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

Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out yesterday’s recap here.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (49-48) won 6-5 (BOX SCORE)

Sugar Land got on the board in the first inning on a Biggio solo home run. They got another run in the 3rd inning on a Loperfido solo home run. McPherson got the start and went 5 innings allowing 3 runs while striking out 4. Sugar Land tied it up in the 6th inning on a Diaz RBI single. The pen was solid keeping the game tied as it went to extra innings. In the 10th, the Sounds scored 2 runs to take a 5-3 lead but in the bottom of the inning Sugar Land rallied for 3 runs on a Whitcomb RBI double, Guillemette bases loaded walk and walk-off Sacco bases loaded walk as Sugar Land won 6-5.

Note: Biggio has a .905 OPS this season.

• Cavan Biggio, LF: 2-for-5, R, HR, RBI
• Joey Loperfido, RF: 2-for-5, 2 R, HR, RBI
• Shay Whitcomb, SS: 2-for-5, R, 2B, RBI
• Trenton Brooks, 1B: 2-for-5, R
• Ray Delgado, 2B: 1-for-3, 2 BB
• Garret Guillemette, C: 0-for-3, RBI, 2 BB
• Tommy Sacco, DH: 0-for-3, RBI, 2 BB
• Edwin Diaz, 3B: 1-for-2, RBI, 2 BB

• Brandon McPherson, RHP: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
• Bryan King, LHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Cody Bolton, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
• Christian Roa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
• Roddery Munoz, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• Logan VanWey, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (WIN)

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (43-49) won 10-9 (BOX SCORE)

The Hooks got on the board in the first inning scoring a run on a Bush steal of home. They scored 2 runs in the 2nd inning on a Whitaker solo home run and Hernandez solo home run. Hertzler got the start for the Hooks and struggled allowing 7 runs, though only 1 was earned. The Sod Poodles got a run in the 5th but the Hooks responded with 2 runs on an error. After the Sod Poodles scored again in the 6th, Call connected on a 3 run home run in the bottom of the inning to make it 9-8. In the 8th, Austin tied the game with a solo home run. In the 9th, the Hooks walked it off on an Encarnacion grounder as the Hooks won 10-9.

Note: Austin has a .841 OPS this season.

• Yamal Encarnacion, 2B: 1-for-6, R, 2B, RBI
• Trevor Austin, 3B: 2-for-3, R, HR, RBI, 2 BB
• Will Bush, 1B: 0-for-4, 2 R, BB, SB
• Walker Janek, C: 1-for-4, R, BB, 2 SB
• Chase Call, LF: 1-for-4, R, HR, 3 RBI, BB
• Cameron Sisneros, DH: 0-for-2, R, 3 BB
• Tyler Whitaker, RF: 3-for-4, R, HR, RBI, BB
• Alberto Hernandez, 2B: 2-for-5, R, HR, RBI

• Cole Hertzler, RHP: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 7 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
• Alex Santos, RHP: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• Nic Swanson, RHP: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• Hudson Leach, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• Amilcar Chirinos, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (WIN)

A+: Asheville Tourists (32-57)

Game One – lost 2-1 (BOX SCORE)

Santos started for Asheville and had a solid outing allowing 2 runs over 5 innings while striking out 9. Asheville got on the board in the top of the 6th on a Frey RBI single but that was it from the offense as they dropped game one, 2-1.

Note: Thomas has 17 doubles this season.

• Justin Thomas, CF: 1-for-3, R, 2B
• Ethan Frey, RF: 1-for-3, RBI, SB
• Anthony Huezo, LF: 1-for-3, 2B

• Yeriel Santos, RHP: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K
• Raimy Rodriguez, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

Game Two – lost 4-3 (BOX SCORE)

Asheville got on the board in the first inning on a Huezo RBI single. Cruz got the start in game two and allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, over 3.1 innings of work. Asheville rallied in the 6th to tie the game on a Huezo solo home run and Nunez RBI single. In the bottom of the 7th, the Hot Rods walked it off as Asheville fell 4-3.

Note: Huezo has a .945 OPS in High-A.

