KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 22: Landen Roupp #65 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on July 22, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s series finale time, and the San Francisco Giants are in need of a win to split their four-game date with the San Diego Padres.
Righty Landen Roupp takes the mound for the Giants, making his 22nd start. Roupp has had an up-and-down season, and is 7-9 with a 4.12 ERA, a 3.38 FIP, and 114 strikeouts to 48 walks in 113.2 innings. He struggled in his last outing, giving up four runs in 3.2 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers.
For the Padres, it’s lefty Kyle Hart, after scheduled starter Michael King was pushed to Monday. Hart, who is presumably an opener for a bullpen game, has made 28 appearances this year, and is 0-2 with a 4.87 ERA, a 3.79 FIP, and 36 strikeouts to 13 walks in 40.2 innings.
Emilien Pitre | (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Mets finally found a package they liked for Freddy Peralta, moving him to Tampa Bay for three prospects most fans have likely never heard of. Indeed, none of these prospects ranked in the Rays’ top-10 per MLB pipeline. There’s more to like to this return than you might think, however.
Émilien Pitre is the headliner (insofar as there is a headliner) of this deal. Taken in the second round of the 2024 draft out of Kentucky, Pitre is an undersized second baseman originally from Canada. He returned to High-A to start this season after an unremarkable 2025 and has basically done nothing but hit since then; 128 wRC+ at A+, 155 wRC+ in Double-A, and a .308/.438/.447 slash line across two levels with more walks than strikeouts. The knock here is the lack of power, as Pitre has only average-ish EVs and a propensity for ground balls. The realistic projection is a table-setting, OBP-heavy 2B with solid defense who could be ready by the middle of 2027, with upside for a bit more if the Mets can coax out improvements to his vertical spray.
Aidan Smith is almost a mirror image of Pitre. He’s got plus exits, run times, and overall athleticism, but he’s managed to strike out more than 30% of the time in the low minors while posting a combined line 30% worse than league average. He probably just can’t hit, but occasionally these guys do put it together. He’ll have the rest of 2026 and all of ‘27 to figure it out in the Mets’ system before they’ll need to make a call on adding him to the 40-man roster. Overall it’s high-risk, high-reward swing on a prep that was at one point very highly regarded (was part of the return for Randy Arozarena in 2024).
Finally, we have Gary Gill Hill, a local product (born in New Rochelle, attended high school in Somers) who was selected as a prep arm in 2022. Like Smith, his surface level stats are unimpressive; K% under 20% and a mid-4s ERA in Double-A this season. Unlike Smith, the path to improvement is a bit more clear. Gill Hill has a diverse arsenal and feel for multiple pitch shapes. Refining those shapes and/or adjusting his mix could lead to quick gains, and there’s mid-rotation upside here on a fairly reasonable time horizon.
Back to the view of the return as a whole. First, the Rays have (as usual) one of the deepest systems in baseball; getting three players outside their top-10 for Freddy Peralta and his high-4s ERA is by no means a bad return in a vacuum. Second, raw system ranks are not the most useful of measurement tools, particularly at this point in the season (maintaining list quality on a running basis in-season is hard, and Pipeline is not the best source in the first place). There is a lot to like here, combining both floor and upside, proximity and long-term value.
Finally, we should make the point that this return is likely more valuable than the present value of the players the Mets gave up for Peralta in the first place. Yes, both Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat were top-100 names at the time of the deal, but both have seen their stock decline significantly this season to the point where it’s not longer clear that either will be meaningful contributors. Given how poor Peralta was as a Met, recouping this much value should be regarded quite positively.
We’ll have full grades for every deadline deal the Mets make once all the moves for the deadline have been made. Check back in for those next week.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 31: Manny Machado #13 congratulates Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres after he scored on a sacrifice fly ball during the first inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park on July 31, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Francisco Giants (47-64) at San Diego Padres (57-54), August 2, 2026, 1:1o p.m. PST
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ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JULY 7: Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers returns to the dugout against the St. Louis Cardinals during game one of a doubleheader at Busch Stadium on July 7, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a rough start to the road trip in San Francisco, the Brewers have turned it around with two straight wins against the Angels. They can make this a winning road trip by completing the sweep this afternoon, and Jacob Misiorowski is on the mound for it.
