The reigning champion was in supreme form as he scored his first race victory of the season at the Hungaroring
Lando Norris is eating what appears to be rice pudding, doubtless with extra protein protection. It’s hot out there, with Bono saying it’s 50 degrees on track, though there’s also a wind picking up.
Martin Brundle starts his own dance. Laurence Stroll, Mr Aston Martin, is there, and happy enough with his team. Adrian Newey is not around, so Brunds doesn’t get to speak to the great man. Herbie Blash, FIA veteran, recalls the first Hungarian GP from 1966 fondly. George Hendy, rugby man, has been enjoying his time on the grid. Joe Ramirez, another veteran, has been to every GP here, and his first ever was Monaco in 1962. We seem short on celebs as compared to the glitzier tracks. This isn’t like the World Cup. No sign of David Beckham or Tom Brady. Quick chat with Bono, Antonelli’s man: “Bit rough,” he says of the Antonelli penalty. “We’re at least on the grippy side of the grid. Here’s Adrian Newey. “We had so little prep time,” he says. He’s scoping out the McLaren. Casey Stoney, bikes legend. “There’s ups and downs with the regs, it’s overcomplicated, I like how much power there is.” And so to the anthem…
Joshua’s lack of punch resistance is clear, which could place him in danger in the highly anticipated £150m fight with Tyson Fury
The bedlam and madness lasted for just five minutes and 43 seconds and, after Anthony Joshua was back in the sanctuary of his dressing room, he claimed to have learned “a valuable lesson”. Joshua had been knocked down twice by Kristian Prenga before he rescued himself in the second round with a brutal stoppage of the previously obscure Albanian.
Joshua also looked ahead to the hugely anticipated fight with Tyson Fury after the two faded former world champions came through wildly contrasting bouts which were meant to be routine exhibitions this weekend. “I’m gonna come back stronger now,” Joshua claimed as he tried to clear the concussive fog from his brain after the worst round of his tumultuous career.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 12: Adrian Morejon #50 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning at Petco Park on July 12, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good left-handed pitching is something no team will ever turn down, and at this year’s deadline, the Yankees could benefit from exactly that. While the Padres are not necessarily out of the playoff hunt, any divisional hopes are all but gone, and sitting below .500 at this juncture with five teams ahead of them for the last Wild Card spot in the Senior Circuit, it may be in their best interest to sell.
Dominant closer Mason Miller is obviously the star attraction in the bullpen. But with three full years of team control after 2026 and reasonable hopes of contending again next year, San Diego does not necessarily have to move him unless they’re blown away by an offer akin at least within shouting distance of what they gave the A’s for Miller last year.
He’s not the only standout reliever in their ’pen though. Adrian Morejon could be a prime candidate to join the Yankees. The once highly-touted prospect out of Cuba has settled into a relief role, and has thrived over the last few seasons. With free agency looming this winter, the Padres could shop the 27-year-old lefty as a rental, shipping him out to a contending team in need.
Between 2024 and ‘25, Morejon pitched in 135 games, managing an impressive 2.42 ERA with a 2.52 FIP that backed it up. Although his role may not be what was expected in his minor-league days, he’s turned himself into a durable and reliably good option out of the bullpen.
In 2026 to this point, he’s been just about as good. Getting plenty of work, pitching in 48 games and working over 55 innings, the lefty has maintained a steady 2.40 FIP and is striking out more batters than he ever has, at a 27.9 percent clip. With a walk rate that has remained steady, Morejon has essentially been at peak form for the last three seasons while taking on a significant workload out of relief.
The start to Morejon’s career was not a seamless one, as he pitched just 75 innings with an ERA north of five in his first five combined seasons in the majors, including three different seasons where he stuck around for less than 10 innings of work. That 2023 season was a major leap for the lefty, however, and he hasn’t looked back since. With a multi-year track record of success now behind him, he becomes an attractive trade target at this year’s deadline, and one that may not break the bank, considering his forthcoming free agency.
The lefty throws hard, and boasts impressive peripherals across the board, so stretches of real dominance are never out of the question. He’d be a major boost to any bullpen, and the Yankees are no different. With Tim Hill largely disappointing in 2026, Morejon could pair nicely with Brent Headrick, who’s been terrific from the left side for the Yankees this season. Even regardless of pitching hands, Morejon is simply an impact arm to bring out of the ‘pen, and if the Yankees look to that area to improve at the deadline, he could make some sense.
He has been linked as a possible target for the Yankees, and the Padres make sense as natural trade partners at this year’s deadline. San Diego may be poised to move multiple relievers before August 3rd rolls around, and Morejon would make sense for any team looking to bolster the bullpen. His four-pitch mix has proven successful in his role, and next to the otherworldly Miller, the lefty would be a much cheaper option. With Morejon’s velocity and swing-and-miss stuff all moving in the right direction, he has a solid chance of being a true impact arm if put in the right position.
Morejon is now in the midst of a third straight year of high-level pitching out of the San Diego bullpen, and with 2026 being his final year before hitting the open market, he will more than likely be on the move at the deadline. He’d be of use to any Major League roster, and if the price is right, the Yankees may pull the trigger on the talented lefty.
The underdog Chicago Cubs (+113) can earn a series victory when they face the Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 3 of their three-game series at PNC Park.