• Justin Thomas, RF: 1-for-4, R
• Jack Moss, 1B: 1-for-3, BB, SB
• Anthony Huezo, LF: 2-for-3, R, HR, 2 RBI
• Zach Daudet, SS: 1-for-2, R, BB, SB
• Alejandro Nunez, 3B: 1-for-3, RBI

• Anthony Cruz, RHP: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• Conor Steinbaugh, RHP: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• Joan Ogando, RHP: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (45-45) lost 9-6 (BOX SCORE)

After a scoreless inning from Smith, Forcucci came on for the second but struggled allowing 5 runs, 4 earned over 1.1 innings. The Woodpeckers got on the board in the 2nd inning on an error and then in the 5th they rallied for 4 runs to tie it on an Alvarez RBI single, Luciano 2 run double and Cauro sac fly. The Woodpeckers took the lead in the 7th on a Wakefield RBI single but the Nationals tied it at 7 in the bottom of the inning. In the 8th inning, the Nationals scored 3 runs to take the lead. The offense was unable to respond as the Woodpeckers fell 9-6.

Note: Alvarez is hitting .338 over his last 15 games.

• Josh Wakefield, DH: 0-for-4, RBI
• German Ramirez, 2B: 2-for-4, R, 2B
• Kevin Alvarez, CF: 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI
• Waner Luciano, 3B: 1-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI
• Jadyn Fielder, 1B: 1-for-4
• Brandon Nigh, SS: 1-for-3, BB
• DJ Newman, RF: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2B

• Aubrey Smith, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Ryan Forcucci, RHP: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 0 K
• Grayson Saunier, RHP: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• Ryan Verdugo, RHP: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: TBD – 7:05 CT

CC: Brett Gillis – 6:35 CT

AV: Kellan Oakes – 6:35 CT

FV: TBD – 5:35 CT

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There are only five games on the slate today, but that hasn't stopped our betting experts from digging into the slate to provide you with their favorite MLB picks.

Find out what you need to add to your betting card on July 23.

MLB expert picks for today

Pick	Odds
Josh Inglis: Rays ML	+100
Jason Wilson: Diamondbacks/Cardinals - Over 8.5	+138

Prices courtesy of Polymarket.

Josh Inglis' expert pick: Rays moneyline

Price: 50¢ (+100) at Polymarket

I'm fading the Toronto Blue Jays as much as I can.

Both clubs are in getaway spots, but the Tampa Bay Rays have a chance to complete the four-game sweep and have won eight of the last nine meetings. Ian Seymour is the reason Toronto is favored, but I'm not giving Shane Bieber a free pass after one good start.

Bieber has been one of the hardest-hit pitchers in baseball this season, ranking in the Bottom 10 among qualified starters in HR/9 and HR/FB while sitting dead last in both xERA and BlastContact%. His overall numbers remain ugly despite a solid outing last time out.

The last time I checked, you need to score runs to win games, and Toronto has been the worst team in baseball at doing so all season. The Blue Jays have scored just 10 runs in six games since the All-Star break, with their only win in that stretch coming in a 1-0 game against the White Sox.

They've also been outscored 23-5 through the first three games of this series while committing six errors. Tampa should be favored here, just like yesterday

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

Jason Wilson's expert pick: Diamondbacks/Cardinals - Over 8.5

Price: 42¢ (+138) at Polymarket

Brandon Pfaadt and Michael McGreevy are two starters whose underlying metrics ring all sorts of alarm bells.

Pfaadt was demoted to the Arizona Diamondbacks bullpen and Triple-A this season, and hasn't missed any bats when at the big-league level.

McGreevy, for all his success, is a ticking time bomb with an expected ERA (5.35) almost 2.5 runs higher than his actual ERA (2.92). Both pitchers get barreled at a high rate, with the only real positives under the hood being their ability to limit walks.

But that also tells us they both live in the zone, and that's where the damage gets done. The Diamondbacks have also owned baseball's hottest offense over the last two weeks, scoring 66 runs in their last 10 games while slugging .478.

I don't trust McGreevy to weather that storm. If he somehow avoids the worst of it, the St. Louis Cardinals bullpen has shown it cannot hold the line.

