Bob Iger, former chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Co., during the Allen & Co. Media and Technology Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, US, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. The event brings together many of the biggest names in AI, media and technology. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images | Bloomberg via Getty Images
For most people, an impulse purchase is a candy on display near the checkout counter. For Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, it’s the Lakers.
In just 72 hours, they went from no affiliation with the franchise to owning a majority stake in it. With Iger and Kushner originally eyeing the Las Vegas expansion team, then pivoting to the Lakers, they haven’t given much thought to how things will go.
“We’re fans,” Iger said. “We respect the value that’s been created, both on the court and off. Our intention is to build this great franchise from a position of strength in many respects as an organization. We’re smart enough to know what we know and what we don’t know. It’s just premature to speculate at all about what we plan to do, because frankly, we haven’t made any plans yet. Again, we go into this with an appreciation of who the Lakers are. And we just want to build value from today on.”
Iger added: “This is very new.”
The honesty is appreciated, but concerning.
When Iger talks about wanting to “build value from today on,” is he meaning for himself or for the fans that have made the Lakers what they are?
Walter clearly didn’t care much about what the Lakers were, other than that they were “an extraordinary investment.” With no plan in place from Iger, it’s fair to wonder whether the Lakers were just his consolation prize, since the Vegas purchase was far from a foregone conclusion for his ownership group.
Given the speed of this purchase and the lack of any vision, it makes one wonder: What did those conversations with Mark Walter over those three days entail?
Did Walter not discuss Iger and Kushner’s direction or plans? Did Walter explain what he was doing, his vision and how a transition can occur? Or was this all about the money and as long as the check cleared, things were fine?
GETTING TO THE TOP: The Cubs are 37-16 since June 11, the best record of any team. With their loss last night, the Red Sox are 37-17. The Rays are 34-21; the Brewers, 33-22. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
COMING FROM BEHIND: Last night’s win was the Cubs’ 37th of the season after they trailed at some point, most by any team. The Diamondbacks have 36 comeback wins. The Cubs’ 37 wins have come in 50 different games in which they erased a deficit. They have won 10 in a row, 12 of 13 and 22 of 24, beginning on June 11, when they rallied to win at Colorado, starting their current surge. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
DURING THE DAY: The Cubs are only 8-11 in day games on the road this season, but they are 7-6 in days games on the road following night games. They are 9-2 on Thursday, their best record on any day of the week. They are 14-6 on Wednesday and 12-7 on Tuesday. They are 5-1 on the road on Thursday, also their best. They are 8-3 on Wednesday and 7-3 on Tuesday. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Shawon Dunston’s two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth completes a Cubs comeback from a 5-1 deficit and they defeat the Pirates 9-8 at Wrigley Field. It happened 40 years ago today, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 1986.
Lineups were not available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for today’s lineups.
Kevin Gausman, RHP vs. Cade Cavalli, RHP
Kevin Gausman was solid in his first Cubs start last Friday in Kansas City.
He has not faced the Nats since 2024 and so only three of the current Nationals have faced him. CJ Abrams, who is having a really good year, is the only Nat who has hit him at all — 4-for-6. So, stop Abrams and Gausman can probably handle the rest of the Nats lineup.
With Foster Griffin traded, Cade Cavalli takes over as the Nats’ best starter. He’s had a solid year and has allowed three or fewer runs in all of his last 11 starts.
He was the Nats’ Opening Day starter against the Cubs and allowed three runs in 3.2 innings on a chilly, windy day at Wrigley Field March 26, which probably has little or no predictive value for today’s game.
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
DYERSVILLE, IA - AUGUST 11: A general view of MLB Field at Field of Dreams during the MiLB Field of Dreams game between the St. Paul Saints and the Iowa Cubs on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 in Dyersville, Iowa. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Tonight, Major League Baseball returns to Dyersville, Iowa, for the Field of Dreams Game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins. It’s fantastic that the event has returned, as the 1989 film is one of my favorites and has inspired memories and reflections of my own.
Childhood memories
One summer day in the early 2000s, my oldest brother had the impulse to build a baseball field. So, he tied the closest thing we had to a steel drag mat to our dad’s ancient Subaru Leone (I think that was the car) from the 80s and drove it around the empty acre of dirt next to the house.
