NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR - JULY 04: David Davalillo #20 of the Frisco RoughRiders pitches during the game between the Frisco RoughRiders and the Arkansas Travelers at Dickey-Stephens Park on Friday, July 4, 2025 in North Little Rock, Arkansas. (Photo by Braeden Botts/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Congratulations to David Davalillo, who has been named the #11 prospect in the 2026 LSB Midseason Community Prospect Rankings, receiving a little under a quarter of the vote.
Our list so far:
1 — Sebastian Walcott
2 — Caden Scarborough
3 — Malcolm Moore
4 — A.J. Russell
5 — Yolfran Castillo
6 — Rafe Perich
7 — Dylan Dreiling
8 — Josh Owens
9 — Jose Corniell
10 — Dalton Pence
11 — David Davalillo
Moving on…
Because there has been a history of vote-spamming shenanigans in the rankings, I used Google Forms for the last several of community rankings, and it worked out well, so we will use it again. You will need to include your LSB user name when you vote. If you don’t have an LSB user name, you need to use some sort of identifier. While this won’t eliminate the possibility of vote spamming, it will make it harder.
So who is the #12 prospect in the Rangers system right now?
Before the All-Star break, I talked a couple of times about the number of walk-off wins, especially as compared to the number of Cubs who have saved a game in 2026. As I recall, both of those numbers sat at 10. Both of those numbers were unimaginably high in fewer than even 100 games. This was a kind of game that I don’t particularly remember the Cubs having this year. They came back from down 4-0 early and 5-3 late to ultimately get the game to extra innings. But this team has been magic completing their comebacks. Not this time, though. Despite having the winning run on second with no outs in the ninth, they failed to score. Hat tip to Kenley Jansen who is an All-Time great and very possibly a Hall of Famer. He wasn’t the dominant presence he once was, but he did find just enough to wiggle out of that jam.
These types of losses happen. Your comeback bid comes up short or the other team comes back after your comeback. For the first time in a while, one of these games that felt like it got away after you had appeared likely to win doesn’t feel soul crushing. You certainly hate to lose any game, much less one that you did a bunch of things right to be in a position to win. Unfortunately, there were a series of unusual occurrences in the 10th inning that added up to a loss. Because the team has been so good over the last month, it only feels frustrating and not potentially devastating.
Perspective check: Four teams have more wins than the Cubs, two have as many wins as the Cubs. The Cubs presently occupy the first Wild Card spot in the NL thanks to winning the season series against the Phillies. The Cubs are on pace for 90.7 wins. The lost caused the Cubs to lose just about a full game off of their projected win total. Over the next three weeks, we should really learn where this team will end up. A tough schedule awaits, the dog days of summer and in the middle of that is the trade deadline. We can assume that reinforcements of some level will join this team. Will it be enough to hold on to this top Wild Card slot?
As part of the things we don’t see a lot, this team scored six runs and lost. That is an exceedingly rare occurrence, even for this pitching-challenged team. I know moral victories don’t really move the needle, but this one felt good as losses go. It felt like this team was basically down 4-0 by the time the National Anthem was over. Jameson Taillon bounced back, did provide a little bit of work load and the bats clawed their way back into the game. Taillon didn’t do anywhere near well enough to be one of my positives, but getting a pretty decent string of outs had some value. I mean I do feel like I’m telling you that the ship had really nice lifeboats. But it isn’t nothing really. Maybe he can build forward on the outs that he did get.
Maybe the most frustrating part of this loss was that Ian Happ hit a massive home run to tie the game late. That moved him into sole possession of 11th in Cub history in homers. He’s been struggling a bit and the homer had to feel terrific. Of course, the injury to Trent Thornton who had at least reached the interesting list if not the circle of trust for the team. That ball was smoked off of his ankle and heel area. Obviously not a great sign when he couldn’t put weight on it.
Three Positives and Pete:
Ryan Rolison, six batters faced, five outs. It always feels like it always takes at least one pitcher holding the door open for the comeback. If nothing else, he controlled the bullpen usage in the game. As did Taillon bouncing back a little after the rough start.
Dansby Swanson with a single, double and walk in the game.
Seiya Suzuki stayed hot with the early two-run homer to ignite the comeback and another walk.
Pete Crow-Armstrong into a little funk now. A couple of nice defensive plays and how often do you see a guy 0-4 get intentionally walked by a generational closer?