And even if St. Louis' lineup has gone in the complete opposite direction in that time, Pfaadt is the guy to help turn that around. Trust in Jordan Walker's 100th-percentile bat speed.

• Time: 5:15 p.m. ET
• How to watch: Diamondbacks.TV, Cardinals.TV

More MLB best bets for today

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One of the smallest slates we’ve endured all season, just five games to sweat out and have a little fun with. That usually means fewer options, but it also means the edges stand out a little more.

So, without further ado, here are today’s MLB moneyline predictions as we dive into the tiny slate with my MLB picks for Thursday, July 23.

MLB moneyline picks for July 23

Matchup	Pick
Padres vs Braves	-233
Twins vs Guardians	+130
Rays vs Blue Jays	+102
Diamondbacks vs Cardinals	+111
Royals vs Tigers	+190

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 7-23.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for July 23

Padres vs Braves: Braves (-233)

Braves win probability: 70%

Take the Atlanta Braves on the run line here. With Griffin Canning on the mound this afternoon, Atlanta should have plenty of success at the dish.

Canning enters as one of the lowest rated pitchers on this small slate, per Batters-Box, while the Braves own one of the highest rated offenses of the day. The San Diego Padres right hander has posted a 6.75 ERA and 1.73 WHIP over his last five outings, while allowing a 45.45% hard hit rate.

Chris Sale has been nails all season. At home, he owns a 1.35 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and a 25.23% strikeout rate, giving Atlanta a sizable edge on the mound.

Twins vs Guardians: Twins (+130)

Twins win probability: 44%

Are we finally watching Taj Bradley put it all together?

The Minnesota Twins right hander owns a 3.19 ERA, 2.77 xERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a 32% strikeout rate over his last five starts. We've always known he can rack up strikeouts, but limiting runs has been the biggest question.

With Cleveland Guardians right hander Gavin Williams carrying a 5.09 ERA over his last three starts, I think it's worth taking a shot on the Twins at +130.

Rays vs Blue Jays: Rays (+102)

Rays win probability: 50%

Give me the Tampa Bay Rays as a dog against the most lifeless team in baseball. Please, give me them at plus money.

The Toronto Blue Jays own a 43 wRC+ over their last six games, a 76 over their last 12, and a 67 over their last 21. Their offense is nonexistent. Meanwhile, the Rays have posted a 124 wRC+, .342 wOBA, and .780 OPS across their last 21 games.

Sure, Ian Seymour has not been the most sustainable arm in the Rays rotation, but you're going to tell me Shane Bieber, who owns a 5.70 ERA, 5.35 xERA, and 1.73 WHIP across his last five starts, is the better option?

Rays.

Diamondbacks vs Cardinals: Diamondbacks (+111)

Diamondbacks win probability: 48%

Another misprice in my opinion.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are sitting at +111 against a St. Louis Cardinals team that owns a 69 wRC+, .267 wOBA, and .580 OPS over its last six games. Meanwhile, Arizona's offense is finally coming alive, posting a 151 wRC+, .390 wOBA, and .903 OPS over that same span.

What's even more impressive is how well Brandon Pfaadt has been throwing the ball lately. Over his last five starts, he owns a 2.86 ERA, 2.75 xERA, and 1.14 WHIP. On the other side, Michael McGreevy has been solid, but is this Cardinals offense really going to give him enough support tonight?

Give me the Diamondbacks at plus money.

Royals vs Tigers: Royals (+190)

Royals win probability: 34%

I am not the biggest fan of the 2026 Kansas City Royals, but they are clearly seeing the ball much better over their last few games than the Detroit Tigers. I think getting them at +190 is worth the squeeze on a team that owns a .762 OPS, 115 wRC+, and a 42% hard hit rate across its last 12 games.

Meanwhile, the Tigers have posted a 100 wRC+, .311 wOBA, and a 24% strikeout rate over their last six games.

Sure, Tigers right hander Troy Melton has been great, and Randy Dobnak's underlying metrics point toward some serious regression, but at +190, I think the Royals are worth a sprinkle.

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The Atlanta Braves host the San Diego Padres in the series-deciding finale. If the Braves win, they will have won three of the four games. A victory this morning secures a series split for the Padres.

