Kyle Schwarber slugged No. 50 in a 9-3 win at Citizens Bank Park, becoming the second Phillies player to reach 50 homers in a season and tying MLB’s 52nd 50-HR season overall. The 437-foot blast travelled 110.4 mph, underscoring power as Philly presses toward a division crown.

Philly’s offense remains anchored by Schwarber’s explosive .241/.365/.563 line, making him a focal point in NL MVP chatter and rest-of-season fantasy value while suiting as a top DH option down the stretch. Turner and Bohm meanwhile hit IL, testing lineup depth as the nine-game NL East lead swells to 85-60.

Cal Raleigh is noted as a 50-HR companion in MLB lore, adding context to a year of historic power across the league. Schwarber’s looming free agency adds intrigue to both real-world and fantasy decisions, especially for teams counting on his bat next season.

Baltimore locked up Samuel Basallo to an eight-year, $67 million extension that could grow to $88.5 million with a club option, beginning next season. Basallo, 21, is ESPN’s No. 4 overall prospect after leaping from Low-A to Double-A and then Triple-A, where he slugged .589 with 23 homers in 76 games before his MLB debut on Aug. 13. The deal is the largest pre-arbitration extension for a catcher and includes a potential drafting-pick wrinkle if rookie-era Basallo wins ROY in 2026 after debuting.

Regardless of where he lines up—catcher, first base, or designated hitter—Basallo’s elite bat speed and exit velocities position him as a potential 30-homer threat, capable of driving Baltimore’s order. The extension also underscores Baltimore’s Latin American talent push, anchoring a pipeline that produced Adley Rutschman and a rising cohort of position players: Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Jackson Holliday, and Colton Cowser, all of whom shape a high-upside, fantasy-friendly core for years to come.

Adley Rutschman landed on the injured list with a right oblique strain, a relapse after a prior left oblique issue. The timing suggests a lengthy absence as Baltimore eyes the late season stretch, with the Astros looming. Daniel Johnson was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to fill the roster spot, while Samuel Basallo will step in as the everyday catcher during Rutschman’s absence. Jordan Westburg is listed day-to-day with an ankle problem, and Vimael Machín is available on the taxi squad as a contingency.

The O’s may explore adding a third catcher while Basallo handles most days. Rutschman’s numbers have slipped this season (.227/.310/.373 over 85 games), amplifying the need for others to contribute. The on-field impact will hinge on Basallo’s bat and how the pitching staff adapts behind the plate, especially during a homestand against Houston.

With Rutschman out, this could define the remainder of Baltimore’s 2025 campaign, testing the depth of a roster counting on breakout performances from in-house options. The health of Westburg and the outfield alignment will also matter as the Orioles navigate the next series and evaluate late-season opportunities for call-ups from Norfolk.

Baltimore sprinted to an 8-0 lead in a game that otherwise offered little offense from Houston. Jordan Westburg delivered a sinking line drive that drove in a run in the eighth, capped by a chaotic field-walk delay when a fan sprinted onto the field and was tackled by security. Taylor Trammell, patrolling left field for Houston, couldn’t corral Westburg’s drive, a miscue that amplified the quiet scoring night for the Astros and set the stage for the Orioles to pile on late. The intruder was escorted out to applause as the top of the inning was halted by the incident.