While he was in the car, my job as the youngest brother was to wander the field and pick up as many large rocks as I could carry in my shirt and use them to weigh down a line of boards flat on the ground that served as our outfield fence. We then created a backstop by propping up a chain-link fence on three poles, and tried to compile a mound of dirt as best we could to pitch from.
Despite a total lack of measuring that left us with a tiny right field—and an abundance of weeds, rocks, Chico bushes, and ankle-twisting rodent tunnels—it was our own Field of Dreams.
It wasn’t heaven, but it was perfect.
I have so many memories of taking batting practice out there with my brothers and the slog of tracking down every ball we hit, only to inevitably lose one somehow (legend says there are still baseballs out there to this day). It also served as our annual home run derby venue, where we obliterated the surplus of rotten apples that fell off our trees. I also spent many years using an old wooden shovel handle to smack rocks I tossed up to myself to work on my hand-eye coordination while my dog Misty chased them.
That field helped forge my love of the game, and inspired so many pursuits in baseball, including writing for Purple Row.
Baseball marks the time
I recently watched Field of Dreams on a whim in preparation for the game, and one of the moments that always stands out is the monologue by James Earl Jones’s character, Terrance Mann.
“The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it’s a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and could be again.”
Baseball has always been a significant part of my life. My dad loved the game and passed that on to my three brothers and me. The oldest and I became the fanatics and played the game, while the other two became casual enjoyers of the sport.
The sport is always a constant through the good times and the bad. When my dad first learned of his cancer diagnosis in 2024, Rockies baseball helped him endure that time. After he passed, baseball has continued to serve as a healing salve for me.
To me, the essence of the speech in the movie is that baseball is about hope and believing that things can be better than they were yesterday. It stands as a constant testament to the inherent childlike simplicity of throwing, hitting, and catching a ball. Baseball is what dreams are made of.
It’s a game that can heal people, giving them a sense of community and the courage to believe. The best adage in sports is that there is “always next year.” Seems like every year, no matter how foolish it may be, I enter a Rockies season with a decent amount of optimism that things could be better. I see others who share that same sentiment time and time again. Whether or not that is true depends on your perception, but 2026 has shown that things can still be bad, yet much better than the previous year.
If you build it
So as the Phillies and Twins step onto that cornfield diamond in Iowa tonight, I won’t just be watching a game between two major league teams. I’ll be thinking of a dusty acre, an old Subaru Leone, a wooden shovel handle, and a father who shared his love of the game. The Rockies—and baseball itself—might break our hearts now and then, but every pitch brings a chance to remember where we came from and believe in what comes next. That’s the magic of the game. It marks our time, keeps our memories alive, and always promises that tomorrow could be better.
Whether it’s played in a pristine, corn-rimmed stadium in Dyersville or on a rocky patch of dirt next to the house, baseball has a way of holding up a mirror to our lives. Tonight’s Field of Dreams game is a reminder of why we fall in love with this sport in the first place. For baseball fans—and for anyone who has ever built a field in their own backyard—sometimes the score matters a lot less than the sanctuary the game provides. There’s always next year, always next season, and always another dream waiting out in the corn.
The Cincinnati Reds have lost ace Hunter Greene not only for the rest of the 2026 season, but likely all of 2027 as well.
Greene underwent his second Tommy John surgery on Wednesday, Aug. 13, after doctors discovered the damage to his right elbow was too extensive for them to opt for a less-invasive internal brace procedure that could have allowed him to return to action for the second half of next season.
The expected recovery time for the full elbow reconstruction is 12-18 months, which would probably mean he wouldn't return to the mound until the start of the 2028 season.
Greene, 27, is one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in baseball, but injuries have been a problem for him throughout his major league career.
He has never made more than 26 starts or pitched more than 150⅓ innings in any of his five seasons with the Reds. He hit both of those career highs in 2024, when he went 9-5 with 169 strikeouts and a 2.75 ERA. That success earned him his only All-Star berth and an eighth-place finish in the NL Cy Young balloting.
Greene was shut down during spring training and had surgery to remove bone chips in his pitching elbow.