Game 100, July 20: Tigers 8, Cubs 6 (56-44)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Ian Happ (.312). 1-4, HR, BB, 2 RBI, R
Hero: Dansby Swanson (.166). 2-4, 2B, BB
Sidekick: Ryan Rolison (.147). 1.2 IP, 6 BF
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Javier Assad ( -.272). IP, 7 BF, 2 H, BB, 1 R (0 ER), 2 K
WPA Play of the Game: Ian Happ’s two-run. game-tying homer in the eighth inning. (.392)
Tigers Play of the Game: Kenley Jansen’s strikeout of Seiya Suzuki for the second out of the ninth inning. (.209)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 99 Winner: Shota Imanaga received 62 of 77 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Pete Crow-Armstrong +18
Michael Busch +16
Carson Kelly +15.5
Ben Brown/Alex Bregman +13.5
Jameson Taillon/Phil Maton -10
Nico Hoerner -11
Caleb Thielbar/Dansby Swanson -14
Up Next: Game two of the three-game series. Hopefully, the Cubs can match the Twins series by dropping the first and winning the next two. David Peterson (4-7, 6.45) is the scheduled starter. The Cubs will be looking for some length out of him after using a lot of pen in game one.
Lefty Framber Valdez (5-6, 4.10) goes for the Tigers. He’s 3-2 with a 3.60 over his last seven starts (40 IP), so he has some good things going for him. The Cubs are 14-12 against a lefty starter. The Cubs have the highest on base percentage and second highest team OPS against lefties. This has been a thing for a couple of years. The team hits lefties well, but is rather middle of the road overall when a lefty starts. I think in general, the team hits lefty relievers better.
Let’s hope they can get to Valdez. The Tigers used a lot of pen too in game one.
The Kansas City Royals followed up a series win with a surreal 19-2 Sunday blowout, and this episode of the Royals Rundown Podcast sorts through all of it as the trade deadline inches closer.
Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco open with the series recap, balancing the positives of the win over the San Diego Padres against the lopsided defeats that characterize 2026. Salvador Perez’s chase for the Royals’ all-time home run record, Jac Caglianone’s slamming season, and Noah Cameron’s struggles Sunday lead the conversation.
On the health front, Bobby Witt Jr.’s latest injury scare and Stephen Kolek’s arm concerns both demand attention. The hosts assess what each situation means for lineup stability and pitching depth during a stretch where the Royals cannot afford to lose key contributors for any extended period.
Prospects Kendry Chourio, Josh Hammond, Angeibel Gomez, and Blake Mitchell all draw some praise after each has a standout start following the All-Star break. The 2026 draft class also gets a status update, with a look at which selections have signed and which remain unsigned.
The trade deadline conversation centers on a controversial proposal from Jim Bowden involving Michael Wacha and prospects. Jacob and Jeremy dissect the deal from both sides, examining what it would return, what it would cost, and whether it reflects a realistic valuation of Wacha’s market or the kind of media-driven speculation that rarely survives contact with actual front office negotiations.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 19: A.J. Minter #33 of the New York Mets throws a pitch in the seventh inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 19, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Mets won 6-1. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 season is an example of similar yet diverging paths in regard to the Phillies and the Mets. One team mostly brought back all of its regulars while the other did a dramatic offseason overhaul. One team thought they signed a free agent only for the other to swoop in at the last moment and land his services. But perhaps the biggest diversion on the timeline was late April, when both teams suffered brutal losing streaks but only one decided to fire their manager at that moment.
Fast forward to the trade deadline, and these two teams have gone in drastically different directions. The Phillies of course sit in prime postseason contention, having resurrected their season after Don Mattingly took over as manager. Meanwhile, the Mets fell way out of contention before finally firing manager Carlos Mendoza near the end of June despite the postseason then largely being out of reach. The Phillies are expected to be buyers this deadline season while the Mets seem to be open for business and listening on most of the players on their roster.
However, the Phillies will likely not be shopping in the upper tiers of the market, as they possess the 29th ranked farm system by Baseball America and therefore do not have much in the way of prospect capital to trade. They will be forced to look in the lower tiers of the market to try and plug their growing number of holes. One such hole is in the bullpen, as the unit was already underperforming before losing top setup man and prized free agent acquisition Brad Keller for the season. To be even more specific, the Phillies could use some left-handed relief pitching, as their bullpen has allowed the third worst batting average (.271) against lefties thanks in large part to the struggles of top lefty José Alvarado.
