PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 12: Ralphy Velazquez #22 of the American League Futures team during the 2026 All-Star Futures Game Presented by Nike at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Guardians swept the Marlins to end pre-break play and made their selections for rounds 5-20 yesterday.
Brian Hemminger has highlights of day two of the draft listed for you here and we will have a full draft class breakdown up soon.
Nicole recapped an encouraging win and series sweep here. Chase DeLauter and Steven Kwan enter the break on quite a heater and Travis Bazzana does not.
Ralphy Velazquez got an RBI hit in MLB’s Futures’ Game yesterday and made a nice play at first base:
I liked Antunez and Mace for a while, they just couldn’t get over the last few hurdles to become more than minor-leaguers.
MLB’s Home Run Derby is at 8PM tonight on Netflix. Here’s a preview of the field.
AROUND MLB:
The White Sox and Twins won and the Tigers and Royals lost. The Royals are 21 games under .500 so I am going to stop reporting what they did here unless they make a miraculous comeback. The shock of the pre-break portion of the season HAS to be the Mets being 17 games under .500.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JULY 12: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves is congratulated by teammates after scoring a run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the ninth inning at Busch Stadium on July 12, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the All-Star Break now here, it was a busy weekend on and off the field for every MLB team. For the Braves, they were able to end the first half of the season on a positive note with a win over the Cardinals. Though they lost the series, the Braves now get a chance to really reset the roster to start the second half of the season strong.
BOSTON, MA - MAY 23: Craig Breslow Chief Baseball Operator of the Boston Red Sox, right, looks on from his box during the game against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park on May 23, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the next few weeks we’ll be doing some theorizing on optimal returns at the trade deadline as the Red Sox look to do another teardown amidst a hopeless season. Except the season might not be hopeless anymore.
The Red Sox swept the Yankees, then dropped two of three at home to the Nationals—nobody is putting that one in the highlight reel—then went right back out and swept the Angels and the White Sox. And now the Mets. Now NINE wins in a row after yesterday afternoon’s victory in Queens, 17-6 in their last 23 games. 14-2 in their last 16. The standings now genuinely astound me; the trajectory of the 2026 Boston Red Sox has changed, and Craig Breslow has a decision in front of him that he probably didn’t think he’d have to make three weeks ago: does he stick to selling, or does he pivot?
Aroldis Chapman was supposed to be the headliner of the sale. Sonny Gray was supposed to be the prize contenders were lining up for. Willson Contreras was in that conversation too if this was going to be a true teardown. If Craig Breslow is pivoting to buyer mode—even lightly—all three of those conversations flip. You don’t trade your best arm, your most consistent arm in the rotation, and your thumping first baseman when you’re going for it. You keep them and find ways to add around them.
So what does Boston need? A middle infielder who can stay healthy first—this roster cannot absorb another injury to a key position. Another arm to soak up innings behind a rotation still missing both Connelly Early and Garrett Crochet, with Patrick Sandoval just making his debut in the series finale in Chicago. And bullpen reinforcement for when games actually matter. None of that is impossible, and all of it has a cost.
Infield
Jeremy Peña, SS—Houston Astros
Matt Chapman, 3B—San Francisco Giants
Matt Shaw, INF—Chicago Cubs
Houston has spent most of this decade being insufferable in the best possible way—winning the division, winning the World Series, winning everything—so it is genuinely satisfying to watch them look confused in 2026. Is this the definition of schadenfreude?
They’ve had three managers since the cheating scandal: AJ Hinch was fired within two months of the scandal breaking, just before the 2020 season got underway; Dusty Baker came in and turned them back into champions before riding off into the sunset after 2023. Now it’s Joe Espada trying to keep the lights on with what’s left. The core of that juggernaut has aged out or moved on—Jose Altuve experimenting with and failing in left field, George Springer landing in Toronto, Alex Bregman becoming a Cub (*grumbles*)—which means July gets interesting for a team with no clear direction. OK, Carlos Correa still has a +121 OPS coming back to Houston from Minnesota, whatever.
Jeremy Peña is the shortstop Jeff Passan links him to Boston in his deadline top 100, though not as a headliner—he appears as a name in the mix, not the centerpiece of a rumor. Worth knowing before you get too excited: Peña has spent real time on the IL each of the last few seasons, hamstrings mostly, a shoulder at various points. He’s the kind of player who doesn’t always make it through a full calendar without something going sideways. On a team that has already been doing lineup math with its middle infield (looking at you Mayer and Story, sorry), adding another guy who can’t stay on the field is the wrong move. The problem is that when he’s on, he’s a contact-hitting, elite base-running machine. His ceiling is high enough that you still make the call, but you go in with your eyes open.
Matt Chapman has emerged as one of the more intriguing position players in deadline chatter this summer—Heyman has him as a name to watch, contract and all. San Francisco is in enough turmoil right now that it’s worth paying attention to. The fit is clean: multiple Gold Gloves, real power (though that may be gone even with his incredible bat speed), proven in big markets. And then there’s the other part of this. The Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the Giants. Buster Posey’s team now has Devers. Boston could go right back to San Francisco and ask for their third baseman in return—which, when you say it out loud, is just kind of funny. We gave them our guy and then asked if we could have their guy. Incredible reversals for each franchise. Do it anyway.
The Sox were linked to both Matt Shaw and Nico Hoerner in the winter, but Hoerner just extended with Chicago—he’s clearly a piece the Cubs are building around. Does that push Shaw further down the depth chart and make him more available? It might, though the Cubs aren’t likely to sell any key pieces as they head to the playoffs.
Starting Pitching
Michael Wacha—Kansas City Royals
Joe Ryan—Minnesota Twins
Jack Flaherty—Detroit Tigers
Brady Singer—Cincinnati Reds
Bringing Michael Wacha back to Boston would be kinda cute. He was a genuine workhorse here, the kind of arm that shows up every fifth day and doesn’t make your life complicated, and he’s been reliable again in Kansas City. A bulk arm who eats five or six innings, keeps you in games, and doesn’t need to be managed like a fragile artifact is exactly what this rotation needs right now, even with Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett holding down the fort. His offspeed changeup is one of the best pitches in baseball, a continued sign that an older starter found a way to stay valuable. The cost is low and the fit is obvious.
Joe Ryan is the more interesting call because there were real rumors last trade deadline that Boston was going after him and it never materialized. Minnesota would want a significant return, and Ryan has had his injury issues, but when he’s right he’s legitimately good. More to the point: Brayan Bello is in AAA. Tanner Houck just started mound work in his return from what has been a lengthy recovery. Kutter Crawford is doing whatever Kutter Crawford is doing in Florida to come back from his myriad maladies (it’s head, shoulders, knees and toes it feels like), and frankly, he’s becoming as much of an enigma as Houck. At some point, Breslow has to decide whether he’s waiting for these guys to come back and bolster depth, or whether he’s ready to win now with what’s in front of him. Ryan is the kind of acquisition that answers that question. He’s still an unquestioningly dominant pitcher, most Savant percentiles in the mid-80s to 90s: aka a lot of red.
Jack Flaherty will get some attention like he always does—his name has come up in every deadline cycle in the last few seasons—and he’s a veteran who knows how to start games and survive lineups. Brady Singer is the question mark, and that’s exactly the point. Andrew Bailey has been known to make champagne happen on a beer budget: find the right guy whose numbers don’t look like much in Cincinnati, put him in a different context, and squeeze what’s actually there. Brady Singer is an innings eater on a team that has no use for him right now. That can be useful for someone else. Though who knows if Singer’s Savant metrics—all pitches under the 7th percentile in value—leave room to squeeze anything out of.
Bullpen
Anthony Bender / Lake Bachar—Miami Marlins
Antonio Senzatela—Colorado Rockies
Kirby Yates—Los Angeles Angels
Miami is a relief pitcher vending machine every July and this year should be no different. Anthony Bender, Lake Bachar, Pete Fairbanks, pick one or pick two—the Marlins will listen because the Marlins always listen. These are legitimate arms who can pitch in high-leverage situations without giving you a heart attack every appearance, and the cost is usually manageable because Miami is looking for depth and upside, not finished pieces. Bachar has an xBA of .198, Bender at .194—that’s legitimately impressive stuff.
Antonio Senzatela from Colorado is the one nobody is writing about (except for Passan in the top 100), which feels appropriate because the Rockies continue to go nowhere: an age-old tradition at this point. Senzatela has been better than his situation suggests. Pitching in Coors Field is hard; get him to Fenway and the numbers could look even better. His Savant still shows a good fastball with 91 run value and 88 velo!
Kirby Yates is the veteran late-inning option. The Brad Ziegler comparison comes up naturally, but it’s worth being specific: Ziegler came in 2016 because Craig Kimbrel was hurt and the back end of the pen needed emergency support. This is a completely different situation. Aroldis Chapman is healthy, is an All-Star again, and is already the anchor of this bullpen. Yates working in tandem with him would be a choice, not a patch job—two legitimate late-inning arms for a team trying to win games that matter. Yates has been effective in Anaheim—a WHIP of 1.00 suggests better stuff than his 3.35 ERA shows-and the Angels will listen. The question is whether Boston wants to pay for that or piece it together from the Marlins’ inventory. Both are defensible.
“Our Additions Are Coming From Within”
Of course, there’s another possibility. After a very mum deadline comes and goes, Breslow walks into his media availability—or joins the Zoom room—and explains that he believes in this group. That the lineup looks different when Roman Anthony gets back. That Crochet is on track. That the best moves Boston can make right now are the ones already happening inside the organization.
Every fanbase in baseball has heard this speech. Front offices give it every year when they’ve decided the asking price is too high, or the window isn’t open enough, or the prospect capital is too valuable to spend. September usually follows with the team finishing nine games out while the GM explains that the young players needed development time. This elicits such an eyeroll from this writer, but honestly, I could so see this happening with an ambivalent attitude towards the market in either direction come Deadline day.
The Red Sox have gone 14-5 in their last nineteen games and swept three consecutive series. The second half could be real. What none of us want is the version of this we’ve seen before—the team that enters the All-Star break with momentum, generates a deadline conversation, then spends August doing what Red Sox teams in recent years have done: fatigue sets in, stupid mistakes pile up, the mentality that carried them through June disappears somewhere around the end of July. Boston has very little time to show us whether this run is what it looks like. The deadline is the first real answer.
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 20th 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 20th in runs scored. They are hitting just .236 as a team, 25th in the majors. Since June 1, however, Detroit leads the major leagues with 63 homers and they’re up to 11th 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.
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.
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.
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).
Jul 12, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Blaze Alexander (23) reacts to getting hit by a pitch during the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
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.
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.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 12: Starting pitcher Gage Wood #14 of the Philadelphia Phillies on the National League Team looks during the first inning during the 2026 MLB Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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.
Jul 9, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Andrew Vaughn (28) celebrates with third baseman Joey Ortiz (3) after the Brewers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
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.
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.
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)
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)
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! 😱
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)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 11: Commissioner of Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred announces Tyler Bell as the tenth overall pick by the Colorado Rockies during the 2026 MLB Draft presented by Nippon Express at Pennsylvania Convention Center on Saturday, July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
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.
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."
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:
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.
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.
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.
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 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:
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 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.
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.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 03: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees celebrates his third inning two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the dugout with his teammates at Yankee Stadium on July 03, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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?
