Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Phillies play a three-game series in Philadelphia starting on Thursday night at 7:10 p.m.
In his first season back after undergoing Tommy John surgery, Scott has been a bright spot for a Mets team whose rotation will be in flux after the season.
Across 54.0 innings over 12 starts, Scott is not only showing that he belongs, but displaying the upside that had New York so excited about him when he debuted in 2024.
Scott has a 3.17 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, and has allowed just 44 hits while striking out 65 -- a rate of 10.8 per nine innings. The 27-year-old doesn't yet have enough innings to qualify among the league leaders, but if he did, his strikeout rate would be tied with Paul Skenes for the fifth-highest among MLB starters -- behind only Dylan Cease, Jacob Misiorowski, Jesus Lazardo, and Jacob deGrom.
And Scott's ability to miss bats this season is not surprising.
His four-seam fastball (which he has used 50 percent of the time this year) is averaging 95.4 mph (up 1.2 mph over where it was in 2024) and topping out in the high-90s. Scott's cutter has also been a serious weapon, with batters slugging just .167 against it -- though it's his sweeper that has induced the highest percentage of swings and misses (whiff percentage of 34.9).
Francisco Lindor is starting to look more comfortable at the plate
The lasting image of Lindor's first half will be him botching a would-be game-ending double play ball last Sunday against the Red Sox.
But after missing roughly two months due to a calf injury, Lindor's offense is starting to come around.
He has reached base safely in each of his last four starts (including ripping a homer and a double last Sunday) and has popped three homers over his last 12 starts.
McLean has still been battling himself a bit as he looks to regain his early-season form, but the results lately have been tremendous.
He has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts, pitching to a 2.35 ERA while allowing just 33 hits in 46.0 innings during that span.
New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) throws a pitch in the first inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. / Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
McLean has been even more locked in over his last three starts, allowing two earned runs in 18 innings while walking five and striking out 19.
One key thing to watch with McLean down the stretch is whether he continues to go four-seamer heavy while relying much less on his sweeper (he's throwing it just 16.4 percent of the time this season after using it 25.7 percent of the time in 2025).
Polanco has been limited to just 19 games this season due to injuries, with an Achilles issue being the main thing holding him back.
In those 19 games, he has slashed .178/.241/.274 (.514 OPS, 44 OPS+) with just one home run.
Since Polanco is under contract through the 2027 season and will count for $20 million toward the luxury tax payroll, it would be a relief for the Mets if he is able to produce and stay healthy over the final few months of the season.
If not, the Mets will have a serious issue on their hands.
The dangerous Kyle Schwarber
This year's Home Run Derby runner-up, Schwarber is on pace to finish the year with 53 homers.
If Schwarber hits 50-plus bombs, it will be his second straight season accomplishing that feat, and the fourth time in the last five seasons where he's hit at least 46 taters.
While he's leading the league in home runs, Schwarber is also leading the league in strikeouts (144), and is on pace to finish the year with 240 of them -- which would be miles past his career-worst of 215 that he set in 2023.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Juan Soto
Soto had a quiet final weekend before the All-Star break. He'll come out recharged.
Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?
Nolan McLean
As McLean rounds back into form, one thing he has to get in check is his issue with hit batsmen. He has plunked a league-high 13 batters this season.
Which Phillies player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?
J.T. Realmuto
Realmuto was swinging the bat well before the break, with two homers and two doubles over his last seven games.
PHILADELPHIA — Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will be a designated hitter at a minimum for the series at the New York Yankees after having fluid drained from his left knee.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani had the procedure to relieve irritation and the four-time MVP was taking a few days of vacation before the season’s second half. Roberts said the two-way star did not receive an injection.
Two-time World Series champion Los Angeles opens the second half with a three-game series at Yankee Stadium.
“He’s going to be in the lineup,” Roberts said before managing the National League in the All-Star Game.
Ohtani is batting .293 with 22 homers and 58 RBIs while going 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings over 14 starts. The four-time MVP skipped the All-Star Game.
Ohtani last pitched on July 3. It isn’t yet clear whether he will pitch against the Yankees.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 13: Lance McCullers Jr. #43 of the Houston Astros reacts after a strikeout to end the fifth inning during a game against the Seattle Mariners at Daikin Park on May 13, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MLB Trade Rumors: The Milwaukee Brewers are acquiring pitcher Lance McCullers, Jr., from the Houston Astros, according to Astros beat writer Brian McTaggert.
The 32 year old McCullers has spent his entire career up to now with the Astros, having been drafted with the 41st pick of the 2012 MLB Draft (two picks after the Rangers selected Joey Gallo) and signed to a well-above-slot deal out of Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida. A consensus top 100 prospect for most of his minor league career, McCullers, the son of former major league pitcher Lance McCullers, was seen as an amateur and early in his professional career as someone with terrific stuff but major questions about his ability to start in the major leagues.
McCullers ended up mostly being a starter in the majors while he was healthy — he has only six major league relief appearances — but he has had huge problems actually staying healthy. He missed all of the 2019, 2023 and 2024 seasons due to injury, and since making it to the majors in 2015, he has made just 148 starts and 6 relief appearances, totaling 813.1 innings pitched.