Luckily for the Phillies, there just so happens to be a nearby team willing to part with two effective left-handed relievers who could be within their price range.
The Mets possible fire sale may hit their pitching the hardest, with multiple players on rental contracts that do not figure to fit into their plans for next season. Two such players are A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley, a pair of lefty relievers with good numbers who are almost sure bets to be moved before the deadline arrives on August 3rd.
Minter, the longtime Brave who is now in his second season with the Mets after signing a two year, $22M deal before 2025, sports a 1.80 ERA through 20 appearances on the season. The 32-year-old was limited to just 11 innings last year due to lat surgery, but Minter is back healthy and pitching well in 2026. He has been one of the game’s best at getting left-handed hitters out over the course of his career, as over his ten seasons in the big leagues, Minter has limited lefties to a .220/.282/.315 batting line against. That success has continued this season, as lefties are hitting .235 with a .610 OPS and opponents overall are hitting .234 with a .647 OPS.
The downside to Minter is that he does not throw hard and his already light velocity is down from previous seasons. He’s averaging just under 93 MPH this season, down from 94.5 MPH in his last two seasons and 95.8 in his last fully healthy season in 2023. He also hasn’t struck many hitters out over the last few years, with his K rate plummeting to a career worst 21.8% this season. However, he has excelled in limiting walks this year, issuing just one in 20 innings of work.
The other lefty in the Mets bullpen that could be a target is Brooks Raley. Like Minter, Raley is a rental who is putting up strong numbers. The 38-year-old owns a 2.02 ERA through 40 appearances, and he too has owned lefties to the tune of a .176 AVG and .553 OPS against. However, also like Minter, Raley does not throw hard, as his 90.1 average fastball velocity ranks among the bottom of all qualified MLB pitchers. But Raley excels at limiting hard contact with his sweeper/cutter combination. His 5.2% barrel rate and 32.3% hard hit rate are both well above average.
Neither of these two options are particularly flashy, but both could be good additions to a Phillies bullpen that is in dire need of more quality arms. The Phillies and Mets are no strangers to dealing with each other, although the last major trade between the two came in 2019 when Philadelphia acquired Jason Vargas from New York in exchange for Austin Bossart. It was a strikingly reminiscent scenario as the one both teams find each other in now, as the Phillies were shopping in the lower tier of the market and the Mets were selling off rentals. Both would probably hope for better results than that trade though.
These two teams have been linked closely together since the offseason with how diametrically opposed their approach and results have been. It would be rather poetic for the two to come together once again, this time in the form of a mid-season trade.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 16: Caleb Wilson #8 of the Chicago Bulls dunks in the second half of the 2026 NBA Summer League game against the Los Angeles Lakersat the Thomas & Mack Center on July 16, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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. (Photo by Louis Grasse/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA Summer League has officially concluded after the Golden State Warriors took down the Memphis Grizzlies to win the Summer League title. Less than 24 hours after the final game ended, outlets began dropping their mild to hot takes from what they saw over the last few weeks, and naturally Caleb Wilson has come up a bit. But it’s ESPN’s take on the dynamic Tar Heel that has been perhaps the most interesting so far.
Ben Golliver wrote a piece discussing who he thought was the best player during Summer League play, and while he decided that Cameron Boozer was the Summer League MVP, he dubbed Wilson as the most electric rookie. Here is what he had to say about Wilson’s impressive four-game performance:
Wilson, 20, performed like an athlete forced to bottle up his energy and competitive juices for the past five months. In between monster two-handed slams, he blocked shots at the rim, pushed the ball in transition, threaded 40-foot bounce passes on the run and showed off his improved three-point shot. While the 6-foot-9 Wilson seems like a natural fit at power forward, it’s possible that he’s quick and versatile enough to also function as an oversize wing.“
Golliver went on to discuss Wilson’s impressive athleticism and overall performance compared to the other members of the big four (AJ Dybantsa, Boozer, and Darryn Peterson). He also discussed some of the things that didn’t go quite as well during Summer League play — mainly the turnover issue — but wrapped things up by saying that Wilson looks like the most exciting Bull since Derrick Rose, which is music to Bulls’ fans ears.
