Category: Baseball

Good morning friends and happy Wednesday!

The Mariners failed to get their offense going last night against Chase Burns and the Reds, dropping the middle match 4-2.

How have you felt watching Eugenio Suárez find success during this series? I can’t help but be happy for him, even if I think letting him walk was the right decision for Seattle.

In Mariners news…

• Unsurprisingly, Miles Mastrobuoni cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma.
• Make sure to mark your caLLendars for the fifth annual Tim Cantu MemoriaLL SoftbaLL game on September 20!
• Kate Preusser talked to Cole Young about the changes he made with Edgar Martinez to fuel his mid-summer hot stretch.
• Zach Mason broke down the first few outings for left-hander Gabe Speier since he returned from the injured list, which has seen increased velocity but decreased results.
• The Mariners were reportedly among the teams recently scouting Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos and utilityman Casey Schmitt.

Around the league…

• The MLBPA presented a proposal to the league concerning MLB Draft rules, with changes including opening up draft eligibility for college sophomores and a bonus pool increase for teams that make the playoffs the prior year.
• The Angels are reportedly keeping an open line with teams regarding top controllable players including shortstop Zach Neto and starting pitchers Reid Detmers and José Soriano.
• The Angels fired a pro scout who calls himself “The Baseball Spy” after he was caught filming Rockies coaches with his phone while in the stands. Brittany Ghiroli and Sam Blum at The Athletic have the report. ($)
• Longtime ESPN baseball announcer Karl Ravech was laid off from the company just hours after calling his last game for them.
• The Rangers have called up former Mariners left-hander Marco Gonzales.
• They’re not the only division rival newly employing an old friend…

• The Tigers placed right-hander Jack Flaherty on the injured list with flexor inflammation.
• White Sox catcher Kyle Teel is expected to miss 6-12 weeks with a high ankle sprain.
• Yankees ace left-hander Max Fried will be activated from the injured list today to make his start against the Pirates. Fried has been on the shelf since mid-May with a bone bruise in his throwing elbow.
• Rob Mains at Baseball Prospectus uncovered whether fast center fielders are reliably better at defense than their slower counterparts. ($)
• Ben Clemens at Fangraphs released No. 31-40 in his annual trade value series with a pair of Mariners making the cut.

Columbus Clippers 13, St. Paul Saints 2

Clippers improve to 51-45

Nearly everyone got involved in this offensive eruption.

Angel Genao led the way, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two walks.

Cooper Ingle also reached base safely four times, going 2-for-4 with two walks, as did Kody Huff, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and two walks.

George Valera went 1-for-3 with a double and two walks and Milan Tolentino went 2-f0r-4 with a home run and a walk. Juan Brito blasted a three-run home run and Bo Naylor went 2-for-6. Alfonsin Rosario doubled and Ralphy Velazquez walked twice and was hit by a pitch.

Starting pitcher Trenton Denholm was rock solid, allowing one run on five hits with four strikeouts and a walk in 5.1 innings to earn the win.

Steven Perez and Daniel Espino were both superb out of the bullpen. Perez tossed 1.2 scoreless innings and Espino had a perfect eighth inning with a strikeout. Tanner Burns pitched around a solo home run to close out the win in his return from the injured list.

Akron RubberDucks 7, Altoona Curve 8

RubberDucks fall to 42-48

Tim Herrin’s rehab outing did not go smoothly. The southpaw was used as the opener Tuesday and he was lit up for three runs on two walks and a hit while only getting one out.

Offensively, Angel Martinez continues to perform well in his rehab assignment. This time, he blasted a home run and a double in four plate appearances.

Nolan Schubart went 2-for-4 with a walk while Jacob Cozart went 2-for-5 with a home run.

Jose Devers and Christian Knapczyl added doubles.

Matt Jachec impressed out of the bullpen with 2.0 scoreless innings. Cam Walty also had a scoreless apppearance.

Lake County Captains 4, Dayton Dragons 5

Captains fall to 50-37

Lake County looked like it had this one in the bag after jumping out to a 6-0 lead, but Michael Kennedy thought otherwise.

Harrison Bodendorf was tremendous in his High-A debut, tossing 4.1 scoreless innings with five strikeouts, one walk and two hits allowed.

Kennedy was fine finishing the fifth inning, but then he gave up a run in the sixth, another in the seventh, three more in the eighth before allowing the tying run to score in the ninth. Conner Zsak then allowed the walk-off winner.

Offensively, Juneiker Caceres had his best game since being promoted to High-A, going 3-for-5 with a triple.

Tommy Hawke walked three times and stole a pair of bases. Jonah Advincula singled, walked twice and stole two bases as well and Welbyn Francisca went 2-for-3 with two walks and a stolen base while catcher Ty Howard singled and walked twice.

The lone position player left behind at High-A from last year’s draft class, first round pick Jace LaViolette showed there was a reason he didn’t get promoted to Akron by going 0-for-5 with four strikeouts.

