Category: Baseball

The Braves kick off a thin slate of games today at 12:15 pm ET. With a victory in the matinee to finish the homestand, they could:

• Reach win number 60 on the season
• Add another half game to their division lead (4 now after yesterday’s action concluded)
• Finally win a series against the San Diego Padres

The decision to make or ruin the rest of our Thursday is in the hands of the following gentlemen:

No real surprises here, even though the Padres made a last-minute change to announce Kyle Hart as their starter. Another opener? You shouldn’t have. Previously announced SP Griffin Canning is likely to follow. 

Drake Baldwin will catch for the third straight day and will keep the Ronald Acuña Jr. leadoff spot warm. Mike Yastrzemski, who served as the DH in his two games back from the IL, returns to right field and bat eighth as he seemingly does his rehab in the majors. Gwinnett’s too full of stars at the moment. Dominic Smith had a pinch-hit RBI last night and will start at DH today. 

Baby Brave Jim Jarvis rounds out the bottom of the lineup as he continues his extended run at shortstop.

For the Padres, things look similar to last night other than Xander Bogaerts moving up a couple spots in the order to hit fifth given his history against Chris Sale. Freddy Fermin will catch, Gavin Sheets will DH, and Jake Cronenworth moves down to bat ninth, which again makes sense due to his 0-for-11 streak against Sale. Last night’s DH Luis Rengifo remains in the two-hole, but he’ll get the start in left field. 

The Delta plane awaits to take the Braves up north to Baltimore and Queens – let’s make it a happy flight. First pitch is at 12:15 pm ET.

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There are only five games on the slate today, but that hasn't stopped our betting experts from digging into the slate to provide you with their favorite MLB picks.

Find out what you need to add to your betting card on July 23.

MLB expert picks for today

Pick	Odds
Josh Inglis: Rays ML	+100
Jason Wilson: Diamondbacks/Cardinals - Over 8.5	+138

Prices courtesy of Polymarket.

Josh Inglis' expert pick: Rays moneyline

Price: 50¢ (+100) at Polymarket

I'm fading the Toronto Blue Jays as much as I can.

Both clubs are in getaway spots, but the Tampa Bay Rays have a chance to complete the four-game sweep and have won eight of the last nine meetings. Ian Seymour is the reason Toronto is favored, but I'm not giving Shane Bieber a free pass after one good start.

Bieber has been one of the hardest-hit pitchers in baseball this season, ranking in the Bottom 10 among qualified starters in HR/9 and HR/FB while sitting dead last in both xERA and BlastContact%. His overall numbers remain ugly despite a solid outing last time out.

The last time I checked, you need to score runs to win games, and Toronto has been the worst team in baseball at doing so all season. The Blue Jays have scored just 10 runs in six games since the All-Star break, with their only win in that stretch coming in a 1-0 game against the White Sox.

They've also been outscored 23-5 through the first three games of this series while committing six errors. Tampa should be favored here, just like yesterday

• Time: 3:07 p.m. ET
• How to watch: Sportsnet, Rays.TV

Jason Wilson's expert pick: Diamondbacks/Cardinals - Over 8.5

Price: 42¢ (+138) at Polymarket

Brandon Pfaadt and Michael McGreevy are two starters whose underlying metrics ring all sorts of alarm bells.

Pfaadt was demoted to the Arizona Diamondbacks bullpen and Triple-A this season, and hasn't missed any bats when at the big-league level.

McGreevy, for all his success, is a ticking time bomb with an expected ERA (5.35) almost 2.5 runs higher than his actual ERA (2.92). Both pitchers get barreled at a high rate, with the only real positives under the hood being their ability to limit walks.

But that also tells us they both live in the zone, and that's where the damage gets done. The Diamondbacks have also owned baseball's hottest offense over the last two weeks, scoring 66 runs in their last 10 games while slugging .478.

I don't trust McGreevy to weather that storm. If he somehow avoids the worst of it, the St. Louis Cardinals bullpen has shown it cannot hold the line.

And even if St. Louis' lineup has gone in the complete opposite direction in that time, Pfaadt is the guy to help turn that around. Trust in Jordan Walker's 100th-percentile bat speed.