Braxton Ashcroft's underlying metrics are shaky, and my Cubs vs. Pirates predictions and MLB picks expect a Cubs sweep today,
Who will win Cubs vs Pirates today: Cubs moneyline (+114)
The markets are pricing this game off Jameson Taillon's 5.41 xERA and 1st-percentile barrel rate, but three factors point the other way.
Braxton Ashcraft relies on chase (37.2%, 96th percentile), yet he draws a Chicago Cubs lineup that rarely expands the zone and owns an 11% walk rate the past two weeks.
Taillon's fly-ball profile is better protected at PNC Park, especially with Pete Crow-Armstrong's +20 Outs Above Average patrolling center, while the Pittsburgh Piratescorner outfield defense sits at a combined -8 OAA.
Add in a Pirates lineup that chases enough to feed Taillon's sweeper, and I play the Cubs to -105 today.
COVERS INTEL: Ashcraft's four-seam fastball is his most-used pitch at 31.9 percent, and it's been hit for a .290 average, .519 slugging, and a .330 xwOBA with a negative run value.
Cubs vs Pirates Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-116)
It will be warm and dry for the first pitch, and both starters are hittable. Taillon carries a 14.4% barrel rate with 22 home runs in 72 innings and rarely sees the sixth inning.
Ashcraft has served up eight home runs in his last five starts and allows a 90.5 mph average exit velocity and meets a Cubs lineup walking 12.4 percent over the past two weeks.
That puts this in the bullpen's hands early, and Pittsburgh's relievers have walked 10.4% over the same stretch after emptying out Saturday night.
Scoring runs is what these teams do when they meet, as the Over is 7-3 in their last 10 games. I’d play this to -130.
Phil Naessens' 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 9-12, -1.01 units
Over/Under bets: 9-10, -2.45 units
Cubs vs Pirates weather
Warm and dry with light winds blowing out to right field.
Cubs vs Pirates odds
Moneyline: Cubs +108 | Pirates -117
Run line: Cubs +1.5 (-186) | Pirates -1.5 (+163)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-117) | Under 8.5 (+104)
Cubs vs Pirates trend
The Over is 7-3 in their last 10 head-to-head meetings. Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Pirates.
How to watch Cubs vs Pirates and game info
Location
PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Date
Sunday, July 26, 2026
First pitch
1:35 p.m. ET
TV
MARQ, SNP
Cubs starting pitcher
Jameson Taillon (2-5, 5.38 ERA)
Pirates starting pitcher
Braxton Ashcraft (9-4, 3.95 ERA)
Cubs vs Pirates latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Los Angeles, CA - April 14: Dodgers teammates Kike Hernandez and Edwin Diaz celebrate with Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas (72) after Rojas scored a run during the eight inning of an MLB game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Dodgers are looking to end their road trip with a record of 7-2, and they’ll be treated with a pleasant surprise once they begin their upcoming homestand on July 28.
Kiké Hernández has played just two games this season, but he will be back on Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners after missing two months due to an oblique issue. Closer Edwin Díaz, who has pitched just six innings this season, will be activated on Wednesday after missing over three months due elbow surgery to remove loose bodies. Both updates were reported by David Vassegh of AM 570 on Saturday.
Hernández has appeared in five games with the Oklahoma City Comets during his current rehab assignment, going 6-18 with a home run, while Díaz has accumulated one inning over two appearances with Oklahoma City.
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Dodgers fans were disappointed by the first half results from Kyle Tucker, as the outfielder limped into the All-Star break with just seven home runs while slashing .244/.341/.375. His opening to the second half wasn’t any prettier over the six games against the Yankees and Phillies, but he has found his groove at the plate against the Mets.
Tucker had the deciding home run on Friday in a 4-2 win, and he started the scoring on Saturday with another home run, the first time he’s hit home runs in two consecutive games as a Dodger. Tucker spoke with Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports following the Dodgers’ 4-3 win over New York, where he discussed the struggles he’s faced this year while acknowledging the support he’s received from his teammates and staff.
“Our coaching staff and the players that we have on this team is unbelievable. Everyone is so supportive of each other and just wanting each other to help. It’s a team sport, and we want to get to the end of the season and win a World Series.”
Shohei Ohtani was scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday, but lingering issues in his left knee flared up and the two-way superstar is now shut down from throwing.
Dave Roberts expects Ohtani to return to pitching during the regular season, but the team will not move forward with his throwing once he is 100 percent clear to continue, notes Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
“We are not going to move forward [as far as throwing off a mound] until he feels 100 percent confident and we feel 100 percent confident that we should do it,” Roberts said. “He just doesn’t feel 100 percent. I think the last ‘pen that he had, there was a little bit of regression. We want to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 21: Hunter Goodman #15 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates in the dugout after his eighth inning solo home run against the Washington Nationals at Coors Field on July 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The trade deadline is just around the corner — one week from tomorrow, to be exact! The Rockies have already begun their selling spree, trading Seth Halvorsen to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ideally, there will be more trades. The players and their destination teams remains up for debate, though.
The biggest debate seems to be that of what to do with two-time All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman. Should the Rockies trade him, perhaps to a big-market team like the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox, for what could be a considerable haul for a rebuilding team? Or should they retain their cornerstone and build the next contending Rockies team around him?
