SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Jeremy Sochan #20 of the New York Knicks walks to the court before the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As the Knicks continue their prolonged search for a third string center, Jeremy Sochan, who came over to New York midway through last season, remained an option to fill that spot. The big man played very sparingly, appearing in only 16 regular season games. But out of all of the remaining options, his youth and defense, along with the fact that he already knew the team, made his return possible. Evident by his lack of playing time, Sochan has some very glaring holes in his game.
He is both an unwilling and poor three-point shooter, rendering him somewhat useless offensively. He is the kind of player that you kind of have to build a lineup around given his lack of spacing. Unfortunately, he’s not good enough to warrant doing that. Playing him despite those weaknesses usually meant hindering the offensive abilities of everybody else sharing the floor with him.
His defense though, still gave people hope. During some of the more turbulent portions of the season, fans had wondered if Sochan could provide a bit of a defensive spark for a team that on some nights, looked like they badly needed it. During his four-year career, the 23 year-old has done one thing well-defend. He isn’t a defensive playmaker. He doesn’t block a lot of shots or force a lot of turnovers. But he is an athletic and versatile defenders that has the motor, size, and athleticism to defend multiple possessions.
Like so many of the other options the Knicks had though, Sochan is now also off the board. Late Saturday night, Sochan signed a one-year non-guaranteed deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. Sochan will have a fair opportunity to win a roster spot and break camp with the team. If he does, having a full training camp, and doing so with a team that isn’t nearly as loaded talent wise as the Knicks, could give him a much better chance at actually being in the rotation.
On a team that finished the regular season with the 12th best defensive rating in the league, Sochan could provide even more defensive versatility, while having a bit more of a leash to continue developing offensively. The Trail Blazers will want to make the playoffs once again, but they aren’t tasked with having the same kind of win-now mentality the Knicks are currently in.
The non-guaranteed aspect of the contract does leave open for a reunion though. If the Knicks really liked Sochan, they would’ve re-signed him. And if Sochan wanted to really stay, he may have waited. So the chances Sochan returns is unlikely. But is isn’t fully out of the window. If the Knicks end up not finding the right options, or signs someone to a non-guaranteed contract of their own, and it doesn’t work out, maybe they view Sochan as a last resort option if he gets cut at some point. Again, very unlikely, but it’s possible.
For now though, the Knicks, who probably never had any intentions of bringing Sochan back, have to continue their search.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 30: Mauricio Dubón #14 of the Atlanta Braves looks on before the game against the Washington Nationals at Truist Park on July 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The only thing better than breaking out the brooms for a sweep? Let’s mobilize! those! mops!
The Atlanta Braves are looking for their fifth straight win by taking the series finale of this four-game set versus Cade Cavalli and the Washington Nationals.
JR Ritchie has been newly recalled to start with the López/Pérez shuffle yesterday. The lineup for Walt Weiss looks largely similar to yesterday’s:
Drake Baldwin remains at leadoff and will catch for Ritchie despite being behind the dish in last night’s game. Ronald Acuña Jr. remains in the two-hole but as the desginated hitter. Matt Olson, Michael Harris II, and Ozzie Albies are still in their respective positions and places in the order. Mauricio Dubón returns after yesterday’s day off to hit sixth and patrol left field. Mike Yastrzemski moves up to seventh and will be in right field. Austin Riley drops down to eighth, and Jim Jarvis is hoping redeem himself after some questionable defense last night, especially since Ha-Seong Kim has been reinstated.
For the Nationals, they’ll roll with the following lineup:
No one is more aware of leadoff man James Wood’s first pitch home run than JR Ritchie, who has the ball somewhere in his house.
Outside of Wood batting first, shortshop CJ Abrams in the cleanup spot, and catcher Keibert Ruiz in ninth, the rest of the lineup is different than what we saw last night. Luis García Jr. jumps up to bat second, followed by today’s DH José Tena. Dylan Crews drops down a few spots to hit fifth and will be in center field, followed by Daylen Lile in left. Second baseman Nasim Nuñez moves up one spot, Jorbit Vivas gets the start at third base and will bat eighth.
The pitching this series has been excellent in keeping a potent Nationals lineup down – here’s hoping Ritchie and company can keep that going in today’s finale.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 30: Luis García Jr. #2 of the Washington Nationals reacts with third base coach Victor Estevez #7 as he rounds third base after hitting a solo homer in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on July 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the trade deadline just a day away, I wanted to make a few final predictions on what the Nats will do. I think this series pretty much sealed the Nats fate as sellers. However, I do still think they could look for some controllable bullpen help. Here is a look at what the Nats will do, as well as what they won’t do.
My first prediction is that the Nats will trade Luis Garcia Jr. to the Diamondbacks. There has been a lot of smoke around that fit for a while now. Bob Nightengale put out that the D-Backs would “love” to have Garcia. The fit just makes too much sense. Arizona badly needs a first baseman, and they have some solid prospects to offer.
• Dbacks “would love” to acquire Luis Gracia Jr. and Casey Mize • Astros had jumped into Tarik Skubal sweepstakes; more realistically would be pleased to get Robbie Ray • Red Sox expected to trade Jarren Duran this winter
In a Garcia to the D-Backs deal, I think the return will be pitching based. The two key pieces in my mock trade are Patrick Forbes and Brian Curley. Both are 2025 draft picks with big upside. Forbes was the 29th pick in the 2025 draft who possesses a big fastball/slider combination. He has prototypical size, and while he has spent much of this season injured, he is healthy now. Forbes has mid-rotation upside.
Curley is a unique pitching prospect thanks to his 5’10 size. Despite his short frame, Curley can run his heater into the upper 90’s and can even top out at 100. This season he has 102 strikeouts to just 23 walks in 84.2 innings. However, he has been shockingly hittable with a .292 average against. This is still an intriguing arm who could be an exciting bullpen piece or a back end starter.
My second prediction is that Foster Griffin will also be on the move to the Rays. In my mock trade, the package will be centered around Michael Forret and Andreimi Antunez. We talked about Forret the other day in our Griffin trade package piece. His deep mix and feel for pitching makes him a safe bet to be a number 4 starter.
Antunez is a young infielder who is more of a lottery ticket. The 19 year old had an .829 OPS with more walks than strikeouts in the FCL. He just got promoted to Low-A, and seems like a prospect with plenty of helium. Antunez is a well rounded profile who can do a bit of everything, which the Nats seem to like. Overall, I think this is a fair return for Griffin, who is a rental.
