MILWAUKEE, WI - MAY 22: Logan Henderson #43 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Friday, May 22, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Baseball is back again. After a four-day reprieve with the All-Star break, the Milwaukee Brewers have a game to play. They begin a nine-game homestand with a three-game series against the Miami Marlins.
The Brewers made a couple of moves during the break to shuffle the roster a little. Lance McCullers Jr. was acquired from the Houston Astros, and he has been activated off the IL. McCullers will initially pitch out of the bullpen, according to manager Pat Murphy. Lefty Jared Koenig was optioned to the minors as the corresponding move. Murphy said Koenig will head to Arizona first to try to work on some things before he reports to Nashville.
Despite the poor air quality in Milwaukee due to Canadian and Minnesota wild fires, the Brewers will be playing this game and the roof is open.
On the mound, Logan Henderson will start the second half for the Crew. He was solid in his return from the IL earlier this month, going 5 1/3 IP with just three runs allowed in the Brewers 8-4 win over the Cardinals. Henderson has a 3.18 ERA on the season.
For the Marlins, they will have their ace, Sandy Alcantara on the bump. Alcantara has not quite been the same as he was prior to his Tommy John surgery but is turning in a solid season with a 3.99 ERA with 20 starts and 130 2/3 IP. He leads the league in innings pitched and has been a reliable option for the Fish. Alcantara has historically done well against the Brewers with a 3.14 ERA in eight games.
The Brewers lineup will have all the regulars in there. Yelich, Chourio, and Turang will make up the top of the order, followed by Contreras, Bauers, and Mitchell. Rounding out the bottom of the lineup will be Pratt, Frelick, and Ortiz.
The Marlins offense is led by Liam Hicks, Otto Lopez, and Xavier Edwards. Kyle Stowers, Heriberto Hernandez, and Griffin Conine make up the middle of their order. Then Jakob Marsee, Joe Mack, and Javier Sanoja round out the bottom of the starting nine. That makes five lefties and a switch hitter in the lineup against the right-handed Henderson.
It’s Cerveceros Night at the ballpark and the Brewers will be wearing their City Connect uniforms. The final push to the postseason begins as the second half gets underway at 6:40 p.m.
The Cleveland Guardians postponed their Friday, July 17 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates as dangerous air quality due to smoke from Canadian wildfires rendered conditions unhealthy for players and fans.
It marked the third time in seven seasons that a game was postponed due to extreme wildfire smoke. It delayed the start of the second half for the Pirates and Guardians coming off the four-day All-Star break. They will play a split doubleheader Saturday, with games at 1:10 and 7:10 ET.
In Cleveland, the air quality index remained in the "dangerous" zone as determined by the Environmental Protection Agency well into the midday hours Friday, registering 272 early in the day still at 242 90 minutes before the scheduled first pitch. Readings between 201 and 300 are deemed "very unhealthy," and a health alert is issued. Readings above 300 are classified as "hazardous."
It was a similar scenario in Chicago, where Major League Soccer's Fire postponed their game Thursday when the AQI reached 597. The late-morning AQI remained above 300 and was forecast to stay near 250 by 7 p.m. CT, when the Cubs were scheduled to play host to the Minnesota Twins. No announcement has been made regarding that game.
Milwaukee's American Family Field has a retractable roof, but outdoor conditions remained in the "dangerous" category most of Friday, creating an impediment for fans and workers aiming to get to the ballpark safely. The AQI was still forecast to remain above 200 by 6:40 CT, gametime for the Brewers and Miami Marlins.
In Toronto, the Blue Jays announced the roof to Rogers Centre would be closed - rare for a seasonably warm summer night - due to poor air quality.
The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies tipped off the symbolic start of the second half with a standalone game on Thursday night in Philadelphia. Game time was moved from 7:05 to 6:10 ET due to worsening conditions, and the teams played through a hazy smoke that grew worse as the game went on.
"Not gonna lie, toward the end of it, it was a little thick. I felt like I was breathing some metal in there," says Mets starting pitcher Christian Scott, who pitched 5 2/3 innings. "At the end of the day, a little spoonful of adversity never hurt anybody. Part of the game."
Other players likened the conditions to playing in front of a campfire. The teams are off Friday.
