Category: MLB

After the Yankees placed left fielder Cody Bellinger on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain Sunday, manager Aaron Boone shared the severity and return time frame.

"Grade 2 strain, so probably a 4-to-6-week situation," Boone said before Monday's game opened a three-game series at the Chicago White Sox. "The good thing is he's obviously able to move around right now, so we'll continue to do that and just allow this thing to heal and get him right."

Bellinger is slashing .259/.350/.420 with 11 home runs and 53 RBI in 102 games this season.

"Obviously we've had some tough, tough injuries to some really important people," Boone said. "But again, that is part of it. And as I said, the season waits for no one. It creates an opportunity, legitimately does, for one or more people to go plug that hole -- to develop, to grow -- and we feel very much that we have capable people out there, capable guys who are capable of going out there and performing at a high level. We've got to weather that storm, and confident we can do that."

With the MLB trade deadline set for next Monday at 6 p.m., does Boone expect Bellinger's status to impact the front office's approach?

"No," Boone said. "I get the sense that they have been working on this in different ways, shape and form for the last several weeks, getting ready for trade deadline stuff and I expect them to try and do all they can to improve our team. But again, you never know how that's going to shake out. We'll see. Again, you've got still teams out there defining who they are and what they're even going to do come a week from now or whenever it is. No, I think they're eager to improve our club if they can. But things got to line up, too."

"We'll see," Boone added. "You never know. You go in looking to try and improve certain areas. Sometimes it lines up. Sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes you've got to pivot and go add to a strength or you never know how it's going to go. You've just got to be prepared that if something lines up and makes sense you're able to go do that. I know the front office is doing all their due diligence right now and we'll see how it shakes out over the next week."

Other injury updates

Boone was also asked about Giancarlo Stanton, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt.

There is no clarity of when Stanton (right calf strain) could return, Boone said.

"He's continuing with his running progression," Boone said of Stanton, who is with the Yankees as they continue their 10-game road trip. "The strength stuff, explosive stuff he's doing in the weight room has been very good. We've just got to get him up to a level, obviously, on the running side of things to be able to go out there."

Rodón (left elbow inflammation) and Schmidt (right forearm tightness) are set to throw live batting practices this week, Boone said.

"I think he's a live Wednesday, I believe, and Clarke is, I think, on Friday," Boone said. "Carlos will have a two-up live Wednesday -- I believe that's Somerset."

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Welcome back to another edition of our Reacts Survey! In this week’s survey, we’re asking about Brewers’ ace Jacob Misiorowski, specifically how you think the Brewers should manage his workload down the stretch.

Misiorowski, 24, pitched 66 innings in the majors (plus another 12 in the playoffs) last season after 63 1/3 innings at Triple-A in the first half of the year, totaling 141 1/3 innings to set a career-high mark.

This year, Misiorowski has already spanned 120 innings with two months left in the regular season, not to mention the postseason. While there’s no question Misiorowski is as dominant as they come — he struck out 12 in just five innings on Sunday, including the first seven batters of the game — the Brewers have already shown signs of cutting back on his workload.

He’s made just two starts since July 7 (with the All-Star break in there), and those two appearances have totaled just nine innings on 148 pitches. So, that leaves the question: How would you like the Brewers to handle Miz’s workload over the next two months? Keep pitching him as usual to keep him fresh? Set strict pitch/innings limits? Spread his starts out more? Weigh in below (or directly on The Feed), and we’ll share the results later this week!

The MLB trade deadline is about a week away, and several playoff contenders are in dire need of an extra kick to push them into World Series contention.

Whether it's a great starting pitcher, a platoon role hitter, or just some depth in the bullpen, there is a myriad of players available across the league who could help bolster your favorite team's roster.

While superstars like Tarik Skubal, Byron Buxton and Mason Miller will certainly steal the headlines if they swap teams, it's the smaller, more subtle moves that could shape the upcoming MLB postseason above all else. Here is one player every team in playoff position should target as the trade deadline approaches.

MLB trade deadline targets for each playoff team

AL East

• Tampa Bay Rays: LHP Tarik Skubal

Now I know what you're thinking, "The Rays? Going after the biggest player available? Never in a million years." Well, I guess 2026 might be that one in one million. The Rays have made efforts in recent years to acquire big name players in both free agency and at recent deadlines.