• Time: 5:15 p.m. ET
• How to watch: Diamondbacks.TV, Cardinals.TV

More MLB best bets for today

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Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out yesterday’s recap here.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (49-48) won 6-5 (BOX SCORE)

Sugar Land got on the board in the first inning on a Biggio solo home run. They got another run in the 3rd inning on a Loperfido solo home run. McPherson got the start and went 5 innings allowing 3 runs while striking out 4. Sugar Land tied it up in the 6th inning on a Diaz RBI single. The pen was solid keeping the game tied as it went to extra innings. In the 10th, the Sounds scored 2 runs to take a 5-3 lead but in the bottom of the inning Sugar Land rallied for 3 runs on a Whitcomb RBI double, Guillemette bases loaded walk and walk-off Sacco bases loaded walk as Sugar Land won 6-5.

Note: Biggio has a .905 OPS this season.

• Cavan Biggio, LF: 2-for-5, R, HR, RBI
• Joey Loperfido, RF: 2-for-5, 2 R, HR, RBI
• Shay Whitcomb, SS: 2-for-5, R, 2B, RBI
• Trenton Brooks, 1B: 2-for-5, R
• Ray Delgado, 2B: 1-for-3, 2 BB
• Garret Guillemette, C: 0-for-3, RBI, 2 BB
• Tommy Sacco, DH: 0-for-3, RBI, 2 BB
• Edwin Diaz, 3B: 1-for-2, RBI, 2 BB

• Brandon McPherson, RHP: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
• Bryan King, LHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Cody Bolton, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
• Christian Roa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
• Roddery Munoz, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• Logan VanWey, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (WIN)

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (43-49) won 10-9 (BOX SCORE)

The Hooks got on the board in the first inning scoring a run on a Bush steal of home. They scored 2 runs in the 2nd inning on a Whitaker solo home run and Hernandez solo home run. Hertzler got the start for the Hooks and struggled allowing 7 runs, though only 1 was earned. The Sod Poodles got a run in the 5th but the Hooks responded with 2 runs on an error. After the Sod Poodles scored again in the 6th, Call connected on a 3 run home run in the bottom of the inning to make it 9-8. In the 8th, Austin tied the game with a solo home run. In the 9th, the Hooks walked it off on an Encarnacion grounder as the Hooks won 10-9.

Note: Austin has a .841 OPS this season.

• Yamal Encarnacion, 2B: 1-for-6, R, 2B, RBI
• Trevor Austin, 3B: 2-for-3, R, HR, RBI, 2 BB
• Will Bush, 1B: 0-for-4, 2 R, BB, SB
• Walker Janek, C: 1-for-4, R, BB, 2 SB
• Chase Call, LF: 1-for-4, R, HR, 3 RBI, BB
• Cameron Sisneros, DH: 0-for-2, R, 3 BB
• Tyler Whitaker, RF: 3-for-4, R, HR, RBI, BB
• Alberto Hernandez, 2B: 2-for-5, R, HR, RBI

• Cole Hertzler, RHP: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 7 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
• Alex Santos, RHP: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• Nic Swanson, RHP: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• Hudson Leach, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• Amilcar Chirinos, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (WIN)

A+: Asheville Tourists (32-57)

Game One – lost 2-1 (BOX SCORE)

Santos started for Asheville and had a solid outing allowing 2 runs over 5 innings while striking out 9. Asheville got on the board in the top of the 6th on a Frey RBI single but that was it from the offense as they dropped game one, 2-1.

Note: Thomas has 17 doubles this season.

• Justin Thomas, CF: 1-for-3, R, 2B
• Ethan Frey, RF: 1-for-3, RBI, SB
• Anthony Huezo, LF: 1-for-3, 2B

• Yeriel Santos, RHP: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K
• Raimy Rodriguez, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

Game Two – lost 4-3 (BOX SCORE)

Asheville got on the board in the first inning on a Huezo RBI single. Cruz got the start in game two and allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, over 3.1 innings of work. Asheville rallied in the 6th to tie the game on a Huezo solo home run and Nunez RBI single. In the bottom of the 7th, the Hot Rods walked it off as Asheville fell 4-3.

Note: Huezo has a .945 OPS in High-A.