One player who I do not think is going anywhere is CJ Abrams. Toboni will listen to offers, but in the end, I do not think he will pull the trigger. Boston may come close, but in the end, it just will not happen. Abrams just means too much to this team and this city. Unless the offer is just too good to refuse, a trade is not happening. In the end, I do not think Toboni gets that godfather offer he is looking for.
A trade could happen in the offseason, but I hope the two sides have real dialogue on an extension. With changes to the CBA coming, there is a chance extensions could be easier for teams to pull off in the new baseball world. For that reason, and the fact the Nats are not years away, I think they hold off on an Abrams trade.
Despite the losing lately, I still think the Nats pull off one buying move for a reliever. I am not that confident in this prediction, but I think the Nats land Sam Bachman of the Angels for Luke Dickerson and Yeremy Cabrera.
Bachman has not put everything together yet, but he has shown flashes of being a late inning weapon. The former top 10 pick has a 99 MPH sinker, but throws his filthy slider even more. He finishes off his arsenal with a changeup that gets a lot of whiffs against left handed pitching.
IF the Padres go looking for bullpen help, Sam Bachman from the Angels would be an interesting add.
4.5 years of team control, 3.94 xFIP & 3.95 ERA this season.
He is not a finished product yet, but Bachman has the potential to be a high leverage arm, and he has 4.5 years of control. Dickerson and Cabrera are two prospects with plenty of upside, but are still far from the majors. Cabrera was a smaller piece in the MacKenzie Gore trade. While the 21 year old had a ton of success in Low-A, High-A has been more of a challenge for him. Dickerson has big time offensive upside, but has been moving slowly since getting a monster bonus in the second round.
Cabrera is also Rule 5 eligible this offseason. It is a package that should intrigue the Angels for a reliever with promise but inconsistencies. This is also not really a package the Nats would feel much. Maybe it is a little bit too rich, but I am not the highest on either of those two prospects.
This should be a fun deadline with plenty of action. With Skubal going to LA last night, the floodgates have really opened. We are in for a big finish to the trade season. Let me know what you think will happen in the final hours before the trade deadline in the comments below.
Chris Getz, please buy batteries! | (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Special Note: This article was written on the afternoon of August 1, hours before the White Sox received Luis Castillo in exchange for Seranthony Domínguez, Nolan Jones and Boston Smith. The White Sox clearly feel like they can turn around Castillo’s decline. I don’t see him as a meaningful upgrade over Erick Fedde and Anthony Kay, so the crux of this analysis remains unchanged.
It’s not often that the White Sox are buyers at the deadline — there’s an incident in the team’s recent history called “the White Flag trade,” and I think that sums everything up nicely. The last few trade deadlines have conjured the image of the White Sox as a shambled beggar, traveling door-to-door to offer smashed bric-a-brac for pocket change in a thinly disguised request for charity. “Please sir, may I have anything for this rusty Eloy Jiménez?”
The last time the White Sox got to buy at the deadline was back in 2021. That push netted the Sox a return of Craig Kimbrel, César Hernández and Ryan Tepera. They combined for a grand total of -0.1 bWAR to end that season, and the former two have Mr. Tapioca to thank for nearly breaking even.
The greatest trade in White Sox history, of course, is the Oct. 19, 1949 one-for-one swap between the Pale Hose and the Philadelphia Athletics: 21-year-old Nellie Fox straight up for backup catcher Joe Tipton. Nellie compiled 47.3 bWAR in 14 seasons for the White Sox and was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, Joe Tipton stacked up a paltry 2.7 bWAR in his three years with the Athletics, then got himself banned from baseball in 1959 for gambling. (This was back when people still cared about that sort of thing.)
Not every trade can be Fox-for-Tipton, but that doesn’t mean the club should settle for Tepera and the Pips. The first step toward a good deadline is to identify the obvious areas of need.
Let’s break them all down from least to most, starting with the infield:
I mean, you can’t really ask for much more here. Every starter has a bWAR of 2.0 or above and the “worst” one is a rangy shortstop who is on pace for 39 home runs a 92nd percentile Outs Above Average on Baseball Savant:
I am going on record as saying the infield is fine as is. A special congratulations to White Sox GM Chris Getz for finding a useful backup shortstop on his journey to find a starting center fielder.
Speaking of Getz’s luck, let’s take a look at a group of relievers who have managed to become all-around effective despite their $20 million closer being demoted to middle relief duty and then traded away:
Every single arm at Will Venable’ disposal has an ERA+ better than 100. The three-headed fireman is still thriving in high leverage, Jordan Hicks is suddenly awesome and Trevor Richards has been so good that nobody makes fun of him for stealing Sisqo’s hair. Maybe they fall apart in September, because bullpens are more temperamental than a souffle in an earthquake, but there’s nothing today that suggests it.
Up next is the outfield, which is an even bigger surprise than the bullpen:
Tristan Peters has swung a cold bat recently, but he’s still a terrific center fielder who has anchored the defense all season. Sam Antonacci has been culled into emergency left fielder duty thanks to the law Mayor Daley passed in 1994 that says the White Sox can only use converted infielders in that spot. Fortunately, it’s the easiest spot to outhit your glove, and Antonacci has done that and then some. Montgomery is the right fielder of the future, so there’s no sense in bouncing the switch-hitter out of this lineup. Everson Periera isn’t lighting the world on fire, but only a World Series favorite should be saying things like, “We really need to upgrade our fourth outfielder!”
The next group are technically outfielders, I guess, but in practice they’re designated hitters:
“OK David, you clearly want me to ask you who Randy Roo Bunichuk is.” You’re right, I do! He’s what you get when you combine Grichuk’s splits against left-handed pitchers and Benintendi’s right-handed splits. Will Venable has been so aggressive about pinch-hitting one for the other this season that Benichuk may as well be the real guy. Randy Roo Benichuk is also on pace for 37 doubles, 27 home runs and 103 runs batted in. I hope Venable gets even crazier with it. Before the end of this season, mark my words, there will be a game where Venable is going to pinch-hit one for the another before the fourth inning and I am going to go online and defend it.
We’re getting down to brass tacks now. I don’t want to quibble about the order of these two needs. You could convince me to flip-flop them if you gave me a beer and a compliment. I won’t argue about this, however; they are the two biggest deadline needs for the 2026 White Sox by leaps and bounds:
Catcher:
Poor Kyle Teel. This should have been his breakout season. Instead, it’s a coin toss whether he will recover in time for the playoffs. Even if he does return, could he be expected to carry the lion’s share of the catching duties?
