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

Hunter Goodman has been one of the more delightful developments for the Colorado Rockies over the last two seasons. The power has been unreal as he has emerged as not just one of the best sluggers in franchise history, but also one of the best sluggers in all of baseball.

This season has seen Goodman take his game to new heights as he chases down Johnny Bench’s single-season home run record for a National League catcher (45), as well as a potential shot at becoming the first Rockie with 50 home runs in a season. Last Sunday, Goodman founded a brand new club for the Rockies as he became the first player to hit three home runs in a game multiple times in a single season, having done it the first time a few weeks ago in Minnesota.

Over the course of franchise history, the Rockies have had a player hit three home runs in a game 22 times, with 17 total players accomplishing the feat. With all of this fresh on the mind, let’s take a trip down memory lane to remember these incredible performances.

Andres Galarraga (1995)

It wasn’t until the Rockies’ third season of existence that a player hit three home runs in a game, and it’s only right that it was the Big Cat himself, Andres Galarraga.

Facing the San Diego Padres on the road on June 25, 1995, the game was relatively low-scoring, as the Rockies held a 2-1 lead heading into the sixth inning. After being walked in his first two at-bats, Galarraga unloaded on a 3-2 offering from Scott Sanders for his first home run of the day to drive in two. In the seventh inning, he greeted a 1-1 pitch from Willie Blair with another blast to left field for his second homer, a two-run shot. Then, facing Fernando Valenzuela in the eighth inning, Galarraga launched his third home run of the day down the left-field line for three runs, his 12th overall on the season.

The Rockies ended up winning the game 11-3 with Galarraga going 3-for-3 with seven RBI.

Larry Walker (1997, 1999, 2004)

Larry Walker, the only player in franchise history to hit three home runs in a game three times, had prodigious power that contributed to his enshrinement in the Hall of Fame.

His first time came on April 5, 1997, on the road against the Montreal Expos. Facing his former team with a 6-0 lead, the future MVP launched a fourth-inning solo home run off Anthony Telford. Two innings later, Walker sent a 1-2 pitch from Omar Daal to right field for another solo home run. Then, future Rockie Dave Veres surrendered another solo home run to Walker in the seventh inning as the Rockies went on to win 15-3 and he went 4-for-5 with five RBI.

The next instance for Walker came on April 28, 1999, at Busch Stadium II. He kicked things off with a three-run homer in the first inning, followed by another one in the second inning, both off future Rockie José Jiménez. Walker proved to be the difference-maker in a close game in the seventh inning when he delivered a two-run home run off Scott Radinsky to give the Rockies an eventual 9-7 win as he went 4-for-5 with eight RBI.

Before he was traded to St. Louis five years later, Walker still had plenty of highlights with the Rockies, one of which came on June 25, 2004. Facing the Cleveland Indians on the road, Walker belted a couple of solo home runs off starting pitcher Jason Davis in the second and sixth innings. The game went into extra innings tied 8-8, and Walker broke the tie with a two-run home run in the top of the 10th against his now-former teammate José Jiménez.

Walker went 4-for-4 with five RBI as the Rockies won 10-8.

Mike Lansing (1998)

Perhaps a forgotten Rockie by most, Mike Lansing had a solid first season in Colorado in 1998.

While he’s best known for his historic four-inning cycle in 2000, Lansing became just the third Rockie to hit three home runs in a game, and the first to do so at Coors Field. Facing the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 22, 1998, Lansing collected his first two home runs against starting pitcher Omar Daal, including a two-run shot in the sixth inning. His third homer came as a solo shot in the eighth inning against Aaron Small.

Despite Lansing going 3-for-4 with four RBI, the Rockies played from behind the whole game and lost 8-6.

Vinny Castilla (1999)

There are plenty of exciting Rockies moments for the legend Vinny Castilla, and his three-home-run performance came on June 5, 1999, at home against the Milwaukee Brewers. Leading off the second inning against Hideo Nomo, Castilla hit a two-run shot the opposite way. Castilla delivered another opposite-field home run in the seventh, a solo shot, off Rafael Roque to get the Rockies back within three runs. In the next inning, with the score tied 11-11, Castilla turned on a pitch from Eric Plunk to put the Rockies up 12-11 as they held on for the win in the ninth. Castilla went 4-for-5 with five RBI.

Todd Helton (2000, 2003)

The early 2000s were legendary for Todd Helton as the Hall of Famer showcased the damage he could do at the plate.

On May 1, 2000, at Coors Field, Helton put the hurt on the Expos in an eventual 15-8 Rockies victory. In the third and fifth innings, Helton launched a pair of two-run home runs against Dustin Hermanson, the second of which gave the Rockies an 8-7 lead. Then, up by seven in the seventh, Helton sent an Anthony Telford offering to deep right field to cap off the scoring for Colorado. He ended up going 4-for-5 with five RBI.

The next instance came on May 29, 2003, against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field. Facing starting pitcher Odalis Pérez, Helton hit a two-run homer in the first inning, followed by a solo shot in the third. With the Rockies up 10-5 in the eighth inning, Helton added another two-run homer off Éric Gagné to fuel the Rockies’ 12-5 victory as he went 4-for-5 with six RBI.

Jeff Cirillo (2000)

In another classic Coors Field slug fest, the Rockies would need every bit of production from the offense, and Jeff Cirillo delivered the goods on June 28, 2000. Facing the San Francisco Giants, Cirillo’s first two home runs came against future Rockie Liván Hernández, a two-run shot in the third and a solo shot in the fifth. The Rockies eventually tied the game 12-12 when Cirillo stepped up to the plate in the eighth against John Johnstone, and he promptly hit a go-ahead solo home run.

The Rockies went on to win 17-13 with Cirillo going 4-for-5 with six RBI and being named an All-Star not long after.

Todd Hollandsworth (2001)

Mostly a fourth outfielder type during a mostly successful three-season stint in Colorado, when on the field, Todd Hollandsworth delivered a memorable performance on April 15, 2001, despite only playing 33 games that season. Facing the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field, Hollandsworth collected his first home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, a two-run shot off Curt Schilling. In the eighth inning, with the game tied 5-5, Hollandsworth put the Rockies ahead with a two-run shot off Greg Swindell. The Diamondbacks tied it up 7-7 and the game went to the bottom of the 10th, where Hollandsworth delivered a three-run, walk-off homer against Matt Mantei to win 10-7. He went 3-for-7 with seven RBI.

