Jul 6, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (61) pitches during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
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?
MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 22, 2026: Andrew Fischer #3 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws to first base during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Athletics at Hohokam Stadium on March 22, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
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 Tampa Bay Rays are firm -155 moneyline favorites against the New York Yankees today, and my Yankees vs. Rays predictionsare 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.
COVERS INTEL:Rasmussen has allowed only a 6.9% barrel rate, a key matchup point against a Yankees offense leaning on its 10.0% team barrel rate.
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.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 37-32, +7.77 units
Over/Under bets: 42-29, +17.09 units
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
Location
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Date
Thursday, July 9, 2026
First pitch
1:10 p.m. ET
TV
YES, Rays.TV
Yankees starting pitcher
Ryan Yarbrough (bulk) (0-0, 4.29 ERA)
Rays starting pitcher
Drew Rasmussen (7-4, 2.78 ERA)
Yankees vs Rays latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JULY 5: Pitcher Ranger Suarez #55 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 5, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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.
Jul 8, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets second baseman Brett Baty (7) reacts after scoring in the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
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.
UNITED STATES - CIRCA 2001: Former New York Yankees' greats Bill (Moose) Skowron, Tex Clevenger, Tom Tresh and Joe DeMaestri (l. to r.) are on hand for annual Old Timer's Day festivities at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees later lost to the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-3. (Photo by Howard Earl Simmons/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) | NY Daily News via Getty Images
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.
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.
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
ROYALS
METS
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
What channel is SNY?
Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.
How can I stream the game?
The way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv.
Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices.
Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”
To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.
For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 07: (EDITORS NOTE: double exposure photo) Justin Wrobleski #70 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
On a team with, when healthy, an entire rotation of All-Star worthy pitchers, one name might not have come to mind at the beginning of the season – Justin Wrobleski.
Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto were both selected this season. Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell have been selected in years previously. Wrobleski, while making an incredible case for himself this season, was not.
“You want to be an All-Star,” Wrobleski said. “It’s something that, regardless of the year, whenever, it’s always a big deal. It’s something I wanted to do. It’s frustrating to not get that nod.”
Wrobleski pitched seven innings of one-run ball on Tuesday night against the Colorado Rockies. He lowered his ERA to 2.69 and sits at 10-2 with 73 strikeouts and 1.02 WHIP.
The lefty has come a long way since being back in the minors last season to work on his craft. He has focused on attacking batters from the get-go, and it shows. In Tuesday night’s game, he had a first pitch strike to 23 of 28 batters. He leaned heavily on Clayton Kershaw last season for advice, and has changed his mind set to much improved results.
“I just don’t want him to get dinged for not making a couple more starts that he potentially could have had,” Roberts said. “He’s won 10 games for us — to be able to get pitching decisions, you’ve got to go deeper in games — the ERA. It’s about winning, the ERA is stellar, innings per outing, and so I just think that he’s performed enough to earn that opportunity.”
There is still a chance that Wrobo could be selected – Yamamoto is not expected to pitch in the All-Star Game, and Wrobleski could be chosen to replace him.
Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic has more details here, including what he’s been able to do on the mound this season.
Baseball player turned analyst Pedro Martinez has nicknamed Wrobleski “The Shark”, and the team and Dieter Ruhle have been having fun with it. After finishing his outing in Tuesday night’s game, while he was pacing the dugout, catcher Dalton Rushing put his hand to his head to make a shark fin. Ruhle, the Dodgers organist, played the “Jaws” theme after each strikeout and when he walked off the mound after the seventh inning.
“If it happens, great,” Wrobleski said. “If it doesn’t happen, some time off and just chill for a couple days. Either way, I’m all good.”
Maddie Lee of the L.A. Times has some more details as well as covering some about Shohei Ohtani’s 300th homer here.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JULY 8: Slade Cecconi #44 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts to a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the second inning at Target Field on July 8, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Guardians and the Minnesota Twins had a back and forth battle that carried a tie into the ninth inning. Slade didn’t go deep in the game, resulting in the bullpen to be nearly emptied. It was compounded with the pitching staff giving up eight walks and Tim Herrin being hit on the back of his throwing elbow.