He allowed eight runs in 3⅓ innings when he made his season debut in June, followed by a fantastic second start against the Chicago Cubs − tossing seven scoreless innings and struck out 12. However, the elbow soreness soon returned and the Reds put him back on the injured list at the end of the month with a 2-2 record and 6.83 ERA.
Hunter Greene contract
Greene signed a six-year, $53 million extension with the Reds in 2023. Scheduled for unrestricted free agency after the 2029 season, Cincinnati has a $21 million team option for 2029 with a $2 million buyout.
2026: $8.3 million
2027: $15.3 million
2028: $16.3 million
2029: $21 million (club option, $2 million buyout)
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene will be out the rest of this season and possibly 2027 after undergoing Tommy John surgery Thursday to repair a ligament in his right elbow.
The team had announced Friday that Greene would require surgery. He also had Tommy John surgery in 2019 when he was in the minor leagues. The Cincinnati Enquirer first reported his latest surgery.
Greene is 2-2 with a 6.83 ERA in 27 2/3 innings over five starts. Greene, whose last appearance was July 31, told the team’s medical staff he experienced soreness during his side session Aug. 4.
Greene began the season on the 60-day injured list following surgery in March to remove bone chips from his right elbow.
In April 2023, Greene signed a six-year, $53 million contract extension with a $21 million club option in 2029.
Greene had two separate stints on the IL last season with a right groin injury limiting him to 19 starts. In 2024, he missed six weeks with right elbow soreness. In 2023, there were two stints on the IL with hip pain.
Despite some trade interest in Greene this summer, the Reds chose to retain him, giving them a formidable one-two punch at the top of the rotation with All-Star right-hander Chase Burns.
OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 1988: Brian Holton and Fernando Valenzuela, both pitchers for the Los Angeles Dodgers, share a quiet moment in the victorious Dodgers Clubhouse during the World Series against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California in October of 1988. (Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images) | Focus on Sport via Getty Images
The Dodgers haven’t had a three-inning save yet in 2026, and as a host of the Three-Inning Save podcast I was starting to wonder whether this team actually has the juice to repeat as champions, again. Everything was setting up perfectly for that shortcoming to be rectified on Wednesday night.
Landon Knack was called up earlier in the day, a clear sign this was a reset day for the bullpen, like we’ve seen from Charlie Barnes and Cole Irvin in just the last month and a half. Eric Lauer pitched a splendid six innings and threw 107 pitches, already his season high, and the Dodgers were up 4-2. This was the perfect opportunity to go for a three-inning save.
But the Dodgers left Lauer in the game, to face the lefty-hitting Josh Rojas to open the seventh. He struck out on five pitches, giving Lauer a season-high 6 1/3 innings but that ensured there would not be a three-inning save.
Knack still came in to fulfill his clear role, to give the bullpen a night off. He allowed a pair of singles in the seventh inning but was otherwise fine, and pitched the final 2 2/3 innings for an actual save, since he entered with a lead of three or fewer runs. It was by all definitions a perfectly effective outing, and will get Knack several handshakes and pats on the back as he’s optioned to Triple-A on Thursday in favor of another fresh arm for the bullpen.
Since saves became official in 1969, the Dodgers have 19 saves of exactly eight outs. Before Knack on Wednesday, the last such game was 39 years ago.
On June 8, 1987, Brian Holton relieved Orel Hershiser with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh inning against the Braves in Atlanta, with a 6-1 lead. Holton struck out Glenn Hubbard then induced an inning-ending groundout by future Hall of Famer Ted Simmons to extinguish the threat. Because the tying run was on deck when Holton entered, this was a save situation.
Holton stranded a single in a scoreless eighth inning, then allowed a two-run home run to Andres Thomas in the ninth inning before getting the final three outs for the first save of his career.
“Brian had a 12-to-6 curveball that was an optical illusion. That was a huge major league tool for him,” Hershiser said in the ninth inning of the SportsNet LA call of Wednesday’s game. In the LA Times game story, McManis described the pitch that struck out Holton as a “slow curve.“
Mike Marshall was the very definition of a multi-inning reliever, and won a Cy Young Award in 1974 with the Dodgers will setting records that likely won’t ever be broken, with 106 appearances and 208 1/3 innings. Marshall had an eight-out save that season, on May 18 in St. Louis, but what I love about his season is that he had saves of every number of outs from one to 12 that season.