José Ortiz (2001)

How many guesses would it take you to land on José Ortiz as one of the Rockies to hit three home runs in a game?

After joining the club via trade at the end of July, Ortiz hit three of his 14 career home runs (all with Colorado) in a single game on August 10, 2001. Facing the Florida Marlins at Coors Field, Ortiz launched a two-run home run off Ryan Dempster in the fifth inning. Ortiz then added a solo shot against Vladimir Núñez in the sixth to extend the lead to 10-5. His third home run came in the eighth inning when he sent a 3-1 pitch from Ricky Bones to left field for a solo home run. The Rockies won 12-5, and Ortiz went 3-for-5 with four RBI.

Jason Giambi (2011)

After Walker’s 2004 performance, the Rockies wouldn’t see another three-homer game until Jason Giambi became a one-man wrecking crew on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 11, 2011. I covered this game extensively in a 2021 article, which you can check out. In his first at-bat against future Rockie Kyle Kendrick, Giambi blasted a three-run home run to get the Rockies on the board. His second time up against Kendrick, Giambi blasted a two-run home run to put the Rockies up 5-0. In the fifth inning, he hit another two-run homer, this time against Danys Báez, to put the Rockies up even further.

He went 3-for-5 on the night with seven RBI as the Rockies won 7-1.

Carlos González (2012, 2013)

There didn’t seem to be anything Carlos González couldn’t do when he stepped up to the plate in the 2010s. On May 30, 2012, CarGo delivered one of the more memorable moments in an otherwise abysmal season. Facing the Houston Astros at Coors Field, CarGo kicked things off with a go-ahead solo home run in the fifth inning against Lucas Harrell. He came up to the plate in the sixth against Xavier Cedeño and blasted a two-run shot to put the Rockies up 12-6. He capped off the night with a solo home run against David Carpenter in the eighth to cap the scoring and give the Rockies a 13-5 victory.

CarGo went 4-for-5 with four RBI. And just for fun, he homered in his first at-bat the very next game.

The following season, CarGo launched three home runs in Cincinnati on June 5, 2013. Pedro Villarreal was the primary victim of CarGo that night as he surrendered a solo home run in the first inning and a three-run shot in the fourth inning that put the Rockies ahead. Manny Parra then coughed up a two-run homer to CarGo in the eighth inning as the Rockies went on to win 12-4 with CarGo going 3-for-5 with six RBI.

Charlie Blackmon (2016)

Five years after Giambi, Charlie Blackmon would invoke his spirit by putting up a three-homer game against the Phillies on August 12, 2016. Blackmon’s first home run came in the third inning as he hit a solo shot off Jake Thompson. He later hit his second solo shot in the seventh inning off Edubray Ramos. Still trailing in the ninth, Blackmon hit a third solo home run, this time against David Hernandez. The Rockies lost 10-6, but Blackmon went 3-for-4 with three RBI as the leadoff hitter.

Nolan Arenado (2017)

During the height of Nolan Arenado’s Rockies tenure, he delivered plenty of jaw-dropping performances.

On July 19, 2017, Arenado displayed one of his greatest offensive games at Coors Field against the San Diego Padres. The Rockies pounded the Friars 18-4 with Arenado going 5-for-6 with seven RBI. His first home run was a solo shot in the fourth inning against Clayton Richard. His other two came against Kevin Quackenbush as he belted another solo shot in the fifth, followed by a three-run blast in the sixth inning.

Arenado became the first player in franchise history to have five hits and three homers in a single game.

Trevor Story (2018)

Trevor Story had his fair share of incredible home run feats in Colorado, but where were you when he delivered three mammoth home runs in a game at Coors Field on September 5, 2018? The oddity of this game was that Story hit all three homers against Giants starter Andrew Suárez, and all of them were solo shots. He went 3-for-4 with three RBI as he hit a home run in the first, fourth, and sixth innings. The Rockies eventually won the game 5-3. At the time, Story hit a towering blast to left field that landed on the concourse that was initially measured at 505 feet. Somehow MLB eventually decided that was inaccurate and dropped it down to 487 feet.

Ryan McMahon (2021)

It was always a joy to see Ryan McMahon tap into his power, and he provided an early highlight for the club in the wake of the Arenado trade that happened the season started. Facing the Diamondbacks on April 6, 2021, McMahon greeted Luke Weaver with a solo home run to lead off the second inning. When he faced Weaver again in the fourth, McMahon launched a ball to left-center for another solo shot. He then hit another solo home run in the seventh, this time against Alex Young.

The game eventually went 13 innings with the Rockies losing 10-8, but McMahon went 4-for-6 with four RBI.

Brendan Rodgers (2022)

There was never much power for second baseman Brendan Rodgers. Between the myriad of injuries and lack of production at the plate, it was a surprise when he hit three homers on June 1, 2022. Facing the Miami Marlins in the second game of a doubleheader, Rodgers kicked off his day with a solo home run against Trevor Rogers in the second inning. He then hit a solo homer off Louis Head in the fifth inning to get the Rockies within a run. The game eventually went to the 10th with the Rockies down 12-11 and Rodgers leading off. On a 3-2 pitch from Cole Sulser, he sent the ball to left field for a walk-off home run and a 13-12 victory. Rodgers went 3-for-5 with four RBI.

Michael Toglia (2024)

The final player to hit three home runs in a game before Goodman was Michael Toglia on July 14, 2024. Facing the New York Mets on the road, Toglia hit solo home runs from the right side against Jose Quintana in the fifth and sixth innings. In the eighth inning, the switch-hitting first baseman flipped over to the left side against Adrian Houser and blasted a third solo shot to left-center. The Rockies won the game 8-5 with Toglia going 3-for-4 with three RBI.

Conclusion

The history of three-homer games for the franchise is interesting.