The four-game set has been highly competitive, as the Braves are coming off a dramatic 7-6 win last night. Rookie shortstop Jim Jarvis broke up a 1-1 tie with a run-scoring double that scored Mauricio Dubon in a six-run eighth-inning rally. The Friars responded with a five-run top of the ninth that fell short of tying the game. 

Taking the mound: Chris Sale (ATL) vs Kyle Hart (SD)

The Braves ace, Chris Sale, will take the hill in the series finale. He has been dominant in 18 starts this season. The left-hander has struck out 123 batters in 105.0 innings pitched.

Today’s game plan is simple, as Sale wants to set the tone early with scoreless innings before handing a lead off to the bullpen. Surprisingly, Sale still generates weak contact from opposing lineups after 16 major league seasons. 

Sale is making his second start following his 10th All-Star Game appearance, and he reached a milestone in his last appearance. Sale recorded his 2,700th career strikeout in a start against the Texas Rangers. 

The Padres will start Kyle Hart as the opener this morning. But Griffin Canning (1-8, 6.67 ERA) will work the bulk innings, as he will try to turn his 2026 campaign around. The veteran right-hander had his troubles against the Braves this season. Earlier, he allowed four runs in less than two-thirds of an inning at Petco Park. 

Canning will need to be more aggressive in the strike zone. However, consistency has been missing all season. Canning desperately needs to have a good outing, as he allowed 13 runs over his last 16.1 innings pitched.

Friars skipper Craig Stammen may have a short leash for him in today’s contest. If he shows any signs of trouble, Canning will be removed from the game. Stammen has to give his team an opportunity to even the series.

Today’s starting lineups

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The Toronto Blue Jays close out a rough four-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays this afternoon, with both sides priced at -110.

Toronto’s bats have gone missing for most of this series, but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is hitting the ball as hard as he has all year, and he's the focus of my Rays vs. Blue Jays predictions.

Read on for my MLB picks for this Thursday, July 23 matchup.

Rays vs Blue Jays predictions

Rays vs Blue Jays best bet: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 1.5 total bases (+125)

While I won’t ever base a bet on one swing, I saw some great cuts from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in Wednesday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

In his first at-bat, he crushed a double the other way to right field at 105 mph, narrowly missing a home run. He’s swinging hard trying to drag this offense out of its rut, and I expect that to translate against Rays starter Ian Seymour.

As I’ll get into below, Seymour serves up meatball fastballs. He’s allowed a homer in four straight starts, and opponents own a .497 xSLG against his fastball, sinker and cutter.

Guerrero also holds the platoon advantage here, carrying a .762 OPS and 121 wRC+ against southpaws, far above his numbers vs. righties.

I’d play this to +110.

COVERS INTEL:Guerrero topped 105 mph exit velocity on all four of his balls in play Wednesday, and he now draws a pitcher who lives up in the zone with his fastball.

Rays vs Blue Jays same-game parlay (SGP)

The Toronto Blue Jays bullpen worked hard on Wednesday, and fatigue tends to show up late in a series, while Ian Seymour’s penchant for allowing homers gives Toronto a path to runs of its own. 

I’ll add Vladdy Over 0.5 hits, leaning on the same hard contact behind my best bet, then finish with the Blue Jays on the moneyline — banking on the home side finally breaking out with a statement win in the finale.

Rays vs Blue Jays SGP

• Blue Jays moneyline
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 0.5 hits
• Over 8.5

Rays vs Blue Jays home run pick: Kazuma Okamoto (+280)

By all accounts, Kazuma Okamoto is the best home run bet on the board. 

He’s the perfect foil for Rays starter Ian Seymour, who carries a 1.6 HR/9, has allowed a homer in four straight outings and owns a bad fastball.

The left-hander has a very good changeup (+9 run value), but his fastball grades out below average (-2 run value), and the heat maps show it sitting high in the zone.

Enter Okamoto, who owns a +12 run value against the four-seamer, slugs .578 on that pitch, and leads the Blue Jays with five home runs against lefties this season. 

The matchup works on both the pitch mix and the platoon side, which makes him the best home run bet on the card.