In 2023, during the final year of Shohei Ohtani's contract with the Angels, the Rays reportedly offered Junior Caminero and another top prospect Carson Williams for Ohtani's services. The team also went after Freddie Freeman and Aaron Judge during free agency this decade as well.

Not only would acquiring Skubal show the world that even a small market team like the Rays can make a push for a World Series, but it would give the Rays a postseason rotation that could compete with the best of the best, featuring a two-time Cy Young winner, two more All-Stars in Drew Rasmussen and Nick Martinez and Shane McClanahan.

• New York Yankees: C Ryan Jeffers

The Yankees have collected -0.6 bWAR from their catchers this season. That ranks 21st in MLB per Baseball Reference. Jeffers would give the Yankees an immediate upgrade at their most troublesome position, and with Cody Bellinger moving to the IL, the team will need some offense if they want to catch up to the Rays and earn themselves a shot at an AL East title.

Jeffers' 158 OPS+ is far above what any other catching option on the trade block might be able to offer. While he certainly would be a downgrade from Wells in terms of catcher framing, Jeffers has still ranked as an above average catcher when it comes to framing, ranking 26th among all catchers in the league this year. There really isn't a downside to this trade aside from the prospects that the Yankees would need to give up. But the Yankees do have a myriad of prospects.

• Boston Red Sox: SS Zach Neto

The Red Sox made a smart move in acquiring Curtis Mead already. The team needed pop and Mead now ranks second on the team in home runs. However, they could use even more in their lineup. Neto provides solid pop from a non-power position but also gives the team a massive offensive upgrade overall at the position.

With Trevor Story on the 60-day IL, and boasting a lackluster .547 OPS when healthy, Neto is exactly the type of bat that Boston could just plop near the top of their lineup to give everyone else a solid boost.

AL Central

• Chicago White Sox: RHP Sandy Alcantara

The White Sox are in an interesting position. They aren't considered an elite ball club just yet but are probably only a few years away, so they likely don't want to trade away any of their top prospects. If they are dead set on acquiring a game-changer though, former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara would be a massive get.

While Alcantara won't help a ton in the ERA department, he would help massively with innings. Currently, the White Sox have just two pitcher with over 100 innings pitched on their roster. Alcantara leads baseball in that category. The White Sox bullpen ranks ninth in ERA this season, so anyone who can give them innings and keep them fresh for the postseason would be a great addition to the club.

• Cleveland Guardians: OF Jo Adell

The Guardians might not be very many games over .500 but they are expected to buy at this year's deadline. That said, they aren't a team known for committing to massive players and selling prospects.

Jo Adell is someone who won't cost the team an arm and a leg, but he also fills one of the team's biggest needs: someone who can mash southpaws.

On the season, Adell boasts just a 92 wRC+, but against lefties, it shoots up to 164, making him absolutely dangerous in that situation. The Guardians rank 28th in baseball in team OPS against lefties (.651), so adding Adell would certainly fill the lineup out and give them a solid platoon option down the stretch.

AL West

• Texas Rangers: RHP Luke Weaver

A premier relief arm, Weaver would instantly bolster the Rangers' lackluster bullpen. Currently, the team ranks 19th in bullpen ERA, which isn't terrible, but down the stretch, getting depth in the back end of games is of the utmost importance, especially considering the Rangers' lack rotational depth as well.

The team could certainly go for a back-end starting option like Brady Singer or Seth Lugo, but Weaver is someone that could seriously make a difference in one of Texas' weakest areas. They could also add back-end bullpen arms like Brooks Raley and Kenley Jansen as well as none of them would cost too much in prospects.

• Seattle Mariners: UTIL Casey Schmitt

Much like Cleveland, the Mariners have struggled against left-handed pitching this season, and while Schmitt is certainly a volatile hitter, who struggles to get walks, he mashes lefties. Seattle ranks dead last in team OPS vs. lefties (.640).

Furthermore, Schmitt's defensive versatility would be a massive help to the team. Seattle ranks 24th in WAR by third baseman (-0.8) and 23rd in WAR from right fielders (-1.2). Adding Scmitt could fix either of those problems based on anyone else Seattle might want to go after in free agency.

• Houston Astros: LHP Robbie Ray

Though the Astros are currently third place in the AL West and three games under .500, they expect to be buyers at the trade deadline, hence their appearance on this list. A rental left-handed starter is exactly what the team needs as the team currently ranks 28th in starter ERA and has only played two games all season in which they threw out a southpaw to start the game.