There are plenty of names you’d expect to see, but several that seem to have come out of nowhere. It’s also interesting to see how many have understandably come at Coors Field but also the incredible performances that have happened on the road as well. I eagerly wait to see the next time a Rockie accomplishes the feat.

Tarik Skubal has won the last two AL Cy Young Awards while also capturing consecutive ERA titles and leading baseball in strikeouts over that span. But when the Royals open a four-game series in Detroit this week, they may be seeing Skubal in a Tigers uniform for the final time. With Detroit well back in the playoff race and the July 31 trade deadline approaching, speculation continues to build that one of baseball’s best pitchers could be on the move.

Kansas City Royals (43-60) vs. Detroit Tigers (48-54) at Comerica Park, Detroit, MI

Royals: 4.25 runs scored/game (21st in MLB), 5.18 runs allowed/game (28th)

Tigers: 4.25 runs scored/game (20th), 3.97 runs allowed/game (7th)

The Tigers have the ninth-best walk rate (9.3 percent), but the sixth-worst batting average (.235). Dillon Dingler is third among all catchers with 22 home runs. He has been on a tear since the start of June, hitting .325/.363/.624 with 11 home runs in his lats 40 games. Rookie Kevin McGonigle has a 14.4 percent walk rate, ninth-best in baseball. Riley Greene is hitting .310/.385/.524 against righties this year. He is also a .304/.337/.544 hitter in 50 career games against the Royals.

Spencer Torkelson has a 32.3 percent strikeout rate, seventh-highest among qualified hitters, and a 50.7 percent flyball rate. Kerry Carpenter is hitting 4-for-43 (.093) this month. Zach McKinstry is hitting .093/.235/.093 against lefties this year. Gleyber Torres is a career 3-for-26 (.115) hitter against Michael Wacha.

The Tigers have the fewest stolen bases in baseball, and they have the third-worst success rate (69 percent). The Tigers are fifth-worst in Outs Above Average at -19, with Tokelson and Carpenter rating very poorly.

Troy Melton has struck out nine batters in each of his last two starts and has allowed two runs or fewer in eight of his nine starts. He throws a 96 mph fastball and opponents are hitting just .083 against his cutter. Six of the seven home runs he has given up were against lefties.

The Royals have actually fared well against Skubal in his career – he has a 4-9 record and a 4.06 ERA in 18 career games against them. He has allowed just four earned runs with 32 strikeouts in 23 innings over his last four starts. He has a reverse split with lefties hitting .286 against him, while righties are hitting just .194.

Casey Mize left his last start in the fourth inning with groin tightness, and after taking a comebacker off the wrist. He has a 2.50 ERA in seven home starts this year. He has a 4.97 ERA in 13 career starts against the Royals. Salvador Perez is 14-for-33 (.424) with four doubles and a home run in this career matchups.

Framber Valdez gave up six runs while recording just two outs in his last start against the Cubs. He has the fourth-highest groundball rate among starters at 51.9 percent. Opponents are hitting .307 against his sinker this year.

Kenley Jansen hasn’t given up a run in seven outings this month, although he has six walks in 6.1 innings. The active leader in career saves with 487 has four blown saves this year in 15 opportunities. Kyle Finnegan has had a huge drop in strikeout rate while seeing his walk rate spike up and he has the biggest gap between ERA and FIP of any reliever. Tyler Holton has a 2.11 ERA at home.

The Tigers have won four of six from the Royals this year, including a home sweep in Detroit in mid-April. The Tigers have been playing well lately, winning 13 of their last 18, but it is probably not enough to keep them from moving Skubal. With one of the deadline’s most coveted trade chips in Tarik Skubal, the Tigers could end up shaping the market over the next week.

The Cubs offense has been solid at times this year, sputtering at others. They currently rank fourth in MLB in runs with 520, six ahead of the division rival Brewers.

One of the reasons for all those runs is that the Cubs lead MLB in walks with 448, significantly ahead of the second-best Brewers (420). That’s 4.39 walks per game, and if they keep up that pace they will finish with 712 walks, which would demolish the franchise record. That’s 656 walks, which was set in the World Series title year of 2016. The previous record of 650 was set in 1975.

A bit about that 1975 team before I talk more about this year’s Cubs walks. The 1975 Cubs were a very good offensive team. They scored 712 runs, which in that lower-offense era was tied for third-best in the National League. That team got off to a 20-10 start and was still in first place in the NL East as late as June 6.

What happened? The pitching staff, which was atrociously bad. They allowed 827 runs, which was the most in the NL — by 88! The Braves, who lost 94 games, were second-worst. Rick Reuschel, who posted a 3.73 ERA in 38 games (37 starts), was the only starter with an ERA under 4.00. That sounds okay now, perhaps, but in that lower-offense era Reuschel’s ERA ranked 23rd among 39 qualified starters.

Darold Knowles, a World Series hero with the A’s in 1972, had been acquired and though he posted 15 saves, that came with a 5.81 ERA and seven blown saves. In an era when good relievers were called “firemen,” Knowles became known as “The Torch” because he’d come in and make bad situations worse.

Back to 2026: The Cubs walked 11 times in Tuesday’s win over the Tigers. That was the 46th time in 102 games this year that the team has had at least five walks. They’ve had 33 games with at least six and 17 with at least seven, and the 11 Tuesday matched the team’s season high (also June 19 in the 16-2 blowout of the Blue Jays). All of those walks have done a great job in helping score all the runs the Cubs have put on the board. Interestingly, they have done this with only two players in the top 10 in walks in the NL (Michael Busch is second with 65 and Ian Happ is 10th with 56). The Cubs’ team OBP of .338 is third in MLB, just one point behind the second-place Pirates.

Of course, one of the reasons for this increase in walks is Pete Crow-Armstrong, who has walked 52 times this year (including three times Tuesday) and might wind up with 75 or more, after drawing only 29 all of last year. His improved patience at the plate has made him a better hitter and likely helped the other guys in the lineup.

And if you’re curious, the MLB record for walks by a team in a season is 835, set by the Red Sox in 1949. That’s way out of reach for the Cubs, but the NL record might be catchable. That’s 732, set by the Dodgers in 1947.