• Justin Thomas, RF: 1-for-4, R
• Jack Moss, 1B: 1-for-3, BB, SB
• Anthony Huezo, LF: 2-for-3, R, HR, 2 RBI
• Zach Daudet, SS: 1-for-2, R, BB, SB
• Alejandro Nunez, 3B: 1-for-3, RBI

• Anthony Cruz, RHP: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• Conor Steinbaugh, RHP: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• Joan Ogando, RHP: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (45-45) lost 9-6 (BOX SCORE)

After a scoreless inning from Smith, Forcucci came on for the second but struggled allowing 5 runs, 4 earned over 1.1 innings. The Woodpeckers got on the board in the 2nd inning on an error and then in the 5th they rallied for 4 runs to tie it on an Alvarez RBI single, Luciano 2 run double and Cauro sac fly. The Woodpeckers took the lead in the 7th on a Wakefield RBI single but the Nationals tied it at 7 in the bottom of the inning. In the 8th inning, the Nationals scored 3 runs to take the lead. The offense was unable to respond as the Woodpeckers fell 9-6.

Note: Alvarez is hitting .338 over his last 15 games.

• Josh Wakefield, DH: 0-for-4, RBI
• German Ramirez, 2B: 2-for-4, R, 2B
• Kevin Alvarez, CF: 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI
• Waner Luciano, 3B: 1-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI
• Jadyn Fielder, 1B: 1-for-4
• Brandon Nigh, SS: 1-for-3, BB
• DJ Newman, RF: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2B

• Aubrey Smith, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Ryan Forcucci, RHP: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 0 K
• Grayson Saunier, RHP: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• Ryan Verdugo, RHP: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: TBD – 7:05 CT

CC: Brett Gillis – 6:35 CT

AV: Kellan Oakes – 6:35 CT

FV: TBD – 5:35 CT

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One of the smallest slates we’ve endured all season, just five games to sweat out and have a little fun with. That usually means fewer options, but it also means the edges stand out a little more.

So, without further ado, here are today’s MLB moneyline predictions as we dive into the tiny slate with my MLB picks for Thursday, July 23.

MLB moneyline picks for July 23

Matchup	Pick
Padres vs Braves	-233
Twins vs Guardians	+130
Rays vs Blue Jays	+102
Diamondbacks vs Cardinals	+111
Royals vs Tigers	+190

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 7-23.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for July 23

Padres vs Braves: Braves (-233)

Braves win probability: 70%

Take the Atlanta Braves on the run line here. With Griffin Canning on the mound this afternoon, Atlanta should have plenty of success at the dish.

Canning enters as one of the lowest rated pitchers on this small slate, per Batters-Box, while the Braves own one of the highest rated offenses of the day. The San Diego Padres right hander has posted a 6.75 ERA and 1.73 WHIP over his last five outings, while allowing a 45.45% hard hit rate.

Chris Sale has been nails all season. At home, he owns a 1.35 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and a 25.23% strikeout rate, giving Atlanta a sizable edge on the mound.

Twins vs Guardians: Twins (+130)

Twins win probability: 44%

Are we finally watching Taj Bradley put it all together?

The Minnesota Twins right hander owns a 3.19 ERA, 2.77 xERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a 32% strikeout rate over his last five starts. We've always known he can rack up strikeouts, but limiting runs has been the biggest question.

With Cleveland Guardians right hander Gavin Williams carrying a 5.09 ERA over his last three starts, I think it's worth taking a shot on the Twins at +130.

Rays vs Blue Jays: Rays (+102)

Rays win probability: 50%

Give me the Tampa Bay Rays as a dog against the most lifeless team in baseball. Please, give me them at plus money.

The Toronto Blue Jays own a 43 wRC+ over their last six games, a 76 over their last 12, and a 67 over their last 21. Their offense is nonexistent. Meanwhile, the Rays have posted a 124 wRC+, .342 wOBA, and .780 OPS across their last 21 games.

Sure, Ian Seymour has not been the most sustainable arm in the Rays rotation, but you're going to tell me Shane Bieber, who owns a 5.70 ERA, 5.35 xERA, and 1.73 WHIP across his last five starts, is the better option?

Rays.

Diamondbacks vs Cardinals: Diamondbacks (+111)

Diamondbacks win probability: 48%

Another misprice in my opinion.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are sitting at +111 against a St. Louis Cardinals team that owns a 69 wRC+, .267 wOBA, and .580 OPS over its last six games. Meanwhile, Arizona's offense is finally coming alive, posting a 151 wRC+, .390 wOBA, and .903 OPS over that same span.

What's even more impressive is how well Brandon Pfaadt has been throwing the ball lately. Over his last five starts, he owns a 2.86 ERA, 2.75 xERA, and 1.14 WHIP. On the other side, Michael McGreevy has been solid, but is this Cardinals offense really going to give him enough support tonight?