That's concerning, and with other potential playoff teams like Cleveland and Seattle struggling against lefties all year, the team could really use someone, anyone that would slow down either of those squads.

NL East

• Atlanta Braves: RHP Kevin Gausman

While Gausman is not having the best season of his career right now, he is on an expiring contract and provides valuable playoff experience, something that the Braves sorely lack from their starting pitchers. All that is to say that the Braves need that kind of veteran leadership, and someone like Gausman, who has produced a 3.83 career postseason ERA, provides exactly that. Furthermore, the Braves likely could get Gausman for pennies on the dollar if the Blue Jays decide to sell.

• Philadelphia Phillies: LHP Robbie Ray

While the Phillies undoubtedly boast one of the best 1-2 punches in baseball at the top of their rotation, the bottom of their rotation is rather thin. Robbie Ray would provide the team with someone who could take Aaron Nola's spot at the bottom of the playoff rotation and easily slide in as the team's No. 3 or 4 starter.

NL Central

• Milwaukee Brewers: RHP Mason Miller

While Trevor Megill has been serviceable as the team's closer this year, the Brewers really could do with someone who closes a door emphatically, and no one does that better than San Diego's Mason Miller. The Brewers have the farm system to pay an obnoxious price for an All-Star closer, and given that the Brewers have blown 15 saves this year, which is more than the Braves, Dodgers, Phillies and Diamondbacks, Milwaukee should definitely be giving San Diego a call.

• Chicago Cubs: RHP Sandy Alcantara

The Cubs' rotation has been absolutely decimated with injuries this year. In 2026 alone, the team has had 12 players start games and only two of their pitchers have more than 80 innings on the season. Alcantara is an innings-eater, someone who could take some stress off an overly worked bullpen. Furthermore, even when their pitchers are healthy, the Cubs' rotation has been anything but solid, with only two of their top five starters recording an ERA under 4.0.

NL West

• Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP Kevin Gausman

With both Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow out with injuries, the Dodgers need a pitcher to give their team some depth. The Blue Jays make for a very smart trade partner. Considering the team has said they will at least be shopping Gausman, Shane Bieber and outfielder Daulton Varsho, the Blue Jays likely would be in the market for another outfielder.

Guess what! The Dodgers have outfielders up the wazoo in their farm system, and they likely wouldn't even need to give up one of their top five prospects to acquire someone struggling as badly as Gausman is.

DODGERS TRADE TARGETS: Will Shohei Ohtani knee issues impact strategy at deadline?

• Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Clay Holmes/1B Ty France

While Holmes is currently injured, he is nearing his return. The 33-year-old was fantastic before going down, posting a 2.39 ERA in nine starts.

The Diamondbacks do need pitching, and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo has said as much when speaking to the media, begging the team to bolster their rotation. The Mets would certainly love to move off of him for some value as well.

Of course, the Diamondbacks could also go with a position player, particularly first base. Outside of their top five guys in Ketel Marte, Nolan Arenado, Gabriel Moreno, Corbin Carroll and Geraldo Perdomo, the team has not gotten much out of their hitters. San Diego's Ty France would make a lot of sense for Arizona. Boasting 15 home runs and high-end defense at first, France would immediately give a boost to a D-Backs lineup that has received -1.7 WAR from first basemen on the season.

When is the MLB trade deadline?

The 2026 MLB trade deadline is set for 6 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 3.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: One perfect trade target for every MLB contender ahead of deadline

The Yankees got walloped last night, but overall their road trip is off to a strong start having taken two out of three from the Phillies. Now they’ll have the rare chance to get comfortable in a city other than New York, as they’ll be in the Windy City for the next week starting with a four-game set against the Chicago White Sox. The surprise division leaders in the AL Central have managed to jump ahead a few games of the pack thanks to a decent post-break start as well as the Guardians sliding down, and they’ll look to get revenge for a series victory that New York took in the Bronx back in June.

Max Fried is set to make his second start since returning from the IL, and his previous outing was about as good as you could ask for. Limited to 60 pitches, Fried was hyper efficient going five innings and striking out seven with just one hit and one walk allowed, and though the organization has not said there’s an official pitch limit in place for tonight you’d have to imagine he’ll be lifted somewhere in the 80-85 pitch range this time out as he builds back up from his bone bruise. Overall Fried’s been solid this year, pitching to a 2.97 ERA in 66.2 innings with 57 strikeouts to his name.