Keep walking on, Cubs. It helps good things happen.

When Cade Cavalli entered the season as the Opening Day starter, expectations were high, but there was also plenty of uncertainty. Cavalli showed us a glimpse of his high potential down the stretch last year. However, he was still very unproven and had a lengthy injury history. For a guy in his first full MLB season, Cavalli has been remarkably consistent this year.

Cavalli has been a metronome in the Nats rotation. He has been overshadowed a bit by Foster Griffin, whose elite run prevention and great story have attracted eye balls. However, Cavalli has arguably been even more consistent than Griffin. He has allowed 3 or more earned runs just twice this season and does not have a month where his ERA is over 4, outside of his one start in March.

Cade Cavalli today:

6 IP | 4 H | 0 ER | 2 BB | 8 K

He's allowed 3 or fewer earned runs in 20 of his 22 starts this season! pic.twitter.com/n24CzV2XIc

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) July 22, 2026

For as great as Griffin has been, he did have a couple blowup starts in May, resulting in a 4.86 ERA that month. Meanwhile, Cavalli posted a 3.67 ERA in April, a 3.41 ERA in May, a 3.82 ERA in June and a 3.10 ERA so far in July. That is just a remarkable level of consistency for a guy in his first full big league season, who missed almost two years with injury not too long ago.

One critique you could throw at Cavalli, especially early in the season, is that he did not go deep enough into games. It is something he will need to work on to take the next step. Despite making two fewer starts, Griffin has still logged more innings than Cavalli. 

There are a couple reasons for this. One is that the Nats are still being a bit careful with Cavalli. His career high in innings before this year is 127.2 innings, which he did all the way back in 2022. Cavalli did pitch 122.2 innings last year as well. However, he is already at 110.2 innings this year.

Butera has said in the past they will not shut Cavalli down unless they see a noticeable drop in stuff. Despite that, it is clear they are monitoring his work load. There have been a few times this season, including yesterday where Cavalli could have gone one more inning, but they held him back.

Another reason he does not go super deep into games is that he can be inefficient at times. It is a bit like MacKenzie Gore where there are a lot of deep counts, though not to that level. As the season has gone on though, he is starting to give the Nats the length expected of a front line starter.

Yesterday, Cavalli completed at least six innings for the sixth time in his last seven starts. Granted, he could not even go three innings in that other start, but that was clearly an outlier. It was a very hot day and the whole Boston situation seemed to be weighing on Cavalli.

Cade Cavalli was sensational again today.

Massive game with a series on the line against an inferior team, days away from a buy/sell decision. He was dominant. Looked like an ace.

He’s gone 6+ innings in 6 of his last 7 starts. Pitching like a bonafide front-line starter. pic.twitter.com/kNwXequAGl

— Grant Paulsen (@GrantPaulsen) July 22, 2026

In the three starts since that short outing in DC, Cavalli has been back to his best. He did not have his sharpest stuff against the Yankees, but he still logged a quality start. In his last two though, Cavalli has been excellent. The fastball is living in the upper 90’s and his breaking balls have had a ton of bite. Going into Coors Field and getting out without allowing a run is impressive stuff. That is exactly what Cade did yesterday.

He had some traffic on the bases at times, but when he needed to make a big pitch, Cavalli came through again and again. The big righty was up to 99 MPH and was sitting at 97. Instead of slowing down, it feels like Cavalli has found another gear as the season has gone on, which is lovely to see.

Cade Cavalli today:

6 IP 4 H 0 R 2 BB 8 K
10 whiffs

He has a 2.43 ERA over his last 6 starts! pic.twitter.com/qrb5IUwxuV

— Andrew DeCeglie (@Andrew_FBB) July 23, 2026

Cavalli has also implemented a new weapon recently with his cutter. He would show one maybe once an outing before July, but he has made it a core part of his arsenal lately. His 92-95 MPH cutter pairs nicely with his 4-seamer which already has natural cut. It is not a swing and miss pitch, but it generates weaker contact and just gives him another look.

Pitching these days is a cat and mouse game. As hitters adjust to your stuff, you have to adapt on the fly. You can do that by mixing up your usage or command. That is what Cavalli has been doing lately. It is resulting in more success, and notably more strikeouts.

For the season, Cavalli has a 26.6% K rate and a 7.1% walk rate. Those are very strong numbers, and only have been improving as the season goes along. Cavalli is almost 28, but he is still a young pitcher who is adapting to the big leagues. Right now, it really feels like he is settling in and finding his groove.

This season, Cavalli has been an ultra-consistent number 2 starter. However, I still think the best is yet to come for Cavalli, who is just oozing with arm talent. Few pitchers have his velocity and feel for spin. It is special stuff, and if he stays healthy, Cavalli has the chance to be an All-Star level talent for the Nats who can start playoff games.

1931
With the Red Sox crushing the White Sox in the bottom of the sixth inning at Fenway Park, 13-4, Boston right fielder Earl Webb lined into a triple play: White Sox third baseman Billy Sullivan made the snag and caught Rabbit Warstler off of third base for the second out, then tripled Jack Rothrock off of first base with a throw across the diamond to Pale Hose first-sacker Lu Blue.

Despite that highlight, the White Sox lost this game early, as starter Pat Caraway was tagged with 11 earned runs on 13 hits without getting through the fifth inning. The lefthander had to wear it for a terrible (31-57) White Sox team. Caraway himself would end up having one of the worst falls from stardom in White Sox history, as he took an unbelievable 4.4 WAR rookie season in 1930 and ended up at -2.2 WAR and an MLB-leading 24 losses in 1931.

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1951
Although he was just two years into pro ball and already 29 years old, the White Sox took notice of the outstanding season Jim Rivera was having for the Seattle Rainers of the Pacific Coast League (he would win the PCL batting title and MVP, slashing .352/.420/.553 with 20 homers and 33 steals) and signed him.

He would not debut with the White Sox until 1952, but would play in 10 seasons on the South Side, and more than 1,000 games, totaling 6.0 WAR.

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1968
Manager Al Lopez had an emergency appendectomy, and would miss 36 games. Les Moss took over while Lopez was sidelined.

