Jacob Young launches 437-foot homer in Nats’ win

Grissom’s last hit was a 391-foot double to left that would have been a homer in 26 ballparks. In Angel Stadium, it really ought to have been caught, but Cody Bellinger just didn’t get a good jump on it. Grissom’s .249/.311/.389 line isn’t especially impressive, and his future as a long-term regular is far from secure. Still, his approach is pretty good, and at age 25, he could get a little stronger. He should be close to clinching a spot on the 2027 Angels, even if he might not deserve to be penciled into the starting lineup.

Ureña’s command still comes and goes, but it wasn’t an issue tonight. He walked none and allowed just one extra-base hit — a Spencer Jones homer — to the 25 Yankees he faced tonight. The victory evened his record at 9-9 to go along with a 2.85 ERA. He’d be a Rookie of the Year candidate in many seasons, but he’s behind Parker Messick and a couple of bats in this year’s AL class. He’ll likely face the Pirates on Sunday.

Rodríguez emerged as an excellent prospect last year and has been quite good in Triple-A this season, but his six major league starts have produced an 0-3 record, a 5.40 ERA and a 21/16 K/BB in 26 2/3 innings. He’ll likely head back to Triple-A after this one, though he might make a spot start or two in September.

What has happened here? Ballesteros’s future as a catcher has been in question forever, but he certainly seemed like a very solid bat coming into 2026 and through the first month of this season. Now, though, he’s hitting .145 and slugging .184 in his last 203 plate appearances. It’s good that he’s still just 22, but he needs to be so, so much better than this to be of use as a catcher or a DH.

Rice ended up hitting .184/.304/.337 in August. He’s hit .216/.313/.432 over the last three months. Most everyone is still treating him as an ascendent star, but his bat speed and exit velocity numbers are all worse than last year and his strikeout rate has taken a big jump in the wrong direction. He’s definitely a good player, but he seems like a worst bet going forward now than he did a year ago.

Salas wouldn’t be called up unless he was going to play, so expect him to do a lot of the catching over Freddy Fermin. Luis Campusano could function as more of a DH with Gavin Sheets and Luis Rengifo on the IL. Salas, still just 20 years old, has shaken off a couple of injury-filled seasons to hit .296/.374/.448 with 10 homers and 17 steals between Double- and Triple-A this year. He probably won’t be of use in one-catcher mixed leagues right away.

Montgomery’s home run was his 29th of the season. He smashed a solo shot off Bennett Sousa in the seventh inning. Montgomery was 20-for-100 (.200) with four home runs and 14 RBI in 26 games in August. He’s hitting .214 with a .729 OPS and 77 RBI this year.

Velázquez’ home run was his fifth of the season. He hit a two-run shot off Anthony Kay in the fourth inning. Velázquez should continue to see most of his at-bats come against left-handed pitching. He’s hitting .193 with a .664 OPS and 15 RBI in limited at-bats this year.

Kay gave up six hits, walked two and struck out five. He fell to 9-7 with the loss. Kay has now allowed 10 runs combined and failed to complete five innings in either of his last two starts. He has a 4.28 ERA. Kay is lined up to face the Twins at home this weekend.

Lambert gave up three hits, walked five and struck out six. It was a bit of a mixed bag for Lambert, who had a 6.12 ERA in five August starts entering play Monday. His five walks were the most he’s issued in a game all year. Lambert’s ERA is 3.66. He’s lined up to face the Diamondbacks at home this weekend.