Category: MLB

After a horrible start to the 2026 season, the Detroit Tigers have rebounded nicely, posting the best record in the American League since June 1, leaving themselves in position to challenge for a playoff spot and a division title in the second half of the season.

At the end of May, Detroit had plunged to a 22-38 record through 50 games, 16 games under .500 and 11.5 games behind in the AL Central division. The roster, and the pitching rotation in particular, was devastated by injuries, with Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize, Troy Melton, and Justin Verlander all spending time on the injured list. Reese Olson will miss the entire season, while Jack Flaherty and Kenley Jansen struggled early and joined the wounded in June, and Jackson Jobe remains on the 60-day IL.

Rotation chaos is doing just fine

Despite all that, the Tigers now have a healthy rotation, with Verlander and Jobe hopeful for the second half, and their rotation has the fourth-best ERA in baseball, 3.48, at the All-Star break. Tigers starters also have the fourth best BB/ 9 ratio and the lowest home run ratio in the show at just 0.99 homers per nine innings pitched. They have surrendered the third-lowest batting average and the fifth-lowest Walks plus Hits per inning (WHIP) in the majors. Keeping the ball in the yard and runners off the bases is a recipe for success in any league.

Here is where the Tigers’ rotation, bullpen, and pitching staff rank in the major leagues at the All-Star break:

Metric	SP rank	RP rank	Pitching rank
ERA	3.50/ 4th	3.85/ 11th	3.64/ 7th
FIP	3.66/ 3rd	4.10/ 15th	3.84/ 7th
K/9	8.44/ 17th	8.38/ 20th	8.41/ 19th
BB/9	2.58/ 3rd	3.59/ 14th	3.00/ 7th
HR/9	0.99/ 1st	1.07/ 15th	1.02/ 6th
WHIP	1.13/ 5th	1.32/ 15th	1.21/ 6th
Avg	.223/ 3rd	.240/ 20th	2.30/ 7th
GB pct	40.8%/ 15th	48.5%/ 1st	43.9%/ 5th

The bullpen, on the other hand, ranks eleventh in ERA, while rating in the middle of the pack in walks, homers allowed, WHIP, and 20^th in strikeouts through the first half of the season. What has plagued the bullpen — and the Tigers in general — is that they’ve already blown 19 save opportunities; only one team has blown more leads in the late innings.  They have blown 53 percent of save opportunities — the stuff that nightmares are made of. 

Kyle Finnegan and Will Vest, who is now out with a stress fracture, have five blown saves apiece, while Jansen has four and Drew Anderson three.  The result is a Pythagorean prediction of a 50-44 record, which would put them in first place, but the standings show a record of 44- 52.The Tigers are 6.5 games back in their division and 3.5 games out of a playoff spot.

Tigers’ lineup has not produced

The Tigers lineup has not produced as hoped during the first half, ranking 20^th in runs scored. They are hitting just .236 as a team, 25^th in the majors. Since June 1, however, Detroit leads the major leagues with 63 homers and they’re up to 11^th overall in runs scored in that period of time.

Here is where the Tigers lineup ranks at the All-Star break:

Metric	Statistic	MLB Rank
Runs/game	4.28	20th
wOBA	.315	18th
Avg	.236	24th
OBP	.315	18th
SLG	.401	15th
HR	115	14th
SB	31	30th
BB pct	9.6%	8th
K pct	23.0%	22nd

The bright spots in the lineup have been Riley Greene, who will start in the All-Star Game for the American League, and will be accompanied by Dillon Dingler and rookie sensation Kevin McGonigle. But they have struggled with too many holes in the lineup on a regular basis.

Here is where the Tigers rank by position through the All-Star break:

Position	wRC+/ Rank	fWAR/ Rank
C	.349/ 1st	4.4/ 1st
1B	.319/ 23rd	0.0/ 25th
2B	.300/ 21st	0.9/ 21st
3B	.338/ 6th	2.3/ 7th
SS	.348/ 5th	3.3/ 4th
LF	.365/ 3rd	2.1/ 5th
CF	.283/ 21st	0.5/ 22nd
RF	.268/ 29th	-1.3/ 30th
DH	.282/ 29th	-1.2/ 30th

• Dingler has the Tigers leading the majors offensively and in fWAR at the catcher position.
• Greene has the team in third position in left field.
• McGonigle has split time between third base and shortstop and the team has gotten solid production from both positions.

The rest of the lineup has been mediocre at best. While Gleyber Torres has been above average holding down second base, he has played fewer than half of the team’s games. The team could use his bat atop the lineup. Spencer Torkelson has been just league average at the plate, which is not what they need from his position. Right field and DH have been a black hole, although Kerry Carpenter has mostly produced when healthy.

The lineup has not been without injuries.  Center fielder Parker Meadows is out, as are Javier Baez and Gleyber Torres.  Kerry Carpenter and Zack McKinstry missed time in May while Wenceel Perez and Trey Sweeney are out for the season.

Baserunning

The Tigers are once again dead last in the major leagues in stolen bases, but they lead the majors in extra bases taken, at 53%.  That is, they move runners from first to third and score from second base on a hit more than any other team.

Forecast

Whether the Tigers are the first-half squad that raced out to the best record in the majors in 2025, or the team that choked away the biggest division lead in MLB history in the second half remains to be seen. Their pitching can carry them into and in the playoffs, should they make it to the postseason.

Free of charge for the discerning reader.

Happy birthday to DJ LeMahieu, and a mighty host of others.

Today in baseball history, in 1896 – Ed Delahanty hits four home runs, but it’s not enough as the Phillies lose to the Chicago Colts, 9-8. “Big Ed” is the second man to hit four homers in one game in the National League, after Bobby Lowe two years earlier. It will be another 90 years until another man hits four long balls in defeat, when Bob Horner does it for the Atlanta Braves on July 6, 1986,and other stories as well.

