Yankees down Orioles 6-1 as Judge belts his 53rd homer and Stanton adds a early blast, setting the tone for a blowout while Cam Schlittler shoves Seven innings with two hits allowed. Baltimore scraps three hits, Sugano’s final start yields four runs in 4.1; Grant Wolfram walks a bunch in 0.2. Mayo’s 11th homer provides the only O’s highlight in a day that underscored the gap between the contenders and cellar-dwellers.

With game 162 on the horizon, Bradish faces Gil as the finale looms and a flurry of roster moves (Enns on paternity list, Wolfram added, Povich optioned for Ragsdale) shape 2026 chatter. Jays and Rays loom as the backdrop for Baltimore’s endgame and future adjustments.

Yankees 12, Red Sox 1 at Yankee Stadium underscored NYY’s ongoing trouble with Boston this year (1-8 vs BOS). Garrett Crochet dazzled over seven scoreless with 11 strikeouts, while Will Warren couldn’t command his off-speed offerings and the NYY offense stalled after a brief eighth-inning threat. A seven-run ninth, aided by a Volpe balk, capped the rout and left NYY 1 1/2 games back of Boston for the top AL Wild Card spot. Judge remains limited to DH with an elbow issue, and Stanton urged better effort, stressing accountability from the lineup.

Fantasy takeaway: BOS played the storyline with efficient pitching, while NYY’s bats (aside from occasional Stanton/Volpe moments) struggled to mount consistent offense. Crochet’s breakout performance and Bello’s steady work reinforce Boston’s rotation edge, while Judge’s health and Stanton’s recent volatility push NYY hitters toward riskier projections. With wild-card pressure mounting, managers should weigh streaming options and monitor Judge’s status closely.

Paul Blackburn landed with the New York Yankees, stepping into a bullpen role after being designated for assignment by the Mets. He traveled through Idaho to meet New York in Tampa, aiming to contribute length and veteran savvy for the stretch run. The move came with New York also designating Allan Winans for Triple-A, signaling a shuffle to shore up bullpen depth and keep options open as injuries and inconsistencies linger.

Meanwhile, the club rolled out rehab notes on Fernando Cruz and Ryan Yarbrough, both funneling toward returns that could bolster late-inning and multi-inning leverage. Boston looms as the series opponent, and Atlanta’s prior testing of Blackburn’s tracks record was cited as context for his new chapter. The moves underscore a Yankees bullpen in flux, prioritizing length, versatility, and health ahead of September call-ups.

Yankees fortify their pitching staff by adding Paul Blackburn on a major league deal, a move that could reshape late-inning usage and streaming options for fantasy rosters as the season wears on.

Blackburn, 31, lands in New York after a Mets stint in which he logged 7 appearances (4 starts) and posted a 6.85 ERA over 23 2/3 innings this year. He was an All-Star in 2022 with Oakland, posting a 4.28 ERA with 89 strikeouts and 30 walks across 21 outings. The club activated Blackburn and optioned Allan Winans to Triple-A, signaling a bullpen-focused role for the veteran in the Bronx alongside a mix of arms like Weaver, Bednar, Doval, Leiter Jr., Hill and De los Santos.

Winans’ DFA by the Mets earlier this month and subsequent move to the Yankees heighten the depth narrative, with Blackburn likely stepping into a high-leverage-friendly bullpen slot rather than a traditional starting role. Across nine MLB seasons, Blackburn has 93 appearances and 86 starts with a 4.96 ERA, giving New York a flexible arm who can bridge between long relief and mid-to-late-inning relief as the Yankees navigate injuries and fatigue in a crowded pennant race.

Whole-roster context aside, the win-now mindset is clear: the Yankees are banking on Blackburn to stabilize the middle innings and provide a reliable option when the starter turns, while Winans’ demotion underscores the balancing act of depth—especially for contending teams counting on a deep bullpen to carry them through the stretch run.