Just to put McCullers’ durability issues into context, since the start of the 2019 season, McCullers has thrown 359.2 innings over 68 starts and three relief appearances. Jacob deGrom, often pointed to as someone who can’t stay healthy and on the mound, has more than twice as many innings during that time — 742.2 — in 127 starts.
McCullers, who is in the final year of a 5 year, $85 million deal, made 13 starts and three relief appearances in 2025, putting up a 6.51 ERA in 55.1 IP. This year, in eight starts, he has logged 39.1 innings with a 6.86 ERA. He has been on the injured list since mid-May, and is currently on a rehab assignment with AAA Sugar Land, for whom he has made three appearances, the most recent being on July 7.
McCullers has, per McTaggert, a no-trade clause, which he has apparently waived. The Astros would not appear to be sellers — they are just three games back in the American League West and 1.5 games back of the Wild Card. They also just placed Mike Burrows, who has the most starts for the team in 2026, on the injured list — they had initially optioned Burrows to AAA, but had to rescind the option and put him on the major league i.l.
There is no word yet on what Milwaukee is giving up in this deal, but I’m guessing it is minimal. The Astros are just a few million dollars below the Competitive Balance Tax threshold, however, and moving McCullers and his $17 million salary is presumably being done to give them additional flexibility to try to add salary over the next couple of weeks leading up to the trade deadline.
UPDATE — Chandler Rome writes for the Athletic that the Astros have been trying to trade McCullers “for most of the past year,” and that McCullers was part of the package that the Astros were going to send to the Cardinals prior to the 2025 season in a deal for Nolan Arenado that Arenado ended up vetoing.
UPDATE II — The Astros are also sending 27 year old lefthanded pitcher Colton Gordon to Milwaukee in the deal. Gordon, 27, was the Astros’ 8th round pick in 2021. He has 95 innings in the majors over 15 starts and nine relief appearances, with most of his time being logged in 2025. He has a career 5.95 ERA and 5.86 FIP in the majors. Gordon has a 3.69 ERA in 70 innings in AAA this year. He provides the Brewers with an up-and-down guy they can use to supplement their rotation depth, which has taken a hit this year due to injuries.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 14: The Phillie Phanatic and Racing President Teddy race on an ATV during the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Three Likely Call-Ups for Arizona If Tyler Locklear can just stay healthy and he continues to hit like he has been of late, the team will be happy to see him come give the Majors another go.
Other Baseball News
The Haters All-Star Game Holding the All-Star Game in Philadelphia resulted in some interesting experiences all around.
Which Ballplayers Are on Cameo Bryce Harper was emphatic that his likeness was mis-used by the system and Draft Kings. Something tells me he isn’t the only one who was used like this.
Mookie Betts Is Proving Why You Should Never Doubt Him After over a year of recovering from a wasting ailment that saw the diminutive Betts lose 20 pounds in little time, the Los Angeles star is finally bouncing back to be his old self and the improvement comes none to soon for the Dodgers.
Mar 1, 2025; Greenville, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks pitcher Jake McCoy (23) throws to the Clemson Tigers during the top of the first inning at Fluor Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard/USA Today Network via Imagn Images | Ken Ruinard/USA Today Network via Imagn Images
Josh Elander and Tennessee baseball may have come up short to end the 2026 season, but they’re already one of the biggest winners of the offseason so far. The Volunteers had a big weekend in the MLB Draft, getting several players back to campus that were major draft risks.
Tennessee got another one on Wednesday.
According to a report from Volquest on Wednesday morning, Jake McCoy will not turn pro and will head to Knoxville to join the Volunteers for the 2027 season. The left-handed pitcher was taken in the 18th round by the Blue Jays after missing last season. McCoy will join Tennessee after being with South Carolina.
Tennessee also got center fielder Andrew Duncan after he went in the 19th round. Right-handed pitcher Hayden Simmerson, reliever Ricky Ojeda, infielder Travis Sanders, right-handed pitcher Parker Detmers and infielder Mario Trivella round out the Volunteers’ transfer portal class — all will make it to Knoxville.
Tennessee also got several top freshmen prospects to campus. Right-handers Gannon Grant, Gary Morse and Shawn Sullivan, catcher Sean Dunlap, first baseman AJ Curry, infielders Jack Dugan and Jaxson Wood, along with tw0-way player Cole Koeninger each chose the college route. Several of those names are top prospects in the entire class.
Big-name prospects Trevor Condon and Jared Grindlinger were likely never making it to campus.
With McCoy now in the boat and likely a piece of the weekend rotation, it’s difficult to imagine this offseason going much better for Elander, who frankly needed a shot of energy after how the season fizzled.
“The victory was in everything that remained: a loaded prep class, premium transfer additions and two late-round picks still expected to reach Knoxville,” Baseball America wrote this week. “Few programs entered the draft with more talent exposed to professional baseball. Fewer emerged with this much of it still headed to campus.”
Just as we’ve all come to expect now, expect Tennessee baseball to enter next season with one of the best rosters and highest expectation levels in all of college baseball.