MLB has postponed or moved games on two occasions in recent years due to air quality. On June 7 and 8 2023, games were postponed in New York, Philadelphia and Washington due to poor air quality. In 2020, a Seattle Mariners game was postponed – and then relocated to San Francisco – after the Mariners and Athletics played through poor conditions.
The league does not exclusively rely on AQI in making such calls. Yet there are numerical thresholds where protocols and levels of scrutiny go into place, triggering deeper dives into current conditions and projected changes in air quality as MLB, in conjunction with the MLB Players' Association, consults with medical and weather experts.
NEW YORK — Aaron Judge’s broken rib has not completely healed, and the New York Yankees captain still hasn’t been cleared to resume baseball activities.
Judge hasn’t played since May 31 because of the stress fracture in his right ribs. He had a scan during the All-Star break that showed partial healing. Judge said he is waiting to hear from doctors on a plan moving forward.
“I feel good about the fact that he will be back. It’s just a matter of when,” manager Aaron Boone said Friday before the start of a weekend series against the two-time World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Judge is hitting .248 with 17 homers and 38 RBIs but had just one homer in his last 18 games.
New York was 36-23 when he last played but was 18-19 since entering the second half.
In addition, designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (strained right calf) hasn’t played since April 24, and left-handers Max Fried (left elbow bone bruise) and Carlos Rodón (left elbow inflammation) are sidelined.
Fried was to make a rehab start Friday.
Clarke Schmidt, coming back from Tommy John surgery, is to throw an inning of batting practice Saturday.
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Astros will open the second half of play tonight at Daikin Park as they welcome in the Orioles for a three-game series.
RHP Peter Lambert (8-5), the Astros most consistent starter of the first half, will get the start for Houston opposite RHP Dean Kremer (1-2) and the Orioles.
RIDING THE LAMBO: RHP Peter Lambert, who was a minor league free agent signing this offseason, leads the club in wins and among AL pitchers ranks third in opponent average (.201) and eighth in ERA (min. 85IP).
Lambert pitched last year for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the NPB, posting a 3.98 ERA (55ER/124.1IP) with 111 K’s in 23 starts.
THE SLOW TURNAROUND: After a slow start to the season, the Astros are 27-20 since May 21, which is the best record in the AL in that span.
On that date, the Astros were 20-31, 11 games under, which is their low water mark for the season.
JP’S NIGHT: SS Jeremy Peña will host little leaguers from East End Little League today for July’s Peña’s Pals, which is a program that celebrates kids and their development in academics, character building and making healthy choices.
Additionally, 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a Jeremy Peña Short Sleeve 90s Hoodie Jersey, presented by Sire Spirits, as tonight’s giveaway.
THIS WEEKEND’S TELECASTS: All three games of this series will be televised by Space City Home Network with Todd Kalas, Geoff Blum and Lauren Callender on the call.
Sideline reporter Julia Morales will rejoin the broadcast next week.
GET ‘EM EARLY: The Astros rank first in the AL and second in MLB in 1st-inning runs with 60.
Overall, the Astros rank fifth in the AL in runs (428) immediately behind tonight’s opponent, the Orioles (432).
ON THE DEFENSIVE: The Astros rank third in the AL in fielding pct. (.988) and their 42 errors are the second-fewest in the AL.
1B Christian Walker has led the way, as he has not committed an error in his 94 games played at 1B.
Dating back to last season, Walker has not made an error in his last 122 games at 1B (last error was Aug. 23, 2025 at BAL).
THE 2027 SCHEDULE: The 2027 regular season schedule was announced by Major League Baseball yesterday, which revealed Astros Opening Day as Thursday, March 25 vs. TEX.
The Astros schedule is also highlighted by weekend series against the Yankees (April 23-25), Cubs (May 14- 16), Mariners (June 25-27), Padres (July 30-Aug. 1), Phillies (Sept. 17-19), and others.
WEDNESDAY’S TRADE: Announced on Wednesday, the Astros traded RHP Lance McCullers Jr., LHP Colton Gordon, and cash considerations to the Brewers in exchange for prospect OF Jadyn Fielder.