Today in baseball history:

• 1904 – With Napoleon Lajoie lining a major-league record three triples, Cleveland rolls past the Highlanders, 16-3.
• 1934 – In front of 20,000 fans during the third inning at Navin Field in Detroit, Babe Ruth wallops a Tommy Bridges 3-2 pitch far over the right field wall for his 700th career home run. 
• 1958 – Orlando Cepeda‘s third homer in three days and Felipe Alou‘s run-scoring hit in the 9th, give the Giants a 6-5 win over the Braves.
• 1963 – Future Hall of Fame pitcher Early Wynn wins his 300th and final MLB game at 43.
• 1997 – With the temperature at 100 degrees, Pedro Martinez fires a one-hit shutout to beat the Reds, 2-0. 
• 2001 – Mets C Mike Piazza hits his 300th career home run in New York’s 3-1 loss to Boston.
• 2012 – Chipper Jones ties Mike Schmidt for second place on the all-time list for RBI by a third baseman, knocking in his 1,595th run with a homer in Atlanta’s 7-5 win over the Mets. Jones is now one RBI behind George Brett among players who played the majority of their careers at the hot corner. 
• 2014 – P Madison Bumgarner and C Buster Posey both hit grand slams, accounting for all their team’s runs, as the Giants defeat the Diamondbacks, 8-4. It is the first time that both members of a battery have hit slams in the same game, and for Bumgarner, it is his second of the year, making him only the second pitcher in history to do so – Tony Cloninger had hit two in the same game in 1966.

Today in Cubs history:

• 1936 – Bill Lee wins a 1-0 duel from Carl Hubbell, as the Cubs move into first place. It is the last game the Giant ace will lose this year; he will win his final 16 decisions.
• 1962 – Cubs rookie Cal Koonce (8-2) stops the Reds on one hit, a single by Don Blasingame, to win, 1-0. The Cubs’ only run is unearned off Bob Purkey (14-3).
• 2017 – As play is about to resume following the All-Star break, the two Chicago teams pull off a rare trade, with the White Sox sending P José Quintana to the Cubs in return for four prospects: P Dylan Cease, OF Eloy Jimenez and IFs Matt Rose and Bryant Flete.

Cubs Birthdays:Cody Bellinger, Casey Sadler, DJ LeMahieu*, Bill Caudill, Don Bryant, Jack Aker, Frank Hiller, Clarence Blair, Gene Packard, John O’Brien, George Bradley. Also notable: Stan Coveleski HOF.

Today in history:

• 1568 – Dean of St. Paul’s London, Alexander Nowell, perfects a way to bottle beer.
• 1835 – Swedish-American inventor John Ericsson files for a patent for his screw propeller design.
• 1865 – Horace Greeley, founder and editor of the “New-York Tribune,” reputedly advises his readers to “Go west, young man.”
• 1871 – World’s first championship cat show is organized by Harrison Weir and held at Crystal Palace, London.
• 1923 – The Hollywood Sign is officially dedicated in the hills above Hollywood, Los Angeles. It originally reads “Hollywoodland,” but the last four letters are dropped after renovation in 1949.
• 1994 – Tonya Harding‘s ex-husband Jeff Gillooly sentenced to 2 years in prison for attack on American Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan.

Today in music history:

• 1956 – RCA releases Elvis Presley‘s single “Hound Dog,” a cover of Big Mama Thornton’s original, written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, backed with “Don’t Be Cruel,” written by Otis Blackwell.
• 1978 – BBC bans Sex Pistols‘ “No One is Innocent”.
• 1984 – British guitarist Jeff Beck quits singer Rod Stewart’s tour after seven shows.
• 1984 – Eddie Van Halen makes a guest appearance, performing “Beat It” at a Jacksons concert in Dallas, Texas.
• 1985 – Live Aid concerts held at both Wembley Stadium (London) and JFK Stadium (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) raise over $70 million for African famine relief.
• 2006 – UK singer-songwriter Lily Allen releases her debut album “Alright, Still” (Grammy nominee Best Alternative Music Album).

*pictured.

Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! We made it to the All-Star break and the Orioles played well enough over the weekend to give us warm fuzzies heading into four days off. They swept the Kansas City Royals and finally won four games in a row. Now they get a few days off, except for Adley Rutschman, and hopefully when they return they’ll continue their good run.

The bats came out to play yesterday. Gunnar Henderson had three hits, Samuel Basallo and Leody Taveras homered, and Blaze Alexander reached base three times. Unfortunately, the last time was on a HBP that broke his left hand. Alexander clearly knew it was bad when he got hit, as he picked a fight with pitcher Lucas Erceg after it happened.

Alexander has been one of the best players on the team this year, and he is having a career season. It’s an absolutely rotten turn of events for both the player and the team. Baseball can be cruel. I haven’t seen a timeline on how much time he is expected to miss, but he won’t need surgery. Silver lining?

While the Orioles were busy sweeping the Royals, the draft was also happening. The Orioles took Eric Booth with their first pick, a high school outfielder from Mississippi. Mark was busy this weekend keeping up on the draft so you didn’t have to. You can check out the full draft list here and read a recap of the full draft here.

Links

Orioles’ Blaze Alexander suffers broken hand in victory over Royals – The Baltimore Banner
Not cool.

Here’s how all 30 teams’ prospects fared in the Futures Game – MLB.com
The Futures Game was played over the weekend and the Orioles had two participants, Ike Irish and Joseph Dzierwa. Dzierwa only got to face one batter, which was a ripoff.

2026 MLB Draft Recap: Day 1 – FanGraphs
FanGraphs has blurbs on the first three picks the Orioles made: Eric Booth, Ty Head, and Dominic Voegele. They are especially high on Ty Head, with a pre-draft rank of 16th.

Birthdays and History

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have three Orioles birthday buddies. Pat Rapp (59) had a 10-year career that included 30 starts with the Orioles in 2000. Fritz Dorish (b. 1921, d. 2000) was a relief pitcher for the Orioles in 1955.

And Mark Brown turns 67 years old today. But before you get too excited, it’s not the Mark Brown that brings you top-notch Orioles content every day. It’s former Oriole Mark Brown, who appeared in nine games with the 1984 Orioles. That’s not many games, but I’m willing to bet that it’s more Major League games than anyone with YOUR name has ever played in!

On this day in 1962, the Orioles defeated Cleveland 10-3. Boog Powell and Brooks Robinson homered, and Charlie Lau hit four doubles. Steve Barber pitched 6.2 innings and earned the win.

In 1991, the Orioles pitched a combined no-hitter in a 2-0 win over the A’s. Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson, and Gregg Olson. Milacki had to leave the game when he was hit in the hand by a line drive. The Orioles scored their runs on an RBI single by Chris Hoiles and a Mike Devereaux home run.

In 2019, the Orioles traded pitcher Andrew Cashner to the Red Sox for two minor leaguers. Cashner had been pretty good for the Orioles but was terrible for the Red Sox. That’s what I like to see.

In 2022, the Orioles beat the Cubs 7-1. It was the team’s 10th win in a row. The win took the team from a 35-44 record to a 45-44 record and moved them 23 games out of first place to 17.5 games out. They remained in last place, but that was a whole lotta fun.