Since the All-Star break, the Brewers have been deliberate with building Misiorowski back up slowly to help manage his workload. His previous start was last Sunday, when he pitched five innings and struck out 12 against the Rockies. His last two starts were limited to 65 and 83 pitches, so he will likely be limited to under 100 pitches again today. Misiorowski still leads all of MLB in ERA (1.58), strikeouts (185), and FIP (2.02) across 120 innings pitched this season.
For the Angels, Walbert Ureña gets the start today. He is a 22-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic who made his MLB debut at the start of the season. So far this season, he has a 2.70 ERA, 3.88 FIP, and 88 strikeouts in 93 1/3 innings pitched. He has had four consecutive starts allowing one run or fewer, with the last of those coming Monday against the Astros. In that start, he allowed just one run in six innings while striking out five.
With the righty on the mound, Christian Yelich will get the day off. Jake Bauers takes the DH spot instead with Andrew Vaughn playing at first. Garrett Mitchell moves up to third in the lineup, with Brice Turang, Jackson Chourio, and William Contreras in their usual spots. Luis Lara, Cooper Pratt, and David Hamilton round out the lineup.
Today’s game will be broadcast nationally on Peacock at 2:15 p.m. It will also be on the Brewers Radio Network.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 31: Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets connects for his seventh inning solo home run against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on July 31, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mets lineup
A.J. Ewing – LF Francisco Lindor – SS Bo Bichette – 3B Carson Benge – RF Luis Robert – CF Jared Young – 1B Marcus Semien – 2B Jorge Polanco – DH Francisco Alvarez – C
SP: Robert Stock – RHP
Marlins lineup
Liam Hicks – DH Kyle Stowers – 1B Otto Lopez – SS Xavier Edwards – 2B Griffin Conine – LF Owen Caissie – RF Jakob Marsee – CF Joe Mack – C Javier Sanoja – 3B
SP: Sandy Alcantara – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 1:40 PM ET TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 27: Mitch Keller #23 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park on July 27, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are finishing off their four-game set against the Cincinnati Reds, but they won’t have it easy in the final game before the MLB Trade Deadline tomorrow.
Mitch Keller gets the start for the Pirates, and he’s looking for his first win since June 28, when he last pitched against the Cincinnati Reds. He went six innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs in a 9-4 victory at PNC Park. The Bucks have won each of Keller’s last two starts in 10 innings, including his latest appearance on July 27 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he went 5.1 innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs.
The Reds are giving the ball to their ace, Chase Burns, who is 12-1 so far this season. In his last start against the Pirates, he went six innings, giving up nine hits and five earned runs, but the Reds rallied late to win 9-7 at PNC Park. After that appearance, he won his next three starts but came away with a no-decision in his latest appearance on July 28 against the Cleveland Guardians. Burns went five innings, giving up five hits and one earned run, but the Reds lost 6-5.
Location: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
GETTING TO SIXTEEN: Today’s game will be the fourth time this season the Cubs have had a chance to move to 16 games above .500. They lost, 6-0, at Texas on May 9, then at St. Louis, 3-2, on Wednesday and at home against the Yankees, 2-0, on Friday. Last year, they had 16 more wins than losses for the first time on June 5, when they were 39-23 after a 7-1 win at Washington. They went to 16 above for good on Aug. 16, at 69-53, after beating the Pirates at home, 3-1. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
RUBBER GAMES: The Cubs are 4-4 in all third games of series vs. the Yankees. They won the first, in 2003; lost the next four, in 2005-22; then won the last three years. The wins in 2003, 2023 and 2025 were in rubber games, with the ones in 2003 and 2024 coming at home. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
COMING FROM BEHIND: Last night’s game was the 46th of the season in which the Cubs overcame a deficit. It was the 11th of those in which they did so in their next inning at bat after falling behind. They have done it in 43 different games, winning 30 and losing 13. They have won three in a row, five of six and 15 of 17 starting June 11, the day they began their 29-14 surge. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Ryne Sandberg’s two-run homer in the 10th gives the Cubs a 4-2 win over the Mets in New York. It happened 35 years ago today, Friday, Aug. 2, 1991.