We asked your thoughts earlier this week whether or not you thought Goodman would be traded, and only 22% of respondents believe he will.
Do you agree with the results? Do you still agree with your answer? Let us know in the comments!
But in the meantime, here’s what our writers had to say this week:
Nov 9, 2025; Mesa, AZ, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Triple-A: Charlotte Knights (White Sox) 7, Norfolk Tides 6
It was a wild one in Charlotte, where the Tides rallied back from a three-run deficit in the ninth, took a lead in the top of the 10th, and then got walked off in the bottom of the inning. Korey Lee’s two-run single off Cam Sanders won it for the Knights.
Before that, Enrique Bradfield Jr. twice played the hero for Norfolk. He delivered both the game-tying RBI single in the ninth and the go-ahead RBI single in the 10th. With a 3-for-6 night, Bradfield boosted his OPS to .676, which is not going to be enough to earn him a promotion yet but is at least a step in the right direction. Bradfield had a stolen base but was also caught once. Heston Kjerstad was 3-for-4 with a double. Catcher Creed Willems, a possible call-up candidate himself, went 0-for-4 but could hardly be a worse hitter than Sam Huff and Chadwick Tromp.
On the mound, starter Trey Gibson gave up two runs in four innings. The only one of the five Tides pitchers not to be scored upon was reliever Yosver Zulueta, who retired all four batters he faced. Former Oriole Austin Hays, on a rehab assignment with Charlotte, went 0-for-3 but had two RBIs.
Patrick Reilly, returning from Tommy John surgery, made his first start with Chesapeake since April 19, 2025. He had six strikeouts and no walks, but coughed up three solo home runs, including one by Josue Briceño, the Tiger’s #3 prospect. All in all, it was a solid return for Reilly, one of the Orioles’ better pitching prospects.
The Baysox offense was facing rehabbing major leaguer Jackson Jobe and had little answer for him. Their only run of the game came on an Anderson De Los Santos first-inning RBI double. That was one of just four hits for Chesapeake, though three of them were doubles.
High-A: Rome Emperors (Braves) 10, Frederick Keys 1 — Game 1
The first game of a doubleheader was a big ol’ mess for the Keys, who couldn’t hit, pitch, or field. Starter JT Quinn ran into big trouble in the fourth and was chased without getting out of the inning. In 3.2 frames he was tagged for four runs, but only two were earned because Frederick committed four errors (including one by Quinn himself). Reliever Juan Rojas was torched for five runs in one inning.
The Keys’ lineup is much less intimidating after Ike Irish’s season-ending meniscus tear. Their only run in this game came on an RJ Austin single that plated Wehiwa Aloy, who had doubled. Two rehabbing Triple-A players, Reed Trimble and Payton Eeles, were a combined 0-for-8.
High-A: Frederick Keys 3, Rome Emperors 2 — Game 2
The Keys got even fewer hits in the nightcap — just three! — but managed to turn them into three runs and salvage a doubleheader split. And they did it against lefty Cam Caminiti, the Braves’ #1 prospect. (Fun fact: Caminiti is a cousin of the late MLB star Ken Caminiti, even though they were born 43 years apart.) The Keys scraped across their runs on a Colin Yeaman RBI single and a Caminiti wild pitch. The normally seven-inning doubleheader game went to extras tied at two, and Nelson Figueroa’s sac fly in the eighth won it for Frederick.
The pitching quartet of Carson Dorsey, Trent Turzenski, Braeden Sloan, and Chandler Marsh held down the Emperors, helped by the fact that Rome went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Marsh fanned two in a perfect eighth for the save.
Low-A: Hill City Howlers (Guardians) 8, Delmarva Shorebirds 4
It was a rough night for starter Dalton Neuschwander, who gave up seven runs in four innings to fall to 1-9 on the season. His ERA rose to 7.98. The Shorebirds scored four runs but didn’t get much help from the first three batters in the lineup, who were a combined 0-for-12. Third baseman Elvin Garcia and shortstop Jose Perez each had two hits, and second baseman Felix Amparo contributed an RBI double.
BONUS FCL NOTE: Kudos to the short-season Florida Complex League Orioles, who made it to the League Championship Series after going 34-23 this season. “Series” is a bit of a misnomer, since it’s just one game, and unfortunately the FCL Orioles’ run ended yesterday against the Astros. They were shut out, 7-0, by right-handers Adrian Ardines and Jank Pichardo. The O’s managed only five hits, all singles, two of them by 2025 ninth-round pick Cam Lee.
Third baseman Wilfri De La Cruz, acquired in last year’s Andrew Kittredge trade, was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. He had a .707 OPS in 51 games in his first full season in the organization. Second baseman Jemone Nuel, a 19-year-old from Jamaica, was 1-for-4 in the leadoff spot, finishing with an outstanding .283/.456/.483 line in 50 games.
Sunday’s scheduled games:
Norfolk: at Charlotte, 1:05 PM. Starter: Trace Bright (0-7, 7.32)
Chesapeake: vs. Erie, 1:05 PM. Starter: Luis De León (4-6, 4.58)
Frederick: at Rome, 1:00 PM. Starter: Boston Bateman (4-3, 4.10)
Delmarva: at Hill City, 2:00 PM. Starter: Brayan Orrantia (0-6, 5.54)
We have a 15-game MLB slate for today that will surely keep us interested throughout the day.