It's part of a whirlwind for May the last few months after he left college basketball for the NBA in late June to coach Cooper Flagg on the Dallas Mavericks. His decision came months after he led Michigan to the national championship in April. So why leave after reaching the sport's mountaintop and boasting a preseason top-10 team?
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In an interview with The Athletic, the ex-Wolverines coach cited he changes to college basketball — particularly the ongoing challenges surrounding the transfer portal and NIL — that he saw as "irreversible." The Big Ten meetings, in particular, shined a light on certain aspects of college athletics.
"I was so excited for Big Ten meetings, like, 'We’re going to find some solutions,'" May told The Athletic. "I go there and I was just like, ‘Oh my God, nothing’s getting fixed. Ever.'"
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That appeared to be just the tip of the iceberg in May's thinking process that led him to become the first college basketball coach to leave for the NBA since John Beilein. He’ll be the first coach since Larry Brown in 1988 to win a national title and then coach another team the next season.
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He also noted that fundraising and administrative responsibilities were consuming much of his time, pulling his focus away from the aspects of the game he loved.
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"I just spent so much more of my time doing everything but coaching," May said.
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He added on the transfer portal: "Even when you sign, you’re not really signed; to me is the biggest issue."
May, who led mid-major Florida Atlantic to the Final Four in 2023, led the Wolverines to a 64-13 record in two seasons. He also brought a pair of Big Ten championships, including a conference tournament title in 2025, to Ann Arbor in his short yet successful stint.
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Moore noted that the Mavericks fit May's criteria and boxes for taking an NBA job, including president Masai Ujiri's track record as a championship-winning executive from his days with the Toronto Raptors; his relationship with general manager Mike Schmitz; and, of course, the chance to coach Flagg, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year.
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It's why, when the Wolverines — who had been in talks with May on a contract extension for some time at the end of last season after his name was tossed into the North Carolina head coaching mix — asked what they could do for May to return, he responded: “I don’t think there is anything."
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At the Big Ten spring meetings, May told USA TODAY Sports' Jordan Mendoza there were "minor details" being adjusted between Michigan and his party in terms of his contract extension. He said he was committed to staying with the Wolverines, though a contract had not been signed yet.
In his interview with The Athletic, May also offered his suggestions to resolve the issues in college basketball.
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“Collective bargaining in some way, shape or form needs to happen," May said. “And No. 2, figure out a way to make contracts binding.
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"Like, you can’t have a kid sign at this Big Ten school on a Friday and then go on an official visit the next day and sign at another Big Ten school for twice the money on Tuesday. It just can’t be like that. If they are gonna sign rev-share contracts and they’re gonna sign NIL contracts, let’s at least make those binding."
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Finally, May was asked whether he could ever see himself returning to college basketball one day.
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"I hope not, because that would mean I did (expletive) here," May said. "I’d like to win and stay."
oCHICAGO, IL - JUNE 20: Lazaro Estrada #35 celebrates during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday, June 20, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by George Gaza/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
We have an afternoon game today, 3:00 Eastern. The Jays now have a 15.6% chance of making the playoffs, which is almost double than what it was a couple of weeks ago. The next couple of weeks well tell us a lot. After today’s game, they play six games (home and road) against the Yankees and three game in Tampa against the Rays.
There isn’t all that much for Jays’ news.
Brendon Little is off on Paternity Leave, on his birthday yet.
Lazaro Estrada is back. I think he’s been optioned five times this year, which is the limit. But I don’t know if it works the same when you are up for a Paternity Leave. And I’m not sure that the Jays would be worried about having to put him on waivers.
And there is this.
John Schneider has cranked up the in-stadium music through the speakers in the #BlueJays’ dugout, anything to bring more energy:
“It’s like the crowd. You can already hear it, but if you can *really* hear it, that goes under the category of ‘full send’. Like, let’s fucking go.”
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 07: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees looks on before the game against the Atlanta Braves at Yankee Stadium on August 7, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cynicism is very much in this summer. If it were an ice cream flavor it would be flying off the shelves in the midst of the late-summer humidity—which has only exacerbated everybody’s foul moods. Every lighthearted mention of something cool or good that took place in the world tends to be habitually followed up with a grouchy “yeah, but have you heard…?”