What’s been in his stead has been, lets call it “not ideal.” Edgar Quero has regressed precipitously, the one glaring failure on the 26-man roster for an otherwise successful development year for the staff. Drew Romo hit a few home runs early but now hasn’t been a winning player in months.
It feels mean to say neither of them have done anything well, but I can’t think of a better way to phrase it. Besides the hitting, Quero and Romo have been outright reckless with their ABS challenges at times. Quero’s catching percentiles in Savant are bleaker to look at than Saturn Devouring his Son, and Romo spent the early part of his year jockeying for the league lead in passed balls. The White Sox can perhaps carry one mediocre player in their lineup, but they can ill afford a position that subtracts from winning.
(One) Starting Pitcher:
Before shining the most critical light on this group, I do want to pay them a compliment. Burke, Martin, Kay and Fedde have all exceeded expectations. Davis Martin has regressed recently, but there’s no denying his balanced six-pitch mix. After giving up four runs in the first inning of his last start against the Yankees, Martin bore down and broke the 100-pitch plateau, holding the Bronx Bombers to nothing else. His mental resilience is incredible. He’s a playoff starter.
Sean Burke has broken now more recently, but his numbers are no joke. Burke ranks fifth the American League in strikeouts (140) and fourth in bWAR, and he’s only getting stronger as the season rolls along. He’s a playoff starter.
Now it starts to get dicey: Both Erick Fedde and Anthony Kay have been league average overall, but it’s been up-and-down with both of them. When it’s good, it’s good. When it’s bad, batten down the hatches:
Both men are worth having, but neither is somebody you’d feel comfortable with in an elimination game. That goes double for Noah Schultz, who just doesn’t have it yet. It’s not his fault that a playoff window opened so early but its where we’re at. Schultz is the future, but any action he sees in October should be from the bullpen.
Our final list calls for a starting pitcher and a catcher. Hey Getz, please buy batteries!
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 12: Spencer Strider #99 of the Atlanta Braves walks off the field after being removed from the game during the fourth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on June 12, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Lost in the shuffle of everything that happened before, during and after Saturday night’s win for the Braves over the Nationals, we got a little bit of a serious update that was buried near the end of a Mark Bowman tweet from during last night’s game.
While Bowman was laying out what Atlanta’s starting pitching options currently look like, he noted that Spencer Strider might very well be done for the 2026 season.
Braves rotation options Sale Elder Perez Holmes Ritchie Smith-Shawver Murphy
Injured Lopez — left knee inflammation Schwellenbach — Maybe September Waldrep — getting second opinions on elbow Strider — Also likely done for the season. Locker was cleared out last homestand
Now, there have been rumors (or scuttlebutt, even, as Bowman himself described it as a few days ago) for a while that whatever was ailing Spencer Strider was enough to where it didn’t seem likely that the right-hander would be back in action any time soon and the fact that his locker has been cleared out seems to confirm that he likely won’t be coming back any time soon.
If so, then so ends another frustratingly injury-plagued season for Strider ever since having internal brace surgery on his throwing elbow back in April 2024. Strider was only able to pitch 39 innings this season where he ended up with an ERA of 5.31 (126 ERA-) and a FIP of 5.36 (129 FIP-) — a far cry from the numbers he was putting up in 2023 when he was one of the most electric pitchers in baseball at the time.
Ever since the surgery, he’s been trying to figure out a new way to pitch and adjust to what his arm is capable of throwing and unfortunately, injuries have played a big role in tripping Strider up and stunting any progress that he can make. Assuming he doesn’t come back this season, this is yet another stumbling block for Strider and really unfortunate considering all the effort that’s gone into making his way back from the injury.
Meanwhile, the point that Bowman was ultimately trying to address in that linked post is clear: The Atlanta Braves need starting pitching help. There are far more question marks than answers when it comes to the starting rotation and heroics from Martín Pérez aside, that is not what you want to have to choose from when it comes t a Postseason roster and any type of playoff series rotation. The Braves absolutely have to address their starting rotation, especially now that they likely won’t have Strider to rely on going forward in 2026.
Over on Batters-Box, the veteran outfielder owns a strong matchup rating and has gone over this prop in five of his last 10 games with a strong rating.
Hernandez has also been swinging a hot bat against left-handed pitching. Across his last 60 at-bats against southpaws, he's posted a .481 SLG, .848 OPS, and .371 wOBA.
Despite Bennett putting together a strong season overall, he has struggled against right-handed hitters recently. The last 30 righties he has faced have produced a .390 xBA, .672 xSLG, and .386 xwOBA against him.
I think Hernandez is one of the strongest looks on tonight's slate. I'd play this down to +120, although I'd avoid going any shorter since he's hitting lower in the L.A. lineup.
Emmet Sheehan Over 1.5 earned runs (-162)
I would like to imagine the Red Sox are looking to rain on the Dodgers' parade after they landed left-hander Tarik Skubal from the Tigers last night.
Boston draws right-hander Emmet Sheehan, who owns a poorly rated matchup ISO and ground ball profile on Batters-Box. The Dodgers starter has hit a rough patch, posting a 5.17 ERA over his last three outings while allowing nearly a 40% hard hit rate and a 9.3% barrel rate. At home this season, opposing hitters have generated a 44% hard hit rate against him.
The Red Sox offense has been rolling over its last six games, posting a 112 wRC+, .178 ISO, and .754 OPS. This team's turnaround has been unbelievable to watch, and I think it comes into Sunday looking to spoil the Dodgers' big weekend on national television.
I wouldn't play this at a worse number. If the price moves, I'd rather pivot to an alternate first-five team total of 2.5.
Wilyer Abreu Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (+111)
Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu owns one of the strongest matchup ratings in this game. Entering Sunday night, Abreu carries a strong Batters-Box rating while also boasting 60% arsenal coverage against Emmet Sheehan.
In 42 road games with a strong Batters-Box rating, Abreu has gone over this prop 57.14% of the time. He's recorded at least three combined hits + runs + RBI in 45% of those games, while collecting multiple hits nearly 31% of the time. Those are some impressive trends whenever he earns a strong rating.
Sheehan has also struggled against left-handed hitters recently. The last 60 lefties he has faced have posted a .513 xSLG and .471 xwOBA, while elevating the ball 76.9% of the time.
With the way Boston's offense has looked throughout this series, I think Abreu will have plenty of opportunities to cash this prop.
Play this down to +100.