Our Sunday MLB moneyline card is filled with solid plus-money markets, and a few short favorites that we will attack.
Read on for our MLB moneyline predictions and MLB picks for Sunday, July 26.
MLB moneyline picks for July 26
Matchup
Pick
Guardians vs Rays
-127
Blue Jays vs Red Sox
-127
Diamondbacks vs Nationals
-117
Braves vs Orioles
-108
Cubs vs Pirates
+122
Dodgers vs Mets
+150
Royals vs Tigers
+156
Padres vs Marlins
+117
Astros vs White Sox
-100
Rockies vs Brewers
+257
Athletics vs Twins
+144
Reds vs Cardinals
+117
Mariners vs Rangers
-104
Angels vs Giants
-122
Yankees vs Phillies
-133
Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 7-26.
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Expert MLB moneyline picks for July 26
Guardians vs Rays: Tampa Bay Rays (-127)
Rays win probability: 56%
Drew Rasmussen provides a steady baseline, though Parker Messick starting for Cleveland brings some variance. Still, Tampa Bay's pitching metrics over the last two weeks stand among the league’s elite, featuring a 3.37 xFIP and a 20 percent K-BB rate.
Cleveland holds the offensive edge, but Tampa’s late-inning bullpen depth at home creates solid value.
Blue Jays vs Red Sox: Boston Red Sox (-127)
Red Sox win probability: 56%
Kevin Gausman always brings brand recognition, but Toronto’s lineup has hit a massive slump, producing a meager 69 wRC+ over the last 14 days. Boston’s bullpen is firing on all cylinders with a slate-best 1.51 ERA.
Questioning Boston's starter Payton Tolle being in the rotation is reasonable, but Toronto’s bats are currently too cold to trust on the road.
Diamondbacks vs Nationals: Arizona Diamondbacks (-117)
Diamondbacks win probability: 54%
Arizona’s offense is flat-out raking right now, posting a dominant 136 wRC+ and a .504 slugging percentage over the last fortnight. Miles Mikolas sits on the other side with a bloated 5.01 xFIP and low strikeout output.
At short road odds, backing Arizona’s bats offers tremendous value.
Braves vs Orioles: Baltimore Orioles (-108)
Orioles win probability: 52%
Reynaldo Lopez usually draws heavy betting interest, but Atlanta’s overall pitching has shown vulnerabilities lately with a 4.28 xFIP. Meanwhile, Baltimore quietly holds a sharp 3.73 SIERA over the past two weeks.
Taking the Orioles as narrow home favorites at Camden Yards is a solid situational angle that must be exploited.
Cubs vs Pirates: Chicago Cubs (+122)
Cubs win probability: 45%
Pittsburgh holds the home-field advantage, but the matchup between Jameson Taillon and Braxton Ashcraft remains tight. Chicago’s underlying offensive production (118 wRC+ vs. 100 wRC+) and bullpen metrics carry the overall statistical advantage.
Grabbing the Cubs at a plus-money price on the road provides strong value.
Dodgers vs Mets: New York Mets (+150)
Mets win probability: 40%
Emmet Sheehan versus Freddy Peralta makes for an intriguing matchup, but the prediction markets offer an appealing price tag for the home team. New York’s bullpen actually out-grades Los Angeles over the last two weeks in both ERA- and SIERA.
Backing the Mets at +150 delivers solid value.
Royals vs Tigers: Kansas City Royals (+156)
Royals win probability: 39%
Framber Valdez on the bump gives Detroit a notable edge, but the heavy home market price opens up opportunity on the visitor. Kansas City’s offense has struggled lately, yet Valdez is occasionally prone to control hiccups.
At a generous +156 payout, taking a shot on the road underdog makes sense.
Padres vs Marlins: San Diego Padres (+117)
Padres win probability: 46%
Miami enters as a surprising home favorite despite a lineup-wide offensive drought, managing just a 70 wRC+ over the last 14 days. San Diego continues to produce high-level contact, posting a 134 wRC+ and .475 slugging mark.
Getting the Padres at plus-money with Walker Buehler pitching is arguably the top value spot on the card.
Astros vs White Sox: Houston Astros (-100)
Astros win probability: 50%
This matchup sits at flat pick 'em odds on the board. Houston’s bullpen leads the entire slate with an elite 23.4 percent K-BB rate over the last two weeks.
Backing Ronel Blanco and the Astros at even money against a struggling White Sox lineup (85 wRC+) is a strong position.
Rockies vs Brewers: Colorado Rockies (+257)
Rockies win probability: 28%
Milwaukee commands massive home chalk in this spot. Colorado’s offense remains limited with a 74 wRC+, but Milwaukee’s bullpen has shown command issues with elevated walk rates, and Jacob Misiorowski can occasionally struggle with location.
At a massive +257 payout, targeting the high-variance road underdog is the sharp play.
Athletics vs Twins: Athletics (+144)
Athletics win probability: 41%
Joe Ryan is always tough to beat at Target Field, but Minnesota carries a heavy market premium price. The Athletics' lineup has quietly put together respectable power numbers over the last fortnight.
Fading the inflated line on the home favorite and taking the A's at +144 offers a solid risk-reward play today.
