Category: MLB

Michael King was pulled with a 3-0 lead after 75 pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his last start, which ultimately became a 4-3 loss after an error and a grand slam followed his departure. He came into the contest between the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks looking to replicate the success from his previous start and he did just that allowing one run on four hits over six innings of work. King limited the walks in his outing, allowing two free passes, and struck out four on 92 pitches as the Padres earned a 10-4 win over the Diamondbacks at Petco Park on Wednesday.

The Padres offense supported King’s effort with runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 2-1 lead. San Diego then added two runs in the fifth inning and four runs in the sixth inning to take a comfortable 8-1 lead. Arizona added two runs to its total in the top of the seventh inning when Tommy Troy connected on a two-run homer against reliever Ron Marinaccio which made the score, 8-3. San Diego immediately responded in the bottom of the inning, adding two runs to its total to give the Padres a 10-3 lead. The Diamondbacks tacked on a run in the top of the eighth inning,

San Diego got contributions from the majority of the lineup with only Gavin Sheets being held without a hit. Miguel Andujar recorded three doubles and Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill and Luis Campusano each had two hits in the game with Campusano recording his first home run of the season.

Padres News:

• The San Diego farm system has seen several changes over recent days, and Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball provides details on who moved up, who moved down and who was released.

• The Padres have had a first half of the season to forget when comes to their pitching staff. Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball looks ahead to what the rotation could look like following the All-Star break.

• The MLB trade deadline is fast approaching, and Gaslamp Ball asks readers how they would handle that time on the baseball calendar.

• Samad Taylor is the latest Padres player to land on the IL and Luis Rengifo was recalled from Triple-A to take his spot on the roster.

• Manny Machado got the day off following a game in which he fouled a ball off his big toe.

• Jake Cronenworth has returned to the San Diego lineup and has supplied much needed power to the bottom of the order.

Baseball News:

• Dylan Cease came close to his second no-hitter, but the San Francisco Giants played spoiler breaking up the no-no in the ninth.

• The Miami Marlins knocked off the Philadelphia Phillies.

• Mike Trout returned to the lineup for the Los Angeles Angels and homered in his first game back.

• The Chicago Cubs knocked off the Baltimore Orioles.

I think about the 2023 Texas Rangers a lot. (Wait, isn’t this daily question post supposed to be about the Marlins? Yes, bear with me.) Not because they won the World Series. (Did they win the World Series? I have no idea.) But because of this:

• The 2023 Rangers were, before the season, projected as an 82-win team, fourth in their division. Though their talent level changed over the course of the season, the swing was more like two wins (to an 84-win talent level).
• At the same time, these same Rangers finished second in MLB in position player fWAR and 20th in pitching fWAR, with a whopping 97ish WAR-wins. They did outhit their xwOBA by a bit, and benefited from an FIP lower than their xFIP by a bit, but nothing dramatic or even that notable.
• They finished with 90 wins.

So, it was kind of a weird double-whammy. They finished notably better than their talent level, but notably worse than their production. And usually, those two italicized things also line up, so it was kind of a mis-triangulation in a bunch of different directions slash along a bunch of different axes. Hence, that squad living rent-free in my head.

As of right now, the 2026 Miami Marlins are tied with the Phillies record-wise, both three games behind the Braves. The Fish and Phils hold the final two Wild Card spots in the NL, now up two games on the Cardinals.

The Marlins…

• Were projected, preseason, with a central estimate of 76 wins. Their talent level estimation has barely gone up over the course of the season (to around 77 wins).
• They are currently sixth in position player value and tenth in pitching value. Their current WAR-wins total is 50; the Marlins have 51 actual wins.
• They have the league’s second-biggest xwOBA outperformance (after the Rockies), but also the league’s second-lowest HR/FB on the pitching end (which is probably park-aided, but then see the xwOBA outperformance).

So, it’s not exactly the same as the 2023 Rangers. But you can see why I’m going there. Are the Marlins good? They have had incredible production to date, but they’re 21st in team xwOBA and 15th in team xFIP. That combination of average-to-bottom-third is in line with a high 70s-win team (i.e., their projection central estimate). Meanwhile, the Marlins are on pace for 89 wins. If they keep it up, it’ll be a wild ride.

But, all of that is just a bunch of information. The Marlins’ outperformance could cease and they could regress, or it could keep up and give the Braves, Phillies, and other NL contenders a headache. Or, they could actually start playing better and become more 2023 Rangers-esque.

Do you think they’ll pass the Phillies this season? What about the Braves? I don’t necessarily mean when all is said and done, just… can they keep their run up enough to do so, even temporarily? They’ve lost just eight times in the last five-and-a-half weeks, which is quite an April/May 2026 Braves heater.

Monday wasn’t a good day for any of the Phillies, but perhaps it was the worst for Cristopher Sánchez. The ace lefty suffered through his worst start in his big-league career to this point, as he allowed 9 runs on 12 hits in just 3.1 innings. It was the most runs he’s ever allowed in a start and the most he’s allowed in a start since August of 2024. It also tied his career high in hits allowed and the second time this year he’s allowed 12 hits in a start.

All baseball players go through slumps, including pitchers. It’s extremely common for anyone to have an off day where absolutely nothing goes right even in a season where almost everything has gone well. Sánchez will in all likelihood rebound from this disaster and continue to be one of the best pitchers in baseball.

However, this clunker may have cost him some notable recognition. It couldn’t have come at a much worse time in regard to the possibility of Sánchez starting the All-Star game on his home mound. It was already shaping up to be a debate, but recency bias is now firmly against Sánchez. Brewers’ fireballer Jacob Misiorowski being ineligible to pitch certainly helps Sánchez’ chances, but he still went from being second in the NL in ERA and seventh in WHIP to seventh and 15th respectively.

But that’s not all, as this start inflated his numbers to the point where he may have also cost himself a chance at the NL Cy Young award at season’s end. There’s still plenty of baseball to be played and things change all the time, but Sánchez was already facing an uphill battle against Misiorowski. Now the statistical gap between the two is even wider with others such as Chris Sale, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Chase Burns also looking like contenders.