Give me the Diamondbacks at plus money.

Royals vs Tigers: Royals (+190)

Royals win probability: 34%

I am not the biggest fan of the 2026 Kansas City Royals, but they are clearly seeing the ball much better over their last few games than the Detroit Tigers. I think getting them at +190 is worth the squeeze on a team that owns a .762 OPS, 115 wRC+, and a 42% hard hit rate across its last 12 games.

Meanwhile, the Tigers have posted a 100 wRC+, .311 wOBA, and a 24% strikeout rate over their last six games.

Sure, Tigers right hander Troy Melton has been great, and Randy Dobnak's underlying metrics point toward some serious regression, but at +190, I think the Royals are worth a sprinkle.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The Atlanta Braves host the San Diego Padres in the series-deciding finale. If the Braves win, they will have won three of the four games. A victory this morning secures a series split for the Padres.

The four-game set has been highly competitive, as the Braves are coming off a dramatic 7-6 win last night. Rookie shortstop Jim Jarvis broke up a 1-1 tie with a run-scoring double that scored Mauricio Dubon in a six-run eighth-inning rally. The Friars responded with a five-run top of the ninth that fell short of tying the game. 

Taking the mound: Chris Sale (ATL) vs Kyle Hart (SD)

The Braves ace, Chris Sale, will take the hill in the series finale. He has been dominant in 18 starts this season. The left-hander has struck out 123 batters in 105.0 innings pitched.

Today’s game plan is simple, as Sale wants to set the tone early with scoreless innings before handing a lead off to the bullpen. Surprisingly, Sale still generates weak contact from opposing lineups after 16 major league seasons. 

Sale is making his second start following his 10th All-Star Game appearance, and he reached a milestone in his last appearance. Sale recorded his 2,700th career strikeout in a start against the Texas Rangers. 

The Padres will start Kyle Hart as the opener this morning. But Griffin Canning (1-8, 6.67 ERA) will work the bulk innings, as he will try to turn his 2026 campaign around. The veteran right-hander had his troubles against the Braves this season. Earlier, he allowed four runs in less than two-thirds of an inning at Petco Park. 

Canning will need to be more aggressive in the strike zone. However, consistency has been missing all season. Canning desperately needs to have a good outing, as he allowed 13 runs over his last 16.1 innings pitched.

Friars skipper Craig Stammen may have a short leash for him in today’s contest. If he shows any signs of trouble, Canning will be removed from the game. Stammen has to give his team an opportunity to even the series.

Today’s starting lineups

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The Toronto Blue Jays close out a rough four-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays this afternoon, with both sides priced at -110.

Toronto’s bats have gone missing for most of this series, but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is hitting the ball as hard as he has all year, and he's the focus of my Rays vs. Blue Jays predictions.

Read on for my MLB picks for this Thursday, July 23 matchup.

Rays vs Blue Jays predictions

Rays vs Blue Jays best bet: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 1.5 total bases (+125)

While I won’t ever base a bet on one swing, I saw some great cuts from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in Wednesday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

In his first at-bat, he crushed a double the other way to right field at 105 mph, narrowly missing a home run. He’s swinging hard trying to drag this offense out of its rut, and I expect that to translate against Rays starter Ian Seymour.

As I’ll get into below, Seymour serves up meatball fastballs. He’s allowed a homer in four straight starts, and opponents own a .497 xSLG against his fastball, sinker and cutter.

Guerrero also holds the platoon advantage here, carrying a .762 OPS and 121 wRC+ against southpaws, far above his numbers vs. righties.

I’d play this to +110.

COVERS INTEL:Guerrero topped 105 mph exit velocity on all four of his balls in play Wednesday, and he now draws a pitcher who lives up in the zone with his fastball.

Rays vs Blue Jays same-game parlay (SGP)

The Toronto Blue Jays bullpen worked hard on Wednesday, and fatigue tends to show up late in a series, while Ian Seymour’s penchant for allowing homers gives Toronto a path to runs of its own. 

I’ll add Vladdy Over 0.5 hits, leaning on the same hard contact behind my best bet, then finish with the Blue Jays on the moneyline — banking on the home side finally breaking out with a statement win in the finale.