McCullers leaves behind a legacy as one of the most-accomplished postseason pitchers in Astros history, making 19 postseason appearances (12 starts) and posting a 3.47 ERA (28ER/72.2IP) en route to two World Series championships.
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVES: The Astros have selected OF Lucas Spence (#28) to the Major League roster and have reinstated RHP Kai-Wei Teng from the 15-day IL.
Additionally, OF Brice Matthews has been placed on the 10-day IL with a left knee sprain.
ON THE MEND: The Astros have seven players on the Major League Injured List.
Updates on a few:
RHP Hayden Wesneski (rt. elbow surgery) is sheduled to pitch at Triple A tonight…he has made three rehab appearances so far, last pitching for Triple A Sugar Land on July 11 vs. ABQ (1ER/4.2IP)…he fanned seven in the outing on a season-high 61 pitches.
RHP Ronel Blanco (rt. elbow surgery) has made five rehab appearances, last starting on July 12 vs. ABQ (0ER/4.1IP), in which he tossed 68 pitches.
RHP Mike Burrows (rt. elbow neuritis) has reported to West Palm Beach to begin a throwing progression.
LHP Bennett Sousa (lt. elbow inflammation) made two rehab appearances for the FCL Astros over the All-Star break, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning in each outing. He last pitched on Wednesday (16 pitches).
OF Brice Matthews (lt. knee sprain) is currently participating in light baseball activities in Houston.
ALL-STAR ALVAREZ: DH Yordan Alvarez started and hit second for the AL in this week’s All-Star Game, going 1×2 with a single and a run scored.
This marked the fourth All-Star selection for Alvarez (2022-24, 2026) and the second time that he was voted as a starter (also in 2024).
MVP-CALIBER: DH Yordan Alvarez is a strong MVP candidate, currently leading all of baseball in OPS (1.059), OBP (.426), SLG (.633), and total bases (221).
Additionally, he ranks first in the AL in HR (31), first in RBI (70), first in XBH (48), tied for first in hits (111), second in batting average (.318), second in runs (65), and fourth in walks (63).
WHAT A HALF!: DH Yordan Alvarez hit 31 homers prior to the break, which are the most in a first half in club history, topping OF Lance Berkman, who hit 29 homers in the first half of the 2002 season.
Alvarez is on pace to hit 51 homers on the season, which would represent a new franchise record, topping the 47 homers hit by 1B Jeff Bagwell in 2000.
TAP FOR SUCCESS: Astros hitters have won an MLB-best 70 ABS challenges and lead the Majors in challenge success rate (61%).
2B Jose Altuve has been successful on 15-of-21 challenges (71%), ranking second in the Majors in challenges won.
3B Isaac Paredes (11-for-12) has been the most efficient regular challenger for the team and was successful in his first 11 challenges on the season.
WHAT A RELIEF: LHP Josh Hader is 3-1 with 10 saves (in 10 chances), has a 1.17 ERA (2ER/15.1IP), 25 strikeouts in 15.1 innings, a .115 (6×52) opponent average, and a 0.91 WHIP in 17 appearances.
He has not allowed a hit in 13 of his 17 appearances.
THE 2026 FUTURES GAME: The Astros top two prospects, OF Kevin Alvarez and IF Xavier Neyens, represented the club in the All-Star Futures Game, which was played last weekend in Philadelphia.
Both prospects, which played the first half of the season for Class A Fayetteville, are considered top 100 prospects per MiLB.com, with Alvarez ranking 69th and Neyens 87th overall.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Friday, July 17, 7:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
The Yankees and Aaron Judgegot the results back from re-imaging over the All-Star break and the slugger's ribs have not healed enough for him to resume baseball activities.
"We're still waiting on one more doctor to take a look at it. Kind of see how we progress forward the next couple weeks, but it’s definitely a positive sign," Judge said before Friday's series opener with the Dodgers.
Judge had the re-imaging done Wednesday, but the organization is waiting for Dr. Gregory Pearl to give his opinion on the next steps. Judge is hopeful they'll learn more by the time Friday's game is over or on Saturday.
When asked whether the doctors need to see full healing before he can start baseball activities or whether it's about pain tolerance, the reigning MVP gave his take, but ultimately said he's going to follow what the doctors say.