So, did Cristopher Sánchez cost himself the All-Star start and the Cy Young with his bad start?

It’s hard to argue with the Brewers’ recent draft results. Jacob Misiorowski is already a two-time All-Star, while Cooper Pratt, Braylon Payne, Blake Burke, and Andrew Fischer have emerged as some of the organization’s brightest young stars. Milwaukee will look to add another name or two to that list this weekend as the 2026 MLB Draft gets underway. Here’s everything you need to know before the Brewers are on the clock Saturday afternoon.

What picks do the Brewers have?

Milwaukee has three picks in the first three rounds. They only have two picks in the top 100, their fewest top 100 picks in the last eight years.

First round: 

• No. 25

Second round: 

• No. 66

Third round: 

• No. 102

After that, the Brewers have one pick in each remaining round. Last year, after selecting infielders Andrew Fischer and Brady Ebel with their first two picks, Milwaukee drafted five straight pitchers. In 2024, every selection they made between the fifth and 13th rounds was a pitcher. Don’t be surprised if the Brewers once again prioritize pitching depth on Day 2.

Milwaukee also had a second-round competitive balance pick (No. 67), but traded it to Boston in the trade that brought Kyle Harrison, David Hamilton, and Shane Drohan to Milwaukee.

What are the Brewers’ organizational strengths and weaknesses?

Most consider the Brewers’ farm system to be the best in baseball. By “most,” I mean Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, ESPN… you get the idea.

Strengths: The Brewers’ biggest strength is the middle infield, led by the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball, shortstop Jesús Made. Milwaukee also has three other middle infielders ranked among MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects: Luis Peña (No. 2 in the organization, No. 18 overall), Cooper Pratt (No. 3, No. 56 overall), and Jett Williams (No. 5, No. 81 overall). Josh Adamczewski (No. 6), who has hit at least .320 in every season of his professional career, came up as a middle infielder but has shifted to the outfield simply because there’s nowhere else to play him. Last year, Milwaukee also took Brady Ebel (No. 14) with the No. 32 pick.

Honestly, it’s easier to ask what the Brewers don’t have. They have plenty of promising corner infielders, led by Andrew Fischer (.299/.441/.713, 28 home runs between High-A and Double-A), Blake Burke (.885 OPS, 19 home runs in Double-A), and Luke Adams (.942 OPS in 38 Triple-A games). They also have 11 pitchers in MLB Pipeline’s organizational Top 30, led by Logan Henderson (No. 7) and Bishop Letson (No. 10), plus another handful who could realistically crack those rankings in the near future. In last year’s article, I highlighted Coleman Crow, Tyson Hardin, and Ethan Dorchies as unranked pitchers to watch. Sure enough, all three have since appeared in MLB Pipeline’s rankings, and Crow ended up making the big leagues.

Last year, I also listed the outfield as one of the Brewers’ biggest organizational weaknesses. One year later, it’s become one of their strengths. Luis Lara‘s breakout season earned him a seven-year extension worth at least $31 million, while Braylon Payne (.281, .967 OPS, 16 home runs) has taken a huge step forward. Williams can play the outfield, Adamczewski has already made the move there, and younger prospects like Alexander Frias, Josiah Ragsdale, Brailyn Antunez, and Kenny Fenelon have all shown flashes. Add in a major league outfield already headlined by Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, and now Lara, and it’s suddenly become a pretty deep positional group.

Weaknesses: Honestly… maybe catcher?

Jeferson Quero (No. 9) and Marco Dinges (No. 11), both of whom the Brewers are extremely high on, are the only two catching prospects in the organization who project as potential above-average major leaguers. Even then, calling catcher a weakness feels like a bit of a stretch.

Milwaukee already has an All-Star behind the plate in William Contreras, while players like Matthew Wood (.891 OPS in 189 Double-A at-bats) have produced despite flying under the radar. Besides, organizations don’t need nearly as many catching prospects as they do pitchers, infielders, or outfielders.

Either way, I would expect the Brewers to draft a catcher at some point during the draft. In a recent mock draft, Baseball America had the Brewers selecting high school C/SS Cole Prosek, the nephew of Brewers third base coach Matt Erickson, with their first-round pick.

The reality is that the Brewers don’t have many glaring organizational weaknesses. They have impact talent at nearly every position and enough depth throughout the system that they’re in a position to draft the best player available rather than trying to fill a specific need.

Who will the Brewers take?

One player who has been frequently mocked to Milwaukee is Ace Reese, a third baseman from Mississippi State who reminds evaluators of recent Brewer first-round picks Brock Wilken and Andrew Fischer. Reese slashed .336/.432/.721 with 24 home runs in 247 at-bats this season. Both ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and The Athletic’s Keith Law have him going to the Brewers at No. 25 overall.

In addition to Reese and Prosek, other players who could be in play at No. 25 include Zion Rose (OF, Louisville), Aidan Ruiz (SS, Stony Brook HS), and Cade Townsend (RHP, Ole Miss).

One thing to keep in mind: the Brewers have frequently gone under slot (spent less than the projected value of the pick) with their first-round pick to free up bonus pool money for later rounds, where they can target high-upside prospects with strong college commitments. Don’t be surprised if their first selection isn’t any of the names listed here. Ultimately, only Matt Arnold and the front office know the answer to this question, and the Brewers usually find a way to surprise.

How much can the Brewers spend?

After trading away its Competitive Balance selection, Milwaukee’s bonus pool is $8,042,900, which ranks 25th in Major League Baseball. Their first-round selection (No. 25) carries a slot value of $3,696,000, although the Brewers can choose to spend less or more on whatever prospect they select.

Day 1:

Round 1 (No. 25): $3,696,000

Round 2 (No. 66): $1,353,100

Round 3 (No. 97): $853,000

Round 4 (No. 127): $614,800

Day 2:

Round 5 (No. 157): $455,900

Round 6 (No. 187): $351,600

Round 7 (No. 217): $275,100

Round 8 (No. 247): $224,400

Round 9 (No. 277): $202,100

Round 10 (No. 307): $191,900

In rounds 11-20, teams are allowed to offer up to $150,000 in signing bonuses without it counting towards their bonus pool. They are allowed to offer more, but any money spent in excess of that limit is then counted toward the pool.