Noah Schultz will go for Chicago, and the 22-year-old rookie has been welcomed to the league rather roughly. He’s the owner of a 6.04 ERA in 12 starts, and he got rocked in his most recent start for five runs and 11 hits in 3.2 innings. Schultz hasn’t made it past the fifth inning in any of his July starts, and has given up three or more runs in seven of his last eight, so the onus is on the Yankee offense to wake up and make it a comfortable game for Fried. Schultz carries a wide pitch repertoire, consisting of a mid-90s four-seam, a cutter, a sinker, and a slider that he utilizes around 20 percent of the time each. He’s also got a changeup that he mixes in around 10 percent and a curveball that’s for show occasionally.

The Yankee lineup gets shaken up despite facing another lefty, with Max Schuemann leading off with Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt swapping order as they bat second and third respectively. Jasson Domínguez shifts over to right field as Spencer Jones enters the starting lineup and will play in center batting eighth, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. returns to second base batting sixth while José Caballero will move across the diamond and play third base.

Chicago’s answer to Fried starts with former Yankee Randal Grichuk leading off, the outfielder hitting for a 132 wRC+ in 53 games after getting DFA’d earlier in the year by New York. Home Run Derby participant Munetaka Murakami will bat behind him and Miguel Vargas rounds out the top of the order, both hitters having clubbed 22 home runs thus far. Montgomeries Colson and Braden cover the middle of their lineup, the former having hit 24 home runs while the other is a bench bat, and former Yankee Everson Pereira has been activated off the IL and will hit seventh manning center field.

How to watch

Location: Rate Field, Chicago IL

First pitch: 7:40 pm ET

TV broadcast: YES Network, Chicago Sports Network

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000 AM, 107.9 La Ley (CWS)

For updates, follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Starting the week on the South Side. #RepBXpic.twitter.com/7J95ubCKfr

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 27, 2026

Taking on the Yankees pic.twitter.com/PIloC9qA1m

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 27, 2026

The shocking Red Sox resurgence has happened nearly entirely on or near the East Coast; that changes tonight, in Sacramento, where the Sox will face the A’s behind Payton Tolle. I’m not being hyperbolic to say that this trip is the Sox’s everything; while this year will always be known for The Streak, the ability to hit the road in the dog days and come back stronger is what powered the 2004 team (for example). It’s time for the Sox to win the games they’re supposed to win. I gotta good feeling, folks. Curtis Mead is batting second. Let’s get this.

I suppose thinking I’d find the A’s lineup on BlueSky was a bad idea. It’s okay, I’ve got plenty of those.

Things I did instead of starting this recap, a woeful 7-3 Mariners loss to the Rangers:

• Made a cup of coffee. Just one cup to get me going!
  
• Decided I deserved some chocolate syrup in the coffee. A treat for the recapper.
  
• Checked Slack, Bluesky, Twitter. Maybe someone else has some fresh insight on this team that will spark something that isn’t just baseball sucks dressed up in nicer language.
  
• Made a second cup of coffee because chocolate-laced coffee disappears quickly, it turns out.
  
• Thought about how the Rangers hitters seemed to have the Mariners’ pitchers figured out all weekend long, pouncing early and often and doing damage.
  
• Thought about how that approach really didn’t matter when George Kirby was grooving sweepers and sliders middle-middle, putting the Mariners in first a 1-0 hole, then a 4-1 hole, then a 7-2 hole, effectively wiping out any chance at a comeback despite some early signs of life from the offense, which shut down after that against Kumar Rocker, who demolished Mariners hitters with his slider and looked unhittable over his last four innings.
  
• Thought about how George Kirby, who gave up four (4) homers today to Rangers hitters, once looked unhittable against Texas.
  
• Checked to make sure the chart posted properly. Read the comments. Felt bad.
  
• Debated a third cup of coffee. Filled water bottle instead.
  
• DM’d a bit with Sam, the site manager for Purple Row. Sympathized about how tough it is to run a site when the team sucks. Got and gave pointers on dealing with “doomers” in the comments because that is the level we are at, needing advice from people who have to deal with the literal Rockies on a daily basis.
  