MIDLAND, TX - MAY 13: Dylan Dreiling #8 of the Frisco RoughRiders runs to third during the game between the Frisco RoughRiders and the Midland RockHounds at Momentum Bank Ballpark on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 in Midland, Texas. (Photo by Conor Lacefield/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Congratulations to Dylan Dreiling, who has been named the #7 prospect in the 2026 LSB Midseason Community Prospect Rankings, receiving a little over a quarter of the vote.
Our list so far:
1 — Sebastian Walcott
2 — Caden Scarborough
3 — Malcolm Moore
4 — A.J. Russell
5 — Yolfran Castillo
6 — Rafe Perich
7 — Dylan Dreiling
Moving on…
Because there has been a history of vote-spamming shenanigans in the rankings, I used Google Forms for the last several of community rankings, and it worked out well, so we will use it again. You will need to include your LSB user name when you vote. If you don’t have an LSB user name, you need to use some sort of identifier. While this won’t eliminate the possibility of vote spamming, it will make it harder.
So who is the #8 prospect in the Rangers system right now?
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 11: Commissioner of Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred announces Tyler Spangler as the 36th overall pick by the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2026 MLB Draft presented by Nippon Express at Pennsylvania Convention Center on Saturday, July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The All-Star week festivities have concluded, the game being played, the home runs having been hit and the players having been drafted. It’s all complete and Philadelphia was on full display for the baseball world to enjoy. One of the bigger events was the first year player draft that happened over the weekend, teams filling out their player prospect pool with new choices. The Phillies were among them, realizing several dreams along the way. How the Phillies did was a matter of discussion among several experts, so let’s take a look at how different people believed the team to have done.
I didn’t mention their first two picks yet: SS Tyler Spangler (first round) and CF Caden Bogenpohl (second round). Those two are typical Phillies picks with some risk — does Spangler get to his power in games and what did we miss from not seeing him play this spring? Will Bogenpohl’s swing get optimized to get to his power in games? — but also plenty of ROI if the development objectives are hit.
This draft class is full of extremes: Tyler Spangler was a huge question mark after not playing all spring, Caden Bogenpohl and Will Gasparino have huge power and huge contact questions, Deven Sheerin has one of the wilder deliveries you’ll see and Rhudy has an outlier fastball.
The Phillies’ draft was, admittedly, confusing to me. They took on risk, which is fine, but there are serious question marks surrounding the bats selected. Tyler Spangler missed the spring with an injury (among other things), Caden Bogenpohl has significant hit tool concerns, and Deven Sheerin and Jaxon Jelkin are expected to be relievers. They made decent picks here and there (Macon Winslow, Ruger Riojas, and Patrick Clemmey), but I am curious as to the plan for their class.
The Phillies draft was top-heavy, with a potentially over-slot Spangler up top and what look like some pretty hefty under-slot targets later. Spangler exited last summer as a virtual lock for the middle of the first round or higher, then his team was collectively suspended for partying and he had a stress fracture in his back. He looked rusty at the Combine. If the Phils can get Bogenpohl to tap into his power in games, then they’ll have a second-round steal. With this kind of power, he can run a sub-70% contact rate and still thrive so long as he’s getting to the pop, which he was last able to do freshman year. Riojas and Sheerin could be quick-moving relievers à la Orion Kerkering. Jelkin is a lanky, talented pitcher who had a nomadic college career due to off-field behavior.
A notable prep prospect in 2023 who opted to go to college, Gasparino started at Texas before transferring to UCLA, where he reunited with childhood friend — and fellow son of a scout — Roch Cholowsky. The California native has a massive offensive ceiling with plenty of right-handed pop in his 6-foot-6 frame. He looks more athletic in the box this year and has cut his strikeout rate, which had been a concern. Gasparino’s above-average speed has shown up more with promising center-field defense than on the bases.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 14: Jacob Latz #67 of the Texas Rangers attends the 2026 MLB All-Star Red Carpet Show at Independence Mall on July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lisa Lake/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Morning, all!
Evan Grant hosted a fan Q&A with Jacob Latz, where we learn about Ranger bullpen hijinx and how his number was 67 before that was a thing.
Latz had a custom liner made for his red carpet suit jacket featuring pictures of his family.
Latz went from missing out on the Rangers’ fifth starter slot to being the only Ranger representative in the All Star game.
He faced one batter yesterday and struck him out, saying it was an experience he will never forget.
It was a notable strikeout, as the batter was Luis Arraez who has the lowest strikeout rate in the NL.
Sebastian Walcott was 1 for 3 with a double for the Arizona Complex League Rangers in his first game back from elbow surgery.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 14: Foster Griffin #22 of the Washington Nationals pitches during the 96th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
While CJ Abrams, James Wood and the rest of the National League hitters could not get anything going last night, we did get to see Foster Griffin at his best. The Nats southpaw threw a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts to continue his magical season. Baseball fans got a taste of what Nats fans have seen all year long out of the lefty.
Griffin came in for the 5th inning, and made quick work of three of the AL’s most underrated hitters. The first batter he faced was Yandy Diaz, who he struck out on three pitches. Diaz strikes out under 14% of the time, so it is no easy task to mow him down on three pitches. After that he struck out Dillon Dingler on a changeup, the same pitch he put Diaz away with.