"I think it's more of once we see it kind of healing all the way through, I think part of it's healing, the other part of it's still trying to bridge together," Judge said. "So I think that's what we're trying to wait and see if we can kind of get some confirmation of what we can start doing.
"I'm going to wait for the doctors to tell us what to do and what they see when they look at it, but I think it's some positive news."
Judge did say he has no reason to believe he won't play this season, saying "I don't see why not."
But he confirmed that he has not started any sort of activities.
Everything he has done is just lower-body and conditioning.
Judge said he's feeling "10 times better" since injuring his ribs on a dive in the outfield back in April, and is itching to start doing baseball activities, but the organization is being cautious with their captain. He doesn't believe he'll need a spring training-style ramp-up -- he said he hates "wasting at-bats" in a rehab game -- but once they hear back, he'll discuss with the organization on next steps.
Prior to the injury, Judge was slashing .248/.375/.533 with 17 home runs and 38 RBI in 59 games.
The Yankees have been up and down since Judge landed on the IL. They enter play Friday with a 54-42 record, overcoming a 5-15 stretch, and are now riding a four-game winning streak.
It's a stark difference from the 2023 season when Judge broke his toe slamming into a wall at Dodger Stadium, which cost him 45 games and the Yankees their season.
Manager Aaron Boone believes this year's team is different despite Judge's absence.
“We weren't as good a team then," Boone said. "We weren't equipped to handle that and feel like we are much more equipped now with some of our depth and some of our young players that are now integral parts of the team.
"And I think outside of the 10-game stretch where we're terrible, for the most part, we have played well and better than when that happened in '23."
A big part of the Yankees' resilience has been Paul Goldschmidt's revival, Cody Bellinger's consistency and the emergence of Ben Rice. All of whom Judge credits as part of what's kept the team afloat.
"It's been tough, but we got a lot of great guys in this clubhouse have been holding their own and kind of carrying the weight of this team," Judge said of not playing. "Goldie, Belli, what they've been doing; Ben Rice has been... It's been fun to watch, but that's been tough sitting on the sidelines."
ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 12: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers looks on during the game between the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Sunday, July 12, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Courtney Kramer/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for July 17, 2026 against the Atlanta Braves: starting pitchers are Cal Quantrill for the Rangers and Chris Sale for the Braves.
Texas begins the second half of the season with a three game set in Atlanta. Chris Sale is on the mound for the Braves, so Skip Schumaker has all the righties out there.
The lineup:
Foscue — DH
Langford — LF
Nimmo — RF
Jung — 3B
Burger — 1B
Duran — SS
Cauley — CF
Diaz — C
Lopez — 2B
6:15 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +175 underdogs.
Aaron Boone provided the latest on a bevy of injured Yankees prior to Friday's series opener against the Dodgers...
The plan for Fried
At this point, we already know that Max Fried is preparing to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Friday night with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
First pitch against Worcester is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
The left-hander is expected to throw around 50 pitches his first time out.
Boone said that Fried will make at least one more outing following this one, and then the team will decided whether or not to activate him before being fully built up.
Friday is Fried's first outing since May 13 due to a bone bruise in his elbow.
He had been in the midst of a bit of a rough stretch prior to the injury, allowing 3+ runs in each of his last three outings to bring his ERA up to 3.21 for the season.
Getting Fried back sooner rather than later would be a nice boost for New York's rotation, though.
Rodón, Schmidt taking steps forward
While neither Carlos Rodón or Clarke Schmidt are nearly as close as Fried is, both are trending in the right direction.
Rodón threw about 10 pitches in a short bullpen session today, Boone said.
The skipper also revealed that Schmidt is set to face live hitters for the first time on Saturday.
Schmidt, of course, has been slowly progressing his way back after he was forced to undergo the second Tommy John procedure of his career last summer.
As long as things keep going as planned, he has a chance to be back in the mix next month.
That's when Rodón is expected to rejoin New York's rotation as well, as he continues to ease his way back following an elbow inflammation scare that forced him to the sidelines earlier this month.
Stanton too, but still no return date
Giancarlo Stanton has also taken a step forward, as Boone revealed he's begun a running program.
The big man still remains without a timeline for a return, though.
Stanton hasn't appeared in big-league action since April 24 against the Astros.