Rays vs Blue Jays SGP

• Blue Jays moneyline
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 0.5 hits
• Over 8.5

Rays vs Blue Jays home run pick: Kazuma Okamoto (+280)

By all accounts, Kazuma Okamoto is the best home run bet on the board. 

He’s the perfect foil for Rays starter Ian Seymour, who carries a 1.6 HR/9, has allowed a homer in four straight outings and owns a bad fastball.

The left-hander has a very good changeup (+9 run value), but his fastball grades out below average (-2 run value), and the heat maps show it sitting high in the zone.

Enter Okamoto, who owns a +12 run value against the four-seamer, slugs .578 on that pitch, and leads the Blue Jays with five home runs against lefties this season. 

The matchup works on both the pitch mix and the platoon side, which makes him the best home run bet on the card.

I’d bet this to +250 but no shorter, at my standard quarter unit.

Rays vs Blue Jays odds

• Moneyline: Tampa Bay -110 | Toronto -110
• Run line: Tampa Bay -1.5 (+150) | Toronto +1.5 (-175)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-110) | Under 8.5 (-110)

Rays vs Blue Jays trend

The Toronto Blue Jays have seen the Over cash in eight of their last 12 games. Find more MLB betting trends for Rays vs. Blue Jays.

How to watch Rays vs Blue Jays and game info

Rays vs Blue Jays latest injuries

Rays vs Blue Jays weather

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The St. Louis Cardinals host the Arizona Diamondbacks as -112 favorites tonight at Busch Stadium.

With Brandon Pfaadt toeing the rubber for Arizona opposite Michael McGreevy, my Diamondbacks vs. Cardinals predictions are favoring the home side and the Over.

I explain why in my MLB picks for Thursday, July 23, below.

Who will win Diamondbacks vs Cardinals today: Cardinals (-112)

I'm no longer a believer in Brandon Pfaadt. I was high on the Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander as a prospect and into his first full season in the rotation in 2024. His 4.71 ERA that year seemed fake, as he boasted an expected ERA of 3.73 and a 3.61 FIP with a 24.3% strikeout rate. In other words, there was a clear path for improvement.

That hasn't happened. His 2025 was a disaster, and 2026 found him back in the minors for a spell while splitting time between the bullpen and rotation with the top club. His 4.58 ERA isn't far off his xERA, and his ability to miss bats has regressed, with a 15th-percentile whiff rate and a strikeout rate in the 14th. 

Opponents own a 9% barrel rate against him (29th percentile), and while he's pitched better since returning to the rotation, there's way too much smoke to ignore the fire. 

Jordan Walker and JJ Wetherholt are among the bats who will feast on Pfaadt's offerings early, giving the St. Louis Cardinals enough of a lead that the bullpen won't blow it this time.

The relief corps' shakiness is the only reason I'm not taking the run line, as it's shown that a big lead can evaporate in the blink of an eye.

Play to -120. 

COVERS INTEL: Walker's breakout is legitimate, and his 100th-percentile bat speed helps him catch up to high-velocity arms and to really punish those like Pfaadt, who might touch 94.

Diamondbacks vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (+140)

Pfaadt and Michael McGreevy give up regular and loud contact.

McGreevy has limited the damage well enough, as indicated by his 2.92 ERA, but it's simply not sustainable. I like him to outpitch Pfaadt, but that's about it.

He's also stepping in against baseball's hottest offense. The Diamondbacks have scored a whopping 66 runs over their last 10 games in the past two weeks.

The Cardinals have watched theirs dry up a bit in that span, but Pfaadt's deficiencies will help reignite St. Louis' bats.

I'd play this down to even money and would even consider Over 9.5 at +180 or longer.

Diamondbacks vs Cardinals weather

A high-pressure system with winds blowing toward home plate could suppress fly ball distance, limiting home run potential at Busch Stadium, so the scoring may come by a stream of consistent contact where the ball stays in play.

Diamondbacks vs Cardinals odds

• Moneyline: Diamondbacks +104 | Cardinals -108
• Run line: Diamondbacks +1.5 (-178) | Cardinals -1.5 (+170)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+150) | Under 8.5 (-156)

Diamondbacks vs Cardinals trend

The Arizona Diamondbacks have hit the Team Total Over in 13 of their last 19 games (+5.90 Units / 26% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Diamondbacks vs. Cardinals.