How to watch Red Sox vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Sunday, August 2, 2026
First pitch
7:20 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
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.
The Blues’ 76-point demolition of the reigning premiers Brisbane indicated just how much the club’s young talent is responding to Fraser
There’s no real ‘aura’ about him. There’s no corporate speak. There are no vows to ‘lean into it’, to ‘own it’, or to ‘make Carlton great again’. There’s just the most low-key of locums, a very un-Carlton-like figure, a man who’s done the hard slog of coaching at the lower levels, who’s been able to mend what was a demoralised group. And there are a lot of wins. There’s a solid body of evidence that Josh Fraser knows what he’s doing, that his players are responding to him and that he’s the right man for the job. Whoever gets the nod, given the young talent on display on the weekend in a 76-point demolition of the reigning premiers Brisbane, it will be a good job to get.
Still, prior to the weekend’s 24.10 (154) to 11.12 (78) win, few had Carlton pegged as anything more than a lower middle-class team – honest and vastly improved under their new coach yes, but probably no threat to the higher echelon of the competition. But their performance against Brisbane is probably as well as they’ve played since the opening round of the 2024 season, when they mowed down the Lions at the Gabba in one of the biggest comebacks in the history of the game. On Saturday they posted their biggest score since August 2012 when they walloped an Essendon team that started the season well but fell in a heap after Stephen Dank’s peptides wore off. Carlton being Carlton, they then sacked Brett Ratten 12 days later.
To keep this feature going, I’m going to post simply the WPA numbers and plays of the game, and a poll so you can vote on your choice for Player of the Game. Thomas will update the Rizzo Award standings when he returns.
Game 111, July 31: Cubs 5, Yankees 2 (63-48)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Pete Crow-Armstrong (.290). 2-4, 3B, 2 R
Hero: Nico Hoerner (.247). 2-4, HR
Sidekick: Alex Bregman (.068) 1-2, 2 BB, R
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Michael Busch (-.096). 1-4, RBI
Goat: Dansby Swanson (-.096). 0-3
Kid: Carson Kelly (-.075). 1-4
It’s unusual to have a tie like that with a number like -.096. I broke the tie and selected Busch as the Billy Goat because of his error that led to a Yankees run.
WPA Play of the Game: Pete Crow-Armstrong’s triple in the seventh (.246).
Cubs Play of the Game: Spencer Jones’ homer in the top of the seventh that gave the Yankees a temporary lead (.214).
Nico Hoerner’s game-tying homer produced just a bit less WPA than PCA’s triple at .232.
Up next: The Yankees will send right-hander Gerrit Cole against Cubs right-hander Colin Rea.
In general, I look at “draft grading” as a three-part exercise.
The first phase takes place during the draft selection itself and then in its immediate aftermath, where you are mainly analyzing who the team is taking and how they navigated the overall process. There’s a lot more emotion and opinion involved in this phase than anywhere else, since immediate reactions are more visceral than ones made with more data in front of us.
Over the next few days, phase two begins. You can revisit picks with more information about the players that were selected. Players begin signing, and after a few weeks, you can take stock in the total talent infusion that the team is actually receiving. Individuals like the GM/POBO and their scouting directors will have given interviews and soundbites into their though processes and the philosophy behind what they were doing.
The final evaluation period doesn’t take place until years after the draft- enough time has to actually pass so that players can mature and we can take a true look back to see how the team developed them (or not) and how they panned out. What might’ve looked good at the time, as has so often been the case in baseball history, might not have actually worked out in the long run.
It’s been a few weeks since the draft took place, and we’re firmly in phase two. The deadline to sign players has passed, some players have made their professional debuts, and things are set. In the immediate aftermath of the draft, I was extremely underwhelmed, shocked to a certain degree, and somewhat concerned: this was a bad draft. Having had some time now to digest things and become familiar with all of the players involved, my opinion has softened a little bit, but still I feel that the Mets did quite poorly here.
Expectations weren’t especially high for this year’s draft. Because of their 2025 record (83-79), penalties for signing free agents, and luxury tax penalties, the Mets would be making their first selection with the 27th overall pick and would have a $6,730,900 bonus pool to work with, the third-smallest after the Dodgers ($3,951,900) and the Blue Jays ($5,543,100). That is to say, I didn’t think that Roch Cholowsky was going tell other teams not to select him so that he could be available for the Mets at 27, and that after him they would go on a run selecting a bunch of high-profile high school players who would magically agree to underslot agreements for the honor of playing in the organization.
With all that in mind, my personal philosophy regarding the draft was to be conservative: with a single pick within the top 30, just two in the top 100, and not all that much money to work with, I thought it would be most prudent to play things safe and not take gambles on the high-risk-but-high-upside plays; when you only have two big swings, make them count. That didn’t have to mean that the players targeted would not have moderate-to-high ceilings, but rather, that players higher floors should be prioritized.
For good or bad, the Mets did the exact opposite. With their first-round pick, they took Carson Wiggins and with their third-round pick, they took Aiden Robbins.
Now, don’t get me wrong, both of those guys have as much upside as anyone else available in the draft when they were selected, but the amount of risk in their respective profiles seems disproportionate as compared to comparably selected players.
Carson Wiggins, while the fastball-breaking ball combination is truly enticing, has a UCL that is already damaged goods, and because of the damage to it and the resulting UCL internal brace surgery, has virtually no track record against live hitting. Robbins, who has the combination of power, speed, and athleticism that you want every player to have, is very likely to need an overhaul of his swing mechanics to go along with some much-needed work on his eye for spin– and the Mets as an organization do not have the best track record currently with either.
What gets me is that there were players with almost literally the same profiles as Wiggins and Robbins who were available when the Mets made their first and third round selections but with what we could perceive as much safer floors. Tegan Kuhns was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 32nd overall pick and has a potential upside just as high as Carson Wiggins with his own plus fastball and plus curve. He agreed to terms with the Cards for a $3,044,600 signing bonus, within the same realm as Wiggins and his $3,466,500 signing bonus. Those same Cardinals also drafted Dee Kennedy with the 114th overall pick in the 4th round, a player extremely analogous to Robbins both statistically this past season (Kennedy hit 20 home runs to Robbins’ 24 and posted a 1.194 OPS to Robbins’ 1.120) and approach (aggressively pulling-and-lifting balls at the expense of some swing-and-miss, especially breaking balls). He agreed to terms St. Louis for a $684,300 signing bonus, exactly slot value and almost $315,000 less than Robbins received.
In the later rounds, the team did their usual thing of identifying collegiate players that had interesting traits regardless of their performance or health track records. Having had success doing so with players such as Will Watson, or Jack Wenninger, or Zac Thornton, I have no real problem with the strategy, as college baseball is a different beast from professional baseball and results don’t really matter too much. While high school players are raw lumps of clay to be molded by professional teams, college players are only slightly more formed. Colleges play for results, not development.
What made things different this year was that the organization was selecting these kinds of players and signing them to mostly slot or even over slot deals. Fourth rounder Shane Sdao signed for $642,600, $2,500 under the MLB-assigned slot value for his pick. Fifth rounder Luke McNeillie was signed for $497,500, $25,000 over slot. Sixth rounder Alex Petrovic was signed for $364,600, exactly slot value. Seventh rounder Aiden Keenan was signed for $350,000, $62,200 over slot. Eighth rounder Landon Koenig signed for $229,600, $2,500 under slot. Ninth rounder Ryan Tayman signed for $204,700, $2,500 under slot. Tenth Rounder Nate Isler signed for $148,500, $46,700 under slot. That comes out to an additional $32,800 from the bonus pool that was spent on collegiate pitchers.
Compare to the 2025 draft, when Cam Tilly was the only collegiate player selected in rounds 4-10 who signed for over slot value ($397,500 to a slot value of $254,000). The other players in that group- Payton Prescott, Nathan Hall and Tyler McLoughlin- all signed for below slot value, a total savings of $422,200- $278,700 subtracting the $143,500 that went to Tilly. With the additional savings that the team was able to work out with first-rounder Mitch Voit and second-rounder Antonio Jimenez, the team was able to allocate those funds to a bunch of high school players, drafting and signing Peter Kussow ($341,700 over slot), Cam Lohman ($584,300 over slot), and Anthony Frobose ($193,200 over slot) in those middle rounds.
The Mets simply did not have the financial flexibility to make reasonable or even long-shot selections of high upside high school players this year. They ended up drafting two, Jacob Madrid in the 13th round and Marcus Ward in the 18th round, with the former signing for $197,500, a $47,500 overage for post-tenth-round selections and the latter honoring his commitment to Western Carolina University. The last man on the board, the Mets only had $35,945 left in their bonus pool to offer Ward, for a maximum signing bonus of $185,945. Personally, I prefer Ward to Madrid, but I do not see either possessing particularly high upside at this point. Given how the Mets’ navigated this draft, the necessary funds to entice any prep player with higher upside still available simply wasn’t there.
As a writer for Amazin’ Avenue, I have been involved in draft coverage in one way or another since 2013, initially just profiling potential draftees but then starting in 2016, providing full draft coverage, from retrospectives and reviews to previews and player profiles. All in all, this was one of the weaker drafts I have provided coverage for. With the major league team having a historically bad season and the minor league system lost a lot of its luster due to player promotions and general underperformance, an underwhelming draft could not have come at a worse time.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 07: Brady Singer #51 of the Cincinnati Reds stands at the pitcher's mound with Tyler Stephenson #37 during an official review in a baseball game against the Miami Marlins at Great American Ball Park on July 07, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, it looks as if the Cincinnati Reds won’t be acquiring two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal this deadline.
The Los Angeles Dodgers predictably fired a broadside shot across the league by reportedly acquiring the Detroit Tigers ace late on Saturday night, and when that deal goes through the reigning World Series champs will add yet another decorated arm to their already ridiculous cast of starting pitchers. Eventually, that will include the likes of Shohei Ohtani, fellow two-time CYA winner Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, and just about anyone else they deem worthy of said opportunity.
What that does is not only cement them as likely favorites for another World Series title, it takes away the potential ace that could’ve vaulted the likes of the Milwaukee Brewers, or Atlanta Braves, above them for those odds.
For Cincinnati, it likely doesn’t end up meaning that much in the grand scheme. Unless, of course, it pushes the rest of the sport to pivot to perhaps the next best arm available on the market, and Hunter Greene has seen his name repeatedly pop up in those conversations despite most signs pointing towards the Reds not being willing to move him at this time.
On the secondary pitching market, the surprisingly potent Chicago White Sox sprung for former Reds ace Luis Castillo, adding him from Seattle in a late night move that will bolster their nascent rotation. Rumor has it they aren’t done adding starting pitching, and Brady Singer sure does seem like the kind of pitcher who’d be a fit for them for this particular stretch run.
Speaking of Atlanta, Singer seems like he’d be a durable workhorse fit for their beat up rotation, too. They just lost Reynaldo Lopez to the 15-day IL with a knee problem, and that worsens a group that’s already down Spencer Strider for the rest of the season. Singer’s ability to eat innings would be of great value there, and we’ve now got just over 24 hours to see whether they’ve got the chops to pry Singer away from the Reds at this juncture.
As for the rest of the pending free agents on the Reds roster, it’s mostly been crickets aside from Tyler Stephenson. Several teams – the New York Yankees, in particular – have been linked to acquiring the Reds backstop. Nate Lowe and Eugenio Suarez, meanwhile, haven’t had a robust rumor market…so far.
There’s a lot left to shake out before tomorrow’s August 3rd deadline hits, but fully expect the Reds to be active as last night’s loss to the Pirates once again sunk them six games under .500 and 5.5 games back of the National League’s final Wild Card spot.
On this day 44 years ago, controversy surrounding the job status of Tony La Russa overshadowed the Hall of Fame Game. | Chicago Tribune
1901 A 7-0 win over Detroit made it three straight shutouts for the White Sox. The Tigers were the victims of all three whitewashes: Clark Griffith’s 2-0 win on July 31, Nixey Callahan’s 4-0 one-hitter (the first in Sox history) on August 1, and Roy Patterson’s 7-0 two-hitter to end the run. Both of Patterson’s safeties allowed were singles, and he faced the near-minimum of 28 batters. Herm McFarland and Jimmy Burke both doubled for the South Siders, driving in five of the seven runs of the day.
Detroit finally took some revenge for all of the shutouts in the series finale the next day, upending Callahan in a relief appearance two days after a one-hitter, 8-6.
1906 A White Sox winning streak of 19 games — an American League record that stood alone for 41 years (later tied by the New York Yankees) and was only surpassed in 2002 by the Oakland A’s (20 games) — began with a 3-0 win over the Boston Americans. It was the start of three straight shutouts for the team as well.
The Hitless Wonders began their streak in fourth place, with a 50-43 record, 7 1⁄2 games out of first. By its 19th straight win, on August 23, the club was 69-43 and 5 1⁄2 games up on the rest of the American League.