Hill City’s game was postponed due to weather.

If your offense is struggling, you know what they say, “Trade for another catcher.”

You can view our larger trade deadline piece here as we discuss a wider pool of options the Guardians may consider. To make my position clear, I expect the Guardians to make smaller moves, like trading Bo Naylor and getting a castoff/undervalued reliever. But, in the interest of exploring potential larger moves, we are doing a series looking at some of those bigger names. So far, we have discussed Spencer Steer and Luis Arraez. Today, we look at Sacramento Athletics’ star hitter, Shea Langeliers.

I am about to bury the lede about Langeliers, so let’s talk about his hitting. He has a 111 wRC+ for his career, 123 wRC+ this season with a .359 xwOBA, with a 129 wRC+ for his career vs LHP and 105 wRC+ vs. RHP. He offers a lot of slugging as part of his offensive profile, with his slugging percentage over .500 for the last two seasons. Langeliers has been reported to have turned down a contract extension with the A’s and is only under team control through 2028 while about to turn 29 years old by the end of the season.

Why would the Guardians acquire a catcher, you may ask? Langeliers is not a good defensive catcher by the metrics with -30 Defensive Runs Saved and -32 Fielding Runs Value for his career. He appears to be having his best defensive season, currently, and will almost certainly resist being asked to move positions. If a team wants to acquire Langeliers as a starting catcher, I suspect they will beat any offer Cleveland makes. I think Cleveland would try to move Langeliers into a part-time catcher role, working on teaching him first base and having him DH. One potential selling point for Langeliers might be the way to prolong his career and increase his offensive output may be to play catcher less often and add first base defense to his toolbox. Langeliers isn’t a good pitch framer but this skill is not as important with ABS challenges instituted (and full ABS likely not far behind).

Admittedly, just like with most right-handed hitters, Langeliers’ home run output would be affected by the 19-foot wall at Progressive Field. His career 110 homers would be more like 93 with Cleveland as his home part according to Baseball Savant, but that still amounts to around 27 home runs in a season of full-time at-bats here. There simply aren’t many right-handed hitters out there who wouldn’t see some homers turned into doubles with Cleveland as their home park.

I can’t say I see Cleveland expending more resources on acquiring a catcher with defensive questions, given that they just traded for Patrick Bailey. However, on the outside chance that Langeliers indicates willingness to move positions, I am offering this potential trade for your consideration. To get Langeliers, I believe it would require one of the Guardians’ top prospects in Angel Genao, Ralphy Velazquez, Juneiker Caceres or Braylon Doughty. I am not here to tell you that Cleveland SHOULD part with one of those or to choose which one, but I am willing to say that Langeliers is one of those rare right-handed sluggers for whom I would consider such a move, especially as I do think his hitting will improve if he is not wearing his body down with catching. In my mind, this opportunity is a chance to get in on a “Willson Contreras”-type hitter early, if Langeliers is open to moving positions/playing DH more full-time. I would like the Guardians to consider their DH role less as a way to get players off their feet (give them more days off, instead) and use that lineup spot to find an actual slugger. So few sluggers are available but I do believe Langeliers will be available… for a healthy return of prospects for the young and constantly rebuilding/retooling A’s.

A post-Langeliers trade lineup might look like:
1. Kwan CF
2. Jose 3B
3. DeLauter RF
4. Langeliers DH
5. Manzardo 1B
6. Rocchio SS
7. Martinez LF
8. Hedges C
9. Bazzana 2B

Let me know what you think about this slightly unorthodox trade target for the Guardians in the comments below!

The Yankees and Pirates weren’t the only teams to get washed out of play on Tuesday night. In addition to numerous minor-league postponements, the only thing that could apparently stop the streaking Red Sox in their path was the rain. Like the Yankees, they will have a day/night doubleheader on deck today against the Orioles, during which Boston will attempt to tie and then break their franchise record of 14 consecutive wins; Ted Williams’ 1946 pennant-winning club had 15 in a row. The long All-Star break couldn’t slow them down, but maybe the O’s and a minimum 18-inning day can.

Here’s what else was going on around the American League on July 21st.

Tampa Bay Rays (58-42) 12, Toronto Blue Jays (46-55) 2

The Rays added a half-game to their AL East lead on the idle Yankees (2) and Red Sox (6.5) by crushing the collapsing Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Toronto went 54-27 at home during their pennant-winning season last year; they’ve already lost more home games in 2026 (29) before August than they did in all of 2025. The Jays fans booed through the team’s sixth loss in seven games and 16th in 23 since the start of play on June 23rd. No matter how you slice it, it’s been an immensely frustrating year for John Schneider, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and company. Regression is a force.

