SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 30: Manager Mark Kotsay #7 of the Athletics takes the ball from pitcher Jeffrey Springs #59 taking Springs out of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the top of the six inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on June 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy birthday, America. I tried to get you a tie, but then the Marlins scored 7 extras runs. Tonight you will be treated to lots of fireworks, and I don’t mean from Jeffrey Springs pitching.
But enough about how wretchedly the A’s play at home — I have it on good authority (ok fine, Lawrence Butler) that it’s the ballpark’s fault and not the fault of the players who can’t match what opposing players can accomplish. Funny how it wasn’t “the ballpark’s fault” when the A’s were forced to play their home games in a venue that often had 90% of its seats empty and sometimes had sewage seeping into the clubhouse, yet the A’s often had one of the best home records in MLB.
Anyhoo, when I say “enough about how wretchedly the A’s play at home” I mean I’m going to continue talking about it for a while, because let’s face it: if the A’s could just have matched their 22-21 road record with similar “just mediocrity” at home, they would be sitting tied for 1st place right now.
Unfortunately, mediocrity is currently a pipe dream for the Sacrammerlin A’s. Here are some stats you might find interesting, and by interesting I mean they might make you want to put a firecracker up a defenseless kitten’s ass and walk away.
It Can’t Be True But It Is Fact #1: The A’s home ERA this season is now 6.25. This is partly due to the fact that their ERA in the top of the 1st inning this season is 8,423.65 (give or take).
It Can’t Be True But It Is Fact #2: A’s pitchers, at home, have served up 86 HRs in 45 games. That means that any home game in which the staff gives up 2 HRs is called “just another day at the office”.
It Can’t Be True But It Is Fact #3: Jeffrey Springs has thrown 54.1 IP at home this season and he has coughed up 16 HRs. This is an even more impressive pace of 1 HR every 3.4 innings. It only seems like it’s 3.4 HRs every 1 inning.
It Can’t Be True But It Is Fact #4: The A’s are 15-24 at Sutter Health Park, which is a robust .385 winning percentage.
It Can’t Be True But It Is Fact #5: In their 39 games at Sutter Health Park, the A’s have given up 8 runs or more in 14 of them. That’s about 36% of their games.
It Can’t Be True But It Is Fact #6: It’s not enough just to lead the majors in HRs allowed at home, the A’s also lead all of MLB in issuing walks at home: 199 walks, 10 more than their closest competitor (Houston) and more than twice as many as the Rays (98).
I would go on but the last thing I’d want to do is belabor the point. What I will say is this: until the A’s figure out a way to play halfway decently at home, rather than playing horrifically and then blaming the situation, the team cannot compete for anything because they play half their games at home. Simple math tells you that you can’t win enough games if you give up “6 and a quarter runs” half the time and can’t outscore the other team even 40% of the time in half your games.
To make that work the A’s would have to be true road warriors, dominating and winning about 2/3 of the time. In reality the A’s are hitting, as a team, .229/.304/.359 on the road and that’s not likely to win you 2/3 of your games.
So it’s not even a matter of the A’s now being too buried to contend. They are 6 games under .500, which means if they win 6 in a row — and any team can in a week where they suddenly get hot — they would be at .500 in a division and league where .500 gives you as good odds as anyone to make the post-season.
The A’s record, and the standings, are not the problem. The complete and utter inability to pitch or play well at home is the back breaker. And it shows no signs of slowing down on what is currently a 1-3 homestand in which the A’s have served up another 31 runs — 9 or more runs in 3 of the 4 games.
Enjoy tonight’s fireworks show! And then try to enjoy the post-game festivities as well.
BIRMINGHAM, AL - APRIL 24: Jordan Groshans #15 of the Columbus Clingstones is congratulated after hitting a home run during the game between the Columbus Clingstones and the Birmingham Barons at Regions Field on Friday, April 24, 2026 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Hannah Bachman/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
It was a bit of a weird day down on the farm as one team’s game got cut short due to technical difficulties, but there was plenty of action to go around. Let’s get into it.
All in all, there wasn’t much to write home about with regards to Gwinnett on Friday as the Stripers were shutout and were held to just two hits in the process.
The lone two hits in this one came off the bat of Jose Azocar and Jair Camargo — both of whom tallied a single each in this one — while the Stripers were held off the scoreboard.
Austin Gomber got the start and while he wasn’t bad — giving up three runs across five innings — the lack of offense he got proved to be the difference-maker.
Blake Burkhalter did make an appearance in this one, tossing one scoreless inning despite giving up three hits in the frame to keep his ERA at 0.00.
The offense will get most of the credit in this one, but the pitching staff also stepped up and showed out as Columbus dominated Tennessee on Friday by a 9-1 final.
Pacing the offense was Jordan Groshans, who homered not once, but twice in this one. The designated hitter’s first long ball came in the top of the sixth as he launched a solo shot — hit 14th of the season — to extend the Clingstones’ lead to 3-0 on the night.
But Groshans wasn’t done there, as he laced yet another solo shot in the eight inning to make it a 5-0 game in this one.
— Columbus Clingstones (@GoClingstones) July 4, 2026
Also participating in the home run fun was Drew Compton — who also tripled on Friday — who has been on a bit of a hot streak recently. It’s a short hot streak, but over the past three games, Compton has tallied 13 total bases, including two triples and a homer.
Meanwhile, Julio Robaina got the start on the mound and absolutely dominated across six innings of work.
Robaina managed to hold Tennessee scoreless on the night while holding the Smokies to just three hits and two walks, while striking out eight batters in the process.
Across eight appearances (seven starts) Robaina has posted an ERA of 2.48 in 36.1 innings pitched while striking out 36 batters along the way.
(39-38) Rome Emperors 1, (28-50) Jersey Shore BlueClaws 0
This one ended in weird fashion, as a power outage caused this one to be called after five innings. Thankfully, Rome was on top at the time of the outage, so the Emperors came away with a win to move to one game above .500 on the season.
Cade Kuehler got the start in this one and was rather excellent as he held Jersey Shore scoreless across five innings, scattering just three hits and issuing a pair of walks and striking out four as well.
Meanwhile at the plate, the Emperors tallied just two total hits, but it proved to be more than enough in the shortened game.
Eric Hartman and Mason Guerra both doubled in this one, while the former also walked and the latter plated the only run of the game as Guera scored on a wild pitch in the top of the third to give Rome the 1-0 lead which ultimately proved enough to carry them to victory.
Augusta attempted to battle back from an early deficit in this one, but the GreenJackets ultimately came up short in the 7-4 loss.
Landon Beidelschies got the start in this one and put up somewhat of a decent outing. Across five innings of work, Beidelschies allowed four runs on six hits while also striking out six. While that was enough to keep his offense in the game — and the GreenJackets struggled to score until the latter part of this one.
Alex Lodise got the scoring started for Augusta by launching his 17th homer of the season — a solo shot — in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 4-1 game.
— Augusta GreenJackets (@GreenJackets) July 3, 2026
The GreenJackets tacked on again in the bottom of the seventh as Michael Martinez launched a two-run shot to make it a 5-3 deficit for Augusta.
Trailing 7-3 in the bottom of the eighth, Lodise came through again with an RBI, this time on a sacrifice fly, to make it a 7-4 game. However, that’s the only offense Augusta would get in this one as the GreenJackets ultimately came up short.
Also on the pitching front, Adiel Melendez, who came on in relief, tossed a pair of scoreless frames and struck out a pair of batters to lower his season ERA to 1.86. While he is older for the level at 24, it is encouraging to see for the lefty who could project as a potential bullpen piece at the big league level down the line.
The FCL Braves came up short in this one by a 7-3 final.
Wuilinyer Tovar got the start and tossed five innings of two-run ball. Across those five innings of work, Tovar scattered five hits and gave up two walks while striking out six in the process.
At the plate, the Braves got a solid day at the plate from Johan Rodriguez, who homered, doubled and drove in a pair of runs to pace the offense. Rodriguez is currently carrying an OPS of .796, which leads the FCL squad thus far in the season.
Elias Reyno also drove in a run as well on the night.
Despite scoring seven runs on five hits, the DSL Braves ultimately came up short in the 11-7 final.
Jesus Cova got the start and only spun 2.2 innings of work while giving up a pair of runs and striking out two in the process. While that start wasn’t great, the DSL bullpen faltered tremendously, giving up seven runs in 5.1 innings on the day.
Meanwhile offensively, the DSL squad performed quite well despite the shortcomings of the pitching staff.
Elisandro Ramirez paced the offense as he launched his first professional home run while driving in a pair of runs and scoring twice on the day. Luis Fortunato (one RBI) and Edelson Cabral (two RBI) also played a large part in the DSL team’s day at the plate as well, contributing three of the team’s seven total runs driven in on the day.
Chicago's five-game winning streak came to an abrupt halt on Friday, falling 23-1 in their series opener against St. Louis.
The Cubs are healthy -155 favorites in Game 2, and my Cardinals vs. Cubs predictions and MLB picks believe they're a good value to bounce back with a win.
Who will win Cardinals vs Cubs today: Chicago Cubs (-155)
The Chicago Cubsrank 10th in OPS and eighth in ISO against right-handed pitching over the last month. They’re certainly capable of doing damage against Leahy.
Cardinals vs Cubs Over/Under pick: Under 8.0 (-110)
The Cubs don’t hit for average, sitting tied with the Angels for 23rd against right-handed pitching this season.
While they do possess power, colder conditions are expected today with the wind blowing in. That will help Leahy limit the long balls.
The Cardinals don’t feature a ton of power against lefties – they’re 21st in ISO – and the conditions will only make it tougher on them against Imanaga.
With power likely limited, these teams will be forced to string together a lot of hits to score in bulk.
I expect a 4-3 type of game. Play the Under to -120.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 49-39, -0.45 units
Over/Under bets: 47-37-4, +5.49 units
Cardinals vs Cubs weather
Temperatures are projected to hover around 70 with winds blowing inwards and potential showers. These conditions should hurt the offenses.
Cardinals vs Cubs odds
Moneyline: St. Louis +135 | Chicago -155
Run line: St. Louis +1.5 (-150) | Chicago -1.5 (+130)
Over/Under: Over 8.0 (-110) | Under 8.0 (-110)
Cardinals vs Cubs trend
Chicago has hit the moneyline in 15 of their last 20 games (+9.10 units, 34% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cardinals vs. Cubs.
How to watch Cardinals vs Cubs and game info
Location
Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Saturday, July 4, 2026
First pitch
8:05 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Cardinals starting pitcher
Kyle Leahy (6-4, 4.09 ERA)
Cubs starting pitcher
Shota Imanaga (5-6, 4.30 ERA)
Cardinals 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.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 2: José Alvarado #46 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch in the top of the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park on July 2, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pirates defeated the Phillies 6-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Even with the MLB trade deadline pushed back to August 3 this year, July still represents the time of year when everyone talks about trades. The Phillies’ 40-20 stretch under interim manager Don Mattingly has catapulted them into buying territory as a team with World Series aspirations. Their expectations for playing deep into October are still the same and reinforcements might go a long way.
Under Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies have typically waited until the day of to make trades. They did get Carlos Estevez multiple days before the deadline and Jhoan Duran the day before in back-to-back seasons but they still generally take things down to the wire.
Assuming that, there is roughly a month from the time of this writing until the deadline. So, here are three things to watch for prior to the deadline.
Orioles, Mets, Giants
These three teams entered the season with playoff aspirations. The Baltimore Orioles added Pete Alonso, Taylor Ward, and Shane Baz for a bounce-back season but are eight games under .500 on July 3 and five games out of a playoff spot.
If the Orioles are sellers, Taylor Ward would become the best fit for the Phillies outfield at the deadline. He is generally a streaky hitter and an ok defender, but brings a plus eye at the plate. He has not played a single game in right field since 2022 but sliding over for two months is probably not a massive deal. They could slide Brandon Marsh over if needed. Again, it would only be temporary.
There are some red flags with Ward, his pull air rate is down from 17.8% last year to 12.2% and he does not have the raw power to make that work consistently. His bat speed is down over a mile per hour so there might be physical decline. Again, he is only a rental.
The New York Mets season has been pretty brutal. It’s not all terrible but most of it is. They came into the season expecting to make the playoffs and will be clear sellers at the deadline.
They are a match if the Phillies are looking for bullpen help. Luke Weaver has a 2.00 ERA in 36 innings with the Mets after cutting down his fastball usage. He is owed another year with eleven million, which would boost his trade value so it might cost the Phillies too much.
If they are looking for rentals, AJ Minter and Brooks Raley are interesting fits. Minter missed the beginning of the season recovering from tearing his lat last season but has pitched 14 games and hasn’t allowed a run. His velocity is down nearly two miles per hour and he is not striking out nearly as many batters.
Even at 38, Brooks Raley is still suppressing hard contact while getting strikeouts. He is the classic funky left hander that just knows how to get outs.
The only reliever mentioned with true October stuff is Weaver but the others could help fill a left handed void if the Phillies still need it this time next month.
The Giants have been a disaster with Tony Vitello. There might be too many issues to explain in this article. It’s just all bad.
Robbie Ray makes sense if the Phillies are looking for a starting pitcher. He could slot in as their #4 but might help in a bullpen role if needed. Again, there are red flags. Ray is not getting enough strikeouts or swing and miss, is still prone to walks, and allows a lot of hard contact. The Phillies might not be the best fit.
José Alvarado
No one is going to tell you a 6.10 ERA is good or that he is actually having a good season. He is not.
However, it might not be nearly as bad as people think. Alvarado’s BABIP allowed is over 100 points higher than a year ago despite being very good at limiting hard contact and barrels. His 66.9% strand rate would also be the lowest of his career in a season where he pitched 30 innings or more. He is still striking plenty of hitters out, limiting walks, and throwing gas.
This is all to say that their best left handed reliever option this deadline is probably Alvarado figuring it out. Given all of the indicators represent a pitcher that seems to be getting very unlucky, that just doesn’t seem as impossible as you would think.
Over the next month, it would still be good to see some results. If he can go on a heater, which might be the most likely outcome, then it might allow the Phillies some trade deadline flexibility.
Trea Turner
The Phillies might not be able to make a big offensive upgrade at this trade deadline. That hitter might not become available, and even if he does, the Phillies might not have the prospects to get it done.
April and May were not good months for the Phillies offense but June was. Over that month, they ranked tenth in wRC+ and fourth in home runs. Will it last? That probably depends on Trea Turner.
In 380 plate appearances, Turner is hitting .239 with a .653 OPS as an established top-of-the-order hitter in this lineup. He isn’t the only issue in their lineup, but Alec Bohm, Justin Crawford, JT Realmuto, or whoever you want to label a problem can’t get on the heaters like Turner.
That heater might’ve started, Turner is hitting .340 with a .950 OPS over his last 48 plate appearances. If this can continue for the rest of the season, and that seems like a pretty big if, he might indirectly be the big offensive upgrade the Phillies get this trade deadline.
The Atlanta Braves took the series opener against New York and are heavy -170 favorites to come out on top once again.
The New York Mets own a 7-16 record against left-handed starters. My Mets vs. Braves predictions and MLB picks expect their struggles to continue facing Chris Sale on Saturday, July 4.
Who will win Mets vs Braves today: Atlanta Braves (-170)
Non-elite offenses trying to score on Sale has been like pulling teeth. He has only allowed multiple runs only once over eights starts against teams 15th or worse in ISO.
It’ll be a challenge for a shallow Mets lineup to string together hits, and Sale hasn’t conceded a homer in seven consecutive starts.
The Braves possess power but they have hit just .225 against left-handed pitching since June 1. They’re not generating enough traffic to score in bulk.
I see value on the Under and would play it to -115.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 49-39, -0.45 units
Over/Under bets: 47-37-4, +5.49 units
Mets vs Braves weather
Temperatures could reach the 90s but the winds are blowing slightly inwards. Small boost to the offenses.
Mets vs Braves odds
Moneyline: New York +145 | Atlanta -170
Run line: New York +1.5 (-140) | Atlanta -1.5 (+120)
Over/Under: Over 8.0 (-115) | Under 8.0 (-105)
Mets vs Braves trend
New York has hit the Game Total Under in 21 of their last 35 away games (+7.80 units, 21% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Braves.
How to watch Mets vs Braves and game info
Location
Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
Date
Saturday, July 4, 2026
First pitch
8:05 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Mets starting pitcher
Sean Manaea (1-3, 4.71 ERA)
Braves starting pitcher
Chris Sale (8-6, 2.10 ERA)
Mets vs Braves 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.
First place is at stake in the American League Central as the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians meet in Cleveland for the third game in their four-game weekend set.
Cleveland are -133 favorites, having taken the first two games on walk-off hits, taking first in the American League Central Division by a game in the process.
The Guardians have beaten Chicago nine straight in Cleveland. My White Sox vs. Guardians predictions and MLB picks call for that streak to hit 10 with a Guardians win.
Who will win White Sox vs Guardians today: Guardians moneyline (-138)
The Cleveland Guardians have won three straight and five of their last seven, while the Chicago White Sox have dropped the last three and four of six. Cleveland has the No. 8 bullpen in MLB and has gotten stronger, calling up Franco Aleman, who had a 0.32 ERA in Triple-A.
Cleveland starts Parker Messick, who is 7-5, 2.85. Messick's fastball is in the 100th percentile in MLB, and he's in the top quartile in hard-hit rate, barrel rate, strikeout rate and exit velo allowed.
The Guardians' offense is averaging 29 points higher than their season batting average this week, including 19 runs over the last three games.
COVERS INTEL:Sean Burke is not in the top third in MLB in any metric. His fastball velocity is just 53rd percentile, and his exit velocity allowed and whiff percentage are all in the bottom half of MLB pitchers.
White Sox vs Guardians Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-108)
The White Sox start Sean Burke, who is 5-4, 3.69, but has troubling underlying metrics. His fastball is the only pitch above average in MLB, and Cleveland's Brayan Rocchio is one of the top fastball hitters in MLB, hitting .327 with five homers against the pitch.
Burke's walk rate is below average, despite improving it from last season, which is problematic against a Guardians lineup that walked 14 times in the first two games of the series.
Chicago's bats have heated up. They've scored 5.4 runs per game over the last two weeks, an increase of half a run a night over their average.
Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 24-31, -4.15 units
Over/Under bets: 31-28 +2.30 units
White Sox vs Guardians weather
There is a heat warning in Cleveland with the wind blowing in. There's also a good chance of a thundershower or two this evening.
White Sox vs Guardians odds
Moneyline: White Sox +133 | Guardians -138
Run line: White Sox +1.5 (-163) | Guardians -1.5 (+156)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-108) | Under 7.5 (+104)
White Sox vs Guardians trend
The Chicago White Sox have hit the Team Total Over in 23 of their last 35 away games (+10.40 Units / 26% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs. Guardians.
How to watch White Sox vs Guardians and game info
Location
Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Date
Saturday, July 4, 2026
First pitch
7:05 p.m. ET
TV
CHSN, CleGuardians.TV
White Sox starting pitcher
Sean Burke (5-4, 3.69 ERA)
Guardians starting pitcher
Parker Messick (7-5, 2.85 ERA)
White Sox vs Guardians 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.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 03: Daylen Lile #4 of the Washington Nationals is doused with water by Andrés Chaparro #87 and José Tena #8 after their team's 9-5 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Nationals Park on July 03, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a big win last night, the Nats celebrate this Independence Day by playing an 11:05 game against the Pirates. They will look to secure a 3rd straight series win on the 250th anniversary of this great country. It will be tough with the Pirates throwing out a hard throwing righty.
The Nats will make a few tweaks to the lineup. Jacob Young was supposed to be back in the lineup, but he was a late scratch. That means it will be the same outfield as last night. Curtis Mead will be back in there at third base. Drew Millas will also be catching in this one. Carson Palmquist will be opening for Zack Littell.
The Pirates are making some changes at the bottom of their lineup Tyler Callihan, who pitched yesterday, will be in the game at first base. Former first overall pick Henry Davis will also be doing the catching here. Besides that, it is a similar lineup to last night. Braxton Ashcraft has had a great season and he will be on the mound in this one.
These 4th of July games are always fun, and should be even better with the Nats in the mix. This should be a hotly contested contest on a hot day in DC. Hopefully the Nats can come out on top again. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Javier Perez #68 of the Houston Astros throws a pitch during the third inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (39-45) lost 4-3 (BOX SCORE)
Weiss got the start for Sugar Land and went 3.2 innings allowing 3 runs. The offense got on the board in the 6th inning on a Ferreras sac fly. In the 9th inning, Sugar Land rallied for 2 runs on an error and a Spence sac fly to tie the game. Unfortunately the Comets walked it off in the 9th as Sugar Land fell 4-3.
Michael Knorr, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Alimber Santa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
J.P. France, RHP: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (36-43) lost 8-3 (BOX SCORE)
The Hooks got on the board in the first inning on an Austin RBI double. They got another run in the third on a Biggers solo home run. Hicks got the start but struggled allowing 6 runs over 5 innings. The pen allowed a couple more runs as the Hooks found themselves down 8-2. The offense got one back in the 9th on Sisneros RBI single but that was it as they fell 8-3.
James Hicks, RHP: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Ramsey David, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Hudson Leach, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Nic Swanson, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
A+: Asheville Tourists (26-52) won 4-3 (BOX SCORE)
The Asheville offense got on the board in the first inning on a Moss RBI single. They got another run in the 3rd inning on a Powell RBI single. Smith started for Asheville and had a solid outing allowing 2 runs over 5.2 innings. In the 5th, the offense scored 2 runs on a Powell RBI double and Moss sac fly. The bullpen allowed a run in the 9th but was able to hold on for the 4-3 win.
Note: Moss is hitting .389 for Asheville this season.
Jackson Wells, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Francisco Frias, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (SAVE)
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (40-38) won 3-0 (BOX SCORE)
Perez started for the Woodpeckers and was dominant tossing 5 scoreless innings with 9 strikeouts. The Woodpeckers got on the board in the 6th inning on a Luciano 3 run home run. Gonzalez relieved Perez and pitched well as he closed out the game with 4 scoreless innings with the Woodpeckers winning 3-0.
Note: Perez has 10 walks to 86 strikeouts this season.
New York Yankees legendary broadcaster John Sterling at Yankee Stadium in 2008. | Greg Pallante/(201) Magazine / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Just as there are players who define eras for teams across major sports, there are also those who help make their moments even more unforgettable from high atop a stadium or arena. Names such as Gary Thorne, Vin Scully, Al Michaels, Bob Costas, Doc Emrick, and many others help add to these pieces of history through their voice, mannerisms, and iconic sayings. And for modern Yankees fans, there is no one more iconic and no one who has helped make more memorable moments than John Sterling.
The best part about Sterling being not just a member of the Yankees family, but a key ingredient to every Yankees game, is that he provided a feeling of warmth to every listener. He brought everyone listening on their radio or watching on their televisions at home into the ballpark, and he treated every Yankees fan, player, coach, and team member with the utmost respect. He was a man who not only received tons of awards and recognition, but he deserved them, and he accepted them with grace and humility.
Today, we celebrate the birth of not just an incredible broadcaster and Yankees icon, but the birth of a man who left an impact on hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people. We miss him dearly.
John (Sloss) Sterling Born: July 4, 1938 (New York, NY) Died: May 4, 2026 (Englewood, NJ) Yankees Tenure: 1989-2024 (radio play-by-play announcer)
Sterling was born in New York and grew up on the Upper East Side. He was up a Yankees fan and listened to original “Voice of the Yankees” Mel Allen call games on the radio, which helped him develop his interest not just in baseball but in becoming a sports broadcaster. After his high school days, he briefly attended Moravian College and Boston University, but returned to New York following his mother’s passing and transferred to the Columbia University School of General Studies. Following his time there, he began his broadcasting career in Wellsville, New York, working at WLSV, where he called football, baseball, and basketball games for the local Wellsville High School.
Sterling then moved to Providence, Rhode Island, before taking a job in Baltimore to broadcast for the NBA’s Baltimore Bullets in 1970-71. In 1971, he returned to WMCA as a full-time employee. He hosted a talk show and also worked calling games for the New York Islanders and New Jersey Nets. He held that play-by-play position from 1970 to 1980, while his talk show—during which he often got to interview the legendary Allen—ended in 1978.
Sterling headed south to Atlanta in 1981 to work for TBS and WSB Radio, where he broadcast games for the Atlanta Hawks and the Atlanta Braves while also hosting a sports talk show through 1989. By that time, his boyhood team got in touch, and his Yankee years began.
From a moment in an elevator in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where Yankees former owner George Steinbrenner—another memorable July 4th birthday—said to Sterling that he was the person he wanted calling Yankees games, Sterling would go down in history. And it was not just for being part of some incredible Yankees title runs and around some of the best teams in MLB history (including the best team in baseball history by record in 1998), but also for his consistency in the booth. Sterling would sit in the radio booth calling Yankees games for the next 35 seasons.
Over those 35 seasons at the helm of the Yankees broadcast booth, Sterling shared it with a handful of announcing partners. Former major leaguer Jay Johnstone, was his first for the 1989 and 1990 seasons, and broadcaster Joe Angel stepped in for 1991. Then came in a young and spry Michael Kay, the current Yankees TV play-by-play announcer for the YES Network, from 1992 to 2001. Formerly a beat writer, Kay attributes much of his success behind the mic to the lessons he learned in the booth with Sterling, and he would often host Yankees events in the present day with his former mentor, including Old-Timers’ Day.
SportsCenter alum Charley Steiner was his next partner from 2002 to 2004 before Steiner moved on to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and in 2005, in came Suzyn Waldman, who is a legend in her own right. They were on the call together the longest, until his (somewhat) abrupt retirement in 2024. Sterling and Waldman became a dynamic duo in the booth and, most importantly, they became the best of friends, which every fan tuning in could hear and see. They told incredible stories together, both about their individual and joint experiences off the field and, of course, about their experiences together in the depths of major league ballparks, talking to players, coaches, managers, and staff members of yesteryear teams. Their bond grew over time, giving every Yankees fan a way to feel included in their adventures as well.
All in all, Sterling ended up calling 5,060 consecutive Yankees games, which included every game of the entirety of Derek Jeter’s 20-year career, before the streak ended seven years ago today on July 4, 2019. He fell ill and missed three games the Yankees played against the Tampa Bay Rays, but it gave everyone a chance to see just how incredible Sterling had been for so long.
Over his time calling the Yankees (and even dating back to his early days in New York calling the Islanders and then with the Hawks in Atlanta), Sterling was best known for his catchphrases, particularly after home runs. He’d start every home run call with “It is high! It is far! It is gone!” And then he would lead into a signature tagline for every player. Older fans of the Yankees will remember, “An A-bomb for A-Rod!” “Bern, baby, Bern!” and so many others, while newer fans could hear, “A Judgian Blast,” “Gio Urshela, the most happy fella,” “Yes, inDidi,” through recent years.
Everyone knew it was coming, but every time seemed to feel like the first.
A successful day for the Yankees wasn’t over until Sterling belted “Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!”
Sterling began the 2024 season in his familiar spot, but he quickly regretted his decision not to step away at last. The travel over half a year was just too much to bear for someone in his eighties. So on April 15th, he announced his retirement, effective immediately. New York then honored Sterling in a pregame ceremony on April 20th. He then called two innings of a game on August 20th against Cleveland, which was due to a t-shirt giveaway celebrating the 20th anniversary of Sterling and Waldman working together in the radio booth. The day was planned before Sterling’s departure from the booth months prior, so he felt it was only right to come back and call a bit of the contest.
Perhaps that sparked a desire for a mini-comeback. The following Thursday, it was revealed that Sterling was discussing a potential postseason return before a final retirement. And it happened! On September 5th, Sterling confirmed he would return to the booth for the final homestand and the playoffs, including up to the 2024 World Series — where he would broadcast for the last time. It was a wonderful treat to have him on the call again, especially in big moments like Juan Soto’s pennant-winning homer in Cleveland.
Sterling made his final broadcast on October 30, 2024, in Game 5 of the World Series, when the Yankees lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers and he officially signed off for the final time. He occasionally popped back on the air for radio specials, but aside from that, his long career was over.
Sterling’s legacy amongst baseball and the Yankees earned him a lifetime of awards, including 12 sports Emmys (two for a biography-style television program called Yankeeography), multiple nominations for the Ford C. Frick Award by the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and he was awarded the Pride of the Yankees Award at the team’s annual Welcome Home dinner. It’s a true shame that Sterling won’t be around to see it, but hopefully he’ll one day get a plaque in Monument Park as well, just like Allen.
The number of incredible baseball moments that Sterling called over his tenured career seems incalcuble. He was a one-of-a-kind broadcaster with a one-of-a-kind spirit both for life and for baseball. He passed away on May 4, 2026, but he continues to be honored by Yankees and baseball fans alike inside and outside of the broadcast booth. His work will live on forever in the hearts and minds of everyone around the game, and the baseball world was blessed to have him be a part of such important pieces of the game’s history.
Happy birthday, Mr. Sterling! The first birthday after someone’s passing is always hard, and we send our best to his family on this day.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
The New York Yankees are -158 home favorites against the Minnesota Twins, and I’m laying the moneyline rather than chasing the run line.
Zebby Matthews’ barrel and air-ball issues line up poorly against New York’s elevated power profile, while Brendan Beck’s first career start keeps Minnesota live enough to push this total Over.
Here are my Twins vs. Yankees predictions and MLB picks for Saturday, July 4.
Who will win Twins vs Yankees today: Yankees moneyline (-158)
After breaking through the slump yesterday, I'm more comfortable holding them to their regular-season priors too.
This profile looks like a matchup we’ve seen so often against New York: a starting pitcher with a high barrel rate problem that the Yankees expose.
Matthews enters this matchup with one in the bottom 5th percentile of the MLB. A metric the Yankees still top the league in.
Back the Yankees with confidence up to -165.
COVERS INTEL: Minnesota’s 39.4% ground-ball rate is below MLB average, giving the Twins more lift potential against Beck’s early hard-contact issues.
Twins vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (-125)
Both lineups have a clear team-level path to damage. Matthews allows too much lift, and the Yankees’ offense is built to punish that with an above-average fly-ball rate, barrel rate, and expected slugging percentage.
The Minnesota Twins can answer against Brendan Beck. The sample size is super small for the young arm, who makes just his second appearance of the season and first career start; however, he allowed some loud contact in his first outing with an average exit velocity of 97.8 mph.
The Twins, who have a near-14 % barrel rate, can expose that. Play to 10.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 33-31, +4.35 units
Over/Under bets: 39-27, +16.40 units
Twins vs Yankees weather
Twins vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Minnesota +160 | New York -158
Run line: Minnesota +1.5 | New York -1.5
Over/Under: Over 9.5 | Under 9.5
Twins vs Yankees trend
The New York Yankees have covered the Run Line in 14 of their last 30 games at home (+0.55 Units / 2% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Twins vs. Yankees.
How to watch Twins vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Saturday, July 4, 2026
First pitch
1:35 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Twins starting pitcher
Zebby Matthews (4-5, 4.15 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Brendan Beck (0-0, 6.00 ERA)
Twins vs Yankees 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.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 29: Braxton Ashcraft #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch in the bottom of the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 29, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Washington Nationals, July 4, 2026, 11:05 a.m. ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates are celebrating the 4th of July by facing off against the Washington Nationals in the nation’s capital. It’s an early start for both teams to give fans an early and bright start to their Independence Day festivities.
Braxton Ashcraft is taking the mound for the Pirates. He’s won his last three starts, including his most recent appearance on June 29 against the Philadelphia Phillies, where he pitched six innings and gave up five hits and five runs. The Pirates’ offense had his back in the 11-7 victory.
He pitched against the Nationals at home on April 16, going 5.2 innings while giving up five hits and two runs in an 8-7 loss in 10 innings.
Zack Littell is getting the ball for the Nationals in the middle game of the series. Littell won his last start on June 28 against the Baltimore Orioles. He pitched five innings, giving up three hits and two runs in a 6-4 victory at Camden Yards. The Nats are 9-8 this season when Littell pitches, and he has won seven of 13 decisions he has been a part of.
If the Pirates play like they have in Ashcraft’s last three starts, they should be able to walk away with a win.
Devers will be looking forward to tonight's matchup against the Colorado Rockies as he faces Tomoyuki Sugano. The righty has allowed 2.17 HR/9 across the last month, and the ball flies in Denver.
Robbie Ray, meanwhile, takes the ball for the San Francisco Giants. He's compiled a 3.20 FIP across his last five appearances, and the left-hander hasn't allowed an earned run in three consecutive starts. He'll shut down the red-hot Rockies.
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC Sports Bay Area, Rockies.TV
See full analysis of this game in our Giants vs. Rockies predictions.
Red Sox at Angels SGP: The Sonny Gray Show
Sonny Gray has been the Boston Red Sox's most reliable starter this season. The right-hander owns a 9-1 record, and he's compiled an impressive 2.48 xERA across his last five outings.
Gray has cashed the Under in earned runs allowed in three of his previous four appearances. The righty is up against a Los Angeles Angels lineup that is hitting .214 over the last week while posting a horrible 51 wRC+. Gray is also racking up the Ks, striking out 20 in his last two starts.
The Red Sox will face the struggling Sam Aldegheri, who has allowed 12 earned runs across his last three appearances. Boston will capitalize on his inability to limit hard contact, and Gray will toss a gem.
Time: 9:38 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NESN, ABTV
See full analysis of this game in our Red Sox. Angels predictions.
Padres at Dodgers SGP: Yamamoto Bounces Back
Yoshinobu Yamamoto has a 3.53 FIP over his last two starts, and he did allow three earned runs to the San Diego Padres last week. However, prior to his last two starts, the Los Angeles Dodgers ace cashed the Under in earned runs surrendered in five consecutive appearances.
Over the last month, his ERA sits at 2.22, and he owns a 2.08 ERA across two starts this season against the Padres.
Freddie Freeman is batting .370 over his last seven games while posting a 41.7% hard-hit rate. He has three multi-hit games over the last week, and the pitching matchup is favorable.
Griffin Canning has been getting torched, with opponents collecting a 49.1% hard-hit rate against him over the last month. Freeman is also hitting .314 off righties.
Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Padres.TV, SportsNet LA
See full analysis of this game in our Padres vs. Dodgers predictions.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
SGP picks: 0-3, -3.00
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.
San Diego Padres CF Jackson Merrill (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
The San Diego Padres’ dirty little secret is Jackson Merrill’s steady decline at the plate, and the organization avoids talking about his struggles. It is tough to suggest Merrill is mired in a slump when his batting average has dropped 81 points since the All-Star’s rookie season in 2024.
Much of his decline stems from the Padres’ mismanagement, which created several bad habits that ruined his sweet swing.
Is Souza the problem?
2026 has brought a new hitting coach, Steven Souza Jr., into the fold. He has a different approach to hitting from the team’s previous coach, Victor Rodriguez. Souza emphasizes pulling more pitches for extra-base hits.
The move from Rodriguez has caused an informational overload for Merrill at the plate. At times, he looks tentative, as Merrill is recognizing pitches too late to make solid contact. The regression is alarming, as the Friars need to re-evaluate whether he should go back to his old approach.
The Friars failed to hire a hitting coach capable of enhancing Merrill’s natural strengths as a hitter. In his rookie season, he excelled at hitting to all fields. But Souza’s approach has eroded those skills.
Now, Merrill is attempting to pull every pitch, which results in either a sky-high pop-up that barely travels out of the infield or an easy groundball to the second baseman. Souza has failed to help him make the necessary adjustments to counter the pitching sequence during an at-bat.
It is time to hire a hitting coach who specializes in repairing swings. If not, the damage may be irreversible.
Stammen backs his coaching staff
Padres skipper Craig Stammen backs his hitting coach. But at some point, someone has to take the blame for the offensive struggles this season.
In Merrill’s case, no talk of him moving down the batting order. Team management is confident their young star will turn his season around.
Unfortunately, we’re in July, past the halfway point in the season, and Merrill’s past hitting prowess seems light-years away.
Chasing too many bad pitches
If we take a deep dive into his plate appearances, Merrill has decent power numbers. He has 25 extra-base hits with a .211 batting average, as Merrill will outpace his power production from a year ago.
However, there are concerns with his approach during at-bats. Merrill’s chase rate is poor at 34.2%, and his strike rate (24.9%) is the highest of his professional career. The Friar Faithful have seen too much of him swinging wildly as the ball tails outside the strike zone.
Fortunately, Merrill’s hitting slump has not impacted his stellar defense. He is still considered one of the best to patrol centerfield in the game today.
The blame for this mess lies at the feet of Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller, who has been too stubborn to recognize that his managerial choice is way over his head. Failing to hire a proven major league manager has stunted Merrill’s growth.
Stammen’s coaching staff is the butt of the Friar Faithful’s jokes. The team’s loyal fan base has lost faith in the coaching staff’s ability to turn Merrill back into a top run-producer.
The first order of business is to hire a coach to work with him. It is never too late to fix Merrill and get the talented outfielder back to hitting the baseball with more authority.
Jul 2, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) is greeted at the dugout steps by second baseman Nicky Lopez (33) after scoring against the Detroit Tigers during the fourth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Good morning, LSB.
The Rangers were off yesterday.
Evan Grant’s weekly stock report revives the “buyers/sellers at the deadline” conversation.
Kennedi Landry writes that Evan Carter’s IL stint might have been a silver lining in terms of finding his bat.
Happy Fourth of July! I hope everyone has fun plans and that the Cardinals celebrate with another 17 runs or so this evening. Today, I want to take a step back from the chaotic, and entertaining, iteration of the Cardinals and indulge in a little nostalgia by checking in on where some of the most memorable teams of this century were sitting on Independence Day. What is the point of this exercise? Mostly just for fun, but I will say, these snapshot views are a good reminder that anything can happen in baseball, and usually does.
We will start our journey a quarter century ago at the dawn of the Albert Pujols era.
2001
Entering play on July 4, 2001, the Cardinals’ record stood at 40-41 after having dropped their sixth straight game and ninth out of their last 11 the day before. They trailed Chicago by seven games in the NL Central and were three games behind the Astros.
Despite the mediocre record, the team looked pretty loaded on offense. Jim Edmonds was coming off a 6.5-WAR introduction to St. Louis in 2000. Mark McGwire had struggled mightily, but he was also coming off a 195 wRC+ season himself. The real excitement was with a couple of young guns leading the way. JD Drew was having a coming-out party in his age-25 season with 21 home runs and 3.8 WAR through the first half. There was also a rookie named Albert Pujols who was off to a historic start to his career.
On the pitching side of things, Matt Morris had returned to the rotation after missing 1999 with an injury and pitching 31 games out of the bullpen the year before. His record was 10-4 and he carried the fifth-best ERA in baseball at 2.65. Darryl Kile was coming off a 20-win season the year before and was the only other effective starting pitcher, having posted 1.6 WAR through the first half of the season. After those two, veterans Andy Benes and Dustin Hermanson had been largely ineffective. Rick Ankiel had started six games in April and May, but after averaging over a walk per inning, was sent to rookie ball to sort out his problems. The Cardinals had another highly touted pitching prospect in Bud Smith, who had been given his first start several weeks prior. Smith was the 39th-ranked prospect in baseball heading into the season and was excelling in Memphis as a 21-year-old.
The lineup the Cardinals rolled out on July 4 against the Brewers was missing Drew, but it was still a solid group.
*Stats through July 3
Game Recap
The game was a relative laugher as the Cardinals scored two in the third, one in the fifth, and three in the seventh to build a 6-0 lead in a game that ended 7-2. Fernando Vina hit his third home run of the season and Bobby Bonilla added a pinch-hit bomb in the ninth to back 6.2 scoreless innings from Mike Matthews.
How did the season play out?
The Cardinals stopped the bleeding with that July 4 win, but they limped along for another month carrying a record of 57-55 after being walked off by the Expos on August 8. The next day, Matt Morris pitched the team to a 9-6 win and kicked off an 11-game winning streak. When the dust settled, the Cardinals had 93 wins and took home the NL Wild Card after losing the divisional tiebreaker to the Astros.
The second-half surge was fueled on the offensive side by continued excellence from Pujols (151 wRC+) and Edmonds (161 wRC+), and even a slight rebound from McGwire (22 home runs and 119 wRC+).
The real difference was on the pitching side. Morris continued his torrid pace, putting up another 3.5 WAR while winning 12 games in the second half to finish 22-8. Darryl Kile kicked it into gear with a 2.74 ERA across his last 17 starts. In a brilliant move, Walt Jocketty flipped Ray Lankford for veteran righty Woody Williams. Williams went 7-1 in the season’s last two months while further stabilizing the rotation. Finally, Bud Smith was given 13 second-half starts and pitched to the tune of a 3.86 ERA, no-hitting the Padres on September 3. It would, no doubt, be the start of an exceptional career for the 21-year-old prodigy.
The season would end with a Game 5 loss in the NLDS to the Diamondbacks, led by Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson.
Fast-forwarding five years and about 200 Pujols home runs later brings us to…
2006
The Cardinals had come off of consecutive 100-win seasons in 2004 and 2005. The roster had undergone some reshuffling over the offseason, particularly on the offensive side, as Mark Grudzielanek (2.8 WAR) and Reggie Sanders (1.7 WAR) left via free agency and Larry Walker (2.2 WAR) retired. Still, the MV3 was in place, with Yadier Molina and David Eckstein also in the fold and big offseason acquisition Juan Encarnacion expected to provide solid supporting production. Through June 18, the team was humming along as expected at 42-26 and seemingly tracking toward another 100-win season. Then came an eight-game losing streak. Heading into play on July 4, the Cardinals had lost 11 of their last 14 and had seen their division lead shrink to just one game.
As the Cardinals prepared to play the Braves on July 4, their lineup looked less intimidating than in years past.
*Stats through July 3
Pujols and Rolen were chugging along, but Jim Edmonds had battled injuries and was off to a slow start. Chris Duncan had been recalled from Memphis and had provided some pop with three home runs in his first 18 games, but he had not yet walked and was an adventure in the outfield.
Chris Carpenter was on the bump and was following up his 2005 Cy Young campaign with an excellent first half. He carried a 2.85 ERA and had already accrued 1.9 WAR. After him, the rotation was bleak. Jason Marquis, Jeff Suppan, Mark Mulder, and Sidney Ponson had made the majority of the starts and all carried ERAs that started with a five or higher. Top prospect Anthony Reyes had just been inserted into the rotation and carried a 3.30 ERA through his first five starts. The bullpen was equally as troubling. Star closer Jason Isringhausen had saved 24 games in 30 opportunities and carried a 3.89 ERA, but his underlying metrics were terrifying with a FIP over six. Rookie Adam Wainwright was off to a decent start, and veteran Braden Looper had been solid, but, overall, it was an uninspiring group.
Game Recap
The game was relatively low drama. The Cardinals got two doubles apiece from Jim Edmonds and Yadier Molina as well as a home run from Juan Encarnacion en route to a 6-3 win. Carpenter was not his usual dominant self, but he got through five innings with only two runs allowed and handed the ball to Wainwright for two scoreless innings. The Braves threatened in the eighth inning, but Isringhausen was summoned to record a clean four-out save.
How did the season play out?
This July 4 win was not a grand turning point in the regular season. The win lifted the team’s record to 45-37, but the Cardinals played sub-.500 ball the rest of the way, finishing 38-41. Fortunately, the Astros limped along to an 82-80 record and the Cardinals were able to squeeze into the playoffs with an 83-win season. Chris Duncan and Scott Spiezio would provide just enough second-half firepower to offset the slumping Edmonds and Rolen, and Pujols would continue to obliterate the league, finishing with a 174 wRC+. On the pitching side, Jeff Suppan turned things around with a 3.13 ERA over his final 16 starts and Chris Carpenter cruised to another five WAR season. The rest of the rotation remained a dumpster fire. Midseason acquisition Jeff Weaver had a 5.18 ERA. After the promising start, Reyes struggled to a 6.02 ERA the remainder of the season. Not to be outdone, Jason Marquis went 4-10 with a 6.33 ERA over his final 16 starts.
We all know the rest of the story: the Cardinals made it all the way to the World Series before losing to the juggernaut Detroit Tigers in three games.
The next few years were not as kind to the Cardinals as Edmonds and Rolen aged and moved on, but Pujols was still there preparing for the final year of his contract as the 2011 season began.
2011
The Cardinals, now five years removed from their magical World Series run, had not won a playoff game since 2006 and had missed the playoffs entirely in 2007, 2008, and 2010. Still, they had the consensus best player in baseball in Albert Pujols and a legitimate MVP candidate in Matt Holliday playing second fiddle. Yadier Molina had emerged as a defense-first, borderline star-level player, and Colby Rasmus was looking to build on the 4-WAR season he posted as a 23-year-old in 2010. The only real offseason move was taking a flyer on 35-year-old Lance Berkman, who had seen his wRC+ decline the last three seasons.
Entering play on July 4, the Cardinals had the third-best offense in baseball by wRC+ at 110. Albert Pujols had fractured his wrist against Kansas City two weeks prior and was expected to be out four to six weeks. Pujols was having his worst season to date, having amassed just 1.5 WAR and a 136 wRC+. Still, the offense was looking pretty solid thanks to a resurgent Berkman and the progression of Jon Jay and David Freese, who had gotten their feet wet in 2010.
The Cardinals lineup facing off against the Reds and Johnny Cueto was:
*Stats through July 3
Chris Carpenter was given yet another Independence Day assignment. He came into the game at 3-7 with an ERA of 4.00, but his underlying metrics were solid enough to support a WAR of 1.7. With co-ace Adam Wainwright out for the season, Jaime Garcia was leading the staff with a WAR of 2.1. Kyle Lohse was enjoying a bounce-back year and carried a 2.97 ERA through the first half of the season. Jake Westbrook and Kyle McClellan filled out the back half of the rotation and were providing roughly replacement-level production between them. The bullpen had accrued -0.8 WAR thanks to horrific performances to date from Ryan Franklin, Miguel Batista, Brian Tallet, and Maikel Cleto. On the positive side, Jason Motte, Mitchell Boggs, and Eduardo Sanchez were doing an admirable job setting up for closer Fernando Salas. All four pitchers carried ERAs below three to keep the bullpen afloat.
Game Recap
Unlike our previous two Fourth of July jamborees, this one was anything but a laugher. Carpenter locked horns with Reds ace Johnny Cueto. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the eighth inning. Colby Rasmus led off with a single against Cueto and moved to second on a Yadier Molina bunt. Schumaker hit a deep flyout to center, allowing Rasmus to advance to third. Already at 119 pitches, Carpenter was lifted for pinch hitter Mark Hamilton. Hamilton had 11 career hits coming into play that day, but came through with a single to drive in the game-winning run. The hit would be the last of Hamilton’s major-league career, as he was sent down a few days later and never got another chance. The one run held up as Salas slammed the door with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
How did the season play out?
Chris Carpenter continued his dominance, going 8-2 with a 2.93 ERA the rest of the way to lead the rotation. Edwin Jackson was acquired in the Colby Rasmus trade and helped stabilize things with a 5-2 record and 3.62 ERA as a starter. The bullpen was remade as Jason Motte eventually shifted to the closer role, posting a 1.83 ERA after July 4. Octavio Dotel and Marc Rzepczynski were both nails after also coming over in the Rasmus trade.
Pujols miraculously returned from his fractured wrist after just two weeks and carried a 157 wRC+ the rest of the way. It was, however, Yadier Molina who led the team in WAR in the second half as his offense exploded. He ran a 148 wRC+ while putting up 3.2 WAR in 62 games to kick off his three-year run as a legitimate offensive weapon. Rafael Furcal was also added at the deadline and helped solidify the infield by taking over shortstop duties from Ryan Theriot.
The July 4 win against the Reds moved the Cardinals into sole possession of first place in the NL Central, a game up on Milwaukee, at 46-40. The Cardinals mostly tread water in July, taking a half-game lead over the Brewers following a win on the 26th. The Brewers then decided to rip off 23 wins over their next 26 games to put the division out of reach. On August 24, the Cardinals were 10 games behind the Brewers and 10.5 games behind the Braves for the Wild Card. The rest, of course, is history. The Cardinals finished the season on a 23-9 stretch while the Braves collapsed, allowing the Cardinals to capture the last playoff spot. You know what happened after that.
The takeaway from checking in on these three teams at the midseason mark is simple: you just never know.
COVERS INTEL:
SFG vs 
COL 
BOS vs 
LAA 
SD vs 
LAD 