The last hitter of the inning was Miguel Vargas who drove a ball in the gap, but the speedy Andy Pages tracked it down to finish the inning. It was classic Griffin, with the lefty showing off four of his seven pitches. As usual, he featured his cutter the most, but it was his changeup that finished guys off.
Interestingly, he did not throw a single fastball. With the best hitters in the world at the dish, I wonder if Griffin wanted to stay away from the heater, which is far from his best offering. Eight of his 10 pitches were either cutters or changeups. He also threw one sweeper and one curve.
I found it amusing that the Phillies fans booed Griffin when he was introduced at the All-Star Game. He has had a pair of stellar outings against the Phillies, so I get why they were booing him. The idea of a fanbase booing Foster Griffin at an All-Star game would have seemed unfathomable a few months ago.
“Foster Griffin was booed upon being introduced at the All-Star Game” is not a sentence I expected to write a few months ago.
It is just another chapter in a truly incredible story. Before going to Japan, Griffin was a first round bust who had only pitched a few games at the MLB level. However, when he went to Japan, Griffin went with an open mind and learned how to pitch. I remember one interview he did, where he said if you are to get the best out of your experience in Japan, you can’t just think about going back to the big leagues at the first opportunity.
Instead of using Japan purely as a one year stop to try and get back to the big leagues as soon as possible, he embraced the baseball culture. Griffin spent three years over there and added a number of different pitches, including a splitter, which is pretty much Japan’s national pitch.
Griffin kept getting better and better, before deciding the time was right to test himself again. Despite the great numbers in Japan, he only got a 1-year $5.5 million deal. Teams looked at the 91 MPH fastball and wrote him off. However, the Nats gave him a shot to be a starter and he has rewarded them with All-Star caliber production.
As Foster Griffin walked off the mound at Citizens Bank Park, it was the culmination of many years of hard work and experimentation. He reinvented himself as a pitcher by taking a risk and going to the other side of the world. That is pretty cool if you ask me.
Foster Griffin just threw a perfect inning with 2 strikeouts at the All-Star Game. What a story he is. pic.twitter.com/8KCz0kJ1VI
With the trade deadline looming, we might not see many more Foster Griffin starts in a Nationals uniform. He will be a free agent after the season, and with the bullpen meltdowns pulling the Nats further from the playoff race, it might be time to sell high.
The Nats have traded a lot of rentals over the past few years, but Griffin would be the toughest for me emotionally. He has become my favorite Nats pitcher since Max Scherzer left. I just love his thinking man’s approach to pitching and how he can dominate without much velocity.
Despite not having a ton of velocity, I actually do think Griffin has good stuff, even if it is not elite. He has a ton of movement on his sweeper, his changeup has a lot of fade, his cutter is pinpoint and his curve is a weapon. Throwing hard helps you have good stuff, but it is not the only way.
Even if Griffin is traded, I would love to bring him back in the offseason. This is exactly the kind of pitcher you want to have as a number three starter. He has been performing more like a high end two this year though. Foster Griffin is the ultimate crafty lefty, and he showed the baseball world what he could do last night.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 27: Juan Soto #22, A.J. Ewing #9, and Carson Benge #3 of the New York Mets celebrate after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on Saturday, June 27, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Let’s cut right to the chase: The Mets are a bad baseball team. But worse than being bad, they’re borderline unwatchable. Ah, I see I’ve already contradicted the overarching purpose of this article. Apologies, let’s start over.
Yes, the Mets are bad. And yes, the Mets have been teetering on the precipice of completely unwatchable slop for much of the first half, but there have been some bright spots so far in this season. Despite carrying a 0.8% chance of making the postseason according to FanGraphs—remember when they started the year at 86.6%? Pepperidge Farm remembers—there are still plenty of reasons to tune in beyond our overarching love for the sport itself and passing the time with America’s past time.
Even in the worst years, there are typically things to latch on to and keep us engaged—think Jacob deGrom’s Cy Young campaign in 2018, R.A. Dickey’s march towards 20 wins and the Cy Young in 2012, watching David Wright break every offensive record in the book during some bleak years, to name a few examples—and this Mets team has a few interesting story lines heading into the second half, even if making the postseason isn’t one of them. So without further ado, here are the top things for Mets fans to keep an eye on following the All-Star break.
Juan Soto
This one’s a bit of a cop out, but come on. As bad as this season has been, we get to watch one of the most special talents on the planet play baseball night in and night out. Soto has been as advertised since arriving in Queens, even with a slow start to his 15-year tenure with the Mets. Soto finished third in NL MVP voting last year, hitting .263/.395/.525 with a 156 wRC+ and 5.8 fWAR. He hit 43 home runs, stole 38 bases, scored 120 runs, drove in 105, and set a franchise record by walking 127 times. And he was inexplicably left off the All-Star roster. That wrong was righted this year, as the fans voted him into the starting lineup. He enters the break with 21 homers, 44 runs scored, 51 runs batted in, and an even better 163 wRC+ while hitting .290/.405/.562 despite missing time early in the year with an injury.
This positive comes with a tinge of sadness, as the realization of Soto’s greatness also comes with the bitterness of understanding that the team has now wasted two prime seasons. This is now two years where the Mets cannot capitalize on prime Soto, which seems to be their M.O.—how many years of prime David Wright did the team squander? Prime Matt Harvey? Prime Jacob deGrom? Prime Pete Alonso? Prime Francisco Lindor? The list goes on and on and on.
