Columbus Clippers Travis Bazzana (12) throws the ball to first base during home opener at Huntington Park on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Columbus wasted a spectacular pitching performance from Yorman Gomez. Gomez tossed 5.1 shutout innings of three-hit ball with three strikeouts and two walks.
Jake Miller followed by allowing two runs on a pair of solo home runs in 1.2 innings. Carlos Hernandez finished off the game with a scoreless frame.
It was a rough day offensively. The lone run was courtesy of Kody Huff, who went 1-for-2 with a home run and a walk. No one else reached base twice or had an extra base hit.
Hello Nolan Schubart! The mammoth three-true-outcome slugger has been a revelation this season. Schubart started Saturday 0-for-3 and it looked like his 49-game on-base streak was in peril, but then he walked in the eighth inning and then hit the walk-off winner in the bottom of the ninth as Akron rallied to defeat Altoona.
Nolan Schubart got 1 last plate appearance in the 9th and he got a hit, a LOUD walkoff hit to win it for Akron. So he didnt need the walk to extent the 50 game on base streak https://t.co/UZcOZZDGDMpic.twitter.com/7WTlEEc7uh
— Justin L. (jlbaseball on bluesky) (@JL_Baseball) July 26, 2026
Since being promoted to Double-A, Schubart is hitting .320 with a 1.020 OPS. Incredible.
Also impressing was Ryan Cesarini, who went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and an RBI. Cesarini also is hitting .300 since being promoted to Double-A. Tyresse Turner went 1-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base while Jaison Chourio walked twice and stole a base.
Starting pitcher Braylon Doughty was OK, allowing three runs on four hits in 4.2 innings. He walked one and struck out four.
The bullpen was spectacular as Carter Rustad pitched 2.1 hitless innings and Izaak Martinez followed with 2.0 scoreless innings and three strikeouts to earn the win.
Ugly loss alert. The bats for the most part were silent for Lake County on Saturday. Jonah Advincula went 2-for-4 with a triple and a hit by pitch, Anthony Martinez went 2-for-5 with a double and Juneiker Caceres went 1-for-4 with a walk. Logun Clark also walked and was hit by a pitch.
No one else reached base safely twice.
This loss can be pinned on a horrific performance from a rehabbing Ben Lively. Lively, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, allowed a whopping eight runs on seven hits and one walk in just one inning, good for a 72.00 ERA.
A lone bright spot for pitching was Jackson Humphries, who allowed one earned run in 3.1 innings while striking out eight and walking zero, although he did give up six hits in the process. Conner Zsak also pitched 1.2 scoreless innings of relief.
I think it’s time to take catching prospect Reiner Herrera a little more seriously.
After blasting 11 home runs in the Arizona Complex League this summer, he was promoted to Single-A Hill City, where he has now homered four more times in 15 games. Herrera launched a two-run homer Saturday and also had three more runs batted in, going 2-for-5 with five RBIs. He has a .908 OPS since being promoted in what has been a breakout campaign for the 20-year-old Venezuelan.
Fellow catcher Cannon Peebles (my god I love that name) also had a big day, going 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.
Jonathan Martinez went 1-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base while Dauri Fernandez singled, walked and stole a base. Jhorvic Abreus doubled and walked while Yerlin Luis walked twice.
Starting pitcher Ryan DeSanto put up a quality start, allowing three runs on five hits in 6.1 innings with five strikeouts and a walk.
Keegan Zinn added 1.2 scoreless frames and Conner Whittaker allowed one run in the ninth.
BOSTON, MA - JULY 25: Dylan Cease #84 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates after pitching a complete game shutout of the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Saturday, July 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Natalie Reid/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Yankees have a good start to their road trip building, taking the first two games in Philadelphia thanks to some solid pitching performances and just enough offense to get by. This time it was Ryan Weathers’ turn to keep the ball rolling and he did just that, tossing 5.2 innings with just a lone run on his record while striking out seven. Austin Wells and Jasson Domínguez, two of the more maligned bats in the lineup, contributed solo homers to take the lead for good and the back of the bullpen continued their dominant run shutting the door down on any potential comeback. There was a full slate of competition going on around them, so lets see if the Yankees managed to gain any ground.
Tampa Bay Rays (61-43) 3, Cleveland Guardians (54-52) 0
Tampa Bay threatened early and often against Tanner Bibee, but it took until the fifth inning before they got on the scoreboard. The offense collected a hit in every single inning that the Guardians’ starter was in, getting leadoff singles in the first and second that went nowhere as well as loading the bases with two outs in the fourth inning. Each time, Bibee managed to worm his way out of damage, but in the fifth Yandy Díaz lined a one-out double to center and moved to third on a single from Jonathan Aranda. Junior Caminero stepped up and ripped a double out to right, scoring Díaz to plate the first run of the game. The second came right behind it when Cedric Mullins lifted a sac fly, and in the sixth inning the Rays manufactured a third on a walk, single, and a sacrifice bunt.
On the other side, Nick Martinez was efficient in shutting down Cleveland’s chances. Steven Kwan led off the game with a single but got erased on a double play, and Gabriel Arias ended up stranded after he led off the third in similar fashion. Nobody made it to second base against Martinez in his six innings of work, and when he handed the ball over to the bullpen not much changed. Cole Sulser, Garrett Cleavinger, and Bryan Baker held down an inning each and prevented a rally from forming.
Boston Red Sox (53-50) 0, Toronto Blue Jays (48-57) 6: Credit where credit is due, Dylan Cease isn’t fading behind in the Cy Young race at all. A day after Cam Schlittler tossed seven brilliant innings, Toronto’s ace went out and pitched a one-hitter against the surging Sox, allowing just an Andruw Monasterio double to lead off the sixth inning alongside a trio of walks scattered throughout his complete-game shutout. He struck out 12 batters along the way, utterly dominating Boston’s lineup (who are getting an upgrade after acquiring Curtis Mead yesterday, but he wouldn’t have made a difference in this one).
The Blue Jays backup up Cease with an explosive third inning, scoring five of their six runs. Sonny Gray got the first two outs in quick succession, but Nathan Lukes kept the frame alive with a double out to right before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled him home. Kazuma Okamoto kept the line moving with a single kept within the infield, and then George Springer delivered the big blow — a three-run homer over the Monster to make it 4-0 in a hurry. Daulton Varsho singled and Ernie Clement doubled him in to cap off the rally, and though Boston’s offense would slumber until the ninth inning when they scratched across one more run they hardly needed it.
Texas Rangers (53-51) 7, Seattle Mariners (51-54) 1: Nathan Eovaldi’s had one of his rougher seasons in a while, but he looked vintage in this outing as he tossed seven innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts to his name. Only an RBI double from J.P. Crawford in the fifth did any harm to him, and by then his offense had already staked him a five-run lead after scoring three in the first with a pair of doubles and an Ezequiel Duran triple followed by two more in the second off a Wyatt Langford double and Duran single. Texas tacked on two more in the seventh when Alejandro Osuna doubled in a pair of runs, but the insurance wasn’t needed with how Eovaldi was dealing.
Chicago White Sox (54-49) 1, Houston Astros (52-54) 4: Sean Burke pitched phenomenally for the Pale Hose through five innings of this game, collecting eight of his 10 strikeouts while scattering a pair of hits. Unfortunately for him, the sixth inning would undo all his hard work, as he led off the frame by hitting Cam Smith and allowed a single to Jeremy Peña before walking the dangerous Yordan Alvarez to load the bases with no outs. Isaac Paredes singled out to right field, and what should’ve been a simple hit turned into a bases-clearing one when Braden Montgomery couldn’t get his glove under the ball and allowed it to roll to the warning track. Hunter Brown was similarly on point for Houston and didn’t have an inning get away from him, going seven strong to secure the win.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 25: Austin Wynns #38 of the Texas Rangers gestures after hitting a single during the game against the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field on July 25, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, folks…
The Texas Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners last night by a score of 7-1.
The Philadelphia Phillies may be strong home favorites on Sunday Night Baseball as they look to avoid a sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees, but I expect a close game.
Cristopher Sanchez has been one of baseball’s best starters this season, but his July form has been wobblier. Will Warren gives Philadelphia a scoring path, too, which is why I’m also playing the Over.
Here are my Yankees vs. Phillies predictions and MLB picks for Sunday, July 26.
Sanchez is still excellent. However, July has been rough: a 7.47 ERA + 1.98 WHIP across 16 innings. He's already matched last year's 31 barrels allowed, and his barrel rate has jumped from 5.7% to 8.4%.
You don't need me to tell you that New York is built to succeed against that. Play this to -150.
COVERS INTEL: Cristopher Sanchez's sinker is the Yankees' clearest attack point: it has allowed a .371 xwOBA and 56% hard-hit rate despite his excellent overall production.
Yankees vs Phillies Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-121)
I like the Over, and I'd play it to -135. It's the only direction you can go if you feel the Yankees cover because Warren won't be spotless.
Sanchez’s recent issue has been contact volume, and the Yankees are a good option to expose that. Their 9.7% barrel rate and 135 home runs give them a direct path if his July command or location issues continue.
Warren brings the Philly side into play. His 4.50 xERA and .415 xSLG are a problem against a lineup with a 9% barrel rate and .411 xSLG.;
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 40-35, +7.47 units
Over/Under bets: 43-34, +11.01 units
Yankees vs Phillies weather
Yankees vs Phillies odds
Moneyline: Yankees +165 | Phillies -178
Run line: Yankees +1.5 | Phillies -1.5
Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5
Yankees vs Phillies trend
How to watch Yankees vs Phillies and game info
Location
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Sunday, July 26, 2026
First pitch
7:20 p.m. ET
TV
NBC, Peacock
Yankees starting pitcher
Will Warren (7-4, 4.00 ERA)
Phillies starting pitcher
Cristopher Sanchez (12-4, 2.71 ERA)
Yankees vs Phillies 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.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 25: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres slides home safely past Liam Hicks #34 of the Miami Marlins in the eighth inning of the game at loanDepot park on July 25, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Randy Vasquez got the start over JP Sears for the San Diego Padres against the Miami Marlins on Saturday, but it was Sears who came away with the win after 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball where he allowed just one hit with one walk and three strikeouts. The duo of Vasquez and Sears completed six innings allowing just one run and the Padres offense scored seven runs on 11 hits to beat the Marlins, 7-2.
Vasquez well, but it was a bit of a surprise when the team announced he would be making the start over Sears who was the scheduled starter. Vasquez completed 2.2 innings and allowed one run on one hit with two walks. He did not record a strikeout. Vasquez worked into and out of trouble in the first inning with walks to the first two Miami batters, but a ground ball double-play got him two outs, and the lead runner advance to third base. Vasquez then induced a flyball from Xavier Edwards for the third out of the inning.
The Padres broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third inning when Ty France hit a two-out two-run single to score Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado. France tried to stretch his single to a double and was thrown out just after Machado crossed the plate to give San Diego a 2-0 lead. The Marlins plated a run in the bottom of the third to make the score, 2-1 but the Padres continued to score and added to their lead in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings with five runs. Miami was able to add a run in the bottom of the eighth off Matt Waldron, but that was all the right-hander would allow over his two innings of work to end the game.
Jackson Merrill was the offensive leader for San Diego, finishing the day 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored, but it was his defense that created a buzz. Kyle Stowers hit the third single in the bottom of the eighth inning for Miami which scored Esteury Ruiz but Merrill scooped up the ball and threw a dart to Machado at third base who tagged out Otto Lopez for the second out of the inning, leaving Stowers as the lone man on base at first. Waldron induced a groundball out from the next Marlins batter to end the inning.
— Padres Highlights (@FriarHighlights) July 25, 2026
France also contributed at the plate for the Padres, which could be bittersweet depending on what the team decides to do at the trade deadline. France finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored and is now hitting .283 on the season. His recent performance as helped San Diego remain in and win games, but it also may be enticing other teams to consider adding him to their roster if the Padres make him available.
San Diego has taken back-to-back games from Miami and will go for the series sweep, which would bring them back to .500, today at 10:40 a.m.
Padres News:
According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners and the New York Yankees could all be interested in trading for Mason Miller if the Padres decide to move him. The Milwaukee Brewers were also recently reported as another team interested in the closer. There is also speculation that the Chicago White Sox could be interested in adding Miller.
Salvador Perez hit a home run to help the Kansas City Royals beat the Detroit Tigers and became the all-time home run leader for the Royals, passing George Brett.
Well, the MLB Trade deadline has officially kicked off. Just before midnight on Saturday night, the Boston Red Sox and Nationals agreed on a deal for two young MLB regulars, with the Red Sox sending left-handed pitcher Connelly Early to the Nationals for infielder Curtis Mead.
BREAKING: The Boston Red Sox are trading left-hander Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals for infielder Curtis Mead, sources tell ESPN.
While this trade surprised many people when it was initially reported last night, it's worth digging into why each team would make this deal and whether or not the trade makes more sense once you look a little closer.
What are the Nationals getting with Connelly Early?
The consensus on social media is that the Red Sox made an awful trade. It can be easy to see why. Early flew up prospect boards in 2025 after having a fine 2024 season where he posted a 3.99 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 30.8% strikeout rate in 103.2 innings in High-A and Double-A. He started 2025 in Double-A and was electric over 71.2 innings, so he was promoted to Triple-A, where he made just six starts before the Red Sox called him up due to injuries in their MLB rotation. In four MLB starts, he posted a 2.33 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 36.7% strikeout rate, and even started a postseason game, and his legend began to take off.
The truth about Connelly Early is a bit less rosy, even without considering his current elbow injury.
This season, he has a 3.44 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 23.8% strikeout rate in 91.2 innings. His walk rate has gone back up to 8.7%, and his chase rate induced has fallen to 31.3%. Those aren't alarming numbers by any means, but they're more in line with the pitcher he was in the minor leagues and not the one we saw for five MLB starts last year, where he posted a 36.7% chase rate and just a 5.1% walk rate.
Early has a deep arsenal of pitches and the foundation to be a really strong MLB starting pitcher for many years. He can attack righties with a four-seamer, changeup, curve, and slider, while lefties get a sinker, four-seamer, and sweeper. The sweeper has the makings of an elite whiff pitch to lefties, but Early has struggled to find a true out pitch versus righties. Right now, his best swinging strike rate pitch to righties is his four-seamer. The curve and slider both have below league-average swinging strike rates to righties, and he rarely uses the slider in two-strike counts while the curve has a league-average PutAway Rate. The issue with relying so much on elevated four-seamers to swinging strikes against righties is that when Early misses his spots, as he has a few times this year, the pitch can be hit hard. Early has allowed a 23.8% HR/FB rate on the four-seamer against righties this year, which is well above the 19.9% league average.
Early's approach is also geared towards chase, which makes sense when you have plus stuff. His first-pitch strike rate is just average, and his 43.4% zone rate is below the 45% league average for starting pitchers this season. That can work when hitters are consistently offering at your pitches outside of the zone, but hitters have adjusted to Early this season. He still has a solid 32.8% chase rate, but that's only slightly above average, and his PutAway Rate is just 20.1%, which is still above the 19% league average but way down from the 30% mark he posted in a limited sample last season. All of that explains why Early is still producing whiffs but has struggled to make last year's strikeout upside as hitters have adjusted to him.
Pitcher List
The Red Sox obviously felt they had the starting pitching depth with Jake Bennett emerging this season and prospect Anthony Eyanson tearing up Double-A in the same way Early did last season. That, plus Johan Oviedo starting to throw bullpens again after a flexor strain, and Brayan Bello starting to look stronger in bulk relief outings, made the Red Sox feel OK with dealing away a controllable left-handed pitcher. The Nationals will gladly take Early and pair him with Cade Cavalli at the top of their rotation for years to come. If they can also re-sign Foster Griffin in the offseason, they would have a solid three-man core that features young arms with plus stuff and a veteran who can pound the zone with a deep pitch mix and elicit weak contact. It's a move that makes tons of sense for a Nationals organization that also has Brady House and Yohandy Morales at Triple-A, waiting to fill in that third base role.
What are the Red Sox getting with Curtis Mead?
For starters, we need to move away from the "Curtis Mead was designated for assignment" discourse. It's true that it happened, but it doesn't really have any bearing on him as a player or prospect.
After being signed by the Phillies out of Australia in 2018, Mead was later traded to the Rays for Cristopher Sanchez. Yes, that Cristopher Sanchez. Mead then spent five years in Tampa Bay's organization, where he hit .298 in his minor league career and was the 33rd-overall prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, heading into the 2023 season. For many reasons, which we'll get to, Mead was unable to consistently break into the Rays' lineup and was traded to the White Sox for Adrian Houser at last year's trade deadline. The White Sox gave Mead a few chances last season before designating him for assignment this offseason, where he was scooped up by the Nationals.
And now we're in the present day. Mead is just 25 years old and has finally been given a regular starting job. He's hitting .254/.352/.500 in 327 plate appearances with the Nationals, with 17 home runs and six steals. He has a 10.8% barrel rate and a 42.3% hard-hit rate, while showing an elite understanding of the strike zone, with an above-average chase rate and a nearly 12% walk rate. He also has tremendous contact ability, with just a 6.5% swinging strike rate to go along with a 92% zone contact rate. We can say it's a "small sample size" of 87 games with the Nationals, but this was also the hitter that Mead was in the minors which made him a top prospect. The understanding of the strike zone and elite contact ability have always been there.
The power is the new development, and much of it feels real.
For starters, the Nationals changed his stance, narrowing his feet a little bit and opening up his stance. This is the same approach that the Brewers took with Brice Turang before he experienced a power surge. The narrower stance can allow hitters to load up on the back half a bit more when the stride, and the open stance can make it easier for hitters to clear their hips on the swing, both of which should lead to more power. The open stance also can lead to more pulled balls, which is what is happening with Mead. His pull rate has gone from 34.3% last year to 48.6% this year. His Pull Air% has also jumped from 15.7% to 22.5%.
Statcast
That's clearly something that caught Boston's eye with the Green Monster looming as an inviting target in left field. Just this season, we've seen Willson Contreras raise his pull rate to a career-high 53.1%, which has helped fuel a career-best .941 OPS and .261 ISO. Contreras is also hitting .291, which would be his best batting average in a full season by about .015 points. The Red Sox clearly see a similar boost for Mead by playing in Fenway Park, and while there has been much discussion about Mead being a "short-side platoon," that is really just tied back to how the Rays used him. Mead has an .817 OPS and .242 ISO against right-handed pitchers this season. There is no platoon here.
The biggest question is where does Mead play defensively? The Nationals have been using him at third base, and his -1 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) isn't terrible, but his -4 Outs Above Average (OAA) paints a different story. He has displayed poor range at third base and would be a major downgrade from Caleb Durbin, who has been tremendous at third base for Boston this year despite playing mostly second base as a prospect. However, it's possible that the Red Sox can keep Durbin at third base. In 108.2 innings at second base with the Rays last season, Mead had an OAA of 2 and a DRS of 2. His range graded out slightly above average, and he had a Fielding Run Value of 1. That's obviously a small sample size, but the Rays were able to get league-average defense out of Mead at second base last year, possibly due to positioning, which is something the Red Sox could duplicate. Of course, the Red Sox could also use him as their primary designated hitter for the remainder of the season as well.
Final Trade Takeaways
Despite the initial reaction that this was a gross overpay for the Red Sox, it actually looks like a pretty fair swap. Both teams get a young, controllable player in a position of need. Early undoubtedly has the higher upside and could be the ace of the Nationals staff in time, but the Red Sox need more offense right now, and they feel good about their pitching coming up behind Early in the ranks. Mead has legit offensive tools that could make him great at Fenway Park for the next four years, but the Nationals also have good, young third basemen behind him and another player in Luis Garcia who they also have no defensive home for.
This feels a bit like both teams got what they needed.
CINCINNATI, OH - MAY 31: Reynaldo López #40 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Sunday, May 31, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Colten Strauss/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
A closely-fought series between the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves and the currently-hot Baltimore Orioles will come down to the Sunday matinee game, as Reynaldo López will be looking to make a bounce-back start in order to help potentially push the Braves to another series win.
López will be entering this game fresh off the heels of one of his worst starts of the season so far, which is when he got tagged for five runs over 4.1 innings against the Padres. It would be easy to chalk it up to it simply being a case of the Padres playing the Braves tough as usual but that start came ten days after López got hit hard by the Cardinals for four runs over five innings, so it could be a case of López running into a real rough patch.
With that being said, one thing that appears to be aberrant when comparing López’s most recent start to the past is the fact that he walked three batters against the Padres. That was his season-high for walks and when you consider that he’s got a 3.45 BB/9 so far this season, that could be an indication that we’re not going to see Reynaldo walk as many batters this time around.
Then again, the Orioles are one of the best teams in baseball when it comes to coaxing walks out of opposing pitchers (their 10.2 percent walk rate leads the American League and is tired for third place in all of baseball with the Dodgers) and they’ve been especially good at it during this successful month for them so far, as they have the best walk rate in all of baseball (11.4 percent) during the month of June. If the last start was an aberration for López then he’ll certainly have his work cut out for him trying to prove it against this particular lineup.
Conversely, the Orioles will be starting Shane Baz, who hasn’t walked a guy since the fifth inning of his start on July 7 against the Cubs. Ever since then, he’s thrown 10.2 innings and struck out 15 batters while only giving up six hits and three runs. With that being said, his defense did let him down a bit in their showdown earlier this week against the Red Sox, which is when Baz only gave up one earned run but ended up seeing four Red Sox base runners cross home plate while he was on the mound after the O’s committed three errors during his appearance.
Those errors proved costly as the Red Sox ended up winning that game by one run and the Braves know all-too-well what effect defensive gaffes can have on a game after what happened last night, so maybe defense will be a priority during today’s game as well.
Despite Baltimore’s current overall record, a win for the Braves today would be pretty big in terms of recent performances. Atlanta’s coming off of a successful homestand to start the second half and could get their first road trip of this crucial portion of the season off to a good start with a win against an Orioles squad that has been playing a lot better lately than what their overall record indicates. The offense will have to figure out a way to get Shane Baz to crack and Reynaldo López will have to figure out a way to keep the Orioles from walking their way into dangerous situations against Atlanta, so this’ll certainly be an intriguing game to watch with the series on the line. Let’s see what happens, folks.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 12: Adrian Morejon #50 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning at Petco Park on July 12, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good left-handed pitching is something no team will ever turn down, and at this year’s deadline, the Yankees could benefit from exactly that. While the Padres are not necessarily out of the playoff hunt, any divisional hopes are all but gone, and sitting below .500 at this juncture with five teams ahead of them for the last Wild Card spot in the Senior Circuit, it may be in their best interest to sell.
Dominant closer Mason Miller is obviously the star attraction in the bullpen. But with three full years of team control after 2026 and reasonable hopes of contending again next year, San Diego does not necessarily have to move him unless they’re blown away by an offer akin at least within shouting distance of what they gave the A’s for Miller last year.
He’s not the only standout reliever in their ’pen though. Adrian Morejon could be a prime candidate to join the Yankees. The once highly-touted prospect out of Cuba has settled into a relief role, and has thrived over the last few seasons. With free agency looming this winter, the Padres could shop the 27-year-old lefty as a rental, shipping him out to a contending team in need.
Between 2024 and ‘25, Morejon pitched in 135 games, managing an impressive 2.42 ERA with a 2.52 FIP that backed it up. Although his role may not be what was expected in his minor-league days, he’s turned himself into a durable and reliably good option out of the bullpen.
In 2026 to this point, he’s been just about as good. Getting plenty of work, pitching in 48 games and working over 55 innings, the lefty has maintained a steady 2.40 FIP and is striking out more batters than he ever has, at a 27.9 percent clip. With a walk rate that has remained steady, Morejon has essentially been at peak form for the last three seasons while taking on a significant workload out of relief.
The start to Morejon’s career was not a seamless one, as he pitched just 75 innings with an ERA north of five in his first five combined seasons in the majors, including three different seasons where he stuck around for less than 10 innings of work. That 2023 season was a major leap for the lefty, however, and he hasn’t looked back since. With a multi-year track record of success now behind him, he becomes an attractive trade target at this year’s deadline, and one that may not break the bank, considering his forthcoming free agency.
The lefty throws hard, and boasts impressive peripherals across the board, so stretches of real dominance are never out of the question. He’d be a major boost to any bullpen, and the Yankees are no different. With Tim Hill largely disappointing in 2026, Morejon could pair nicely with Brent Headrick, who’s been terrific from the left side for the Yankees this season. Even regardless of pitching hands, Morejon is simply an impact arm to bring out of the ‘pen, and if the Yankees look to that area to improve at the deadline, he could make some sense.
He has been linked as a possible target for the Yankees, and the Padres make sense as natural trade partners at this year’s deadline. San Diego may be poised to move multiple relievers before August 3rd rolls around, and Morejon would make sense for any team looking to bolster the bullpen. His four-pitch mix has proven successful in his role, and next to the otherworldly Miller, the lefty would be a much cheaper option. With Morejon’s velocity and swing-and-miss stuff all moving in the right direction, he has a solid chance of being a true impact arm if put in the right position.
Morejon is now in the midst of a third straight year of high-level pitching out of the San Diego bullpen, and with 2026 being his final year before hitting the open market, he will more than likely be on the move at the deadline. He’d be of use to any Major League roster, and if the price is right, the Yankees may pull the trigger on the talented lefty.
The underdog Chicago Cubs (+113) can earn a series victory when they face the Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 3 of their three-game series at PNC Park.
Braxton Ashcroft's underlying metrics are shaky, and my Cubs vs. Pirates predictions and MLB picks expect a Cubs sweep today,
Who will win Cubs vs Pirates today: Cubs moneyline (+114)
The markets are pricing this game off Jameson Taillon's 5.41 xERA and 1st-percentile barrel rate, but three factors point the other way.
Braxton Ashcraft relies on chase (37.2%, 96th percentile), yet he draws a Chicago Cubs lineup that rarely expands the zone and owns an 11% walk rate the past two weeks.
Taillon's fly-ball profile is better protected at PNC Park, especially with Pete Crow-Armstrong's +20 Outs Above Average patrolling center, while the Pittsburgh Piratescorner outfield defense sits at a combined -8 OAA.
Add in a Pirates lineup that chases enough to feed Taillon's sweeper, and I play the Cubs to -105 today.
COVERS INTEL: Ashcraft's four-seam fastball is his most-used pitch at 31.9 percent, and it's been hit for a .290 average, .519 slugging, and a .330 xwOBA with a negative run value.
Cubs vs Pirates Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-116)
It will be warm and dry for the first pitch, and both starters are hittable. Taillon carries a 14.4% barrel rate with 22 home runs in 72 innings and rarely sees the sixth inning.
Ashcraft has served up eight home runs in his last five starts and allows a 90.5 mph average exit velocity and meets a Cubs lineup walking 12.4 percent over the past two weeks.
That puts this in the bullpen's hands early, and Pittsburgh's relievers have walked 10.4% over the same stretch after emptying out Saturday night.
Scoring runs is what these teams do when they meet, as the Over is 7-3 in their last 10 games. I’d play this to -130.
Phil Naessens' 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 9-12, -1.01 units
Over/Under bets: 9-10, -2.45 units
Cubs vs Pirates weather
Warm and dry with light winds blowing out to right field.
Cubs vs Pirates odds
Moneyline: Cubs +108 | Pirates -117
Run line: Cubs +1.5 (-186) | Pirates -1.5 (+163)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-117) | Under 8.5 (+104)
Cubs vs Pirates trend
The Over is 7-3 in their last 10 head-to-head meetings. Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Pirates.
How to watch Cubs vs Pirates and game info
Location
PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Date
Sunday, July 26, 2026
First pitch
1:35 p.m. ET
TV
MARQ, SNP
Cubs starting pitcher
Jameson Taillon (2-5, 5.38 ERA)
Pirates starting pitcher
Braxton Ashcraft (9-4, 3.95 ERA)
Cubs vs Pirates 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.
Los Angeles, CA - April 14: Dodgers teammates Kike Hernandez and Edwin Diaz celebrate with Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas (72) after Rojas scored a run during the eight inning of an MLB game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Dodgers are looking to end their road trip with a record of 7-2, and they’ll be treated with a pleasant surprise once they begin their upcoming homestand on July 28.
Kiké Hernández has played just two games this season, but he will be back on Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners after missing two months due to an oblique issue. Closer Edwin Díaz, who has pitched just six innings this season, will be activated on Wednesday after missing over three months due elbow surgery to remove loose bodies. Both updates were reported by David Vassegh of AM 570 on Saturday.
Hernández has appeared in five games with the Oklahoma City Comets during his current rehab assignment, going 6-18 with a home run, while Díaz has accumulated one inning over two appearances with Oklahoma City.
Links
Dodgers fans were disappointed by the first half results from Kyle Tucker, as the outfielder limped into the All-Star break with just seven home runs while slashing .244/.341/.375. His opening to the second half wasn’t any prettier over the six games against the Yankees and Phillies, but he has found his groove at the plate against the Mets.
Tucker had the deciding home run on Friday in a 4-2 win, and he started the scoring on Saturday with another home run, the first time he’s hit home runs in two consecutive games as a Dodger. Tucker spoke with Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports following the Dodgers’ 4-3 win over New York, where he discussed the struggles he’s faced this year while acknowledging the support he’s received from his teammates and staff.
“Our coaching staff and the players that we have on this team is unbelievable. Everyone is so supportive of each other and just wanting each other to help. It’s a team sport, and we want to get to the end of the season and win a World Series.”
Shohei Ohtani was scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday, but lingering issues in his left knee flared up and the two-way superstar is now shut down from throwing.
Dave Roberts expects Ohtani to return to pitching during the regular season, but the team will not move forward with his throwing once he is 100 percent clear to continue, notes Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
“We are not going to move forward [as far as throwing off a mound] until he feels 100 percent confident and we feel 100 percent confident that we should do it,” Roberts said. “He just doesn’t feel 100 percent. I think the last ‘pen that he had, there was a little bit of regression. We want to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre is joined by his wife, Ali, and daughter, Andrea, at a Dodgers game earlier this season. The Dodgers recognized Torre and his Safe at Home Foundation, which is committed to supporting kids exposed to domestic violence. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
You know him. Baseball icon. Hall of Famer. The only big leaguer with 2,000 hits as a player and 2,000 wins as a manager, he steered the New York Yankees to four World Series championships — and the Dodgers to consecutive National League West crowns and NLCS appearances in 2008 and 2009.
So you’re well-versed on Torre’s baseball bonafides, but you might not be aware of the most meaningful part of his legacy: He’s spent the past 24 years helping people who actually would need to be introduced to him.
Kids who are too young to know Torre the player, manager, color commentator — but who can, unfortunately, relate with what he went through when he was their age. Kids who, like him, are growing up afraid and anxious because of domestic violence at home, and who need what Torre didn’t have — somewhere safe to go to for help.
Since 2002, Torre and his wife, Ali, have been behind the expanding the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation. Across the nation, they’ve set up safe spaces in schools, specialized classrooms that feel more like living rooms and that are manned by professional counselors trained in domestic violence intervention.
San Francisco Giants assistant manager Ron Washington hugs Joe Torre before a game at Dodger Stadium on May 14. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
They’re at schools in New York, Cincinnati, Tahiti and in L.A., at Bellflower Middle/High School and John Adams Middle School, John H. Glenn High and McKinley Elementary School, Palisades Charter High, Santa Monica High, Waite Middle School and Washington Preparatory High.
And they’re open to all, whether you’re a kid experiencing violence or you want to be able to help peers who are.
This past year, the foundation says it reached more than 28,000 students. And since it began, more than 425,000 young people, families, schools, and communities.
These Safe at Home spaces are all named “Margaret’s Place,” in honor of Joe’s mom, who was for years the victim of his father’s violent ire.
“It’s a tough subject to talk about,” Joe Torre said. “But you can’t run away from it.”
He did, though. He’s 85 now, but until he was 54, Torre didn’t reveal that baseball had been his refuge when he was growing up. He didn’t tell anyone that when he was a kid, if he saw his dad’s car in front of his house, Joe would go to a friend’s house and wait until he left for his job as a New York police detective. Joe didn’t share memories like he would later, of seeing his big sister, armed with a knife, standing between their mother and their father, who was going for his pistol.
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Joe Torre poses swinging a bat prior to a game in 1971. (Dave Pickoff / Associated Press)
He didn’t recognize what those traumatic experiences he’d tried to bury did to him, not until he started to talk about them.
“I thought I was born with this shyness and this nervousness,” Torre said before a Dodgers game in May, when the club introduced him and Ali and players and coaches wore T-shirts during batting practice that read: “Everyone deserves to be safe at home.”
“During my playing career,” Torre continued, “if we lost a game and I didn’t get any hits, I’d beat myself up. I was fortunate, I had a good career, but there was always something missing. I really probably could have enjoyed it a lot more than I did.”
That didn’t change until 1995, when he started talking about the domestic violence he experienced. He was surprised, he said, to find himself sharing his story, opening up for the first time at a “Life Success” seminar in Cincinnati, Ali’s hometown.
“Ali, she says, ‘You want to go to this Life Success symposium with me?’” Joe said. “And she’s eight months pregnant with our daughter and I’m not about to say no to anything she asks me to go. So we go in and they separate you, and they put you in groups of six strangers — and I’d just been named manager of the Yankees, so I’m very self-conscious.
“But after a day or so, you’re in it, you know? And then we went home and I called my sisters and asked them questions. Because they always tried to protect me, so I had to drag it out of them … ‘Did dad hit mom?’
“The biggest thing for me was knowing that my dad bringing fear down on the home was what caused my feelings that I was embarrassed to have. Once I went through that, I was able to go deeper.”
Yankees manager Joe Torre bumps fists with catcher Jorge Posada after a win in April 2004. (Brian Kersey / Associated Press)
Speaking about what was previously unspeakable helped him cope with his trauma. He said it made him a more empathetic manager and a more confident man. It also made him want to speak out publicly and to encourage others to do the same, to break the cycle of silence.
So they’re getting the word out at — where else? — ballparks. There was the stop at Dodger Stadium in May, and before that, in 2025, seven major league teams had activations at games, as did 63 minor league clubs who hosted a “Safe At Home Awareness Game.”
Because often we do need an introduction, to connect kids with people who can keep them safe, who can assure them they’re not the only ones in their position.
“He’s talked about this many times: If he had access to a program like Margaret’s Place, he wouldn’t have felt like he had to carry this burden alone,” said Rose Robles, the foundation’s senior director of programs. “That was one thing he’s really stressed, he felt he was the only one that was going through this.
“And he would have had some options, some choices for how to respond to what he was experiencing and how to understand it. One thing that we say is that violence thrives in silence, and that is basically what he was experiencing.”
Forty-four percent of the kids Margaret’s Place counselors helped in 2024-25 were dealing with some form of violence at home. Twenty-seven percent have experienced some form of relationship or dating violence. They also help kids who’ve been exposed to community violence or other traumatic events, or who are grieving a traumatic loss.
Dodgers manager Joe Torre pauses for a moment while answering questions in August 2010. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
At Bellflower Middle and High School, Principal Jessica Cummings said a Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week and parent workshops focused on fostering healthy relationships increased awareness on her campus.
“We are grateful,” she wrote in an email, “for this partnership and the positive impact it has had.”
Of the students surveyed after receiving services, Safe at Home indicated that 99% reported feeling safer and 93% said they used the tools they learned in counseling.
Torre has absorbed decades of anecdotal feedback too — the knowing nods he sees in the crowd when he’s talked to groups of kids about this, the cameraman who slipped him $20 to put toward the foundation, the interviewer who shared his account of having grown up in a violent household.
“Anyone can become a victim,” Ali Torre said, “Our goal is to intervene and prevent. There are little boys we can have conversations with: ‘You don’t have to repeat the cycle.’ To little girls, ‘There’s an option for you…’
“And Joe has opened a lot of doors for us.”
When you think of Joe Torre, it’s as a former Dodgers skipper. A nine-time All-Star and the 1971 National League Most Valuable Player.
You should also think of him as a champion of children who now know that they aren’t alone, and that they have people who will go to bat for them.
I don’t want to run through the play-by-play, as Al has covered it all thoroughly. But I’d be remiss:
Matthew Boyd — it wasn’t pretty or dominant, but all that matters is that he (and the defense) got out of jams, and the important two numbers: one run allowed over seven innings. What a battler!
Ian Happ — The throw on the double play from left was money, and the slide at home in the 10th was epic.
Nico Hoerner — I’ve gotten in the bad habit (I guess understandably) of allowing a lot of Nico’s plays make me think of Ryno. But there are exceptions, like the throw between the legs to first earlier this year. And Friday night’s play behind second and snap throw to third to get the runner — that was beyond elite. I don’t really think Ryno would have pulled off that combination during the play. Yet another play of the year by Nico?
PCA got the Cubs on the board. And good job directing Happ to slide to the inside of the plate.
Dansby Swanson’s single got the first run in the 10th. Honorable mention to Seiya Suzuki for the bases-loaded walk that turned out to be the difference in the game.
And Gavin Hollowell picked up his second career save Friday. With the insurance run, he concentrated on the three outs needed, not the placed runner on second. Three outs on five pitches. Hard to beat that.
Not much offense, but thanks to Boyd, he kept the Cubs in the game by going deep into the game by allowing just one run. And for Hollowell for slamming the door.
*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.
Tyler Courtney (LastWordOnSports): Cubs Top Trade Assets Heading Into the 2026 Trade Deadline. “It is never easy to part ways with players who become fan favorites, but it is a necessary price to pay. Luckily, there is a wide variety of players at both the Major and Minor League levels who could be dealt.”
Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): What we’re hearing about Matt Shaw and James Triantos as Cubs plan for trade deadline. “Matt Shaw will not be activated off the injured list before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Friday, setting another variable for the club’s plans to bulk up its pitching staff.”
Howard Woodard (LastWordOnSports): Cardinals’ Slow Start to 2nd Half Makes Divisional Stretch Crucial. “Dropping five of their first seven games after the All-Star break, the St. Louis Cardinals’ slow start to the second half has heightened the circumstances now that the team has returned to St. Louis.”
Food For Thought:
Norman Jeffrey Healey (March 25, 1966 – March 2, 2008) was a Canadian blues, rock and jazz guitarist, singer and songwriter who attained popularity in the 1980s and 1990s. When he was almost one year old, Healey lost his sight due to retinoblastoma, a rare cancer of the eyes. His eyes had to be surgically removed, and he was given ocular prostheses.
Healey began playing guitar when he was three, developing his unique style of playing the instrument flat on his lap. When he was 15, Healey formed the band Blue Direction, a four-piece that primarily played bar-band cover tunes. Shortly thereafter he was introduced to bassist Joe Rockman and drummer Tom Stephen, with whom he formed a trio, the Jeff Healey Band. They received a write-up in Toronto’s NOW magazine, and soon were playing almost nightly in local clubs, such as Grossman’s Tavern and the famed blues club Albert’s Hall (where Jeff Healey was discovered by guitarists Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert Collins).
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.
We have a 15-game MLB slate for today that will surely keep us interested throughout the day.
Our Sunday MLB moneyline card is filled with solid plus-money markets, and a few short favorites that we will attack.
Read on for our MLB moneyline predictions and MLB picks for Sunday, July 26.
MLB moneyline picks for July 26
Matchup
Pick
Guardians vs Rays
-127
Blue Jays vs Red Sox
-127
Diamondbacks vs Nationals
-117
Braves vs Orioles
-108
Cubs vs Pirates
+122
Dodgers vs Mets
+150
Royals vs Tigers
+156
Padres vs Marlins
+117
Astros vs White Sox
-100
Rockies vs Brewers
+257
Athletics vs Twins
+144
Reds vs Cardinals
+117
Mariners vs Rangers
-104
Angels vs Giants
-122
Yankees vs Phillies
-133
Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 7-26.
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Expert MLB moneyline picks for July 26
Guardians vs Rays: Tampa Bay Rays (-127)
Rays win probability: 56%
Drew Rasmussen provides a steady baseline, though Parker Messick starting for Cleveland brings some variance. Still, Tampa Bay's pitching metrics over the last two weeks stand among the league’s elite, featuring a 3.37 xFIP and a 20 percent K-BB rate.
Cleveland holds the offensive edge, but Tampa’s late-inning bullpen depth at home creates solid value.
Blue Jays vs Red Sox: Boston Red Sox (-127)
Red Sox win probability: 56%
Kevin Gausman always brings brand recognition, but Toronto’s lineup has hit a massive slump, producing a meager 69 wRC+ over the last 14 days. Boston’s bullpen is firing on all cylinders with a slate-best 1.51 ERA.
Questioning Boston's starter Payton Tolle being in the rotation is reasonable, but Toronto’s bats are currently too cold to trust on the road.
Diamondbacks vs Nationals: Arizona Diamondbacks (-117)
Diamondbacks win probability: 54%
Arizona’s offense is flat-out raking right now, posting a dominant 136 wRC+ and a .504 slugging percentage over the last fortnight. Miles Mikolas sits on the other side with a bloated 5.01 xFIP and low strikeout output.
At short road odds, backing Arizona’s bats offers tremendous value.
Braves vs Orioles: Baltimore Orioles (-108)
Orioles win probability: 52%
Reynaldo Lopez usually draws heavy betting interest, but Atlanta’s overall pitching has shown vulnerabilities lately with a 4.28 xFIP. Meanwhile, Baltimore quietly holds a sharp 3.73 SIERA over the past two weeks.
Taking the Orioles as narrow home favorites at Camden Yards is a solid situational angle that must be exploited.
Cubs vs Pirates: Chicago Cubs (+122)
Cubs win probability: 45%
Pittsburgh holds the home-field advantage, but the matchup between Jameson Taillon and Braxton Ashcraft remains tight. Chicago’s underlying offensive production (118 wRC+ vs. 100 wRC+) and bullpen metrics carry the overall statistical advantage.
Grabbing the Cubs at a plus-money price on the road provides strong value.
Dodgers vs Mets: New York Mets (+150)
Mets win probability: 40%
Emmet Sheehan versus Freddy Peralta makes for an intriguing matchup, but the prediction markets offer an appealing price tag for the home team. New York’s bullpen actually out-grades Los Angeles over the last two weeks in both ERA- and SIERA.
Backing the Mets at +150 delivers solid value.
Royals vs Tigers: Kansas City Royals (+156)
Royals win probability: 39%
Framber Valdez on the bump gives Detroit a notable edge, but the heavy home market price opens up opportunity on the visitor. Kansas City’s offense has struggled lately, yet Valdez is occasionally prone to control hiccups.
At a generous +156 payout, taking a shot on the road underdog makes sense.
Padres vs Marlins: San Diego Padres (+117)
Padres win probability: 46%
Miami enters as a surprising home favorite despite a lineup-wide offensive drought, managing just a 70 wRC+ over the last 14 days. San Diego continues to produce high-level contact, posting a 134 wRC+ and .475 slugging mark.
Getting the Padres at plus-money with Walker Buehler pitching is arguably the top value spot on the card.
Astros vs White Sox: Houston Astros (-100)
Astros win probability: 50%
This matchup sits at flat pick 'em odds on the board. Houston’s bullpen leads the entire slate with an elite 23.4 percent K-BB rate over the last two weeks.
Backing Ronel Blanco and the Astros at even money against a struggling White Sox lineup (85 wRC+) is a strong position.
Rockies vs Brewers: Colorado Rockies (+257)
Rockies win probability: 28%
Milwaukee commands massive home chalk in this spot. Colorado’s offense remains limited with a 74 wRC+, but Milwaukee’s bullpen has shown command issues with elevated walk rates, and Jacob Misiorowski can occasionally struggle with location.
At a massive +257 payout, targeting the high-variance road underdog is the sharp play.
Athletics vs Twins: Athletics (+144)
Athletics win probability: 41%
Joe Ryan is always tough to beat at Target Field, but Minnesota carries a heavy market premium price. The Athletics' lineup has quietly put together respectable power numbers over the last fortnight.
Fading the inflated line on the home favorite and taking the A's at +144 offers a solid risk-reward play today.
Reds vs Cardinals: Cincinnati Reds (+117)
Reds win probability: 46%
Busch Stadium is always a tough venue, but St. Louis ranks dead-last in offensive production over the past two weeks with a painful 60 wRC+. Cincinnati brings significantly more isolated power with a .231 ISO.
Backing Andrew Abbott and the Reds as road underdog is where the value lies today.
Mariners vs Rangers: Seattle Mariners (-104)
Mariners win probability: 51%
Betting against Jacob deGrom requires caution, but Texas’s overall bullpen metrics have cratered recently, sitting at a 166 ERA and 5.15 xFIP. Seattle’s pitching group remains far more reliable with Logan Gilbert taking the ball.
Getting Seattle near pick 'em odds (-104) offers strong value.
Angels vs Giants: San Francisco Giants (-122)
Giants win probability: 55%
An unannounced starter for San Francisco adds intrigue, but the Angels' lineup remains stagnant, posting an 86 wRC+ and a lightweight .099 ISO over two weeks. San Francisco’s bullpen boasts a 3.92 SIERRA across the past 14 days, and at -122, the park environment and bullpen depth heavily favor the home side.
Yankees vs Phillies: Philadelphia Phillies (-133)
Phillies win probability: 57%
In a prime-time national TV slot, Will Warren starting for New York leaves the door open for Philadelphia, particularly with the Yankees hitting just .210 over their last 14 games. Cristopher Sanchez and the Phillies bullpen carry a sharp 3.18 ERA.
At -133, backing the home club is a great play to close out Sunday.
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.
Nov 9, 2025; Mesa, AZ, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Triple-A: Charlotte Knights (White Sox) 7, Norfolk Tides 6
It was a wild one in Charlotte, where the Tides rallied back from a three-run deficit in the ninth, took a lead in the top of the 10th, and then got walked off in the bottom of the inning. Korey Lee’s two-run single off Cam Sanders won it for the Knights.
Before that, Enrique Bradfield Jr. twice played the hero for Norfolk. He delivered both the game-tying RBI single in the ninth and the go-ahead RBI single in the 10th. With a 3-for-6 night, Bradfield boosted his OPS to .676, which is not going to be enough to earn him a promotion yet but is at least a step in the right direction. Bradfield had a stolen base but was also caught once. Heston Kjerstad was 3-for-4 with a double. Catcher Creed Willems, a possible call-up candidate himself, went 0-for-4 but could hardly be a worse hitter than Sam Huff and Chadwick Tromp.
On the mound, starter Trey Gibson gave up two runs in four innings. The only one of the five Tides pitchers not to be scored upon was reliever Yosver Zulueta, who retired all four batters he faced. Former Oriole Austin Hays, on a rehab assignment with Charlotte, went 0-for-3 but had two RBIs.
Patrick Reilly, returning from Tommy John surgery, made his first start with Chesapeake since April 19, 2025. He had six strikeouts and no walks, but coughed up three solo home runs, including one by Josue Briceño, the Tiger’s #3 prospect. All in all, it was a solid return for Reilly, one of the Orioles’ better pitching prospects.
The Baysox offense was facing rehabbing major leaguer Jackson Jobe and had little answer for him. Their only run of the game came on an Anderson De Los Santos first-inning RBI double. That was one of just four hits for Chesapeake, though three of them were doubles.
High-A: Rome Emperors (Braves) 10, Frederick Keys 1 — Game 1
The first game of a doubleheader was a big ol’ mess for the Keys, who couldn’t hit, pitch, or field. Starter JT Quinn ran into big trouble in the fourth and was chased without getting out of the inning. In 3.2 frames he was tagged for four runs, but only two were earned because Frederick committed four errors (including one by Quinn himself). Reliever Juan Rojas was torched for five runs in one inning.
The Keys’ lineup is much less intimidating after Ike Irish’s season-ending meniscus tear. Their only run in this game came on an RJ Austin single that plated Wehiwa Aloy, who had doubled. Two rehabbing Triple-A players, Reed Trimble and Payton Eeles, were a combined 0-for-8.
High-A: Frederick Keys 3, Rome Emperors 2 — Game 2
The Keys got even fewer hits in the nightcap — just three! — but managed to turn them into three runs and salvage a doubleheader split. And they did it against lefty Cam Caminiti, the Braves’ #1 prospect. (Fun fact: Caminiti is a cousin of the late MLB star Ken Caminiti, even though they were born 43 years apart.) The Keys scraped across their runs on a Colin Yeaman RBI single and a Caminiti wild pitch. The normally seven-inning doubleheader game went to extras tied at two, and Nelson Figueroa’s sac fly in the eighth won it for Frederick.
The pitching quartet of Carson Dorsey, Trent Turzenski, Braeden Sloan, and Chandler Marsh held down the Emperors, helped by the fact that Rome went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Marsh fanned two in a perfect eighth for the save.
Low-A: Hill City Howlers (Guardians) 8, Delmarva Shorebirds 4
It was a rough night for starter Dalton Neuschwander, who gave up seven runs in four innings to fall to 1-9 on the season. His ERA rose to 7.98. The Shorebirds scored four runs but didn’t get much help from the first three batters in the lineup, who were a combined 0-for-12. Third baseman Elvin Garcia and shortstop Jose Perez each had two hits, and second baseman Felix Amparo contributed an RBI double.
BONUS FCL NOTE: Kudos to the short-season Florida Complex League Orioles, who made it to the League Championship Series after going 34-23 this season. “Series” is a bit of a misnomer, since it’s just one game, and unfortunately the FCL Orioles’ run ended yesterday against the Astros. They were shut out, 7-0, by right-handers Adrian Ardines and Jank Pichardo. The O’s managed only five hits, all singles, two of them by 2025 ninth-round pick Cam Lee.
Third baseman Wilfri De La Cruz, acquired in last year’s Andrew Kittredge trade, was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. He had a .707 OPS in 51 games in his first full season in the organization. Second baseman Jemone Nuel, a 19-year-old from Jamaica, was 1-for-4 in the leadoff spot, finishing with an outstanding .283/.456/.483 line in 50 games.
Sunday’s scheduled games:
Norfolk: at Charlotte, 1:05 PM. Starter: Trace Bright (0-7, 7.32)
Chesapeake: vs. Erie, 1:05 PM. Starter: Luis De León (4-6, 4.58)
Frederick: at Rome, 1:00 PM. Starter: Boston Bateman (4-3, 4.10)
Delmarva: at Hill City, 2:00 PM. Starter: Brayan Orrantia (0-6, 5.54)
COVERS INTEL: Cristopher Sanchez's sinker is the Yankees' clearest attack point: it has 
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