Because the Blue Jays are falling apart, former ace Kevin Gausman could very well be making his final starts with them. His five-year contract ends after 2026, so if they’re going nowhere, then they will see what they can get for him. If Tuesday was meant to be an audition, then he was certainly off key. Gausman won a 12-pitch battle with Yandy Díaz to lead off the ballgame and got the next batter before running into two-out trouble. Junior Caminero walked, Cedric Mullins doubled, and Jonny DeLuca singled them both in with a flare to right. He swiped second and scored himself on a Chandler Simpson single, granting the Rays a quick 3-0 lead.

The score stayed there until the fourth, when the grinding Gausman departed after recording just 10 outs on 90 pitches, allowing nine hits and two walks. He also had five runs on his record, as a Díaz single and Caminero walk not only ushered his departure but preceded both coming around to score due to a throwing error on catcher Brandon Valenzuela and DeLuca’s second RBI knock.

Although Drew Rasmussen wasn’t particularly dominant for Tampa Bay, he did throw five innings of two-run ball, not allowing any Jays to dent home plate until the score was already 8-0, Rays. Batterymate Nick Fortes got in on the fun with a three-run smash off rookie Lazaro Estrada that really got the boos going. The Rays piled on in the ninth due to the Patrick Corbin Experience, Fortes driving in another and Yandy delivering the haymaker with a three-run shot of his own.

Toronto is six games behind Boston in the Wild Card race, and there are five teams ahead of them. The writing may be on the wall.

Other Games

Cleveland Guardians (54-48) 5, Minnesota Twins (49-53) 2: The surprising Twins are one of those teams between Boston and Toronto in the Wild Card chase, but they may be running out of steam as well. They’ve now come out of the All-Star break with four consecutive losses, now trailing the Red Sox by 3.5 games and the AL Central leaders by five. Cleveland moved into a virtual tie atop the division with an unexciting-but-clean home win behind 5.2 quality innings from Parker Messick and a well-rounded showing on offense. Because this game was not a thriller, I’m just going to show something that should interest Yankees fans: Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers’ first-inning solo shot.

Texas Rangers (51-50) 10, Chicago White Sox (53-47) 0: Kumar Rocker still hasn’t had the kind of season that was once expected from him as a top-10 draft pick by both the Mets and Rangers. But he had it working last night in Texas, as the 26-year-old blanked the Pale Hose on one hit, two walks, and six strikeouts in six innings. The Rangers’ offense obliterated Noah Schultz, led by Brandon Nimmo’s first-inning homer that began a four-hit night for him, as well as a two-run clout from Wyatt Langford against Tyler Schweitzer. Amusingly, 10-year veteran Marco Gonzales returned from Baseball Siberia to record a three-inning save in his first MLB appearance since August 7, 2024. Texas is a half-game up on Seattle in the AL West; the only downside from Tuesday was leadoff hitter Josh Jung departing early with calf tightness, though the Rangers hope that it will be minor.

Seattle Mariners (51-51) 2, Cincinnati Reds (46-54) 4: The team that the Jays defeated in a dramatic seven-game ALCS is not having as bad a follow-up, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a Mariners fan happy with how 2026 is going. The AL West is awful with those aforementioned Rangers leading at exactly one win above .500 and the M’s have still failed to ever take control. All of their top four hitters went hitless last night at the hands of the admittedly-good (and extended) Chase Burns, and old friend Eugenio Suárez woke up from his own nightmare 2026 with a homer off Burns’ ace predecessor in Cincy, Luis Castillo. Elly De La Cruz had led off the day with a homer against Castillo, and Nathaniel Lowe added a solo shot in the ninth for some insurance after some Julio Rodríguez yardwork.

Lastly, here is your unrelated moment of zen, brought to you by whatever the damn hell J.T. Realmuto was thinking at the end of this Dodgers/Phillies game.

It’s hard to believe that this coming January will mark ten years. I remember when I heard the news. It hit me like a slug hitting a deer. I had to sit for a few minutes, reading and re-reading the story. My brain refused to believe that the news was true, but eventually reality set in.

All of us have different memories and reactions to the death of Yordano Ventura. Things we know for certain: he had one of the best arms the Royals ever signed and developed. His stuff was electric. He had a fiery attitude that we loved and opponents often hated. He had his share of dustups, notably with Mike Trout, Manny Machado, Jose Bautista, and the entire roster of the Chicago White Sox. There was also a tiff with Brett Lawrie that looked personal. Even when he was in the wrong, we stood behind him because he was our guy.

I loved the way he would swing his right leg around after delivering one of his blazing fastballs.

We felt like he was just starting to tap into his massive potential. Then he was gone way too soon.

His postseason appearances were must-see TV. Ned Yost unwittingly used him as a reliever in the 2014 Wild Card Game, which ended in a spectacular blowup. He was brilliant against the Angels in the Division Series, tossing five-hit ball over seven shutout innings. He threw 95 pitches in that game. Twenty-two of those pitches reached 100 mph or more. When you add in his devastating curveball, well, sometimes there’s just no chance for the hitter. He was brilliant against the Giants in the World Series, allowing just two runs in 12.1 innings of work.