And on this day last year, the Orioles closed out the first half with an 11-1 loss to the Marlins. Former Oriole Kyle Stowers hit three home runs and knocked in six runs.

The All-Star break is here and all eyes are on Philadelphia as they host the festivities. So far, there has been a lot of excitement around the city with the Futures Game happening, the Draft taking place and all the happenings at All Star Village. It’s been awesome.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

• Gage Wood starting the Futures Game for the National League side in Philadelphia gave the team a glimpse of the future ($).
• Cristopher Sanchez was named the starter for the National League on Tuesday night, somewhat expectedly.

MLB news:

• Nathan Flewelling was named the MVP of the Futures Game for the American League in a game they won, 6-1.
• Jacob deGrom was scratched from his Sunday start with an elbow issue and might need an injured list stint.
• With the All-Star break here, it’s time to check in on Jayson Stark’s midseason awards, including the infamous Cy Yuk award ($).

Last Week’s Results

• Monday: Brewers 4, Cardinals 3
• Tuesday, Game 1: Brewers 4, Cardinals 3
• Tuesday, Game 2: Brewers 10, Cardinals 2
• Wednesday: Cardinals 5, Brewers 1
• Thursday: Brewers 8, Cardinals 4
• Saturday, Game 1: Pirates 7, Brewers 6
• Saturday, Game 2: Pirates 3, Brewers 2
• Sunday: Pirates 14, Brewers 5

Division Standings

• Brewers 59-37
• Cubs 54-42 (5.0 GB)
• Cardinals 50-45 (8.5 GB)
• Pirates 50-47 (9.5 GB)
• Reds 43-52 (15.5 GB)

Last Week

• Brewers: 4-4
• Cubs: 4-2
• Cardinals: 3-5
• Pirates: 4-2
• Reds: 2-4

Top Pitching Performance of the Week

There was a lot of baseball played this past week for the Brewers, eight games to be exact. Mix that in with two doubleheaders and all a part of a 10-day road trip (and 18 games in 17 days overall), and that’s a recipe for disaster for pitching staffs. All things considered, though, the Brewers pitching staff pitched both doubleheaders about as well as we’d imagine. That’s why this week’s pitching performance of the week is going to the ace once again, Jacob Misiorowski, for his 11-strikeout performance against the Cardinals in game one of their doubleheader.

Though the final couple of days of the road trip didn’t go Miz’s way, from being scratched with arm fatigue in the series finale to no longer pitching in the All-Star Game, he sure knew how to go out with a bang. Misiorowski threw seven innings of three-run ball, striking out 11 batters. He has been a bit more home run-prone lately, allowing two home runs in the outing against the Cardinals. Miz isn’t scheduled to pitch in the first series out of the break, so enjoy some strikeouts below in the meantime.

He makes striking out 10+ seem routine https://t.co/4bCoYoLYh7pic.twitter.com/pZ3HZvAkhA

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 7, 2026

Top Hitting Performance of the Week

Sometimes you have to give credit where credit is due. Lately, we’ve seen a number of injuries impact the Brewers at various positions. With David Hamilton going down, we’ve seen Joey Ortiz shift over to third base, and since then, his bat has come to life. Over his last seven games, Ortiz has nine hits in 26 at-bats, with a pair of RBIs and a home run. Now, if you go back beyond this last week, he has had an uptick in power as well. To have production coming from the bottom part of the lineup gives Ortiz the nod for the best performance at the plate this past week.

Joey Ortiz hits a solo shot, 5th hit of the day, crowd chants his name#ThisIsMyCrewpic.twitter.com/VQptHFuegL

— Carter Lowe (@cjlowecfb) July 8, 2026

Some honorable mentions for top hitting performances of the week:

• Luis Lara made his MLB debut during the second game of the doubleheader against the Cardinals on Tuesday night and drove in two RBIs on his first career hit.
• Jake Bauers had a couple of flashy plays on offense during the series finale against the Cardinals, first a nice move on the basepaths to extend the top of the second inning, and then a three-run home run that capped off six runs in the first three innings.

Injury Notes & Roster Moves

• Brandon Woodruff was placed on the 60-day IL with right shoulder inflammation. That means he could potentially return in September, though it seems far from certain that we’ll see him on a field before the end of the year. Outfielder Brandon Lockridge was also moved to the 60-day IL, though he’s already beyond the 60-day threshold and is still expected to return later this month.
• As mentioned above, Luis Lara was called up to make his MLB debut. Lara replaced outfielder Blake Perkins on the roster, as Perkins was sent down to Triple-A Nashville.
• Kyle Harrison was placed on the 15-day IL with left forearm tightness. Harrison is confident that the injury isn’t a long-term issue and that he can return shortly after the All-Star Break.
• David Hamilton was placed on the 10-day IL with a left hamstring strain, and Greg Jones (see below) was selected to replace him on the roster.
• Logan Henderson was activated from the 15-day IL and made his return on the mound against the Cardinals on Thursday.
• Carlos Rodriguez and Coleman Crow were both reinstated from the 15-day IL, with both then optioned to Nashville.
• Braden Shewmake was acquired via trade from the Astros, in exchange for cash considerations.
• Greg Jones was designated for assignment after being selected earlier in the week. This is his second time being DFA’d by Milwaukee this year.
• Old Friend Bryse Wilson was signed as a free agent and was activated immediately, making his official return to the mound for the Brewers on Sunday. Easton McGee was designated for assignment, and Drew Rom was optioned to Nashville.
• Garrett Stallings was optioned to Nashville, recalled (as the 27th man for Saturday’s doubleheader), and optioned again.
• Rob Zastryzny returned from his rehab assignment with Nashville and was placed back on the 15-day IL.

On Deck

• Monday: Off Day (Home Run Derby @ 7 p.m. on Netflix)
• Tuesday: Off Day (All-Star Game @ 7 p.m. on Fox)
• Wednesday: Off Day
• Thursday: Off Day
• Friday: vs. Marlins (6:40 p.m.)
• Saturday: vs. Marlins (3:10 p.m.)
• Sunday: vs. Marlins (1:10 p.m.)

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:W, 8-7 (10) at Buffalo Bisons

C J.C. Escarra 1-6, 1 RBI
CF Spencer Jones 1-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K
2B Marco Luciano 2-4, 1 HR, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RF Yanquiel Fernández 3-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 K
3B Oswaldo Cabrera 2-5, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 K
DH-1B Tyler Hardman 1-5, 1 R, 1 K
1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. 0-4, 1 BB, 1 K
PR-LF Duke Ellis 0-0, 1 R, 1 SB
SS Jonathan Ornelas 2-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K, fielding error — go-ahead three-run homer brought it back after the team blew a three-run lead in the span of two innings
LF Kenedy Corona 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K
P Zach Messinger 0-0

Brendan Beck 5.1 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Chris Kean 0.2 IP, 0 R (hold)
Bradley Hanner 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H (hold)
Yovanny Cruz 0.1 IP, 1 R, 2 H (hold)
Danny Watson 0.2 IP, 0 R, 1 H (hold)
Rafael Montero 0.1 IP, 2 R, 3 H (blown save) — back-to-back doubles burned a two-run lead
Zach Messinger 1.1 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 H (win) — pulled the ninth inning out of a fire, made one himself in the tenth
Carson Coleman 0.1 IP, 0 R (save)

Extra Innings. Extra Clutch. 💣🔥#RepBXpic.twitter.com/UuYMfLc6lI

— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) July 12, 2026

Double-A Somerset Patriots:L, 1-2 (11) vs. Reading Fightin Phils

LF Jackson Castillo 0-3, 2 BB
CF Jace Avina 1-5, 1 2B, 1 R, 2 K
DJ Gladney 1-5, 2 K
3B Coby Morales 2-4, 1 RBI
2B Connor McGinnis 0-4
C Miguel Palma 0-3, 1 BB, throwing error
1B Josh Moylan 0-3, 1 BB, 3 K
DH Manuel Palencia 1-4, 2 K
SS Owen Cobb 0-4

Xavier Rivas 6 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 BB, 10 K — six no-hit frames with 10 strikeouts, easily the best line of his young career…
Harrison Cohen 1.1 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 K (blown save) — …only for the first reliever to cough up the lead two innings later
Hayden Merda 1.2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Luis Velasquez 1 IP, 0 R, 1 BB
Trent Sellers 1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 K (loss)

Xavier Rivas (@Yankees No. 23 Prospect) is the first Patriot lefty to ever toss 6⃣ no-hit innings! 😱

6.0 IP | 0 H | 0 R | 2 BB | 10 K pic.twitter.com/rZ3f6w4QKo

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) July 12, 2026

High-A Hudson Valley Renegades:L, 4-7 vs. Rome Emperors

3B Roderick Arias 1-4, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 SB, throwing error
SS Core Jackson 0-4, 1 K
C Eric Genther 0-2, 1 RBI, 1 BB
1B Kyle West 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K
LF Wilson Rodriguez 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
2B Enmanuel Tejeda 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K
DH Josue Gonzalez 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 3 K
RF Camden Troyer 0-4, 1 K
CF Luis Durango 3-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R, 3 SB — second three-steal game of the season, first came on May 22nd

Franyer Herrera 5 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
Sean Paul Liñan 3.2 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 3 K (loss)
Hansel Rincon 0.1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 K

Luis Durango slaps this pitch up the middle for a 2 RBI Single!! 'Gades take the lead! pic.twitter.com/qwSZXLDORW

— Hudson Valley Renegades (@HVRenegades) July 12, 2026

Low-A Tampa Tarpons:W, 3-0 vs. Clearwater Threshers

3B Jackson Lovich 1-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R, 2 K, throwing and fielding errors
2B Hans Montero 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 CS
C Luis Puello 0-4, 3 K
1B David McCann 1-3
SS Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek 0-3, 2 K
RF Brando Mayea 0-3, 1 K
LF Willy Montero 2-3, 2 SB, 1 CS
DH Ediel Rivera 0-2, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
CF Isael Arias 0-2, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K

J.T. Etheridge 4 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 7 K
Jose Ledesma 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 K
Josh Tiedemann 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 K
Jordarlin Mendoza 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 K (win)
Matthew Tippie 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 K (save)

Florida Complex League Yankees: Off-day

Dominican Summer League Yankees: Off-day

Dominican Summer League Bombers: Off-day

Major League Baseball’s annual draft is quite a long one, consisting of 20 rounds and 615 picks over the course of two days.

This past weekend, 613 players achieved their dream by hearing their name called in the draft with quite a few of them being Kentucky Wildcats.

On Saturday, Tyler Bell was the 10th player selected to get things started. He’s headed to Colorado, and his departure leaves a major hole in Kentucky’s infield. Going in the top 10, he’s the second-highest selection ever for the UK program.

Jaxson Jelkin was also a part of Saturday’s first four rounds, going 135th overall to the Philadelphia Phillies. Going that high means it’s more likely than not that he stays in the draft.

On Sunday, UK had several more players see their names hit the draft board.

Jimmy Anderson (Baltimore Orioles, 5th round), Robert Omidi (Detroit Tigers, 8th round), Connor Mattison (Minnesota Twins, 16th round), Cincinnati Reds (Matt Ponatoski, 18th round), and Nile Adcock (Atlanta Braves, 20th round) all achieved the goal of becoming MLB Draft picks. Anderson and Omidi will likely sign after going in the first 10 rounds, while the early buzz is that Ponatoski will make it to Lexington.

Congratulations to all! Kentucky will certainly have its work cut out in trying to fill the void left by the guys who opt to sign with their MLB teams.

Tweet of the Day

No one does the ⚫️&🔵 like us.

See for yourself on Nov. 14 https://t.co/RUqsfg4Qabpic.twitter.com/k75BlXbXfE

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) July 12, 2026

What do we think?

Headlines

Kentucky fans will miss the home game over Thanksgiving break – KSR

Who all is going to Indy?

Orioles’ Alexander fractures hand after being hit by pitch – ESPN

Sheesh.

Gonzaga lost a star player to Spain while he was practicing in Spokane – KSR

Tough.

Gianni Infantino says FIFA will examine possibility of 64-team World Cup – ESPN

All about expansion.

Jayce Tharnish will return to Kentucky in 2027 – KSR

Big news.

McGregor’s coach says knee ‘never an issue’ ahead of UFC 329 – ESPN

Interesting.

Ethan Hindle announces return to Kentucky baseball in 2027 – KSR

Another one!

Warriors to hire Frank Vogel as associate head coach – ESPN

Returning after a couple of years off.

With another heat wave ramping up in Philadelphia, conditions could be ideal for the long ball at Citizens Bank Park on Monday as the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby takes center stage of All-Star Week festivities. After all, former Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel used to call this time of the summer in the Northeast "Hittin' Season."

So who is ready?

The 2026 MLB Home Run Derby is set for 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 13 in Philadelphia.

REQUIRED READING: Shohei Ohtani injury costs Dodgers star MLB All-Star Game appearance

Headlining the eight-team field is a pair of hometown hitters with the Phillies' designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and first baseman Bryce Harper, who have combined for over 50 home runs in the first half of the season.

Junior Caminero is the only other hitter in the field who has Home Run Derby experience, as he finished runner-up in the event last season. The remaining five spots are first-timers, including Munetaka Murakami of the Chicago White Sox, who returned last Friday from a month-plus stint on the injured list with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain.

Here's what to know about the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby:

2026 Home Run Derby field: Who is participating?

Below is the list of players that are competing in the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby:

• Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays 3B
• Ben Rice, New York Yankees 1B
• Jac Caglianone, Kansas City Royals 1B
• Willson Contreras, Boston Red Sox 1B
• Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals RF
• Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies 1B
• Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies DH
• Munetaka Murakami, Chicago White Sox

2026 Home Run Derby bracket

There is no bracket for the first round of the Home Run Derby, as all eight hitters will be entered into a single pool. The event turns into a bracket in the second round between the players who finished with the top four home run totals from the first round. It'll be a traditional head-to-head bracket with No. 1 vs. No. 4 and No. 2 vs. No. 3 to determine the matchup in the finals.

2026 MLB Home Run Derby: Dates, TV channel, streaming options

• Date: Monday, July 13
• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• Location: Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia)
• Streaming options: Netflix

The 2026 MLB Home Run Derby is set for 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 13 at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies and the site of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game. Netflix will exclusively stream the event.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is in the MLB Home Run Derby tonight? Full field and bracket

PHILADELPHIA — The roars of Broad Street will be put to the test in this Home Run Derby.

How much does homefield advantage matter? We’ll surely find out Monday, July 13, when Philadelphia Phillies superstars Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber lead an eight-man field into the 2026 version of this made-for-TV spectacular.

Harper and Schwarber know each other quite well in this context: It was Harper defeating Schwarber in the finals of the 2018 Derby at Nationals Park, Harper’s final season in Washington. This time, it might be Schwarber with the upper hand, given the major league-high 88 home runs he’s spanked since the start of the 2025 season.

Who raises the trophy? USA TODAY Sports breaks down the eight contenders for Derby glory:

1. Kyle Schwarber, Phillies

Look, home-field advantage does matter, given the knowledge of your own yard’s nooks and crannies. And Citizens Bank Park has its share – though very hitter friendly, there are a few gaps and straightaways you wanna stay away from. It’s an easy bet to say Schwarber has more power, local knowledge and solid Derby experience to top this field.

2. Bryce Harper, Phillies

We originally had Harper slotted third, but that was before Harper revealed his Derby pitcher: Los Angeles Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel. Dino’s not just a father of back-to-back Brewers babies; he’s also a batting practice and Derby pitching wizard.

Ebel guided Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero to the title, and he did so again two years ago for Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández. The man understands pacing and timing and knows how to spot it. While Harper claimed he’d only swing off his dad – his pitcher for the dramatic 2018 title over Schwarber – we’re saying Ebel is an even better match.

3. Junior Caminero, Rays

Possibly the only man in the field who can prevent a Philly championship. Caminero was just 22 years old a year ago, when he nearly became the youngest player to win a Derby. Alas, he ran out of gas in the finals, mustering 15 homers to fall to Cal Raleigh.

He did manage 44 home runs, averaging 435 feet in distance (thank you, super balls), including 21 in the first round. And nobody comes in hotter, as Caminero slugged 13 homers in the last 19 games of the first half.

4. Jac Caglianone, Royals

Perhaps someone will emerge and surprise us all, but the drop-off from three to four in this field feels pretty massive. While Caglianone has just 14 homers, the 6-4, 250-pound second-year slugger has perhaps the most raw power this side of Schwarber. Getting to it in games is always the last step for a young power hitter, but nothing’s stopping Cags from putting on a show here.

5. Munetaka Murakami, White Sox

You cannot downplay the 20 home runs Murakami hit in his first 55 major league games, including the first three of his career. It’s probably the most underplayed feat of this first half, given the significant doubts and contact worries that accompanied Murakami to Japan.

Alas, he suffered a hamstring injury shortly thereafter, missing six weeks and returning just three days ago. It’s Murakami’s first big-league season and his first All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, and he hasn’t hit a home run that counts since May 28. A lot for one dude to handle – but it will be fascinating to see him take to the spotlight.

6. Ben Rice, Yankees

Don’t look now, but this dude has overtaken Caminero for second in the AL in home runs, smashing 29 during a first half in which the Yankees have aimed to stay afloat without Aaron Judge. His lefty stroke would seem tailored for the cozy right field corner at Citizens Bank, and he’s aiming to become the first Yankee to take home the Derby title since Judge in 2017.

Yet this is an entirely different sea he’s swimming in here and like Murakami, this will be his first exposure to the All-Star rigamarole. A nice dark horse pick, but will see if he has the juice to hang.

7. Willson Contreras, Red Sox

Hey, why not? Now 34, Contreras may not get too many more cracks at the All-Star Game, so might as well cross of the Derby on his career to-do list.

Contreras has ripped 20 homers this year, though his career high is just 24, established when he was 27 years old in 2019. Can Contreras outkick the back of his baseball card?

8. Jordan Walker, Cardinals

Fun fact: Walker is more than a year older than Caminero, even as he seems like the new guy on the block in this group. Yet it took four tries for Walker to stick in the majors, making him one of the more compelling stories among the group of All-Stars.

He scorched 22 first-half homers and leads the majors with 74 RBIs. Yet the key to the Derby is knowing thyself and applying your strengths to this format. Walker's absolutely figured it out on the field, but performing under this spotlight is a different animal.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB Home Run Derby power rankings: Will Phillies stars reign in Philly?

There has not been a hometown champion for the MLB Home Run Derby since Bryce Harper won it in 2018 as a member of the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Will that drought come to an end this year? By Harper himself?

Harper, in his eighth season with the Philadelphia Phillies, and Kyle Schwarber, the Phillies DH who is the MLB home run leader, will certainly look to do that for the home crowd at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, July 11. But six other hitters are looking to take home the trophy and chain themselves.

The 2026 MLB Home Run Derby is set for 8 p.m. ET at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Monday.

REQUIRED READING: Shohei Ohtani injury costs Dodgers star MLB All-Star Game appearance

The Home Run Derby will have a slightly different look this season, as MLB changed the format of the event. There will no longer be a time clock for the eight hitters to compete under, and instead will have a finite number of swings to take in each round.

Here's what to know:

Where to watch 2026 MLB Home Run Derby today?

• Streaming option: Netflix

The 2026 MLB Home Run Derby will not be broadcast over linear or national television. Instead, the event will be streamed exclusively on Netflix. Monday's event is the first of three consecutive years that it will be streamed exclusively on Netflix.

MLB Home Run Derby start time today

• Date: Monday, July 13
• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• Location: Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia)

The 2026 MLB Home Run Derby is set for 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 13 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

2026 MLB Home Run Derby field

Below is a look at the full 2026 MLB Home Run Derby field:

• Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays 3B
• Ben Rice, New York Yankees 1B
• Jac Caglianone, Kansas City Royals 1B
• Willson Contreras, Boston Red Sox 1B
• Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals RF
• Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies 1B
• Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies DH
• Munetaka Murakami, Chicago White Sox 1B

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where to watch 2026 MLB Home Run Derby tonight: Time, TV channel, streaming

The Home Run Derby is here!

In just a few hours, the ever-so-cinematic and ruckus night of the MLB All-Star Week festivities that showcases some of the top power hitters in the league will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 13 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

The field includes some of the top home run hitters in the league, including Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, who is tied for the fourth most home runs in the majors and finished as the runner-up in the event last season to Cal Raleigh, and New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice.

MLB Home Run Derby Field: Who will participate in 2026 MLB All-Star Event? Players who will, won't hit in Philly

The 2026 MLB Home Run Derby will have a new look to it for the first time in over a decade, and that isn't just implying the fact that Netflix will exclusively broadcast the event on its streaming service. MLB has also changed up the format of the event.

Here's everything to know about the format for the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby and more:

2026 MLB Home Run Derby rules, format explained

For the first time since 2015, the MLB Home Run Derby will have a new format. The 2026 edition of the Home Run Derby will no longer have the time clock that was added to the event in 2015, and instead will go back to a pre-2015-esque look where hitters will have a finite number of swings to take.

The new format includes 20 swings in the first round, followed by 15 swings in both the semifinals and finals for advancing hitters. Should a hitter add a home run on swing No. 20, or the final swing of a round, they'll continue swinging until they don't hit a home run, i.e., until they record an "out."

As was the case in the last two seasons, those who have the top four home run totals from the first round will advance to the semifinals (second round), where they’ll then be put into a bracket and seeded based on their home run totals from the first round and go head-to-head to determine the two finalists.

REQUIRED READING: Yankees' Ben Rice to get his Home Run Derby dream with dad pitching

2026 MLB Home Run Derby tiebreakers

Should there be a tie in the field following the first round, home run distance will serve as the tiebreaker. The tiebreaker for the second round and finals will be a three-swing swing-off.

What are the changes to the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby?

The biggest change to the MLB Home Run Derby this year is the removal of the time clock that the eight hitters would be restricted to. There won't be any additional rounds of swings given as well, which had been given in the past based on home run distance and other qualifications.

How many people are in the MLB Home Run Derby?

The MLB Home Run Derby consists of eight hitters. Click here to view the 2026 Home Run Derby field.

2026 MLB Home Run Derby: Time, TV channel, streaming options

• Date: Monday, July 13
• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• Location: Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia)
• Streaming option: Netflix

The 2026 MLB Home Run Derby is set for 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 13 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. It will not be broadcast on television. Instead, it will be streamed exclusively on Netflix, with the play-by-play being handled by Matt Vasgersian and analysis coming Barry Bonds, CC Sabathia, Hunter Pence and Anthony Rizzo.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB Home Run Derby rules explained: New format changes debut in 2026

Indianapolis Indians 5, Toledo Mud Hens 0 (box)

Toledo managed just one hit in the series finale, losing 5-0 and finishing the week 2-4.

Indianapolis’ Connor Wietgrefe retired the first 13 batters he faced. Brett Callahan broke up the perfect game with a one-out double in the fifth. He made it to third after tagging on a Jace Jung flyout but never scored. \

Just one hit for Toledo today in a 5-0 loss to Indianapolis – this 5th inning hustle double from Brett Callahan. pic.twitter.com/P5fgjhUzjX

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 12, 2026

Wietgrefe stayed in through the eighth and didn’t allow another baserunner. His replacement, Landon Tomkins, walked the first batter he faced, Cal Stevenson, before retiring the next three batters.

Sawyer Gipson-Long took the loss for the Mud Hens after allowing five runs (four earned) over as many innings. He broke down in the second, hitting two batters and giving up an RBI single with two outs. A wild pitch put both runners still on base in scoring position, but they jogged home on a P.J. Hilson home run — his first with the Indians.

An error by Stevenson at first base allowed Jhostynxon Garcia to score from first. That’s the unearned run for SGL. At least he retired seven of the last eight batters he faced.

The bullpen was actually good, throwing three perfect innings with a combined six strikeouts. Yilbert Diaz strukc out the side in the sixth, Brennan Hanifee went 1-2-3 in the seventh and Enmanuel De Jesus had a pair of strikeouts in a 1-2-3 eighth. None of Toledo’s four pitchers allowed a walk, either.

Clark: 0-4, 2 K

Diaz: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

Gipson-Long (L, 2-4): 5.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR

Coming Up Next: Toledo returns from the All-Star Break on Friday at 7:05 p.m. for a three-gameseries at home against the Gwinnett Stripers.

(F/10) Erie SeaWolves 3, Harrisburg Senators 2 (box)

Erie ended the series against Harrisburg tied with a 3-2 win that needed extra innings to decide.

Justice Bigbie was the hero in the 10th, singling home Viandel Pena for the win. Pena wasn’t the automatic runner on second to start the inning, though. That was Patrick Lee, who got caught in a pickle between third and home while trying to score on a ball back to the mound. Bigbie was lucky to get up, too, because Seth Stephenson needed an error to reach base before him. Fortunately, it all worked out in the end.

🚨🌔Moon Mammoths Walk-Off Win🦣🚨

Justice Bigbie lines a 2-out single to center to score Viandel Pena and give Erie a 3-2 win. @ZachSurdenik and @BurgessLuke03 on the call. pic.twitter.com/rHN4WNi6nk

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 12, 2026

But how did we get to extras?

Erie led 2-1 from the fifth inning into the ninth. Tanner Kohlhepp blew the save in the weirdest way possible. Johnathon Thomas tapped a ground ball to third with Maxwell Romero Jr. on second. Romero ran straight to the bag while E.J. Exposito waited for the ball to get to him. Exposito was standing next to the bag and in the basepath, so Romero had no choice but to run into him, albeit softly.

The ball got by Exposito because he was physically pushed out of position, and Romero charged home as Max Burt went to collect it where the grass meets the dirt. The throw would have gotten to home just in time, but it went straight into Romero’s legs. Safe. Truly bizarre stuff.

SeaWolves manager Tony Cappuccilli argued, but the umpires didn’t overturn the call after a brief meeting. He stormed back out and got tossed before crossing the third-base line.

Compared to all of that action, the rest of the game was relatively boring.

Both teams scored in the first. Harrisburg got Devin Fitz-Gerald home on a bases-loaded single. Branden Boissiere tried to score as well, but Seth Stephenson gunned him out at home from center field.

Erie responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring on a first-and-third play where the runner got stuck in a pickle, allowing the runner on third to score. It’s a good idea when Stephenson is the guy on third, even if it was unintentional.

The only other run in the game was an RBI single from Pena in the fifth. Patrick Lee set up the scoring opportunity with a double two batters prior.

It was a good day for the pitching staff. Max Alba went 3.2 innings, allowing just the one run on three hits and three walks while striking out three. Trevin Michael got the next four out and was in line for the win while Johan Simon, Yoniel Curet and Wandisson Charles recorded inning-long holds without any trouble. Kohlhepp ended up getting the win, pitching the 10th.

Simon was the best of the bunch despite a walk. He struck out the side, and Charles had a pair of strikeouts.

Bigbie: 1-5, RBI, K

Lee: 1-4, 2B (1), R

Kohlhepp (W, 5-2)(BS, 1): 2.0 IP, R, ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Coming Up Next: Erie returns from the All-Star Break on Friday at 7:05 p.m. for a three-game series on the road against the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

Fort Wayne TinCaps 9, West Michigan Whitecaps 1 (box)

Despite a 9-1 trouncing on Sunday, the West Michigan Whitecaps were the only Tigers affiliate to win a series this week, taking things 4-2 against the Fort Wayne TinCaps.

Still, this was an ugly loss. Only five hits for the offense, and none of them were particularly loud. Stephen Hrustich had the only extra-base hit, a double in the ninth when the ‘Caps already trailed by eight runs. Hrustich had a single in the second, too, for the only multi-hit day in the lineup.

The lone run scored in the sixth on a double play off the bat of Bryce Rainer. At that point, it was still 3-1 and in between three-run homers from Fort Wayne. Rayner Castillo allowed the first but managed to get through five innings.

Preston Howey gave up the second in the seventh and was responsible for another run in the eighth after giving up a leadoff walk. CJ Weins got the rest of the eighth, but allowed two runs to score on three straight hits. Colin Fields got through the ninth just fine despite two hits.

Rainer: 0-3, BB, K

Hrustich: 2-3, 2B (2), BB

Castillo (L, 1-7): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR

Coming Up Next: West Michigan returns from the All-Star Break on Friday at 7:05 p.m. for a three-game series on the road against the Great Lakes Loons.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 9, Dunedin Blue Jays 4 (box)

Lakeland beat Dunedin 9-4 on Sunday to finish the series tied at three games apiece.

Caleb Leys went two scoreless innings, walking one batter and striking out none. The Flying Tigers’ offense gave him an early lead to work with, though, scoring a pair in the top of the first. Jordan Yost walked and stole second. Jude Warwick drove him in with a double. Warwick stole third and came home on a bad throw from the catcher.

Dunedin made thing interesting with runs in the third and fourth off Lakeland’s bullpen. Alistair Tanner didn’t have very good command, but there might be a reason for that. He threw just 13 pitches, walking the leadoff man and hitting another batter, before leaving the game with an apparent injury. It doesn’t look great.

RHP Ali Tanner just returned from the IL today, but he leaves after 13 pitches with an apparent injury. Fastball velocity dipped noticeably against the final batter he faced. pic.twitter.com/cpKQI4Bb0R

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 12, 2026

Jose Guzman took over for Tanner and induced a sac fly for the run to score. He worked through the fourth, giving up his own run in the latter frame he pitched. Still, Guzman takes home the win because Lakeland managed to score a third run in the fourth to maintain the lead throughout the game.

The big inning was the sixth for the offense. Nick Dumesnil doubled to score Edian Espinal, Jesus Pinto walked, and both moved up a base on a groundout. Hunter Dobbins drove both of them in with a grounder through the right side. Zach MacDonald had his own single to the right side, and Beau Ankeney reached on an error that allowed Dobbins to score.

Connor Fenlong got his first hold with Lakeland, working four innings. He was really good for the first three frames, but a single and a homer put two runs on his final line. Fenlong had two walks and some wild pitches, so it’s not all peaches and roses, but it was enough.

Lakeland got those runs back, though, scoring in the eighth and ninth. Dobbins had his third hit and fourth RBI of the day, driving in Carson Rucker, and Jesus Pinto brought Warwick home in the final inning. Donye Evans closed it out, working around a leadoff base hit.

Yost: 0-4, R, BB, 2 K

Warwick: 3-5, 2B (16), 2 R, RBI

Dobbins: 3-5, R, 4 RBI, K

Fenlong (H, 1): 4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, HR

Coming Up Next: Lakeland returns from the All-Star Break on Friday at 7:05 p.m. for a three-game series on the road against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.

After a terrible stretch of play in late June/early July, the Yankees closed out their first half on a high note by sweeping the Nationals. It wasn’t without stress, as it took late inning comebacks against a Nats bullpen that just had nothing going for it to come away with all three of their wins, but considering how down bad this team was for even a single win a week ago no one is complaining. Riding off the coattails of their split with the Rays, the sweep brought New York to a very decent 5-2 record on the road trip entering the All-Star break, and they sit three games behind first place. That’s still entirely within their reach, but they’ll need a bit of help on top of them keeping this good momentum going once they return to the field.

In the meantime though, it’s time to celebrate the best accomplishments of the team with their All-Star representatives, and the festivities begin later tonight with the Home Run Derby. Ben Rice will be among the participants, and we’ll have an open thread for the event itself up much like our usual game threads. Before that, we open our day with a recap of the MLB Draft as Michael gives his thoughts on the 2026 class the Yankees now have waiting in the wings. Matt covers the Rivalry Roundup featuring a Rays loss to bring the AL East race a game closer, Josh reminisces on DJ LeMahieu’s pair of incredible and ill-advised contracts and the production he brought with them as his birthday falls on today, and Jeremy mulls over the options that the Reds could provide in a potential trade. Later in the day, I’ll be opening up the mailbag for more of your questions, and then I’ll also recap the Derby when all is said and done.

Today’s Matchup:

All-Star Home Run Derby

Time: 8:00 p.m. EST

Streaming: Netflix

Venue: Citizen’s Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

Questions/Prompts:

1. How far will Ben Rice make it in the Derby? Surely he has a better showing than Jazz Chisholm Jr. had last year, right?

2. Was John Schneider out of line for choosing his own guy in Dylan Cease as the All-Star Game starter before Cam Schlittler ruled himself out?

It's break time, and look what we have here across Major League Baseball: Five relatively red-hot divisional races.

Four divisions are either tied or separated by no more than three games as the All-Star break mercifully arrives. The NL Central features a five-game bulge, but it's almost certain the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers will extend their drama long into September. As for the NL West? Well, the Los Angeles Dodgers can pulverize the tension out of anything, holding a 12 ½ game lead.

And then there's the AL Central home to the tightest race of all and the biggest surprise.

The Chicago White Sox roared into the break, sweeping the Athletics back to Yolo County by a combined score of 24-2 and staying in lockstep with the Cleveland Guardians atop the division. It's a far cry from their 32-65 mark at the break last year, to say nothing of their 27-71 mark on their way to a record 121 losses in 2024.

As the White Sox climb to No. 10 in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings, the dreams are only getting bigger and better.

"In our heads," White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery told reporters, "we just are like, ‘How are we not going to be a playoff team if we just play like we are playing right now?’”

A look at our updated rankings:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

• Just an absolute death grip on the division - and the entire National League.

2. Milwaukee Brewers (-)

• Glorious first half ends with a thud: Swept at Pittsburgh, and the Miz taking a little siesta.

3. Tampa Bay Rays (-)

• Something old: Evan Longoria's No. 3 retired. Something new: Catcher Nathan Flewelling named Futures Game MVP.

4. Atlanta Braves (-)

• Matt Olson hits the break with 25 homers, but just six in his last 27 games.

5. New York Yankees (-)

• They chug into the break off their seventh sweep of the year, all three via comeback.

6. Chicago Cubs (+1)

• PCA = MVP, maybe. We were also saying this exactly one year ago.

7. Philadelphia Phillies (-1)

• Zack Wheeler joins Vance Worley among group of Phillies to start 10-1.

8. Miami Marlins (-)

• Will they add at the deadline? Keeping Sandy Alcantara already a nice W.

9. Chicago White Sox (+1)

• Tristan Peters hits for cycle, then added to All-Star team.

10. St. Louis Cardinals (-1)

• Lauded for their draft, buttressed by Tennessee right-hander Tegan Kuhns falling to them with second pick.

11. Cleveland Guardians (-)

• Heating up again? Their sweep at Miami is their first since May 21.

12. Pittsburgh Pirates (+2)

• They lose Konnor Griffin, gain Jacob Gonzalez and finish half with sweep of Brewers.

13. Texas Rangers (+2)

• MVP of the first half? Perhaps reliever Jacob Latz.

14. Seattle Mariners (-2)

• X-rays negative on Emerson Hancock's hand - as Kade Anderson waits patiently.

15. Washington Nationals (-2)

• Sweep by Yankees likely douses any thought of adding this month.

16. Arizona Diamondbacks (+1)

• Dodgers don't seem catchable. How much do you invest in an eight-way wild card derby?

17. San Diego Padres (-1)

• They draft a high school pitcher first for the sixth time in 10 years.

18. Minnesota Twins (+1)

• Um, guess who's tied for the third wild card in AL?

19. Boston Red Sox (+3)

• Within two games of .500 for first time since March 30.

20. Houston Astros (-2)

• Starting pitching still in disarray.

21. Baltimore Orioles (-1)

• Finally win four games in a row - right into the break.

22. Toronto Blue Jays (-1)

• Defending AL champs a last-place team entering break.

23. Detroit Tigers (+1)

• Jack Flaherty pitching like he wants to make sure Tarik Skubal sticks around.

24. Cincinnati Reds (-1)

• Now 6-22 against NL Central opponents.

25. Athletics (-)

• That's nine losses in a row, the first eight without holding a lead, dating back to the Dodgers visiting Yolo County on July 1.

26. San Francisco Giants (+1)

• Luis Arraez all set to get his flowers at the All-Star Game, deservedly.

27. New York Mets (-1)

• Swept by the Red Sox even as Boston had one plane tied behind its back.

28. Colorado Rockies (+2)

• Paul DePodesta goes back to college on draft day.

29. Los Angeles Angels (+1)

• Drafting a two-way prep player is best sign yet the Perry Minasian era is over.

30. Kansas City Royals (-1)

• Only the Athletics have a worse run differential than these guys' minus-88.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: White Sox are story of the first half as playoff races tighten

The Athletic | Brendan Kuty ($): Those hoping to see Cam Schlittler pitch in the All-Star Game are likely to be disappointed. While maintaining that he will be “ready if they need me,” Schlittler intends to use the break for the Midsummer Classic to rest for an all important push in the second half. Interestingly, AL team manager John Schneider announced that he was planning to pick his own pitcher with the Blue Jays, Dylan Cease, to start the game for the AL despite Schlittler’s superior first half and Schlittler’s initial willingness to pitch on what would have been a between-starts bullpen day. Schlittler also admitted that he did not want to overextend himself by ramping up to game-level effort and potentially risk a sluggish recovery for his first start out of the break.

ESPN: The Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the Nationals to end the first half with the wind in their sails, and they did so in historic fashion. They overcame an eighth-inning or later deficit in all three wins for the first time in franchise history since May 19-21, 1910, playing as the Highlanders and sweeping the Cleveland Naps. They won their last four games before the break to cap off a 5-2 road trip, coming just in time after their worst stretch of the season, to sit three games behind the Rays for first.

MLB.com | Jared Greenspan: There’s a new Pettitte in pinstripes. In the eighth round of the 2026 Draft on Sunday, the Yankees selected Luke Pettitte with the 248th pick out of Dallas Baptist University. The son of Andy Pettitte, Luke began as a right-handed pitcher who posted a 3.19 ERA in 17 games before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Unable to pitch his junior season, Pettitte became a full-time DH and slashed .337/.403/.693 with 16 home runs and 48 RBI.

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: The Yankees have finalized their 2026 MLB Draft class, with a potential 20 new faces joining the organization. They went with a pair of left-handed pitchers for their first two picks, and their first pick, Hunter Dietz, is considered by many evaluators to be the best left-handed pitcher in the Draft. They rounded out their first day of picks with a catcher and an outfielder, and on the whole went with a balanced approach, selecting eight pitchers and 12 position players and 16 college players versus four out of high school.