Reds vs Cardinals: Cincinnati Reds (+117)
Reds win probability: 46%
Busch Stadium is always a tough venue, but St. Louis ranks dead-last in offensive production over the past two weeks with a painful 60 wRC+. Cincinnati brings significantly more isolated power with a .231 ISO.
Backing Andrew Abbott and the Reds as road underdog is where the value lies today.
Mariners vs Rangers: Seattle Mariners (-104)
Mariners win probability: 51%
Betting against Jacob deGrom requires caution, but Texas’s overall bullpen metrics have cratered recently, sitting at a 166 ERA and 5.15 xFIP. Seattle’s pitching group remains far more reliable with Logan Gilbert taking the ball.
Getting Seattle near pick 'em odds (-104) offers strong value.
Angels vs Giants: San Francisco Giants (-122)
Giants win probability: 55%
An unannounced starter for San Francisco adds intrigue, but the Angels' lineup remains stagnant, posting an 86 wRC+ and a lightweight .099 ISO over two weeks. San Francisco’s bullpen boasts a 3.92 SIERRA across the past 14 days, and at -122, the park environment and bullpen depth heavily favor the home side.
Yankees vs Phillies: Philadelphia Phillies (-133)
Phillies win probability: 57%
In a prime-time national TV slot, Will Warren starting for New York leaves the door open for Philadelphia, particularly with the Yankees hitting just .210 over their last 14 games. Cristopher Sanchez and the Phillies bullpen carry a sharp 3.18 ERA.
At -133, backing the home club is a great play to close out Sunday.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
I don’t want to run through the play-by-play, as Al has covered it all thoroughly. But I’d be remiss:
Matthew Boyd — it wasn’t pretty or dominant, but all that matters is that he (and the defense) got out of jams, and the important two numbers: one run allowed over seven innings. What a battler!
Ian Happ — The throw on the double play from left was money, and the slide at home in the 10th was epic.
Nico Hoerner — I’ve gotten in the bad habit (I guess understandably) of allowing a lot of Nico’s plays make me think of Ryno. But there are exceptions, like the throw between the legs to first earlier this year. And Friday night’s play behind second and snap throw to third to get the runner — that was beyond elite. I don’t really think Ryno would have pulled off that combination during the play. Yet another play of the year by Nico?
PCA got the Cubs on the board. And good job directing Happ to slide to the inside of the plate.
Dansby Swanson’s single got the first run in the 10th. Honorable mention to Seiya Suzuki for the bases-loaded walk that turned out to be the difference in the game.
And Gavin Hollowell picked up his second career save Friday. With the insurance run, he concentrated on the three outs needed, not the placed runner on second. Three outs on five pitches. Hard to beat that.
Not much offense, but thanks to Boyd, he kept the Cubs in the game by going deep into the game by allowing just one run. And for Hollowell for slamming the door.
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Tyler Courtney (LastWordOnSports): Cubs Top Trade Assets Heading Into the 2026 Trade Deadline. “It is never easy to part ways with players who become fan favorites, but it is a necessary price to pay. Luckily, there is a wide variety of players at both the Major and Minor League levels who could be dealt.”
Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): What we’re hearing about Matt Shaw and James Triantos as Cubs plan for trade deadline. “Matt Shaw will not be activated off the injured list before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Friday, setting another variable for the club’s plans to bulk up its pitching staff.”
Howard Woodard (LastWordOnSports): Cardinals’ Slow Start to 2nd Half Makes Divisional Stretch Crucial. “Dropping five of their first seven games after the All-Star break, the St. Louis Cardinals’ slow start to the second half has heightened the circumstances now that the team has returned to St. Louis.”
Food For Thought:
Norman Jeffrey Healey (March 25, 1966 – March 2, 2008) was a Canadian blues, rock and jazz guitarist, singer and songwriter who attained popularity in the 1980s and 1990s. When he was almost one year old, Healey lost his sight due to retinoblastoma, a rare cancer of the eyes. His eyes had to be surgically removed, and he was given ocular prostheses.
Healey began playing guitar when he was three, developing his unique style of playing the instrument flat on his lap. When he was 15, Healey formed the band Blue Direction, a four-piece that primarily played bar-band cover tunes. Shortly thereafter he was introduced to bassist Joe Rockman and drummer Tom Stephen, with whom he formed a trio, the Jeff Healey Band. They received a write-up in Toronto’s NOW magazine, and soon were playing almost nightly in local clubs, such as Grossman’s Tavern and the famed blues club Albert’s Hall (where Jeff Healey was discovered by guitarists Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert Collins).
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre is joined by his wife, Ali, and daughter, Andrea, at a Dodgers game earlier this season. The Dodgers recognized Torre and his Safe at Home Foundation, which is committed to supporting kids exposed to domestic violence. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
You know him. Baseball icon. Hall of Famer. The only big leaguer with 2,000 hits as a player and 2,000 wins as a manager, he steered the New York Yankees to four World Series championships — and the Dodgers to consecutive National League West crowns and NLCS appearances in 2008 and 2009.
So you’re well-versed on Torre’s baseball bonafides, but you might not be aware of the most meaningful part of his legacy: He’s spent the past 24 years helping people who actually would need to be introduced to him.