He could be wildly inconsistent. He scuffled against Houston in the 2015 Division Series, allowing six runs in seven innings over two starts. The Mets tagged him for five runs in just 3⅓ innings during his only start of the 2015 World Series. Despite that, the Royals always had a chance when Ventura was on the mound.

Ventura’s start with the Royals is the stuff of baseball legend. Sometimes I wonder what it must be like to be an international baseball scout. You look over a dusty field and see poor kids playing ball. Many do not have gloves. Some play barefoot. They play because they love the game. Once in a blue moon, you see something that catches your eye: a live arm or the sound of some kid hitting bombs. You stop to investigate and see whether the youngster has potential.

Ventura was one of those kids. He quit school at the age of 14 and went to work for a construction company. He eventually enrolled in the Royals Baseball Academy in the Dominican Republic after being scouted by Pedro Silverio and Rene Francisco. The Royals scouts saw something in that thin frame and electric arm.

Ventura signed with the Royals at the age of 17, then spent the next 18 months training at the Academy, learning baseball fundamentals under the watchful eye of Academy Director Victor Baez.

Former general manager Dayton Moore absorbed a lot of criticism on this site, but one thing he did early in his tenure was revive the Royals’ flagging Latin American operations.

By 2011, the Royals assigned Ventura to Class A Kane County. Everyone agreed that he had star potential but needed to harness both his emotions and that arm. He made 19 starts, covering 84 innings, to the tune of a 4.27 ERA. Decent numbers, but hardly anything that made you stand up and take notice.

This started a quick progression up the Royals’ minor league ladder. He started 2012 at Wilmington, where he made the Carolina League All-Star team. That prompted a promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas. In 2013, the Royals moved him to Triple-A Omaha.

The Royals rewarded him with a late-season call-up in September 2013. Ace made his major league debut on September 17 against Cleveland at Kauffman Stadium. Ventura got the start and was terrific, scattering five hits over 5.2 innings while allowing just one run. He left with the Royals leading 3-1.

The Royals’ 2013 bullpen was solid, especially compared to the 2026 version, so you had to feel good about their chances to hold on for the win. Will Smith got the final out of the sixth.

Kelvin Herrera came on and coughed up two runs in the seventh to tie the game.

Wade Davis pitched the eighth and gave up a walk and a double to give the Indians a 4-3 lead. Luke Hochevar, not wanting to be left out of the destruction, handled the ninth and surrendered a long home run to Michael Bourn to make the final score 5-3, Cleveland.

2026 Royals fans can relate to that sequence.

Ventura was in Kansas City for good in 2014, posting a 14-10 record over 183 innings with a sparkling 3.20 ERA. It could have been even better. Five of those losses came in one-run games. The Royals went 19-12 in games Ventura started. You could see him beginning to figure things out.

2015 brought similar results: a 13-8 record over 163 innings. His ERA ticked up to 4.08, but his stuff was as good as ever. Then came the postseason and the World Series championship. Ventura was still just 24.

2016 had to be a bit of a disappointment for him. He made a career-high 32 starts and threw a career-high 186 innings, but his record slipped to 11-12, and his ERA climbed again, this time to 4.45. The Royals missed the playoffs but felt like they had the pieces to make it back in 2017.

On January 22, 2017, everything changed.

Ventura, driving a Jeep Wrangler, lost control and rolled over on a curve near the town of Juan Adrián in the Dominican Republic. He was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. There were unconfirmed and disturbing reports that he was found alive, and that his body was later looted, including the theft of his World Series ring.

Ventura’s death was another in a long line of tragedies involving Dominican players. Former Royals pitcher Ambiorix Burgos ran over and killed two women there in 2010. Jose Oliva, Rufino Linares, Jose Uribe, Jairo Capellán, Andy Marte, Andújar Cedeño, and Oscar Taveras all perished in automobile accidents in the Dominican Republic. Andy Marte died on the same day as Yordano. In a strange twist of fate, Marte’s final major league at-bat came as a pinch hitter against the Royals—a strikeout by Greg Holland. Yordano made the start in that game.

For all its natural beauty, the Dominican Republic has the highest traffic-related death rate in the Western Hemisphere at 30 per 100,000 people.

His death was a tremendous shock to the organization and its fans. Ventura had just signed a five-year, $23 million extension after the 2014 season. Those closest to him talked about how focused he was on the 2017 season. He had begun working on adding a cutter to his arsenal. He seemed like he was maturing. He was still just a young man living in a foreign country, trying to figure out his place in the world. He had a huge heart and a soft spot for children, often making unannounced visits to pediatric cancer wards and children’s softball and baseball games.

The saddest part about losing someone so young is the questions you can never answer. Would Ventura have harnessed his immense potential and become a full-blown star? Would he have remained a Royal for the entirety of his career? Instead of mourning his death, would we have been discussing his pending retirement and his place in Royals history?

He was survived by his spouse, Maria del Pilar Sangiovanni. The couple had just married in 2016.

Yordano “Ace” Ventura was just 25.