Despite that, adding a player like Soto in free agency felt like an unrealistic dream just a few seasons ago. He plays for the Mets, and that’s worth the price of admission alone most nights. Let’s just hope the team catches up to his talent one day.
The Psychopaths (Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing)
What else is there to latch on to in lost seasons if not the youth? Benge and Ewing have been, aside from Soto, the biggest bright spots in the lineup. Benge grabbed his opportunity right out of spring training, and despite a slow start, he’s established himself as a solid bat with a terrific glove in right field. Meanwhile, Ewing debuted a little bit later than Benge but has been no less impressive. Along with Soto, the team seems to have set up their outfield for the foreseeable future.
The 23-year-old Benge entered the break hitting .263/.326/.402 with a 106 wRC+ and 1.7 fWAR in 94 games. His 11 home runs and his 1.7 fWAR are second to Soto, and he leads the club with 52 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. Then there’s the 21-year-old Ewing, who is hitting .276/.350/.439 with seven homers, 27 runs scored, 24 runs batted in, and nine stolen bases. His 122 wRC+ is second to Soto, and his 1.2 fWAR is third behind Soto and Benge. He’s done all this while playing really strong defense in center. He has also hit well against lefties as of late, showcasing another strength. Both guys have been utilized up and down the lineup, including hitting leadoff and in the middle of the lineup.
When speaking about Benge and Ewing during a broadcast earlier this season, Keith Hernandez referred to them as “two golden nuggets,” which is an apt description of the team’s two youngest talents. Their continued development will be a big talking point, and both could factor in NL Cy Young voting, which would be a nice little win for the team. If nothing else, their emergence represents a bright light in what has been a really dark season.
Scott and McLean and pray for rain
This title is a bit misleading, as this is more about the overall view of the young arms, which goes beyond just these two. All that is to say that, if all goes well, the team will have an entirely new rotation next year that is (hopefully) made up of many of these up-and-comers. Out with the old, in with the new.
Nolan McLean had a terrific debut in 2025 and looked to be the undisputed future ace of the staff, but has been a bit more uneven this year. He’s struggled with his consistency, looking as good as he did in 2025 some times and looking like he needs more seasoning in Triple-A other times. Specifically, his home/road splits are perplexing, as he dominates on the road but struggles at home. Despite that, he’s had a really solid stretch over his past few starts and could be putting his early season struggles behind him.
Then there’s Christian Scott, who missed all of 2025 but has emerged as one of the team’s best pitchers this year. He enters the break with a 3.17 ERA in 12 starts, and the Mets have won nine of his 12 outings this year. He has struggled at times to go deep into games, and after missing all of last year, it’s likely the team will ease off the gas pedal with him to ensure he doesn’t tire himself out, but he seems to have inserted himself into the team’s future rotation plans with authority.
With the team likely to trade at least one (and possibly two or three) starters—more on that later—additional will open up in their rotation. That’s where Zach Thornton and Jonah Tong come in. Thornton struggled in his first start against the Nationals, but he’s been terrific in his last two appearances. His last time out specifically, he hurled seven shutout innings and would have gotten his first career win had Francisco Lindor’s error and Devin Williams’ ineffectiveness not conspired against him. Andy Green seemed to suggest he will make his next start at the major league level, and honestly there’s no reason why he shouldn’t. And should additional spots open up, the team could give Tong another shot, despite his Triple-A struggles. Depending on how they’re feeling about his development, there’s every chance he could be back up to finish out the year in the majors and get more seasoning in the bigs. Lastly, Jack Wenninger also could be in line for a call-up at some point after the break.
The trade deadline and restocking the farm
Probably the biggest story line for the next three weeks or so is how David Stearns and the organization will handle the deadline. Is this sexy? Not in the least. But is it important? Absolutely.
A successful deadline could set the franchise up for an immediate turnaround. The team has made it known that they are open for business, but they seem to be approaching the deadline more as a retool than any sort of rebuild. They are very much building towards being competitive again in 2027, so they can seek major league talent on their returns, or at the very least will look to restock the farm to set themselves up for sustained success. With the farm system ranked 24th after graduating some of their top talent and trading some other talent, it’ll be a welcome sight to see an influx of talent (and they could look to flip the players for major league talent later on).
There are no sure things in life, but I’d venture a guess as to say Freddy Peralta, A.J. Minter, and Brooks Raley will not be wearing a Mets uniform after August 3. If the club cannot work out an extension with Clay Holmes, who is almost sure to opt out after year’s end, they could look to deal him as well, and he could be one of their biggest chips. The team will also listen to basically everyone aside from the players listed above (Soto, Ewing, Benge, Scott, McLean, and Thornton), so any number of guys could be moved. That includes younger players like Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, and Francisco Alvarez, and other vets like Bo Bichette, Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, and Luis Robert Jr.
