Daily Report – 8/12/26
Yankees
Last night, for the second time in four games, Ryan McMahon excelled in a big moment as his 500th career RBI helped the Yankees earn their 30th comeback victory. They exposed the Seattle Mariners, a team that has taken a massive step back since reaching the ALCS last season, with a 4-1 win.
With four runs in the seventh inning, the Yankees finished the game 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position. They were 6-for-68 with runners in scoring position in their previous 10 contests. Also, each of the Yankees’ last three wins has arrived in comeback fashion, as have 10 of their 17 victories since July 9.
“I hope it serves us well in the end,” said manager Aaron Boone, who has had to scratch and claw for explanations regarding his team’s anemic offense. “That’s what we’re going with. I think there’s value in playing in these games and proving we can win in these games. It’s a testament to just how good the pitching’s been.”
Like most of the Yankees’ wins since July, this comeback would not have been possible without effective starting pitching. In five of his last six starts, and in four straight, Ryan Weathers has allowed one run or fewer. Last night, he pitched 5 2/3 one-run frames, the only blemish coming off Randy Arozarena’s bat and leaving the park in the sixth inning.
“I thought it was a bit of a grind for him,” Boone said. “A lot of long at-bats. I think he ended up having a few walks. He’s done a really good job of avoiding walks. I thought they put a lot of tough at-bats [together]. But at the end of the day, he’s two outs into the sixth, giving up only the one run.”
Weathers, who hadn’t thrown more than 94 2/3 innings in a season since his debut in 2021, has made a career-high 23 starts totaling 126 2/3 innings. His 136 strikeouts are also a career high, and they rank second on the Yankees behind Cam Schlittler.
Meanwhile, the Yankees’ offense couldn’t figure out Bryan Woo, even though he entered the game with a 1-8 record and a 6.71 ERA on the road. Throughout his four years with Seattle, Woo has consistently ranked among the American League’s best starting pitchers, but between his inconsistency and Cal Raleigh’s shocking struggles, 2026 hasn’t been easy for the Mariners.
Remember, Raleigh was neck-and-neck with Aaron Judge last year for the AL MVP award because he hit 60 home runs, drove in 125 runs, and had a .589 slugging percentage. But this year, the Big Dumper has taken a massive dump, batting .159 with 12 homers and a .563 OPS in 86 games.
Raleigh’s struggles are the main reason for Seattle’s demise. Without that reliable anchor in their lineup, the Mariners have scored the fewest runs in the league this season. They also have the lowest cumulative batting average and second-lowest OPS in baseball.
The Yankees’ pitching staff kept Seattle’s lineup in check throughout yesterday’s game, allowing just three total hits, so the Mariners finished 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position. But until the seventh inning, this game felt like a competition for whose struggling lineup would play worse.
Luis García Jr. led off the seventh with his second double of the game. Jazz Chisholm Jr. followed with a single and stole second base as the next hitter, George Lombard Jr., struck out against Michael Rucker. Next, Spencer Jones loaded the bases with a walk, and McMahon drilled a two-run single to left field.
According to Katie Sharp, McMahon’s five go-ahead hits in the seventh inning or later lead the Yankees, and only Bricee Turang has more this season. While, like last season, McMahon’s strikeout rate continues to hover around 30% and his batting average is below .220, he is 6-for-19 (.316) with four RBI in his last seven games.
After McMahon’s hit, Austin Wells reached as a 53-degree fly ball found grass in right field. Then, Trent Grisham tripled the Yankees’ lead with a two-run single that squeaked through the hole between second and third base.
Coming off 34 home runs and a .348 on-base percentage last season, Grisham’s 13 homers and .216 batting average have been disappointing. It’s easy to argue last season was an outlier. After all, Grisham hit under .200 in 150 games in both 2022 and 2023.
But recently, the Big Sleep has started to emerge from hibernation. Despite his .174 batting average in his last 30 games, Grisham is 8-for-29 (.276) with two home runs and four RBI in his last seven, including six extra-base hits. Since Saturday, he is 5-for-12 (.417) with three RBI.
“I feel good,” Grisham said. “I feel like I’m right where I want to be.”
The value of a productive leadoff hitter is significant, and Grisham’s struggles this season have made things harder for the players around him, especially without Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, or Giancarlo Stanton.
That said, Grisham was batting .361 in nine games before hitting the injured list on June 12. If he can rekindle any of that success, it will do wonders for the rest of the lineup.
Grisham’s single was the Yankees’ final hit last night. Brent Headrick only needed nine pitches to get through the eighth inning and record his MLB-leading 51st scoreless appearance. David Bednar closed things out in the ninth, earning his 27th save of the season, tied for third in the AL.
Tonight, at 7:05 PM, the Yankees will go for the series win against Seattle as RHP Will Warren (8-6, 4.18 ERA) gets the start against the righty Bryce Miller (4-6, 3.08 ERA) (ESPN, ESPN App).
Schedule
7:05 PM: NYY vs. SEA; ESPN, ESPN App; SP: RHP Will Warren (8-6, 4.18 ERA) vs. RHP Bryce Miller (4-6, 3.08 ERA)
Cover Image Courtesy: New York Yankees