Just when you think Colin Rea is past his sell-by date, he comes up with a solid performance, six one-run innings against the Cardinals last Tuesday. Of course, it helped that the Cubs gave him a 7-0 lead before the bottom of the second.
Rea hasn’t faced the Yankees since April 26, 2024 in Milwaukee, which is so long ago that Anthony Rizzo was batting cleanup for New York. (He went 0-for-5.) Rea threw six innings and allowed five runs that night.
The only current Yankee who has faced Rea more than a handful of times is Paul Goldschmidt (3-for-10). Trent Grisham and Jasson Dominguez have homered off him.
Rea has been much better at Wrigley Field (3.33 ERA in 54 innings) than on the road (5.93 ERA in 57.2 innings), so perhaps that will make the difference.
Gerrit Cole missed all of 2025 and the first third of this year recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Since his return he’s been good. Not “2023 Cy Young good,” but good enough. He still strikes out a lot of guys, doesn’t walk many and as you see below, his velocity is still up there. He was very good in his last start, last Tuesday against the White Sox. He threw six scoreless innings, striking out seven.
Cole last faced the Cubs Sept. 8, 2024 at Wrigley Field and threw six innings, allowing three hits and two unearned runs.
Dansby Swanson is 4-for-11 (.364) with two home runs. Michael Conforto has also homered off him. Alex Bregman, who was Cole’s teammate in Houston in 2018 and 2019, is 3-for-12 with two doubles.
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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.
TORONTO, CANADA - AUGUST 1: Kevin Gausman #34 of the Toronto Blue Jays is taken out of the game by manager John Schneider #14 in the sixth inning of their MLB game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Rogers Centre on August 1, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are about 31 hours short of the trade deadline and the Jays haven’t made a move yet. I’m expecting trades, but I will be sad to see guys leaving the team. I’ve been putting off hitting publish hoping something comes up.
The Jays have been too quiet, there aren’t any rumors or anything at the moment.
There was a big trade, the Dodgers got Tarik Skubal and really didn’t give up anyone that they won’t be able to live without.
The Tigers got:
Zyhir Hope a left-handed hitting outfielder, 21 years old. He’s hitting .293/.369/.530 with 23 home runs in 94 games at Double-A Tulsa. He strikes out a fair bit, but has good speed
River Ryan a 27-year-old right-handed pitcher who has an ‘upper 90s’ fastball and a slider with good control. He’s missed a lot of time thru injuries, including Tommy John, but I’d imagine the Tigers will be calling him up as soon after he’s recovered from his hamstring injury. 27 is old for a ‘prospect’ but injury issues have slowed his climb.
Brady Smith a right-handed pitcher, 21 years old, who has been hit pretty hard in A ball this year, but has 113 strikeouts in 74.1 innings. He’s also been through Tommy John throws mid-90s with a very good changeup and a slider. I think he’ll end up in the bullpen, but you never know.
I don’t know that it is really enough for one of the best pitchers in baseball, but it does suggest the Jays won’t get as much for Kevin Gausman as we’d like to think. But they are three guys who were on Baseball America’s top 100 prospect list. I would be very happy getting one guy on the top 100 prospect list for Kevin.
It doesn’t look like Bo Bichette will be moving, I didn’t think it was likely. He’s making too much money for my liking. I did see someone say that the Jays should trade for him, but I can’t imagine it, as much as I’d like to continue watching him.
Bo Bichette, whose contract contains a no-trade clause, said the Mets haven’t come to him with any proposals. Says it’s highly unlikely he will be dealt.