Some other facts about the streak:
The first 11 wins came at home
The 12th game during the streak was a nine-inning scoreless tie against the New York Highlanders
The seventh and eighth wins of the streak were walk-off victories in 10 innings
Only one of the wins during the streak took more than two hours to play (2:05)
There was a doubleheader sweep during the streak (wins 17 and 18, at New York, on August 22 after a rainout on August 21)
Ed Walsh won seven games during the streak, Doc White five
Including five games prior to the start of the streak, the White Sox won 23 of 24 games
The White Sox went the entire month of August without losing a game by more than two runs (one two-run loss, three one-run losses)
Despite the streak, the White Sox fell back out of first place twice in September, by as many as two games, before taking the AL lead for good on September 25
1921 After deliberating for just two hours, a Chicago jury found the eight “Black Sox” players innocent of conspiring to commit fraud by virtue of fixing the 1919 World Series.
The players expected to return to the White Sox, but commissioner Kenesaw Landis permanently banished them — destroying the only team that could have kept pace with the Yankees throughout the 1920s. It also sunk the franchise into a spiral that saw only seven winning seasons between 1921 and 1950.
The players expected to go back to the Sox but then Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis permanently banished them, destroying the only team that could have played with the Yankees throughout the 1920’s. It also sunk the franchise into a spiral that saw only seven winning seasons between 1921 and 1950.
One of the players, Buck Weaver, maintained his innocence until his death and applied for reinstatement many times, without success.
In 2025, commissioner Rob Manfred deemed deceased players “unbanned” and thus the Black Sox are technically “reinstated” into baseball. The cosmetic status change is unlikely to help Joe Jackson or Eddie Cicotte in Hall of Fame bids, however.
1936 After clobbering the Red Sox, 9-1, in a Sunday doubleheader opener, the White Sox fell behind in the nightcap, 10-1, by the midpoint of the game. However, the South Siders swept to the second-biggest comeback win in their history by rallying to tie the game at 11 in the late innings and triumphing with a walk-off in the 12th.
The key element of the comeback was a five-hit, five-run rally in the eighth that brought the White Sox to 11-9. In the bottom of the ninth, with two outs, Rip Radcliff singled in Jackie Hayes (double) and Tony Piet (walk) to tie the game. (With the sacks packed, Zeke Bonura flied out deep to left to keep the game tied, 11-11, in regulation.)
In extras, Italo Chelini threw three scoreless innings of three-hit ball at the Red Sox. Meanwhile in the 12th, Hayes singled in Larry Rosenthal (double) with two outs and ducks on the pond to complete the comeback.
The White Sox improved to 54-46, good for third place in the AL, 12 games back.
1968 The White Sox and Senators completed a trade, as infielders Tim Cullen and Ron Hansen were exchanged. Why was this notable? Because the same two players were traded for each other, by the same two clubs, on February 13! The pair became the first two players traded for one another twice in the same season. Cullen and Hansen even wore the same uniform number with the White Sox and had the identical locker location — and when Hansen came back into Comiskey Park as a member of the White Sox, his 1967 uniform was hanging inside!
1979 Tony La Russa replaced Don Kessinger as White Sox manager. The Tampa native, who had passed the bar exam in Florida, was only 35 years old. He remained White Sox manager until June 1986. La Russa posted winning records in 1981-83 and 1985, and won the Western Division in the 1983 season.
La Russa was fired by GM Ken Harrelson because of basic conflicts on how the team should be run. Owner Jerry Reinsdorf later publicly admitted letting La Russa go was one of the worst mistakes he ever made, and he’d eventually attempt to rectify it by getting La Russa out of retirement to come back as manager for a 2021 season that saw the Sox win the AL Central with 93 victories.
Kessinger, as a player-manager, had the rare experience of having his firing also end his playing career, at age 37.
1982 The story of the moment was White Sox was owner Eddie Einhorn continuing to put manager Tony La Russa on the hot seat, but the arrival of the club in Cooperstown for the Hall of Fame Game gave Hall-of-Famers Luke Appling and Al Lopez, in town for induction ceremonies, a chance to defend the skipper to Chicago press. The White Sox were coming off of a sweep of the Red Sox but stood at just 52-49, in third place in the AL West.
The White Sox tied the Mets, 4-4, in a Hall of Fame Game called after eight innings due to rain. Rookie Chris Nyman paced the White Sox attack, with a single, double and three RBIs. An early lead in the game was lost in the eighth when veteran Rusty Staub hit a solo homer off of Low-A 1B/OF/P (yes, an actual two-way player in the White Sox system!) Mike Henley.
The White Sox played better in the second half, finishing 87-75 — but remaining in third place in the AL West, six games out of first.
1985 What would become an incredible weekend in New York started with perhaps the most unusual play in White Sox history.
As a national TV audience watched on NBC, and with pitcher Britt Burnson the mound, Rickey Henderson slammed a double to left-center, over the head of center fielder Luis Salazar. Yankees base runners Bobby Meacham (on second base) and Dale Berra (at first) had different reads on the ball, because it looked like Salazar might have been able to make the catch — or perhaps Reid Nichols, in left.
Meacham went back toward second base to tag up before reversing course, the stumbled running the bases and was nearly passed by Berra, who had taken off sprinting from first base. When the ball finally came to rest on the warning track in deep left field near the 411-foot mark, only about 20 feet separated the two runners. Salazar picked up the ball and fired it to shortstop Ozzie Guillén as Meacham and Berra rounded third. Third-base coach Gene Michael tried to get Berra to hold up, but it was too late. Guillén relayed the ball to catcher Carlton Fisk in plenty of time to tag Meacham, who didn’t slide and instead tried unsuccessfully to knock the ball out of Fisk’s glove.
Fisk did a “matador” on Meacham for the first out of the inning. Meacham did succeed in twirling Fiskaround slightly so that he wasn’t facing the field, but the catcher recovered in time to tag Berra, who also did not slide. It was scored an 8-6-2 double play.
That’s two for the price of one at home plate!
To cap things off, the Sox won the game, 6-5, in 11 innings.
1990 In the first game of a doubleheader, first baseman Frank Thomas made his major league debut in Milwaukee. The greatest hitter in franchise history went 0-for-4 in his first game. (The next night, Frank narrowly missed a home run in the seventh inning when his line shot hit the top of the wall in right field and went for a triple, for his first major league hit.) The White Sox ended up sweeping five games from the Brewers that weekend.