For instance, hey, the Yankees keep winning more often than they lose despite not having many of their most impactful players. Yeah, but did you see that the Rays have won nine straight games? Yeah, but did you see Will Warren’s dud of a start? That guy can’t be relied upon! Yeah, but did you know we’re out of milk? The HORROR!
But the fact remains: the Yankees remain good despite it all. They even added another come-from-behind victory to their stash last night, overtaking the Mariners ahead of the final bend and switching on the turbo thrusters in a 10-5 series-clinching triumph. And what’s more, the Red Sox are crashing down to earth, giving the Bombers additional breathing room in the top Wild Card spot as they try to burn some sage or do whatever it takes to stop the white-hot Rays.
Never lacking for starting pitching, the Yankees get the luxury of turning to Max Fried in the finale as they aim for a sweep of Seattle. Fried was a bit bumpy in the first two innings of his previous start, in which he faced his former friends in Atlanta for the first time. But after allowing a leadoff single in the third, he didn’t allow a single baserunner the rest of the way, twirling a scoreless 6.1-inning performance which proved instrumental in allowing the Bombers to complete an invigorating rally later in the evening. (As an aside: I was there for that game, and you can see me on the broadcast amongst a sea of fired-up fanatics in the right field seats after Ben Rice’s game-tying hit.)
The Mariners also never lack for starting pitching—though several of their top-flight arms have underachieved this year. Not so with Logan Gilbert, who remains among the most consistent right-handed starters in MLB. Gilbert did the best he could to stifle those incendiary Rays last time up, notching a quality start with two runs over 6.2 innings (Tampa won anyway). His previous time out he completed seven full innings against a Minnesota team that can really hit, permitting three runs on five hits. The M’s are in a massive funk, but if New York completes the sweep, the 29-year old is not likely to be the main reason why.
Trent Grisham won last night’s game belt in the clubhouse, and for good reason. New York’s leadoff man stepped up with a three-hit, two-homer, 4-RBI night which helped the Yankees reach double-figures in the run column for the first time since a 12-4 win on July 9th over none other than Tampa. Naturally, he’s back in that leadoff spot this afternoon ahead of Ben Rice and Spencer Jones, who doubled twice out of the three-hole last night. Luis Garcia Jr. bats cleanup, then George Lombard Jr. hits fifth, the highest up in the order he’s gone so far. Jazz Chisholm Jr. hits sixth ahead of José Caballero who will play right field—he, Ryan McMahon and Ali Sánchez bring up the rear.
With Fried on the mound, the Mariners will give lefty-hitting infielder Cole Young the day off. Young has been among the M’s most reliable starters, but he will sit along with rookie shortstop Colt Emerson (a more understandable decision there; Emerson has not had the same caliber of start as his 21-year old shortstop counterpart in the opposite dugout). Leo Rivas and Weston Wilson, two guys hitting below the Mendoza Line, draw in. No complaints here.
How to watch
Location: Yankee Stadium — The Bronx, NY
First pitch: 1:35 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, Mariners.TV
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY), Seattle Sports 710 AM (SEA)
PHOENIX — These skids have happened virtually every year he has managed the Los Angeles Dodgers and although Dave Roberts should be numb to it by now, knowing they’ll ultimately wind up on the other side, it doesn’t make the pain any less tolerable.
“I hate it," he tells USA TODAY Sports, “I absolutely hate it. I just wish it didn’t happen at all, but it always does."
The Dodgers, who just came off a seven-game losing streak, dropping 15 of 24 games and were 42-42 over six weeks, hope to be coming out of their funk at the right time.
Now, they meet again for the battle for the No. 1 seed, with the Dodgers entering Wednesday night two games behind the Brewers, who also had the best record in MLB last year.
Roberts implored his team to wake up Monday before they played the Kansas City Royals, reminding them that if they don’t finish with the top two records in the National League, they’ll be without a first-round bye and forced to play at least two extra postseason games.
It happened last year, too, but had no ill effect.