Today’s lineup: Urias back in the leadoff spot. Springer playing outfield (I wonder if that is for teams scouting him?). We have seen a lot of lefty starters lately.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - APRIL 28: Chase Burns #26 of the Cincinnati Reds walks back into the dugout during the game against the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park on April 28, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kate Woolson/Cincinnati Reds/Cincinnati Reds)
The Cincinnati Reds dropped Saturday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at home in Great American Ball Park, but on Sunday they’ve got their ace on the mound with the series victory in the balance.
Chase Burns will toe the rubber for the good guys opposite Bucs starter Mitch Keller, with first pitch on the docket set for 1:40 PM ET.
Eugenio Suarez will begin this game on the bench, and with the trade deadline looming tomorrow afternoon that means he may well have made his final start in a Cincinnati Reds uniform. That’s sad, though not quite as sad as the fact that it means Ke’Bryan Hayes is going to be in the starting lineup at 3B more or less every day going forward (today included).
Here’s how both clubs will line up to begin Sunday’s series finale in GABP, one that may well be the final game the Reds play before ripping apart the roster:
TODAY’S GAME: The first-place Astros will try to complete a sweep of the Rangers today in the finale of this huge three-game weekend series between the top two teams in the AL West.
RHP Peter Lambert (8-5), who went 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA in five July starts, will get the start for the Astros today vs. RHP Kumar Rocker (4-8) and the Rangers.
SILVER BOOT SECURED: The Astros are 8-4 against the Rangers this season, securing them the 2026 Silver Boot.
The Astros have now won the Silver Boot in 10 consecutive seasons (every year since 2017), during which the Astros have gone 101-55 vs. the Rangers.
SWEEPSTAKES: The Astros have swept two of their last three series and four series overall this season…the Astros last swept the Rangers from Sept. 15-17, 2025, a three-game set in Houston.
WINNING WAYS: The Astros have won 10 of their last 11 games, a span that includes two five-game winning streaks, which is their season-long.
The Astros are now two games over .500, their first time at that mark since being 6-4 following their 10th game of the season on April 5.
THE TURNAROUND: After a slow start to the season, the Astros are 37-24 since May 22, which ties as 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.
Winning Percentage since May 22, AL T1. Astros 37-24 (.607) T1. Red Sox 37-24 (.607) 3. Tigers 33-27 (.550)
GOIN’ DEEP: The Astros rank third in the Majors in home runs (154), trailing only the Nationals (164) and Yankees (156).
Houston has done their dam- age in bunches, recording 22 three-homer games, the most by any team in the Majors.
TODAY’S BROADCASTS: Today’s game will be televised by Space City Home Network with Todd Kalas, Geoff Blum and Julia Morales on the call.
The Astros English radio broadcast on SportsTalk 790 will feature Robert Ford and Kevin Eschenfelder.
Francisco Romero and Alex Treviño will be on the call on the Astros Spanish radio broadcast on TUDN 102.9 FM.
SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL: The surging Astros won their fifth straight game, downing the Rangers 5-4 on Saturday night at Daikin Park.
The offense did their damage against RHP Jacob deGrom, tagging him for five runs on seven hits and five walks, including multi-hit efforts from SS Jeremy Peña (2×5) and 1B Christian Walker (2×4, RBI).
RHP Ronel Blanco (3ER/4.2IP) started for Houston, before giving way to a strong bullpen (1ER/4.1IP).
MVP-CALIBER: Yordan Alvarez is a strong AL MVP candidate as he leads the league in all three Triple Crown categories, ranking first in batting average (.324), HR (35), and RBI (82).
Additionally, he currently leads MLB in OPS (1.079), OBP (.438), SLG (.641) and TB (255), and in the AL, he ranks first in hits (129), extra-base hits (56), and runs (76), and third in walks (77)…AL
HOT IN JULY: DH Yordan Alvarez hit .360 (31×86) with nine home runs, 22 RBI, a .467 OBP, a .721 SLG, and a 1.188 OPS in 23 games in July.