While Golliver had some good thoughts about Wilson’s four-game stretch, it has to be pointed out that Wilson did not have good pieces around him. Fellow rookie Dailyn Swain had an awful showing, sophomore forward Noa Essengue looked rough around the edges outside of his defense, and it really wasn’t until Wilson sat during the final game that anybody else stepped up in a notable way offensively — Donovan Atwell went off for 22 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wilson will have much better pieces around him during the Bulls regular season, and with that I’d expect fewer turnovers and forced situations.
Overall, the Bulls front office has to be excited about Wilson, as do Bulls fans around the world. What do you think about Wilson’s Summer League performance? Do you plan to watch/follow him during his rookie season? Let us know in the comments below.
Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, arriving at federal court in Los Angeles in June 2024. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)
ESPN’s 30 for 30 will launch the first two of six podcast episodes July 28 examining the gambling scandal that resulted in Shohei Ohtani‘s interpreter Ippei Mizuhara going to prison for stealing nearly $17 million from the baseball superstar and gambling it away.
The podcast, titled “The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani” is told by Tisha Thompson, the ESPN investigative reporter who led the outlet’s groundbreaking coverage in March 2024.
The podcast will recount Mizuhara’s life before he began working for Ohtani in 2013 when both were with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan. When Ohtani moved to the United States to play for the Angels in 2018, Mizuhara came with him.
Thompson interviews childhood friends and colleagues of Mizuhara, but the interview that will generate the greatest interest is a 90-minute phone call she had with him 16 hours before she published the story. Thompson got permission from Mizuhara to tape the call and it remains the only interview he has given.
Mizuhara told her that Ohtani had helped him pay off his gambling debts, a story he recanted a day later. The Dodgers fired him the same day they opened the 2024 season with a game against the San Diego Padres in Seoul, South Korea.
IRS special agent Chris Seymour gave Thompson the first interview of his career, and what he and prosecutors say about Mizuhara’s motive goes beyond the narrative that he had a gambling addiction, according to ESPN.
Another interview by Thompson is with bookmaker Mathew Bowyer, who explains on tape that his relationship with Mizuhara began during a hotel poker game with Angels players. Bowyer pleaded guilty last year to running an illegal gambling business, money laundering and filing a false tax return. He was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison and ordered to pay $1.6 million in restitution to the IRS.
Episodes one and two — “The Letter O” and “The Interview” — will debut July 28, followed by episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursday through Aug. 11.
The Milwaukee Brewers are -145 favorites to win their fifth consecutive game tonight at American Family Field.
Taking on an inexperienced arm with strong regression signals, my Mets vs. Brewers predictions and MLB picks back Milwaukee to extend their streak to six on July 21.
Who will win Mets vs Brewers today: Brewers (-145)
Zac Thornton is a talented young lefty, but we’ve seen real red flags during his cup of coffee in the big leagues.
If he can survive five innings and get to the bullpen, it’ll be tough for the New York Mets to score.
Play the Under to -130.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 61-49, +1.60 units
Over/Under bets: 60-45-5, +7.34 units
Mets vs Brewers weather
Mets vs Brewers odds
Moneyline: Mets +125 | Brewers -145
Run line: Mets +1.5 (-155) | Brewers -1.5 (+135)
Over/Under: Over 9.0 (+100) | Under 9.0 (-120)
Mets vs Brewers trend
Milwaukee has hit the moneyline in 27 of their last 40 home games (+8.25 units, 14% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Brewers.
How to watch Mets vs Brewers and game info
Location
American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
SNY, Brewers.TV
Mets starting pitcher
Zac Thornton (0-1, 2.60 ERA)
Brewers starting pitcher
Brandon Sproat (3-4, 5.16 ERA)
Mets vs Brewers 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.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 19: Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after hitting a two run home run during the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on July 19, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Boston Red Sox refuse to die, which is bad news for me!
Boston did that thing again in its series opening matchup with the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, securing yet another come-from-behind victory and pushing its winning streak to 14 games while further solidifying itself as one of the likely wild card teams in the American League in 2026 — which few of us saw coming even a few weeks ago.
I definitely didn’t anyway…
I’ve spent that last several weeks tempering the expectations of my co-hosts on NESN’s Boston’s Entered the Chat, using logic and reasoning to explain why this run wasn’t sustainable and that the season was over. But their eternal optimism was enough to rage bait me into making a regrettable statement during one of our segments on July 16.