• Thought about the Dodgers series looming and the real chance the Mariners will go 1-6 on this roadtrip.
  
• Checked chart comments again. Felt worse.
  
• Forced self to think about a positive thing about this series. Positive thing: Colt Emerson with five hits against just three strikeouts this series against a tough slate of Texas pitching.
  
• Considered if trading a lost 2026 season is worth it if Cole Young – who had six hits this series, didn’t strike out once, had the hardest-hit ball in today’s game at 111 mph, and looks locked in as the leadoff man – becomes the Mariners version of Jose Altuve.
  
• Entertained self by imagining Astros fans hating Nice Young Man Cole Young with the white-hot passion Mariners fans have hated Altuve.
  
• DM’d some more with Sam from Purple Row. The Rockies have just called up a young Cole of their own, Cole Carrigg, who plays at 150% at all times and the other day the Rockies broadcaster described him as “emotional.” Debated if “emotional” is pejorative or not, when “emotional” turns into “fiery competitor,” and how that term gets applied differently depending on a player’s age or national origin.
  
• Watched some Cole Carrigg highlights. Decided I much prefer having Cole Young.
  
• Wondered if the Mariners might give Michael Arroyo, who plays a pretty high-emotion brand of baseball himself, a shot since firing the hitting coach didn’t seem to spark anything.
  
• Made a third cup of coffee. Ignored water.
  
• Decided I already put more effort into this recap than the Mariners did this game. Tough recap today.

Oh boy. Here we go.

Here’s the Guardians’ lineup:

2nd leg of the Ohio Cup starts tonight. Here’s the #Guardians starting lineup for their series opener in Cincinnati:

LF Kwan
DH Ramírez
RF DeLauter
2B Bazzana
SS Rocchio
1B Manzardo
3B Arias
C Bailey
CF Halpin

SP Cecconi#GuardsBall x @WEWS

— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) July 27, 2026

Here’s the Reds’ lineup:

Burns Day on ESPN.

Powered by @PNCBankpic.twitter.com/jDRgFt7del

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 27, 2026

Let’s go, Guardians!

Yay, the phenom is back!

Game 107.

The first of three against the Nationals. Tomorrow’s is a 6:45 start time too, then a 1:00 game on Wednesday/

It is Max Scherzer starting for us tonight. And James Wood, taking a few years off acting, leads off for the Nationals. I was trying to think of the best movies I’ve seen with James Wood in. I guess Casino. Maybe Once Upon a Time in America. Or perhaps the small role in Entourage.

I’m still not a fan of Nathan Lukes at the top of the order against a lefty.

Go Jays Go.

Detroit Tigers (50-55) vs. Baltimore Orioles (51-55)

Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., Comerica Park
SB Nation Site:Camden Chat
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Keider Montero (7-5, 3.14 ERA) vs. RHP Kyle Bradish (7-9, 3.49 ERA)

Player	G	IP	K%	BB%	GB%	FIP	fWAR
Montero	22	106.0	18.6	5.3	40.7	3.57	2.2
Bradish	20	113.1	23.1	10.7	48.7	3.95	1.7

Motor City Monday

⚾️ 6:40 PM ET
📺 @WatchDSN
📻 @971theticketxyt
🏟️ Comerica Park pic.twitter.com/pmoPgK4k8s

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) July 27, 2026

Monday in the Motor City.

📺 @masnOrioles & MASN+
📻 98 Rock 97.9 FM & WBAL 1090 AM pic.twitter.com/cL79h49OVp

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 27, 2026

WASHINGTON – Connelly Early has been a major leaguer for just 10 months, but he’s packed a wild spectrum of emotions into that period.

It started with his big league debut in August 2025 in West Sacramento, his family trekking cross country from Virginia to Yolo County to take it in. Two months later, he started a do-or-die playoff game for the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.

Come spring, he survived a monthlong battle and won the fifth starter job for the Red Sox, standing on the baseline for Opening Day in Cincinnati, the club he rooted for as a child. Three months later, he was in orthopedist Keith Meister’s Dallas exam room, wondering whether he’d blown out his prized left elbow.

Finally, Saturday, July 25, his phone rang shortly before 11 p.m., as he was getting ready for bed. Forget how high the Red Sox were on Early, and the years of club control they’d enjoy: Club president Craig Breslow informed Early he’d been traded to the Washington Nationals for slugger Curtis Mead in the first major transaction before the trade deadline.

