Sports
Nationals OF Dylan Crews runs own race with spotlight on '23 draft class
Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews (3) scores a run during the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: James A. Pittman-Imagn Images Three weeks into the 2025 regular season, Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews will head to Pittsburgh to face former college teammate Paul Skenes, the much more familiar face of LSU baseball.
Skenes, the power pitcher selected No. 1 ahead of Crews in a mildly debated pick in the 2023 draft, made his arrival last season in a dominant debut with the Pirates. He started the All-Star Game for the National League and was named Rookie of the Year. Teammates for one season in Baton Rouge and twice on Team USA rosters, Crews and Skenes are friends, former workout partners and soon-to-be foes.
They’re also destined to be measured against each other — and other gems — from the 2023 draft class being hailed as potential all-time great collection of talent.
It appeared their first matchup would take place late last season. Crews smacked a 404-foot home run in a doubleheader with Skenes in the home dugout on Sept. 7, but that was as close as they got to a head-to-head encounter.
“You hear about it, but whenever that is, we’ll be ready for it,” Crews said.
Skenes’ turn in the Pirates’ rotation would put the former Tigers face-to-face at PNC Park in the afternoon finale of a four-game series April 17.
Crews, 22, emphasized staying “present” and walking his baseball journey one step at a time. That blocks him from envisioning official at-bats against Skenes that are no closer than two months away.
He debuted with the Nationals on Aug. 24, 2024. Crews hit .218 with three home runs, 12 stolen bases and eight RBIs with the Nationals last season. In his final series of 2024, he went 6-for-10 — highlighted by a triple off righty Aaron Nola — with three runs, two stolen bases and two walks against the Phillies.
In 2025, he’ll be fully prepared to go from 31 games to everyday right fielder in Washington. He said knowing what to expect brings comfort and confidence.
“I feel like this year, I have a good feeling of what to do and how the whole thing operates. Now, it’s just full go from here,” Crews said.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez played in the outfield, so he knows a good one when he sees one. He called Crews’ defense “exceptional” and praised his base-running instincts and speed. Crews had 12 stolen bases in just over one month with the MLB club.
He also came to camp noticeable thicker. Crews said he was around 190 when he got the call last August and weighed 205 when he reported to spring training in West Palm Beach.
Crews is part of a fast-moving current of prospects in camp with the Nationals. MLB Pipeline ranked Crews fourth behind Roki Sasaki (Dodgers) and outfielders Roman Anthony (Red Sox) and Walker Jenkins (Twins). Washington right-handers Travis Sykora (70) and Jarlin Susana (79) are also listed among the top 80 prospects in the league.
Measuring the results of the draft decision between Skenes and Crews won’t be a single-season exercise. There are others angling to join the conversation from the same class. No. 4 pick Wyatt Langford (Rangers) hit 16 home runs and collected 126 hits for Texas as a rookie last season.
Jenkins, the fifth pick in 2023 out of South Brunswick (North Carolina) High School, was taken two spots behind outfielder Max Clark. Clark came off the board a pick after Crews and is two spots behind him on the MLB Pipeline prospect rankings. The 13th pick in ’23, Matt Shaw (Maryland), is the frontrunner for the Cubs third base job on Opening Day. White Sox catcher Kyle Teel, acquired from the Red Sox and the No. 14 pick, is also expected to make noise in the Windy City. Georgia Tech shortstop Kristian Campbell (pick 132) is pushing for a job with the Red Sox this season. He’s currently ranked No. 7 by MLB Pipeline.
“That class has been really special,” Martinez said in September. “I’m glad that we’ve got one of them in Dylan Crews. I think this kid is going to be really special.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Hunter Brown in control, Astros down White Sox for 5th straight
Jul 25, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown (58) throws the ball against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images Hunter Brown allowed two hits over seven shutout innings and Isaac Paredes drove in three runs to lead the Houston Astros to a 4-1 win over the host Chicago White Sox on Saturday night.
Jeremy Pena was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Paredes 2-for 4 for the Astros, who have won five straight, including the first two of the three-game weekend series.
The White Sox, who managed five hits, have lost three of their last four.
They threatened in the eighth with runners on second and third and two out, but reliever Bennett Sousa replaced Bryan Abreu and got pinch hitter Randall Grichuk on a pop up to first.
After Colson Montgomery’s RBI single in the ninth, Josh Hader came in to get the last two outs for his 12th save.
Brown (2-1) finished strong, setting down 12 consecutive batters from the fourth through seventh innings. The right-hander did not walk a batter and struck out seven as he fired 60 strikes in 90 pitches.
Chicago starter Sean Burke (7-5) surrendered three runs (two earned) on four hits in six innings with a walk and 10 strikeouts.
It was a 0-0 pitcher’s duel through five with Burke also retiring 12 in a row, from the second through the fifth, but heading for trouble.
The streak was broken when Burke hit Cam Smith leading off the sixth. Pena’s single and a walk to Yordan Alvarez loaded the bases. Paredes then grounded a single to right that got past right fielder Braden Montgomery for an error that also allowed Alvarez to score, for a 3-0 Houston lead, and Paredes to reach third.
Burke then limited the damage by getting Jose Altuve on a groundout and striking out LaMonte Wade Jr. and Christian Walker.
Paredes added an RBI single in the eighth to make it 4-0.
White Sox left fielder Sam Antonnaci robbed Paredes, who was leading off the fourth, of a likely home run with a leaping catch of Paredes’ long drive by pulling the ball in just above the fence.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Robert Gasser holds Rockies in check as Brewers win
Jul 25, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Robert Gasser (54) delivers a pitch against the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images Cooper Pratt homered and drove in three runs, Robert Gasser tossed six solid innings, and the host Milwaukee Brewers beat the Colorado Rockies 8-5 on Saturday night.
Luis Lara had two hits and also drove in three runs, Jake Bauers contributed two hits and scored three times and Brice Turang added two hits for Milwaukee.
The Brewers have won four of five games from Colorado this season, with the teams wrapping up the 2026 schedule Sunday.
Gasser (3-4), in his first career start against the Rockies, allowed two runs on five hits, struck out four and didn’t walk a batter.
Jake McCarthy extended his on-base streak to 19 games with a single and Kyle Karros had two hits for Colorado.
The Brewers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Bauers led off with a walk, stole second and went to third on a groundout. Lara drove him in with a sacrifice fly and Pratt hit a solo home run, his second of the season.
Colorado rallied to tie it in the fourth.
Karros led off with a single, Cole Carrigg doubled and Hunter Goodman followed with a two-run single.
Milwaukee went back in front in the bottom of the inning when Pratt drove in Bauers with a single, and then broke it open in the sixth inning.
William Contreras and Bauers started the rally with singles, chasing starter Ryan Feltner (3-5), who allowed five runs on nine hits in five-plus innings. Juan Mejia walked Garrett Mitchell to load the bases and Lara drove in two with a double to left.
Pratt’s sacrifice fly made it 6-2 and Rockies catcher Braxton Fulford’s throwing error on a pickoff attempt at third allowed Lara to come home. The Brewers tacked on a run in the eighth on Christian Yelich’s sacrifice fly.
But Colorado mounted a rally in the ninth. The Rockies loaded the bases on two walks and a fielder’s choice, and McCarthy drove in two with a single. Trevor Megill gave up an RBI single to Karros before striking out Carrigg to earn his 17th save.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Nathan Eovaldi leads Rangers to another win over Mariners
Jul 25, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17) delivers a pitch to the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images Nathan Eovaldi pitched seven strong innings as the Texas Rangers defeated the visiting Seattle Mariners 7-1 Saturday night in Arlington, Texas. to increase their lead over the defending American League West champions to 2 1/2 games.
The top three batters in Texas’ order — Joc Pederson, Wyatt Langford and Ezequiel Duran — went a combined 8-for-13 with three doubles, a triple, three RBIs and four runs. The Rangers have won the first two games of the four-game series.
Eovaldi allowed one run on three hits — a one-out single by J.P. Crawford in the third then a two-out single by Luke Raley followed by a double to right by Crawford to score Seattle’s lone run in the fifth. The veteran right-hander walked one and struck out eight.
The Rangers scored three runs in the first inning and two more in the second against Seattle’s Bryan Woo (7-7), whose road woes continued.
In the first, Langford lined a one-out double to right field and Duran followed with a liner that eluded a diving center fielder Raley and rolled all the way to the wall for a run-scoring triple. Following a walk to Brandon Nimmo, Evan Carter doubled down the left field line to score Duran. Nicky Lopez’s groundout to short scored the third run.
Woo retired the first two batters in the second on a total of three pitchers before Pederson grounded a single to right and stole second. Langford hit a run-scoring double to left and Duran lined an RBI single to center to make it 5-0.
Woo gave up five runs on nine hits over five innings, with two walks and five strikeouts. The right-hander dropped to 1-7 in away games this season with a 6.52 ERA.
The Rangers added two runs in the seventh. Carter drew a two-out walk off Cole Wilcox, who was replaced by Nick Davila. Carter advanced to second on a balk and Lopez walked. Alejandro Osuna doubled to center, scoring both runners.
–Field Level Media
Hunter Brown in control, Astros down White Sox for 5th straight
Robert Gasser holds Rockies in check as Brewers win