Kids who are too young to know Torre the player, manager, color commentator — but who can, unfortunately, relate with what he went through when he was their age. Kids who, like him, are growing up afraid and anxious because of domestic violence at home, and who need what Torre didn’t have — somewhere safe to go to for help.
Since 2002, Torre and his wife, Ali, have been behind the expanding the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation. Across the nation, they’ve set up safe spaces in schools, specialized classrooms that feel more like living rooms and that are manned by professional counselors trained in domestic violence intervention.
San Francisco Giants assistant manager Ron Washington hugs Joe Torre before a game at Dodger Stadium on May 14. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
They’re at schools in New York, Cincinnati, Tahiti and in L.A., at Bellflower Middle/High School and John Adams Middle School, John H. Glenn High and McKinley Elementary School, Palisades Charter High, Santa Monica High, Waite Middle School and Washington Preparatory High.
And they’re open to all, whether you’re a kid experiencing violence or you want to be able to help peers who are.
This past year, the foundation says it reached more than 28,000 students. And since it began, more than 425,000 young people, families, schools, and communities.
These Safe at Home spaces are all named “Margaret’s Place,” in honor of Joe’s mom, who was for years the victim of his father’s violent ire.
“It’s a tough subject to talk about,” Joe Torre said. “But you can’t run away from it.”
He did, though. He’s 85 now, but until he was 54, Torre didn’t reveal that baseball had been his refuge when he was growing up. He didn’t tell anyone that when he was a kid, if he saw his dad’s car in front of his house, Joe would go to a friend’s house and wait until he left for his job as a New York police detective. Joe didn’t share memories like he would later, of seeing his big sister, armed with a knife, standing between their mother and their father, who was going for his pistol.
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Joe Torre poses swinging a bat prior to a game in 1971. (Dave Pickoff / Associated Press)
He didn’t recognize what those traumatic experiences he’d tried to bury did to him, not until he started to talk about them.
“I thought I was born with this shyness and this nervousness,” Torre said before a Dodgers game in May, when the club introduced him and Ali and players and coaches wore T-shirts during batting practice that read: “Everyone deserves to be safe at home.”
“During my playing career,” Torre continued, “if we lost a game and I didn’t get any hits, I’d beat myself up. I was fortunate, I had a good career, but there was always something missing. I really probably could have enjoyed it a lot more than I did.”
That didn’t change until 1995, when he started talking about the domestic violence he experienced. He was surprised, he said, to find himself sharing his story, opening up for the first time at a “Life Success” seminar in Cincinnati, Ali’s hometown.
“Ali, she says, ‘You want to go to this Life Success symposium with me?’” Joe said. “And she’s eight months pregnant with our daughter and I’m not about to say no to anything she asks me to go. So we go in and they separate you, and they put you in groups of six strangers — and I’d just been named manager of the Yankees, so I’m very self-conscious.
“But after a day or so, you’re in it, you know? And then we went home and I called my sisters and asked them questions. Because they always tried to protect me, so I had to drag it out of them … ‘Did dad hit mom?’
“The biggest thing for me was knowing that my dad bringing fear down on the home was what caused my feelings that I was embarrassed to have. Once I went through that, I was able to go deeper.”
Yankees manager Joe Torre bumps fists with catcher Jorge Posada after a win in April 2004. (Brian Kersey / Associated Press)
Speaking about what was previously unspeakable helped him cope with his trauma. He said it made him a more empathetic manager and a more confident man. It also made him want to speak out publicly and to encourage others to do the same, to break the cycle of silence.
So they’re getting the word out at — where else? — ballparks. There was the stop at Dodger Stadium in May, and before that, in 2025, seven major league teams had activations at games, as did 63 minor league clubs who hosted a “Safe At Home Awareness Game.”
Because often we do need an introduction, to connect kids with people who can keep them safe, who can assure them they’re not the only ones in their position.
“He’s talked about this many times: If he had access to a program like Margaret’s Place, he wouldn’t have felt like he had to carry this burden alone,” said Rose Robles, the foundation’s senior director of programs. “That was one thing he’s really stressed, he felt he was the only one that was going through this.
“And he would have had some options, some choices for how to respond to what he was experiencing and how to understand it. One thing that we say is that violence thrives in silence, and that is basically what he was experiencing.”
Forty-four percent of the kids Margaret’s Place counselors helped in 2024-25 were dealing with some form of violence at home. Twenty-seven percent have experienced some form of relationship or dating violence. They also help kids who’ve been exposed to community violence or other traumatic events, or who are grieving a traumatic loss.
Dodgers manager Joe Torre pauses for a moment while answering questions in August 2010. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
At Bellflower Middle and High School, Principal Jessica Cummings said a Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week and parent workshops focused on fostering healthy relationships increased awareness on her campus.
“We are grateful,” she wrote in an email, “for this partnership and the positive impact it has had.”
Of the students surveyed after receiving services, Safe at Home indicated that 99% reported feeling safer and 93% said they used the tools they learned in counseling.
Torre has absorbed decades of anecdotal feedback too — the knowing nods he sees in the crowd when he’s talked to groups of kids about this, the cameraman who slipped him $20 to put toward the foundation, the interviewer who shared his account of having grown up in a violent household.
“Anyone can become a victim,” Ali Torre said, “Our goal is to intervene and prevent. There are little boys we can have conversations with: ‘You don’t have to repeat the cycle.’ To little girls, ‘There’s an option for you…’
“And Joe has opened a lot of doors for us.”
When you think of Joe Torre, it’s as a former Dodgers skipper. A nine-time All-Star and the 1971 National League Most Valuable Player.
You should also think of him as a champion of children who now know that they aren’t alone, and that they have people who will go to bat for them.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 21: Brayan Rocchio #4 of the Cleveland Guardians hits an RBI single during the third inning against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field on July 21, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians look completely out of their depth against the Tampa Bay Rays who are 4-1 against Cleveland this year.
You know, whenever I point out how bad the Guardians hitting is and has been, people say I need to be patient and see how things change once the later draft picks make the majors. So, Ralphy Velazquez, Angel Genao, Juneiker Caceres… but I can’t shake the feeling that they are not going to get the most out of those players. Maybe I have to see Bazzana and DeLauter finish the season strong, first.
Guardians Weekly predictably focused on the seven homer game and Jim Rosenhaus interviewed Grady Sizemore.
Can Parker Messick throw a shutout today? That’s probably the Guardians’ only chance to beat the Rays and Drew Rasmussen.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 20: Victor Mederos #58 of the Atlanta Braves reacts following the Braves 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres at Truist Park on July 20, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Relax. This is not a scathing post about the Braves’ trade deadline plans. The trade deadline won’t be for another eight days. This is more about my curiosity about where the Braves have gotten their bullpen help to date.
By this time last year, the Braves had acquired seven pitchers via trade. This season, Victor Mederos is the only in-season pitcher acquisition. They had also four others via waiver claims last year. Now, this season you wouldn’t expect the Braves to acquire a lot of players from a waiver claim. That’s one of the (only?) downsides of having one of the best records in baseball for much of the season. They grabbed catcher Maverick Handley from the Orioles, who has largely been injured much of the season. But not a ton of players have flowed their way.
The Braves, for the most part, have been promoting and optioning their minor leaguers and placing players without options into the DFA/minor league deal/selection loop. And hoo boy, with volume and repetition this season. Seeing yet another roster tweet from the Braves is like one of those early morning life affirmations, just like my ankles cracking and seeing streams of work emails. Walt Weiss is more than a little annoyed, as he told Chad Bishop prior to last night’s game. I would reprise it here, but we’ve been over the how annoying the roster rules are with respect to size and number of pitchers.
So why haven’t the Braves looked outside the organization for pitching? Maybe they have and there’s nothing there. I’m not so sure. The Dodgers acquired Sean Halvorsen and his 99 MPH heater and stashed him in Triple-A. Good for the Dodgers, but acquiring Rockies relievers is kind of the Braves thing. Oh well, maybe they’re not interested in bullpen help so much getting an actual number two starter in a week.
Conventional wisdom in NBA free agency is that one big signing could swing the pendulum of power, making teams consider backing up the Brinks truck to bring in a player who could fulfill championship dreams, whether those dreams are realistic or not.
The free-agent class of 2027 might actually live up to that thought process, as it has the potential to be the biggest ever, with future Hall of Famers all over the place, ready to cash in.
The jewels of the class are Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, two players who figure to have multiple years left in their careers, barring injury, of All-NBA type play. They have won a total of five NBA MVP awards and could break the bank by becoming the first players in one of the four major North American sports to earn more than $75 million per season.
Here is a list of the most prominent free agents for 2027 (with players' ages in 2027, free agent status and contract details):
Nikola Jokic (32) — Player option, $62.8 million (Denver Nuggets)
Giannis Antetokounmpo (33) — Player option, $62,786,682 (Miami Heat)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 25: Dylan Beavers #12 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates hitting a walk-off single in the ninth inning with teammates during the baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 25, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello, friends.
The Orioles continue their confusing lurch towards the trade deadline. There are eight days remaining and seven games to be played between now and then. Are they the most incompetent bunch of jokers who ever took a baseball field? Sometimes it feels that way. Are they in fact possessed of a strong starting rotation that could help them overcome other deficiencies? That’s a yes. We saw both of these over the course of last night’s game, one that, unlike Friday, the O’s found a way to come out ahead in the end. Check out Stacey’s recap of the game for more of the lovely totals.
This is the wild card picture after yesterday’s games: The Orioles sit 2.5 games back of the Cleveland Guardians for the third wild card spot. The Red Sox have, regrettably for me and perhaps also for you, moved up to WC2 for the moment. The Orioles will have to pass the Guardians, Twins, Astros, and Mariners to get into a playoff spot. They leaped over a couple of those teams with their recent seven-game winning streak and fell right back down when they dropped three of four afterwards.
What’s Mike Elias supposed to do with all of this? The team has a dire need for at least one good reliever, probably two. Based on his track record, he will respond to this need by getting Shintaro Fujinami- or Gregory Soto-level relievers who do not improve very much. I hope that he will surprise me.
The rotation has stabilized into something that should be good enough, though part of that does depend on whether Dean Kremer reverts to his prior season form over a longer timeframe. Then there are several underperforming spots in the starting lineup, but these spots are mostly occupied by players in whom the Orioles are, for better or worse, committed to this season. Like, could they upgrade over players like Coby Mayo, Dylan Beavers, Colton Cowser, or Jackson Holliday? Yes. Do I think Elias is ready to pull the plug on any of them? No.