PSA: If the Red Sox make the playoffs, we’ll let people pelt me with water balloons live on Boston’s Entered the Chat. pic.twitter.com/WLobPIC9Vf
It’s looking like that might come back to bite me.
I’ve always been a man of my word, which is why the preparations have begun for what looks like an inevitability after the organization that we all know and love clearly started practicing witchcraft. NESN is going to let people throw stuff at me once this team makes the playoffs, and has tasked me with asking my favorite group of readers (you guys) what we should do; pie face, water balloons, hammers, ice bucket challenge, something that isn’t all that bad but actually kind of sweet?
I’ll be monitoring the comment section, but if you guys have any revolutionary ideas you can also send them to me @KeaganStiefel on X.
Can they make history tonight at Fenway? That is what the Red Sox (51-48) will be looking to do as they take the field against the Orioles (49-52). Winners of 14 in a row, the Red Sox can equal the franchise record of 15 straight set back in 1946 with a victory tonight.
Last night’s series opener was not decided until the home half of the eighth when Caleb Durbin went yard and provided the difference in a 6-5 Sox win. The win kept Boston’s win streak alive while at the same time snapping the O’s seven-game streak. Baltimore struck first when Tyler O'Neill doubled home Gunnar Henderson in the opening inning. Boston answered with runs in the second and third, capitalizing on Baltimore defensive mistakes. The Orioles committed four errors, leading to two unearned Red Sox runs. (Baltimore has now committed eight errors over the last three games.) The Orioles battled back behind Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who homered over the Green Monster in the fifth and added an RBI single during a two-run sixth inning. Baltimore briefly grabbed a 5-4 lead in the seventh, but Boston responded immediately when Ceddanne Rafaela delivered a game-tying RBI single. After Garrett Whitlock worked a scoreless eighth, Durbin launched the go-ahead homer off Tyler Wells. Aroldis Chapman then escaped a ninth-inning threat to record his 22nd save.
Kyle Bradish takes the ball for Baltimore tonight. The righthander continues to be Baltimore's most dependable starter. His 3.61 ERA ranks among the best in the Orioles rotation, and he has provided quality outings throughout July. The Sox are expected to activate and start Ranger Suarez (groin). Before landing on the injured list, the veteran left-hander posted a 3.15 ERA and gave Boston a reliable top of the rotation presence on the pitching staff.
With Fenway sure to be buzzing, Boston's offense rolling, and the chance to tie a franchise record, the Red Sox carry momentum into tonight. It's up to Bradish to slow down the Sox who have a run differential of +34 in just their last ten games.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game Details and How to Watch: Orioles vs. Red Sox
Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Time: 7:10PM EST
Site: Fenway Park
City: Boston, MA
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, MASN, NESN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Orioles vs. Red Sox
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Baltimore Orioles (+118), Boston Red Sox (-142),
Spread: Orioles +1.5 (-184), Red Sox -1.5 (+152)
Total: 8.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers and their Stats: Orioles vs. Red Sox for July 21
Red Sox: Ranger Suarez Season Totals: 91.1 IP, 4-3, 3.15 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 97K, 26 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Orioles vs. Red Sox
Willson Contreras is 2-4 in his career against Bradish with 2 HRs
Jarren Duran is 2-16 since the All-Star Break
Carlos Narvaez is 3-6 since the All-Star Break
Pete Alonso is 1-13 since the All-Star Break
Gunnar Henderson is 4-18 since the All-Star Break
Coby Mayo is 3-12 with 1 HR since the Break
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Orioles vs. Red Sox
The Orioles are 51-50 on the Run Line this season
The Red Sox are 47-52 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 53 times in Baltimore’s 101 games this season (53-45-3)
The OVER has cashed 45 times in Boston’s 99 games this season (45-50-4)
Expert picks & predictions: Orioles vs. Red Sox
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model for tonight’s game between the Orioles and the Red Sox:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Red Sox on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Red Sox on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 8.5.
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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 20: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam in the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds at T-Mobile Park on July 20, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Ng/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There’s an insanely short list of players who have hit 60 or more home runs in a single Major League Baseball season.
You may have heard of some of them – Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Roger Maris, Aaron Judge. You may have also noticed that catcher – catcher! – Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners achieved that feat just last year.