A bit of trivia; when Thomas came up with the Sox, he did not wear No. 35. He was No. 15.
Also in the doubleheader opener, Alex Fernandez made his major-league debut, starting the game and going seven innings of five-hit ball, with two earned runs, two walks and four Ks. Ironically, Fernandez had been drafted in the first round in 1988 by the Brewers but did not sign; earlier in the summer, the White Sox made him the No. 4 overall choice and got him to this big-league debut after just eight total minor-league starts.
Fernandez was in line for his first career win, but reliever Barry Jones blew the lead. It was Thomas, with an RBI fielder’s choice grounder in the top of the ninth, that provided the GWRBI in a 4-3 win.
Thomas was the White Sox first-rounder in 1989, and it’s safe to say back-to-back first round picks have otherwise never, before or since, made their debuts in the same game for the team. Thomas would end his White Sox career at 68.3 WAR, second all-time; Fernandez’s 20.3 WAR makes him the 22nd-best franchise pitcher ever.
2016 When White Sox outfielder Charlie Tilson was helped off the field in Detroit he became, incredibly, the fourth player making his major league debut for the club to be injured and not be able to finish the game that season. Previously, catcher Kevan Smith injured his back in pregame warmups and was placed on the injured list, outfielder Jason Coats suffered a cut lip and a mild concussion after a collision, and infielder Matt Davidson broke a bone in his foot running the bases and was placed on the injured list. Tilson tore his left hamstring in this game, also heading to the IL.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JULY 29: Jeremy Peña #3 of the Houston Astros celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 29, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As we close in on the August 3rd 5pm CT MLB trade deadline, this will be the place for trade news and rumor updates. It will be updated as more news and info comes out.
August 2: RUMORS
Could an Astros sweep of the Rangers cause Texas to raise the white flag?
Buyers or sellers? For Rangers, decision might come down to one game. Story, unlocked and free to read: https://t.co/ZCkqIo1r6a
Sunday Notebook: Emotional MLB deadline leaves Giants' ace Logan Webb holding down the fort once close friend Robbie Ray departs https://t.co/FKJ9ngFxrR
In this piece from Bob Nightengale, here is what he reports as it relates to the Astros:
The Houston Astros jumped into the sweepstakes for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, but realistically, would be quite pleased to acquire Robbie Ray of the San Francisco Giants. They were on the verge of a deal with the Minnesota Twins for left-handed hitting outfielder Trevor Larnach in exchange for reliever Bryan Abreu this past week, but it was nixed by the Astros at the last minute.
Astros third baseman Carlos Correa is trying to make a miracle comeback this season, just like the team. Correa was expected to be out for the season when he underwent surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in his left ankle in May, but his recovery is much quicker than expected. He has already begun baseball activities.
Meanwhile, the Astros, who were 20-31 on May 20 with wild speculation they would start dumping players, stayed the course and opened Saturday sitting in first place in the AL West.
August 1: RUMORS
Sources: The Astros and Twins had agreed to a trade that would send Bryan Abreu to the Twins for Trevor Larnach. In the 11th hour, Astros owner Jim Crane nixed the trade. It is currently unclear if those talks will be revisited.
Now, I am including this rumor not because I trust the person making the report (the person reporting it has dubious credentials to say the least) but because of this report from Ken Rosenthal (who has impeccable credentials) which lends credence to the original post:
Trevor Larnach woke up to a report he’d been included in a failed trade with the Houston Astros, which led to a candid conversation with #MNTwins manager Derek Shelton. https://t.co/9SDdmju4at
It was further confirmed by Bob Nightengale in his Sunday notebook for 8/2:
The Houston Astros jumped into the sweepstakes for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, but realistically, would be quite pleased to acquire Robbie Ray of the San Francisco Giants. They were on the verge of a deal with the Minnesota Twins for left-handed hitting outfielder Trevor Larnach in exchange for reliever Bryan Abreu this past week, but it was nixed by the Astros at the last minute.
It should also be noted that since May 1, Abreu has a 2-1 record, a 2.20 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and 32 strikeouts over 28.2 innings pitched. He also seemingly has regained his role as primary setup man.
Bryan Abreu, reprising his role as setup man, will have the 8th.
Is this the day the Detroit Tigers fully engage in talks for ace Tarik Skubal? Who kicks off the 1st blockbuster? GMs weigh in with the latest they’re hearing https://t.co/e280TWPyuH
In this piece by Nighetngale, here is what he mentioned regarding the Astros:
The Boston Red Sox are giving up on the idea that Trevor Story will help them when he returns from the IL and are aggressively trying to acquire a shortstop. They are asking about everyone from Zach Neto of the Angels to C.J. Abrams of the Washington Nationals to Otto Lopez of the Miami Marlins to Jeremy Pena of the Houston Astros.
The Houston Astros and other teams keep asking about San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb. And they keep being told he’s not going anywhere. The Giants plan to keep outfielder Jung Hoo Lee and trade Heliot Ramos. They also are telling teams they are willing to eat part of starter Robbie Ray’s $25 million contract in a trade.
The Arizona Diamondbacks would love to find a first baseman, but have let teams know their biggest priority is relief pitching after removing Paul Sewald from the closer’s role this week.(this relates to speculation the Astros could trade/need to trade Christian Walker to free up money for other deals – PC)
The Blue Jays are willing to trade George Springer, who’s in the final year of his contract, but there’s limited demand for right-handed hitting DHs.(relates to Astros desperate need for OF help & affinity for former players. Springer has played only 7 innings of OF this season. Despite overall poor numbers this season, since returning from the IL July 8, Springer hit .290 for the month of July with 4 HR, 13 RBI, a .362 OBP and .878 OPS. Those are numbers the Astros lineup could certainly use – PC)
After turning the MLB world upside down last night (again) with their acquisition of Tarik Skubal, the Los Angeles Dodgers end a series with the Boston Red Sox as -154 favorites on Sunday Night Baseball.
This matchup is less about raw starter quality and more about whether each offense fits the opposing pitcher’s strengths. Jake Bennett needs chase and weak contact to survive, and L.A. is one of the worst opponents in baseball for that exact plan.
Here are my Red Sox vs Dodgers predictions and MLB picks for August 2.
Who will win Red Sox vs Dodgers tonight: Dodgers -1.5 (+124)
Bennett’s profile is built on chase, ranking in the 97th percentile at 37.8%. The Dodgers neutralize that better than almost anyone, with the second-lowest chase rate in baseball.