How do I watch the 2025 MLB Draft?

The 2026 MLB Draft begins at 12:00 p.m. CT on Saturday. Picks 1-10 will be televised on NBC and Peacock, picks 11-40 will air on MLB Network, MLB.com, and MLB.TV, and picks 41-135 will stream on MLB.com and MLB.TV. The rest of the draft takes place at 10:30 a.m. CT on Sunday and will stream live on MLB.com and MLB.TV.

The Cubs’ 9-7 win over the Orioles Wednesday evening, their third straight and 18th in their last 24, had a little bit of everything the 2026 season to date has provided.

Lots of homers? Check.

Some great defense? Check.

Some dodgy relief work, pointing out the need for bullpen improvements? Double-check, because the Cubs came close to blowing a six-run seventh-inning lead, yikes.

All right, since that didn’t happen, let’s begin at the beginning.

Neither team scored in the first two innings, though the Cubs might have on this drive by Alex Bregman in the first [VIDEO].

That was a tremendous catch by Taylor Ward. It’s not totally clear from the clip, but Ward might have stolen a home run from Bregman. At least Bregman is starting to drive the ball again. Good things should follow.

Then the Cubs got on the board in the third, thanks to Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 20th homer of the season [VIDEO].

For PCA, that makes him the first MLB player this year with a 20/20 season and also gives him this accomplishment:

Players with 20+ HR & 20+ SB before All-Star break in consecutive seasons
(MLB history)

Alfonso Soriano 2002-03
Pete Crow-Armstrong 2025-26

— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) July 8, 2026

Pretty, pretty cool, I’d say. PCA’s going to be a candidate for Player of the Week again if he keeps this up. One more fact about PCA’s third-inning homer from BCB’s JohnW53:

The Cubs went 157 plate appearances without a homer from the last of the eight vs. the Padres on July 1 until Pete Crow-Armstrong’s in the third inning Wednesday night.

The Orioles tied the game off Colin Rea in the bottom of the third, scoring a run on a double play. Then Rea gave up a two-run homer to Pete Alonso in the fourth that gave Baltimore a 3-1 lead. For Alonso it was his 16th career homer off Cubs pitching, the most off any team not in the NL East, where he used to make his home.

The Cubs came roaring back to take the lead in the fifth with three more long balls of their own.

Michael Conforto led off the fifth with his eighth of the year on the first pitch of the inning [VIDEO].

That made it 3-2 and on the very next pitch, Carson Kelly tied the game with his fifth [VIDEO].

Two pitches, two runs, pretty efficient! More on these two homers from John:

The homers by Michael Conforto and Carson Kelly were just the Cubs’ second back-to-back blasts this season. The previous pair were by Alex Bregman and Ian Happ on March 29, at home vs. the Natiionals.

The Cubs hit 16, 12, 20, 10 and 10 pairs in the last five seasons. They have homered back-to-back 408 times in the regular season since 1876, plus 11 sets of back-to-back-to-back, for a total of 419 sets of consecutive homers.

After Dansby Swanson grounded out, PCA went deep again for No. 21 [VIDEO].

And just like that, the Cubs had the lead again.

Rea was removed with one out in the sixth with another decent outing, the only real mistake the home run pitch to Alonso. Drew Pomeranz finished up the sixth without incident and then the Cubs blew the game open — or so we thought! — with a five-run seventh.

With one out, Carson Kelly walked and Dansby Swanson singled. The O’s called on Grant Wolfram, who had faced 113 batters before this game and walked four of them. Of course that meant he walked the first hitter he faced, PCA. (And you think the Cubs have bullpen issues. Well, yes, they do, but so do a lot of other teams!)

That loaded the bases for Bregman [VIDEO].

The sac fly made it 5-3, and both trailing runners moved up. Michael Busch walked to load the bases again — that means within three batters, Wolfram had walked half as many as he had for the entire season before this game.

Then Wolfram gave the Cubs another run on this wild pitch [VIDEO].

This was Grant Wolfram’s night to do stuff he hadn’t done all year. Before this game he had not allowed a single home run, as noted, among 113 batters faced. That streak reached 116 with the three batters faced in this game up to this point.

Seiya Suzuki ended that streak by launching this monster three-run shot [VIDEO].

That ball: Crushed! [VIDEO]

The Cubs had a six-run lead heading to the bottom of the eighth. You would think that would be enough.

My friends, it almost wasn’t. Pomeranz, left in to throw the seventh, allowed a home run to Tyler O’Neill that made it 9-4, and then two more singles before he was replaced with Trent Thornton. Thornton finished off the inning, but not before he gave up an RBI single, the run charged to Pomeranz. Still, it’s 9-5 going to the eighth. What could possibly…

Don’t finish that question and don’t answer it. Two more O’s homers off Caleb Thielbar — who’s really not having a good year at all — made it 9-7. That included O’Neill’s second homer of the game, and the fourth Orioles long ball to add to the Cubs’ five homers on the evening. And things could have been worse. After the homers, with two out Jackson Holliday doubled, bringing Gunnar Henderson to the plate as the potential tying run.

Henderson hit a line drive up the middle… and Swanson made this spectacular diving catch to end the inning [VIDEO].

Right there, that could have saved the game.

But could the Cubs record three outs in the ninth without giving up two runs?

Well, you now know the answer to that. Jacob Webb, who’s done a decent job filling in as closer for Daniel Palencia, recorded the first two outs of the ninth, both ground balls, on just four pitches. Then he ran a 1-2 count on Alonso… at which time some idiot ran onto the field. As is normal policy for TV channels, Marquee correctly didn’t show this, though Boog and JD said this person was wearing Cubs garb. Don’t do that. Just don’t. Seriously.

Anyway, when order was restored Webb got Alonso to hit a dribbler to end the game [VIDEO].

For Webb, that was his, uh, team-leading fourth save. So, yay?

Sure, yay. Someone’s got to do the job. But clearly, in addition to needing some rotation help, the Cubs need bullpen reinforcements. Some might come when injured relievers (including Palencia) return. But Jed Hoyer should also be exploring the trade market for relief pitchers.

Here’s PCA on his homers and Dansby’s defense [VIDEO].

One last note, this one on the Cubs’ five-homer game, from John:

After hitting five home runs in a 6-0 win over the Red Sox at Wrigley Field on July 19, 2025, the Cubs did not hit five again in 149 consecutive game. Now they have done it in three of their last seven: five on June 30, eight on July 1 and five vs. the Orioles — with none in the four games between the last two.

The Cubs picked up a game on the Brewers, who lost Wednesday to the Cardinals, and trail Milwaukee by six games, while still leading the third-place Cardinals by 3.5 games. The Cubs also lead the Phillies by 1.5 games for the top wild card spot.

All’s well that ends well, though, and the Cubs continue to find ways to win. They’ll go for the series sweep Thursday afternoon — and that’s a change, the game’s been moved up to 12:35 p.m. CT due to impending weather in Baltimore Thursday evening, as noted here last night. David Peterson gets the start for the Cubs and Trevor Rogers goes for the O’s. TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network and the BCB game preview will post at 11 a.m. CT.

Thanks to a disastrous 2025 season, the Twins are set to draft a soon-to-be top MLB prospect with the 3rd overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft this weekend. It is their highest draft pick since 2017 when they selected Royce Lewis with the 1st overall pick, and their last two top 3 picks before that were Byron Buxton and Joe Mauer. Not bad! It goes without saying that a pick of this significance will have massive implications on the future of the Minnesota Twins franchise. As we approach draft day, I took a little dive into the top prospects in this draft class and ranked my top 5 hopefuls for the Twins if they are available at 3. Enjoy!

1. SS Roch Cholowsky – UCLA

Roch Cholowsky has been the top prospect in this year’s draft for a while, but doubts are rising as the draft approaches, with some scouts opting to push Grady Emerson or Vahn Lackey to the top spot. They are all phenomenal prospects of course, but as a gold glove caliber shortstop with an all-around great offensive profile, Roch stays put at the top for me.

He had a more slender build when MLB Pipeline ranked him as the No. 44 prospect in the 2023 draft out of high school. Instead, Cholowsky went to UCLA and was able to beef up without losing the athletic profile. Meanwhile, he was producing at an elite level the entire time. He combines a short and well-controlled swing with excellent bat speed and some loft that allows him to carry the ball out consistently to all fields. There is a little more aggression in his approach that will have to be monitored as he begins his pro career, but it is an elite combo of hit and power.

Defensively, Roch has a cannon arm that consistently produces highlight throws when he’s on the move or deep in the gap. While he’s an average runner, he is incredibly smart and instinctual, which shows up both in the field and on the bases. Excellent range and defensive actions are pushing Cholowsky’s defense into elite-level shortstop talks.

While it is still highly unlikely that he is available when Minnesota is on the clock, the chances have grown, and he should be a shoo-in for the No. 3 pick if he still happens to be on the board. The Twins have lacked true shortstop prospects in recent years but would move into an excellent spot with Cholowsky and Houston, while Culpepper sits on the border. It would set them up for a future level of infield defense that we have not seen from this team in a long time. And oh yeah, Roch can hit the crap out of the ball too!

Can't wait for some Rochtober in the future 🤩

Relive a small sampling of Roch Cholowsky's 2️⃣1️⃣ HRs in 2026.@UCLABaseball x @MLBpic.twitter.com/4urPQ5qE4n

— Big Ten Baseball (@B1Gbaseball) July 7, 2026

2. C Vahn Lackey – Georgia Tech

Vahn Lackey has been highly touted throughout his college years for his excellent backstop defense, but back-to-back breakout years at the plate have thrown him into “best player in college baseball” territory.

There are a lot of moving parts in his swing, including a big leg kick and stride out. He loads his hands early and has a powerful, yet easy drive through the zone. Doesn’t miss a fastball, but I worry about his ability to adjust to offspeed given how much pre-swing movement there is. His contact skills have looked good in college and his swing decisions have improved nicely over the past few years, but I do think there could be some more whiff as he moves into the pros. Still, it’s an above-average hit tool with plus power potential.

Lackey is a unique catcher with an impressive athletic profile. He stole 18 bags in 2025 and 15 more in 2026. He possesses excellent quickness at the catcher position, moving laterally and blocking with ease. He has a plus arm with a lightning-quick trigger.

Its a plus catching profile with the tools to be a high-end bat, and the continued development makes me hopeful that there is even more in the tank. He may get pushed through the minors a little slower than fans would hope to allow the bat to continue developing, but the defense is already looking great. It’s a high floor, high ceiling player. The Twins haven’t drafted a catcher anywhere in the first round since Joe Mauer, but Vahn Lackey is the odds-on favorite to become Minnesota’s first selection of the weekend and he absolutely has the talent to warrant that.

VAHN LACKEY 468-FOOT MOONSHOT ☄️

(🎥@GTBaseball) pic.twitter.com/OfaX5Tl1fx

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) May 31, 2026

3. SS Grady Emerson – Fort Worth Christian (HS)

Looking through clips of Grady Emerson’s swing on Twitter is fun because I watch them and say “wow that swing is beautiful” and then realize that it’s a post from 2023 when he had just entered high school. Emerson has been at the top of this class ever since scouts laid eyes on him.

His swing is so smooth. So simple and efficient in his load, gliding through the zone with some good loft and impressive bat speed. Emerson batted .532 with some solid power and was nearly impossible to strike out while showing off an incredibly mature approach. He’s a very well-rounded hitter with an easy plus hit tool, an advanced approach, and developing power.

Defensively, Grady is above-average across the boards and possesses a unique fluidity that pushes his shortstop defense into plus territory. Great instincts give him easy range and he pairs it with fluid actions and an above-average arm.

There is always more uncertainty about how high school prospects will mature physically. You can project a certain amount of added power, but it’s difficult to be certain about it, and you never know what some added muscle will do to their movement. I feel comfortable slotting Emerson in with an above-average power tool, but its not quite on Roch’s level and there is a more limited defensive ceiling. He gives me some Jackson Holliday vibes. An uber-polished high school hitter that will fly through the minors, but may not quite have that truly elite ceiling.

Grady Emerson may not be on the board very long 👀@CarlosACollazo has heard Emerson sounds like a strong fit for both the Rays and Twins in the top three.

New mock: https://t.co/xpi0CqE9Eupic.twitter.com/q0exUB4YCe

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) April 13, 2026

4. RHP Jackson Flora – UCSB

Just one year after Tyler Bremner shot up the boards and went 2nd overall, another UCSB arm in Jackson Flora is slated to end up in the top 5. With a 1.06 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 102 innings this season, the hype is absolutely warranted.

Flora is 6’5” with long levers and some freakish arm speed. Its a whippy arm action and a lower release point. His fastball sits 96-98 and has touched triple digits. With good carry, its already an easy plus offering with potential to be one of the best fastballs in the world. He has a pair of plus breaking balls, one in the mid 80s and the other in the low 80s, both displaying some wicked sweep with huge whiff potential. His changeup has developed nicely this year, and while he is still finding the feel for command, the pitch is now flashing plus splittler-like depth.

He is a good strike-thrower, but the whippy arm motion may expose some weaknesses in command as he faces off against more talented hitters in the pros. He holds his velocity and stuff well throughout starts and has ace potential that we could see in the majors as soon as 2027. Given the three hitters at the top of charts, Flora is sitting comfortably in the No. 4 spot, but he is absolutely in play at pick 3 or even higher if one of these teams wants to go the pitching route.

Jackson Flora tossed a gem for @UCSB_Baseball tonight 💎

9 IP
2 H
0 ER
0 BB
12 K
108 TP

The No. 4 draft prospect is sporting a 1.03 ERA over 14 starts this season.

(🎥@UCSB_Baseball) pic.twitter.com/4rTI5UPl10

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) May 15, 2026

5. OF Drew Burress – Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech’s superstar turned into a running mate this year with Vahn Lackey’s breakout, but Drew Burress has been unbelievably productive for the Yellow Jackets since the day he stepped on campus. If you just looked at the home run totals and exit velocities, you would be shocked to see that Burress is just 5’9” with a pretty compact build. Likewise, if you only looked at his height and weight, you would be shocked to find out that he is Georgia Tech’s all-time home run leader.

He packs a punch in his big and lofty swing. He starts his swing standing straight up and has a sizable stride out, but a minimal hand load keeps him on time as he explodes out with quick, twitchy hands. All throughout college, Burress has posted excellent contact rates against fastballs, but has had issues adjusting to secondaries. Still, he maintains a solid hit tool and patient approach, allowing him to maximize his power output, which is plus raw pop with elite pulled fly ball rates.

Defensively, he manned centerfield for Georgia Tech, showing off good range and a plus arm. He’s not an elite defender out there and will likely end up in a corner, but is a capable centerfielder. Not an aggressive base-stealer in college, but a good runner and all-around impressive athlete.

It is mostly a 3-man race between Cholowsky, Lackey, and Emerson for Minnesota at pick 3, and if the Twins decide to go another direction, I would be shocked if they choose to add to their already overcrowded outfield group. Still, the dynamite bat that Drew Burress swings is going to intrigue some teams at the top of the draft and for good reason.

Georgia Tech CF Drew Burress is proving that size doesn’t always matter and is arguably the best pure hitter in the 2026 draft. Numerous EVs >115 MPH. 37% PullAir, 20° HH LA. Outlier combo of raw+game power along with 11% Z-Whiff. I think he sticks in CF. 3rd on my college board. pic.twitter.com/O8YOQUMbI4

— Danny (@dannybarrand_) June 8, 2026

The Debrief

The Twins obviously do not control their own destiny here, so its a wait-and-see game. If Roch Cholowsky is on the board at pick 3, I would take him with no hesitation. I’d be ecstatic to get Vahn Lackey as well. If those two are both gone when the Twins are on the clock, I think there is a conversation to be had about Flora. I would still take Emerson at 3, but I can see the vision with the flamethrowing righty. At this point, I don’t believe that any other option is in play for Minnesota. There is a lot of pressure that comes with a pick of this importance, but all of these guys have superstar potential and any of them could bust. Given the insane talent in each of these players, the Twins are getting a franchise cornerstone type of asset no matter what.

Since completing their home sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates in early June, the Atlanta Braves are 8-17, winning exactly one series over that span.

But they can change that tune Thursday afternoon, somewhat fittingly against the Pirates.

After a beatdown loss in Game 1 and a late scoring surge in a shutout win in Game 2, the Braves close out their series in Pittsburgh Thursday at 12:35 p.m. ET before heading to St. Louis for a weekend series.

If they’re going to win a series and begin to trend back in the right direction, a strong performance on the mound from Bryce Elder would set them on that path.

The right-hander’s 5-6 record and 4.01 ERA are certainly not representative of his recent form. He’s been off since June 27, skipped once through the order after some serious struggles of late.

After he had a 5-3 record and 2.66 ERA through his first 14 starts, he’s lost his last three starts, allowing a combined 19 runs on 27 hits over 14 innings. Opposing teams had a .313 batting average and 1.61 WHIP against Elder in June, with 35 hits and 24 runs allowed in 26 2/3 innings.

Maybe another start against the Pirates will be what he needs to take a step back in the right direction. His last effective start came against Pittsburgh in Atlanta, allowing two runs on two hits over six innings. At that time, that was his 10th quality start in 14 total starts this season.

Suffice it to say, he hasn’t had close to another one of those since.

In his career against Pittsburgh, Elder is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA over four starts, striking out 26 and walking five over 24 innings.

He’ll be facing off against Pittsburgh right-hander Mitch Keller. In the Pirates’ pre-Paul Skenes era, Keller was someone who seemed like a possible future ace for them. The former second-round pick was an All-Star in 2023 and had an ERA of 4.25 or better in each of the last four seasons.

This season, though, has been more of a struggle for Keller, now 30, who enters with a 6-6 record and 5.02 ERA, his worst since his first 100-inning season in 2021.

Like Elder, he had a stellar ERA early in the season that has taken a hit of late. In his six starts since June began, he’s 1-4 with a 6.47 ERA, 23 strikeouts and 13 walks in 32 innings. While his skid really began in his last start of May, he wasn’t very good back on June 5 at Atlanta, allowing six runs — tied for his second most this season — on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings.

That’s basically in line with Keller’s track record against the Braves. He has a 1-4 record and 7.85 ERA in eight career starts against Atlanta.

After Atlanta was so incredible in rubber matches early in the year, winning eight of their first nine, they’ve lost their last four deciding games of series.

This presents another chance to end that drought and build back some momentum with both the Phillies and Marlins only three games back in the NL East.

Game Info

Game Time: Thursday, July 9, 12:35 EDT

Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA

Watch: BravesVision

Radio/Audio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Tampa Bay Rays are firm -155 moneyline favorites against the New York Yankees today, and my Yankees vs. Rays predictions are backing them in the series finale.

Drew Rasmussen gives Tampa Bay the clear starting-pitching edge, while New York’s bullpen-game setup asks too much from a staff patching innings together.

My MLB picks for July 9 are also taking the Under behind two run-prevention profiles that limit loud contact.

Who will win Yankees vs Rays today: Rays moneyline (-155)

I’m fading the New York Yankees again, and would play the Tampa Bay Rays moneyline to -165, with a smaller -1.5 play to +122 (bigger edge on the moneyline).

New York is on a bullpen day. The focus is Ryan Yarbrough, and whether he opens or works bulk, the former Ray should play a part.

He has not pitched since July 4 and can cover length, but his 18% strikeout rate meets a Rays lineup with an 86% zone-contact rate. That has been a series-long problem. 

Drew Rasmussen adds the cleaner edge with just a 4.5% walk rate against a Yankees lineup needing free traffic.

Yankees vs Rays Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-103)

I’m taking the Under and would play it to -115.

Rasmussen fits this matchup because of his reliability and contact control. He ranks in the 80th percentile in hard-hit rate and 75th percentile in ground-ball rate, the right mix against a Yankees offense still trying to score through lift and isolated power.

New York’s bullpen day is also set up better than it looks. Several rested arms induce soft contact, which should play against a Tampa Bay lineup with the third-highest ground-ball mark in baseball.

Yankees vs Rays weather

Dome.

Yankees vs Rays odds

• Moneyline: Yankees +140 | Rays -155
• Run line: Yankees +1.5 | Rays -1.5
• Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5

Yankees vs Rays trend

The Rays have hit the moneyline in 35 of their last 50 games at home (+15.65 Units / 24% ROI).

How to watch Yankees vs Rays and game info

Yankees vs Rays latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

There are four games left before the All-Star break next week, and the Red Sox are both riding high winning ten of their last twelve contests, and also kind of desperate to get into the annual summertime stoppage.

For the next two games, the starting rotation is simple. Patrick Sandoval will make his Red Sox debut this afternoon in the finale against the White Sox as the Red Sox go for a sweep, and Sonny Gray is set to go on Friday as he tries to extend his American League lead in pitching wins. After that? Things get dicey.

The issues stem from Connelly Early going on the IL with left elbow discomfort (we’re still waiting for additional clarity there as he’s schedule to see a doctor sometime this week), and Ranger Suarez leaving his last start on Saturday with a groin injury where the severity is uncertain. The good news is Suarez still hasn’t gone on the IL and may be able to go on Saturday, but given how import he is to the rotation both now and going forward with his contract, it also kind of makes sense to just shut him down until the other side of the All-Star break to give him additional time to recover.

If that happens, the Red Sox are left without a starter for Saturday and then have Payton Tolle going on regular rest on Sunday. The Tolle piece of this is also fascinating because ideally you want to keep his innings down this year given he’s never thrown 120 innings in a season and already is beyond 80 this year. Despite pitching on an extra day of rest in Tuesday’s game against Chicago, they actually bumped him up a slot in the rotation to Connelly Early’s spot using the double off days surrounding the Angels series on Thursday and Monday to their advantage. The problem with that is they essentially created an additional Tolle start for the season because that space in the rotation is now slated to land on Sunday instead of falling into the All-Star break.

So on one hand, the Red Sox don’t appear to have anybody that can really go deep on Saturday or Sunday, but on the other hand, they have a really rested bullpen with two recent off days and the rotation pitching extremely well of late. With guaranteed addition rest on the horizon, do the Sox just piggyback everybody in the bullpen in those last two games to try and get to the checkpoint? Does it depend on how deep Sandoval goes today? Do they dare call up Brayan Bello to make a start in a pinch? (Shivers went down my spine as I typed that.) Regardless of how they choose to navigate this chokepoint, they’ve got some pretty compelling decisions coming up in the next 48 to 72 hours.

The good news? Their next opponent is the Mets who are having the season from hell (even for them), so the Sox might be able to get away with a weird pitching arrangement for this series. After that, even more fascinating decisions will come on the other side of the All-Star break when we get a better idea of injury timelines.

Talk about this and whatever else you’d like, and as always, be good to one another.

Meet the Mets

The Mets rallied for five runs with two outs in the eighth inning to win 6-2 against the Royals. Brett Baty delivered the big hit with the bases loaded to drive in two to extend the Mets’ lead. Unlike in the previous game, the team managed to hold on to the lead and get the victory.

Choose your recap:Amazin’ Avenue, Daily News, MLB.com, Newsday, NY Post

Before the game, the team called up Xzavion Curry and Tobias Myers and they DFA’d poor Matt Seelinger.

The team also placed Austin Warren on the IL with a forearm strain, but fears of needing Tommy John have seemingly been ruled out.

In desperate need of pitching, the Mets are reportedly calling up Dan Hammer, who has spent time in both Double-A and Triple-A this season.

Ken Rosenthal refuted Mike Francesa’s claim that the Mets are trying to trade Francisco Lindor.

Former Mets pitching coach Phil “The Vulture” Regan passed away at the age of 89.

Around the National League East

The Braves shut out the Pirates 3-0 behind a strong pitching performance by Grant Holmes.

Kyle Stowers helped power the Marlins to a 2-0 victory over the Mariners.

The Phillies were blown out 11-5 by the Reds in Cincinnati.

Both CJ Abrams and Luis García Jr. hit their 20th home runs of their season in the Nationals’ 8-2 win over the Astros.

Around Major League Baseball

Cy Young winner Justin Verlander announced that he will retire at the end of the season.

Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease took a no-hit bid into the ninth inning against the Giants before it was broken up by Heliot Ramos.

Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras exited the game against the White Sox early after he fouled a ball off his foot.

The 2026 MLB Draft is this weekend with the White Sox picking number one overall.

Mike Trout returned to the Angels lineup and hit a home run in their 13-1 victory over the Rangers.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Steve Sypa took a look at the prospects taken in the 2025 draft.

This Date in Mets History

On this date in 1969, Tom Seaver threw a one-hitter against the first-place Cubs.

When records are being broken, all eyes are on those who break them. But it’s important to remember that in those moments, there are others around witnessing history that have stories to tell. Teammates of Aaron Judge will remember the 2022 season in which he broke Roger Maris’ franchise and AL home run record. No matter how many games they played in a Yankees uniform, they’ll be able to say they saw one of the greats do what he did best day in and day out.

Tex Clevenger was one of those teammates of Maris and Mickey Mantle, who could tell stories from his days playing alongside legends.

Truman “Tex” Eugene Clevenger
Born: July 9, 1932 (Visalia, CA)
Died: August 24, 2019 (Visalia, CA)
Yankees Tenure: 1961-1962

Truman was born in Visalia, California, attended Visalia High School, and then spent three and a half years at Cal State Fresno. He began high school standing 4 feet 11 inches tall and weighing only 86 pounds. He did not play his first year due to the coaching staff’s concern about his stature, but a new coach – Hank Viden – came on in his sophomore year and said that anyone who wanted to play baseball would be allowed to play. Clevenger was initially playing in the outfield, but when Viden came to the team and asked if anyone wanted to volunteer to pitch, Clevenger raised his hand and was given his start on the mound.

He was signed by the Boston Red Sox on June 9, 1953, after a scout named Tom Downey saw him throw his second no-hitter for the Fresno Bulldogs against the College of the Pacific. In the game, he struck out 20 hitters and went 6-for-6 at the plate with three triples, two singles, and a double.

When the Red Sox signed him, other teams made their own bids, and three reportedly offered more money. But Clevenger saw an opportunity not just to make the major leagues down the line, but also to work on his arsenal, specifically his curveball. He knew that to make it in Major League Baseball one day, he would need to develop a major weapon in his pitch mix. Clevenger got his wish and began his pro career with the Red Sox organization in 1953, he went 16–2 with a 1.51 ERA and 157 strikeouts over 155.0 innings. As a result, the 1953 California League MVP Award.

After his almost-perfect minor league season, Clevenger trained with the Red Sox in Sarasota, Florida, in the spring of 1954. He was sent to the Triple-A Louisville Colonels to begin the year. He was called up just a week later, before the season began, receiving praise from the Red Sox coaching staff as an excellent prospect. However, they were hesitant to rush him in the major leagues, fearing it might stunt his development.

It was clear that Clevenger was close to being ready, but he wasn’t quite there just yet. In 23 games pitched in 1954 (eight started), he finished the season with a 2-4 record and 4.79 ERA in 67.2 innings. His first major league game came against the Philadelphia Athletics on April 18, 1954. He pitched an inning without allowing a hit or a walk.

Clevenger was sent back down to Louisville and received more playing time there, spending the entire 1955 season with the Colonels. He started 21 games and pitched 39 total, finishing with a 9-13 record and a 3.77 ERA, including nine complete games.

The same happened in 1956 after Clevenger was traded to the Washington Senators. The Red Sox pulled the trigger on a nine-player deal that sent him to Washington, and he initially started the season with the major league club, taking the mound in 20 games, of which only one was a start. His time in the majors was, once again, nothing to write home about. In those 20 appearances, he pitched 31.1 innings and posted a 5.40 ERA before being sent back to Louisville, which had become the Senators’ Triple-A team after their time with the Red Sox. He posted a 5.94 ERA and a 2-11 record over 103.0 innings, including a nine-game losing streak individually at one point.

The 1956 season would not be the last that he saw in the minor leagues, but it would be for a handful of years. In 1957, Clevenger pitched the most innings of his major league career (139.2), added another two complete games to his major league resume, and saw a significant decrease in his ERA (4.19). And in 1958, his ERA ticked up to 4.35, but he actually led the AL in appearances that season with 55.

Clevenger would remain primarily a reliever for the Senators in 1959 and 1960, where over 246.0 innings pitched, he posted a 4.06 ERA (including the first and only ERA under 4.00 and ERA+ over 100 in his entire major league career in a season where he pitched over 50.0 innings), an ERA+ of 98, and a FIP of 3.79. But 1960 would be his last in a Senators uniform, as an upcoming expansion draft would require Washington to make some hard roster decisions. Clevenger was not one of the players protected, and the newly introduced Los Angeles Angels selected him with the seventh overall pick.

However, his time in the City of Angels was short-lived, as he appeared in only 12 games before being traded to the Yankees in early May, despite not allowing an earned run in his first seven outings and maintaining a 1.69 ERA at the time of the trade. The Angels believed they could get more out of who they received, particularly right-hander Ryne Duren (who we profiled back in February).

The Yankees, according to reports of the time, had been looking to acquire Clevenger for some time while he was with the Senators, but they never made the move until he was with the Angels.

So, in 1961, when Mantle and Maris were setting their own records of 54 and 61 home runs, Clevenger was in the bullpen for it all. He pitched in 21 games, finished with a 1-1 record and a 4.83 ERA over 31.2 innings, putting his season total at a 3.78 ERA over just 47.2 innings pitched. The Yankees won the pennant and advanced to the World Series to face the Cincinnati Reds, but Clevenger did not see any playing time in the five-game series, which the Yankees won.

The 1962 season was a different year, same story. Manager Ralph Houk expressed faith in Clevenger, but he threw him out on the mound for only 21 games, and that was after the right-hander started the year with the Triple-A Richmond Virginians. After closer Luis Arroyo was put on the DL due to elbow inflammation, Clevenger had the chance to show his stuff. But it was to no avail, as despite the best ERA of his career (2.84) in 38.0 innings, he did not see action in a World Series that went seven games against the San Francisco Giants.

Overall in his career, Clevenger compiled a 36–37 record with a 4.18 ERA, 298 walks and 361 strikeouts. Oddly enough, perhaps his best season was his last those 21 games with the 1962 Yankees.

Clevenger was sent back to Richmond for the 1963 season and pitched well. He thought it was well enough to find a spot on another major league team, but no one came calling, and after another season in the minors, he looked ahead to 1964, which would have been more of the same. After that, Clevenger decided it was time to call it quits, and he became an insurance underwriter for Mutual of New York back home in Visalia until 1964, when he purchased a car dealership, which he owned until it was sold in 1995.

After being inducted into the Fresno State Athletics Hall of Fame and having his number retired, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2008 and died due to the disease in August 24, 2019.

An excellent collegiate player who struggled to stick in the majors but witnessed some of the best moments in Yankees history, Clevenger may not be the most recognizable name. Still, it’s players like him that helped contribute on the side while the likes of Maris, Mantle, and Berra plied their trade. Happy birthday, Tex!

Fangraphs has a number of interesting and informative stats that we rely on in the industry for our commentary. One of those is an ongoing calculation of playoff odds. Playoffs odds are much like the stock market. We can forecast stocks in general with given information but those calculations will always change given the facts on the ground. The playoffs odds for the Astros sit here as of July 7th.

Playoffs: 34.0%
Division: 8.5%
Win World Series: 1.4%
Projected Record: 79.3 wins, 82.7 losses

These projections are based on their actual record, the state of their roster counting injuries and expected performance, and their remaining schedule. The Mariners are projected to finish 86-76 and the Rangers are projected to finish 82-80. The Yankees or the Rays will clearly be the first wild card team. The Rangers are the only other wild card representative currently projected over 80 wins.

Now comes the hard part. How much do you want to lean into slipping in as the second or third wild card in the American League? I think we can safely say that the Astros are not likely to win 87 games so either the Mariners must underperform or the Astros have to significantly surpass expectations. Is that possible? Sure. Anything is possible and when you consider guys like Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski coming back from injury you could definitely foresee a scenario where the Astros finish above .500 through sheer inertia.

Baseball operates differently than the NFL and NBA. A 42 win team in the NBA does not have realistic title aspirations. A 9-8 team in the NFL hardly ever makes any noise in the playoffs. However, there have been teams in baseball history in the new playoff format that have gone from wild card to pennant winner. It is not even particularly rare. Do the Astros have the roster to get through multiple playoff series?

The good news is that they have a three man playoff rotation that looks like it should be competitive at least. Moving Mike Burrows and Tatsuya Imai to the taxi squad would make this team look a lot better. They have a group of four or five relievers that are reasonably reliable. Teams have made it through October with far less. The bad news is that the offense has three or four solid hitters, one spectacular hitter, and a bunch of filler after that. Playoff pitchers have shown they can lock down lineups like that.

So, the deadline question is really two deadline questions. The first one is one we have already raised here at Crawfish: would you rather have another bat or another arm? That’s a legitimate question and not an easy one to answer. The second question is more important: do you go big or go small? It seems like an easy answer for the general fan, but there are some caveats and pitfalls to both approaches.

The primary pitfall is the current state of the farm system. Most experts rate the current Astros system in the bottom five of baseball. There aren’t many can’t miss gems there and you don’t want to give one up for a slight improvement. It also is troubling from a competitive standpoint. It is fine and dandy to say I want Tarik Skubal, but so do about twelve to fifteen other teams. There are probably five or six that could make compelling and competitive offers. Even if you were willing to give up an Xavier Neyens or Kevin Alvarez, would the Tigers see that as enough?

The second consideration is the tax threshold. The current tax threshold is at 244 million. The Astros have a payroll between 218 and 233 million depending on how you interpret that and the source you go to. Is Jim Crane willing to surpass it? That’s hard to say. It isn’t our money and there are other procedural and competitive disadvantages that come with surpassing it again.

So, the Astros could comfortably add a player or two that would come out to ten million dollars added. Keep in mind, that would be prorated to past the halfway point. So, adding ten million in real dollars would be the equivalent of adding 25 million depending on when the deal is struck. Everything is a gamble and it involves some projection.

The same prorating concept on salary also is tied to performance. A three win player really only adds about a win given that we are closing in on the two thirds point of the season as we approach the deadline. If you go from 79.3 wins to say 80.5 or 81 wins then how much do your playoff odds increase? How many wins are your competitors adding? Keep in mind the Fangraphs model might not be accounting for Blanco or Wesneski on the mound. Would adding those two and another outfielder vault you into a winning projection?

I know the conventional wisdom is to go big or go home, but I disagree with that assertion. A couple of targeted moves could elevate you to over 50 percent odds of making the postseason and give you a puncher’s chance of advancing once you are there. However, those targeted moves would keep your best prospects in house and would keep you under the tax apron. We want to take advantage of whatever good baseball players like Jose Altuve have left, but we also have to acknowledge that this current iteration of the Astros is in transition. Saving money and keeping those good prospects in house guarantee that the transition won’t be like the dead period between 2009 and 2014. We can’t and shouldn’t handle five years of bad baseball in exchange for guaranteeing a spot in the dance. We can both increase our odds and keep the future intact at the same time and that is exactly what we should do.

The Mets close out a three-game series with the Royals on Thursday afternoon at 1:10 on SNY.

---

Mets Notes

• Carson Benge has reached base safely in 19 of his last 20 games, and is hitting .310/.370/.512 (.881 OPS) with four homers during that span
• A.J. Ewing is hitting .316/.400/.608 (1.008 OPS) with six homers, five doubles, 13 runs scored, and 17 RBI in 90 plate appearances over his last 23 games
• Juan Soto is leading the National League in OBP (.410), OPS (.978), and OPS+ (168)
• Bo Bichette is a career .438 hitter with a homer in 16 at-bats against Royals starter Michael Wacha

---

Today's Lineups

---