Don’t look now, but the Red Sox are 1.5 games away from having the third-best record in the American League. That mark is currently held by the co-leaders in the AL Central, with the Chicago White Sox (53-47) and Cleveland Guardians (54-48) in a virtual tie for first place.

The problem with having the third-best record in the American League is, of course, being in the same division as the two teams with the best records in the American League. That would leave you with the #5 seed in the American League playoffs, which would send Boston on the road for all three games of the Wild Card series. That is the exact spot that the Red Sox found themselves a year ago — on the road playing at Yankee Stadium (currently the #4 seed). While some might argue that being on the road isn’t a bad thing, given the Red Sox road vs. home splits (away: 29-21, home: 22-27), the playoffs are a whole different animal.

Therefore, I’ve shifted away from focusing on the wild card for the time being and started looking above us in the American League East. Going 7-0 against the Yankees and the Rays over this recent stretch of 19 wins in 21 games will do that to a person.

In the loss column, the Red Sox are six behind the Rays and four behind the Yankees, as we enter this pivotal doubleheader against the Orioles on Wednesday. Catch one team and the #4 seed, and a home series is yours. Catch both, and you’ve got a bye and home field throughout the playoffs. Is that too lofty of a goal?

In terms of head-to-head remaining, Boston plays three games at Tampa (Sep 18-20) and four games at New York (Aug 28-30). The Yankees notably postponed a game on June 6th and rescheduled it as a doubleheader in late August, presumably when they’d have Aaron Judge (and others) back on the active roster. Be careful what you wish for.

What is a reasonable goal for the rest of the season, with 63 games to go? Discuss in the comments and be good to each other.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers visit the Philadelphia Phillies once again tonight, with Eric Lauer looking to add to Philly's struggles against left-handed pitchers. 

My Dodgers vs. Phillies predictions are eyeing the visitors, who are slight -116 favorites, to give Aaron Nola some trouble, while Lauer will keep the host bats at bay. 

Read more in my MLB picks for Wednesday, July 22. 

Who will win Dodgers vs Phillies today: Dodgers (-116)

Eric Lauer takes the mound this evening for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he owns a 3.60 xERA over his last three outings while allowing just 1.00 HR/9.

Lauer has also held opponents to a mere 24.6% hard-hit rate during that span, and he’ll face a Philadelphia Phillies lineup that has struggled against lefties, posting a .150 ISO and 87 wRC+.

On the other side, Aaron Nola has a 5.85 FIP over his last five appearances while giving up 2.63 HR/9.

Neither offense is thriving, but Nola’s recent home run issues give the Dodgers a clear path to generate enough offense.

I’ll play this pick to -130.

COVERS INTEL: Nola has allowed 2.23 HR/9 at home this season compared to a 1.84 mark on the road.

Dodgers vs Phillies Over/Under pick: Under 9.5 runs (-107)

There may be stars on both teams, but neither club is swinging it particularly well. The Phillies have an 86 wRC+ across the last two weeks, while Los Angeles has posted just 67 wRC+ during that span. 

While both bullpens also have FIPs right around 5.00, it's hard to overlook the clear offensive struggles.

Philadelphia also has a .169 ISO over its last 10 games, while Los Angeles sits at a .126 ISO in its previous nine. 

Power is a path to more runs, and it simply isn't there right now. 

I'll play this pick to -130. 

Dodgers vs Phillies weather

Conditions should be warm and mostly dry at Citizens Bank Park tonight, with temperatures around 83 degrees early before falling into the upper 70s. Winds will be light, dropping from roughly 9 mph to 3–5 mph later, while rain chances stay low. Weather should have minimal impact, though the warm air could slightly help carry.

Dodgers vs Phillies odds

• Moneyline: Dodgers -113 | Phillies +108
• Run line: Dodgers -1.5 (+138) | Phillies +1.5 (-144)
• Over/Under: Over 9.5 (-104) | Under 9.5 (-100)

Dodgers vs Phillies trend

The Dodgers are 6-0 in Lauer's last six starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Phillies.

How to watch Dodgers vs Phillies and game info

Dodgers vs Phillies latest injuries

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

As we continue our series we get to the most difficult position to profile. It is difficult because we entered into this series with some established rules. Players need to play a considerable amount at the position (you’ve seen some players qualify at more than one position) and they need to record at least 120 outs. Yordan Alvarez is the only player on the Astros to qualify in left field, but he does not play a ton of left field. So, later in the article we will create a player we will name Joey Dezenfido Jr. to tally up essentially what the Astros have been getting in left field.

We could have included Taylor Trammel, but he is playing more center these days and that will become important in the next piece. There can be no doubt that Yordan Alvarez is the best offensive player in the American League. Whether that makes him an MVP is certainly open to debate. Usually MVPs contribute with both the bat and the glove and there are certainly worthy candidates on other teams that do that. However, today we are looking only at offense.