The Dodgers, who lost seven consecutive games last July and went through a 12-24 stretch, were forced to play the Cincinnati Reds in the wild-card round. Los Angeles swept Cincinnati without breaking a sweat then breezed past the Philadelphia Phillies in four games in the NLDS before sweeping the Brewers. Then, the Dodgers outlasted the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games for the World Series title.
“I think the thing is that there’s no correlation," Roberts said. “That’s why a lot of people go, 'Oh, you haven’t played well going in the postseason. Does that mean you’re going to play bad?’ No. 'If you play well going into the playoffs, does that mean you’re going to win the World Series?’ Clearly not.
“There’s no one way. That’s what’s great about your game. We had the bye and won. We’ve had the bye and lost. We played the wild-card game and won the World Series. So, when hear people debating that, that’s good for the game."
The Dodgers had an 8 ½-game lead in August 2024, which was trimmed to two games, but won the division by five. They earned the first-round bye, got past the San Diego Padres in the NLDS, the New York Mets in the NLCS and knocked off the Yankees in five games for their first World Series title in a full season since 1988.
Then again, there was a time when the Dodgers wondered if the first-round byes were a detriment in the the expanded wild-card format. They had byes in 2022 and 2023 and were knocked out immediately in the NLDS, to the Padres in 2022 before getting swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023.
And, there was the 2017 season when they had a 1-16 meltdown from Aug. 26-Sept. 20, but woke up just in time before the playoffs, and take the Houston Astros to the seventh game of the World Series.
“We were zeroing in on the playoffs," Roberts said. “We were playing for the best record and I was like, 'I don’t think we’re going to make it.'"
Championships the past two seasons give Roberts plenty of confidence that this year will be no different no matter how they fare down the stretch.
“It felt like we would never win another game," Roberts said. “Well, we did win another game. And we won another game ending this seven-game streak, too.
“I do think we need to play with some more urgency, but once we do that, we’re going to just fine."
OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 22: Jake Schaffner #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels hits a single during the third inning against the Oklahoma Sooners in Game 3 of the NCAA College World Series baseball finals at Charles Schwab Field on June 22, 2026 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are about two months out from the North Carolina Tar Heels’ heartbreaking loss in the finals at the College World Series. In the weeks since, the 2026 MLB Draft was also held, and a number of UNC players have since begun their professional careers. With some time having passed from that, let’s take a look in on how the Diamond Heels are now fitting into their new homes.
In total, six Tar Heels were selected in the 2026 MLB Draft, all six of them opted to sign and begin their minor league careers.
The first two Heels off the board were both selected by the Boston Red Sox. Shortstop Jake Schaffner went 20th overall and came to terms on a $2 million signing bonus. His first taste of pro ball has come with the High Single-A Greenville Drive in the South Atlantic League, where he’s put up a .797 OPS in six games through Monday. Meanwhile, Boston then took Super Regional hero Owen Hull 67th overall and inked him to a $1.2 million bonus. Hull is also in Greenville and has also played in six games, putting up a 1.014 OPS. He’s shown a good eye, drawing five walks in six games, continuing on one of his calling cards from college. More notably, they both rank among the Red Sox top ten prospects according to one outlet that covers that aspect.
The third round saw two Tar Heels picked, the first of which was pitcher Jason DeCaro, who went 80th to the Pirates, signing with them for $1,297,500. As teams sometimes tend to do with pitchers, they’ve taken it slowly with DeCaro, as he hasn’t appeared in a minor league game yet. Fellow UNC rotation member Ryan Lynch went a little bit later to the Padres at the 97th pick, and he also has not taken the mound in a live game yet.
A couple rounds later, catcher Macon Winslow was selected by the Phillies and came to terms with them. In six games so far, he has just three hits, but one of them was a home run and he’s also shown a pretty good eye, drawing three walks. That has his OPS sitting at .754 in that small sample size.
The final UNC player picked this year was reliever Matthew Matthijs, who went in one of the last rounds of the draft, the 17th at 520th overall, going to the Mariners. Like the other pitchers on the list, he hasn’t appeared in a real game as of yet.
Among the undrafted free agents, pitcher Joe Charles has struggled in the Mets’ system so far, while catcher Colin Hynek didn’t record a hit in his first two games with a Cubs’ affiliate.