I’d bet this to +250 but no shorter, at my standard quarter unit.

Rays vs Blue Jays odds

• Moneyline: Tampa Bay -110 | Toronto -110
• Run line: Tampa Bay -1.5 (+150) | Toronto +1.5 (-175)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-110) | Under 8.5 (-110)

Rays vs Blue Jays trend

The Toronto Blue Jays have seen the Over cash in eight of their last 12 games. Find more MLB betting trends for Rays vs. Blue Jays.

How to watch Rays vs Blue Jays and game info

Rays vs Blue Jays latest injuries

Rays vs Blue Jays weather

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The St. Louis Cardinals host the Arizona Diamondbacks as -112 favorites tonight at Busch Stadium.

With Brandon Pfaadt toeing the rubber for Arizona opposite Michael McGreevy, my Diamondbacks vs. Cardinals predictions are favoring the home side and the Over.

I explain why in my MLB picks for Thursday, July 23, below.

Who will win Diamondbacks vs Cardinals today: Cardinals (-112)

I'm no longer a believer in Brandon Pfaadt. I was high on the Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander as a prospect and into his first full season in the rotation in 2024. His 4.71 ERA that year seemed fake, as he boasted an expected ERA of 3.73 and a 3.61 FIP with a 24.3% strikeout rate. In other words, there was a clear path for improvement.

That hasn't happened. His 2025 was a disaster, and 2026 found him back in the minors for a spell while splitting time between the bullpen and rotation with the top club. His 4.58 ERA isn't far off his xERA, and his ability to miss bats has regressed, with a 15th-percentile whiff rate and a strikeout rate in the 14th. 

Opponents own a 9% barrel rate against him (29th percentile), and while he's pitched better since returning to the rotation, there's way too much smoke to ignore the fire. 

Jordan Walker and JJ Wetherholt are among the bats who will feast on Pfaadt's offerings early, giving the St. Louis Cardinals enough of a lead that the bullpen won't blow it this time.

The relief corps' shakiness is the only reason I'm not taking the run line, as it's shown that a big lead can evaporate in the blink of an eye.

Play to -120. 

COVERS INTEL: Walker's breakout is legitimate, and his 100th-percentile bat speed helps him catch up to high-velocity arms and to really punish those like Pfaadt, who might touch 94.

Diamondbacks vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (+140)

Pfaadt and Michael McGreevy give up regular and loud contact.

McGreevy has limited the damage well enough, as indicated by his 2.92 ERA, but it's simply not sustainable. I like him to outpitch Pfaadt, but that's about it.

He's also stepping in against baseball's hottest offense. The Diamondbacks have scored a whopping 66 runs over their last 10 games in the past two weeks.

The Cardinals have watched theirs dry up a bit in that span, but Pfaadt's deficiencies will help reignite St. Louis' bats.

I'd play this down to even money and would even consider Over 9.5 at +180 or longer.

Diamondbacks vs Cardinals weather

A high-pressure system with winds blowing toward home plate could suppress fly ball distance, limiting home run potential at Busch Stadium, so the scoring may come by a stream of consistent contact where the ball stays in play.

Diamondbacks vs Cardinals odds

• Moneyline: Diamondbacks +104 | Cardinals -108
• Run line: Diamondbacks +1.5 (-178) | Cardinals -1.5 (+170)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+150) | Under 8.5 (-156)

Diamondbacks vs Cardinals trend

The Arizona Diamondbacks have hit the Team Total Over in 13 of their last 19 games (+5.90 Units / 26% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Diamondbacks vs. Cardinals.

How to watch Diamondbacks vs Cardinals and game info

Diamondbacks vs Cardinals latest injuries

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Following multiple rainouts on Tuesday, Wednesday was chock-full of important action around the American League. The Yankees, playing a pair against the Pirates, split the twocontests, while the rest of their AL East foes were tied up in important divisional matchups. It was an eventful day, as the Rays continued to beat up on the Jays, while Boston’s huge winning streak continued and then came to an end. Let’s take a look at how everything shook out.

Tampa Bay Rays (59-42) 4, Toronto Blue Jays (46-56) 2

For the third time in as many days, the Rays once again gave the business to Toronto. In the penultimate game of a four-game series north of the border, Tampa Bay cruised to victory thanks to some timely small ball and quality work from starter Griffin Jax.

The Jays struck first on George Springer’s RBI groundout, which was quickly answered by a Victor Mesa Jr. run-scoring knock that tied things up at one in the second inning — the first of multiple big contributions from the Rays’ right fielder. After the early run, Jax settled in with ease, coasting to six strong innings of work, allowing just the one run on three hits, while striking out five.

Despite the strong effort on the mound, the game remained tied until the sixth, when the Rays took the lead on a sac fly from Chandler Simpson, before Mesa chipped in once again with another RBI knock. By the end of the inning, the Rays had taken a 4-1 advantage.

Toronto cut the lead when Alejandro Kirk homered in the seventh, but it wasn’t enough, as they fell once again to the Rays, by a score of 4-2. With their win and the Yankees’ split of a doubleheader, Tampa Bay’s lead in the East stands at 2.5 games.

Other Games

Boston Red Sox (52-48) 6, Baltimore Orioles (49-53) 3 (Game 1): After a wash on Tuesday, the Red Sox and O’s were slated for some doubleheader action on Wednesday, much like their rivals. The Sox jumped out quickly against Baltimore starter Dean Kremer, as they plated four runs in the opening inning, with Jarren Duran’s two-run triple putting a cap on the frame. That was ultimately the bulk of their scoring, as Boston secured their 15th (!) straight win in the matinee, tying a franchise record set by the 1946 Red Sox.

Baltimore Orioles (50-53) 5, Boston Red Sox (52-49) 1 (Game 2): Their massive winning streak would come to an end in the second game, however. In a bit of payback, the Orioles this time jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first, when a wild pitch and a pair of big hits had Baltimore up early. Fresh off signing an extension to stick around Baltimore through 2031, starter Kyle Bradish had the good stuff as well, allowing just one run over his six innings of work, helping the O’s cruise to victory and put an end to Boston’s W15.

Cincinnati Reds (47-54) 5, Seattle Mariners (51-52) 3: After leading into the middle innings thanks to hits from Cal Raleigh and Luke Raley, the Mariners surrendered their lead later on in theeventual loss. The big hit of the night came off the bat of Cincinnati’s Sal Stewart, who belted a clutch three-run shot in the seventh to turn the Reds’ deficit into a lead. His 21st of the season sealed the loss for the now sub-.500 Mariners — though they at least remained a half-game back of Texas for first place in the AL West.

Chicago White Sox (54-47) 4, Texas Rangers (51-51) 2: With another win on Wednesday, the White Sox retained their slim lead in the competitive AL Central. This one came thanks in large part to a huge day from Chase Meidroth, who went 4-for-4 with a pair of RBIs on the night. Starter Anthony Kay also did enough to get things done on the mound, allowing a pair of runs over five innings. Chicago keeps their half-game lead with the win, while Texas holds a razor-thin advantage over Seattle.

Minnesota Twins (50-53) 10, Cleveland Guardians (54-49) 6: Despite a good day on the offensive side for the Guardians, they couldn’t keep up with Minnesota’s double-digit outpouring on Wednesday. After trailing in the first two innings, the Twins turned it up a notch with seven runs in the third and fourth innings, with Alex Jackson’s RBI knock giving them the lead, and Brooks Lee’s three-run homer kicking the door in. A trio of insurance runs in the eighth allowed the Twins to capture the 10-6 win, and snag their 50th win on the season.

The 2026 Major League Baseball trade deadline is Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. EST. And for the next two weeks, the Friar Faithful will be inundated with Mason Miller trade rumors. The media experts have the San Diego Padres as definite sellers and maintain the organization will trade Miller to the highest bidder. 

Despite all the speculation, people are seeking the truth about what the Padres will actually do with baseball’s premier closer.

Miller is not your average trade deadline candidate

Miller is not your typical trade deadline candidate, as he is not eligible to become a free agent at the conclusion of the 2026 season. In fact, the closer is under team control for three more seasons. Miller is arbitration-eligible for the 2027, 2028 and 2029 seasons. 

No question, Miller is a bargain with a $4 million salary price tag for this season. But it is his dominance in the ninth inning that is the reason why he has become a hot commodity at the trade deadline for the second consecutive year.

Thus, the Padres have three options available: keep Miller, deal him to the highest bidder, or sign their closer to a long-term contract that buys out his arbitration years.

The latter might make the Friar Faithful increasingly pessimistic with the trade deadline less than 14 days away. But it is the right move. 

Keep baseball’s best closer in America’s Finest City

The Padres have the best closer in baseball, but if they decide to trade him, the organization will not receive equal value in return. A year ago, Miller was acquired in a trade deadline deal with the Athletics. The price tag was steep, as the Friars dealt Leo De Vries, who is considered one of the top minor league prospects. 

Most contending teams rarely like breaking up their existing roster. They may offer a package that includes their organization’s third, fourth, and fifth-best pitching prospects. The return will not equal Miller or the potential value of De Vries, as you must account for giving up an elite five-tool talent the year before. 

Miller is a building block

Instead, sign your star pitcher to a long-term deal and build around him. Young talent is working its way through the minor league system. Yes, the extension will be expensive, but the organization is securing the majors’ best closer in his prime at a fixed cost. 

Good front offices negotiate deals that work for both sides. It is A.J. Preller’s job to find the number that Miller is willing to give up his arbitration years. You may have to be creative, such as deferring money that would lower the contract’s value in the MLB’s luxury tax system.

It is tough to figure out how the Miller dilemma will play out. He will be dealt if Preller can secure a dream package from another team. 

However, keeping Miller long-term is the right move.

It’s been a disaster in Queens. The Mets are no longer the second-worst team in baseball, now merely tied with the Royals for the fourth-worst record. There’s some kind of a reset coming, with the team itself leaking that outside of Juan Soto and a couple young building blocks, anyone who can be moved is subject to being moved. Enter Bo Bichette.

Still just 28, Bichette inked a three-year, $126 million contract in the offseason, one that came with a pair of opt-outs after this year and next. It has not yet worked out for the Mets, with their shortstop/third baseman managing just a 90 wRC+ and a break-even defensive performance. Opt-outs or no, his contract stands out as one of the deals that the club would love to get off the books, and that makes him available at somewhat of a discount.

The question that needs to be answered, given the Yankees have a need for more thump at third base, is whether or not we can expect Bichette to hit better than he has to this point.

Off the top, FanGraphs’ Depth Charts projections thinks so, pegging him for a 110 wRC+ the rest of the season. If that bears out, that’s 26 points better than Ryan McMahon is managing on the season, and 28 points better than the Yankees have seen from the proverbial hot corner in 2026. Bichette’s underperforming all of his major expected stats — xBA by 27 points, xSLG by 39 points, and xwOBA by 32. All else equal, Bo should start hitting better.

And truth be told, he has been hitting better than his absolutely putrid first two months. There’s something to be encouraged about with Bo.

The problem is, baseball can stay irrational longer than you can stay in playoff contention. Bichette should hit better the rest of the way. I don’t know if the transition to a new team was part of the problem he had in the season’s first eight weeks, but if it is, you run the risk of that happening again. Bichette’s injury troubles over the last three seasons also introduce some significant downside risk on the contract.

There’s a lot of incentive for Bo to overperform in the stretch run of the year, so he can opt out and net himself another $100 millionish guaranteed. However, that injury concern plus the uncertainty of the CBA negotiations could force his hand and have him decide on a little more stability, in which case the Yankees need to work out a significant amount of salary relief in any deal.

A significant amount of salary relief increases the prospect cost going back to Queens, and this is where it just gets too complicated with Bichette. Maybe he comes to the Bronx, hits to a .360 wOBA like he did a year ago, and gives the Yankees real production at third. There’s just not enough certainty in that happening, weighed against the downsides of injury and the contract structure. Prospect capital is best spent elsewhere than bailing out Steve Cohen’s backup backup signing.

Good morning everyone!

The Mariners fell to the Reds in heartbreaking fashion yesterday, with a 5-3 score putting them below .500 more than 100 games into the season. The Mariners — and fans — take the day off today before heading to Texas for a critical four-game series.

Let’s check in on everything happening around baseball.

In Mariners news…

• Ginny Searle at Baseball Prospectus wonders how on earth anyone is going to win the American League West. ($)
• The Mariners need bullpen help. Kate Preusser offered a pair of in-house solutions for the club if they fail to bolster the ‘pen at the deadline.
• Adam Jude at The Seattle Times spoke to mega-agent Scott Boras for his thoughts on his clients Kade Anderson and Ace Reese.
• John Trupin joined the Washington Sports Wrap to discuss the M’s upcoming series in Texas.

Around the league…

• Royals star shortstop Bobby Witt, Jr. has hit the injured list with lower back tightness.
• The Orioles placed young catcher Samuel Basallo on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation.
• Guardians third baseman José Ramírez is back from the injured list after being shelved for the last five weeks with a left hand injury.
• The Royals made a minor swap with the Astros, acquiring right-hander Nate Pearson for minor league righty Max Martin.
• Red Sox lefty ace Garrett Crochet is hoping to be back from the injured list in time for the postseason. As if they need the help after tying a franchise record with their 15th consecutive win.
• Although 2026 has seen more bunts than recent seasons, the Tigers aren’t with the program. Davy Andrews at Fangraphs dug into the numbers behind Detroit’s collective aversion to bunting.
• The Tigers have muddled their deadline picture with a strong couple of weeks. Ryan Blake’s latest piece at Fangraphs evaluates what the team may do next.
• Michael Clair continued his international beat by taking us behind the scenes to the wild and wonderful world of Haarlem Honkbalweek.
• In Hollywood baseball news, A-lister Glen Powell has been cast as Lou Gehrig in an untitled upcoming movie coming from Universal, with Richard Linklater set to direct.
• In an effort to help curb expensive equipment costs for youth sports leagues, the Oakland Parks, Recreation and Youth Development department debuted a new program that allows kids to borrow equipment via the Park Play Lending Library.
• Jeff Passan at ESPN did some important investigative journalism on the limits of AI capacity.

In an annual tradition, Quincy will now analyze why the Guardians should trade for Taylor Ward, something I have done for five years running.

You can view our larger trade deadline piece here as we discuss a wider pool of options the Guardians may consider. To make my position clear, I expect the Guardians to make smaller moves, like trading Bo Naylor and getting a castoff/undervalued reliever. But, in the interest of exploring potential larger moves, we are doing a series looking at some of those bigger names. So far, we have discussed Spencer Steer , Luis Arraez and Shea Langeliers.

Ward has a 120 wRC+ for a Baltimore Orioles team currently three games under .500. Given that Ward is a free agent following the season, one would suspect that if the Orioles don’t make another sustained run in the next week, they’ll be willing to trade Ward.

Is Ward’s current 17% walk-rate sustainable? Probably not. But chances are also good he’ll find his way back to a slugging rate closer to his career .429 vs. his current .362. His bat speed IS down 1 mph and his average exit velo is down about the same amount. However, he’s still 7.4 runs above average against fastballs. There is risk, of course, but I can see betting that Ward will find his way to a more usual power level given that his other plate discipline skills have shown up.

Ward is an average left fielder who would push Kwan to center. Like any right-handed hitter, his home run totals would be affected as his 120 career homers would be 105 with Progressive Field as his home park. It isn’t as pronounced as it could be because Ward is not simply a pulled fly-ball launcher and can use all fields.

Again, I would not touch Angel Genao, Ralphy Velazquez, Braylon Doughty or any major league pieces for Ward. Ward’s career 132 wRC+ against LHP would be very helpful, but the risk that he may be at the beginning of a decline may prevent teams like Cleveland for paying for his services. But, hey, I have long loved Ward so I would happily assume he will win us a World Series should they acquire him

A resulting lineup might look like:

1. Kwan CF
2. Ward LF
3. Jose 3B
4. DeLauter RF
5. Bazzana 2B
6. Hopkins DH
7. Manzardo 1B
8. Rocchio SS
9. Bailey C

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!