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1986
GM Ken Harrelson sent Bobby Bonilla back to the Pirates for pitcher José DeLeón, in an oft-criticized deal that rarely presents the entire picture.

Bonilla was selected from Pittsburgh by the Sox in the major league draft in December 1985, and was likely a player the Pirates desperately wanted back. He showed flashes of brilliance in his half season on the South Side, but just 0.5 WAR in his half-season on the South Side. He would go on to have four brilliant seasons with the Pirates, putting up 17.9 WAR before cashing in on a famous/infamous free-agent contract with the New York Mets that pays him to this day.

DeLeón, for his part, was a productive starter on the South Side, putting up 3.7 WAR over a season and a third before GM Larry Himes flipped him to the St. Louis Cardinals in a brilliant deal netting center fielder Lance Johnson and pitcher Ricky Horton.

Johnson was a gem for the White Sox, netting the club 21.3 WAR over six-plus seasons roaming center field. Without the Bonilla trade, there is no One Dog.

Ironically, both players — Bonilla and Johnson — ended their careers with 30.2 WAR.

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2007
All-time great White Sox pitcher Billy Pierce was honored with a statue at Sox Park, becoming the sixth White Sox legend so honored. Beyond being a wonderful person and lifetime ambassador (both unofficially, and officially) for the team, he was an amazing pitcher, as good as anyone in baseball in the 1950s.

Pierce ranks first all-time in White Sox strikeouts (1,796), third in shutouts (35), fourth in wins (186) and innings (2,931), third in starts (391) and fifth in games pitched (456), tied for fifth in complete games (183), sixth in pitching WAR (49.2) and second among southpaws, 10th in adjusted ERA+ (123), 20th in hits per nine innings (8.116), tied for 25th in FIP (3.42) and 27th in ERA (3.19).

Pierce received embarrassingly scant support when up for the Hall of Fame in the early 1970s, but there is hope that a Veterans Committee will right that wrong in the coming years.

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2009
It had only happened 17 times before, and on this date, Mark Buehrle became the 18th pitcher to throw a perfect game, when he shut down Tampa, 5-0. 

It was only the second no-hitter thrown at the new Sox Park — both thrown by Buehrle.

The lefthander was helped in the top of the ninth inning when Dewayne Wise made the catch of his career, leaping above the wall in left-center to snare a ball hit by Gabe Kapler. On the way down Wise started to lose the ball, then snatched it out of the air with his other hand as he tumbled to the ground. Wise had been inserted for the ninth as a defensive replacement, so this play — among the best in White Sox and baseball history — was his first action in the game.

Buehrle completed the perfect game in two hours and three minutes — the exact same amount of time as his no-hitter in 2007. He became only the fourth pitcher to ever throw a perfect game and a no-hitter (April 18, 2007), joining Cy Young, Sandy Koufax and Randy Johnson. He also joined Charlie Robertson as White Sox who have pitched a perfect game. 

Afterward, Buehrle got a call from President Barack Obama, a huge White Sox fan.

Fourteen years later, South Side Sox writers Brett Ballantini and Malachi Hayes talked over their experiences at the perfect game on a podcast on our site.

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2016
It was certainly a strange and bizarre situation for the Sox. Chris Sale, arguably the best pitcher in the American League and one of the best in baseball, went on a pregame rampage and was scratched from his scheduled start against the Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field. Sale was upset that he had to wear a 1976 throwback jersey as part of a promotion for the game. 

Sale thought it was uncomfortable. With the heat index more than 100°, wearing a dark blue/black jersey probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do, either. Sale decided to take matters into his own hands: During batting practice, he destroyed most of the game jerseys the team was supposed to wear by slashing them with a knife. He also said publicly the White Sox were more concerned with public relations and uniforms than winning games.

The White Sox, flirting at .500 at the time and just 3 1⁄2games out of second place in the AL Central, was forced to start Matt Albers, who went two innings, giving up one run. The bullpen game ended in a 4-3 triumph: Adam Eaton, down to his last strike on a full count, lined a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth to score Avisaíl García, who led off the inning with a single and stolen base.

Sale was suspended for five games for the incident, and was traded to Boston for a package headlined by Michael Kopech and Yoán Moncada after the season.

Late game thread because I forgot I was filling in for our beloved sandwiches. Apologies, everyone! Split the series Twins, split!

Lineups

Twins	Opponent
SP: Taj Bradley	SP: Gavin Williams
1. Brooks Lee, 3B	1. Steven Kwan, LF
2. Byron Buxton, CF	2. Jose Ramirez, 3B
3. Ryan Jeffers, C	3. Chase DeLauter, RF
4. Josh Bell, DH	4. Brayan Rocchio, SS
5. Kody Clemens, 2B	5. Travis Bazzana, 2B
6. Royce Lewis, 1B	6. Rhys Hoskins, DH
7. Austin Martin, LF	7. Kyle Manzardo, 1B
8. Luke Keaschall, RF	8. Patrick Bailey, C
9. Ryan Kreidler, SS	9. Petey Halpin, CF

The Milwaukee Brewers are set to wrap up their nine-game homestand coming out of the All-Star break this weekend, as they’ll host the Colorado Rockies for three games beginning Friday night.

The Brewers sit at 64-38 on the year, the second-best record in the league behind only the Dodgers, as they’ve built a seven-game lead over the Cubs and the rest of the pack in the NL Central. The Rockies, at 41-63, once again sit at the bottom of the NL West. They’ve lost four consecutive series against the Giants (x2), Dodgers, and Reds dating back to early July.

Milwaukee’s injured list includes pitchers DL Hall (late July/early August return), Kyle Harrison (early August), Joel Kuhnel (early August), Rob Zastryzny (late July), Brandon Woodruff (out for season), Brian Fitzpatrick (out for season), Quinn Priester (out for season), and Angel Zerpa (out for season). The position player injuries include outfielders Brandon Lockridge (late July/early August) and Sal Frelick (TBD), as well as infielder David Hamilton (expected to return this weekend).