How to watch Diamondbacks vs Cardinals and game info

Diamondbacks vs Cardinals latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Team News

D-backs start crucial stretch before Trade Deadline with 15-run outburst
Closer Justin Martinez should be back from Tommy John surgery not long after the Aug. 3 Deadline, while starters Corbin Burnes and Ryne Nelson could be back in September.

On the position player side of things, outfielders Tommy Troy, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Jordan Lawlar could also all be back in August.

That’s eight players and a lot of depth.

“Doesn’t seem like there’s a huge swath of them that’ll be coming back right at the Deadline,” Hazen said. “So there may be some bridging to get from that period at the Deadline to when some of them come back. I still contend this team could look much different going through August and September when everybody gets back, regardless of what we do at the Deadline.”

https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/james-mccann-nolan-arenado-homer-in-d-backs-win-vs-a-s

Diamondbacks score season-high 15 runs to secure series win over Athletics

“I feel like we needed a win like that,” third baseman Nolan Arenado told Arizona Sports. “I feel like every game we played in lately, it’s been tight and a lot of stressful innings. For us to come out today, day game after a long game yesterday, and put up runs like that against a great arm, it was a great win.” https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/15-runs-secure-series-win-athletics

Ryan Waldschmidt crushes 1st major league home run, and it went a long wayhttps://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/ryan-waldschmidt-crushes-1st-major-league-home-run-and-it-went-a-long-way

D-backs move top prospect, Nogales native Demetrio Crisantes to Triple-Ahttps://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/nogales-prospect-demetrio-crisantes-triple-a

Other Baseball

Salvador Perez ties George Brett’s Royals record with 317th HRhttps://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/49426984/salvador-perez-ties-george-brett-royals-record-317th-hr

Orioles end Red Sox’s record-tying 15-game winning streakhttps://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/49428964/orioles-end-red-sox-record-tying-15-game-winning-streak

Yankees’ Caballero hit with pitch clock violation in crackdownhttps://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/49427759/yankees-caballero-hit-pitch-clock-violation-crackdown

Will The Padres Move Mason Miller?
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/07/will-the-padres-move-mason-miller.html

Angels reportedly fire self-proclaimed ‘Baseball Spy’ after he was caught filming Rockies coaches
https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/angels-reportedly-fire-self-proclaimed-baseball-spy-after-he-was-caught-filming-rockies-coaches-184948567.html

Anything Goes

This day in history:

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/july-23

This day in baseball:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/July_23

Croissants are not French.

You might associate croissants with French lifestyle, but the croissant is actually from Vienna. In the 13th century, it was known as a kipferl, a denser bread made in the distinct crescent shape.

The hair of a reindeer is hollow.

The hair inside their noses are also efficient heat exchangers that warm up the cold air they breathe in. This makes them good insulators.

‘Deja reve’ is the term used for an experienced previously encountered in a dream.

Deja reve translates to ‘already dreamt’. It suggests that this phenomenon can lead us to better understand why dreams occur by physiologically observing the brain during this occurrence. 

Good morning A’s fans.

The squad couldn’t get out of Arizona with a win, getting swept by the Diamondbacks to drop the record to a tough 43-59. That’s a disappointing outcome after their strong start to the season, and the Green & Gold will be at home watching October baseball on their couches for the sixth consecutive season.

There’s still two-plus months of baseball left to go though, and the attention should be focused on how to be more prepared for next season, the final year before the team makes its move to Las Vegas. They want to hit the ground running when they enter their new digs and that means making some noise next year. If they’re going to do that they’ll need to address some holes and questions on the roster. And one of the biggest questions they have is: what is going on at third base?

Over the next couple of months the team needs to try out the internal options at the hot corner. Former first rounder Max Muncy was given first crack at it this season but failed to deliver on his lofty draft status. He’s now back with the big league squad and may get some more starts at third to hopefully show some improvement, and it’s not impossible he seizes the job over the final few weeks. But they’ve also started toying with him in the outfield so we know how the club feels about his glove on the infield right now.

Zack Gelof has made some appearances there this year but with seven errors at a new position for him he isn’t the long-term option there. Plus he’s more valuable as a versatile piece that Mark Kotsay can move around.

Then there’s the young guys in Tommy White and Joshua Kuroda-Grauer. The rookies have just made his big league debuts and both have hit well in their small sample. There was never much doubt about White’s bat and he’s shown that so far having gone 7-for-16 through his first four games. Small sample, yes.