Monday, he put on jersey No. 19, climbed a bullpen mound at Nationals Park and began a new journey, one that began with Meister confirming it was just inflammation, not ligament damage, around his elbow.

He hopes to commence a rehab assignment next week and, later in August, partake in what few imagined at the start of the season: Help the Nationals in their drive for a playoff spot.

In a trade deadline rarity, Early did not lose much in the standings: Boston’s 15-game winning streak pushed it into what’s now a 2½-game lead for the final wild card spot in the American League. The Nationals, toting the most potent offense in the majors, are tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates just one game out of the National League’s final wild card spot, currently held by Arizona.

So, not much harmed. Yet the gentle dip in the standings is quantifiable; the emotional heft of getting traded from a team that drafted him in the fifth round out of the University of Virginia in 2023 was more challenging to process.

“I feel like baseball brings so much more than the game,” Connelly said Monday. “It brings so many relationships, builds bonds that you can’t really get anywhere else.

“So obviously that’s tough, but I’m excited to be here and build that with these guys around me.”

He leaves behind close ties with fellow lefty starter Payton Tolle, a relationship with pitching coach Andrew Bailey and interim manager Chad Tracy, who also managed him at Class AAA Worcester.

But there’s still a connection in D.C.: First-year Nationals baseball operations chief Paul Toboni came from Boston, where as vice president of amateur scouting he drafted Early. And even traveled to West Sacramento to witness his debut.

This time, Toboni was giving up a prized asset – Mead has 17 homers, an .852 OPS and is expected to destroy left-handed pitching at Fenway Park – to snag Early.

And so shortly after Breslow got off the phone, Toboni was blowing him up.

“Obviously a little bit emotional, coming up with (Boston),” Early said. “But I know T-Bone pretty well and he called me after that, and just super excited to get here and have a couple familiar faces.”

Indeed, Early grew up in the Richmond area, a little more than two hours from Nationals Park, and he has relatives in nearby Ashburn. He’d been to a handful of Nationals games as a kid, but, in one of those inexplicable-little-kid moments, took a shine to Joey Votto and Aroldis Chapman and thus rooted for the Reds growing up.

A decade later, Early was sharing the Red Sox clubhouse with Chapman, now the all-time leader in strikeouts for a reliever.

“You don’t get to see all the behind-the-scenes stuff,” Early said of Chapman. “You just see 100 mph on the board. You wonder how he gets to that point, and then you watch him go about his work and you know why.”

Early is just beginning his journey. He struck out 29 in 19⅓ innings of his debut year, then, with Boston’s rotation facing injury, drew a difficult assignment: Game 3, AL wild-card series against the Yankees and rookie Cam Schlittler.

Early did not survive that buzzsaw – he gave up three earned runs in 3⅔ innings while Schlittler famously struck out 12 over eight shutout innings. Yet he was road-tested by the time spring came around, and posted a 3.44 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 91⅔ innings of 17 starts this year before his elbow barked. Oddly enough, the injury came after he threw four innings of three-hit, shutout ball against Washington at Fenway Park.

Now, the Nationals hope he’s their rotation fixture. The trade nicely balanced both clubs’ needs, although a winner or loser may eventually emerge.

Early plans to remain unbothered. It is an ethos that’s already served him well over this wild year of a major league indoctrination.

“I just go out there and compete every single time. I love playing baseball,” Early said. “There’s a lot of people who think about results. I’m just out there enjoying it.

“In this job, everybody’s put under a microscope. So the more you can make it fun, the better it’s going to be.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: First big deal of MLB trade deadline capped wild year for Connelly Early

Initially, when Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger got hurt on Saturday, it was believed that the injury was not overly serious. Dealing with a hamstring strain, the All-Star and former NL MVP was even seen doing some light jogging in left field on Sunday before the series finale in Philadelphia.

Well, perhaps he shouldn’t have done that, at least not yet. Results of tests performed on Bellinger’s left hamstring came on Monday, and it was revealed that he is dealing with a Grade 2 hamstring strain, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. As a result, he is expected to be sidelined for 4-to-6 weeks.

Grade 2 strain for Cody Bellinger. 4-6 weeks, per Aaron Boone.

— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) July 27, 2026

Losing Bellinger represents yet another blow to an offense that is already missing Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. The outfielder is hitting .259/.350/.420 with 11 home runs, 10 stolen bases, a 119 wRC+ and 3.0 fWAR in 2026, his second season in pinstripes.

With Bellinger out of action for the time being, Spencer Jones is expected to take on a significant role with the Yankees, with utility option Max Schuemann also seeing some time against southpaws. The team, however, needs to go to the trade market and bring in a relevant bat.

We are not talking about just a catcher to share time with Austin Wells, no. We are talking about how the Yankees need to go out and acquire a productive outfielder to avoid falling too far down in the race for the AL East. Judge and Stanton aren’t particularly close to making it back, and every single game counts.

Bellinger spent much of the summer struggling to put up good numbers, but was starting to heat up, and the injury interrupts a nice little stretch he enjoyed from July 9-25. Over that span, the sweet-swinging lefty slashed a cool .372/.438/.465 with four doubles, six runs, three RBI, and a 161 wRC+.

Yesterday, 24-year old pitching wiz Jacob Misiorowski continued his dominate 2026 with a 12-strikeout, 1-hit performance across 5 innings against the lowly Colorado Rockies in Milwaukee. It was his ninth double digit strikeout performance of the season (in 20 starts), and it sparked another tranche of eye-popping posts from Sarah Langs about this velocity demon:

The Giants, the loser cousins of the Rockies, will not face Jacob Misiorowski in this series, thankfully. Indeed, they’ve managed to miss him these past two seasons. But, they’ll be facing a team that’s won 7 of 9 and is 50-25 since May 1st. Remarkably, the Giants split a 4-game series in Milwaukee at the beginning of June. Seems hard to remember 19 wins ago, but remarkably, the Giants are 19-23 since that series or 21-23 since the start of that split.

Hard to believe! Does that mean the Giants have Figured Things Out? No!

The Brewers are a great team that ought to clobber them. The only forseeable problem with that plan is the state of Milwaukee’s rotation after Misiorowski. Kyle Harrison is on the 15-day IL. Brandon Woodruff is on the 60-day IL. That leaves Mis, Brandon Sproat, Shane Drohan, Logan Henderson, and Robert Gasser as the rotation, a group that could clearly use an upgrade as the trade deadline approaches. Harrison (2.2 fWAR) is the second-most valuable pitcher after Misiorowski (4.8) and Woodruff was on his way to a good season before being lost for the season (1.2 fWAR in 45.1 IP). He and Harrison’s 3.4 fWAR is on par with the collective value of the current non-Mis group, just to put it in perspective.

Well, actually… despite those injuries, Milwaukee’s 17.1 fWAR makes them the most valuable pitching staff in the sport. 4.7 fWAR of that is coming just from the relief corps (3.47 ERA / 3.67 FIP in 410 IP, 9.2 K/9, 0.88 HR/9). The Giants’ bullpen, remarkably, is not the worst in the sport — yet. Their -0.1 fWAR is 25th, basically tied with the A’s, and both ahead of the Cubs, Reds, Nationals, and Royals.

Their top five hitters: Santa Rosa’s own Andrew Vaughn (141 wRC+), Jake Bauers (135), Gary Sanchez (128), Brice Turang (127) and Garrett Mitchell (124). Remarkably, the bigger names aren’t contributing at the same level, with Jackson Chourio a “mere” 120 wRC+. Cooper Pratt, who was recently signed to an historic extension, is at 114. William Contreras and Christian Yelich are right around 100 wRC+. They’re still a fine hitting group. Their team 105 wRC+ is 6th in MLB (they’re also 5th in runs scored). They also walk a lot (10.6 BB% — 2nd) and steal bases (104 — 5th).

What’s really funny about this comparison is that the Giants have had a great offense since June 1st (107 wRC+), but the Brewers have been even better (119) — and as good as the stats have been, the Giants have scrounged up just 204 runs (23rd), just barely ahead of the Angels.

So, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the baseball, I guess.