Other than the fact that all six Tar Heels ended up signing with their teams, there wasn’t a lot substantial to talk about just yet. We’ll be sure to check in on this year’s drafted Tar Heels towards the end of the season as they have a little more time to play in their various organizations. Best of luck to those six, and any other former UNC players around the minor leagues over the rest of the 2026 MiLB season.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 12: Angel Genao #17 of the Cleveland Guardians hits a RBI double in the seventh inning in front of Dillon Dingler #13 of the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on August 12, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez (28) bats against Cleveland Guardians during the second inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Detroit Tigers (59-61) vs. Cleveland Guardians (59-62)
Time/Place: 1:10 p.m., Comerica Park SB Nation Site:Covering the Corner Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Keider Montero (8-7, 3.38 ERA) vs. LHP Parker Messick (9-6, 2.57 ERA)
Sep 4, 2019; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola (27) against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Thanks to their mostly poor play since the All-Star break, the Phillies currently find themselves out of a playoff spot. While there’s still plenty of baseball left to be played, it certainly isn’t early anymore.
The last two opponents they’ve faced have been mediocre, but that didn’t stop the Phillies from dropping both series. They’ll move on to play another mediocrity in the Twins, who may be without their best offensive player in Byron Buxton (currently on the IL, but he is close to a return) and best pitcher in Joe Ryan. Then again, mediocrity would be a step up from what we’ve seen from the Phillies in recent weeks.
The series will be a bit wacky with Thursday night’s opener being the Field of Dreams game (hope you have Netflix), and we’ll have yet another Friday night without a game. Then again, this entire season has been a little wacky for the Phils, so they should be used to it.
Opposition research: Kody Clemens
I understand why the Phillies sold Kody Clemens to the Twins in early 2025. They had a glut of lefthanded hitting outfielders, and while he had been a nice enough bench piece, you never really got a “they have to give this guy a chance to play every day” vibe from him.
He put together a solid season for the Twins in 2025, serving as a utility player who mostly played against righthanded pitching. He wasn’t spectacular, but he was better than Max Kepler who the Phillies handed the left field job to last year.
This season, he’s been an everyday player, and while his on-base percentage is unideal (.280) he’s got a solid .747 OPS with 20 home runs. He also hit an “ultimate grand slam” this year. (Matt Strahm has had a tough time of it this season.)
Listen to the Royals radio call of the Kody Clemens ultimate grand slam (full at-bat). pic.twitter.com/QlFcF0qHw3
He’d still be an awkward fit in the Phillies’ outfield alongside fellow lefties Brandon Marsh and Justin Crawford, but it’s frustrating to see a player they basically gave away succeeding elsewhere.
Hating on the Twins
After winning World Series titles in 1987 and 1991, it has been a rough few decades for the Twins. Since 1991, they’ve won a total of two playoff series and haven’t gotten past the ALCS. For a while there, they couldn’t even win a single playoff game, dropping 18 in a row.
— Bob ' The Bear' Murphy (@murphfrommidway) May 25, 2022
The Twins rarely sign big free agents, and one of their most notable signings was Carlos Correa, who only chose them because he failed a physical with two other teams. Their current franchise player is Byron Buxton who has been really adamant about staying with the Twins, perhaps because anyone trading for him would likely become enraged when he takes his annual trip to the Injured List.
There are two weeks remaining until the 2026 MLB trade deadline and just in case anyone was wondering… Byron Buxton still has ZERO interest in waiving his no-trade clause to leave the Minnesota Twins. pic.twitter.com/zJhmUfxsco
— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) July 14, 2026
Trivia
Last week’s answer: Roberto Alomar tied Paul Molitor’s 12 hits in the 1993 World Series. MG77 was correct.
This week’s question: The Phillies defeated the Twins in the 2025 regular series finale by a 2-1 score in ten innings. Who drove in the winning run via a sacrifice fly?
Additional thought about the series
John Stolnis went into more detail about Thursday’s Field of Dreams game, but I’m just hoping the Phillies can play non- embarrassing baseball in this showcase. Maybe they can avoid any horrid fielding mistakes, and Aaron Nola can somehow limit his home runs allowed to one or fewer.
