles in the second inning and comes home on a Carlos Correa double to put the Cannons up 1-0. Byron Buxton scores on a sac fly from Mike Yastrzemski to make it 2-0. ELDC doubles home Buxton in the eighth to increase the lead, then a ninth-inning solo HR from Nolan Gorman wraps it up in a bow as Fremont wins 4-0.

Rodon goes 7.0 IP, allowing just 1 hit and 1 run. ELDC went 3-for-4 and added his 5th SB of the series; Buxton picked up 2 for good measure. Corktown ended up with just 1 LOB after grounding into 3 double plays.

W: Carlos Rodon (14-6)
L: Mike Soroka (3-6)
S: Garrett Whitlock (5)

HR: FRE- Nolan Gorman (6); CRK- none

Jose Caballero leads off with a triple, and an Alex Verdugo blooper brings him in as Corktown gets on the board in the first inning. A walk puts two on with no outs, but Senga is able to get out of the jam. Corktown has runners in scoring position in the second and third innings but doesn’t build on the lead. Fremont gets runners on 2nd and 3rd in the third inning, but Anthony Volpe turns a blooper into a double play to get out of the inning.

Fremont takes the lead in the fourth with a 2-run HR from Yoan Moncada. The Cannons tack on another in the fifth, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singling in a run to make it 3-1 Fremont. It looks like the Cannons will score more, but Alex Verdugo makes a great catch, crashing into the wall but securing the out. A leadoff double in the sixth from Yoan Moncada yields nothing for Fremont.

The Cycle put two on in the bottom of the inning. After Jazz Chisholm advances to third, a flyout from Alex Verdugo sends him homeward, but a strong throw from Kevin Pillar nails him at the plate. That inspires Joey Bart so much that he leads off the seventh with a solo homer. With runners on 1st and 3rd, Fremont attempts the double steal, and Shohei Ohtani is safe at the plate to make it 5-1 Fremont.

The Cannons blow it open in the eighth. After loading the bases, Pillar successfully squeezes home a run. An Ohtani sac fly brings home another, and a Guerrero Jr. 3-run HR seals the game. Fremont wins the finale 9-1.

Moncada went 4-4 with a HR and 2 doubles. Elly de la Cruz picks up steal #6 in the series, with at least one in every game. Senga struck out 8 and only allowed 1 BB in 5.0 IP.

W: Kodai Senga (5-4)
L: Matthew Liberatore (1-11)

HR: FRE- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (18), Yoan Moncada (4), Joey Bart (2); CRK- none

Next week, Fremont heads to AL Central leaders Chicago, and Corktown takes a tough trip out west to Hollywood.

Hamilton and Burger hit homers for the Bandicoots. Alamo pitches well enough to win. Nick Yorke hits a homer. Lively with the win, and Varland earns the save.

Luis Castillo was great. 4-hit shutout. Mangum pokes a homer.

Nick Pivetta wins his 11th. Lux with a homer and 3 RBI. Devers with 3 RBI. Moniak and O’Hearn hit homers for the Bandicoots.

Joe Ryan wins his 12th. Straw with 3 hits. The Bandicoots score 2 in the 8th, but Gibson comes in the 9th and earns the save.

Bandicoots explode after losing the first four games. O’Hearn with 2 homers and 4 RBI. Jake Meyers earns 3 RBI. Keller wins his 9th.

Devers with the game-winner in the 10th. Schneeman hits a homer for Alamo. Langaliers with 2 RBI for the Bandicoots.