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Series Overview

Who: San Francisco Giants (44-61) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (66-39)
Where: Oracle Park | San Francisco, California
When: Monday & Tuesday at 6:45pm PT, Wednesday at 12:45pm PT
National broadcasts: None

Projected starters
Monday: Tyler Mahle (RHP 2-9, 5.31 ERA) vs. Brandon Sproat (RHP 3-5, 5.09 ERA)
Tuesday: Landen Roupp (RHP 7-8, 3.93 ERA) vs. Logan Henderson (RHP 4-1, 3.05 ERA)
Wednesday: Logan Webb (RHP 5-7, 3.98 ERA) vs. Shane Drohan (LHP 5-4, 3.51 ERA)

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Players to watch

Luis Rengifo: Since acquiring him from the Padres, he’s 13-for-30 with a pair of homers, a double, 7 RBI, and 3 walks against 6 strikeouts. Possible switch-hitting menace here.

Logan Webb: So, what’s going on here? Is he really cooked, washed, and/or chopped? My confidence in such declarations has increased as the season has gone along, but just looking at his Statcast data, the problems become a bit more clear:

• Claim: He probably has a bad defense behind him. Evidence: Hard Hit rate, xwOBACON, exit velocity, Barrel rates all lower than career average.
• Claim: ABS. Evidence: Strikeout rate (19.2%) below career average (22.5%), walk rate up (6.3% vs. career 5.8%).

He’s 5-0 (8 starts) with a 1.79 ERA in his career against the Brewers.

Prediction time

I like the Giants’ chances of winning a game and maybe even the series given the lack of Misiorowski in this series and I wonder what a single loss, let alone a series loss, might do to Milwaukee’s front office… become so embarrassed that they trade for Tarik Skubal or Hunter Greene (somehow)?

After a massive series win this weekend, the Nats kick off another series against the Blue Jays. Last season’s AL pennant winners have not had a great season, and are likely to sell at the deadline. However, the Jays still have plenty of firepower. The Nats also welcome back the greatest pitcher in franchise history in Max Scherzer.

With a righty on the mound, the Nats lineup looks pretty different. Luis Garcia Jr. goes back to the 2 spot in the lineup. Jose Tena, Daylen Lile, Keibert Ruiz and Jorbit Vivas are also back in the fold. Dylan Crews is the only true right handed hitter in the lineup. Eddy Yean will open for Andrew Alvarez in this contest.

monday, july 27 6:45pm

→ https://t.co/iUBDqlACVspic.twitter.com/Z514KkWd3U

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 27, 2026

The Jays have a lot of big names in the lineup, but many of them are underperforming. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the most notable example, with the slugger only having six homers this season. George Springer, Daulton Varsho and Alejandro Kirk are also struggling to replicate what they did last year. At least Kazuma Okamoto has provided some thump for them. Max Scherzer returns from the IL to make a start on his 42nd birthday in what could be his last start at Nationals Park.

Hello, Washington 👋 #BlueJays50pic.twitter.com/1gR93gxKUv

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 27, 2026

Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 6:45 PM EST

TV: Nationals.TV

Radio: 106.7 The Fan

This could be the last time we see Mad Max in action at Nationals Park. Hopefully the future Hall of Famer gets a warm reception. However, this offense will not be going easy on the veteran. This is another huge series in a playoff push. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!

The Cincinnati Reds return to Great American Ball Park on Monday fresh off a sucucessful road trip, and now they’ll send ace Chase Burns to the mound for the series opener against the Cleveland Guardians.

They’re riding a pretty good high right now, something that the Baseball Gods saw fit to wreck with the news that Spencer Steer tore a sheath in his wrist and will be out indefinitely – including through the trade deadline. So, now they don’t even have their most coveted trade chip to cash-in on in the next week even if things go sideways enough to start ripping things completely apart, which complicates the job facing the front office as this club is still mired in last place in the Central.

The Reds are, though, just 5 games out of the final NL Wild Card spot, and they could climb higher in that list if Burns shows up tonight and dominates the way we know he can. They’re up against a Cleveland club that has fallen completely on its face to begin the second half, fresh off five consecutive losses and just 3-7 overall since the All Star break. Because the AL as a whole this year is about as garbage below the top as it has been in years, they still hold a 1 game lead over Minnesota for the final AL Wild Card spot, but this is a team fighting for its life just like the Reds are with just a week to go before the deadline.

Slade Cecconi will start for Cleveland, who welcomed back Jose Ramirez last week after a five-week absence just in time to revv up to face Cincinnati pitching.

First pitch is slated for 7:00 PM ET, with this one being broadcast directly by ESPN.

Here’s how both clubs will line up to start: