Kodai Senga has been showing some positives since the Mets moved him into a bullpen role, but the results weren’t there again in his latest appearance Saturday afternoon.
Senga entered in relief of Sean Manaea after the left-hander ran out of steam trying to dance his way out of a two out jam in the bottom of the fifth.
He lost a battle with the first batter he faced, walking him on eight pitches to load the bases, but then settled down and struck out Derek Hill with a forkball to end the threat.
Things didn’t go as well for the righty in the sixth, though.
The Phillies immediately put a man in scoring position with a Bryson Stott triple, then back-to-back walks loaded the bases again before Bryce Harper ripped a two-run single to right.
Senga retired the next three batters to escape without further damage, then he allowed a single leading off the seventh before a rain delay brought his day to an end.
While the velocity was there for him coming on in relief he wasn’t exactly effective, allowing two runs on three hits and as many walks across just 1.2 innings of work.
“His stuff is good, the fastball was up to 99,” interim manager Andy Green said. “But there’s better outcomes needed -- he’s aware of that, he wants that, and we want that for him.”
Senga has allowed multiple runs in all but two of his 12 outings on the season, and his only clean appearance came his last time out against the Red Sox.
His ERA now sits at 8.85 to go along with a 1.84 WHIP.
One has to figure the leash is only getting shorter with Senga’s ineffectiveness now continuing in relief.
The Detroit Tigers clinched their first series win coming out of the All-Star break late Saturday night with a 7-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim. Tarik Skubal tossed a gem and the offense found its groove, powering the team to a shutout victory.
On Sunday, AJ Hinch’s squad goes for the sweep with right-hander Casey Mize on the mound. The 29-year-old had thrown a pair of quality starts before a rough outing in Detroit heading into the Midsummer Classic, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out five Philadelphia Phillies en route to his sixth loss of the season.
When Mize saw the Angels earlier this season, his start was cut short due to right groin tightness after tossing four frames of shutout ball, allowing a pair of hits and a walk while striking out six. The Tigers went on to win that game, 4-0.
Opposite him for Los Angeles is right-hander Ryan Johnson, who has struggled in his second year of major league ball. The 23-year-old’s two games so far in July saw him post a 5.00 ERA and 7.21 FIP, serving up a trio of homers along with four walks and seven strikeouts over nine innings of work; his team lost both outings.
Here is a look at how the two match up on paper for Sunday afternoon’s matinee affair.
Detroit Tigers (46-52) vs. Los Angeles Angels (38-61)
Time (ET): 4:07 p.m. Place: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, California SB Nation Site: N/A Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 99: RHP Casey Mize (4-6, 2.79 ERA) vs. RHP Ryan Johnson (1-4, 6.75 ERA)
Jul 8, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Grant Holmes (66) looks on before pitching against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Holmes (5-4, 3.61 ERA) has had a mixed bag of a season. You never know exactly what you get, and it’s likely he may have already been relegated to the bullpen if Atlanta’s starter options weren’t as limited as they are right now with injuries.
However, the right-hander is coming off one of his better starts of the season, giving up three hits over five shutout innings in a 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 8.
In fact, Holmes’ last four appearances (three starts) have been solid on the whole. He’s allowed two earned runs on 12 hits over 18 2/3 innings, striking out 15 and walking seven.
His one career start against Texas didn’t go particularly well last July in Arlington when he gave up four runs on six hits over four innings of a 6-5 Rangers win.
The good news (in theory) is that he could be in line for some run support with the Braves racking up 21 combined runs in their first two games out of the All-Star break.
The Braves will look to carry over that offensive success against Rangers righty veteran Nathan Eovaldi (9-7, 4.04). Eovaldi has been in decent form of late, albeit a bit more consistent in length and less effective than Holmes. He’s allowed exactly three earned runs in four of his last five starts and enters having won his last four decisions.
His last loss came on June 9 and he’s thrown six-plus innings in 13 of his 18 starts this season, exactly what you would expect from a 15-year veteran.
This will be his 19th career start against the Braves. He has a 4-4 record and 2.86 ERA against Atlanta, with 99 strikeouts and 40 walks in 110 innings.
With the Phillies gaining the game they lost starting the weekend right back and entering Sunday two games back in the division, it would be pretty significant if the Braves can start the second half in the same manner they cruised through the first two months of the season, with a series win.
(Original Caption) Yankees vs. St. Louis at the Polo Grounds. Bob Meusal's first time at the bat this season.
You can definitely say that Bob Meusel made his MLB debut at the perfect time: in 1920, with the birth of the so-called live ball era. From that year until 1929, the hard-hitting outfielder was a key cog of the Yankees’ lineup in a key decade in franchise history, the days of the “Murderers’ Row.”
Robert William ‘Bob’ Meusel Born: July 19, 1896 (San Jose, CA) Died: November 28, 1977 (Downey, CA) Yankees Tenure: 1920-1929
Meusel was born on this day 130 years ago in San Jose, California, to Charles and Mary Meusel. Robert William was his name, and he was the youngest of six children. One of his brothers was Emil “Irish” Meusel, who was a New York Giants star in the early 1920s.
The family relocated to Los Angeles when Bob was growing up. There, he went to the Los Angeles High School, played ball for Spokane in the Northwestern League in 1917, and then for the Vernon Tigers of the Pacific Coast League in 1917 and 1919. In the middle, in 1918, he served in the U.S. Navy, where he played baseball, too.