The question is about his glove at third base. If White can prove to be passable at third then the club can cross off two positions to address this offseason since they could then plug Kuroda-Grauer at the keystone. On the other hand if the glove isn’t up to par then that makes juggling all the young position players harder moving forward since White’s only other positions (first base, DH) are blocked next year (Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker(?)). And we haven’t even welcomed star prospect Leo De Vries into the fold yet.

There’s lots of things that’ll happen over the next couple months that determine how next year unfolds. If the A’s want next year to be a success they had better use the short time left this season to try to get as many answers as possible, from third base to the outfield to the entire pitching staff.

No A’s baseball today. Have a great one guys.

A’s Coverage:

• A’s drop series finale in a big way, 15-5 to the Diamondbacks
• A’s roster moves: Ginn to IL, Barnett recalled
• A’s fall in extra innings 6-5 to Arizona
• Hot Topic: Who Is The “Real Langeliers”?
• A’s Beat Diamondbacks 5-2
• A’s place rookie Joshua Kuroda-Grauer on injured list with ruptured testicle
• Passan: A’s ‘have zero desire’ to trade Shea Langeliers
• Another ‘step in the right direction’ for Lopez in hunt to regain rookie form
• Blogfather Saves The Day With Pearls Of Most Excellent Advice
• Thinking out loud: Mic’d up Cease, Langeliers work through 3-K 1st in ASG
• What will the Athletics do leading up to Trade Deadline after cold streak?
• A’s Add Next Wave of Prospects in 2026 Draft
• Athletics Get Hitting Help by Claiming Hot Bat off Waivers
• Former A’s top draft pick Muncy learning outfield with Aviators
• Langeliers’ 5-year journey from top prospect to All-Star starter
• Injuries Providing Cover For Some Inconvenient Truths
• Breaking Down the A’s Alarming Trends Heading into the Break
• Jamie Arnold can’t wait for the A’s future. Triple-A Vegas is another story.

MLB News and Interest:

• 15 straight! Red Sox tie 1946 squad’s franchise-record winning streak
• Royals trade for reliever Pearson, former top prospect, from Houston
• Padres Discussing Wandy Peralta In Trade Talks
• Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. placed on IL for first time in career
• Jose Ramírez back for Guardians, batting second in return to lineup
• Yankees activate Fried early for doubleheader vs. Pirates
• Garrett Crochet Targeting Return From IL By Playoffs
• Nationals Reportedly Considering Keeping Foster Griffin
• Trade rumors: Robert Jr., Rays, Giants bats, Marlins
• Rockies Getting Interest In Various Players
• Salvador Perez ties George Brett’s Royals record with 317th HR
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

A quick rising prospect who could make his big league debut this year?

Great show of support for prospect Ryan Lasko, who suffered a life-changing injury a couple weeks ago:

And a great update!

Doesn’t stop with the A’s:

Tuesday’s top minor league player:

Earlier this week, Camden Chat colleague Paul Folkemer examined how the prospects on our preseason top 20 prospects ranking have been performing this season. That group of players are a mix of exciting, interesting, and disappointing. There are other players in the Orioles system right now who didn’t crack that list before the season who look like they might be heading higher up the next incarnation of an O’s prospect list, if they don’t get traded sooner. Here are ten more prospects (and one non-prospect) worth some attention for what they’ve done so far this season:

Creed Willems – C/1B

A slow-developing prospect since the Orioles gave him a $1 million overslot bonus five years ago, Willems has finally made it to Triple-A for his age 23 season and he’s been getting some decent results, batting .259/.358/.431 in 70 games. This includes 13 homers, though at the same time he’s only hit two doubles. That’s peculiar.

Willems just missed about three weeks with a hamstring injury, returning earlier this week. If you’d rather see him instead of Sam Huff or Chadwick Tromp, you’re not the only one. They probably want to make sure that Willems is recovered from the hamstring before considering bringing him up into this situation. I suspect they don’t want to bring him up for a short-term absence, so we won’t see Willems this year unless either Adley Rutschman or Samuel Basallo are going to miss extended time.

Yaqui Rivera – RHP

You’ve got to be pretty good as a reliever to be worth mentioning as a prospect. Rivera, who’s only in his age 22 season, is hitting that level, holding batters to a .179 average between Chesapeake and Norfolk this season. Since joining the Tides, he’s struck out 39 batters in 32 innings. I’ve got a concerned eye on his 5.3 BB/9. It’s working out for him for now.