He originally sustained the calf injury jogging between first and second, then re-tweaked it while running the bases during his build up in mid-June at Yankee Stadium.
Stanton hasn't logged a full season since his first as a Yankee, and this is his seventh IL stint since 2021.
He had been enjoying some success at the plate being going down this time, ripping three homers and six doubles while driving in 14 runs over his first 24 games of the season.
The Yanks still hope expect him to return at some point this season.
Lombard Jr. makes his return
George Lombard Jr. has officially been activated from the Triple-A IL, and will make his return to the lineup during Fried's outing on Friday night.
The top prospect is back playing shortstop and batting leadoff.
Brian Cashman said shortly before the All-Star break that Lombard could potentially be an option in the big leagues at some point down the stretch of the regular season.
The team feels he's already ready to take that next step defensively at shortstop and third base, and he's closed the gap he had coming into this season offensively.
Lombard had a .381 OBP and .765 OPS in Triple-A before going down with the injury.
A few weeks ago, there was no doubt: The Red Sox would have to be sellers at this year’s trade deadline.
Yet after an absurd stretch of winning (10 straight and 15 of 17 entering Friday night), that plan is on hold as everybody in baseball — and the Red Sox themselves — assess just how good this year’s team can be.
With the winning has come calls for Breslow to buy at the deadline and supplement a roster that could use some offensive help. Doing so, however, would prevent chief baseball officer Craig Breslow from trading away some veteran assets that could help bring some players to Boston who could help this year and beyond.
Or would it?
MassLive’s Chris Cotillo laid out a plan on Early Edition that could simultaneously accomplish multiple goals for a Red Sox team that will surely want to stay in playoff contention for the rest of the year.
That plan would involve trading away starting pitcher Sonny Gray (age 36 years old) and closer Aroldis Chapman (38) and bringing in offensive help from a player (or players) who are under contract beyond the 2026 season.
“The reason I think that’s important is that the free-agent class this year is horrible for bats. Jazz Chisholm is like the best one. It’s not a market where you can go and pay for a bat,” Cotillo explained. “So if a Byron Buxton is available or a C.J. Abrams in a blockbuster, probably worth investigating now because the options aren’t gonna be there in the winter.
“And I think, honestly, that shouldn’t preclude them from cashing in on a chip like Gray or Chapman. They’re in their late 30s, they’ve had unbelievable seasons so far, especially Gray. And I think you’re gonna get a premium for those guys.”
Cotillo noted that the rise of Jake Bennett (who improved to 5-3 with a 2.35 ERA on Friday afternoon) along with the consistency of Payton Tolle and Connelly Early could allow the Red Sox to withstand a loss of Gray — especially if Garrett Crochet is able to return at some point. He also added that the bullpen could survive with Garrett Whitlock in the closer’s role instead of Chapman.
“So it’s a cop-out to do a little of both sometimes. They’re just in such a unique situation where they can add a controllable bat — I think they’ll try to do that — and then also, if the prices get to a certain point, it would be stupid not to listen on Gray and Chapman, considering what they are and their contracts and all that,” Cotillo said.
While there would certainly be quite a bit of pushback from fans who might interpret such moves as giving up on the season, Cotillo said that such a slightly longer-term approach could put the Red Sox in a better position in the coming years.
“I think it would be a smart hedge, honestly, to do both,” he said. “Heart of hearts, I think the smart thing to do would be a little buying, a little selling, set yourself for next year in the lineup, move a piece of your roster that you can get by without. … But easier said than done, as always, this time of year.”
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 07: Ben Cleveland #66 of the Baltimore Ravens warms up before the game against the Indianapolis Colts during the NFL Preseason 2025 game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 07, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Celeveland is a born-and-bred Georgia boy who hails from the town of Toccoa. He starred at Stephens County High School, earning a four-star rating (No. 6 offensive guard nationally) as a prospect and an invite to the 2016 U.S. Army All-American Game. Staying true to his roots, Cleveland chose to continue his atheltic career at the University of Georgia.
Despite being a high-caliber recruit, Cleveland redshirted his first season on campus which obviously speaks to the talent that was going through the UGA program at the time. During his redshirt freshman season, Cleveland played in all 15 games and earned his first career starts in which he played right guard in the final five contests of the year.
