Category: MLB

You can definitely say that Bob Meusel made his MLB debut at the perfect time: in 1920, with the birth of the so-called live ball era. From that year until 1929, the hard-hitting outfielder was a key cog of the Yankees’ lineup in a key decade in franchise history, the days of the “Murderers’ Row.”

Robert William ‘Bob’ Meusel
Born: July 19, 1896 (San Jose, CA)
Died: November 28, 1977 (Downey, CA)
Yankees Tenure: 1920-1929

Meusel was born on this day 130 years ago in San Jose, California, to Charles and Mary Meusel. Robert William was his name, and he was the youngest of six children. One of his brothers was Emil “Irish” Meusel, who was a New York Giants star in the early 1920s.

The family relocated to Los Angeles when Bob was growing up. There, he went to the Los Angeles High School, played ball for Spokane in the Northwestern League in 1917, and then for the Vernon Tigers of the Pacific Coast League in 1917 and 1919. In the middle, in 1918, he served in the U.S. Navy, where he played baseball, too.

Meusel made his MLB debut for the Yankees in 1920, the same year in which Babe Ruth, who would be a close friend of his, was sold to the team. As a rookie, he tied for ninth with 11 home runs and finished fifth with 40 doubles. The power, as you can see, was always there, but one of his most underrated tools was an amazing throwing arm that has been described by some as being in a similar tier to Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, and Ichiro Suzuki, as the Society of American Baseball Research, or SABR, illustrates.

In 1921, Meusel led the league with 88 strikeouts, but posted a career-high .915 OPS that illustrates just how talented he was and how underrated he was in those Yankees of the 1920s. He increased his home run output to 24, drove in a whopping 138 runs, and helped take the Bombers to the World Series for the first time in franchise history. There, they lost to the Giants with his brother Irish shining.

Meusel wasn’t great in World Series play as a Yankee, accumulating a .225 batting average and a .632 OPS. Still, it doesn’t erase the contributions he made to the franchise and the fact that he helped take them to six Fall Classics, winning three.

It’s important to point out that Meusel got married that year, in 1921, on December 14th. He decided to make things formal with Edith Cowan. The couple had two children. Another anecdote of that eventful 1921 involving Meusel was that he, alongside Ruth and pitcher Bill Piercy, was suspended for going on a barnstorming tour after the Fall Classic.

The 1922 campaign was more of the same: steady production from Meusel (.898 OPS and 16 home runs) and another World Series loss to the Giants. The Yankees and ‘Long Bob’ would finally enjoy sweet revenge in 1923 after beating the Giants 4-2 in the Fall Classic, with the younger Meusel putting up a .731 OPS with a double, two triples, and eight RBI.

Meusel had a nice 1924 campaign, hitting .325/.365/.494 with 40 doubles, 11 triples, 12 home runs, 124 RBI, a .859 OPS, and a career-high 26 stolen bases. Meusel could do it all, including field, and had that elegance that some people mistook for laziness. The Yankees finished second in the junior circuit and didn’t make it to the World Series.

In 1925, despite the Yankees again failing to make it to the last series of the season, Meusel had arguably his finest campaign in pinstripes. He slashed .290/.348/.542 with an .889 OPS and led the American League in both home runs, with 33, and RBI, with 134. It was a down year for Ruth, as physical issues and other problems limited him to 98 games.

The Yankees would return to the Fall Classic in 1926, aided by Meusel’s 12 homers and .842 regular-season OPS. His 1926 World Series was a forgettable one, though. He was fine from a stats standpoint, finishing with a .788 OPS, but he made a key fielding error with the bases loaded in the fourth inning of Game 7 that led to the tying run and then missed several chances with runners on base at the plate to seal the Yankees’ fate that year.

The Murderers’ Row, as a term, can be used to refer to the 1920s Yankees in general, but it mostly refers to the 1927 lineup that won 110 of 155 regular-season games and then took the Fall Classic. The first six hitters, Earle Combs, Mark Koenig, Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Meusel, and Tony Lazzeri, were a handful for opposing pitchers.

Meusel hit .337/.393/.510 with eight round-trippers and a .902 OPS that year. He doubled 47 times, though, and also contributed nine triples. It was the first of two consecutive World Series sweeps by the Yankees, as they easily handled the Pittsburgh Pirates first, and the St. Louis Cardinals next in 1928.

In that 1928 campaign, Meusel started to decline. Yes, he drove in 113 runs, but his .816 OPS marked the start of a downward trend until he retired in 1930. That 1928 World Series would be his last, and it ended in his third ring.

He played exactly 100 games for the 1929 Yankees, but it was clear that he wasn’t the same. He finished with a .683 OPS, and was sold to the Cincinnati Reds, where he wrapped up a brilliant career in 1930.

Even though Meusel fell short of Hall of Fame status, he had a fantastic career that every young player would want. He retired with a .309/.356/.497 slash line, 156 home runs, 1,068 RBI, 142 stolen bases, and an .852 OPS. He racked up 28.7 Wins Above Replacement, per FanGraphs (fWAR). Combs, Meusel and Ruth formed one of history’s most feared outfields from 1924-29. The 1920s decade was when it all started for the Yankees, and Meusel was a huge part of it all. He ranked 50th in our list of the top 100 Yankees a few years ago, and it’s easy to see why.

Upon retiring, Meusel returned to the Navy, working as a security guard at one of its bases for 15 years. He was among those present at the famous Gehrig speech of July 4, 1939. Additionally, and according to SABR, he went on to appear in several movies (generally as himself) such as Slide, Kelly, Slide (1927), Alibi Ike (1935), Pride of the Yankees (1942), and The Babe Ruth Story (1948).

After baseball, Meusel lived a quiet life in California. He passed in 1977, a few days after the Yankees sealed their first World Series win in 15 years.

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

The season hangs in the balance for the San Diego Padres. With general manager and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller saying publicly, he wanted to wait to see how the team performed after the All-Star break before making a decision on how they would proceed at the trade deadline the Padres have started the second half with back-to-back losses to the Kansas City Royals. San Diego showed fight and intensity in their 7-6 10-inning loss on Friday night and the argument could be made that loss falls more on the shoulders of rookie manager Craig Stammen than the players, but that was not the case on Saturday.

The Padres faced off against a bulk innings reliever for the Royals in Randy Dobnak, but he looked like a dominant starter against the San Diego lineup. The lone run allowed by Dobnak, and the only run of the game for the Padres, came when Fernando Tatis Jr. connected on a solo home run in the top of the third inning which cut the Kansas City lead to 2-1.

San Diego was held in check throughout the remainder of the game, but there were opportunities. The Padres went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, but even the one hit did not produce a run. Jake Cronenworth, Ty France and Freddy Fermin all had doubles in the game, but the top of the lineup failed to bring them in. Tatis finished 1-for-2 with a home run, a run scored and an RBI with two walks. The next four hitters in the San Diego lineup combined to go 0-for-14 with two walks and five strikeouts. France and Cronenworth were the only Padres players with multiple hits in the game.

Griffin Canning started the game for San Diego and lasted just 3.2 innings. He allowed four runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Matt Waldron followed with 2.1 innings pitched with two runs allowed on two hits. Both runs scored on a home run to center field by Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez.

The Padres have opened the second half with a losing series, but they could salvage a win today, but they will need a better start from German Marquez than what they got from Canning and they will need their offense to perform in a manner that reflects their payroll.

Padres News:

• Padres reliever Jeremiah Estrada started his rehab assignment with hopes of rejoining the MLB roster, but some baseball pundits think he could garner trade interest.

• Freddy Fermin received a warm welcome back to Kansas City when he made his start on Saturday.

Baseball News:

• Aaron Civale returns to the Chicago Cubs after trade with Athletics.

• The Philadelphia Phillies knocked off the New York Mets, 6-1.

• Pitcher Kyle Bradish signed a five-year extension with the Baltimore Orioles and his team knocked off the Houston Astros in extra innings.

• Brandon Pfaadt pitched the Arizona Diamondbacks past the St. Louis Cardinals.

• Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff is set to have a second season-ending surgery on his shoulder.

• The Boston Red Sox continued their winning ways and extended their win-streak to 12 games.

• TJ Rumfield hit a 456-foot home run to lead the Colorado Rockies over the Cincinnati Reds.

• The Seattle Mariners got a walk-off win over the San Francisco Giants.

Meet the Mets

The Mets lost to the Phillies 6-1 in a game that featured a moved up start time and a rain delay despite these precautionary measures. Kyle Schwarber’s two run homer off Sean Manaea in the first inning ended up being the decisive blow, as Manaea took the loss, but Kodai Senga allowed some insurance runs to put this one out of reach. A solo homer by Tyrone Taylor represented the Mets’ only run.

Choose your recap: Amazin’ Avenue, MLB.com, New York Daily News, New York Post

The Mets were one of the teams using unauthorized AI programs on league-issued iPads, resulting in a crackdown by the league. When asked about the report, interim manager Andy Green said that the Mets “remain fully compliant” with the league’s rules.

“All of them are going to play. That’s right for us from a matchup perspective, that’s right from a talent level perspective,” Andy Green said regarding the Mets’ outfield situation once Luis Robert Jr. returns from the injured list.

Due to yesterday’s rainy weather, Clay Holmes threw a bullpen rather than a rehab start with Brooklyn, whose game was cancelled.

As Holmes ramps up his rehab, trade rumors surrounding him continue to swirl as his interesting market develops.

Greg Prince of Faith and Fear in Flushing wrote a moving tribute to Ron Hunt, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 85.

Alex Rodriguez was seen at Fanatics Fest on Friday wearing an ’80s-era Keith Hernandez Mets jersey, imitating Keith’s batting stance and discussing his childhood Mets fandom.

The Yankees do not have any interest in Francisco Lindor, but the Mets have other players who could potentially help their crosstown rivals available in trade, writes Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Around the National League East

Phillies reliever Brad Keller has a torn UCL and is expected to miss the rest of the season. Tommy John surgery could cost him most of 2027 as well.

The Nationals were bludgeoned by the A’s 15-1.

Luis García Jr., who is having a breakout season with the Nationals as part of their normally potent lineup, is receiving interest in trade talks.

The Braves lost a close one to the Rangers 7-6, as former Met Brandon Nimmo gave a standout performance for the Texas.

AJ Smith-Shawver looked sharp in his latest rehab outing and is getting closer to a return. Ronald Acuña Jr. could return for the Braves before their current homestand ends on Thursday. But the timeline for Spencer Schwellenbach and Spencer Strider is not nearly as clear.

The Marlins used the All-Star break to give their All-Star Max Meyer extra rest and it backfired in an 8-6 loss to the Brewers.

Around Major League Baseball

The Yankees are continuing to try to ride out this lengthy stint without Aaron Judge, as re-imaging showed some healing in his fractured rib, but it remains unclear when he will return.

Longtime Brewers hurler Brandon Woodruff announced that he would undergo a second shoulder capsule surgery, which will end his season. Woodruff is a free agent at the end of the season and the last time he underwent this repair in 2023, it took him 20 months to return to the mound. “I’m not happy about [needing surgery], but you know, it’s a beautiful thing where this all came at a time for me when my third child just came,” said Woodruff, whose wife, Jonie, gave birth to a son this week. “We had an All-Star break and had time to really sit down and think about this. But yeah, I’m not having a funeral or anything.”

The Orioles agreed to a five-year contract extension with righty Kyle Bradish worth $90 million.

The Cubs acquired right-hander Aaron Civale from the A’s in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect Aiden Moffett.

Speaking of the Cubs, Anthony Rizzo was on hand at Wrigley Field on Saturday when a home run ball happened to come his way. And it’s not the first time that’s happened to Rizzo either!

This Date in Mets History

The infamous altercation at a Houston nightclub involving several ‘86 Mets took place on July 19.

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (47-47)

SYRACUSE 15, BUFFALO 2 (BOX)

Luis Robert looks ready, both to return to the Mets and to hit the trade market. MJ Melendez continues to demolish Triple-A. And Nick Morabito looks like someone who should be playing over Tyrone Taylor for a team looking to the future. Note we didn’t say anything about Jonah Tong.

• REHAB ALERT: CF Luis Robert Jr.: 2-5, 2 R, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 K
• PH-CF Cristian Pache: 0-1
• DH MJ Melendez: 3-5, 3 R, 2 HR (10), 4 RBI, BB
• 3B Ronny Mauricio: 1-5, R, RBI, 2 K
• RF Nick Morabito: 1-2, 2 R, RBI, 3 BB, 2 SB (30)
• LF Ryan Clifford: 0-3, 2 BB, 2 K
• 1B Christopher Morel: 2-4, 3 R, 2B, HR (4), 2 RBI, BB, K
• 2B Yonny Hernández: 3-4, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB, E (4)
• C Ben Rortvedt: 1-5, R, 2B, RBI, 2 K
• SS Vidal Bruján: 1-4, 2 R, 3B, RBI, BB
• RHP Jonah Tong: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, W (2-5)
• RHP Dan Hammer: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• RHP Matt Turner: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• RHP Dylan Ross: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• RHP Matt Seelinger: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (33-56)

AKRON 12, BINGHAMTON 3 (BOX)

Once again, oof.

• CF Jose Ramos: 0-4, BB, K
• 1B Nick Lorusso: 2-5, 2 R, HR (16), 2 RBI, 2 K, E (8)
• C Kevin Parada: 2-4, BB, 2 K
• RF Matt Rudick: 1-4, RBI, 2 K
• DH-LF Vincent Perozo: 0-4, 2 K
• SS Wyatt Young: 0-4, 2 K
• 2B-3B Nick Lucky: 1-4, 2 K
• LF-2B Jaylen Palmer: 2-4, 2B
• 3B-P Nick Roselli: 2-4, R, 2B
• RHP Danis Correa: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, L (1-2)
• LHP Gabriel Rodriguez: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
• RHP Justin Armbruester: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• RHP Brendan Girton: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
• RHP Garrett Stratton: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• RHP Brian Metoyer: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
• RHP Nick Roselli: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (37-49)

POSTPONED (RAIN)

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (40-47)

PALM BEACH 7, ST. LUCIE 4 (BOX)

Rumors of the demise of Antonio Jimenez’s surge were greatly exaggerated – he homered for the sixth time this season. He’s still not been good enough to get the majority of his prospect stock back, but hey do this for another month or two and we can talk. Trey Snyder also doubled twice in the loss.

• SS Elian Peña: 1-4, K
• CF D’Andre Smith: 1-4, E (1)
• 1B Jack Scanlon: 0-0
• REHAB ALERT: LF Mike Tauchman: 0-4, BB, 2 K
• 3B Antonio Jimenez: 1-4, R, HR (6), RBI, K
• DH Trey Snyder: 2-3, 2 2B, BB, K
• 1B-RF AJ Salgado: 0-4, R, K, SB
• RF-CF Simon Juan: 2-3, 2 R
• C Chase Meggers: 2-4, RBI
• 2B Jeremy Rodriguez: 0-4, 2 RBI
• RHP Joel Díaz: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, L (0-1)
• RHP Christian Rodriguez: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• RHP Joe Scarborough: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
• RHP Caden Wooster: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Rookie: FCL Mets (23-29)

NO GAME (SCHEDULE)

Rookie: DSL Mets Orange (17-18)

NO GAME (SCHEDULE)

Rookie: DSL Mets Blue (14-20)

NO GAME (SCHEDULE)

STAR OF THE NIGHT

MJ Melendez

GOAT OF THE NIGHT

The Rumble Ponies

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.

Thanks as always!

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?

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.

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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.

Shota Imanaga’s strong form should remain against a Minnesota Twins team sitting 28th in OPS vs. lefties since May 19.

Play to -180.

COVERS INTEL: Matthews' 32nd percentile GB% could get him into trouble against the Cubs, who sit fifth in FB% vs. righties.

Twins vs Cubs Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-110)

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.

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

Twins vs Cubs latest injuries

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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.

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.

Other Games

Pittsburgh Pirates (51-47) 7, Cleveland Guardians (51-47) 1 (Game 1)

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.

Cleveland Guardians (52-47) 5, Pittsburgh Pirates (51-48) 3 (Game 2)

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.

Texas Rangers (50-48) 7, Atlanta Braves (56-41) 6

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.

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.

That’s what makes their 2024 World Series loss to the Dodgers that much more painful, per Zach Braziller of the California Post.

“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.”

Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 9, Nashville Sounds (MIL) 2

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.

Box Score

Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox 4, Hartford Yard Goats (COL) 3

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.

Box Score

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.

Box Score

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.

Box Score

Today’s Schedule

• Norfolk @ Nashville, 7:05. Starter: Trey Gibson
• Chesapeake vs. Hartford, 1:05. Starter: Luis De León
• Frederick @ Greenville, 3:05. Starter: JT Quinn
• Delmarva @ Salem, 4:05. Starter: Dalton Neuschwander 

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!

To Read: Mid-Season State of the Position, 2026

• Front Office:A mid-season assessment of the Colorado Rockies front office | Renee Dechert
• Manager and Coaching Staff:The Rockies coaching staff has been experimenting — and showing results | Sam Bradfield
• Starting Rotation:The state of the Rockies’ rotation at midpoint: injured, expiring, and auditioning | Eli Whitney
• Bullpen:The Rockies’ bullpen has provided better value, but remains temperamental | James Riggenbach
• Designated Hitter and Bench:Mid-Season State of the Position, 2026: Designated Hitter & Bench | Zeke Perez
• Outfield:The Rockies outfield is in a state of transition | Evan Lang
• Shortstop:The Rockies can no longer treat shortstop as settled | James Riggenbach
• Third Base:Amid a breakout, Kyle Karros has claimed third base as his own | Cory Cohen
• Second Base:Rockies getting pleasantly surprising offensive boost at 2B | Joelle Milholm
• First Base:TJ Rumfield may have solved the riddle of first base for the Rockies | Skyler Timmins
• Catcher:With Goodman, Rockies are MLB’s most powerful catching team | Joelle Milholm

To Read: News

• Rockies news:The Denver Post no longer has a Rockies beat writer — and it’s a problem | Renee Dechert
• Rockies draft:MLB Draft 2026, Day 2, Rounds 5-20: Rockies preview and discussion thread | James Riggenbach
• Rockies draft:Colorado Rockies 2026 draft results and signings tracker | Evan Lang
• Weekly Pebble Report:A first half recap | Eli Whitney
• Rockies news:Colorado Rockies announce 2027 schedule | Sam Bradfield

Weekly Discussion Topics

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!

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

Today’s Reflections

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.

*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.

Friday’s Game Stories:

• Casey McAleer (Da Windy City): The Cubs wasted another quality outing from Colin Rea against the Twins. “Chicago’s pitching staff finally delivered a complete performance, but the offense couldn’t capitalize in the second-half opener.”

• Sean Hammond (Chicago Tribune {$}): Dansby Swanson takes a ball off his face — and the Chicago Cubs take one on the chin with 5-2 loss. “The trouble started with a ball to the face.”

Trade, Injuries and Minors Talk:

• Ryan O’Rourke (Cubbies Crib): Recently promoted Cubs prospect has suddenly emerged as a surprise pitching option. “The former Mets farmhand has been dominating after converting to starting with the Cubs.”
• Brock Beauchamp (North Side Baseball): Cubs Trade For Beleagured Starter Aaron Civale. “The Cubs desperately need arms as they limp toward the trade deadline.”
• Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Cubs predicted to use 22-year-old slugger as trade chip with breakout 1.068 OPS prospect. “Cubs predicted to use Moises Ballesteros as trade chip for Owen Ayers’ reason.”
• Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): Nationals surprise contention shouldn’t scare Cubs away from one trade deadline target. “Not the first option, but he should be considered.”
• Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Pitching, pitching and more pitching on Jed Hoyer’s mind as championship-chasing Cubs approach trade deadline. “It’s not surprising that Hoyer’s front office will have arms at the top of its trade-deadline shopping list, given the Cubs’ first-half injury woes. But there’s a variety of factors going into what sort of deals Hoyer might pursue.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Pitching a premium for Cubs at Deadline amid ongoing injuries. “As the second half arrives for the Cubs, the ballclub is hopeful to have two of its starting pitchers returning from the injured list soon.”
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): Cubs Injury Update: Daniel Palencia setback, Hoby Milner timeline, Matt Shaw. “Craig Counsell gave updates on a ton of key players Friday at Wrigley Field.”
• Zoe Grossman (Chicago Cubs On SI): Cubs Terms With Cade Townsend Less Than Expected, Ink Four Other 2026 Draft Picks. “He’s officially a Cubs prospect, and instantly one of the best pitchers in the farm system.”
• Brandon Glick (Cubbies Crib): Cubs top prospect rankings look completely unrecognizable after 2026 MLB Draft. “A lot of fresh faces on a list that stagnated for a while.”

Cubs’ Reunion:

• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): David Ross: No second thoughts about coming to Cubs’ 2016 reunion. “Ross downplayed any mixed emotions and said he had turned the page on his chapter as Cubs manager: “This is all about the brothers.“
• Brian Sandalow (Chicago Sun-Times): Why Anthony Rizzo says ‘it was never disappointing’ Cubs didn’t follow 2016 with more championships. “The Theo Epstein-assembled core only made it back to the National League Championship Series in 2017 and was broken up in 2021 before the Cubs could return to the World Series.”
• Jesse Rogers (ESPN): Chicago Cubs unveil ‘Champions Gate’ in front of Wrigley Field. “Members of the 2016 team, including World Series MVP Ben Zobrist, Anthony Rizzo and Jake Arrieta, helped cut the ribbon.”

Food For Thought:

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.

Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.

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?

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.