It’s not a great situation. There are times it’s downright painful watching these guys. I was in the stands on Friday night and I still can’t believe that botched Holliday toss to try to get one out in extra innings that set in motion a chain reaction that saw the Orioles give up four runs in the inning. It’s got to be one of the worst plays I’ve ever personally witnessed. I didn’t list him in the previous paragraph, but they also need to get more from Gunnar Henderson, offensively and defensively, and there’s not a backup plan for what if they don’t.
In all, the Orioles are too close to give up on this thing and they have too many problems to seriously go for it. One way I think they can try to thread that needle is if Elias is able to target players who have control beyond the 2026 season. Those guys will cost more if they are guys who are worth having. It’s a price the Orioles are going to have to pay if they’re going to be reticent to pay for free agents. The O’s need to field the best team they can in what is likely to be the last season where Adley Rutschman is around.
The way the Orioles play in the finale against the Braves is not going to definitively settle what they should or will do. It’s just that if they lose, the hole that they’re in gets a little bigger. They probably need to go 34-23 at a minimum. That feels like a tall order even after they finally got the big winning streak. It’s good that they did that, it’s just that they also need another one.
The series concludes with a 1:35 scheduled start this afternoon. Shane Baz and Reynaldo López are the scheduled starting pitchers.
Orioles stuff you might have missed
Injury updates on Bassitt, Rutschman, Basallo (School of Roch) Not having any kind of timetable on the two catchers is not great to begin with and it feels worse each time I watch one of the substitute catchers bat. There are also some words here about Creed Willems that could mean anything as far as calling him up soon or later or never.
Orioles infield prospects and a pair of lefty pitchers move up prospect rankings (The Baltimore Sun) The Sun highlights some recent upward movement in rankings for several Orioles prospects. Hopefully this translates to upward movement in what level of the minors they’re playing in soon. I’m not so sure that either Joseph Dzierwa or Wehiwa Aloy are benefiting from where they are.
‘26 1st round pick Booth always hoped to be drafted by Orioles (Orioles.com) Booth, who said on MASN last night that he prefers to go by EJ, made a great first impression with anybody who was paying attention at his introduction to the organization yesterday.
Today in 2024, the Orioles made two trades, sending three prospects to the Rays for Zach Eflin as well as a swap that sent Austin Hays to the Phillies for Seranthony Domínguez. Neither of these worked out in the long run quite how the Orioles probably hoped.
There are a number of former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2023-2025 infielder Ryan O’Hearn, 2018-22 reliever Paul Fry, 2013 two-gamer Alex Burnett, 1988-91 pitcher José Bautista, 1962 outfielder Pete Ward, 1964-65 infielder Norm Siebern, and 1958-62 pitcher/baseball Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: playwright George Bernard Shaw (1856), psychiatrist Carl Jung (1875), novelist Aldous Huxley (1894), filmmaker Stanley Kubrick (1928), Rolling Stones musician Mick Jagger (1943), actress Helen Mirren (1945), actress Sandra Bullock (1964), and The Pretty Reckless singer Taylor Momsen (1993).
On this day in history…
In 1775, the Second Continental Congress established an office that is the ancestor of today’s US Postal Service. The first Postmaster General was Ben Franklin.
In 1847, the nation of Liberia declared independence from the United States. The area had been settled over the previous decades by over 15,000 free African Americans. The US did not officially recognize this until 1862.
In 1948, the United States Armed Forces were desegregated following Executive Order 9981, issued by President Truman.
**
And that’s the way it is in Birdland on July 26. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!
The Detroit Tigers fell short of a series-clinching win on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Kansas City Royals, 3-2, as the offense continues to struggle and the bullpen once again failed to maintain a late lead. It was the 11th-straight game between the two teams decided by one run at Comerica Park.
The Motor City Kitties can still seize a series victory on Sunday afternoon with left-hander Framber Valdez taking the mound. The 32-year-old got blasted his last time out — a game after his best performance of 2026 — allowing six runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one and hitting a batter in just 2/3 of an inning, burying his team in an eventual 11-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Valdez’s second-best outing of the season came the last time he saw the Royals at home back on April 14, when he threw seven frames of one-run ball on four hits and two walks while striking out one. The Olde English D prevailed that day, 2-1, though he did not figure in the final decision.
For the Royals, right-hander Luinder Avila will be making his 11th start (10th consecutive) out of 20 appearances this season. As a starter this summer, the 24-year-old has posted a 5.87 ERA and 5.83 FIP over 38 1/3 innings, surrendering 39 hits (six home runs) and 25 walks while striking out 26 over that stretch.
Avila faced the Tigers in relief on May 8, tossing a scoreless frame, allowing a hit and striking out one batter in a 4-3 win at Kauffman Stadium.
Here is how the two hurlers match up on Sunday afternoon.
Detroit Tigers (50-55) vs. Kansas City Royals (44-62)
Time (ET): 1:40 p.m. Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan SB Nation Site:Royals Review Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 106: LHP Framber Valdez (5-7, 4.57 ERA) vs. RHP Luinder Avila (5-3, 4.86 ERA)
COVERS INTEL: Ashcraft's 
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