Meusel made his MLB debut for the Yankees in 1920, the same year in which Babe Ruth, who would be a close friend of his, was sold to the team. As a rookie, he tied for ninth with 11 home runs and finished fifth with 40 doubles. The power, as you can see, was always there, but one of his most underrated tools was an amazing throwing arm that has been described by some as being in a similar tier to Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, and Ichiro Suzuki, as the Society of American Baseball Research, or SABR, illustrates.
In 1921, Meusel led the league with 88 strikeouts, but posted a career-high .915 OPS that illustrates just how talented he was and how underrated he was in those Yankees of the 1920s. He increased his home run output to 24, drove in a whopping 138 runs, and helped take the Bombers to the World Series for the first time in franchise history. There, they lost to the Giants with his brother Irish shining.
Meusel wasn’t great in World Series play as a Yankee, accumulating a .225 batting average and a .632 OPS. Still, it doesn’t erase the contributions he made to the franchise and the fact that he helped take them to six Fall Classics, winning three.
It’s important to point out that Meusel got married that year, in 1921, on December 14th. He decided to make things formal with Edith Cowan. The couple had two children. Another anecdote of that eventful 1921 involving Meusel was that he, alongside Ruth and pitcher Bill Piercy, was suspended for going on a barnstorming tour after the Fall Classic.
The 1922 campaign was more of the same: steady production from Meusel (.898 OPS and 16 home runs) and another World Series loss to the Giants. The Yankees and ‘Long Bob’ would finally enjoy sweet revenge in 1923 after beating the Giants 4-2 in the Fall Classic, with the younger Meusel putting up a .731 OPS with a double, two triples, and eight RBI.
Meusel had a nice 1924 campaign, hitting .325/.365/.494 with 40 doubles, 11 triples, 12 home runs, 124 RBI, a .859 OPS, and a career-high 26 stolen bases. Meusel could do it all, including field, and had that elegance that some people mistook for laziness. The Yankees finished second in the junior circuit and didn’t make it to the World Series.
In 1925, despite the Yankees again failing to make it to the last series of the season, Meusel had arguably his finest campaign in pinstripes. He slashed .290/.348/.542 with an .889 OPS and led the American League in both home runs, with 33, and RBI, with 134. It was a down year for Ruth, as physical issues and other problems limited him to 98 games.
The Yankees would return to the Fall Classic in 1926, aided by Meusel’s 12 homers and .842 regular-season OPS. His 1926 World Series was a forgettable one, though. He was fine from a stats standpoint, finishing with a .788 OPS, but he made a key fielding error with the bases loaded in the fourth inning of Game 7 that led to the tying run and then missed several chances with runners on base at the plate to seal the Yankees’ fate that year.
The Murderers’ Row, as a term, can be used to refer to the 1920s Yankees in general, but it mostly refers to the 1927 lineup that won 110 of 155 regular-season games and then took the Fall Classic. The first six hitters, Earle Combs, Mark Koenig, Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Meusel, and Tony Lazzeri, were a handful for opposing pitchers.
Meusel hit .337/.393/.510 with eight round-trippers and a .902 OPS that year. He doubled 47 times, though, and also contributed nine triples. It was the first of two consecutive World Series sweeps by the Yankees, as they easily handled the Pittsburgh Pirates first, and the St. Louis Cardinals next in 1928.
In that 1928 campaign, Meusel started to decline. Yes, he drove in 113 runs, but his .816 OPS marked the start of a downward trend until he retired in 1930. That 1928 World Series would be his last, and it ended in his third ring.
He played exactly 100 games for the 1929 Yankees, but it was clear that he wasn’t the same. He finished with a .683 OPS, and was sold to the Cincinnati Reds, where he wrapped up a brilliant career in 1930.
Even though Meusel fell short of Hall of Fame status, he had a fantastic career that every young player would want. He retired with a .309/.356/.497 slash line, 156 home runs, 1,068 RBI, 142 stolen bases, and an .852 OPS. He racked up 28.7 Wins Above Replacement, per FanGraphs (fWAR). Combs, Meusel and Ruth formed one of history’s most feared outfields from 1924-29. The 1920s decade was when it all started for the Yankees, and Meusel was a huge part of it all. He ranked 50th in our list of the top 100 Yankees a few years ago, and it’s easy to see why.
Upon retiring, Meusel returned to the Navy, working as a security guard at one of its bases for 15 years. He was among those present at the famous Gehrig speech of July 4, 1939. Additionally, and according to SABR, he went on to appear in several movies (generally as himself) such as Slide, Kelly, Slide (1927), Alibi Ike (1935), Pride of the Yankees (1942), and The Babe Ruth Story (1948).
After baseball, Meusel lived a quiet life in California. He passed in 1977, a few days after the Yankees sealed their first World Series win in 15 years.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
KANSAS CITY, MO - JULY 18: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the San Diego Padres slides as Michael Massey #19 of the Kansas City Royals turns a double plate in the fifth inning of an MLB game between the San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals on July 18, 2026 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The season hangs in the balance for the San Diego Padres. With general manager and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller saying publicly, he wanted to wait to see how the team performed after the All-Star break before making a decision on how they would proceed at the trade deadline the Padres have started the second half with back-to-back losses to the Kansas City Royals. San Diego showed fight and intensity in their 7-6 10-inning loss on Friday night and the argument could be made that loss falls more on the shoulders of rookie manager Craig Stammen than the players, but that was not the case on Saturday.
The Padres faced off against a bulk innings reliever for the Royals in Randy Dobnak, but he looked like a dominant starter against the San Diego lineup. The lone run allowed by Dobnak, and the only run of the game for the Padres, came when Fernando Tatis Jr. connected on a solo home run in the top of the third inning which cut the Kansas City lead to 2-1.
San Diego was held in check throughout the remainder of the game, but there were opportunities. The Padres went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, but even the one hit did not produce a run. Jake Cronenworth, Ty France and Freddy Fermin all had doubles in the game, but the top of the lineup failed to bring them in. Tatis finished 1-for-2 with a home run, a run scored and an RBI with two walks. The next four hitters in the San Diego lineup combined to go 0-for-14 with two walks and five strikeouts. France and Cronenworth were the only Padres players with multiple hits in the game.
Griffin Canning started the game for San Diego and lasted just 3.2 innings. He allowed four runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Matt Waldron followed with 2.1 innings pitched with two runs allowed on two hits. Both runs scored on a home run to center field by Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez.
The Padres have opened the second half with a losing series, but they could salvage a win today, but they will need a better start from German Marquez than what they got from Canning and they will need their offense to perform in a manner that reflects their payroll.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MAY 3: Clay Holmes #35 of the New York Mets walks to the dugout prior to a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 3, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets lost to the Phillies 6-1 in a game that featured a moved up start time and a rain delay despite these precautionary measures. Kyle Schwarber’s two run homer off Sean Manaea in the first inning ended up being the decisive blow, as Manaea took the loss, but Kodai Senga allowed some insurance runs to put this one out of reach. A solo homer by Tyrone Taylor represented the Mets’ only run.
“All of them are going to play. That’s right for us from a matchup perspective, that’s right from a talent level perspective,” Andy Green said regarding the Mets’ outfield situation once Luis Robert Jr. returns from the injured list.
As Holmes ramps up his rehab, trade rumors surrounding him continue to swirl as his interesting market develops.
Greg Prince of Faith and Fear in Flushing wrote a moving tribute to Ron Hunt, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 85.
Alex Rodriguez was seen at Fanatics Fest on Friday wearing an ’80s-era Keith Hernandez Mets jersey, imitating Keith’s batting stance and discussing his childhood Mets fandom.
Luis García Jr., who is having a breakout season with the Nationals as part of their normally potent lineup, is receiving interest in trade talks.
The Braves lost a close one to the Rangers 7-6, as former Met Brandon Nimmo gave a standout performance for the Texas.
AJ Smith-Shawver looked sharp in his latest rehab outing and is getting closer to a return. Ronald Acuña Jr. could return for the Braves before their current homestand ends on Thursday. But the timeline for Spencer Schwellenbach and Spencer Strider is not nearly as clear.
The Marlins used the All-Star break to give their All-Star Max Meyer extra rest and it backfired in an 8-6 loss to the Brewers.
Longtime Brewers hurler Brandon Woodruff announced that he would undergo a second shoulder capsule surgery, which will end his season. Woodruff is a free agent at the end of the season and the last time he underwent this repair in 2023, it took him 20 months to return to the mound. “I’m not happy about [needing surgery], but you know, it’s a beautiful thing where this all came at a time for me when my third child just came,” said Woodruff, whose wife, Jonie, gave birth to a son this week. “We had an All-Star break and had time to really sit down and think about this. But yeah, I’m not having a funeral or anything.”
The Cubs acquired right-hander Aaron Civale from the A’s in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect Aiden Moffett.
Speaking of the Cubs, Anthony Rizzo was on hand at Wrigley Field on Saturday when a home run ball happened to come his way. And it’s not the first time that’s happened to Rizzo either!
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 25: Mj Melendez #1 of the New York Mets at bat during the fourth inning at Citi Field on June 25, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Luis Robert looks ready, both to return to the Mets and to hit the trade market. MJ Melendez continues to demolish Triple-A. And Nick Morabito looks like someone who should be playing over Tyrone Taylor for a team looking to the future. Note we didn’t say anything about Jonah Tong.
REHAB ALERT: CF Luis Robert Jr.: 2-5, 2 R, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 K
Rumors of the demise of Antonio Jimenez’s surge were greatly exaggerated – he homered for the sixth time this season. He’s still not been good enough to get the majority of his prospect stock back, but hey do this for another month or two and we can talk. Trey Snyder also doubled twice in the loss.
Jul 7, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Hunter Dobbins (40) pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers during the second inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
The St. Louis Cardinals had plenty of positive vibes around the team coming out of the All-Star break and those good feelings continued into game one of the series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Michael McGreevy, advanced metrics be darned, did what he does to notch a quality start in a gritty win. In game two, Dustin May got the ball to prove to the Cardinals (and trade suitors) that he can remain healthy and effective into the second half of a season.
Unfortunately, that audition did not go great for anyone involved as May walked four and gave up five runs on eight hits in a 5-3 loss on Saturday. The bullpen allowed just one baserunner the rest of the way but the damage was done. To what extent that damage did to May’s trade value is unknown and there still seems to be a split crowd for what his future should be with the organization. He was signed on a one-year deal with the idea of a deal at the deadline, but he may have sunk his prospect value enough to argue he could be worth holding onto in this improbable playoff contention season.
Regardless of the outcome surrounding May, there are going to be innings to be had in the rotation, be it from poor performance, innings limits, or injury. In a wild universe that is hopefully not this one, the Cardinals could be looking to replace 4/5 of their rotation not soon after August 3. My only lock for the 2027 rotation is McGreevy.
The Cardinals entire pitching staff could look different after the trade deadline
In my first buy or sell conversation of the year, most of the chatter centered around the pitching staff and what to do with May. A slight majority of fans seem to be leaning towards dealing May, but then beg the question why stop there? Andre Pallante has pitched his way into a solid value, but he could be overpaid soon through he arbitration process and may not be an arm the Cardinals are desperate to build around this offseason. He is less likely to be pitching elsewhere in August, but you have to think Bloom is answering all calls about any of his major league arms.
Behind Pallante and May sits Kyle Leahy, who has found his footing as a starter after a tough first stretch. The 29-year-old sits 7-4 with a 3.73 ERA and even though the advanced stats are less bullish on his work, he has become a reliable arm but another one who may have more future value elsewhere. And then there is Matthew Liberatore. I figure he is going to be trotted out every fifth day or so for the entire season before any long-term decisions are made, but a move to the bullpen at the latter stages of the season may not be out of the question.
Reliever JoJo Romero hit the injured list with appendicitis late in the week and, less importantly than his health, now has plenty of questions about his own trade prospects. He was a likely trade candidate last year, but Chaim Bloom opted to maximize his value this year and seemed a near sure thing to be dealt this year. With no firm timetable to return, the Cardinals will now have a decision on whether to deal the lefty while injured, or hope he can regain his form and shore up a bullpen in a playoff race.
Elsewhere in the ‘pen, Riley O’Brien has shown his flaws as a closer and will not net the prospect capital some fans thought after his hot start. His remaining team control could mean Bloom will be more picky during this season and be more aggressive shopping the closer in the offseason. This could backfire and turn into another Romero situation, although O’Brien is nearly two years older with a spotty injury history, so there may be more reason to trade him now. Ryne Stanek may net something in return on the trade market, but expecting Bloom to find yet another low prospect diamond in the rough for an inconsistent and aging reliever is a tough ask.
If you’re still with me, that’s a lot of ifs/ands/buts within the 13-man pitching staff. While all seven of the above arms will probably not be in a new place in a couple weeks, there is still going to be some change in the pitching setup. For this practice, I am going to assume there are 2.5 rotation spots open and at least two meaningful bullpen roles up for grabs from August through the end of the season.
Lefty Quinn Mathews has found his 2024 self, pitching to a 2.01 ERA over his last four outings while striking out more than a batter an inning. He has grabbed the recent headlines, but the first option for one of the first open spots is probably still Hunter Dobbins. The righty has a couple MLB outings so far this year but has really hit a wall in Memphis over his last three outings. If both of these players keep going in their current directions, Mathews could leapfrog Dobbins into an extended audition. A trade would need to happen for this as Mathews needs to be added to the 40-man roster.
The other Memphis starter to debut in St. Louis this year is another lefty in Brycen Mautz. He has become a kind of forgotten man after his hot start and has 16 walks over his last 16 innings in Triple-A. Mautz is of course on the 40-man so a promotion for him would be clean and easy, but has back to back short starts and could be ticketed for a bullpen role or that .5 rotation spot needed for extra rest. A post-deadline rotation that includes Dobbins and Mathews could be seen as a net positive regardless of the outcome because there should be enough starting opportunities to begin a proper evaluation period on their future potential.
Bullpen turnover is going to continue regardless of the trade deadline, but we could end up seeing Matt Svanson and Luis Gastelum become more important later in games if there is a deal or two. That leaves the middle innings of blowouts (always in the Cardinals’ favor) available for guys to get their feet wet in the majors and provide valuable support in the dog days of summer. That means we are almost guaranteed to see Ryan Fernandez again at some point, but we could also get a glimpse of Cade Winquest, Hancel Rincon, and Victor Santos. And just because I need to when there’s a chance, if Tink Hence looks even close to 100% healthy ever again, call him up and get at least one major league appearance out of him.
If the Cardinals need a little more length, they could go with Pete Hansen or Austin Love, but I would not mind seeing what the team has in Cooper Hjerpe. the lefty has looked good in his rehab from surgery and rather than push his innings up too much, a tapered down August in a reliever role could be really fun in St. Louis.
Of course, there is a chance the Cardinals get major league ready arm talent in return at the trade deadline, but the current crop of trade candidates may just get younger, developmental arms in return. In a season where the goal was to figure out what the organization has, this trade deadline should provide ample opportunity for Chaim Bloom and his staff to start diving into what is already here before making a new checklist this offseason.
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 28: Houston Astros manager Joe Espada (19) takes the ball from Houston Astros relief pitcher Bryan Abreu (52) during a pitching change during a regular season Major League Baseball game between the Houston Astros and the Detroit Tigers on June 28, 2026 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
As the trade deadline draws closer, the conversation surrounding the Houston Astros has remained fairly consistent.
The assumption is that Dana Brown will be looking for two things: a left-handed bat, preferably a corner outfielder, and possibly a starting pitcher.
Both make perfect sense.
But what if we’re all overlooking the area that has quietly become Houston’s biggest concern?
The bullpen.
For most of the season, the Astros’ relief corps has been one of the strengths of the club. Even while the rotation battled injuries and the lineup struggled to find consistency, the bullpen repeatedly kept Houston in games.
Lately, however, cracks have begun to appear.
Bryan King has been one of the Astros’ most reliable relievers for the majority of the season, but his recent performances have raised legitimate concerns. Over his last few outings, he’s struggled to execute in key situations, and those appearances have done little to inspire confidence, not only within the fan base but likely inside the clubhouse as well.
Every reliever goes through rough patches.
The question is whether this is simply a temporary slump or the beginning of something more concerning as the season enters its most important stretch.
Then there’s Bryan Abreu.
For the better part of the last several years, Abreu has been one of baseball’s premier setup men. He thrived in high-leverage situations and was arguably as important to Houston’s bullpen success as anyone not named Josh Hader.
This season has been a completely different story.
The command hasn’t been as sharp. The consistency has disappeared. Perhaps most concerning, the trust that once existed every time Abreu entered a close game simply isn’t there at the moment.
That’s a significant problem for a team with championship aspirations.
The return of Bennett Sousa should provide an immediate boost, particularly for a bullpen that has leaned heavily on left-handed options throughout the season. But expecting one reliever to solve every late-inning issue isn’t realistic.
Depth matters.
Especially in October.
The Astros know better than anyone that playoff baseball is often decided by which bullpen can consistently record the final nine outs. One injury, one extended slump, or one overworked reliever can completely alter a postseason series.
That’s why adding another reliable bullpen arm—or even two—should be higher on Houston’s priority list than many people realize.
Of course, Dana Brown’s job won’t be easy.
The expanded playoff format has created a league where very few teams are willing to wave the white flag before the deadline. With so many clubs still believing they’re in the Wild Card race, the number of true sellers continues to shrink.
That means quality relief pitching will likely be in high demand, making it both expensive and difficult to acquire.
The Astros still need another bat. They could certainly use additional starting pitching depth as well.
But as the calendar moves closer to the deadline, don’t be surprised if the bullpen quietly climbs to the top of Dana Brown’s shopping list.
Sometimes the biggest need isn’t the one everyone is talking about.
It might just be the one that’s slowly revealing itself with every late inning.
As the trade deadline approaches, Astros fans should keep one more question in mind.
Are the Astros really just one bat or one starting pitcher away?
Or has the bullpen suddenly become the area that could determine whether this team makes another deep postseason run?
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - CIRCA 1989: Von Hayes #9 of the Philadelphia Phillies gets back to first base safe as Will Clark #22 of the San Francisco Giants looks on during an Major League Baseball game circa 1989 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. Hayes played for the Phillies from 1983-91. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today’s question of the day is a trip down memory lane.
The Phillies weren’t very good after the 1983 World Series. They lost that Series to the Orioles, seeing their “Wheeze Kids” roster come up short and their roster then starting change over. After that magical run, there wasn’t much to speak about with the team until 1993. Even then, it was a fun filled season that didn’t really feel like it would be lasting very long. The team continued to fall on hard times until they moved into Citizens Bank Park, when the added money to the coffers allowed them to build a winner in 2008 before tearing it all down in 2013 and building back up again.
The question I have today focuses on that time between 1983 and 2004, when they started to get more consistent good(ish) baseball. What is your favorite memory of that time that doesn’t have anything to do with 1993? That’s the easy answer since it involved another World Series appearance, but these were some formative years for baseball fans around here, yours truly included. For me, it was getting to follow Von Hayes. That was my favorite player for some reason, the one I would emulate in the backyard. Don’t ask me why he was my favorite, but that was who I watched all the time.
The Chicago Cubs are sizable -160 favorites to win the rubber match this afternoon against the Minnesota Twins.
With an enticing matchup against the homer-prone Zebby Matthews, my Twins vs. Cubs predictions and MLB picks are backing the home team to get it done.
Who will win Twins vs Cubs today: Cubs (-160)
Zebby Matthews posted a sub-3.40 xERA over his first three starts, allowing five runs in total.
His numbers have since taken a turn for the worse. He conceded 29 runs spanning his past eight starts and recorded a 4.70 xERA or higher in seven of them — including four straight above 5.5.
The Chicago Cubs rank eighth in wOBA and OPS facing righties the past month. They’re plenty capable of capitalizing on this matchup.
Homers are the best way for offenses to score runs in bulk, and we could see plenty today.
Matthews ranks in the fifth percentile in barrel rate, which has made it difficult to keep the ball in the park. He has allowed homers at the second-highest clip (2.28 HR/9) among all of today’s starters over the past 30 days.
Imanaga has an easier matchup and has done a better job of limiting runs as a whole, but he’s not far behind at 2.11 HR/9 the last month.
This total is too low. Play to -125.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 59-48, +0.60 units
Over/Under bets: 58-44-5, +6.49 units
Twins vs Cubs weather
Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-70s, with 8 mph winds blowing in. Small boost to the pitchers.
Twins vs Cubs odds
Moneyline: Twins +140 | Cubs -160
Run line: Twins +1.5 (-145) | Cubs -1.5 (+125)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-110) | Under 7.5 (-110)
Twins vs Cubs trend
Minnesota has hit the game total Over in 22 of the last 35 games. Find more MLB betting trends for Twins vs. Cubs.
How to watch Twins vs Cubs and game info
Location
Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Sunday, July 19, 2026
First pitch
2:20 p.m. ET
TV
Twins.TV, MARQ
Twins starting pitcher
Zebby Matthews (4-6, 4.57 ERA)
Cubs starting pitcher
Shota Imanaga (5-8, 4.17 ERA)
Twins vs Cubs latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 18: Evan Carter #32 of the Texas Rangers (right) celebrates with Ezequiel Duran #20 after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on July 18, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rangers 7, Braves 6
That’s another one run win for the Rangers.
Texas is now 18-10 in one run games this season, and have won their last 11 one run games in a row.
Winning all 11 of their last one run games…that seems like a lot.
The last one run game the Rangers lost was on May 27, against the Astros.
MacKenzie Gore pitched really well, except for one inning.
That one inning made it an overall bad outing for Gore, I’m afraid.
Gore allowed six hits and walked a batter in his 5.2 innings pitched. The walk, and four of the hits, all came in the second inning, when the Braves scored four runs.
One of the hits was an Eli White home run. The Braves purchased White from the Rangers in the 2022-23 offseason, during a period of time when it seemed like every Ranger who was dropped from the 40 man roster ended up being claimed or purchased or traded for by Atlanta.
Gore allowed five runs in all, the fifth of which came on a Michael Harris II leadoff homer in the third, after the Rangers had rallied to make it a one run game.
Gore also hit three batters in the game. He had only hit two batters all season prior to this game.
I was curious, and went and look…Gore is the tenth pitcher to hit three batters in a game this year. He’s the first Ranger to do so since Kyle Cody back in 2021.
Despite giving up four runs in the second and not executing a shutdown inning in the third, Gore ended up getting credit for the win, as the Rangers rallied to come back and take the lead before Gore was pulled.
Gore’s final two batters before being pulled were first pitch HBPs with two out in the sixth, resulting in Skip Schumaker pulling Gore for Robby Ahlstrom.
If you were worried about Ahlstrom entering the game with the go-ahead run at the plate, you aren’t alone. Happily, Ahlstrom retired Drake Baldwin to end the inning, and was replaced by Tyler Alexander for the seventh inning.
The return of Jakob Junis from the injured list made the late game reliever deployment a little less stressful, though Alexander allowed a run in the seventh to make it a one run game, and Jacob Latz was asked to get a four out save after Junis allowed a two out single in the eighth.
The one batter Ahlstrom faced, and the batter Junis was pulled so that Latz could face, is Drake Baldwin. Baldwin is a lefthanded hitter, but his split are almost non-existent — he has an 800 OPS against righthanders this year, compared to an 810 OPS against lefties, and put up an 818 OPS against lefties last year against an 808 OPS against righthanders. He doesn’t seem like the guy you’re going to go through machinations with to make sure he faces a lefty.
Joc Pederson started the game with a leadoff home run, and went 2 for 4 with before lifted for pinch hitter Justin Foscue with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh with an opportunity to blow the game open.
Sadly, Foscue hit into a double play. More happily, the Rangers still won.
Evan Carter homered as well, in the sixth inning when the Rangers re-took the lead for good. He had a two run shot that tied the game, part of a 2 for 4 game which also saw him draw a walk.
Wyatt Langford, Josh Jung and Brandon Nimmo also had two hit games.
We like when Rangers hitters have two hit games.
Houston lost, so the Astros are now four back of Texas. The Mariners won, so they are still a game and a half back.
MacKenzie Gore topped out at 96.2 mph with his sinker and 96.1 mph with his fastball, avering 95.3 mph and 94.8 mph with those pitches, respectively. Robby Ahlstrom threw one pitch, a 93.9 mph sinker. Tyler Alexander touched 92.5 mph with his sinker. Jakob Junis’s fastball reached 93.8 mph. Jacob Latz maxed out at 97.3 mph with his fastball.
Brandon Nimmo had a 109.4 mph single and a 100.8 mph single. Joc Pederson had a 104.3 mph home run and a 102.4 mph single. Jake Burger had a 103.9 mph fly out and a 102.4 mph single. Evan Carter’s homer was 101.1 mph. Ezequiel Duran had a 100.2 mph fly out.
The Rangers won’t be swept in Atlanta. Let’s see if they can win the series.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 18: Wilyer Abreu #52 and Ceddanne Rafaela #3 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate after taking the lead against the Tampa Bay Rays in the bottom of the seventh inning at Fenway Park on July 18, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees were rained out on Saturday, meaning they face a pivotal day-night doubleheader on Sunday against the Dodgers with a chance to win the series in one go. Severe storms in the eastern half of the country have led to a handful of rainouts and doubleheaders to open the second half, all of which had implications on divisional races around the AL. The Red Sox swept their two games against the Rays on Friday while the Pirates had an opportunity to do the same to the Guardians on Saturday to ratchet up the drama in the East and Central.
Boston Red Sox (49-48) 7, Tampa Bay Rays (56-41) 6
The Red Sox rode a seventh-inning comeback to take the first three games of this four game set from the first-place Rays, giving Boston a 12-game winning streak. Neither of the starting pitchers pulled their weight, Ian Seymour lasting just three innings for Tampa after allowing three runs on two hits and two walks while Patrick Sandoval allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits and a walk in five innings.
The Rays opened the scoring in the second as Ryan Vilade led off with a double and scored on a Chandler Simpson single, the speedy left fielder then advancing to second on a throwing error and scoring on a Nick Fortes RBI single. Boston responded with a pair in the bottom-half, Andruw Monasterio drawing an ABS-assisted walk and scoring on a two-run homer from Jahmai Jones. They grabbed a lead the following inning on a solo shot from Wilyer Abreu, but Tampa answered with three in the fourth on a Simpson leadoff double, a Victor Mesa Jr. two-run blast, Richie Palacios double, and Yandy Díaz RBI single, though Díaz would be thrown out at the plate to end the inning on an ensuing double by Jonny DeLuca.
That out at home would prove the difference, as despite Tampa adding an insurance run on a solo shot from DeLuca in the seventh, Boston roared back with four runs in the bottom of that frame to grab the decisive lead. Monasterio led off with a double and advanced to third as Jarren Duran reached on a throwing error by Vilade to put runners on the corners with no outs. Masataka Yoshida brought Monasterio home with an RBI groundout and Ceddanne Rafaela plated Duran with an RBI double to draw within one. This brought Abreu to the plate to demolish his second home run of the game, this one a two-run shot to complete the comeback.
With the win, the Red Sox move above .500 for the first time since Opening Day. In the span of two weeks, they have gone from 15.5 games back in last place to third place and only seven games back of first.
The rainout on Friday set up a Saturday day-night doubleheader between these two Rust Belt rivals. Jared Jones pitched six perfect innings last time out against the Braves and he followed that up with another dominant display in the first game of the doubleheader, tossing five innings of one-run ball on three hits and a walk against nine strikeouts. His offense did their scoring in bunches, plating two in the second on a two-run bomb by Jacob Gonzalez, three in the sixth on a two-run tank from Esmerlyn Valdez and a solo shot by Nick Gonzales, and two in the eighth on a wild pitch and a Ryan O’Hearn sac fly.
Guardians rookie Travis Bazzana had himself quite the day. After tripling in his team’s only run in the early game, Bazzana won the nightcap with his first career walk-off home run. Pittsburgh scored the first three runs of the contest, one in each of the second, third, and fourth on a Brandon Lowe sac fly, Esmerlyn Valdez RBI double, and Jake Mangum RBI single. That lead held until the eighth when the Pirates bullpen imploded. Cleveland scored three in the eighth on singles by Steven Kwan, Brayan Rocchio, Chase DeLauter, and Kahlil Watson, aided by a pair of wild pitches. That set up the defining moment for Bazzana in the ninth. Patrick Bailey led off with a single but was thrown out at home on a Kwan double. However, Bazzana picked up his teammate with a two-run walk-off home run to draw the Guardians level with the White Sox atop the AL Central, Chicago remaining nominally ahead on winning percentage.
Toronto Blue Jays (46-52) 1, Chicago White Sox (51-46) 0
The Blue Jays suddenly find themselves in last place, so perhaps it is fitting that Shane Bieber pitched his best start of the year — six shutout innings allowing three hits and two walks against six strikeouts — just in time to be shopped at the Trade Deadline. The three relievers that followed kept the shutout intact, allowing just a hit and a walk in the final three frames. The lone run of the contest came in the fourth, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reaching on a one-out double and scoring on a George Springer RBI single.
The Rangers became the first team in the AL West to reach 50 wins with a nail-biter against the Braves. After Joc Pederson led off the game with a homer Atlanta jumped out to an early 4-1 lead, Eli White hitting a two-run homer, Drake Baldwin an RBI single, and Ozzie Albies a sac fly in the second. Texas cut that deficit to one courtesy of RBI singles by Wyatt Langford and Brandon Nimmo in the third, but a Michael Harris II leadoff homer in the bottom of the frame restored Atlanta’s two-run cushion. In the sixth, it was the Rangers’ turn to score four runs, the first pair on an Evan Carter two-run blast to tie the game, 5-5, and the second pair on a two-run single from Nimmo with the bases loaded. Mauricio Dubón cut the deficit to one with an RBI double seventh, but Texas would hold on from there for the 7-6 win.
Seattle Mariners (49-50) 4, San Francisco Giants (42-56) 3
The Guardians weren’t the only team to win it with the last swing of the game, the Mariners avenging last night’s shutout loss with an extra-innings walk-off win over the Giants. In a battle of staff aces having relatively down years neither pitcher came out on top, Logan Webb allowing three runs on two hits and a walk in 6.2 innings while Bryan Woo allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks in six innings. San Francisco scored the first three runs of the game, rookie Bryce Eldridge lining an RBI single in the third and Rafael Devers and Willy Adames crushing a pair of solo home runs in the sixth. Cole Young responded with a three-run homer in the seventh to send the game to extras. In the bottom of the tenth, a Colt Emerson sac bunt advanced the automatic runner to third, and after a J.P. Crawford walk, Julio Rodríguez hit a ball just deep enough to left to bring Victor Robles home as the game-winning run.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 03: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts at the end of the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on July 03, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the first time since the “hurriquake” of August 2023, the Dodgers will play a doubleheader on Sunday after their game against the Yankees on Saturday was postponed due to heavy rain.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start the first game of the doubleheader, while the Dodgers have yet to announce their starter for the latter game. The Dodgers have made it clear that Shohei Ohtani will not be pitching in the Bronx, as his next scheduled start lines up on Wednesday when the team is in Philadelphia, per Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times. Whether he will resume his two-way duties on Wednesday is still up in the air.
Ohtani was expected to be in the lineup for all three games against the Yankees. He planned to play catch and throw off the mound in the coming days, and the team would monitor his response before finalizing pitching plans.
Taking the mound Wednesday would give Ohtani more recovery time heading into the team’s day off. When asked if Ohtani would shoulder two-way duties Wednesday, Roberts said, “We’ll see when we get there.”
Ohtani has not pitched since July 3 against the San Diego Padres, and he enters the second half of the season with a record of 8-2 and a 1.79 ERA across 14 starts.
Kiké Hernández has appeared in just two games this season and has been out since May 27 after suffering an oblique strain. Hernández is currently undergoing a rehab assignment and could rejoin the team during their next homestand, reports Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
The fan-favorite utility player began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday night, beginning with a weekend series in Tacoma, Wash. Hernández is unlikely to return during the Dodgers’ three-city road trip visiting the Yankees, Phillies and Mets, but he could be activated from the 10-day injured list during L.A.’s next homestand beginning on July 28.
The Yankees aren’t a ballclub that has expectations of losing in the World Series. It’s apparent with their 27 championships.
“The disappointment of getting to the end and playing for it all and coming up short, that’s one of those things that leaves a scar,” manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees’ game against the Dodgers on Saturday was rained out and will be made up on Sunday as a split doubleheader. “You want to be in a position to be in a World Series and play for it all. We had that opportunity and came up short. So there’s pain and disappointment that comes with that, and it’s part of our baseball journey.”
FREDERICK, MARYLAND - APRIL19, 2026: Ike Irish #11 of the Frederick Keys bats during a South Atlantic League game against the Hudson Valley Renegades at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Frederick, Maryland. The Renegades beat the Keys, 7-6. (Photo by Rodger Wood/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Nestor German started for the Tides and pitched six strong innings. His only run allowed came on a solo home run in the second inning, and he in fact allowed just two hits and one walk. He struck out four. German is on a nice stretch and has now allowed just one run in July. That’s three starts and 18 innings.
The Tides hitters had two four-run innings. Enrique Bradfield, Jr., who has been pretty cold of late, contributed two singles from the top of the lineup. Heston Kjerstad had an RBI single in five ABs. It was a big night for outfielder Michael Siani, who singled and doubled. He picked up three RBI. And Jud Fabian had a nice night as well. He knocked in two with a single and a sac fly, and also took a walk.
Down 3-1 going into the bottom of the eighth inning, the Baysox stormed back with three runs to take the lead and get the win.
Joseph Dzierwa started for the Baysox and allowed just one baserunner through the first three innings on a walk. In the fourth, he gave up back-to-back singles to start the inning but worked out of the jam. The last out of that inning came when the Yard Goats runner attempted to steal home and was thrown out by Dzierwa. In the fifth inning, he issued a walk and then allowed a home run to put the Yard Goats up 2-0. That was his last batter. Final line: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K.
Sebastian Gongora pitched the final four innings and allowed just one run on two hits. He struck out six and was awarded the win.
On offense, the Baysox were hitless until the sixth inning. Through five, they had just two baserunners. One reached via HBP, the other by walk. Brandon Butterworth, who took the walk, was picked off. With runners on first and third and no outs in the seventh, Aron Estrada hit into a double play. The run came in, but the rally was squashed. Estrada and Butterworth both did better in the eighth inning, with RBI singles. Anderson De Los Santos knocked in the third run with a bases-loaded walk.
High-A: Frederick Keys 12, Greenville Drive (BOS) 2
The Keys’ offense was pumping last night as they scored 12 runs on 20 hits on the road in Greenville. They were leading 4-2 after six when they put up back-to-back four-run innings up in the seventh and eighth. Number nine hitter Edwin Amparo and leadoff hitter Ike Irish each had three-hit games, with Amparo on base ahead of Irish twice to get knocked in.
Wehiwa Aloy, batting after Irish, reached base four times with two singles and two walks. He scored a run on an error after a walk, and knocked in another un on a sac fly. Braylin Tavera capped off the scoring with a three-run home run in the eighth inning. It was a four RBI night for Tavera. Leandro Arias and Yasmil Bucce also had three hits. Every player in the Keys lineup had at least one.
Patrick Reilly continued his rehab with two runs in four innings. He allowed four hits, struck out four, and walked one. In his fifth game back, four innings is his longest stint so far.
Low-A: Salem RidgeYaks (BOS) 10, Delmarva Shorebirds 5
Starting pitcher Christian Rodriguez allowed one run in two innings pitched. He worked around a single in the first but wasn’t as lucky in the second, when a double and single resulted in a run. No word I could find on why Rodriguez exited after two innings. He had thrown just 34 pitches. Hopefully it’s not due to injury.
The pitchers who followed let the game get out of hand immediately. Jason Shockley, Teddy Sharkey, and Andrew Herbert allowed three runs apiece out of the bullpen.
The Shorebirds got off to an early lead with a three-run second inning. Two runs scored on a single by Jose Perez and a third scored on a throwing error by Salem’s shortstop. They added two more in the eighth. Stiven Martinez walked and scored on a Miguel Rodríguez double. Rodríguez then scored on a single from Adriander Mejía.
It was a three-hit day for Perez and a two-hit day for Mejía. Jaiden Lo Re was 1-for-5 as the leadoff batter.
COVERS INTEL: Matthews' 32nd percentile GB% could get him into trouble against the Cubs, 