In the month, Alvarez led the AL in home runs, RBI, OPS and SLG, while ranking second in walks (15), second in hits, and fourth in batting average and OBP.
GOOD INTENTIONS: DH Yordan Alvarez was walked twice intentionally last night, giving him a Major League-leading 22 intentional walks on the season.
Alvarez’s 22 intentional walks ties as the third-highest total in a single season by an Astros player in club history, along with Lance Berkman, who was walked intentionally 22 times in 2006.
STREAKING: SS Jeremy Peña has hit safely in 13 straight games at a .429 (24×56) clip with 17 runs, three doubles, one triple, six home runs, 12 RBI and a 1.271 OPS during the streak.
Peña’s streak is just one game shy of his career high, a 14-gamer from April 8-23, 2025, and ties as the longest by an Astro this season (also, DH Yordan Alvarez from April 14-28).
THE LAMBO: Today’s Astros starter RHP Peter Lambert leads the club in wins (8), starts (18), innings (103.0) and strikeouts (100).
Among AL pitchers with at least 100 IP, Lambert ranks fourth in opponent average (.207) and eighth in ERA…Lambert pitched last year for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the NPB, posting a 3.98 ERA (55ER/124.1IP) with 111 strikeouts in 23 starts.
WHAT A RELIEF: LHP Josh Hader, who is 15-for-15 in save opportunities with a 1.17 ERA, recorded his 77th career save as an Astro last night, moving him past RHP Fred Gladding (76) for fifth place in saves all-time among Astros relievers.
He now trails RHP Ryan Pressly (111) for fourth on that all-time list.
STALKING 500: RHP Bryan Abreu has 497 career strikeouts, needing just three strikeouts to reach 500 for his career.
He would become just the fourth reliever in franchise history to record 500 strikeouts with the club, joining LHP Billy Wagner (694), RHP Brad Lidge (557) and RHP Dave Smith (529).
DOWN ON THE FARM: The Triple A Sugar Land Space Cowboys picked up their second-straight a walkoff win last night over Salt Lake, with RF Joey Loperfido (4×4) scoring the winning run on a double by 2B Ronel Delgado (2×3).
At Double A Corpus Christi, RHP Bryce Mayer, the Astros top pitching prospect, tossed 6.0 shutout innings, fanning nine hitters, while allowing three hits and no walks in the Hooks 7-0 win over Frisco.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Sunday, August 1, 1:10 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)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 1: Ty France #25 douses Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres with Gatorade after a walk-off win over against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park on August 1, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres needed a two-out walk-off single from Jake Cronenworth to get a dramatic 6-5 win over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday. Fernando Tatis Jr. was intentionally walked to bring Cronenworth to the plate. The adorable little second baseman as Mud Grant likes to call him, won a seven-pitch at-bat and delivered the game-winning hit on a single to center field to score Xander Bogaerts from third base.
The Padres found themselves tied after Mason Miller was called on for a five-out save. He entered the game with the bases loaded in the top of the eighth and got the second out of the inning before the Giants scored two runs on a double by Osleivis Basabe. San Diego had been in control throughout much of the game and looked to be cruising to a 5-3 win before the game-tying hit. Miller closed out the eighth and worked a scoreless ninth to give the Padres a chance win it in the bottom half of the inning.
Taking the mound
Michael King (SD) v. Landen Roupp (SF)
Michael King had a strange outing the last time he took the mound against the Colorado Rockies. He pitched six innings and allowed four runs with six strikeouts and a walk. King was tagged for two home runs and got a no decision after the Padres got an 8-7 walk-off win. He has been solid in his last seven outings earning a 2-1 record with a 2.90 ERA. King will need to be sharp against a San Francisco lineup that has shown an ability to take advantage of mistakes.
Landen Roupp has performed well against the Padres but comes into the contest with a 7-9 record and a 4.12 ERA. Roupp had a rough outing his last time out. He faced the Milwaukee Brewers and allowed four runs with three walks and a strikeout in just 3.2 innings. San Diego will look to be patient to get their pitches from Roupp in an effort to get him out of the game early.
Batter up!
There is no telling what the lineup could look like after today, so the best bet is to think the Padres are going to put their top guys on the field in an effort to notch one more win before the Trade Deadline. Gavin Sheets has been slumping and has not played much but it is just a matter of time before he gets back on track.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Manny Machado, DH
Ty France, 1B
Jackson Merrill, CF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Sung-Mun Song, 3B
Gavin Sheets, DH
Luis Campusano, C
It is understandable that the Padres want to put their best team on the field as they head into the final game before the Trade Deadline. They can do that with Machado at DH. Song has shown himself to be a competent fielder and has not played in some time. It would be a good day to get Machado off his feet considering the next four games come against the Diamondbacks in Arizona. Campusano should get the start behind the plate in the day game after a night game.
Relief corps
The Padres used more bullpen than expected after Walker Buehler went just 4.1 innings. Wandy Peralta, Adrian Morejon, Jeremiah Estrada and Mason Miller were all used in the eventual win. With King on the mound, the hope is the ‘pen gets a rest day, but if he falters, Kyle Hart could be used to cover bulk innings as San Diego looks to close out the series with a win.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers reacts after his play for an out during a 2025 Major League Baseball season home opening game at Dodger Stadium on March 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers on Sunday made official their trade of Tarik Skubal, winner of the last two American League Cy Young Awards. For the start left-hander, the Dodgers sent outfielder Zyhir Hope plus pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith to the Detroit Tigers.
Ryan was the only one of those three players on the 40-man roster, so Skubal simply takes Ryan’s spot. The Dodgers already had an open slot after designating Cole Irvin for assignment on Saturday, but that spot wasn’t needed, yet. The trade deadline comes at 3 p.m. PT on Monday, so there’s still time for maneuvering.
Skubal missed six weeks this season after arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies in his left elbow, similar to the procedures Edwin Díaz and Blake Snell underwent this season, though with a quicker return to action. The left-hander in 16 starts this season has a 2.79 ERA with 116 strikeouts and 14 walks in 96 2/3 innings, and over his last six starts has a 1.95 ERA with 50 strikeouts against only six walks.
Because the Dodgers are both a multiple-repeat competitive balance tax payer and because they surpassed the fourth (and highest) CBT threshold, they will pay a 110-percent tax on any overage, which is another $10,787,097.
Presumably the Dodgers will activate Skubal at some point during their series against the Chicago Cubs, which begins Monday at Wrigley Field. Skubal last pitches Wednesday for the Tigers, throwing 92 pitches in 6 2/3 innings against the Baltimore Orioles. He’d be on four days rest on Monday, something he’s done in five of his 16 starts this season, and would be on five days rest on Tuesday.
Ernesto Martinez Jr. of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders is present before a Minor League Baseball game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, United States, on May 22, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
It is a case of joining them after you beat them.
Ernesto Martinez Jr. played last season with the Nashville Sounds, Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. He appeared in nine games against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and although he only went 5-for-30, some of the hits he had led the Sounds to victory. On May 22, 2025, in a game during a series in Nashville, his single capped a five-run seventh inning that tied the game at 6. Nashville won in 11 innings, 7-6. Two days later, his home run finished off a 12-5 win for Nashville. Finally, on Aug. 2, 2025, at PNC Field, the Sounds trailed, 2-0, heading into the top of the ninth inning when they scored seven runs. Martinez’s two-run double put Nashville ahead, 3-2, on its way to a 7-5 win.
This season, the 27-year-old left-handed slugging first baseman and native of Cuba is with the RailRiders and producing some big hits for them. In 87 games, Martinez is batting .238 (72-for-302) with 10 doubles, four triples, 16 home runs and 53 RBI. His home-run total is a career-high, surpassing the 13 he hit in 2024 with the Biloxi Shuckers, Double-A affiliate of the Brewers in the Southern League. He is nine RBI away from tying his career-high of 62, also set during that 2024 campaign.
Two of his home runs have been grand slams: April 3rd in a 17-4 rout at Rochester in the second game of a doubleheader and July 7th at Buffalo that completed an eight-run ninth inning and an 18-3 romp.
On July 28th, in the series opener at the Iowa Cubs, his two-out, two-run triple to left-center field in the top of the eighth inning tied the game at three. He scored on the next pitch when Kenedy Corona laid down a perfect bunt that he beat out for a single. Martinez then tacked on some insurance with a two-run single in the top of the ninth that gave the RailRiders a 6-3 victory. It was Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s first game in Iowa since 1990 when they were the Red Barons and affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies. It was their first win in the Hawkeye State since July 27, 1989 — a span of 37 years and one day.
For the most part, Martinez is pleased with how his season is going.
“It’s had its ups and downs, been more positive than negative,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot, got better defensively, gotten better at putting the ball in the air. I feel like I’ve progressed a lot, regardless of the downs.”
He said a slight adjustment to his swing has helped him hit as many home runs as he has this season.
“Just working on taking some stuff from Judgie (Aaron Judge), Spencer (Jones),” Martinez said. “Some stuff that they’ve adapted to me and my particular hitting approach. It’s been a little bit inconsistent because it’s the first I’m doing it. But that’s pretty much what we’ve been doing.”
Born in Antilla, which is located in the Holguin Province of Cuba, Martinez was originally signed by the Brewers as a nondrafted free agent in May 2017. He worked his way up through the organization in eight seasons before electing to become a free agent last November. He signed with the Yankees in December. Several factors led to his decision.
“What was really attractive was what other people were saying about them. Plus the history of the Yankees. The callup percentage of guys who are signed free agents. But the commentary of the people outside the field and inside the field were great. I always wanted to put the jersey on. It wasn’t like a no-brainer, but it almost was.”
Martinez was a fan of the Yankees growing up in Cuba. He followed players like Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Alfonso Soriano.
“My dad used to bring me some tapes from outside the country and I would watch video of all those guys,” Martinez said.
His father, Ernesto Martinez Sr., has been and continues to be a big influence on Martinez’s career. Ernesto Sr. played 10 seasons as a catcher in the Cuban National Series and in 2002, he contributed a solo home run in Game 7 of the championship series to help give Cachorros de Holguin a 2-1 win and the team’s first title.
The elder Martinez then continued his professional career in France. At the 2017 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, father and son played on the same team for France. The younger Martinez was the youngest player at age 17.
“He was a hero of the city where I grew up. He won them their only championship,” Martinez said. “So I pretty much wanted to be like him when I grew up.”
Be patient. That is the best piece of advice Martinez’s father has given him.
“In baseball, there is always a day after the other,” Martinez said. “You’re always going to get a next day in baseball.”
Martinez is patiently waiting for his first callup to the major leagues. For that to happen, he feels he must be a little more consistent.
“I came here to get better,” he said. “We know what the goal looks like. We’ve just got to repeat it every day.”
Jul 12, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen (24) before the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The MLB 2026 trade deadline of Monday, August 3 at 4:00 p.m. MDT is fast approaching.
The Colorado Rockies (and, frankly, most teams) were disappointingly quiet on so far this week.
But last night while the Rockies were celebrating their 12-6 win over the Kansas City Royals, the Los Angeles Dodgers made the move:
Look for the trade market to get serious today.
As the day progresses, we’ll keep this tracker updated with the most pertinent rumors and the biggest deals that come to fruition.
The Rockies and Kansas City Royals will play this afternoon at 1:10.
After snapping their four game losing streak on Saturday, the Phillies will look to earn a series win on Sunday in the finale against the Baltimore Orioles.
Zack Wheeler gets the start for the Phillies. The righthander is coming off an alarmingly bad outing so it will be interesting to see if he can bounce back.