The corn doesn’t stand a chance tonight with Aaron Nola pitching #ringthebell
The Twins have Josh Bell on their roster, and we think of him as a Phillie-killer, but they’ve actually kept him in check in recent seasons. Over the past two seasons, he’s batting just .190 with two home runs against them in 23 games. He did take Nola deep once last season, but these days, only hitting one home run off of Nola is probably below average.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 23: Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry #30 talks with Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton #0 after the Pacer's 111-105 NBA win at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Playing with Steph Curry means you aren’t going to get a lot of holidays off. This year, the Warriors won’t be part of the league’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day showcase, but they will anchor the league’s inaugural Presidents Day quadruple-header.
An NBC Sports quadrupleheader will highlight the NBA schedule on Presidents' Day (Monday, Feb. 15).
The four-game lineup opens with Minnesota's LaMelo Ball returning to Charlotte to face the Hornets.
The NBA does not traditionally have a Presidents Day extravaganza, mainly because it usually falls the day after the All-Star Game. But since the Super Bowl falls on Valentine’s Day this year, the All-Star Game isn’t until Feb. 21. The NBA is seizing the opportunity to finally get out from the massive shadow of the NFL by delivering an orgy of games, in what feels like a conspiracy to create divorces.
Golden State will host the Indiana Pacers, a matchup that’s not exactly a rivalry, though the teams have some connections. The Warriors sent Chris Mullin to the Pacers for Erick Dampier in 1997, and Mullin was a key part of teams that fell just short of a title. The Pacers returned the favor a decade later, sending Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington to the “We Believe” Warriors team, a move that helped them to a first-round upset and thankfully sent Mike Dunleavy, Jr. out of town.
In 2013, the Pacers and Warriors had a scuffle that counts as a brawl by NBA standards. Roy Hibbert shoved David Lee, both teams went at each other, and Steph Curry attacked Hibbert with a lot of enthusiasm and not a lot of success, like a chihuahua throwing himself at a Great Dane. Klay Thompson got involved, Hibbert got shoved into the stands, and David West and Andris Biedrins acted like disappointed parents breaking up the fracas.
After the game, Hibbert claimed he didn’t know which Warriors guard was fighting him.
“I saw some light-skinned guy. I don’t know if it was Klay Thompson or Steph Curry, I just knew there was a light-skinned guy by me,” Hibbert told reporters. At the time, he probably outweighed Curry by 100 pounds.
More recently, Gary Payton II got Goga Bitadze ejected after dunking on him and staring him down. Both players got technical fouls, but Bitadze already had one, so he got tossed.
The highlight of this clip comes after GPII has been staring down Bitadze and scratching his head for a few seconds and Jordan Poole hustles over to stand behind Payton and scratch his head as well. The Warriors would go on to lose in overtime after 2015 NBA champion Justin Holiday hit a clutch shot to tie the game at the regulation buzzer.
Other than that, the main connections between the Pacers and Warriors come from both teams briefly believing in James Wiseman before his injuries ruined everything, and having great pre-draft workouts with Tyrese Haliburton in 2020, with one team making a better decision about him in the draft lottery.
Presidents Day was originally designated to celebrate the birthday of George Washington, which happens on Feb. 22. Now its a federal holiday designated for the third Monday in February, which means it can’t actually occur on the date Washington was born. It now honors all the presidents, which means William Henry Harrison’s 30 days in office are valued exactly as highly as Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s 12 years and change, as one day off of work.
In California, Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (Feb. 12) is a separate holiday, and the second February day off is simply known as “the third Monday in February.” Maybe that’s because they want to head off any speeches from Bay Area politicians about how Washington owned slaves, Millard Fillmore was a racist, or Rutherford B. Hayes screwed Samuel Tilden in the 1876 election by agreeing to end Reconstruction, or George H.W. Bush was a tool of the CIA. Those things aren’t incorrect, but this is America. Most of our presidents stunk!
We would like to suggest that California adjust even further and simply designate this holiday as “the Monday after the Super Bowl.” It’s much easier, and we can still imagine George Washington wiping barbecue sauce off his wooden teeth and dragging a hungover Benjamin Franklin out of his wine cellars at Mount Vernon if we want to honor our history.