Zack Meisel did report that Herrin’s x-ray is negative, but it was very obvious that Herrin was in a lot of pain when he was leaving the game.
The Guardians ultimately lost as the Twins walked it off. The full recap is available on the front page.
Somehow, despite not having played in weeks, José Ramírez is still leading in Outs Above Average. But, quickly climbing the leaderboard is one Daniel Schneemann.
Quincy took a look at Kyle Manzardo and the situation he currently is in as a hitter.
Matt Dallas gave a quick scout on the top pitchers available in the upcoming draft.
Lets Go Former Guards
Will Benson cleared waivers and was outrighted to Louisville.
Stuart Fairchild was picked up by the Mariners on a minor league deal.
Two familiar names will be joining the Mets. Xzavion Curry and Tobias Myers have been promoted to the Mets’ major league roster.
Around the League (And Beyond)
Justin Verlander has announced that he will be retiring after this season. This announcement came out shortly after it was announced that Verlander would be the Legend Pick for this year’s All-Star Game.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 06: Jac Caglianone #14 of the Kansas City Royals hits an RBI single against the Philadelphia Phillies during the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium on July 06, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Amy Kontras/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yesterday, Royals 1st baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone announced he will partake in the Home Run Derby next week.
One of the best young sluggers in the game is taking his powerful left-handed swing to Citizen Bank Park next week.
Jac Caglianone on Wednesday announced his decision to participate in Monday’s T-Mobile Home Run Derby in Philadelphia, airing live on Netflix.
Caglianone will be participating in his first Home Run Derby, and will be the Royals’ first participant since Bobby Witt Jr. blasted 50 homers as the 2024 Derby runner-up in Texas. Witt was named the American League’s starting shortstop for the All-Star Game this year and will be in Philly along with right-hander Michael Wacha to cheer on Caglianone — who will have his father, Jeff, pitch to him. Jeff told his son that his arm is ready to go.
The Royals fell apart in the 8th last night, losing 6-2 in Queens, after Alex Lange refused to get the last out of the inning
“It was a totally different game than yesterday and the pitching was dominating,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.
Bobby Witt Jr. was picked as the team’s best draft pick in the last decade.
Seven years after he went second overall to Kansas City, Witt has become the no-doubt face of the franchise and will remain so for a long time after signing an 11-year, $288.8 million contract extension in February 2024. (The deal could push to 14 years with options.) After early inconsistencies on both sides of the game, the shortstop has become one of baseball’s best five-tool talents and particularly stands out for his power and speed with exit velocities and sprint speeds that rank among the best in the Majors. He should be in the AL MVP discussion for a long time to come.
The Royals have relocated where their draft room is.
Here are the Royals latest transactions and injury updates.
Tyler Tolbert just made MLB history, but should he get more opportunities going forward? Kevin O’Brien gives his thoughts
Noah Cameron has a great curveball, but he needs to find another pitch to get hitters out.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is unbelievably hot at the plate currently
Dylan Cease was three outs from a no-hitter yesterday
The Miami Marlins are the hottest team in baseball currently
Mike Trout came back from the IL and promptly homered
Justin Verlander named All-Star, via legends pick, will retire after this season
Today’s song of the day is Home Sweet Home by Motley Crue
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: A general view of the New York Yankees playing against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on March 27, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
The San Francisco Giants welcome the Colorado Rockies to Oracle Park tonight to begin a four-game series. Because that’s what everyone wanted after a weekend series at Coors Field last week. Four more games!
I am, of course, kidding. Literally no one wants this, probably not even the players on either team. The Giants and Rockies are competing for last place. Not just in the division, but in the National League. (And potentially even in all of baseball, depending on how the Los Angeles Angels fare.)
Whatever the opposite of “an embarrassment of riches” is, that’s what this series will be. And we get four games of it! Because the baseball gods hate us, in particular, this season.
Best possible scenario, the Giants sweep and move into a more decisive fourth place in the division. But I stopped believing in any best case scenario with this team a long time ago. I’m fully expecting the Rockies to sweep. But these things seldom tend to go the way I expect, even when I expect the worst.
So how are you guys feeling about this series? Do you think the Giants will come out on top? Or do you think they’ll end up back in last place?
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants begin this four-game series against the Rockies tonight at 6:45 p.m. PT.
AKRON, OHIO - AUGUST 10, 2025: Juaron Watts-Brown #10 of the Chesapeake Baysox throws a pitch during the third inning against the Akron RubberDucks at Canal Park on August 10, 2025 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Triple-A: Syracuse Mets 9, Norfolk Tides 3 – Game 1/F7
Cade Povich got roughed up in Norfolk’s first game of the day. He struggled with control, walking four across 3.1 innings, which (in part) led to the seven runs he allowed on six hits and two strikeouts. Cameron Weston came on to record the final two outs of the fourth inning, but not before allowing two of the inherited runners to score and then coughing up two more of his own runs. Yaramil Hiraldo and Andrew Magno combined for three scoreless frames in the back half of the game.
Norfolk had four hits and four walks in the losing effort. Bryan Ramos’ RBI double in the seventh inning was their only extra-base knock. Jonathan Rodriguez and Heston Kjerstad both had one hit and one RBI. Luis Vázquez scored twice. Enrique Bradfield Jr. went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 3, Syracuse Mets 2 – Game 2/F7
The nightcap saw much better pitching on the Tides part. They held the Mets to just two hits and two runs, all of which came in the very first inning. Chris Kachmar started and allowed those two runs over three innings of work. He was followed by Yaqui Rivera, who tossed 2.2 scoreless and hitless innings. Jose Espada earned the win with his 1.1 shutout effort to conclude the second game of the day.
Norfolk had just two at-bats with runners in scoring position. Their runs scored on a Jud Fabian sac fly in the first inning, and then a tw0-RBI double by Christian Encarnacion-Strand in the sixth. Bradfield had a single, a triple, a stolen base, and two runs scored.
Despite the skewed scoreline, there actually was some good pitching in this game for Chesapeake. Juaron Watts-Brown, the starter, had yet another solid showing. Over five innings he allowed one run on four hits, one walk, and eight strikeouts. His 6.24 ERA at Double-A is still ugly, but that is now four straight starts in which he has thrown at least five innings and allowed three or fewer runs. Zane Barnhart (one inning, four runs) and Keagan Gillies (0.2 innings, three runs) had tougher stat lines. Tyson Neighbors came on to record the final four outs with relative ease.
Adam Retzbach had two of the Baysox five hits. One of them was his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot in the fifth inning. Anderson De Los Santos drove in the other run with a first-inning single to score Brandon Butterworth. Griff O’Ferrall went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
High-A: Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies) 9, Frederick Keys 5
It was a nice day at the plate for Yasmil Bucce. The catcher walked, doubled, and homered. Ike Irish added a pair of hits, including a double, plus a run scored. Randal Diaz, recently acquired from the Nationals, recorded his 10th double of the year. Wehiwa Aloy went 0-for-3 with two walks and two strikeouts. Victor Figueroa was 0-for-2 with an RBI.
Frederick used six pitchers to get through these nine innings. The starter, Yeiber Cartaya, lasted 3.1 innings and allowed four runs on four hits, three walks, and four strikeouts. No other pitcher threw more than two frames. Bradley Brehmer was the best of the bunch, deliver two shutout innings. Braeden Sloan, who has had a terrific season (1.71 ERA, 50 strikeouts, 31.2 innings) struggled a bit, giving up a pair of runs in his lone inning.
Delmarva had oodles of baserunners in this one, collecting 12 hits and four walks en route to their eight-run performance. Jordan Sanchez and Elvin Garcia both homered. Adriander Mejía doubled twice, walked, and scored a run. Raylin Ramos had three hits, two RBI, and two runs scored. DJ Layton went 1-for-4 with two RBI.
It was on the other side of the ball where things fell apart. None of the three pitchers that Delmarva used were particularly “good,” but they certianly weren’t helped by a defense that made five errors behind them. For that reason, three of the nine runs they allowed were unearned. Andrew Herbert started and was charged with three earned runs on six hits, two walks, and four strikeouts over five innings. Eccel Correa worked two innings and gave up one earned run while striking out three. Kailen Hamson gave up two runs on four hits, two walks, and zero strikeouts.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 01: Jimmy Crooks (8) of the St. Louis Cardinals loses his batting helmet while batting during the Wednesday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals on July 1, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Jimmy Crooks has terrible timing. In more ways than one. In most organizations, he would be in a pretty great spot right now. Sure, he’s struggled pretty mightily in his second try at the major leagues. But he’s a catcher and considered a good defender at that. Teams will wait multiple years for your bat to show up. You will get every opportunity to prove you’re a starting caliber catcher and you probably have a nice backup role if your bat never comes around.