Bonus: Andrew Magno – LHP

He’s 28 and he’s a journeyman reliever, so he doesn’t count as a prospect in any sense, but this Tides lefty has a 0.98 ERA in 32 games. The idea of him may feel better than your least favorite member of the current Orioles bullpen. It does for me.

Ethan Anderson – C/1B

The 2024 Orioles draft class seemed like it was cursed a year ago. Its top three picks, Vance Honeycutt, Griff O’Ferrall, and Anderson, all largely flopped at High-A. The O’s promoted O’Ferrall and Anderson to Double-A this year anyway and Anderson’s looked like he’s fighting away that curse. 22 years old and still about two years younger than the average competition at the level, Anderson has batted .270/.369/.520 in 68 games.

That’s really good and mighty interesting from the switch hitter, though there’s an extreme home/road split going on here. Anderson has posted a 1.174 OPS at home and only .562 on the road. One way he hasn’t avoided the curse is that he’s on the injured list right now as a result of an ankle injury and it’s unclear when he’ll be back in action to continue building his stock.

Brandon Butterworth – IF/OF

One of the sextet of minor leaguers the Orioles received in last July’s Padres deal. Butterworth has only played in 35 games with the Baysox, though he’s back in action now. Solid results over those 35 games: .264/.377/.481. Good walk rate, good power, good speed. This is his age 23 season, so these numbers are less interesting than Anderson’s at the same level, but he’s got some things going for him and if they’re still going like this by season’s end, he’ll be a guy worth following more next season. No known connection to the syrup.

Micah Ashman – LHP

Acquired from the Tigers for Charlie Morton last year, this 23-year-old lefty reliever has been trashing Double-A over the 2026 season: 1.83 ERA in 23 games, 14.7 K/9 Like Anderson above, some odd stuff going on in the splits, including that Ashman has been much worse facing lefty batters than righties so far this season (.776 OPS allowed to lefties, .574 to righties). He’s also got a big home/away split except in the opposite direction of Anderson: .549 OPS at home, .807 OPS away.

Victor Figueroa – 1B/DH

Another of the players from the depths of that Padres trade. Figueroa is 22 and playing for High-A Frederick. He leads all Orioles minor leaguers with 22 home runs, which makes him a fun big guy to root for to beat the odds. There are some long odds to beat; he’s got a 32% strikeout rate for the season. A 1B/DH is going to have to hit and that kind of swing and miss will be tough to keep the homers going at higher levels of the minors.

RJ Austin – IF/OF

Third round pick last year, Austin has also missed some time with an injury this year, only 50 games of action. It’s gone well when he’s played, and for the season he’s working on a .271/.374/.422 line, with 27 stolen bases in 31 attempts. That’s basically “What would it look like if Enrique Bradfield had just a little bit of power?” – which is, like all of these guys, interesting! I don’t know how Austin compares defensively, and High-A is farther off from the majors.

Caden Hunter – LHP

The sixth round pick by the Orioles last year was assigned to Low-A to begin the season, where he was old for the level but nonetheless wrecking that competition. This has continued after a promotion to Frederick: 1.83 ERA, 54 strikeouts in 39.1 IP for the Keys. Walk rate is a little high (4.5 BB/9 between both levels) so there’s stuff to work on. It’s going well against these lower-level hitters, anyway: .513 OPS allowed across 250 PA. Need to see what happens in the high minors.

Twine Palmer – RHP

Arrived from the Astros for Ramón Urías last July, Palmer had a horrendous debut with the organization with Delmarva after that deal. It’s gone better for him at Frederick. This is just his age 21 season and he’s holding batters to a .206/.314/.286 line overall. Walk rate is higher than you want so there’s stuff to work on. There’s also good stuff going on, like only three homers allowed to 291 batters. It’s made for a 3.49 ERA overall.

Jaiden Lo Re – IF

Fifth round pick from an Arizona high school last year only took 20 games in the rookie Florida Complex League to convince the Orioles to send him up to a full-season affiliate, where he’s continued to look interesting. Across 30 games for Delmarva, he’s batted .340/.454/.453. Intriguing stuff for someone who’s just 19. The homer power isn’t there yet, only one so far in 131 PA. They’re playing him all over the infield. If he can sustain this next season, he’ll be a real top notch prospect.

**

Can the Orioles turn any of these guys, one way or another, into useful major leaguers? That will say a lot about the team’s chances of success next year and beyond.