If Bennett has to live in the zone, his 18.0% strikeout rate leaves little margin against arguably the best contact-quality offense in the sport. This is a direct skill mismatch, and the Dodgers have the bats to exploit it.
Red Sox vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-106)
I’m playing the Under down to 8.
Emmet Sheehan’s best traits are chase and whiff, and Boston is more likely to cooperate than the Dodgers. Sheehan owns a 35% chase rate, while the Red Sox chase 32.4% of the time and whiff at a 25.7% clip.
There is some home-run risk with Sheehan because of his fly-ball profile and 9.8% barrel rate, but Boston is a below-average offense by most expected metrics.
I expect Los Angeles to control the game without needing a full slugfest.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 42-37, +8.58 units
Over/Under bets: 45-35, +10.80 units
Red Sox vs Dodgers weather
Red Sox vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Red Sox +142 | Dodgers -154
Run line: Red Sox +1.5 (-124) | Dodgers -1.5 (+124)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
Red Sox vs Dodgers trend
The Los Angeles Dodgers have hit the first-five innings moneyline in seven of their last 10 games (+7.15 Units / 47% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Red Sox vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Sunday, August 2, 2026
First pitch
7:20 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
Red Sox starting pitcher
Jake Bennett (6-4, 2.74 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Emmet Sheehan (4-7, 4.95 ERA)
Red Sox vs Dodgers 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.
HARRISBURG, PA - JULY 23: Raylin Heredia #23 of the Reading Fighting Phils bats during the game between the Reading Fightin Phils and the Harrisburg Senators at FNB Field on Thursday, July 23, 2026 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Casey Saussaman/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
There are some bright spots in the minor league system these days. Thank God, since there aren’t that many in the major leagues right now. How did the kids do?
Lehigh Valley 4, Buffalo 1
Keaton Anthony, frequenter of this list, had two hits on the evening, including a double to lead the offense in a win over the Bison. Newly acquired Kameron Misner homered for the IronPigs as well. On the mound, Alan Rangel bounced back with a solid performance, going 6 1/3 innings and allowing only one unearned run while striking out six.
Binghamton 10, Reading 5 Reading 5, Binghamton 4
How often does a minor league team hit three home runs in a game and still lose? That’s what happens when most of the home runs are solo shots. Bryan Rincon, Caleb Ricketts and Alex Binelas were the culprits of the home runs, Binelas and Ricketts having multi hit days to boost their stats. Rincon’s home run maybe was a showcase for others. The reason for the loss though lay solely at the feet of a pitching staff that struggled. Andy Seminaris only went three innings, giving up seven runs in the process.
In game two, Aroon Escobar took his turn hitting, going two for two with a two-run home run in the process. Raylin Heredia had two hits as well while Pedro Leon homered to lead the offense. On the mound, Braydon Tucker had five shutout innings in a great start for the Fightin’ Phils, striking out five and only allowing one hit.
Jersey Shore 2, Hudson Valley 0 Jersey Shore 14, Hudson Valley 6
It’s amazing what an influx of talent will do for a team. Armed with a roster that actually has a few names on it that will make one excited to watch it, Ramon Marquez shut down Hudson Valley in game one for five innings, only allowing three hits and one walk, striking out seven. That’s going to look good in a trade for anyone looking to acquire him.
In game two, a regular offensive explosion occurred. Nick Biddison and Tyler Pettorini had three hits each, Biddison missing out on a cycle by not homering in the game. Carter Mathison hit a three-run home run on the night as well. The best part of the night for the lineup was that each player had a hit, meaning there was production up and down the lineup.
Clearwater 9, Jupiter 2
Jonathan Hogart was the one with the big bat last night, going three for four with a home run and six, count ‘em six, RBI. That’s a solid evening at the plate. Matthew Ferrera homered as well for the Threshers while Robert Phelps had two hits as well. Pitching wise, it wasn’t a banner evening, but Matthew Fisher was decent, throwing four innings and giving up two runs on five hits and two walks, striking out five.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 09: Pitcher River Ryan #77 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning of a spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix on March 09, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Despite the jump to Double-A, he’s stayed within a shout of an average contact rate, and if he can just maintain that going forward, Hope will hit something like 35 homers a year given how hard he hits the ball and how effective he is at pulling and lifting it when he does make contact. His slugging has popped back up above .500 in Double-A as a 21-year-old and he has just enough barrel control (and more than enough strength) that even his bad contact can find holes, and he can drive it oppo and out off the end of the bat.
Hope in the Tulsa outfield was playing alongside Josue De Paula, the Dodgers’ top prospect, and Mike Sirota, a fellow top-100 prospect. The Dodgers farm system is full of stellar outfield prospects, including Eduardo Quintero in High-A Great Lakes and the more major-league-ready James Tibbs III and Zach Ehrhard in Triple-A. There won’t be room for all of these outfielders in Los Angeles, even on a staggered timeline. That’s reminiscent of how the Dodgers got Hope in the first place.
Michael Busch was a first-round pick of the Dodgers in 2019 and hit his way into relevance, winning Pacific Coast League MVP in 2023. That offseason the Dodgers signed a guy named Shohei Ohtani, which meant designated hitter was occupied, as was first base with fellow future Hall of Famer Freddie Freeman, and third base with Max Muncy, working his way up franchise home run lists. There was no place for Busch to play in Los Angeles, so they traded him to the Cubs, who needed his bat. Busch in nearly three years with Chicago has 68 home runs and a 124 wRC+, while the Dodgers got Hope and pitcher Jackson Ferris.
That’s how trades are supposed to work, with each team obtaining something they want.
The Dodgers got Ryan in more of an unheralded trade at the end of spring training in 2022. They traded Matt Beaty, who found a role as an extra hitter and occasional pinch-hitter with the Dodgers, but with the universal designated hitter coming to the National League his role was lessened. So Beaty went to the Padres for Ryan, a two-way player in college who batted in 12 games in the Arizona Complex League late in 2021.
Brady Smith was a third-round pick of the Dodgers in 2023, but then Tommy John surgery delayed his pro debut until June 2025. He has a 4.36 ERA and 4.13 FIP in 21 starts this season between Class-A and High-A with a 35.3-percent strikeout rate. Smith was second in the Dodgers minors in both strikeout rate and strikeout-minus-walk rate (25.9 percent) to only Christian Zazueta among all pitchers with at least 50 innings.
Teoscar Hernandez Over 1.5 total bases
Wilyer Abreu Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI
COVERS INTEL:
