DETROIT, MI - JUNE 28: Houston Astros manager Joe Espada (19) takes the ball from Houston Astros relief pitcher Bryan Abreu (52) during a pitching change during a regular season Major League Baseball game between the Houston Astros and the Detroit Tigers on June 28, 2026 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
As the trade deadline draws closer, the conversation surrounding the Houston Astros has remained fairly consistent.
The assumption is that Dana Brown will be looking for two things: a left-handed bat, preferably a corner outfielder, and possibly a starting pitcher.
Both make perfect sense.
But what if we’re all overlooking the area that has quietly become Houston’s biggest concern?
The bullpen.
For most of the season, the Astros’ relief corps has been one of the strengths of the club. Even while the rotation battled injuries and the lineup struggled to find consistency, the bullpen repeatedly kept Houston in games.
Lately, however, cracks have begun to appear.
Bryan King has been one of the Astros’ most reliable relievers for the majority of the season, but his recent performances have raised legitimate concerns. Over his last few outings, he’s struggled to execute in key situations, and those appearances have done little to inspire confidence, not only within the fan base but likely inside the clubhouse as well.
Every reliever goes through rough patches.
The question is whether this is simply a temporary slump or the beginning of something more concerning as the season enters its most important stretch.
Then there’s Bryan Abreu.
For the better part of the last several years, Abreu has been one of baseball’s premier setup men. He thrived in high-leverage situations and was arguably as important to Houston’s bullpen success as anyone not named Josh Hader.
This season has been a completely different story.
The command hasn’t been as sharp. The consistency has disappeared. Perhaps most concerning, the trust that once existed every time Abreu entered a close game simply isn’t there at the moment.
That’s a significant problem for a team with championship aspirations.
The return of Bennett Sousa should provide an immediate boost, particularly for a bullpen that has leaned heavily on left-handed options throughout the season. But expecting one reliever to solve every late-inning issue isn’t realistic.
Depth matters.
Especially in October.
The Astros know better than anyone that playoff baseball is often decided by which bullpen can consistently record the final nine outs. One injury, one extended slump, or one overworked reliever can completely alter a postseason series.
That’s why adding another reliable bullpen arm—or even two—should be higher on Houston’s priority list than many people realize.
Of course, Dana Brown’s job won’t be easy.
The expanded playoff format has created a league where very few teams are willing to wave the white flag before the deadline. With so many clubs still believing they’re in the Wild Card race, the number of true sellers continues to shrink.
That means quality relief pitching will likely be in high demand, making it both expensive and difficult to acquire.
The Astros still need another bat. They could certainly use additional starting pitching depth as well.
But as the calendar moves closer to the deadline, don’t be surprised if the bullpen quietly climbs to the top of Dana Brown’s shopping list.
Sometimes the biggest need isn’t the one everyone is talking about.
It might just be the one that’s slowly revealing itself with every late inning.
As the trade deadline approaches, Astros fans should keep one more question in mind.
Are the Astros really just one bat or one starting pitcher away?
Or has the bullpen suddenly become the area that could determine whether this team makes another deep postseason run?
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - CIRCA 1989: Von Hayes #9 of the Philadelphia Phillies gets back to first base safe as Will Clark #22 of the San Francisco Giants looks on during an Major League Baseball game circa 1989 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. Hayes played for the Phillies from 1983-91. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today’s question of the day is a trip down memory lane.
The Phillies weren’t very good after the 1983 World Series. They lost that Series to the Orioles, seeing their “Wheeze Kids” roster come up short and their roster then starting change over. After that magical run, there wasn’t much to speak about with the team until 1993. Even then, it was a fun filled season that didn’t really feel like it would be lasting very long. The team continued to fall on hard times until they moved into Citizens Bank Park, when the added money to the coffers allowed them to build a winner in 2008 before tearing it all down in 2013 and building back up again.
The question I have today focuses on that time between 1983 and 2004, when they started to get more consistent good(ish) baseball. What is your favorite memory of that time that doesn’t have anything to do with 1993? That’s the easy answer since it involved another World Series appearance, but these were some formative years for baseball fans around here, yours truly included. For me, it was getting to follow Von Hayes. That was my favorite player for some reason, the one I would emulate in the backyard. Don’t ask me why he was my favorite, but that was who I watched all the time.
Jul 7, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Hunter Dobbins (40) pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers during the second inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
The St. Louis Cardinals had plenty of positive vibes around the team coming out of the All-Star break and those good feelings continued into game one of the series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Michael McGreevy, advanced metrics be darned, did what he does to notch a quality start in a gritty win. In game two, Dustin May got the ball to prove to the Cardinals (and trade suitors) that he can remain healthy and effective into the second half of a season.
Unfortunately, that audition did not go great for anyone involved as May walked four and gave up five runs on eight hits in a 5-3 loss on Saturday. The bullpen allowed just one baserunner the rest of the way but the damage was done. To what extent that damage did to May’s trade value is unknown and there still seems to be a split crowd for what his future should be with the organization. He was signed on a one-year deal with the idea of a deal at the deadline, but he may have sunk his prospect value enough to argue he could be worth holding onto in this improbable playoff contention season.
Regardless of the outcome surrounding May, there are going to be innings to be had in the rotation, be it from poor performance, innings limits, or injury. In a wild universe that is hopefully not this one, the Cardinals could be looking to replace 4/5 of their rotation not soon after August 3. My only lock for the 2027 rotation is McGreevy.
The Cardinals entire pitching staff could look different after the trade deadline
In my first buy or sell conversation of the year, most of the chatter centered around the pitching staff and what to do with May. A slight majority of fans seem to be leaning towards dealing May, but then beg the question why stop there? Andre Pallante has pitched his way into a solid value, but he could be overpaid soon through he arbitration process and may not be an arm the Cardinals are desperate to build around this offseason. He is less likely to be pitching elsewhere in August, but you have to think Bloom is answering all calls about any of his major league arms.
Behind Pallante and May sits Kyle Leahy, who has found his footing as a starter after a tough first stretch. The 29-year-old sits 7-4 with a 3.73 ERA and even though the advanced stats are less bullish on his work, he has become a reliable arm but another one who may have more future value elsewhere. And then there is Matthew Liberatore. I figure he is going to be trotted out every fifth day or so for the entire season before any long-term decisions are made, but a move to the bullpen at the latter stages of the season may not be out of the question.
Reliever JoJo Romero hit the injured list with appendicitis late in the week and, less importantly than his health, now has plenty of questions about his own trade prospects. He was a likely trade candidate last year, but Chaim Bloom opted to maximize his value this year and seemed a near sure thing to be dealt this year. With no firm timetable to return, the Cardinals will now have a decision on whether to deal the lefty while injured, or hope he can regain his form and shore up a bullpen in a playoff race.
Elsewhere in the ‘pen, Riley O’Brien has shown his flaws as a closer and will not net the prospect capital some fans thought after his hot start. His remaining team control could mean Bloom will be more picky during this season and be more aggressive shopping the closer in the offseason. This could backfire and turn into another Romero situation, although O’Brien is nearly two years older with a spotty injury history, so there may be more reason to trade him now. Ryne Stanek may net something in return on the trade market, but expecting Bloom to find yet another low prospect diamond in the rough for an inconsistent and aging reliever is a tough ask.
If you’re still with me, that’s a lot of ifs/ands/buts within the 13-man pitching staff. While all seven of the above arms will probably not be in a new place in a couple weeks, there is still going to be some change in the pitching setup. For this practice, I am going to assume there are 2.5 rotation spots open and at least two meaningful bullpen roles up for grabs from August through the end of the season.
Lefty Quinn Mathews has found his 2024 self, pitching to a 2.01 ERA over his last four outings while striking out more than a batter an inning. He has grabbed the recent headlines, but the first option for one of the first open spots is probably still Hunter Dobbins. The righty has a couple MLB outings so far this year but has really hit a wall in Memphis over his last three outings. If both of these players keep going in their current directions, Mathews could leapfrog Dobbins into an extended audition. A trade would need to happen for this as Mathews needs to be added to the 40-man roster.
The other Memphis starter to debut in St. Louis this year is another lefty in Brycen Mautz. He has become a kind of forgotten man after his hot start and has 16 walks over his last 16 innings in Triple-A. Mautz is of course on the 40-man so a promotion for him would be clean and easy, but has back to back short starts and could be ticketed for a bullpen role or that .5 rotation spot needed for extra rest. A post-deadline rotation that includes Dobbins and Mathews could be seen as a net positive regardless of the outcome because there should be enough starting opportunities to begin a proper evaluation period on their future potential.
Bullpen turnover is going to continue regardless of the trade deadline, but we could end up seeing Matt Svanson and Luis Gastelum become more important later in games if there is a deal or two. That leaves the middle innings of blowouts (always in the Cardinals’ favor) available for guys to get their feet wet in the majors and provide valuable support in the dog days of summer. That means we are almost guaranteed to see Ryan Fernandez again at some point, but we could also get a glimpse of Cade Winquest, Hancel Rincon, and Victor Santos. And just because I need to when there’s a chance, if Tink Hence looks even close to 100% healthy ever again, call him up and get at least one major league appearance out of him.
If the Cardinals need a little more length, they could go with Pete Hansen or Austin Love, but I would not mind seeing what the team has in Cooper Hjerpe. the lefty has looked good in his rehab from surgery and rather than push his innings up too much, a tapered down August in a reliever role could be really fun in St. Louis.
Of course, there is a chance the Cardinals get major league ready arm talent in return at the trade deadline, but the current crop of trade candidates may just get younger, developmental arms in return. In a season where the goal was to figure out what the organization has, this trade deadline should provide ample opportunity for Chaim Bloom and his staff to start diving into what is already here before making a new checklist this offseason.
The Chicago Cubs are sizable -160 favorites to win the rubber match this afternoon against the Minnesota Twins.
With an enticing matchup against the homer-prone Zebby Matthews, my Twins vs. Cubs predictions and MLB picks are backing the home team to get it done.
Who will win Twins vs Cubs today: Cubs (-160)
Zebby Matthews posted a sub-3.40 xERA over his first three starts, allowing five runs in total.
His numbers have since taken a turn for the worse. He conceded 29 runs spanning his past eight starts and recorded a 4.70 xERA or higher in seven of them — including four straight above 5.5.
The Chicago Cubs rank eighth in wOBA and OPS facing righties the past month. They’re plenty capable of capitalizing on this matchup.
Homers are the best way for offenses to score runs in bulk, and we could see plenty today.
Matthews ranks in the fifth percentile in barrel rate, which has made it difficult to keep the ball in the park. He has allowed homers at the second-highest clip (2.28 HR/9) among all of today’s starters over the past 30 days.
Imanaga has an easier matchup and has done a better job of limiting runs as a whole, but he’s not far behind at 2.11 HR/9 the last month.
This total is too low. Play to -125.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 59-48, +0.60 units
Over/Under bets: 58-44-5, +6.49 units
Twins vs Cubs weather
Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-70s, with 8 mph winds blowing in. Small boost to the pitchers.
Twins vs Cubs odds
Moneyline: Twins +140 | Cubs -160
Run line: Twins +1.5 (-145) | Cubs -1.5 (+125)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-110) | Under 7.5 (-110)
Twins vs Cubs trend
Minnesota has hit the game total Over in 22 of the last 35 games. Find more MLB betting trends for Twins vs. Cubs.
How to watch Twins vs Cubs and game info
Location
Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Sunday, July 19, 2026
First pitch
2:20 p.m. ET
TV
Twins.TV, MARQ
Twins starting pitcher
Zebby Matthews (4-6, 4.57 ERA)
Cubs starting pitcher
Shota Imanaga (5-8, 4.17 ERA)
Twins vs Cubs 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.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 18: Evan Carter #32 of the Texas Rangers (right) celebrates with Ezequiel Duran #20 after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on July 18, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rangers 7, Braves 6
That’s another one run win for the Rangers.
Texas is now 18-10 in one run games this season, and have won their last 11 one run games in a row.
Winning all 11 of their last one run games…that seems like a lot.
The last one run game the Rangers lost was on May 27, against the Astros.
MacKenzie Gore pitched really well, except for one inning.
That one inning made it an overall bad outing for Gore, I’m afraid.
Gore allowed six hits and walked a batter in his 5.2 innings pitched. The walk, and four of the hits, all came in the second inning, when the Braves scored four runs.
One of the hits was an Eli White home run. The Braves purchased White from the Rangers in the 2022-23 offseason, during a period of time when it seemed like every Ranger who was dropped from the 40 man roster ended up being claimed or purchased or traded for by Atlanta.
Gore allowed five runs in all, the fifth of which came on a Michael Harris II leadoff homer in the third, after the Rangers had rallied to make it a one run game.
Gore also hit three batters in the game. He had only hit two batters all season prior to this game.
I was curious, and went and look…Gore is the tenth pitcher to hit three batters in a game this year. He’s the first Ranger to do so since Kyle Cody back in 2021.
Despite giving up four runs in the second and not executing a shutdown inning in the third, Gore ended up getting credit for the win, as the Rangers rallied to come back and take the lead before Gore was pulled.
Gore’s final two batters before being pulled were first pitch HBPs with two out in the sixth, resulting in Skip Schumaker pulling Gore for Robby Ahlstrom.
If you were worried about Ahlstrom entering the game with the go-ahead run at the plate, you aren’t alone. Happily, Ahlstrom retired Drake Baldwin to end the inning, and was replaced by Tyler Alexander for the seventh inning.
The return of Jakob Junis from the injured list made the late game reliever deployment a little less stressful, though Alexander allowed a run in the seventh to make it a one run game, and Jacob Latz was asked to get a four out save after Junis allowed a two out single in the eighth.
The one batter Ahlstrom faced, and the batter Junis was pulled so that Latz could face, is Drake Baldwin. Baldwin is a lefthanded hitter, but his split are almost non-existent — he has an 800 OPS against righthanders this year, compared to an 810 OPS against lefties, and put up an 818 OPS against lefties last year against an 808 OPS against righthanders. He doesn’t seem like the guy you’re going to go through machinations with to make sure he faces a lefty.
Joc Pederson started the game with a leadoff home run, and went 2 for 4 with before lifted for pinch hitter Justin Foscue with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh with an opportunity to blow the game open.
Sadly, Foscue hit into a double play. More happily, the Rangers still won.
Evan Carter homered as well, in the sixth inning when the Rangers re-took the lead for good. He had a two run shot that tied the game, part of a 2 for 4 game which also saw him draw a walk.
Wyatt Langford, Josh Jung and Brandon Nimmo also had two hit games.
We like when Rangers hitters have two hit games.
Houston lost, so the Astros are now four back of Texas. The Mariners won, so they are still a game and a half back.
MacKenzie Gore topped out at 96.2 mph with his sinker and 96.1 mph with his fastball, avering 95.3 mph and 94.8 mph with those pitches, respectively. Robby Ahlstrom threw one pitch, a 93.9 mph sinker. Tyler Alexander touched 92.5 mph with his sinker. Jakob Junis’s fastball reached 93.8 mph. Jacob Latz maxed out at 97.3 mph with his fastball.
Brandon Nimmo had a 109.4 mph single and a 100.8 mph single. Joc Pederson had a 104.3 mph home run and a 102.4 mph single. Jake Burger had a 103.9 mph fly out and a 102.4 mph single. Evan Carter’s homer was 101.1 mph. Ezequiel Duran had a 100.2 mph fly out.
The Rangers won’t be swept in Atlanta. Let’s see if they can win the series.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 18: Wilyer Abreu #52 and Ceddanne Rafaela #3 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate after taking the lead against the Tampa Bay Rays in the bottom of the seventh inning at Fenway Park on July 18, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees were rained out on Saturday, meaning they face a pivotal day-night doubleheader on Sunday against the Dodgers with a chance to win the series in one go. Severe storms in the eastern half of the country have led to a handful of rainouts and doubleheaders to open the second half, all of which had implications on divisional races around the AL. The Red Sox swept their two games against the Rays on Friday while the Pirates had an opportunity to do the same to the Guardians on Saturday to ratchet up the drama in the East and Central.
Boston Red Sox (49-48) 7, Tampa Bay Rays (56-41) 6
The Red Sox rode a seventh-inning comeback to take the first three games of this four game set from the first-place Rays, giving Boston a 12-game winning streak. Neither of the starting pitchers pulled their weight, Ian Seymour lasting just three innings for Tampa after allowing three runs on two hits and two walks while Patrick Sandoval allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits and a walk in five innings.
The Rays opened the scoring in the second as Ryan Vilade led off with a double and scored on a Chandler Simpson single, the speedy left fielder then advancing to second on a throwing error and scoring on a Nick Fortes RBI single. Boston responded with a pair in the bottom-half, Andruw Monasterio drawing an ABS-assisted walk and scoring on a two-run homer from Jahmai Jones. They grabbed a lead the following inning on a solo shot from Wilyer Abreu, but Tampa answered with three in the fourth on a Simpson leadoff double, a Victor Mesa Jr. two-run blast, Richie Palacios double, and Yandy Díaz RBI single, though Díaz would be thrown out at the plate to end the inning on an ensuing double by Jonny DeLuca.
That out at home would prove the difference, as despite Tampa adding an insurance run on a solo shot from DeLuca in the seventh, Boston roared back with four runs in the bottom of that frame to grab the decisive lead. Monasterio led off with a double and advanced to third as Jarren Duran reached on a throwing error by Vilade to put runners on the corners with no outs. Masataka Yoshida brought Monasterio home with an RBI groundout and Ceddanne Rafaela plated Duran with an RBI double to draw within one. This brought Abreu to the plate to demolish his second home run of the game, this one a two-run shot to complete the comeback.
With the win, the Red Sox move above .500 for the first time since Opening Day. In the span of two weeks, they have gone from 15.5 games back in last place to third place and only seven games back of first.
The rainout on Friday set up a Saturday day-night doubleheader between these two Rust Belt rivals. Jared Jones pitched six perfect innings last time out against the Braves and he followed that up with another dominant display in the first game of the doubleheader, tossing five innings of one-run ball on three hits and a walk against nine strikeouts. His offense did their scoring in bunches, plating two in the second on a two-run bomb by Jacob Gonzalez, three in the sixth on a two-run tank from Esmerlyn Valdez and a solo shot by Nick Gonzales, and two in the eighth on a wild pitch and a Ryan O’Hearn sac fly.
Guardians rookie Travis Bazzana had himself quite the day. After tripling in his team’s only run in the early game, Bazzana won the nightcap with his first career walk-off home run. Pittsburgh scored the first three runs of the contest, one in each of the second, third, and fourth on a Brandon Lowe sac fly, Esmerlyn Valdez RBI double, and Jake Mangum RBI single. That lead held until the eighth when the Pirates bullpen imploded. Cleveland scored three in the eighth on singles by Steven Kwan, Brayan Rocchio, Chase DeLauter, and Kahlil Watson, aided by a pair of wild pitches. That set up the defining moment for Bazzana in the ninth. Patrick Bailey led off with a single but was thrown out at home on a Kwan double. However, Bazzana picked up his teammate with a two-run walk-off home run to draw the Guardians level with the White Sox atop the AL Central, Chicago remaining nominally ahead on winning percentage.
Toronto Blue Jays (46-52) 1, Chicago White Sox (51-46) 0
The Blue Jays suddenly find themselves in last place, so perhaps it is fitting that Shane Bieber pitched his best start of the year — six shutout innings allowing three hits and two walks against six strikeouts — just in time to be shopped at the Trade Deadline. The three relievers that followed kept the shutout intact, allowing just a hit and a walk in the final three frames. The lone run of the contest came in the fourth, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reaching on a one-out double and scoring on a George Springer RBI single.
The Rangers became the first team in the AL West to reach 50 wins with a nail-biter against the Braves. After Joc Pederson led off the game with a homer Atlanta jumped out to an early 4-1 lead, Eli White hitting a two-run homer, Drake Baldwin an RBI single, and Ozzie Albies a sac fly in the second. Texas cut that deficit to one courtesy of RBI singles by Wyatt Langford and Brandon Nimmo in the third, but a Michael Harris II leadoff homer in the bottom of the frame restored Atlanta’s two-run cushion. In the sixth, it was the Rangers’ turn to score four runs, the first pair on an Evan Carter two-run blast to tie the game, 5-5, and the second pair on a two-run single from Nimmo with the bases loaded. Mauricio Dubón cut the deficit to one with an RBI double seventh, but Texas would hold on from there for the 7-6 win.
Seattle Mariners (49-50) 4, San Francisco Giants (42-56) 3
The Guardians weren’t the only team to win it with the last swing of the game, the Mariners avenging last night’s shutout loss with an extra-innings walk-off win over the Giants. In a battle of staff aces having relatively down years neither pitcher came out on top, Logan Webb allowing three runs on two hits and a walk in 6.2 innings while Bryan Woo allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks in six innings. San Francisco scored the first three runs of the game, rookie Bryce Eldridge lining an RBI single in the third and Rafael Devers and Willy Adames crushing a pair of solo home runs in the sixth. Cole Young responded with a three-run homer in the seventh to send the game to extras. In the bottom of the tenth, a Colt Emerson sac bunt advanced the automatic runner to third, and after a J.P. Crawford walk, Julio Rodríguez hit a ball just deep enough to left to bring Victor Robles home as the game-winning run.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 03: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts at the end of the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on July 03, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the first time since the “hurriquake” of August 2023, the Dodgers will play a doubleheader on Sunday after their game against the Yankees on Saturday was postponed due to heavy rain.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start the first game of the doubleheader, while the Dodgers have yet to announce their starter for the latter game. The Dodgers have made it clear that Shohei Ohtani will not be pitching in the Bronx, as his next scheduled start lines up on Wednesday when the team is in Philadelphia, per Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times. Whether he will resume his two-way duties on Wednesday is still up in the air.
Ohtani was expected to be in the lineup for all three games against the Yankees. He planned to play catch and throw off the mound in the coming days, and the team would monitor his response before finalizing pitching plans.
Taking the mound Wednesday would give Ohtani more recovery time heading into the team’s day off. When asked if Ohtani would shoulder two-way duties Wednesday, Roberts said, “We’ll see when we get there.”
Ohtani has not pitched since July 3 against the San Diego Padres, and he enters the second half of the season with a record of 8-2 and a 1.79 ERA across 14 starts.
Kiké Hernández has appeared in just two games this season and has been out since May 27 after suffering an oblique strain. Hernández is currently undergoing a rehab assignment and could rejoin the team during their next homestand, reports Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
The fan-favorite utility player began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday night, beginning with a weekend series in Tacoma, Wash. Hernández is unlikely to return during the Dodgers’ three-city road trip visiting the Yankees, Phillies and Mets, but he could be activated from the 10-day injured list during L.A.’s next homestand beginning on July 28.
The Yankees aren’t a ballclub that has expectations of losing in the World Series. It’s apparent with their 27 championships.
“The disappointment of getting to the end and playing for it all and coming up short, that’s one of those things that leaves a scar,” manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees’ game against the Dodgers on Saturday was rained out and will be made up on Sunday as a split doubleheader. “You want to be in a position to be in a World Series and play for it all. We had that opportunity and came up short. So there’s pain and disappointment that comes with that, and it’s part of our baseball journey.”
FREDERICK, MARYLAND - APRIL19, 2026: Ike Irish #11 of the Frederick Keys bats during a South Atlantic League game against the Hudson Valley Renegades at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Frederick, Maryland. The Renegades beat the Keys, 7-6. (Photo by Rodger Wood/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Nestor German started for the Tides and pitched six strong innings. His only run allowed came on a solo home run in the second inning, and he in fact allowed just two hits and one walk. He struck out four. German is on a nice stretch and has now allowed just one run in July. That’s three starts and 18 innings.
The Tides hitters had two four-run innings. Enrique Bradfield, Jr., who has been pretty cold of late, contributed two singles from the top of the lineup. Heston Kjerstad had an RBI single in five ABs. It was a big night for outfielder Michael Siani, who singled and doubled. He picked up three RBI. And Jud Fabian had a nice night as well. He knocked in two with a single and a sac fly, and also took a walk.
Down 3-1 going into the bottom of the eighth inning, the Baysox stormed back with three runs to take the lead and get the win.
Joseph Dzierwa started for the Baysox and allowed just one baserunner through the first three innings on a walk. In the fourth, he gave up back-to-back singles to start the inning but worked out of the jam. The last out of that inning came when the Yard Goats runner attempted to steal home and was thrown out by Dzierwa. In the fifth inning, he issued a walk and then allowed a home run to put the Yard Goats up 2-0. That was his last batter. Final line: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K.
Sebastian Gongora pitched the final four innings and allowed just one run on two hits. He struck out six and was awarded the win.
On offense, the Baysox were hitless until the sixth inning. Through five, they had just two baserunners. One reached via HBP, the other by walk. Brandon Butterworth, who took the walk, was picked off. With runners on first and third and no outs in the seventh, Aron Estrada hit into a double play. The run came in, but the rally was squashed. Estrada and Butterworth both did better in the eighth inning, with RBI singles. Anderson De Los Santos knocked in the third run with a bases-loaded walk.
High-A: Frederick Keys 12, Greenville Drive (BOS) 2
The Keys’ offense was pumping last night as they scored 12 runs on 20 hits on the road in Greenville. They were leading 4-2 after six when they put up back-to-back four-run innings up in the seventh and eighth. Number nine hitter Edwin Amparo and leadoff hitter Ike Irish each had three-hit games, with Amparo on base ahead of Irish twice to get knocked in.
Wehiwa Aloy, batting after Irish, reached base four times with two singles and two walks. He scored a run on an error after a walk, and knocked in another un on a sac fly. Braylin Tavera capped off the scoring with a three-run home run in the eighth inning. It was a four RBI night for Tavera. Leandro Arias and Yasmil Bucce also had three hits. Every player in the Keys lineup had at least one.
Patrick Reilly continued his rehab with two runs in four innings. He allowed four hits, struck out four, and walked one. In his fifth game back, four innings is his longest stint so far.
Low-A: Salem RidgeYaks (BOS) 10, Delmarva Shorebirds 5
Starting pitcher Christian Rodriguez allowed one run in two innings pitched. He worked around a single in the first but wasn’t as lucky in the second, when a double and single resulted in a run. No word I could find on why Rodriguez exited after two innings. He had thrown just 34 pitches. Hopefully it’s not due to injury.
The pitchers who followed let the game get out of hand immediately. Jason Shockley, Teddy Sharkey, and Andrew Herbert allowed three runs apiece out of the bullpen.
The Shorebirds got off to an early lead with a three-run second inning. Two runs scored on a single by Jose Perez and a third scored on a throwing error by Salem’s shortstop. They added two more in the eighth. Stiven Martinez walked and scored on a Miguel Rodríguez double. Rodríguez then scored on a single from Adriander Mejía.
It was a three-hit day for Perez and a two-hit day for Mejía. Jaiden Lo Re was 1-for-5 as the leadoff batter.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 13: Jose Quintana #62 of the Colorado Rockies gets a new ball after giving up a walk in the second inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on May 13, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Friday, the Colorado Rockies updated their injury report.
RHP McCade Brown — Continuing in his throwing progression in Arizona. (60-day IL; right shoulder inflammation)
RHP Blas Castaño — Continuing in his throwing program; scheduled to throw off a mound later in the week. (15-day IL; right pectoral strain)
OF Brenton Doyle — Continuing strengthening program with his left adductor, which was injured while on rehab for his left oblique injury; will progress to running and baseball activities during the week. (15-day IL; left oblique contusion)
RHP Seth Halvorsen — Threw live bullpen yesterday; next step is a scheduled rehab assignment. (15-day IL; right shoulder inflammation)
RHP Jaden Hill — Playing light catch. (15-day IL; right shoulder tendinitis)
LHP José Quintana — Continuing to progress through his throwing program. (60-day IL; left elbow strain)
Beyond that, here’s what our writers were up to during the All-Star break!
With the first half of the season complete and the second half underway, what are your conclusions so far? What are your expectations for the rest of the season? Let us know in the comments!
For Colin Rea, Friday evening was a rough one — but he had it better than most. Rea’s quality start over six innings saw him scatter five hits and a walk and strike out six. His one mistake was a three-run home run to Ryan Jeffers.
After Drew Pomeranz had a poor outing, the three following relievers punched through 2.2 innings of scoreless ball. But the game was over after that home run as the Cubs managed only six hits, two by Nico Hoerner, and included a double by Seiya Suzuki. Michael Busch’s first-inning RBI single was the only non-wild pitch aided run the Cubs could muster.
The reunion of the 2016 Cubs made for a wonderful Saturday and the Champions Gate is another fine addition to Gallagher Way.
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Hubert Charles Sumlin (November 16, 1931 – December 4, 2011) was a Chicago blues guitarist and singer, best known for his “wrenched, shattering bursts of notes, sudden cliff-hanger silences and daring rhythmic suspensions” as a member of Howlin’ Wolf’s band. Sumlin was born in Greenwood, Mississippi, and raised in Hughes, Arkansas. He got his first guitar when he was eight years old. As a boy, he met Howlin’ Wolf by sneaking into a performance.
In Chicago, Wolf hired the guitarist Jody Williams, but in 1954 he invited Sumlin to move to Chicago to play second guitar in his band. Williams left the band in 1955, leaving Sumlin as the primary guitarist, a position he held almost continuously for the remainder of Wolf’s career. Upon Wolf’s death in 1976, Sumlin continued playing with several other members of Wolf’s band, as the Wolf Gang, until about 1980. He also recorded under his own name, beginning with a session from a tour of Europe with Wolf in 1964. His last solo album was About Them Shoes, released in 2004 by Tone-Cool Records.
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Jun 12, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets mascots Mrs. and Mr. Met ride around the stadium after the New York Mets defeat the Atlanta Braves 7-5 at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The Mets, through Chelsea Janes, have started letting teams know that they will begin selling off the team with the exception of a few players. All of the approximately 20 or so teams that are still in a stone’s throw of a wild card spot have begun salivating. Woo for expanded playoff, I guess. It’s almost certain that the mutual NL East resident Mets will send any of their players in order to help the Braves to the postseason. But since this is a Braves blog, how does the Mets fire sale affect the Braves? Or does it at all?
"As the second half begins Thursday night, it seems the time has come: A rival executive said the Mets informed their team that the sale is on, and that everyone but young stars Carson Benge, AJ Ewing, Christian Scott, Nolan… pic.twitter.com/H9N4QmdOB9
For one, it looks like some team that will be fighting the Braves for a playoff spot is probably going to get pitching help. AJ Minter and Brooks Raley would be a great add for someone. Freddy Peralta is all but gone. Bo Bichette will be a prize for someone. But I don’t know if the Mets’ supply of expiring or bloated contracts adds much to the supply that might make some teams not interested in players that the Braves could grab. More supply is good, but there’s a ton of demand.
Still fun to watch it, though. I’m not grinning. You’re grinning.
Walk-up music is a phenomenon that has become more and more prevalent in recent years for baseball and softball players at all levels. It’s a trend that started at the major league level and has worked its way down to the kids. For some, it’s probably the highlight of their baseball experience, so why not let them have some fun? Plus, who hasn’t walked into a house at some point in their life and wished that they had their own entrance music to let everybody know that they’ve arrived?
I made this argument back in 2022 when a Koji Uehara entrance video from the 2013 playoffs resurfaced, running to the mound to Darude’s “Sandstorm” to uproarious, concert-level applause. The link is gone now, so let’s try again.
Remember, there was a time not too long ago that the only music that we had at Fenway was from the organist. Granted, it was a funeral in there most of the time up until 2004, but this was certainly a park that lagged behind most of the modern parks in terms of atmosphere.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about walk-up music at the high school level, mainly because of the people in charge of starting and stopping the music on time. When disco music is still playing in the pitcher’s wind-up, that’s a problem. However, after seeing a kid get into the box with Maxine Nightingale’s “Right Back Where We Started From” on the speakers, I decided I just couldn’t fight it anymore. When family members texted me from the World Baseball Classic in Puerto Rico that Abraham Toro had chosen French Montana’s “Pop That” as his walk-up song, complete with video footage of the historic event, I knew I need to write this article at some point.
A good walk-up song needs to be upbeat. It needs to be a groove. For a batter, it needs to work as a short snippet, maybe ten seconds long. You need fans to hear it in the stadium, stop in the middle of a sentence, and say “Oh!!” And, of course, it should never be country music. (I’m fully aware that I’ll lose at least a third of the readers with that last sentence. I’m not sorry that my selections below are devoid of country songs.)
Every Major League Baseball team has a page within their website that compiles the walk-up songs of most of the players. Inexplicably, there isn’t a landing page within mlb.com where you can toggle across the 30 teams. Lucky for you, I’ve put a link to every one of those teams’ pages below, so that you can bookmark this article for eternity for future updates. And all Spotify song links are “clean” versions, so that you won’t get fired if you read this at work.
Music is very subjective, so if you disagree with anything below, I encourage you to write your own piece on the matter. Here is my list of the best walk-up song choices across each of the 30 MLB teams, mostly in alphabetical order by team, with the exception of the Top-5 that are ranked at the end.
An oldie that aligns with a pitcher’s entrance. Tremendous guitar in the song opening, which works better for a long jog to the bump, rather than a short ten-second walk.
Few albums in this century are more of a joy than Kid Cudi’s “Man On The Moon” (2009). Rutschman’s choice of “Alive” is a strong one from that album (also the walk-up of the Red Sox’ Caleb Durbin), although personally I would have gone with “Cudi Zone.” Either way, the Cudi vibes are high in the Orioles clubhouse, and I appreciate that.
“Allow me to reintroduce myself: my name is HOV.” Dave Chappelle yelling that phrase at work executives during the “When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong” sketch was a personal favorite.
As I mentioned in the Uehara piece, entrance music means the most to WWE fans, specifically during the Attitude Era of the 90s. Jim Johnston was a damn legend, writing and recording all of the WWE theme songs. Kurt Angle gets the easy nod from the Rockies, but I certainly would’ve gone with The Great Chris Jericho’s “Break The Walls Down” if it was me.
Tremendous choice. For my money, the single best song of the 80s. A hat tip to Gru as well, who flawlessly covered this song at a prison in Despicable Me 4.
WEEI has a shocking number of bangers that they use coming out of commercials on the Sox radio broadcast. Wu Tang Clan’s “Gravel Pit” … Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” … A Flock of Seagulls’ “I Ran (So Far Away).” Whoever is tasked with the commercial outro music deserves a significant raise. I didn’t know I liked Levitating until I heard the version that features Joe Castiglione.
(See Colorado Rockies write-up). If this week’s #1 overall pick, Roch Cholowsky, does not come out to one of the numerous versions of The Rock’s entrance song, alongside a People’s Eyebrow, it will be a major whiff.
The Phillies don’t post their walk-up songs, so I’m taking it upon myself to post this clip from 2022. Bryce Harper’s first at bat at home in the World Series, after hitting the game-winning home run in the NLCS. Incredible job from Fox letting the walk-up and crowd noise tell the story, followed by a first-pitch home run, which John Smoltz basically predicts will happen. Imagine not liking baseball? (Also, a reminder of how great the pitch clock is as we go more than a minute waiting for the first pitch of the at-bat).
Empire of the Sun’s “Walking On A Dream” is an all-time favorite and was under consideration for the Top Five. This strong alternate version will have to do.
“It sounds like the music they play at The Olive Garden. The Olive Garden kicks ass.” The immortal Beavis and Butthead broke this song down back in 2011.
Butthead: “Remember when you asked that waitress at The Olive Garden to dance, and then she slapped you, and the manager threw you out?”
Beavis: “Oh yeah. That was cool.”
San Francisco Giants Adrian Houser: Creedance Clearwater Revival – Run Through The Jungle
A 12-second perfect instrumental to start the song, and then not a single lyric that could be played at a family-friendly event. Arguably the ideal choice!
As if we shouldn’t be concerned enough about Naylor, after learning that he stabbed a teammate in the minor leagues, he walks up to “Stan”?? A “prank that went a little too far.” I’ll say!
Speaking of Eminem, 2002’s “The Eminem Show” album was his peak, in my opinion. The only thing that I ever “re2pected” about Derek Jeter was that “Square Dance” was his walk-up song for one season.
As mentioned earlier, the epic guitar solo in “Money For Nothing” could only work for a pitcher’s entrance to play throughout the lengthier first-inning warm-up pitches.
Two-for-two from PCA. He nails the local theme featuring the lyric, “When I’m back in Chicago,” from End Of Beginning. And then the iconic groove of Time To Pretend … more on that album later.
We’ve all heard this one a thousand times. Perhaps on a dance floor, or perhaps to get through the final few minutes of your workout. It never gets old. I’ll run through a wall to this song, or just to the pitcher’s mound, either/or.
Honorable Mention: Taylor Walls: Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz “Get Low”
Yup. Taylor “to the window, to the” Walls. I see what you’re doing here, and I approve.
3b. Toronto Blue Jays Adam Macko: Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack
If you have a name that includes “mack” or rhymes with “mack”, you don’t have much of a choice but to walk out to this song.
I don’t have such a name, but I’d still walk up to it since it just might be the greatest song of my lifetime.
Leaving Edwin Diaz’s “Narco” intro out of this list feels reckless. But Timmy Trumpets felt like more of a Mets connection than Dodgers. And for all we know, Diaz is probably only using Narco as his cockfighting intro music these days.
Cheating a little, as this was Anthony’s walk-up song last year, and he’s currently taking a tour of lovely Fort Myers in July, but maybe getting back to his rookie-season roots will turn his luck around in 2026. The “Oracular Spectacular” (2007) album is an absolute masterpiece, especially when you consider that many of the songs were meant to be ironic, making fun of modern pop music. In the behind-the-scenes making of “Electric Feel”, you hear the band asking if, by attempting to make the song better, “do you mean worse?” It was the soundtrack to his first career at-bat, and if the Sox are going to make any kind of postseason run, we need Roman and these vibes back in the lineup asap.
Loperfido is curiously missing from the Astros website at the moment, but I heard it earlier this season, and immediately made sure I had a screenshot of the heroic player in question.
Paper Planes was played on alternative rock stations, it was played on hip-hop stations, and eventually pop stations. Hell, Jay-Z and T.I. made “Swagga Like Us”, which had an entire chorus out of one single lyric from the song. The intro is incredible, the chorus is unmatched, and if you don’t react with an “Oh!” when Joey Loperfido walks to the plate, then I’m not sure we can be friends.
Paper Planes would be my 2026 walk-up song (to the buffet).
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 18: Brandon Marsh #16 celebrates a 6-1 win over the New York Mets with Bryson Stott #5, Trea Turner #7, Alec Bohm #28, and Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies during a game at Citizens Bank Park on July 18, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Do you think this is the day where the team doesn’t move their start time up? Not that yesterday or Thursday’s games didn’t need to be moved; they had good reasons.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 20: Yennier Cano #78 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, June 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
With the 2026 trade deadline looming in the coming weeks, contending teams are looking to do everything between making a big splash and tying up some loose ends. Among the more frequent moves at the deadline is movement among veteran relief pitchers. With the Orioles 10 games out of the American League East, and four games under .500, there’s a reasonable chance Yennier Cano could fit that bill.
The Yankees, just like almost any team with October aspirations, could always use some security in the bullpen. The righty broke out with an All-Star season in 2023, and is enjoying his best season in 2026 since then. Cano is a talented pitcher, and has two more years of team control, so he wouldn’t necessarily be the cheapest option out there, but he could certainly be of help to plenty of contending clubs.
Cano, who made his major league debut at 28 years old back in 2022, has had an up-and-down career in the big leagues. The big right-hander made that debut with the Minnesota Twins, though he pitched only 10 games with the club before being traded to the Orioles. On the whole, none of his 13 games in his debut season were particularly impressive, but Cano did enough to stick around for the 2023 season, and the O’s were certainly glad that he did.
In that year, the righty pitched 72.2 innings, managing a sparkling 2.11 ERA and 2.84 FIP for Baltimore. For a team that won over 100 games, Cano was a vital part of the bullpen for the O’s that featured several premier arms. The performance warranted an All-Star selection for the then 29-year-old, and locked him in as a cog in the Baltimore ‘pen.
While it wasn’t quite on par with the year prior, Cano was still good in the 2024 season, where he worked 60 innings in relief with a still-respectable 3.15 ERA. In a similar workload in 2025, however, Cano struggled to make much of anything happen, as his ERA soared above five while his strikeout and walk rates each took hits. It was certainly a disappointing season for the righty, in his third full year with the O’s, but there was still time for a rebound for Cano.
To this point in the season, it’s fair to call Cano’s 2026 season exactly that. He’s pitched in 42 games this year (just 31 innings), but they have been high quality ones. His 2.32 ERA is the best since that All-Star campaign and his 2.58 FIP would be a career-best. While his strikeout rate is trending in the wrong direction, his control has been top-notch, as he’s limited walks at the best rate in his career. After a down year, a control-reliant bounce back was exactly what the righty needed.
As far as a fit with the Yankees, it would be hard to deny the need for quality bullpen arms for any squad. With one of their prior deadline acquisitions, Camilo Doval, managing an ERA north of five, the Yankees will take another impact right-hander by any means. Whether the Yankees will pay the price for a reliever with two-plus years of control remains to be seen, but Cano would easily slide into almost any bullpen with ease.
Yennier Cano’s track record in the big leagues is not exactly a consistent one, but his highs are impressive, and he’s seemingly in the midst of one of them here in the 2026 season. The Yankees wouldn’t shy away from bullpen help, but the question remains of whether they’d pay for Cano’s talents and team control.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 22: Starting pitcher Kyle Bradish #38 of the Baltimore Orioles smiles in the dugout during the sixth inning of a game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 22, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Scott Strazzante/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
Is it just me, or is baseball suddenly kind of fun again?
The Orioles could end up disappointing us all again, and soon. But yesterday was a pretty great day for the organization. On the field, the O’s pulled off a stunning, extra-innings victory over the Astros to run their winning streak to six, getting key contributions from unheralded (and in some cases, maligned) players like Tyler O’Neill, Leody Taveras, and Cam Sanders. The Orioles are now within two games of a wild card spot, though they’re still having to play catch-up to the surging Red Sox, who won their 12th game in a row last night.
And the Birds made even bigger news off the field, signing Kyle Bradish to a five-year, $90 million extension. The deal buys out his remaining two years of arbitration and keeps him in an O’s uniform for an additional three. It’s great news not only for Bradish but also for the Orioles, who have locked up a quality arm through the 2031 season. With Shane Baz also signed long-term, the O’s have guaranteed some stability in their rotation for the next several years.
Bradish has been perhaps the best pitching success story under the Mike Elias administration. The O’s acquired him as a High-A minor leaguer in the Dylan Bundy trade with the Angels in 2019, and while he wasn’t a top prospect at the time of the deal, the Orioles have developed him into one of the game’s most dependable hurlers. Bradish has a career 3.50 ERA in 86 major league starts, including a dominant 2023 season that earned him fourth place in the AL Cy Young vote. After Tommy John surgery cut short his 2024 and 2025 campaigns, he has returned to form this season as an integral part of the Birds’ rotation. Now we’ll be seeing him for a long while.
Kudos to Elias and David Rubenstein for getting this deal done. There are a lot of problems with this Orioles team that won’t be easy to fix — and could ultimately cost Elias his job if the O’s tail off again — but ponying up the money to keep talented players in Baltimore is an excellent way to build the foundation of a winning team. In the past 12 months, the O’s have done it with Samuel Basallo, Baz, and now Bradish, not to mention the five-year commitment to add Pete Alonso in free agency. The Orioles have the core of a contending roster. Now let’s work on cleaning up the other stuff.
There was still more Orioles signing news yesterday. The O’s announced an agreement with their 2026 first-round draft pick, Eric Booth Jr. The deal is for $7,324,700, according to MLB.com’s Jim Callis, which is $2,500 less than the slot value of the #7 pick. There wasn’t much doubt that the Orioles were going to sign Booth, but it’s nice that they got this over with quickly so that the speedy outfielder from Oak Grove, Miss., can start his professional career.
There’s a lot going on with the O’s right now, most of it good. Let’s hope they can keep the positive vibes rolling as they go for a three-game sweep in Houston this afternoon.
Melewski speculates that Booth could report to extended spring training at Sarasota for a while before he joins an affiliate. But I want to see him now! Don’t the Orioles care what I think?
Think of all the terrible pitchers the Orioles have employed in the last 34 years, and yet none of them have ever given up a warehouse home run. I’m starting to think it’s never going to happen.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Former Orioles born on this day are first baseman David Segui (60), catcher Dan Graham (72), and the late infielder Billy Gardner (b. 1927, d. 2024).
On this date in 1991, Cal Ripken Jr. played his 1,500th consecutive game and also hit his 20th homer of the year, becoming only the eighth hitter in MLB history to begin his career with 10 consecutive 20-homer seasons. That streak was broken the following year, when he hit just 14 during the 1992 campaign.
And in 1994, the Orioles’ scheduled game at the Kingdome was postponed when four 15-pound tiles fell from the roof onto the seats. Fortunately it was two hours before gametime and no fans were sitting there, but yikes. An inspection revealed water damage in many of the roof’s tiles. The Mariners had to play their remaining 20 games on the road before the strike canceled the rest of the season.
Random Orioles game of the day
On July 19, 1956, the Orioles lost to the White Sox, 3-2, to end a six-game winning streak. Birds starter Mike Fornieles lasted only three innings, giving up three runs and seven hits, and the O’s offense had no answer for White Sox lefty Billy Pierce, who tossed a complete game for the victory. Pierce was a pretty good pitcher but especially dominant against the Orioles in his career, posting a 2.22 ERA against them in 66 games (more than a run lower than his overall 3.27 mark). Left fielder Bob Nieman homered in the losing effort for the Orioles.
COVERS INTEL: Matthews' 32nd percentile GB% could get him into trouble against the Cubs, 