And then there is Francisco Lindor, who figures to be one of the more intriguing trade options. While the Mets have not actively talked about shopping him, there have been rumblings about whether they would consider it, to the point that he was recently asked whether he would consider waiving his no trade (he replied “no comment” to the reporter’s inquiry). Lindor missed significant time due to injury this year, which has kept his numbers very modest compared to his career norms, but it still feels premature for the club to move on from their star shortstop or actively argue that he is in the twilight of his career. A good Mets team in 2027 almost definitely features both Soto and Lindor performing well in tandem alongside the team’s young outfielders and pitchers. Still, Stearns and the organization will likely leave no stone un-turned at the deadline, so if a tantalizing offer is presented, they will certainly consider it.
The Mets kick off their second half schedule on Thursday night as they travel to Philadelphia to face the Phillies at 7:10 PM EDT.
Jun 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Athletics manager Mark Kotsay (right) watches his team take on the San Francisco Giants during the third inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images | D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
Happy Wednesday A’s fans,
This past weekend, the MLB Draft introduced the stars of tomorrow. One of the most thrilling Home Run Derbies in recent years followed the next day, leading into last night’s “Midsummer Classic,” which showcased many of the game’s brightest stars. Athletics’ catcher Shea Langeliers singled and walked in the American League’s 4-0 victory, which capped off a frantic few days of MLB events in Philadelphia.
With a couple of days off before the A’s resume their season against the Washington Nationals, it is a good time to assess the team’s first-half performance.
Offense
Entering the season, the Athletics offense was expected to carry this team and perform like a top-tier lineup. That has not happened, as the club ranks in the middle-to-lower tier of the league with a .243 team batting average and 422 total runs scored. Additionally, despite playing in a hitter-friendly home ballpark, the A’s have hit the 12th most home runs in the league.
All-Stars Shea Langeliers and Nick Kurtz were the team’s two-best hitters in the first half, although Langeliers’ production dipped after a stellar first couple of months. Kurtz’s recent slump can be attributed to a thumb injury that landed him on the injured list and kept him out of the All-Star Game.
Versatile utility player Zack Gelof was the biggest surprise. He provided excellent defense at several positions, while putting up offensive numbers on par with his highly-productive rookie season.
Injuries are partially to blame for the offensive struggles, as Gelof, shortstop Jacob Wilson and left fielder Tyler Soderstrom all missed time, not to mention designated hitter Brent Rooker undergoing season-ending knee surgery. However, it is also worth mentioning the lack of consistent production from outfielder Lawrence Butler and veteran second baseman Jeff McNeil this season.
Grade: B-
Pitching
The less said about the team’s pitching, the better. Yesterday, the A’s fired pitching coach Scott Emerson after ending the first half with a 5.21 team ERA that ranks second-to-last in the majors. The team’s highest-paid pitcher Luis Severino has been out since May with a shoulder injury. Free-agent signee Aaron Civale got off to a strong start before getting injured. He has since regressed to the form he displayed over the past couple of seasons.
Breakout right-hander J.T Ginn and the franchise’s top pitching prospect Gage Jump have been the team’s lone bright spots in the rotation. As for the bullpen, free-agent signee Scott Barlow was designated for assignment a few weeks ago after posting a career-worst 6.48 ERA. Right-hander Luis Medina has pitched well in his return from Tommy John surgery as has its lone left-hander Hogan Harris.
Really, it all comes down to the team not assembling a good enough pitching staff or figuring out how to pitch effectively at Sutter Health Park. Other teams have pitched fine there, so why is it that the A’s have struggled so much at this ballpark?
Grade: D
Coaching
For the second consecutive season, the A’s have suffered a devastating losing stretch that they have been unable to stop, with each loss pushing them further behind their divisional rivals. Between that and the pitching continuing to be a serious problem, it is time to seriously consider whether a regime change is the right move to take the Athletics from pretenders to contenders.
With Emerson gone, these next few months will be a litmus test for manager Mark Kotsay’s future. Can he get this team back on track and set the club up for a high-stakes stretch run, or will it be another inconsequential second half for the “Green and Gold”?
Grade: C
What grades would you give the A’s for their first half? Do you think this team has what it takes to turn things around?
Over the past few years, the Athletics have had more success drafting and developing players. Now, the team needs this pool of talent to coalesce into a unit capable of competing for the playoffs.
Georgia Tech reliever Mason Patel is the most noteworthy name among these UDFAs. He was named a finalist for the National Stopper of the Year Award, presented annually to the nation’s top relief pitcher.
The A's have come to terms with 6 undrafted free agents: C Max Aude/Pepperdine 1B James Whitman/Biola 2B Shintaro Inoue/Kansas State IF Xavier Esquer/UC Santa Barbara RHP Colin Fitzgerald/Penn State RHP Mason Patel/Georgia Tech
— Bill Moriarity – A's Farm (@AthleticsFarm) July 14, 2026
Congrats to Zack Gelof and his fiancée! Wishing them both the best. Seeing the knee brace in this picture is a reminder that his injury may have been more significant than many realized. Here’s hoping he’s back on the field soon—this struggling squad could certainly use him.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cubs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Cubs are currently 54-42 and inhabit the NL’s first wild card spot, half a game ahead of the Phillies. The Marlins have, kind of under-the-radar, moved into the third wild card spot, 2.5 games behind the Cubs, two behind the Phillies and a game ahead of the Cardinals.
But the Cubs trail the Brewers in the NL Central by just five games. With 66 games remaining, that does not seem like an insurmountable lead to overcome. The Cubs and Brewers will face each other seven times before the regular season ends, four at Wrigley Field (Aug. 31-Sept. 1-2-3) and three in Milwaukee (Sept. 7-8-9). Playing those seven games within a 10-day span should go a long way to sorting out the division title. The Brewers currently lead the season series four games to two, so the Cubs would have to win five of the seven to take the season series and thus have the tiebreaker.
So where do you think the Cubs will finish the regular season? Winning the NL Central is not just for prestige; it likely would come with a first-round bye into the Division Series round of the postseason.
Vote in the survey and I’ll have the results here later in the week.
DETROIT, MI - JULY 12: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers walks to the dugout after being pulled during the sixth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Comerica Park on July 12, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Yankees currently sit among the best teams in the American League and Major League Baseball. However, they aren’t perfect, and, most importantly, they’re not without their own health issues. While Cody Bellinger, Ben Rice, and Cam Schlittler represent the team in Philadelphia at the All-Star festivities (plus Aaron Judge in absentia), the Bombers’ management and coaching staff are preparing for the August 3rd Trade Deadline.
And while injuries won’t last forever, the Yankees are still clearly looking for ways to improve their team. There are some options that are more realistic than others, but some can hope for even more additions to an All-Star rotation — such as the biggest potential catch on the market, lefty ace Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers.
If the Yankees were to acquire the two-time defending Cy Young Award winner Skubal, it would be a trade to rock the baseball world. For the Tigers, who are 3.5 games outside of a Wild Card spot in the AL standings with a 44-52 record (trailing every team in the league, save for the lousy A’s, Royals, and Angels) and only have Skubal locked up for the rest of the season, it may be the perfect opportunity to garner value from him if they know he’s not going to re-sign. Reports have surfaced that Skubal wants to stay in Detroit, but if the Tigers aren’t going to pay him the kind of money he’s looking for, this is the only chance to get something more from him in free agency than qualifying offer compensation, pending the new CBA. And if you’re the Yankees, it obviously doesn’t hurt to keep building on top of an already-solid rotation as they continue to search for their first World Series since 2009.
There isn’t much to say about Skubal that hasn’t already been said countless times. For a pitcher of his caliber, the trade target profile is almost academic. If you’re even a casual baseball fan, you know this man.
Skubal is one of, if not the best, pitchers in all of MLB. His last two seasons have finished with two All-Star appearances, ERA titles, Cy Youngs, top-seven finishes in the AL MVP voting, and one pitching Triple Crown win. He’s a commodity that just about every team would want, especially long-term, even though he is 29 years old and will be turning 30 a month after the 2026 season ends.
The lefty has plenty of different weapons in his arsenal. Skubal has a five-pitch mix that features a four-seam fastball (37.7%), a changeup (24.9%), a sinker (19%), a slider (14.4%), and a curveball (4%). And while he does have the capability for excellent strikeout power, it has been few and far between this season due to other factors that have made his overall ERA shoot up from an absurd 2.39 and 2.21 in 2024 and 2025 to a still-excellent 3.09.
The biggest problem for Skubal this year has been a multitude of factors, but the long ball has particularly plagued him. Since the 2021 season (when he was 24), he hasn’t given up over 0.85 HR/9 … until this season. Now, he sports an HR/9 of 1.19, the second-highest of his career among qualified campaigns. He also has lost some velocity on his fastball, but that could also be due to other factors, including the effects of the innovative surgery he had following the finding of loose bodies—or body—in his throwing elbow. Skubal was on the injured list for around a month before throwing in a rehab game and eventually returning to a big-league mound.
Regardless of whether or not Skubal can immediately find his exact ideal strikeout form, he’s still elite in that area of the game. His 94th-percentile strikeout rate according to Baseball Savant speaks for itself, and so does the tape.
The Yankees’ rotation, when healthy, is full of fantastic arms that could match up well with every other rotation in MLB. Schlittler, Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Ryan Weathers, and Will Warren comprise as good a top six as one might find around the game. However, the “when healthy” aspect is the key here. The best four-man version of this rotation for October plainly does not feature Weathers or Warren, and the leading quartet includes a soon-to-be 36-year-old coming off Tommy John surgery (Cole), two lefties who have battled elbow injuries already this year (Fried and Rodón), and a second-year pitcher who while dominant is on pace to easily blow past his career-high in innings while regularly throwing in the high-90s (Schlittler).
There is risk here for a win-now team that is still trying to capitalize on their captain’s prime. Skubal does, of course, carry his own questions from the recent procedure, but he wouldn’t be signed past the end of the season anyway and he would also push essentially everyone down a peg on the depth chart. This isn’t some No. 3 you’re adding to supplement your rotation; it’s Tarik Skubal. It’s almost a disservice to call him rotation insurance. This is a home run swing for one of the league’s elite arms, not to meniton one with a career postseason ERA of 2.04 in 39.2 innings across six starts — fanning 13 in his most recent effort.
Naturally, the Tigers would still command a high asking price from the Yankees. They would be losing their ace and all but officially throwing in the towel on the 2026 season. The trade needs to be a worthwhile investment for them, not just a “he won’t re-sign, or we can’t give him the money he wants, let’s make sure we get any type of return we can” desperation move. Detroit would certainly drive a high bargain, which the Yankees could meet. However, on the Yankees’ side of things, is it worth the risk of Skubal not re-signing to add another ace in the hopes of winning just one World Series?
For some, that answer is absolutely, particularly given the potentially closing window of Judge’s best years. The Yankees have good prospects who it would be hard to part with, but they’ve had good prospects in the past too, and holding onto them for too long has hurt in the long run. And going back a further generation for a more matching example, the hesitance to meet the Mariners’ price in July 10 cost them a chance to get a comparable southpaw ace to Skubal in Cliff Lee, who went on to help the Rangers eliminate the Yanks that October. There is always a chance to be burned by giving up a great young player (ask Frank Costanza), but if you’re not willing to roll the dice to get a guy like Skubal, then who are you doing it for? And again regarding the Judge of it all, if you’re not going all-in for No. 28 now, then when are you?
Others may take a more cautious approach, or prefer the Yankees cash in their prospects in deals for greater areas of need in a timelier manner. Worse rotations than even the Yankees’ current front four have won championships, it’s true. It’s all a tricky balance to strike for general manager Brian Cashman, and it is of course always worth mentioning that it takes two to tango. Cashman could give the Tigers a sweetheart offer for Skubal, but he can’t make them accept it. Every organization has their own way of evaluating prospects with slightly different particulars and preferences; if Detroit is OK with moving him but likes another package more, then that’s unfortunately just the business.
Whether or not the Tigers will move Skubal could very well come down to the wire in those opening day of August before the deadline. It would behoove the Yankees to remain in the conversation for as long as they possibly can.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 4: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves hugs a police officer during batting practice before the game against the New York Mets at Truist Park on July 4, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Casey Sykes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There isn’t much action to speak of at the minor league level due to the all-star break, but there is some important rehab action going on down in Northport with the FCL Braves. The biggest is, of course, Ronald Acuna Jr. making his second appearance during his recovery from his hamstring strain. Ha-Seong Kim and Ray Kerr both made appearances as well.
Ray Kerr, SP: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 0.00 ERA
The FCL isn’t typically the center stage of the recaps, but with no full season teams in action and a somewhat important player leading off for them, it was their chance to show all of Braves country just how bad they’ve been this season. It’s been a pretty nasty FCL campaign but Ronald Acuna Jr. is working back towards health and that is all that matters. Unfortunately this isn’t a game we have any Statcast data on, so all I have to report is what the box score has to show. Acuna flew out in the first inning and struck out in the third, then was able to reach on an error in the top of the 5th inning. Acuna was immediately lifted for a pinch runner at that point to end his day in basically a perfect repeat of yesterday’s action when he reached on error in the 5th and got pinch-run for. Ha-Seong kim got his second taste of action, though unlike yesterday’s game he was pulled early. Kim had a walk and scored on a home run in this game, but during a long defensive fourth inning Kim was lifted with one out and had his day cut short. Ray Kerr would have been the most interesting of the trio to have any data on as he made his first appearance in a long time, though he struggled with control in the first inning. He got two quick fly outs but then walked a batter, hit the next, then walked a third before getting out of the inning.
Sherrintley De Costa Gomez, RF: 0-2, BB, .288/.438/.488
Cesar Navarro, SP: 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 2.00 ERA
This is one of the craziest DSL Braves games I’ve ever seen, simply for how completely normal it was. Well-pitched and defended DSL games are so rare that there have only been four complete game shutouts in the last three years of DSL baseball. Cesar Navarro’s today was the first of the season for the entire league, only the second complete game, and there is a good chance it will be the only shutout thrown in the league this year. Navarro has been pretty good overall this season, with a relatively low walk rate of 16 in 27 innings and no games in which he hasn’t pitched into the fourth inning at least. Still, this came out of nowhere. The DSL Braves have not had a complete game shutout since Felix Falcon, and I’ll forgive you if you don’t know that name, because this happened in a 6-inning rain-shortened contest on July 2nd, 2013. Jose Manon was the only player for either side to score a run, and it didn’t come as a result of either of his two hits. He was hit by a pitch to lead off the third inning, stole second base, advanced on a fly out, then scored on a wild pitch. Manon has done a great job getting on base this month despite an increase in strikeouts, and he has made life hard for catchers with 10 stolen bases in eight games. The power and walks have dove off of a cliff, however, so despite maintaining good numbers his performance has been overall a bit lackluster compared to how incredible he was in June.
Jul 14, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Cody Bellinger (35) is voted the 2026 MLB All-Star Game MVP (Arch Ward Trophy) at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
We’ve got two more off-days for the Mariners before they get ready to host the Giants in a weekend matchup. How have you been spending your extra days off from M’s baseball?
In Mariners news…
Amanda Lane Cumming continued her coverage of the 1996 Mariners by remembering their month of April, in which the team got off to a hot start but things began to get ugly for closer Bobby Ayala.
The MLBPA is prepared to go to bat for amateur players in order to maintain their eligibility to be drafted out of high school, reported J.J. Cooper at Baseball America. ($)