Colorado is currently without pitchers Blas Castaño (TBD), Jeff Criswell (August), Jaden Hill (TBD), former Brewer Jose Quintana (August), McCade Brown (TBD), RJ Petit (out for season), Chase Dollander (out for season), and Pierson Ohl (out for season). Outfielder Brenton Doyle has been out since mid-May with oblique and groin injuries, but he’s close to a rehab assignment, while former Cub Kris Bryant may be nearing retirement as he hasn’t played in any games this year with chronic back issues.

Jake Bauers sets the pace for the Crew’s offense with 18 homers and 15 doubles this year, though he’s going through a bit of a cold stretch currently. Brice Turang, Jackson Chourio, William Contreras, Garrett Mitchell, and Joey Ortiz(!!) are the other key contributors in recent weeks, with Andrew Vaughn, Gary Sánchez, Christian Yelich, Cooper Pratt, Luis Lara, Braden Shewmake, and Blake Perkins also in the mix. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .252/.336/.397 (.733 OPS ranks 10th), with 94 homers (last), 514 runs (fifth), and 100 steals (sixth).

Backstop Hunter Goodman and outfielder Mickey Moniak have been the best offensive players for Colorado, as Goodman leads the team with 31 homers and Moniak has added 16 homers and 11 doubles in just 67 games. Rookie TJ Rumfield is hitting .297/.381/.476 with 13 homers, and Jake McCarthy is batting over .300. Willi Castro, Kyle Karros, Braxton Fulford, Troy Johnston, Tyler Freeman, Cole Carrigg, Ezequiel Tovar, Edouard Julien, and Brett Sullivan round things out. As a team, the Rockies are hitting .255/.325/.420 (.745 OPS ranks fifth), with 118 homers (17th), 495 runs (tied for seventh), and 70 steals (tied for 14th).

Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill anchor Milwaukee’s bullpen, as they’ve combined for 22 saves. Uribe has a 2.38 ERA with 41 strikeouts over 41 2/3 innings, and Megill has a 3.00 ERA and 48 strikeouts over 39 innings, a major feat when you consider where he was two weeks into the season. Chad Patrick, Aaron Ashby, and Grant Anderson are also key parts of this Brewer bullpen, with Criag Yoho, Lance McCullers Jr., and Bryse Wilson rounding things out. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.44 team ERA (second), including a 3.36 starter ERA (first) and a 3.53 bullpen ERA (fourth). They’ve struck out 997 batters (second) over 913 2/3 innings.

Brennan Bernardino is one of the few bright spots for this Rockies bullpen, as he has a 2.74 ERA over 42 2/3 innings this year. Juan Mejia and Victor Vodnik are tied for the team lead with four saves each, though both have ERAs in the 5.00s. Former starter-turned-reliever Antonio Senzatela has been solid with 3.60 ERA, as has long-reliever/starter Gabriel Hughes (2.79 ERA over 19 1/3 IP) and former closer Jordan Romano (1.59 ERA over 5 2/3 IP) in limited appearances. The two other bulk relievers have struggled — Jimmy Herget has a 5.60 ERA over 27 1/3 IP, and Zach Agnos sports a 6.42 ERA over 61 2/3 IP. As a staff, the Rockies have a 5.50 team ERA (last), including a 6.00 starter ERA (last) and a 4.95 bullpen ERA (26th). They’ve struck out 735 batters (29th) over 914 1/3 innings.

Also of note: The Brewers are hosting an Alumni Legends Game after Friday’s game, which is why it has the odd 3:10 p.m. start time. The Legends Game will feature approximately 30 players for a three-inning exhibition set to begin 15 minutes after the conclusion of the Brewers-Rockies game. Players confirmed to be playing include Ryan Braun, Yovani Gallardo, Ben Sheets, Geoff Jenkins, and many more. To view the full list, click here.

Probable Pitchers

Friday, July 24 @ 3:10 p.m.: LHP Shane Drohan (5-3, 3.20 ERA, 3.08 FIP) vs. RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (9-4, 4.76 ERA, 5.39 FIP)

Drohan, 27, has quickly become a solid option in Milwaukee’s rotation, as he’s gone at least six innings in each of his last three outings. The left-hander has totaled 76 innings this year with a 3.20 ERA, 3.08 FIP, and 76 strikeouts. He went six frames against the Marlins in his last outing, picking up the win as he allowed three runs on five hits and a walk, striking out nine batters. Drohan picked up a win in his start against the Rockies in early June, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk, striking out four over 6 1/3 innings.

Sugano, 36, is in his second MLB season after starting 30 games for the Orioles last season. He’s had similar numbers in year No. 2 with the Rockies, with a 4.76 ERA, 5.39 FIP, and 51 strikeouts over 90 2/3 innings. He bounced back from a rough seven-run outing against the Twins to pitch 6 1/3 innings with three runs allowed in a win over the Reds in his last appearance, giving up six hits and no walks while striking out three. Sugano’s lone appearance against Milwaukee came as an Oriole last year, when he went six innings with two runs allowed on five hits and a walk, striking out three in a no-decision.

Saturday, July 25 @ 6:10 p.m.: LHP Robert Gasser (2-4, 4.91 ERA, 5.13 FIP) vs. RHP Ryan Feltner (3-4, 5.48 ERA, 5.68 FIP)

Gasser, 27, has had his ups and downs in his third MLB season, though he’s made more appearances this year (10) than in 2024 and 2025 combined (seven). Over his 10 starts, he’s 2-4 with a 4.91 ERA, 5.13 FIP, and 48 strikeouts across 51 1/3 innings. The lefty went five innings in a no-decision against the Marlins on Sunday, allowing one run on three hits and no walks while striking out five. This marks Gasser’s first career appearance against Colorado.

Feltner, 29, is in his sixth MLB season, and he’s been serviceable albeit not good for his entire career. He’s made 14 starts this year, with a 3-4 record, 5.48 ERA, 5.68 FIP, and 50 strikeouts over 65 2/3 innings. The right-hander has been hit hard against the Giants and Reds in his last two outings, totaling just 6 2/3 innings with 12 runs allowed on 13 hit and eight walks while striking out six. Feltner has made six career starts against the Brewers, and he’s been mostly successful with a 2.67 ERA and 30 strikeouts over 33 2/3 innings. That includes a solid six-inning showing back in June, when he allowed one run on one hit, two walks, and a hit batter while striking out four.

Sunday, July 26 @ 1:10 p.m.: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (10-4, 1.57 ERA, 2.05 FIP) vs. LHP Kyle Freeland (2-9, 7.28 ERA, 4.90 FIP)

Misiorowski, 24, continues to mow down hitters even as the Brewers have tried to ease back his workload out of the All-Star break. He leads the majors in plenty of major categories, including ERA (1.57), FIP (2.05), WHIP (0.774), and strikeouts (173) across 115 innings. He went four innings against the Mets on Monday evening, allowing one unearned run on four hits and a walk, striking out six. Miz looked great against Colorado when he faced them back on June 6, allowing one unearned run on four hits and three walks, striking out eight over seven frames.

Freeland, 33, is in his 10th big-league season, all with the Rockies, and he’s been mostly bad since finishing fourth in NL Cy Young voting back in 2018. This year has been his worst, though, as he’s totaled -0.8 bWAR with a 2-9 record, 7.28 ERA, 4.90 FIP, and 83 strikeouts over 94 innings. He leads the league with 76 earned runs, including at least four runs allowed in four of his last five outings. He went six innings against the Nationals his last time out, allowing four runs on seven hits and a pair of walks, striking out four. Freeland has made 11 career starts against Milwaukee, with a 3.55 ERA and 53 strikeouts over 63 1/3 innings. He went five frames against the Crew in June, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out two.

How to Watch & Listen

Friday, July 24: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Saturday, July 25: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Sunday, July 26: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Prediction

These are a pair of teams with very different trajectories since meeting in the 2018 playoffs. The Brewers have the advantage in virtually every facet, and I expect that to play out on the field; give me the Crew to sweep.

Catching up on some roster news from this week, catcher Will Smith was moved to the 60-day injured list on Tuesday, which opened up a 40-man roster spot for Charlie Barnes. That’s right, Smith and Barnes are linked yet again.

Smith moving to the 60-day injured list means he can’t technically return until August 7, but that doesn’t materially affect the timeline for his return from neck inflammation. Manager Dave Roberts said last weekend that Smith will be out until at least mid-August at the earliest, with no definitive timeline on when he might return this season. Which brings in the valid question of whether the Dodgers try to acquire a catcher by the August 3 trade deadline to pair with Dalton Rushing should Smith not be able to return this season.

The last game Smith played for the Dodgers was June 5, with the three-time All-Star hitting .249/.338/.382 with eight home runs in 52 games and a 102 wRC+ this season. Rushing last weekend passed Smith in defensive innings and games started behind the plate this season, potentially paving the way for a Dodgers catcher besides Smith to lead in those categories for the first time since 2019.

Barnes was active for the last two games against the Phillies but did not pitch, replacing Landon Knack as the bulk arm in the bullpen after Knack pitched two innings on Monday in Philadelphia.

Barnes was claimed by the Dodgers off waivers from the Cubs on May 9, and the 30-year-old left-hander has pitched in three games for the Dodgers in his two previous stints in the majors this season. After a pair of scoreless innings in relief in May, Barnes soaked up seven innings in relief, giving up seven runs in a loss to the A’s on July 1 that was mostly about resetting the bullpen during a stretch of 13 game days in a row.

The Dodgers designated Barnes for assignment on July 11 to make room for activating Knack off the 60-day injured list. After clearing waivers and getting sent outright to the minors, Barnes opted for free agency, then re-signed on a minor league deal with the Dodgers on July 17.

In seven starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season, Barnes has a 5.65 ERA with 28 strikeouts and 12 walks in 28 2/3 innings. He hasn’t pitched in a game since that July 1 game in West Sacramento.

Last week, I wondered how many wins the Giants would need to pick up in this second part of the season to wind up with a somewhat respectable record. You know, a record that True Believers “legs” to stand on when proselytizing about their favorite team. But what if the team loses 100+ games?

Some good responses in that comments thread of last week’s post, and the bigger issue is that this miserable team has lost a lot of public trust along with all the goodwill of Buster Posey taking over Baseball Operations. But there are still the prospect huggers out there who see the Jackson Flora draft and other exciting developments in the farm as reason to focus on the positives and ignore the negatives, even if those negatives are some of the most damning in the franchise’s history: losing triple digits for the second time ever and going five years without a winning season for the first time ever.

I guess no fandom is a monolith and I can’t convince people who’ve already ignored the bad baseball of the past decade (sorry, 2021 team!) that they should have serious doubts about the quality of the franchise. So, let’s just sequalize my week-old post, given the ugly sweep in Kansas City. Just how likely are 100+ losses now?

Through 102 games, the franchise’s sole 100-loss team (1985) was 40-62. Zack & Buster’s 2026 Giants are 42-60. With 60 games left, the Giants will need to go 21-39 to avoid 100 losses. The 1985 team went 22-38 over their final 60. So, yes, these Giants would have to play worse than the worst team in Giants history to match or exceed.

Obviously, they can do it.

The trade deadline seems likely to accelerate the losing. The bullpen and defense blowing games is annoying enough, but the coaching and decision trees managing the roster today will still be in place managing the post-deadline roster, and if you thought the bullpen, defense, and coaching is bad now, it’ll only get worse when the starting pitching doesn’t even give them a chance and the lineup features even less experience and Gold Glove-caliber defense.

Previously, I’d predicted 30 more wins, which would’ve gotten them to 71-91. After a 1-5 start to the second part of the season, they’d need to go 29-31 the rest of the way. I mean, who cares about my prediction, but the notion that they could go 29-31 is absurd. 21-39 even feels like a stretch, but let’s run through this with the taste of this 1-5 road trip fresh in our mouths:

vs. Angels (3 games) — a truly horrendous team, but the Giants are just 3-6 against them the past 3 seasons; and, this series will be before the trade deadline, meaning that the few good players on that roster likely to be traded will be showcased against the Giants. Prediction: 2-1 (although, the Giants just got owned by the Royals)
vs. the Brewers (3 games) — They’re really, really good. Prediction: 1-2 (I have to believe the Giants can scratch out a win at home)
at San Diego (4 games) — the final series before the trade deadline and despite the Padres’ struggles (they’re 2-4 out of the break and were owned by the Royals, too!) it’s likely that they won’t be sellers. They, like the Giants, are just drawing too well. They have a new ownership group coming in, too. They’re just 3 games back of a Wild Card spot as I write this. The Padres have lost just 1 season series to the Giants this decade (2021, natch). Prediction: split?
at Texas (3 games) — The Giants are bad on the road and haven’t won 4 in a row all season. Prediction: 1-2
vs. Detroit (3 games) — The Tigers handled the Giants pretty easily last year in a sweep in Detroit and while it’s true that the 2026 version has struggled a lot, it’s still the case that they’re much, much, much (much?) better than the Giants. Their lineup features three All-Stars: Dillon Dingler, Kevin McGonigle, and Riley Greene, and an enviable rotation with Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez, Casey Mize, and even Jack Flaherty, Keider Montero, and now Troy Melton. They are 21-31 on the road this season, though. Hmm… Prediction: 1-2
vs. Houston (3 games) — A tricky team. Are they buyers or sellers? Are they a “fake” .500 team? Well, I’ll just let this decide: they’re 13-17 in interleague this season while having a -45 run differential overall. Still, they’re 11th in MLB in runs scored (4th in AL) and Giants pitching won’t get any better this year. Prediction: 1-2
vs. Colorado (3 games) — Gosh, I hope this isn’t a tough series. Prediction: 3-0 (is this where the first 4-game winning streak happens???)
at Cleveland (3 games) — Patrick Bailey revenge series? Who cares, the Guardians have great pitching and they are good for a second-half run. Prediction: 0-3
at Boston (3 games) — Their long win streak will be over by this point (probably), but even in their comedown, they’ll probably still be able to get up to bash the Giants to death (metaphorically) if for no other reason than to stick it to Rafael Devers for some reason — could easily see him having a great series but with Giants pitching unable to capitalize. Prediction: 1-2
vs. Cincinnati (3 games) — This team seems to be out of it. Prediction: 2-1
vs. Arizona (4 games) — The Giants are 1-8 against the Diamondbacks this season. I would expect this series to put the team out of its misery. Prediction: 1-3
at Atlanta (1 game) — I cannot fathom the Giants sweep. Prediction: 0-1
at Pittsburgh (3 games) — Will the Pirates fade down the stretch? That’s the big question. On the other hand, they’re second in MLB in runs scored (543 to Washington’s 567), so, I think they will get a big kick out of kicking the Giants’ collective ass. Prediction: 1-2
at Mets (3 games) — This team will probably remake itself at the deadline and I wonder if they will be one of those teams that improve after retooling on the fly. Anyway, unless the Mets reacquire Jeff McNeil or Pete Alonso, I’m a bit more confident about the Giants facing the Mets. Then again, it’s a road series, and the Mets will still have Juan Soto. Prediction 1-2
vs. St. Louis (3 games) — This series will be the final leg of a 3-city, 9-game road trip for the Cardinals where the first two series are at Dodger Stadium followed by Coors Field. So, I’ll be a little bullish. Prediction: 2-1
vs. San Diego (3 games) — Let’s just keep the good vibes going. Prediction: 2-1
at St. Louis (3 games) — Of course, the Cardinals will get their revenge. Prediction: 1-2
at Dodgers (3 games) — The Giants have played the Dodgers hard, but ending the season against them has, time and again, been disastrous. Prediction: 1-2
vs. Minnesota (3 games) — Will the Twins’ surprising season continue? They’ll have just come off a 4-game series against the Angels in Anaheim, but prior to that, they’ll have run a pretty remarkable gauntlet: 6 against the White Sox, 6 against the Tigers, 3 against the Guardians, and 3 against the Yankees. That 18-game stretch might be enough to short circuit their season and set them on a course to merely play out the string against the Giants. That’s the thinking I have to have in order to make this prediction: 2-1.
vs. Dodgers (3 games) — Since 2017, here is the Giants’ record versus the Dodgers in September: 11-27. For the sake of the rivalry, lets say Prediction: 1-2.

So… 26 wins? 68-94? And this is maybe still optimistic?

I just want to make it clear that I understand “It’s Baseball!” and anything can happen. Something could turn around this entire team and set them on a run that doesn’t look so bad. But we’ve been saying this for years and years. They haven’t given any reasonable person any inkling that “positive regression” or a long win streak is in the immediate future. This is a team in the midst of either an accidental reboot or a lost season that can’t really be explained or fixed. Sort of like 2021’s Wario — but this is the best case scenario going forward.

Maybe the team does need us to write them off to spark a turnaround… that would only get them into the 70-win range. That’s the thing. This is a bad Giants team with a ceiling of “not as bad as they looked for most of the season.” Like, if they wind up with, say, 74 wins, in a couple of years somebody would write, “an 88-loss season that felt like 128.” I don’t know what this era of Giants Baseball will wind up being known as, but it’ll be known for resetting franchise expectations.

Sure, they’ll end the year with the most wins in Baseball history still (around 11,670), but since 1972 (the season they traded Willie Mays), they’re pretty close to .500 (4,356-4,265), and 49% of the seasons (27 of 55) have been non-winning ones (the two .500 seasons are in this count). There have been just 49 non-winning seasons out of 144 in Giants history (34%) and 55% of them have come in the last 54 years. So, statistically, this is the franchise’s Losing Era. And despite the 3 championships, a 107-win season, the spectacle of Barry Bonds, and the beautiful ballpark, that is what it feels like.

Here’s the Twins lineup

Finale in Cleveland

📺 https://t.co/usGFyQCbUxpic.twitter.com/HVMt8zyLjY

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 23, 2026

Here’s the Guardians lineup:

Guardians 7/23

S. Kwan LF
J. Ramírez 3B
C. DeLauter RF
B. Rocchio SS
T. Bazzana 2B
R. Hoskins DH
K. Manzardo 1B
P. Bailey C
P. Halpin CF

G. Williams SP

— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) July 23, 2026

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

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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