Raleigh in 2026 has admittedly been a shell of his 2025 self. Like Eugenio Suarez of the Cincinnati Reds, Raleigh has been dealing with an oblique strain that cost him a month of the season already, and it’s the kind of injury that messes with strength and timing within a swing even on the days when there’s no lingering pain. Still, we’re talking about a guy who didn’t just hit 60 homers last season but also a guy who averaged 30 dingers a year over the three seasons before that while picking up MVP votes all along the way.
That’s not exactly the recipe for the kind of player you’d think to go out of your way to pitch to with a game on the line. It’s certainly not the type of player you’d think you’d go out of your way to pitch to with your season on the line.
On Monday night in Seattle, though, some inverted cosmos prompted Reds manager Terry Francona to go galaxy brain and do precisely that.
Andrew Abbott had pitched brilliantly while Seattle starter George Kirby had blanked the lifeless Reds offense, and only a pair of questionable defensive plays from Cincinnati’s middle infield had allowed a lone run on Seattle’s ledger in a 1-0 game. Pierce Johnson had labored while taking over in the Bottom of the 7th, and Francona summoned lefty Caleb Ferguson from the bullpen to try to navigate through the packed bases as the heart of the Mariners lineup was due up.
With the lefty on the mound, Tito prompted Ferguson to walk Dominic Canzone to load the bases and set up a potential double play that would end the inning. Canzone, of course, hits left handed. Walking Canzone to load the bases brought up the switch-hitting Raleigh, who turned to his right side to welcome the lefty Ferguson’s offerings.
The first pitch? It couldn’t have been more of a meatball.
Raleigh destroyed a hanging breaker right over the heart of the plate into the LF bleachers for a grand slam that broke the game wide open, and in the process seemed to sink every single thing remaining from this debacle of a Reds season with it to the bottom of Puget Sound.
It always seemed as if this Reds club was specifically constructed to be a half-run short and a dollar late. That, of course, is how you save money at the margins. The presumptive hope from the front office, it has always seemed, was that hiring a manager with Francona’s reputation would simply be enough to make up for playing with a hand constantly tied behind their backs.
That simply hasn’t worked. It sure as hell didn’t work last night.
You can certainly make the claim that if the pitchers in the bullpen who were given free agent contracts to come pitch for a team who was constantly going to be in tight games (since they can’t ever seem to blow anyone out) should have simply done their jobs better. That’s true, and has been the case all season long. But at this juncture, with grasping at every single last straw there is in an attempt to save the crap season, Tito played a hand that he had zero business playing and his bluff got called in the biggest, baddest of ways.
That’s it for the Reds. That, right there, is the nail in their coffin.
There are some games to avoid on Dinger Tuesday as a big patch of rain is heading to the Northeast today, but despite the storm clouds, there are still some great home run and MLB player prop spots on the board today.
I have two starting pitchers circled early. The ball could be flying in Colorado with one of the worst starting pitching matchups of the second half, while the Marlins might be able to send Tatsuya Imai to the Houston bullpen with another bad outing.
These are my favorite home run props for Tuesday, July 21.
Best MLB home run props today
Player to hit a HR
Odds
Curtis Mead
+420
Liam Hicks
+710
Home run pick: Curtis Mead (+420)
The Nationals' lineup is loaded with power, and over the last 30 days, it isn't James Wood or CJ Abrams leading the team in slugging. It is Luis Garcia — but Curtis Mead is right there behind him in second.
He is 8-for-16 after the break with four extra-base hits, and this should have a fair price of +350 at Coors Field vs. Michael Lorenzen.
The Colorado starter has allowed just one dinger over his last four starts, but he has the worst BlastCont% among all MLB starters today (last 30 days), and the homers could be on their way tonight.
Looking back over the last two seasons, only two other starters today have a worse HR/9 than Lorenzen. Ball Park Pal has this as the second-best HR setting on the board today.
Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Rockies.TV, Nationals.TV
Home run pick: Liam Hicks (+710)
Let's hit value town in Houston, where Liam Hicks finds himself batting cleanup after launching his 14th homer off Houston's starter last night.
Hicks is crushing right-handed pitching with an .884 OPS, and 93% of his home runs this season have come against righties. Outside of the Nationals, the Marlins might have the best home run matchup on the board against Tatsuya Imai and his shaky numbers.
The right-hander ranks among the Bottom 25 qualified starters in HR/9 this season, and those numbers have only gotten worse over the last 30 days. There is plenty of strikeout upside with the first-year starter, but his MLB numbers haven't come close to matching what he posted in Japan's NPB.