Jimmy Crooks is not in most organizations. He has the misfortune of being sandwiched between two established MLB catchers and two great prospects below him. One of them is unquestionably a better prospect than him and the other is debatable but at worst, they seem like they are equal prospects. And the latter will be MLB ready fairly soon and is also on the 40 man. He is unfortunately in more of a “you got to perform” situation than most comparable prospects to him this quickly into their MLB career.
Basically, he has poor timing for a very simple reason: if you swapped Pedro Pages and Jimmy Crooks timelines, I’m not sure Pages ever gets a real shot with the Cardinals. Pages has great timing, and to his credit, he has capitalized on it. After a poor rookie season, he has been worth 2.2 fWAR in 548 PAs the past two seasons. Not a star, but a really good bridge catcher honestly while you wait for the higher potential guys to be ready. Assuming Crooks does in fact get 218 PAs like Pages got in his rookie season, will he get more chances if he’s not performing? Tough to say.
So the Jimmy Crooks conversation requires some nuance. Because I am very vocal in being a Pedro Pages defender, because I believe in his glove. I have also been vocal – at least I think – that assuming Crooks is worst case scenario Pedro Pages with a better bat was…. not a good assumption. (Especially in 2026) It ignores how difficult the transition from AAA to the majors is. And most importantly, I was absolutely not assuming Crooks was Pages’ equal defensively for the same exact reason I don’t assume Nathan Church is as good defensively as Victor Scott: when the bar is set that high, I need actual proof. (I still don’t think Church is as good defensively as Scott, but obviously his bat is way better)
Actually, in this specific case, it has more to do with catcher defense in general more than Pages setting some unreasonably high bar. Make no mistake: the average fan is underrating Pages defensively. But my skepticism about Crooks has more to do with how insanely difficult it is to grade catcher defense. Unless they are egregiously bad at it, you basically can’t tell how good a catcher is at framing from the eye test. You can’t tell how good they are with the staff at all.
What you can see is how good they are at throwing out runners and blocking. And blocking might be the lowest impact part of catching of all the things you can grade a catcher for. It doesn’t feel like it is, but consider: Pedro Pages doesn’t seem great at blocking right? That has cost him a grand total of….zero runs. Yeah he has been a neutral blocker. Neither a positive or negative. Part of it is we probably underrate how many balls do actually get by an average catcher, but also… one extra base here and there just isn’t moving the needle much.
Willson Contreras was a good blocker and also good at throwing out runners and also bad enough at defense that he needed to move to a different position. Like the two things we can actually notice as fans, Contreras was good at, but he was bad at literally every other part of being a catcher. Scouting defense at catcher is impossible for the average fan and very difficult for a pro scout.
Back to Crooks, I am not actually worried about his defense. I don’t know how good it will be, but we’re dealing with a small sample size. Also, I think in the same way a rookie will struggle to adjust to MLB pitching, there’s probably a learning curve for catcher defense too. I’ve been comparing Crooks to Pages this whole article and I’ll do it again: Pages did not rate as a good defender in his rookie season. There’s an adjustment period.
Am I worried about his bat? Yes and no. No, because he does have a .314 xwOBA so he should be getting better results than he has so far. And even if he was deserving of them, again it should not be surprising that a hitter who struck out nearly a third of the time in Memphis is having trouble making contact at the MLB level. I was certainly not expecting Crooks to be good right away. Not every hitter struggles for the first time in the majors, it just so happened Crooks was the exact kind of hitter who usually does tend to struggle. Nothing that has happened has altered my view of Crooks.
But I am worried about his bat a little bit, unrelated to his MLB struggles, because I kind of think his power in Memphis was completely fake. It happened of course. So it was “real.” But I don’t think we can trust those numbers whatsoever. And it is entirely due to one stat: HR/FB%. Most of you know what that is, but I’ll explain for those who don’t. When a hitter hits a flyball, it becomes a homer a certain percentage of the time. That’s what the stat is describing.
HR/FB% is clearly a skill, but it’s a skill in the same way BABIP is: you can have a very high BABIP and maybe that’s a skill you have, but it usually isn’t. Sometimes you’re Matt Holliday… and sometimes you’re Alec Bohm (.334 BABIP in his first three seasons…. a lot worse since).
In 2025, there were 19 qualified hitters with a 20 HR/FB% or higher. With the exception of Christian Yelich, all of them had .200 ISO. And besides Mike Trout, all of them hit at least 29 homers and Trout hit 26 while only playing in 130 games. Basically, you’re an elite power hitter if you manage a 20 HR/FB%. The low 30s is about as high as you will get and that’s Aaron Judge territory.
Jimmy Crooks was at 44.4% in Memphis. His previous career high? 17.3%. To be fair, that was in 2025, so at least that wasn’t a few years ago, but yeah I don’t think he’s a true talent 20 HR/FB%. If he hit homers at an 18 HR/FB%, he would have five homers on the season. Which is solid pop for a catcher, but I really would not expect him to be a 20 HR guy.
So I’m not “worried” about Crooks necessarily, I just don’t really see the upside others do in his offense, because I do not believe in his power. And his current profile of high strikeouts and an average amount of walks doesn’t really translate to a good hitter without power. One only really needs to look at his projection to see what the successful version of this looks like: 6.9 BB%, 28.1 K%, .124 ISO, 83 wRC+. If his defense is as good as advertised, that’s a solid player, though not tremendously different than Pedro Pages. But yeah if you were wondering at the projection, it’s because it sees the insanely high HR/FB% with no history to back it up.
Competing against Crooks are an interesting duo. Ivan Herrera should probably move off catcher. They gave him a legitimate shot, he’s still a valuable player with his poor defense, but it doesn’t really make any sense with what’s behind him. None of the four catchers below him have any defensive questions. Only Rodriguez might come close to him with the bat, but Rodriguez is a short stocky, slow guy. Too slow for outfield, too small for first base. Maybe you try Herrera in the outfield, maybe you just stick him at DH, maybe you trade Burly and move Herrera to 1B. Maybe you trade Herrera. It just feels like catcher should not be in his future.
Then there’s Pages who is also a bit weird. For those who want to trade him, in theory I absolutely agree. But it doesn’t seem like he would have actual trade value. And he’s a little bit too valuable to give away for nothing. He’s certainly a much better third catcher than Yohel Pozo at the least. Nonetheless, he makes for a bit of an awkward fit being probably the only dude with no actual potential. As long as Herrera stays at catcher, Pages is staying as the third catcher. And Pages is a perfectly acceptable backup if they only have two catchers, but then of course other catchers come knocking.
As far as what’s coming, I think Leo Bernal only adds to the confusion. I do not mean this in a derogatory way, but Bernal is very much a Dylan Carlson prospect. I mean in the sense of being a prospect because of being consistently average at a very young age for the level he’s playing at. This profile works so much better at catcher than outfield so believe me, this is not a criticism. Nonetheless, kind of hard to gauge what his real potential is due to this. Sometimes, their young age means they will keep advancing and they have way more potential than their numbers say and sometimes… they are Nomar Mazara and never actually take that next step.
And then of course there’s Rodriguez, whose bat certainly seems can’t miss right now. It doesn’t matter how good anyone is above him, he’s kicking them to the side whenever he’s ready. He’s what’s giving everyone else a ticking clock, and he’s to some extent forcing a decision maybe not at the deadline but you would think in the offseason at the least.
And in the middle of all this stands Crooks. Both Bernal and Rodriguez might be ready in 2027. That should give him the rest of this year at the least. Someone has to get traded out of this group and because of poor timing, I kind of struggle to see it not being Crooks right now. But who knows? Maybe they’ll go after a top of the rotation starter, and maybe Bernal returns that or maybe they trade Herrera instead for that. Who knows? Lot of directions this could go. I’m fascinated to see it play out.
COVERS INTEL:
