Author: MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

Here’s the Twins lineup

Here’s the Guardians lineup:

Let’s go, Guardians!

Being a Yankees fan is in my blood. My late father Bill was a diehard Yankees; his favorite player was Mickey Mantle. There was no way his first-born and only son was not going to be a Yankees fan. 

He took me to my first game 55 years ago, the anniversary of which just passed last Saturday.

It was July 18, 1971, a Bat Daydoubleheader against the Chicago White Sox on a Sunday afternoon. I remember being thrilled because the bat I got was a Bobby Murcer model – my favorite player at the time. My dad taught me how to keep score, something I still do to this day whenever I go to a game. Still have all the scorecards, too. 

The Yankees swept both games of the twin bill. In the opener, they rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth off knuckleballer Wilbur Wood to win, 3-2. Murcer had a two-run single to tie the game and Ron Swoboda’s RBI single won it. Then in the nightcap, Mike Kekich threw a one-hitter in a 6-1 victory. The lone hit Kekich allowed was a solo fifth-inning home run to Mike Andrews. Roy White backed Kekich with a two-run home run, a double and a steal of home. 

I’ve been hooked on the Yankees ever since. 

Reaching 55 years from my first Yankees game got me thinking about all the ballgames I’ve attended over the years, all the moments and players I’ve been fortunate to witness.  

I have seen the Yankees play at the original Yankee Stadium, the remodeled version, and the current one. I saw them play home games at Shea Stadium in 1974 and 1975. I have seen them on the road at the SkyDome in Toronto; Camden Yards in Baltimore; old RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.; and what was once U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. 

In all, I have been to 117 Yankees games and my record is 69-48. That includes one Opening Day (2011) and four other home openers (1985, 1997, 1998, 1999). 

Ten of the victories came in walk-off fashion, including:

• Graig Nettles hitting a home run in the bottom of the ninth off Mickey Lolich to give the Yankees a 2-1 win over the Detroit Tigers and complete a doubleheader sweep on June 24, 1973.
• Don Baylor going deep in the bottom of the ninth to beat the White Sox, 5-4, and win the home opener April 16, 1985.
• Paul O’Neill and David Justice clubbing solo home runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to beat the Boston Red Sox, 4-3, on April 22, 2001. (O’Neill threw his bat in frustration, not realizing that the ball sailed out.)
• Alex Rodriguez hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the 12th inning to defeat the Atlanta Braves, 4-3, on June 28, 2006.
• Starlin Castro homering in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Colorado Rockies, 9-8, on June 22, 2016.

Then there was Kerry Dineen. He only played in 16 games in his MLB career and had 12 hits and a pair of RBIs. On May 21, 1976, hours after being called up from Triple-A Syracuse, he delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 12th inning to beat the Red Sox, 6-5. This came one day after the famous brawl between the teams when Lou Piniella barreled into catcher Carlton Fisk and Boston pitcher Bill Lee injured his shoulder during the fracas. 

Some games were memorable because of what the opposition did. 

Twice, I almost saw opposing pitchers no-hit the Yankees. On September 12, 1981, Bob Ojeda of the Red Sox didn’t allow a hit through eight innings and faced only one batter over the minimum. But Rick Cerone and Dave Winfield led off the ninth with consecutive pinch-hit doubles to break up the bid. Boston still won, 2-1.

Then September 28, 2006, Daniel Cabrera of the Baltimore Orioles came within two outs of a no-hitter, only to have Robinson Canó single to ruin it. On his next pitch, Cabrera got a game-ending double play to complete a 7-1 win. 

There was the much-anticipated nationally televised pitching showdown between Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens on Sunday night, May 28, 2000. It lived up to the hype and ended with Trot Nixon hitting a two-run home run in the top of the ninth off Clemens for a 2-0 Boston win. 

Most of the memorable moments, though, were done by the Yankees. 

I saw them crush the Milwaukee Brewers in the first game of a doubleheader, 19-2, to clinch the American League East Division title on September 25, 1996. I also saw Don Mattingly have his No. 23 retired prior to the game against the Montreal Expos on August 31, 1997.

I was there to see A-Rod hit his 600th career home run August 4, 2010 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Also saw him get career hit Nos. 2,998 and 2,999 against the Miami Marlins on June 18, 2015, and saw Ichiro Suzuki get his 4,000th career hit between Japan and MLB on August 21, 2013 against the Blue Jays.

On August 25, 2011, Robinson Canó, Russell Martin, and Curtis Granderson hit grand slams in a 22-9 win over the Oakland A’s – the first time a major league team hit three grand slams in the same game. What made being there more special was the fact my daughters were with me for their first game. I have been able to pass on my love for the Yankees to them, the way my dad did with me.

More recently, we were at Ben Rice’s three-home run game against the Red Sox on July 6, 2024 – coincidentally my dad’s birthday.

It has been a lot of fun going to games these past 55 years and cheering for the Yankees. Getting to cover and write about the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders now has only enhanced that fandom.

All things being equal, the team and the fanbase would most like to see the Phillies add an impact bat at the Trade Deadline.

But as always, supply and demand remain the greatest obstacle to landing an impact bat. There aren’t that many, if any, offensive stars available and the ones that are would likely require more than what the Phillies have in their war chest of prospects to offer.

With 11 days left until the Trade Deadline, I see seven clear sellers: the Mets, Giants, Rockies, Blue Jays, A’s, Royals and Angels. There are several other players not on these teams who are hitting the rumor mill, too.

Among those seven teams, here are the players who would qualify as “impact” bats, with my best guess that they could possibly be traded to the Phils in parantheses. There are other bats that will be available. Some will provide moderate upgrades and some will provide little-to-no improvement. But these are the big boys.

Heliot Ramos – Giants (65%)

The Giants have perhaps the two most intriguing and realistic players at this year’s deadline. The first of them is right-handed hitting corner outfielder Helio Ramos, who has hit nine homers with an OPS of .759 in 64 games this season. He was an All Star two years ago for the Giants when he slugged 22 homers in 121 games, and started 157 games for San Francisco last year with a .728 OPS and 21 dingers.

Ramos would help with one of the team’s biggest deficiencies — hitting left-handed pitching. This year he has a .315/.351/.556 slash line against southpaws, and for his career has posted an .857 OPS against them.

I think this is the guy they want.

Luis Arraez – Giants (40%)

Arraez is not a middle-of-the-order power bat, but he would help with one other area of extreme weakness — getting on base.

Entering their weekend series against the Yankees, the Phils’ .303 OBP is second-worst in Major League Baseball. They simply don’t get on base enough to be consistent. Arraez has a career .363 OBP and so far this season has been getting on base at a .359 clip. He’s also hitting .320, has an .805 OPS and has been worth 2.9 WAR at second base.

Adding Arraez would require the Phillies to trade one of their infielders away, most likely Bryson Stott or Alec Bohm, or move Trea Turner to the outfield. I think most Phils fans would be willing to go there.

Mike Trout – Angels (5%)

Trout is still owed a ton of money ($37 million a season through 2030), he’s an oft-injued 34-year-old, has a full no-trade clause and seems totally disinterested in leaving Los Angeles. The only way this happens is if he tells the Angels he wants to get dealt, and there are no indications he’s ready to do that.

But should that change, the Phillies should absolutely inquire what it would take to land him. His .234 batting average isn’t great, but his .388 OBP is elite, and he’s slugged 18 home runs in 84 games this year. On paper, it would make a lot of sense.

Byron Buxton – Twins (4%)

He’d be a perfect fit. Full stop. He’s got speed, power, and is a fantastic defender. He would cost a million prospects, and they would all be worth it. He’s been healthy for two years now, so the concern of him getting injured again has lessened a bit.

The problem is that he tells everyone in no uncertain terms that he is not leaving Minnesota. So the only reason I include him here is because people have been known to change their minds. So, he joins Mr. Trout in the happy-to-lose crew until they decide they’re tired of losing.

Francisco Lindor – Mets (3%)

Reports indicate that if Lindor is going to be dealt, it won’t be until the off-season. But New York should consider it now, given teams are always a little more desperate at the Trade Deadline and clubs competing for a World Series title would get an extra two months of the star shortstop.

Lindor has not had a great season, but neither has anyone else in New York. His 0.8 WAR pales in comparison to his WAR totals since joining the Mets, but he also missed about 50 games with an injury. Is that six-win player still in there? The Phillies should at least be calling to see. If he is available, Trea Turner would have to move someplace else, but whatever happens would be worth it.

Bo Bichette – Mets (1%)

It’s really hard to envision a scenario in which the Phillies trade prospect capital and take on whatever is left of Bichette’s insane $42 million contract.

Maybe they’d do it if Bichette was having a good season, but highly doubtful for a guy with a 0.3 WAR and .677 OPS this year. But, he is a potential impact bat, so he’s included here.

Hunter Goodman – Rockies (0%)

There are some solid left-handed hitters on Colorado (first baseman TJ Rumfield and outfielders Mickey Moniak and Jake McCarthy), but the National League’s best right-handed power hitter is catcher Hunter Goodman. He currently leads all NL hitters in slugging percentage (.563) and has smashed 31 home runs in just 397 PAs.

No doubt teams will be calling the Rockies about him, and it’s doubtful Colorado will deal the 26-year-old. However, one never can count out that franchise doing something stupid. I doubt the Phillies have the prospects to land him, and you’d have to figure out what to do with J.T. Realmuto, but there’s no doubt Goodman would be the most impactful bat out there. It’s just not going to happen.

Shea Langeliers – Athletics (0%)

Just like Goodman, it’s hard to envision the A’s trading away their best hitter. But this is the A’s, we’re talking about.

Langeliers started for the American League in last week’s All Star Game and is crushing the ball to the tune of an .830 OPS, a 122 OPS+ and 23 HRs. Oakland outfielders Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler have both shown promise in the past, but are not “impact” bats right now, and both hit left-handed.

It’s unlikely the Phils could meet the prospect price for Langeliers and there is, again, the issue of what to do with Realmuto. Make him baseball’s most expensive back-up?

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There are only 10 teams in action today, but there are still some hurlers worth putting our money on, with multiple MLB player props showing value.

Shane Bieber might get hit around, but he will have a great leash. Brandon Pfaadt doesn't miss bats and is an Under candidate, and Ian Seymour has plenty of outs for his walk prop.

These are my favorite MLB strikeout props for Thursday, July 23.

Best MLB strikeout props and starting pitcher picks today

Player	Pick	Odds
Shane Bieber	Over 4.5 strikeouts	+125
Brandon Pfaadt	Under 3.5 strikeouts	-111
Ian Seymour	Over 1.5 walks allowed	+115

Strikeout prop: Shane Bieber Over 4.5 strikeouts (+125)

I have a lot of exposure to the Tampa offense today, but Shane Bieber getting extended might be the sneaky angle. His projected pitch count around 90 is already showing some value on the Over punchouts.

Bieber has been getting hit hard, but the recent strikeout numbers are encouraging with 10 Ks over his last 10+ innings.

He can still be a strikeout-per-inning pitcher when the stuff is there, and he has already reached 97 pitches in one of his five starts this season. A six-inning leash is very realistic. He still owns a 27% CSW rate over some rocky outings. 

The Rays are heading home, creating a getaway-game angle that should help Bieber. He is also much tougher on left-handed hitters, and Toronto's only available lefty out of the bullpen is Brendon Little and his 17.61 ERA.

The Blue Jays also used six relievers last night, which only increases the chance Bieber gets every opportunity to work deep.

Do I think Bieber can get hit? Yes. Do I think he has enough leash to reach six innings and strike out five at plus money? Also yes.

If the stuff is there, this could cash comfortably. If he gets hit, the volume still gives him a chance. I'm playing this to +100.

• Time: 3:07 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Rays.TV, Sportsnet

Strikeout prop: Brandon Pfaadt Under 3.5 strikeouts (-111)

Brandon Pfaadt is the definition of a pitch-to-contact starter. He is averaging just half a strikeout per inning this season and rarely gets to those deep two-strike counts needed to pile up Ks.

Nick Martinez leads MLB in pitches per plate appearance among qualified starters at 3.5, but Pfaadt isn't far behind at 3.6. He is not one of the league leaders in making hitters work, and that doesn't translate into strikeouts.

His K/9 ranks in the Bottom 25 among MLB starters, and his Bottom 15th percentile whiff rate is nothing to chase.

The innings can be misleading because Pfaadt gets deep by letting hitters put the ball in play early, not by overpowering them. The projections show value on his Under 3.5 strikeouts, but they are based on a 91-pitch workload that feels aggressive.

Pfaadt has thrown 87, 77, and 72 pitches over his last three starts and hasn't recorded more than 16 outs in any of them. I'm playing the Under 3.5 Ks down to -120.

• Time: 5:15 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Cardinals.TV, DBACKS.TV

Walks allowed prop: Ian Seymour Over 1.5 walks allowed (+115)

Ian Seymour has not gotten deep over his last two starts, throwing 61 and 78 pitches, but he has hit this Over in both of those games.

His control away from the Trop is also favorable, as his BB/9 on the road sits at 4.8 vs. 2.6 at home. That's 11 walks in 18 road innings.

Toronto might not be the best BB% team in baseball, but this offense is more than struggling and has to see pitches today vs. a struggling pitcher with control issues. 

THE BAT is projecting 85 pitches and 1.74 walks, making the break-even price around -115/-120.

• Time: 3:07 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Rays.TV, Sportsnet

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Let's dive into my favorite MLB player props and MLB picks to attack on Thursday, July 23.

Best MLB player props today

Player	Pick	Odds
Shane Bieber	Over 2.5 Earned Runs	-116
Junior Caminero	Over 1.5 Total Bases	-110
Brandon Pfaadt	Under 3.5 Strikeouts	-111

Shane Bieber Over 2.5 Earned Runs (-116)

The Tampa Bay Rays offense is one of the highest rated on this five game slate, as they draw Toronto Blue Jays right hander Shane Bieber, one of the lowest rated pitchers on Batters-Box.

Over his last five starts, Bieber owns a 5.70 ERA, 7.35 xERA, and 1.73 WHIP. During that stretch, opposing hitters have generated a 53% hard hit rate and nearly a 12% barrel rate against him.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has been seeing the ball extremely well over the last week, posting a 144 wRC+, .373 wOBA, and .850 OPS. With the way Bieber has been pitching lately, this feels like a great spot to fade him this afternoon.

I would play this prop down to -120 if I had to.

• Time: 3:07 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: RAYS, Sportsnet

Junior Caminero Over 1.5 Total Bases (-110)

Rays superstar Junior Caminero enters Thursday with one of the highest matchup ratings on Batters-Box, while covering 71% of Bieber’s pitch mix.

On top of that, he has strong trends when elite on the road, surpassing this prop 60% of the time when elite, while also leaving the yard 30% of the time across 20 elite road games.

This season, through 33 elite rated games, Caminero has gone over this prop 54.55% of the time while leaving the yard 24.24% of the time.

The Rays slugger has been on an absolute tear over his last 30 at-bats against right handed pitching, posting a .375 BA, 1.042 OPS, .457 wOBA, while generating a 52.6% hard hit rate and 10.5% barrel rate.

As for Bieber, right handed hitters have been crushing him this season, producing a 55% hard hit rate, 12.5% barrel rate, and 60% elevation rate. On top of that, they own a .402 xBA, .732 xSLG, and .470 xwOBA against him.

Caminero is one of my favorite looks on the board today, and I would pay this down to -120.

• Time: 3:07 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: RAYS, Sportsnet

Brandon Pfaadt Under 3.5 Strikeouts (-111)

Everyone’s favorite pitcher during the 2023 MLB playoffs, Arizona Diamondbacks right hander Brandon Pfaadt, is who we are fading this evening by taking the under on his strikeout prop.

Sure, the young right hander has pitched well over his last few starts, but he still owns just a 15% strikeout rate across his last 5 outings.

Meanwhile, the St. Louis Cardinals have been fantastic at making contact at home, sporting a 77.5% contact rate. Over their last 6 games, that number sits at 76.7%.

With a sub 20% strikeout rate at home this season, I expect the Cardinals to minimize the whiffs and put plenty of balls in play against the Diamondbacks right hander.

Play this down to -115 at the most.

• Time: 5:15 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: CARD, ARID

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Should Sox pursue Zach Neto? Assessing rumored trade target originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Could the Boston Red Sox land their shortstop of the future at this year’s MLB trade deadline?

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto has been linked to Boston as a potential trade target, and the discourse is growing louder with the Aug. 3 deadline looming. The Red Sox could use an upgrade to their middle infield, and the 25-year-old Neto fits what they’re looking for as a premier right-handed bat.

Boston reportedly tried to trade for Neto in the offseason, but L.A.’s price was too high. Now, with the Angels cruising toward another last-place season, it sounds like they’re open for business (via ESPN):

“(John) Mozeliak, brought in as a consultant and interim general manager about a month ago, is very open to trading controllable players if the right offers materialize, according to people who have spoken with him in recent days. …

“Mozeliak could be tempted to take advantage of what is expected to be a major sellers’ market, especially with the knowledge that the Angels are not a year away — or two, or potentially even three — from legitimate contention.”

Is Neto the kind of player the Red Sox should be pursuing ahead of the deadline? We assessed the potential move below:

Slugging shortstop

We advocated for a Neto trade back in May because of the power he’d bring to one of the league’s worst lineups. The 2022 first-round draft pick tallied 23 homers in 2024, 26 in 2025, and has 19 so far this year. He posted a WAR over 5.0 in each of the last two seasons.

So, what’s the catch?

Neto has struck out an American League-leading 141 times this season for a K rate of 31.5 percent. Then there’s the defense at shortstop, where he ranks near the bottom of the league in Outs Above Average (-8).

Where does he fit?

Neto has exclusively played shortstop throughout his four-year big-league career, so it’s safe to assume that’s where he’d play in Boston. That would raise obvious questions about Red Sox veteran shortstop Trevor Story, who’s expected to return from injury later this season and is under contract through 2027.

While Neto would be an upgrade over Boston’s current shortstop options, top prospect Franklin Arias could reach the MLB club as soon as next season. Would Arias shift over to second base? And if so, would it be wise to force another top infield prospect to change positions upon reaching the majors given what the club just went through with Marcelo Mayer?

Contract situation

Neto and the Angels avoided arbitration with a $4.15 million deal for 2026. He’s under team control through 2029.

What would he cost?

The price has probably come down since the offseason, but as a talented 25-year-old shortstop under contract for the next three years, Neto will still cost a pretty penny.

The Angels are likely years away from fielding a competitive ballclub, so they’re expected to want a package of top prospects in return. Since Arias is almost certainly off the table, Boston could offer a package headlined by one of their top pitching prospects — Anthony Eyanson or Kyson Witherspoon.

Verdict

A decent Plan B or C.

If the Red Sox are going to give up the farm for a big bat, we’d prefer one of the power-hitting catchers we’ve already covered — Hunter Goodman (Rockies) or Shea Langeliers (Athletics). If they’re off the table, or Neto would cost significantly less, we’d make the move for the Angels shortstop.