This could be his final turn in the rotation, and the Nationals already got a look at him in his last outing, so the familiarity edge belongs to the hitters.
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Space City Home Network, Marlins.TV
Josh Inglis' 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 21-133, -23.63 units
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.
As a result, the team with an older core will begin the 2026-27 season as the sixth-oldest side in the NHL.
NHL’s Oldest Teams by Average Age 👀 👴 (Via @PuckPedia )
1. LA Kings – 31.0 2. Florida Panthers – 30.9 3. Colorado Avalanche – 30.6 4. Toronto Maple Leafs – 30.3 5. Vegas Golden Knights – 30.0 6. NY Islanders – 30.0 7. Tampa Bay Lightning – 29.8 8. New Jersey Devils –… pic.twitter.com/uBtnbSxsuE
That figure does not include 19-year-old Victor Eklund, who is expected to make the Islanders out of training camp, or, at the very least, be one of the very last cuts.
This could be the last season for a while with the Islanders as one of the oldest teams in the league.
Next summer, all three of Ondrej Palat, Kyle Palmieri, and Casey Cizikas will be unrestricted free agents, and all of them are 35 years old.
Defensively, Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield's trade protections drop from full no-trade clauses to partial no-trade clauses, while Kashawn Aitcheson's potential emergence could force a trade of Adam Pelech.
Additionally, 38-year-old Semyon Varlamov will also be an unrestricted free agent, further dropping the Islanders' average age for next season.
Who will win Padres vs Braves today: Braves (-137)
The Atlanta Braves send Reynaldo Lopez to the mound tonight, and he's in great form. The righty has posted a 3.34 FIP across his last five appearances while allowing just 0.86 HR/9.
As for the San Diego Padres, they counter with Walker Buehler, who has hit a tough spell. The veteran owns a 9.10 FIP in his last five outings while surrendering 3.86 HR/9.
Those are dangerous numbers against a Braves offense carrying a .298 ISO and 171 wRC+ in their last four games.
Padres vs Braves Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 runs (+114)
While I do expect Lopez to throw the ball well, he’s also up against a scorching-hot Padres offense. San Diego has posted a 147 wRC+ over its last four games to go along with a .259 ISO.
Both teams are swinging it well, and while each bullpen has been respectable lately, it’s hard to overlook the offensive consistency and power output. The Padres’ hard-hit rate is also just below 50% during that span.
Atlanta gives this Over another clear path, especially against Buehler, who has struggled to limit hard contact.
I’ll play this pick to -120.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 35-38, -7.20 units
Over/Under bets: 41-30, +5.01 units
Padres vs Braves weather
Padres vs Braves odds
Moneyline: Padres +127 | Braves -133
Run line: Padres +1.5 (-156) | Braves -1.5 (+150)
Over/Under: Over 9.5 (+117) | Under 9.5 (-122)
Padres vs Braves trend
The Atlanta Braves have hit the team total Over in 11 of their last 14 home games (+7.50 Units / 45% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Padres vs. Braves.
How to watch Padres vs Braves and game info
Location
Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
Date
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
Padres.TV, BravesVsn
Padres starting pitcher
Walker Buehler (5-5, 5.36 ERA)
Braves starting pitcher
Reynaldo Lopez (4-2, 3.50 ERA)
Padres vs Braves 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.
SACRAMENTO, CA - JULY 17: Andrés Chaparro #87 of the Washington Nationals bats during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Friday, July 17, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Don Collier/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
This has been the road trip of Andres Chaparro’s life. The hulking Nats first baseman has been on an absolute heater this week, rewarding the team’s faith in him. Most Nats fans were perplexed as to why the team kept giving Chaparro chance after chance. Well, he showed us why this week.
The man they call Chappy has been absolutely punishing baseballs since the Nats came back from the All-Star Break. He has not just been hitting home runs, he has been crushing majestic no doubt shots. That home run he hit in Sacramento was the longest Nats home run in years. The husky righty hit the ball over everything.
It is no secret that Andres Chaparro has big time power. Honestly, all you need to do is look at the guy. He is your prototypical burly first baseman who can send balls into orbit. Chaparro has been doing that in the minors for a long time. The 27 year old has 121 career minor league home runs, including five straight years with at least 15 homers.
However, that minor league power did not translate to the big leagues, at least not until this week. Chaparro looked the part of a slugger, but was unable to put it together in his brief big league stints. He showed some flashes at the end of 2024, but was unable to build on that the following season.
It looked like more of the same this year. He was 9 for 54 prior to the All-Star Break, and had a lot of heat on him. Fans did not like it when Chaparro would pinch hit for Luis Garcia Jr. against left handed pitching. When a guy hitting .150 is pinch hitting for the hottest bat in baseball, the optics are not great.
Honestly, I was getting tired of it myself. I either wanted Garcia to get a chance to play every day, or for Yohandy Morales to replace Chaparro as the platoon option. Morales was the younger, more exciting option. However, the front office saw something in Chapparro, and now he is rewarding their faith.
Yohandy Morales homered for the second time in the game. Can we please call him up. I mostly get the reasons why they aren’t but he would just be a monster upgrade on Chaparro in that role and could get some 3B and DH reps too
Whenever I checked Chaparro’s Baseball Savant page, even before his hot run, it was much better than you would expect for a guy hitting .150. He was taking his walks, hitting the ball harder than he had in the past and swinging faster. However, the results were not coming. We should have paid more attention to those under the hood numbers, because he is really turning around now.
Right now, Chaparro’s xwOBA is a stellar .390, much higher than his .350 wOBA. His hard hit rate, barrel rate, bat speed and exit velocities are also way up. When it comes to hitting, it really seems like everything this front office touches turns to gold. Even a journeyman like Chaparro is having his moment in the sun.
It is difficult to overstate just how good he has been lately. The Nats have faced a lot of left handed pitching lately, which means Chappy has gotten opportunities. In his 11 at bats since the break, he is 5 for 11 with 3 homers and 11 RBI. Even with Garcia and Wood slumping a little out of the break, the offense is still clicking, and Chaparro is a big reason for that.
The offense right now is being driven by Chaparro, CJ Abrams and Curtis Mead. It seems like there is a different trio leading the way every few weeks. Lately, it has been those three. Wood and Garcia are bound to get going soon as well.
The latest Chaparro lightning bolt came last night in the 1st inning when he hit another titanic blast. He sent one way out of Coors Field to give the Nats a 3-0 lead three batters into the game. When Chaparro gets a hold of one, you can tell instantly that it is gone. The big slugger does not get cheated.
Andrés Chaparro has finally rewarded the Nationals’ patience and loyalty.
He’s hitting .265 with a .960 OPS and 14 RBI over his last 15 games. He’s got 3 HR and 11 RBI in 2+ games to kick off the second half. pic.twitter.com/X2erZEXQtO
Blake Butera and Paul Toboni are putting Chaparro in a very specific role that plays to his strengths. Throughout his minor league career and in his brief big league looks, he has mashed left handed pitching. In the first half, he was not doing that as much, but the front office trusted the track record.
One thing this front office will do is stick to their guns. Sometimes it does not work out, like with Mitchell Parker. However, they prove us right a lot, especially on the offensive side of the ball. They do a great job maximizing offensive talent and putting them in advantageous situations. Andres Chaparro is only the most recent example of this.
Chaparro is showing us that he can be a capable big leaguer as a platoon bat. He will need to build on this success, but he has taken off this week. As the title suggests, Andres Chaparro has been on a generational run lately, and long may it continue.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 16: LeBron James speaks onstage during the TIME100 Sports Gala at Pier 60, Chelsea Piers on July 16, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for TIME) | Getty Images for TIME
While reports continue to suggest that LeBron James is favoring a return to the Eastern Conference, the Golden State Warriors continue to be mentioned with an outside shot of landing King James. As James allows his free agency saga to continue deeper and deeper into the offseason, in his quintessential melodramatic fashion, fanbases around the league are dealing with a Schrödinger’s roster, one with and without James at once. A recent poll of Dub Nation from SB Nation Reacts asked Warriors fans how they would feel about signing James, given the team’s prolonged rivalry with the former Cavs, Heat, and Lakers star.
Perhaps unsurprisingly for those around the fanbase, the majority of fans who responded to the poll “like” or “love” the idea of adding James (60%). While the Warriors have obviously had some contested moments with him over the years, they have not faced off in the postseason since 2023. Moreover, neither James nor the Warriors have come close to the NBA Finals in recent seasons. It’s far easier to put that history aside with Dub Nation desperate to see Steph Curry contend for a championship once again.
COVERS INTEL:
Curtis Mead
Liam Hicks