In 2018, Cleveland started the first games of the season at right guard before suffering a lower body injury. He missed six games during the year and came back to play four more but as a backup.
The following year, Cleveland started just seven of 13 games at right guard as he continued to be in and out of the starting lineup. The 2020 season finally saw Cleveland put it all together as he started all nine games in the pandemic-shortened season. He was named a Third-Team All-American by the Associated Press and a First-Team All-SEC selection by all 14 coaches in the conference.
Cleveland was a eventually selected in the third round (94th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. As a rookie, he started four games before a knee injury suffered in Week Five put him on injured/reserve until November 20th. Overall he played in 12 games, but only logged those first four games as starts.
In 2022, Cleveland played in nine games but logged just one start at right guard. The 2023 season was more of the same with just two starts while playing a role in 16 games.
Cleveland was completely out of the starting lineup in 2024 but played in all 17 games on the team’s kick protection unit. In his final year with the Ravens, he played in 10 games with no starts before being suspended on December 8th. Following his reinstatement on January 1st, Cleveland was waived by the Ravens.
Four days later, Cleveland was signed by the Chargers. He did not make an appearance with the team and was later signed to a reserve/futures contract.
The Good
Cleveland is a mammoth offensive lineman at a true 6’6 and weighing anywhere between 345-360 pounds throughout his career. He’s also strong as an ox with 30 bench press reps at the NFL Combine during his draft year.
The Bad
Despite being a former four-star recruit and third-round pick of the Ravens, Cleveland has not panned out the way many expected him to, even in that tailor-made offense for him around Lamar Jackson. He’s now on his second team of his career and so far this offseason, there haven’t been any notable reports regarding his position on the two-deeps.
2026 Outlook
Cleveland was signed late in 2025 to help provide depth through the final weeks of the regular season and into the playoffs. The Chargers signed Cleveland to a new deal that kept him with the team through the offseason, but I can’t help but see the shift to the Mike McDaniel offense as a massive red flag for his chances of making the final roster. He was a perfect fit for Greg Roman’s power run scheme, but he’s not the dynamic athlete McDaniel covets at guard in his offense. Cleveland was already going to have a tough time making the active roster with so many other bodies better-suited for running outside zone. But now as we inch closer to training camp, I can only see him competing with Trevor Penning for the very last spot (if the Chargers once again choose to keep nine on the active roster).
The Los Angeles Dodgers are slight -115 moneyline favorites tonight against the New York Yankees in the first game out of the All-Star break, but my Dodgers vs. Yankees predictions are taking the home side.
Roki Sasaki’s loud-contact issues are a bad fit against a Yankees lineup that still wins through lift and power, while Gerrit Cole gives New York a pitching edge.
Who will win Dodgers vs Yankees today: Yankees moneyline (+101)
If the New York Yankees are going to make a charge in the AL East, there's no better time than now against the best team in baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers. I’m playing them down to -110.
Roki Sasaki's biggest flaw runs into New York’s best offensive path. Sasaki has allowed a 12.8% barrel rate and 44.9% hard-hit rate, and his four-seamer has been hit for a .606 SLG.
These are all things the Yankees excel at, arriving at this game with the highest barrel rate in baseball, the third-highest hard-hit rate, and several strong hitters against the heater.
COVERS INTEL:Sasaki’s 9.4% walk rate is above MLB average, giving New York a traffic base before its power bats get to swing.
Dodgers vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (+105)
I’m playing the Over because both offenses have a clear matchup path. Sasaki’s fastball and barrel issues give New York a real chance to do damage early, even without Aaron Judge.
Gerrit Cole is the better starter, but this is still the Dodgers’ lineup. And he hasn't been "vintage Cole" either. L.A. can punish his elevated-contact profile, with Cole allowing a 9.2% barrel rate and 40.3% hard-hit rate this season.
I projected 10.1 and would play this to -115.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 39-34, +7.42 units
Over/Under bets: 43-32, +13.32 units
Dodgers vs Yankees weather
Slight bump for the offenses with temperatures above 80F at first pitch and a slight breeze going toward left-center field. Keep an eye out for any time changes or a postponement due to bad air quality in the NYC area stemming from Canadian wildfires.
Dodgers vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Dodgers -110 | Yankees -106
Run line: Dodgers -1.5 | Yankees +1.5
Over/Under: Over 9.5 | Under 9.5
Dodgers vs Yankees trend
The Yankees have hit the moneyline in four of their last five games (+3.25 Units / 50% ROI).
How to watch Dodgers vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Friday, July 17, 2026
First pitch
7:05 p.m. ET
TV
YES, SportsNet Los Angeles
Dodgers starting pitcher
Roki Sasaki (3-5, 5.33 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (3-4, 4.04 ERA)
Dodgers vs Yankees 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.
He was a prominent figure at Fanatics Fest in New York, appearing in a live taping of a podcast with Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton. He was part of a CNBC panel and was named the “Athlete of the Century” at the Time100 Sports Gala.
Yet when asked about his next team, James was only coy, deflecting and dodging questions, even though he hinted that his final decision may have even already been made.
“I would like him to make his announcement already, so we can finish the schedule,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday, July 16 during the CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit. “Because, as you might imagine, the teams are calling us, the networks are calling us, and everybody wants to lock in the (NBA regular season) schedule.”
So, what’s the reason for the holdup?
The short answer: James is taking his time because he can. No active player in the NBA has the stature and reputation that he does, so he has earned the right to conduct business on his own terms.
If it means deliberating for weeks, then so be it. If it means indulging James, should this be what he wants, allowing him to bask in the pursuit and attention he’s drawing from other teams, then so be it. Even if that means generating more footage for a rumored documentary about his season and the end of his career, so be it.
Whether prospective teams and fan bases like it or not, these are simply the operational costs of signing a player like LeBron James.
LeBron James has all the information he needs. He'll control the pace
Practically everything James does, at least professionally, is by design. He’s a detail-oriented athlete and businessman, and he’s image-conscious. So whenever a decision comes down – whether he or his agent Rich Paul leak it to their preferred reporter or whether James announces it himself on social media or in a first-person op-ed – it will be executed the way he wants it.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a 22-time All-Star, James will embark on his record 24th NBA season. He has maintained that he wants to compete for championships. Earlier in the week, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told USA TODAY Sports that James has all the information he needs from prospective teams and that he would be weighing his options.
Either way, James is certainly assessing each of those rosters and trying to ascertain where he fits best and which gives him the most likely chance to win. Presumably, this will be the final stop of James’ career, so it makes sense for him to be calculated and deliberate. That’s only magnified further if James is indeed leaning toward the 76ers, Warriors or Timberwolves, each of which would be new stops.
So my best suggestion to fans who might be tired of the speculation is to embrace patience, because at the end of the day, James is going to do things the way he wants. He has earned that right.
Jul 9, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin (30) congratulates first baseman Matt Olson (right) crossing home plate on a solo home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Welcome back to your regularly scheduled program of Atlanta Braves baseball.
The roster has been released, and let’s just say it’s an exact copy-and-paste of how they ended the half.
Facing the Texas Rangers tonight, Drake Baldwin will be leading off with Brewer Hicklen returning to the lineup to take over right field and batting ninth.
Chris Sale is taking the mound and looking for a surge in offensive production as the second half of the season kicks off. No more quiet bats or late starts. It’s time to set the tone at Truist Park to show up how they did in the earlier half of the season… at least, Braves country could only hope.
The Braves avoided a sweep to end the first half of the season with this same lineup. Can they surpass where they left off?
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 20: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 20, 2026 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Memphis Grizzlies continue to mourn the loss of 29-year-old Brandon Clarke, who died on May 11.
The team's latest tribute to the late-power forward included a tribute memorial in his honor, placed in the Grizzlies locker room at FedEx Forum located in Memphis, Tennessee.
Grizzlies center Zach Edey posted a picture to his social media page on Instagram where he revealed a depiction of a memorial that reads, "Brandon Clarke 1996-2026 Forever in our hearts".
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke," the Grizzlies announced in a May tweet. "Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten. We express our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Remembering Brandon Clarke
Clarke was the No. 21 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, originally selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He spent his entire career with the Grizzlies following a trade to Memphis on July 7, 2019.
Clarke was born in Vancouver and moved to the United States when he was 3. He grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, where he eventually starred at Desert Vista High School.
"Sad day," Sam Duane Jr., who coached Corona del Sol to that 2015 state championship win over Desert Vista, told the Arizona Republic. "Brandon was a tremendous player, elite competitor. He played with great passion and intensity, while, at the same time, respected his opponents and the game. He was extremely hard to compete against, but easy to root for."
Clarke went on to play at San Jose State, where he earned the Mountain West Conference Sixth Man of the Year as a freshman. After playing his sophomore season in the Bay Area, he transferred to Gonzaga and spent his final two collegiate seasons with the Bulldogs.
The back-to-back American League MVP underwent imaging on Wednesday that showed healing in his rib, but not enough to clear him for baseball activities just yet.
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He and the team were still waiting to hear back from a rib specialist to see if he might be able to get the green light to at least begin some upper-body exercises, which would represent a minor victory since has not been able to do any of them for the six weeks since he was diagnosed with the injury.
As of Friday afternoon, though, Judge remained in a holding pattern as the Yankees opened the second half of the season without him — as they will continue to be for the foreseeable future.
“Definitely a positive sign that we’re seeing some healing,” Judge said. “Part of it’s healing, the other part of it’s still trying to bridge together. I think that’s what we’re trying to wait and see if we can get some confirmation of what we can start doing.”
Aaron Judge (99) hits a walk-off two-run home run in the 9th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Judge indicated was “definitely” confident he will still be able to get back on the field this year – “I don’t see why not,” he said, which manager Aaron Boone echoed.
“I feel good about the fact that he’ll be back,” Boone said. “But it’s just a matter of when.”
Yankees Aaron Judge reacts on the dugout fence during the sixth inning when the New York Yankees played the Minnesota Twins Saturday, July 4, 2026 at Yankee Stadium Robert Sabo for NY Post
It remains to be seen how long Judge would need to get himself ready to play in games once he is cleared to resume baseball activities, though at this point, getting back at some point in August might be wishful thinking.
GM Brian Cashman had cautioned last week that the Yankees did not expect Judge’s rib to be fully healed yet. But they were at least hoping he would be cleared to do more than the lower-body exercises he has been limited to since the start of June.
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That said, they do not want to push Judge too soon because if he were to suffer a setback, it could potentially jeopardize his ability to play again this season.
“[There were a] couple weeks that were tough, really couldn’t do a lot, but now we’re feeling 10 times better,” Judge said. “That was my big complaint, ‘Well if I’m feeling better, how about we start moving?’ But I think they just don’t want to start adding baseball activities and other stuff and all of a sudden we have a setback and it pushes everything back. I think they want to be sure it’s healing up the right way so we can get back as soon as we can.”
Asked if he would need the equivalent of spring training (six weeks) once he does start baseball activities, Judge indicated he was hoping for a shorter runway – including not wanting to “waste” at-bats in a rehab assignment, though skipping one altogether seems unlikely and it is still well off in the distance.
Before they opened the second half with a showdown series against the Dodgers, the Yankees were still waiting to hear back from Dr. Gregory Pearl – the same specialist they consulted with for the original diagnosis – to determine what Judge will be able to do in the coming days and when his next round of imaging would be. Since the beginning of June, he has mostly been limited to lower-body exercises like walking on the treadmill, and briefly riding an exercise bike before they “shied away from that.”
"Sometime around September 1st is probably a good guess. They (Yankees) wouldn't make one but that's my guess."@JonHeyman reacts to the latest injury update on Yankees captain Aaron Judge. pic.twitter.com/d3yk03N4Pb
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) July 17, 2026
In the meantime — with the Yankees entering Friday 18-19 without Judge and three games back of the Rays for the division lead — the painful waiting game continued.
“It’s been the worst,” Judge said. “I want to play. That’s why I’m here, that’s why I get paid, to play big games for the Yankees. Especially with the team we have, how special it is, how special this group is, I want to be a part of everything. It’s been tough, but we got a lot of great guys in this clubhouse that’ve been holding their own and kind of carrying the weight of this team. [Paul Goldschmidt], [Cody Bellinger], what they’ve been doing, Ben Rice, it’s been fun to watch.
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