Looking at the triumverate of Lamont Wade Jr, Joey Loperfido, and Zach Dezenzo becomes important because it will be the benchmark we measure any possible outfield acquisitions with. Obviously, both left field and center field are open possibilities and these next two articles will hopefully settle which position the Astros should target in a perfect world.

We use bases per out because they are much more accurate and all encompassing than cruder stats like OPS and OPS+. They are probably most similar to wOBA and rOBA, but since the formula is more transparent (because it is mine) it will hopefully be more meaningful. This is a gentle reminder that the MLB average for BPO is .676, but as we have seen, each position is different and brings with it different expectations. Otherwise, this article will serve as the lime wedge for the tequila shot that will be the other outfield positions.

We should start with the number of left fielders. There are 19 here. More designated hitters are classified as left fielders than any other outfield position. They include Alvarez, George Springer, Jorge Soler, and Masataka Yoshida. We can continue with the notion that pegging numbers during a baseball season is always a moving target. These were the numbers prior to Sunday’s game before the all-star break. A few hot games or a few 0 fers can change the numbers a little, but when you are 90 games into the season we begin to see some crystallization of numbers.

Simply put, Yordan’s numbers are stupid. Only Taylor Ward has more walks and Alvarez laps the field in total bases. One of the markers of an MVP is how much better a player is than the rest of the players at his position. It isn’t even close. If Randy Arozorena wasn’t a human target at the plate the gap would even be more significant. The question isn’t so much of what to do with Yordan or how great he is then what is happening at the rest of the position.

As you can see, the bar for being the mean or median AL left fielder is higher than any other position save first base. So, when we look at the numbers for the other left fielders on the roster we have to look at it in that context. It is one thing to get a league average hitter at any position but a league average hitter is not a league average left fielder.

We should start with some uncomfortable truths. Dezenzo and Loperfido have the bulk of the plate appearances and Denenzo sits at a .600 BPO at the break and Loperfido sits at a .585 BPO at the break. Wade just doesn’t have enough plate appearances to really peg where he is at this point. There is no way of telling whether he is another Breden Shewmake or Raymel Deglado or whether he can stick as a legitimate option from the left side of the plate.

Similarly, Trammel could be an option there as well and he is performing better than this, but putting him in left field means a steady diet of Brice Matthews in center field. As we have seen, the Astros are league median or better at every position on the diamond except for this one. Obviously, we haven’t looked at center field or right field yet.

You cannot have an all-star at every position. However, you also can’t have a batting order with three holes in it. That doesn’t even count that some other hitters have been wildly inconsistent throughout the season. Unless you plan on sewing some alternate jerseys and employing some funky fake facial hair, you cannot maximize Yordan more than what you are currently doing. Even a league average left and center fielder would do wonders for this lineup.

As people have pointed out in comments, there are other holes on the roster. There is at least one hole if not more in the rotation. There could probably be an argument made for a late inning leverage guy from the right side. We have now identified two outfield slots. That’s as many as five guys. So, which hole is the most pressing to fill? That is the question the Astros face as they approach the deadline.

Fernando Tatis Jr. put the exclamation point on an 8-3 win with a monster two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning to lead the San Diego Padres over the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday night. Tatis stepped to the plate in the top of the inning with Luis Rengifo on first base after a one-out walk. Tatis worked the count full against Atlanta reliever JR Ritchie, battling through seven pitches. On the eighth pitch of the at-bat Ritchie left a curveball over the middle of the plate and Tatis deposited it into the left-center field bleachers 474 feet away to give San Diego a six-run lead.

Tatis was not the only Padres player to homer in the game, but he was the last. Jackson Merrill started the slugfest with a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning that tied the game, 2-2. Manny Machado added a solo home run in the top of the fifth to make the score, 5-2 and he hit his second home run of the game in the top of the sixth to push the score to 6-2.

Walker Buehler started on the mound for San Diego and turned in his best performance of July. Buehler work into and out of trouble in the second inning when two walks and a triple by Jim Jarvis gave Atlanta a 2-1 lead. Buehler then allowed a walk to Drake Baldwin to put runners on the corners for the Braves, but he got out of the jam with a strikeout of Ozzie Albies to keep the Padres within a run. Buehler settled in after the second and retired all three batters in the third, fourth and fifth innings. He pitched into the sixth where he was able to get two outs but left the game with runners on second and third. Yuki Matsui came in and allowed a walk to pinch-hitter Joey Bart to load the bases before he got Brewer Hicklen to strikeout on three pitches to end the frame.

Bradgley Rodriguez followed Matsui and Adrian Morejon handled the eighth inning before Mason Miller made his first appearance since striking out three consecutive batters against the Kansas City Royals on Friday night. Miller allowed a hit and walked one, but ultimately ended the inning and the game with three more strikeouts in a non-save situation.

For the second time in as many days, the Padres outhit the Braves. San Diego finished with 13 hits, while Atlanta managed just four hits. Tatis led the charge for the Padres finishing 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBI, with Machado finishing 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBI. Merrill went 2-for-4 with a run an RBI and a walk and Ty France chipped in with a multi-hit night, finishing 2-for-5 with an RBI. Jake Cronenworth, Luis Campusano, Xander Bogaerts and Rengifo all finished with a hit in the game.

San Diego will look for a similar offensive output against Atlanta when Michael King takes the mound in the third game of the series this afternoon at 4:15 p.m.

Padres News:

• Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Balllooks at the various paths A.J. Preller and the Padres could take at the trade deadline.

• Xander Bogaerts found himself batting eighth in the lineup in the second game against the Braves and the Padres shortstop understands what he needs to do if he wants to regain his typical spot in the lineup.

• Padres second-round draft pick signs his deal and is ready to start his professional career with San Diego.

• The Padres need to win games if they want to give the organization a reason to buy at the deadline, but their sluggish start to the second half may get the alternate approach.

• The sale of the Padres could finally be coming to an end with a vote expected soon.

Baseball News:

• The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Philadelphia Phillies with a wild game-ending double play.

• The Miami Marlins turned a 5-4-3 triple play, but lost to the Houston Astros, 5-3.

• Framber Valdez allowed six first-inning runs to the Chicago Cubs who went on to beat the Detroit Tigers, 11-2.

• The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays on the strength of 21 hits.

• The Kansas City Royals earned their second consecutive win over the San Francisco Giants.

• Hunter Goodman hit his 31st home run of the season for the Colorado Rockies and helped them beat the Washington Nationals, 8-7.

The Mets are expected to be active sellers at the 2026 MLB trade deadline. Here's the latest news and rumors...

July 22, 9:12 a.m.

There are multiple teams with "preliminary interest" in outfielder Luis Robert Jr., per Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

The Mets hold a $20 million team option for the 2027 season on Robert, who recently returned after being out since April 27 due to a back injury.

With New York all but certain to decline that option if Robert remains on the team through the end of the year, trading him before the deadline makes sense.

Robert hit a mammoth 451-foot homer on Tuesday night against the Brewers in Milwaukee and played strong defense in center field, showcasing the upside that should be of interest to contending teams. 

Potentially complicating matters is that Robert still has a relatively significant amount owed to him this season, which could possibly make a deal tough unless the Mets eat a portion of that money.

July 20, 9:35 a.m.

White Sox special assistant Nick Hostelter has been sent to "keep tabs" on Mets right-hander Clay Holmes, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

Holmes is working his way back from a freak injury to his fibula that he suffered when he was struck by a line drive on May 15.

There is mutual interest between Holmes and the Mets on a potential extension, SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes recently reported.

However, if the two sides are unable to come to an agreement, it is very likely that Holmes will be dealt ahead of the deadline.

That's because Holmes holds a $12 million player option for the 2027 season that he is all but certain to decline.

Holmes, 33, has a 2.39 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 52.2 innings over nine starts this season. 

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The New York Yankees are heavy -170 favorites in the first leg of today's doubleheader.

Facing off against a struggling Mitch Keller, they're in a great spot to pile up the runs in a high-scoring victory.

Let's break it all down with my Pirates vs. Yankees predictions and MLB picks for Wednesday, July 22. 

Who will win Pirates vs Yankees today: New York Yankees (-170)

Mitch Kellerowns a 6.0 ERA over the last month, and his 6.47 xERA suggests that is deserved.

He is giving up a ton of hard contact, fly balls, and struggling to keep it in the park. Keller has conceded 2.57 homers per nine innings during that stretch.

The New York Yankeesrank eighth in homers and seventh in ISO against righties in July. They are not a team Keller wants to see, especially at Yankee Stadium.

Gerrit Cole should get all the run support he needs as he works to find his footing.

Play to -185.

COVERS INTEL: Keller's contact profile is alarmingly bad, resulting in a fourth percentile ranking in xBA.

Pirates vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (+100)

Keller has not held up against quality offenses.He owns an abysmal 8.72 ERA and has allowed at least three runs in eight of nine starts when facing teams that slot Top-11 in OPS vs. right-handed pitching.

The Yankees fit the criteria, and the power boost they’ll see playing at Yankee Stadium only makes matters worse.

Cole has not looked sharp, and that’s been problematic at home. He has allowed 1.91 homers per nine innings in New York.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have real power and will capitalize on any mistakes.

Bet to -115.

Pirates vs Yankees weather

Temperatures should approach the mid-80s with strong winds blowing out. Clear and noticeable boost to the bats.

Pirates vs Yankees odds

• Moneyline: Pirates +145 | Yankees -170
• Run line: Pirates +1.5 (-130) | Yankees -1.5 (+110)
• Over/Under: Over 9.5 (-105) | Under 9.5 (-115)

Pirates vs Yankees trend

Pittsburgh has hit the Game Total Over in 30 of last 45 games (+14.95 units, 31% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Pirates vs. Yankees.

How to watch Pirates vs Yankees and game info

Pirates vs Yankees latest injuries

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The Pittsburgh Pirates are heading down the back half of the season in the midst of a playoff race, and they have a myriad of questions surrounding whether or not they will be buyers or sellers at the MLB Trade Deadline. Apparently, according to one source, the Bucs are listening to offers on outfielder Oneil Cruz.

MLB inside source Bob Nightengale had this to say about the situation:

“They do have outfield depth. Can they trade Oneil Cruz to get some bullpen help? They need bullpen help as much as any contender out there. They can use another starter too. So I think they’re going to listen to offers on Oneil Cruz to see if they get the other pieces.”

Cruz has been the topic of trade speculation before, as many people felt he wasn’t reaching his potential in Pittsburgh and could get some interest from teams chasing a pennant. The irony is that Cruz is having his best season at the plate.

Despite currently being on the 60-day injured list, Cruz is expected back sometime around the beginning of to middle August. He’s averaging .264 at the plate with 14 homers and 44 RBIs as well as 21 stolen bases. The average is the best of his career, as is his OBP of .350 and his slugging percentage of .472.

He still has some work to do in the field, with his .986 fielding percentage sitting in the 30s for centerfielders, but overall, Cruz is having his finest season as a pro, which would certainly drive his value higher. One potential issue is do we trust Ben Cherington to get the most out of a Cruz deal? He hasn’t exactly been crushing trades with the Bucs.

But with the team currently loaded on offense and the pitching staff struggling, dealing Cruz for an arm to help down the stretch run certainly isn’t the worst idea.

Tell us in the comments how you feel about a possible Cruz deal.

Don’t forget to vote in our poll in The Feed, and our Reacts poll will be up later today.

The Braves lost to the Padres on Tuesday night. That in and of itself isn’t weird, especially considering that it came at home. Did you know that the Braves haven’t won a home series from the Padres since 2018? That’s a lot of really good years (including 2022 and 2023, where the team won 100-plus games), but… the Padres in Atlanta have been an issue. (The Braves have also lost a bunch of series to the Padres going back to mid-2024, including a playoff series… but they did actually win a road series against them in 2024.)

Anyway, here’s some random weird stuff about last night:

The Braves set a season-high in walk rate at 20.5 percent. They tied their season high in walks with eight. In the other three games they had eight walks, they scored eight, 10, and 17 runs. Yet, they scored just three runs.

Despite all the walks, the team had its second-worst quality of contact of the season (.224 xwOBACON). It was shut out in its only game with a worse xwOBACON on the season. In essence, the Braves did nothing on swings, but did a lot when not swinging.

Two of their runsscored on a not-that-well struck ball that perfectly split the defense and looked awesome. Jim Jarvis’ triple had a .163 xBA and .214 xwOBA, and came off the bat at 94 mph. Then, Jarvis had a nearly-perfect bloop single off Mason Miller of all people. Speaking of…

The Padres used Mason Miller in a five-run game for some reason. Talk about a bazooka to kill a fly. They had a five-run lead. Miller ended up having to throw a lot of pitches because of Jarvis’ bloop and a walk to Drake Baldwin, not that he had any real issues in the inning. Imagine using the best reliever in baseball in a situation where the other team could’ve been justified in pitching Elieser Hernandez in the top half of the inning.

The Braves scored a run on a balk. I don’t even have anything to add. I don’t know the last time the Braves scored a run on a balk. To add to the weirdness: when the home plate umpire spoke to the crowd about the balk, his words said that the batter at the time (Austin Riley) was to take first base, maybe because the pitch-on-which-there-was-a-balk was taken outside the zone. (The words were, “run scores, second and first” or something along those lines.) Yet, per the rules, Riley did not take first base, and actually struck out instead of making more of a game of it. So the umpire called a balk, and then goofed the verbal (not applied) explanation of what was to happen.

Bonus: the Phillies didn’t gain a game in the standings because of an Eli White-level baserunning mistake. In case you missed it, they had the tying run on third with one out in the ninth, and the go-ahead run on second in the form of JT Realmuto. Brandon Marsh hit a sliced dribbler to third. The runner on third was cut down in a rundown, prolonged enough to allow Realmuto to reach third. But, for some reason, Realmuto started running back to second base, which allowed the Dodgers to easily throw in that direction and tag him out, ending the game.

So, how weird does all this rate?

It’s Nola Day. He’ll be taking the mound tonight for the rubber match against the Dodgers. It’s not news to you that Nola has struggled this season and last. But he’s been solid over his past trio of starts, allowing three runs in two of them, and two in the other. Prior to that he had a seven-ER clunker, but before that, another trio of games with no more than three runs allowed. Of course, his old enemy, the long ball, has still been a problem: all three of the runs in his last start came on solo shots, and he’s only had one homer-free game in his last seven starts.

All of which is to ask: has Nola’s unspectacular but solid performance over his past few starts changed how you’re feeling about him?