While Neto would undoubtedly help the Red Sox this season, it’s understandable to feel uneasy about his long-term future with the club. His alarming strikeout rate and poor defense are legitimate red flags. That said, beggars can’t be choosers, and Neto would instantly become the best hitter in Boston’s lineup alongside Willson Contreras.

Worcester, Game 1: W, 3-2 (F/7) (BOX SCORE)

The doubleheader against Jacksonville (Marlins AAA) could not have been a more night and day tale of two games. This game made the most of some Vinny Capra and Kristian Campbell RBI knocks in the fourth and Blake Wehunt overcame giving up a first inning home run to have a solid, if short, start. He’s impressed thus far in Worcester, and I’d imagine we could see him in some mop-up capacity in Fenway going down the stretch. As a whole, the six hits Wehunt allowed were the only ones Jacksonsville got and the WooSox slammed the door.

Worcester, Game 2: W, 13-12 (F/7) (BOX SCORE)

Just seven innings, and the two teams combined for twenty five hits, sixteen walks, twenty three at-bats with runners in scoring position, and three home runs, again showcasing a Kristian Campbell RBI opportunity in the fourth to pull the team ahead. Jacksonville was absolutely trying to preserve its pen as they let their starter wear it through almost four innings, and Campbell’s home run would end his outing. The WooSox used five pitchers and just grinned and beared it through the power of their offense. Let me be clear: the headline is a tad deceiving. Without Campbell’s home run, the actual heroic moment Mickey Gasper had in the bottom of the seventh would have had no chance to happen. Campbell did score on that bases-clearing walk-off knock Gasper had by sticking out a gutsy walk, but when the team scores 13, you have to hand it to everyone on the offense.

Portland: L, 1-2 (BOX SCORE)

Hayden Mullins was a victim of circumstance; he struck out eight through five scoreless innings, allowing just two base runners, but did not get a decision due to the team going hitless with runners in scoring position. Matt Frazier and Brooks Brannon each took the Rumble Ponies (Mets AA) for doubles; neither scored, and those were the only extra-base hits to speak of.

Greenville: W, 13-6 (BOX SCORE)

Greenville’s blistering start saved what could have been a bullpen meltdown by Joe Vogatsky, and Calvin Bickerstaff shoved for thirteen scoreless outs to give the Drive enough of a chance to pull further ahead, a lead that Spartanburg (Astros High-A) could not recover from. But Justin Gonzales and Yoelin Cespedes pulled the Drive wayyy ahead early with some of what would end up being three hits a piece, including Cespedes’ 17th home run of 2026 and Gonzalez’s 13th. The Drive would be up 10-0 after 3 and even the Spartanburgers putting 6 runs on the board in the next two frames was the closest they got to making it interesting.

Salem: W, 9-3 (BOX SCORE)

See, if you give Kleyvar Salazar the chance to come up to the plate, he’ll hit a home run. The catcher was at the plate when Tuesday’s game was called due to rain during a rally for the ages, and all he did was go 3-for-4 with 4 RBI’s on Wednesday; he was a key factor in this win against Greensboro (Braves A) in which the team also enjoyed a two-home-run eighth-inning to put the game comfortably enough out of reach.

The Royals recently added their newest draft picks to the organization, so it seems like a good time to look back and how their past draft classes have fared. Five years later, how are their 2021 draftees performing?

Unlike drafts in the NFL and NBA, the MLB Draft isn’t simply a matter of taking the best player available. Every pick in the first ten rounds comes with an assigned slot value, and each club has a capped bonus pool to sign its entire draft class. Teams can pay draft picks the full slot value, or they can allocate the funds in uneven ways with some draft picks getting less than slot value and others getting much more.

This strategy is called drafting a player “underslot.” By selecting a player willing to sign for below the slot value of your first-round pick, a team can free up bonus pool money to spend later in the draft. That extra money can be used to entice hard-to-sign prospects, usually high school players who can use college as leverage if they don’t receive an acceptable offer, to sign for well above the slot value of where they are selected. The strategy can be especially effective in draft classes without a clear-cut top prospect but with considerable depth, allowing teams to spread their resources across multiple high-upside players rather than concentrating them in a single pick. It is similar to the strategy of “trading down” in other drafts, but since MLB does not allow teams to swap picks, they instead use the underslot strategy.

That was the strategy the Royals employed in 2021 when they had the seventh overall pick. There was no consensus top pick that year, with Louisville catcher Henry Davis, Vanderbilt pitchers Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker, high school pitcher Jackson Jobe, and prep infielders Marcelo Mayer, Jordan Lawlar, Khalil Watson, and Brady House among the top names. With no clear dichotomy between tiers, it seemed the Royals were in a good position to land a talented player at pick #7.

“The beauty of the opportunity we’re in is that there are going to be several options in front of us,” scouting director Lonnie Goldberg said.

Leading up to the draft there was a lot of buzz linking the Royals to Rocker, who had wowed scouts pitching for the Commodores in the College World Series. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel wrote Rocker-to-the-Royals was “looking like one of the more likely picks in the mock.”

However he had some fluctuations in velocity that spring and his advisor Scott Boras refused to submit Rocker to pre-draft MRI testing. Rocker fell to the Mets at #10, and failed to sign after the Mets did not make an offer after his physical. Rocker would be selected by the Rangers third overall the next year and is currently in their starting rotation.

The Royals were also connected to many of the prep infielders, with Jim Callis at MLB Pipeline writing that the team was “believed to prefer a hitter.” They were said to be interested in Lawlar and Watson, but the buzz was about House, a prep infielder from Georgia, who Keith Law of The Athletic characterized as having “sort of been the Royals’ guy.” There was also some buzz the Royals could take infielder Will Taylor, a speedy high school outfielder from South Carolina whom most observers ranked outside the top ten.

The draft got off to a surprising start with the Pirates bypassing Mayer to take Davis, the Louisville catcher. The Rangers snagged Leiter, and the Tigers took a gamble on Jobe. The Red Sox pounced on Mayer, and the Orioles went with an underslot selection by taking Sam Houston State outfielder Colton Cowser. Arizona took Lawlar, leaving the Royals with several options they were connected to, including Rocker, House, and Watson.

The Royals zagged and took Connecticut high school pitcher Frank Mozzicato, who Baseball America ranked as the #42 prospect in the draft. David Schoenfield at ESPN wrote that the selection “certainly qualifies as the most surprising pick so far.” Mozzicato had pitched in the Northeast, generally not a hotbed of baseball talent, and had avoided national tournaments. His fastball sat in the upper 80s, but scouts were wowed by a plus curve that helped him throw four no-hitters. Ben Badler at Baseball America wrote that while it was “surprising to see him go this high,” he loved Mozzicato’s upside and that the lefty had a “ton of projection arrows pointing the right way.”

The Royals selected him because he would take an underslot deal, allowing them flexibility later in the draft. Mozzicato would sign for $3.55 million, well under the $5.43 million slot value.

“We felt that going into this particular Draft,” general manager Dayton Moore said, “if it fell the way it did up top, with the first six picks in front of us [and] with the fact that it’s only 20 rounds and the value that a lot of players put on themselves economically, that it may be a wise strategy to not only look at taking the best upside player or pitcher available, but also be able to maximize what we could do later on with the other 19 selections. That’s part of what we have to consider going forward.”

The Royals went to work using that financial flexibility to take a pair of local kids in the next two rounds. In the second round, they selected pitcher Ben Kudrna out of Blue Valley Southwest in Overland Park, Kansas, ranked #47 by Baseball America. In round three they chose #82-ranked prospect catcher Carter Jensen out of Park Hill High School in Kansas City. Kudrna signed for $3 million, well over his $1.73 slot value, while Jensen signed for $1.1 million, more than his $793,000 slot value. The Royals also went overslot the next round with prep pitcher Shane Panzini, giving him nearly $1 million. They even went overslot on some later picks, like college pitcher Eric Cerantola and college catcher Luca Tresh.

The gambit was criticized as an “exercise in hubris”, as argued by Matthew LaMar on our site.

It is dangerous to think you’re smarter than the consensus. Beyond that, it is dangerous to draft high school pitchers, especially if your organization has a long and putrid track record of doing so successfully. For the Royals to double down on that is frustrating.

Mozzicato never really added the velocity scouts hoped for, and while his curve fooled hitters at lower levels, he struggled with his control at Double-A. Rocker’s medicals and bonus demands perhaps caused the Royals to pass, and while he did need Tommy John surgery, he now seems to be developing into a solid starter. House and Watson both reached the majors, although neither has developed into much of an offensive force. It’s difficult to argue either would have transformed the Royals, but they would have provided considerably more value than Mozzicato has to date.

The Mozzicato deal did allow them to grab Carter Jensen, who has 14 home runs, fifth among all rookies, and has been an above-average bat. Kudrna had a promising career until he hit Triple-A, and he underwent elbow surgery this year that will keep him out for a while.

The Royals also did well with another local kid later in the draft, with Noah Cameron in round seven. The St. Joseph native was an underrated prospect out of the University of Central Arkansas, but he rose through the ranks and had an impressive rookie season in 2025 in the Royals starting rotation.

Much of the rest of the draft class is already out of baseball. Peyton Wilson is a utility infielder at the Triple-A level who was recently passed over in favor of older vets, so there may not be a future for him with the Royals. Tyson Guerrero was on the cusp of a potential call-up until he started experiencing injury issues. Tresh has been a solid bat at the Triple-A level and could be a backup catcher someday.

The 2021 draft illustrates both the promise and the peril of the underslot strategy. The Royals turned one unconventional first-round pick into the financial flexibility to sign several talented high school prospects, and that approach helped land Carter Jensen, who has emerged as one of the best players from the class. But the strategy also hinges on identifying the right player with that first pick.

It is fine to reach for a player the rest of the market is overlooking, but you have to be right. Mozzicato does not seem likely to be a worthwhile pick and is a miss for evaluators that overlooked his slight frame and lack of competition. Fortunately, the Royals did find a few gems in their backyard to make this a decent draft class, but a small market team cannot afford to miss the mark on top-ten picks.

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The Detroit Tigers head into tonight's series opener with the Kansas City Royals as a heavy -203 moneyline favorite. 

Those odds are warranted, and with Troy Melton on the hill, my Royals vs. Tigers predictions expect the hosts to win this contest comfortably. 

Read more in my MLB picks for Thursday, July 23. 

Who will win Royals vs Tigers today: Tigers -1.5 (-107)

The Kansas City Royals send Randy Dobnak to the mound tonight. While he hasn't allowed a ton of runs lately, the underlying metrics are concerning. Dobnak has a 5.63 xERA over his last three appearances.

More importantly, Dobnak rarely pitches deeper than the fourth or fifth inning, which could expose a Royals bullpen in horrible form. Kansas City's relief corps owns a 7.63 FIP over the last week while allowing 3.10 HR/9.

As for the Detroit Tigers, they counter with Troy Melton. He has been dominant, posting a 1.78 FIP across his previous four outings.

Detroit takes advantage of KC's pitching issues, and Melton continues to deal. I'll play this pick up to -130.

COVERS INTEL: The Royals bullpen has also given up 3.13 HR/9 over the last two weeks. That's substantially worse than their season average of 1.53 HR/9.

Royals vs Tigers Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (+105)

This total sits at 8.5, and there are enough bullpen concerns to lean toward the Over. Dobnak won't be in there long, which could expose the Royals' pen early. 

Detroit’s bullpen hasn’t been phenomenal either, posting a 4.71 xERA over its last 21 innings. Kansas City has been productive lately with a 106 wRC+ over its last six games, while the Tigers have shown some power with a .194 ISO during that same span.

Melton can limit damage early, but the bullpen inconsistencies create scoring paths late.

I’ll play this pick up to -120.

Royals vs Tigers weather

Conditions should be excellent at Comerica Park tonight, with clear skies and temperatures falling from the upper 70s to the low 70s during the game window. There is no rain concern, and conditions should stay calm overall. Weather should have minimal impact on scoring and ball carry.

Royals vs Tigers odds

• Moneyline: Royals +194 | Tigers -203
• Run line: Royals +1.5 (-104) | Tigers -1.5 (-100)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+108) | Under 8.5 (-113)

Royals vs Tigers trend

The Royals have hit the Over in 21 of their last 35 away games (+5.75 Units / 15% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Royals vs. Tigers.

How to watch Royals vs Tigers and game info

Royals vs Tigers latest injuries

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It’s an early one for this series finale. Let us know what you’re having for lunch (or breakfast, PT folks) as we gear up for a 12:15 pm ET first pitch.

ICYMI

Pitching preview

Lineups

2026 MLB Draft Tracker

Three players the Braves need to acquire before the 2026 trade deadline

On August 22, 1952, the Red Sox sold the contract of a 35-year-old swingman to their arch rivals. “He was no help to us,” said Lou Boudreau, Boston’s manager, bitterly. “I gave him plenty of chances to start and relieve and he didn’t come through.”

In the midst of a pennant race, the mighty Yankees were adding a past-his-prime hurler to help eat some innings. If Boudreau, a future Hall of Famer, was correct in his analysis, the Yankees were hoping to draw blood from a stone. They’d end up getting some of the best pitching of Ray Scarborough’s career.

Ray Wilson Scarborough
Born: July 23, 1917 (Mount Gilead, NC)
Died: July 1, 1982 (Mount Olive, NC)
Yankees Tenure: 1952-53

Ray Scarborough grew up in North Carolina, the son of Oscar, a general store operator and cotton broker, and Bina. He graduated from Wake Forest University in 1942 and began work as a science teacher. But his right arm was promising enough that he also played for semipro teams in the area. Joe Engel, the legendary scout who also inked deals with Hall of Famers Joe Cronin and Goose Goslin, saw enough to sign Scarborough to play in the Senators’ system.

After winning 21 games and setting a league record with 220 strikeouts at Class-B Selma in 1941, he began the following season at Class-A Chattanooga before getting the call to the bigs on June 26, 1942. The 24-year-old made 12 relief appearances for Washington before drawing his first start in the second game of a doubleheader on September 3. Scarborough held the White Sox off the board and went the distance, earning a shutout victory and a spot in the rotation the rest of the way. Shirley Povich, the legendary sportswriter who spent 65 years at the Washington Post, reported that the rookie had “pitched a beaut.”

Scarborough pitched to a 2.83 ERA in 86 innings in 1943 before reporting for duty with the Navy. He spent all of 1944 and ‘45 in the service, returning for the 1946 season. Scarborough had a career year in 1948, winning 15 games for the 97-loss Senators while recording a 154 ERA+.

That breakout campaign made him a hot commodity around the league, as no less than five teams attempted to poach him via a trade with the lowly Senators. Among them was the Red Sox, who’d finished a game back of Cleveland for the pennant in 1948 following a one-game tiebreaker playoff. Scarborough had held Boston to two runs in a complete-game victory on September 28th, an outing widely blamed for their ouster.

Scarborough stayed in Washington for the ‘49 season and, while he had a bit of a down year, he once again played spoiler, pitching a one-run complete game to beat the Red Sox 2-1 a year to the day after he’d last doomed them. Boston finished one game shy of the pennant once again, this time behind the Yankees. “It wasn’t the Yanks, it was Ray Scarborough,” wrote Ted Williams years later. “Scarborough was just one of those pitchers that baffled us.”

In 1950, it looked like the Red Sox might finally get their white whale. “Both Red Sox, Yankees Vie for Washington’s Ray Scarborough: Veteran Probably Could Win Pennant for Either,” read one comically optimistic headline from a Boston sportswriter. Instead, he ended up flipped to the White Sox, where he struggled, posting a 5.30 ERA in 27 appearances. That December, the Red Sox finally swung a trade to acquire their longtime foe.

As Boudreau lamented, Scarborough’s time with Boston was not nearly as productive as his time pitching against them. After his ERA surpassed 5.00 in a year and a half there, the Red Sox cut bait, putting him on waivers and selling his contract to the Yankees. At 35, he pitched like a man reborn for Casey Stengel. Splitting time between the rotation and bullpen, he pitched to a 2.91 ERA in nine appearances down the stretch. He earned the victory in five of the Yankees’ final 28 games, playing a key role as they edged Cleveland for the pennant by two games.

When asked about this sudden turnaround, the veteran was magnanimous. “I never realized Yogi Berra was such a smart catcher,” he offered by way of explanation. The man who’d wallowed on bad Washington teams most of his career even got the chance to pitch in the World Series, allowing one run in an inning of work in the opener as the Yankees beat the Dodgers in a seven-game classic, securing their fourth consecutive title.

Scarborough stuck around in the Bronx for the 1953 campaign, pitching reasonably well (3.29 ERA in 54.2 innings) before getting released to make way for younger talent as the Yankees won yet another championship. His 3.15 ERA as a Yankee — albeit in a much smaller sample than his seven years in Washington — would be his best mark with any team. After a brief stint with the Tigers, he retired at the age of 36.

After his retirement, Scarborough returned home to Mount Olive, NC, running an oil and supply company while staying involved with the game of baseball. He had stints with multiple organizations over the years, serving as both a coach and a scout.

Ray Scarborough died of a heart attack on July 1, 1982, three weeks before his 65th birthday. His impact on the Yankees organization runs far deeper than his brief tenure with the team. Between his excellent run down the stretch in 1952 and his confounding of the Red Sox in 1949, he was a significant force in securing two Yankees pennants — something many far more decorated players cannot say.

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

The Phillies may have the best record in baseball since Don Mattingly took over as manager, but they haven’t looked particularly prepared to play the last two nights.

Philadelphia ran itself out of an inning again during this painful series against the Dodgers, with second baseman Bryson Stott running on contact with one out in the fifth inning of the 9-5 loss Wednesday.

Despite the ball being hit in front of him, Scott ran right into the waiting arms of third baseman Max Muncy for the second out in a 3-3 game.

The Phillies did not score again in the inning.

“Down to third to [Max] Muncy and Stott runs into an out,” the Dodgers broadcaster Joe Davis said on the call. “What are these guys doing?”

“No clue,” color analyst Orel Hershiser responded.

The Phillies own an impressive 47-28 record since Mattingly took over as the team’s manager after Rob Thomson was fired following a 9-19 start, but this baserunning over the last two nights has cost them.

Philadelphia lost two of three from the Dodgers, and the Phillies broadcast team wasn’t happy either when they lost Tuesday’s one-run game on a game-ending 5-2-6-4 double play.

Stott normally would not be be running on contact on this play, as he’s already in scoring position, so running into an out at third base is a terrible move considering he should be able to score on a hit.

Players are also not supposed to run to third when the ball is hit in front of them.

Making it even worse for the Phillies, their best hitter, Kyle Schwarber, was on deck, although he ultimately popped out to end the threat.

Mattingly was never viewed as a bad manager with the Dodgers and Marlins for struggles with his teams on the basepaths; rather, he was known for poor bullpen management and over-reliance on small ball.

San Diego Padres (50-52) at Atlanta Braves (59-42), July 23, 2026, 9:15 a.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Truist Park – Atlanta, GA

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

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