Category: Baseball

The Mets open a four-game series against the Marlins at Citi Field on Thursday night at 7:10 on SNY.

Mets Notes

• Nolan McLean has a 2.17 ERA in 58.0 innings over his last 10 starts dating back to May 31
• A.J. Ewing is hitting .292/.356/.469 (.825 OPS) with five homers, eight doubles, and seven stolen bases over his last 35 games
• Luke Weaver has allowed one earned run since April 30 -- a span of 31.0 innings across 29 appearances

Today's Lineups

Meet the Mets

The Mets split a doubleheader with the Braves and look to win the series overall after a win on Monday. In the first game Carson Benge drove in the go-ahead run and Sean Manaea was solid in the victory. In game two Christian Scott was great but the offense couldn’t figure out Chris Sale so they lost by a final score of 1-0.

Choose your recapGame 1: Amazin’ Avenue, Daily News, MLB.com, Newsday, NY Post

Game 2: Amazin’ Avenue, MLB.com

Jorge Polanco still continues to struggle since returning from the IL and its looking like the Mets still don’t have an answer at first base.

It’s no secret Freddy Peralta has struggled this season but teams still believe he could help them should they acquire him at the deadline.

Reliever Luke Weaver is stuck in limbo not knowing what his fate will be come the trade deadline but he remains zen about the situation.

Mookie Wilson is still honored to have been a part of history 40 years later.

Around the National League East

A.J. Smith-Shawver returned to the mound for the first time since undergoing Tommy John but he was optioned back to Triple-A after his start in game one of the doubleheader.

The Marlins managed to sweep the Phillies after losing twelve straight.

The Phillies’ skid continued while their star continues to feud with their GM.

The Nationals dropped the final game against the Blue Jays to lose the series.

Around Major League Baseball

Tarik Skubal earned his 1,000th career strikeout in what could be his last game in a Tigers uniform.

The Dodgers are seen as the favorites to land Skubal with Shohei Ohtani sidelined from the rotation.

The Angels traded reliever Chase Silseth and catcher Logan O’Hoppe to the Rangers for minor league third baseman Angel Arredondo.

Mason Miller picked up another save for the Padres but his days could be numbered in San Diego.

The Twins placed Byron Buxton on the IL with the same hip injury that forced him to miss some time earlier in the month.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

On the latest episode of A Pod of Their Own, Juan Soto’s injury and the upcoming trade deadline were discussed.

This Date in Mets History

On this date in 1890, the great Casey Stengel was born.

Well, that was a horrible way to lose a baseball game. You just can’t lose when your ace has a four-run lead late. You just can’t lose when you twice survive five-man infield plays with a runner on third in extras. You just can’t lose when you’re an out away from a win and your third baseman and catcher (or perhaps a coach) is too focused on getting cute with the runner at third than getting the actual batter out at the plate. But that’s what happened last night in Chicago. It was extremely stupid, and it cost the Yankees a game in the standings, too.

Here’s what else was going on around the American League’s best yesterday.

Tampa Bay Rays (63-44) 3, Texas Rangers (55-53) 0

The Rays hit two homers and scored three times in the bottom of the first, and that was pretty much the ballgame. That’s a testament to both how good Tampa Bay pitching was against Texas and how nicely MacKenzie Gore rebounded after that rocky beginning. The Rays now lead the AL East by 2.5 games thanks to the Yankees’ idiocy last night.

Three of the first four Rays batter reached base with a hit, with Yandy Díaz belting a leadoff homer, Jonathan Aranda doubling, and Ryan Vilade boosting the lead over Gore to 3-0 with an impressive 420-foot shot off the C-ring of the catwalk. Tampa Bay was then held hitless for the next 7.2 innings as Gore fanned nine on the night, walking none. But it was to no avail.

I’m not going to act like what the Rays did was exciting or particularly compelling baseball. They were just quite efficient. Casey Legumina retired five of the six batters he faced as the opener, Ian Seymour did his Ian Seymour thing as the “bulk guy” and threw up zeroes until departing with one down in the sixth, allowing just two hits and a walk. Garrett Cleavinger, Kevin Kelly, and Bryan Baker were nearly perfect in recording the final eight outs, with Kelly striking out the side. Despite four doubles, the Rangers never seemed very close to making this a game.

Of note: The Rangers made a trade to bolster their roster after the game ended, trading a 19-year-old infielder in A-ball named Angel Arredondo to the Angels (duh) for bullpen righty Chase Silseth and disappointing catcher Logan O’Hoppe. For as “whatever” as Texas looks, they do lead the AL West over Houston and Seattle, so might as well supplement, right?

Other Games

Boston Red Sox (56-51) 4, The Athletics (45-63) 2: Boston gained a game on the Yankees as well, closing to within 4.5 games of the top Wild Card spot. This is the problem with giving away games when the biggest rivals rarely lose, especially on the same day. Solo shots by Jonah Heim and Lawrence Butler kept this one close, and the A’s had a golden chance to win it when Butler doubled off Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the ninth with the score at 2-2. He was bunted to third, only to be stranded there when both Tyler Wilson and Jeff McNeil struck out. Boston’s Andruw Monasterio promptly hit a two-run homer against José Suarez to begin the 10th, and Greg Weissert pitched a perfect 10th for the save.

Imagine winning a road game in extras! Couldn’t possibly be the Yanks.

Seattle Mariners (53-56) 2, Los Angeles Dodgers (68-40) 4: We may be nearing the end of our coverage of the defending AL West champs in the Rivalry Roundup, at least for now. The Astros beat the Angels handily and are a game and a half up on the third-place M’s, who got blanked over six innings of one-hit ball by … Eric Lauer. LA built a 4-0 lead on a homer by Andy Pages, a couple RBI infield hits, and a booming double from Shohei Ohtani in the sixth to plate Dalton Rushing. In his first game back after a long IL stay, Edwin Díaz allowed his old Mariner friends to score and bring the tying run to the plate with two down in the ninth, but he got pinch-hitter Luke Raley to line out to save it.

Cleveland Guardians (56-54) 6, Cincinnati Reds (50-57) 1: The Ohio Cup goes to Cleveland this year, as they won their fourth of six games against Cincinnati this year. Joey Cantillo needed 89 pitches to get through four scoreless for the Guardians, so Stephen Vogt needed six of his relievers to combine for the final five. Fortunately, the shaky Reds defense and poor control from Brady Singer led to four Cleveland runs in the fifth, two on bases-loaded walks after an RBI single by Travis Bazzana. Kyle Manzardo at least went yard off Chase Petty in the seventh for another more conventional run.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers sit as a heavy -144 moneyline favorite for tonight's series finale against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium. 

With Roki Sasaki starting to improve, my Mariners vs. Dodgers predictions expect L.A. to take the rubber match. 

Read more in my MLB picks for Thursday, July 30. 

Who will win Mariners vs Dodgers today: Dodgers moneyline (-144)

It's been a rough campaign for Los Angeles Dodgers righty Roki Sasaki, but he is finding his best lately. The Japanese phenom has posted a 2.64 FIP over his last two appearances, allowing just 0.71 HR/9 during that span. 

Sasaki has limited opponents to a 36.9% hard-hit rate, and he hasn't allowed a single barrel between those two starts. The Seattle Mariners aren't exactly thriving offensively either, sitting around the league average over the last week. 

As for Bryce Miller, he's been hit around lately. The right-hander sports a 6.38 FIP over his last 11 frames, allowing 2.45 HR/9. 

Sasaki gives Los Angeles a better path than the full-season numbers suggest, and the Dodgers’ recent offensive form gives them a strong chance to add to Miller’s struggles.

I'll play this pick up to -160. The run line is also a secondary option. 

COVERS INTEL: The Dodgers are swinging it well, posting a 118 wRC+ in their previous five contests. 

Mariners vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-108)

This total sits at 8.5, and the Over still has a reasonable path despite Seattle’s bullpen being in strong form. Despite their shortcomings, the Mariners have been respectable offensively, posting a 103 wRC+ over their last six games, and they get a late-game boost against a Dodgers bullpen that owns a 6.54 FIP over the last week.

Seattle’s relief corps has been excellent with a 1.86 FIP during that same span, but the Dodgers’ lineup has the better early-game path against Miller.

If Los Angeles does damage before the Mariners’ bullpen becomes a major factor, Seattle only needs to chip in against L.A.’s shaky relief group.

With enough vulnerability on the Dodgers’ side late, I lean Over 8.5.

I'll play this pick up to -130. 

Mariners vs Dodgers weather

Weather looks ideal at Dodger Stadium tonight, with clear skies and temperatures falling from around 80°F into the low 70s.

Winds should be light to moderate early before settling down later, and there is no rain concern. Conditions should have minimal impact, though the warm early air could slightly help carry.

Mariners vs Dodgers odds

• Moneyline: Mariners +138 | Dodgers -144
• Run line: Mariners +1.5 (-144) | Dodgers -1.5 (+138)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-108) | Under 8.5 (+104)

Mariners vs Dodgers trend

The Seattle Mariners have hit the Game Total Over in 15 of their last 25 games (+7.25 Units / 26% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Mariners vs. Dodgers.

How to watch Mariners vs Dodgers and game info

Mariners vs Dodgers 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.

T-minus four days until the trade deadline, and of course all of the conversation is revolving around who Tarik Skubal would be traded to, if he is, and will it be the Dodgers. The conversation has ramped up with Shohei Ohtani revealing that he is dealing with a biceps issue.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic says that he wouldn’t be surprised if the Dodgers “bully their way” into getting Skubal, as they often do with big name players.

Is it really bullying if you simply have a better package to send to the team that is offering up their player to be traded or is it just sour grapes, as usual? As he also likens the Kyle Tucker to just another “flavor of the month”, it leads one to assume that it is the latter.

Of course, the Dodgers are one of the very few teams who could weather an injury to a superstar like Ohtani and still be in World Series contention. And they also have the luxury of being able to keep their intentions close to the vest before the trade deadline, and after.

Max Ralph on Dodgers.com covers thoughts of how the current state of Ohtani’s body impacts the team now and in the foreseeable future.

“The knee is getting better and the goal is to get to the 100% mark,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “But I do have to focus on the hitting side, the position-player side of things. … It is still July, so I think the conversation [about pitching] will be a little different if we’re in August or September.”

One of the biggest additions to the team would be the return of Will Smith to the backstop and lineup. There was good news on Tuesday, when manager Dave Roberts announced that Smith was finally pain free and resuming some baseball activities.

Joaquin Ruiz covers that and other injury updates here.

Edwin Diaz, one of the other flavors of the month the Dodgers acquired in the off season, made his return to the team on Wednesday evening, which also coincided with his bobblehead night.

“I want to help this team to win,” Díaz said. “I’ve been on the sideline for a long time. Just can’t wait to get back.”

Diaz made seven appearances with the team before his injury, posting a not so great 10.50 ERA. It was not the start that neither he nor the team envisioned.

“There were some games I felt great, and there were some games I was trying to battle with the soreness and everything,” Díaz said. “At some point, I understood I needed to get everything done and check my arm, check my body, and if I have something, go and remove it.”

Diaz returns to help a bullpen that has struggled a bit as of late. Jack Harris of the California Post covers more details of Diaz’s return and the recent bullpen woes here.

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The Atlanta Braves return to Truist Park tonight as a -138 moneyline favorite for their series opener against the Washington Nationals. 

However, my Nationals vs. Braves predictions see value in the visitors due to their impressive offense. 

Read more in my MLB picks for Thursday, July 30, with first pitch set for 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN. 

Who will win Nationals vs Braves today: Nationals moneyline (+129)

Jake Irvin returns to the hill tonight after missing over two months with a shoulder injury. He'll be on a short leash, which means the Washington Nationals bullpen will likely be called upon earlier. That's not a bad thing, either. 

Washington's relief corps owns a 3.45 xERA across the last week while allowing just 0.31 HR/9. They're also up against an Atlanta Braves offense carrying a 77 wRC+ across their last seven contests. 

As for Atlanta starter Grant Holmes, he has posted a 6.16 xERA over his previous two appearances, allowing a 40% hard-hit rate during that span. The Nats are raking right now, collecting a 143 wRC+ in the last two weeks. 

The Nats’ pen holds down a cold Braves lineup, and Washington’s bats capitalize against Holmes early. 

I'll play this down to +100. 

COVERS INTEL: Holmes has been worse at home this season, posting a 5.05 FIP, giving the Nats a clear path to generate runs. 

Nationals vs Braves Over/Under pick: Under 9.5 (+105)

With a relatively high total of 9.5, the Under still has appeal. Washington has the better offensive path, but this doesn’t need to turn into a full-blown shootout for the Nationals to cash as an underdog.

The Braves are around league average offensively at home, and their current form makes it difficult to project them for a huge performance at the plate. Atlanta should still have chances, but this total requires both lineups to contribute consistently.

The concern is Atlanta’s bullpen, which has struggled with a 6.03 FIP over its last 26 2/3 frames while allowing 2.03 HR/9. Still, if most of the scoring comes from Washington, this can stay Under 9.5.

Play to -110. 

Nationals vs Braves weather

Weather should be favorable at Truist Park tonight, with clear skies and temperatures falling from the upper 80s to the upper 70s. Winds look light, and there is no rain concern.

The warm early conditions could slightly help carry, but overall weather should not be a major factor.

Nationals vs Braves odds

• Moneyline: Nationals +129 | Braves -138
• Run line: Nationals +1.5 (-150) | Braves -1.5 (+144)
• Over/Under: Over 9.5 (-113) | Under 9.5 (+105)

Nationals vs Braves trend

Washington has hit the moneyline in 31 of its last 50 road games (+21.65 Units / 42% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Nationals vs. Braves.

How to watch Nationals vs Braves and game info

Nationals vs Braves 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.

The Ohio Cup is officially Cleveland’s for the 2026 season. Yippee.

The Cleveland Guardians beat the Cincinnati Reds in last night’s series finale 6-1 behind a four-run fifth. Joey Cantillo was scoreless, but had a high pitch count and only threw four innings. Erik Sabrowski, having not pitched in nearly a week, earned the win. The team has a much needed off day before they start a two series homestand. Cleveland will host the Arizona Diamondbacks this weekend and the New York Mets to start the post trade deadline portion of the baseball season.

Tom Hamilton said, on last night’s broadcast, that the team is “actively trying to improve” at the trade deadline but could not elaborate further.

AL Central Update

The time to scoreboard watch is now. As the Guardians were defeating the Reds, the New York Yankees gave up a four run lead late in the game against the Chicago White Sox, tying the game at 4-4 going into the ninth. The White Sox ultimately walked it off in the twelfth inning.

The Detroit Tigers were humiliated by the Baltimore Orioles. Behind Tarik Skubal, who threw his 1000th strikeout yesterday, the Tigers gave up a seven run lead to lose 10-9 in extras.

Kansas City did Cleveland a solid. The Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 4-0. Minnesota remains 1.5 games back from Cleveland for that last Wild Card slot. Yesterday’s loss came on the heels of Byron Buxton being sent to the IL again.

Trade Updates

The trade deadline is days away, and there are some moves starting to trickle in. At the time of writing, it was announced by Jeff Passan that the Rangers are acquiring RHP Chase Silseth and catcher Logan O’Hoppe from the Los Angeles Angels. The Rangers are reported to be optioning O’Hoppe to Triple-A Round Rock Express.

Right handed starter Dustin May is on hug watch as he was seen hugging several of his Cardinals teammates after his start last night.

Jon Morosi reports that the Dodgers are eyeing Tarik Skubal, because of course they are.

Good morning, baseball fans!

Just when we thought that the San Francisco Giants’ 2026 season couldn’t get any worse, a slew of injuries have been taking players out left and right over the last week. Casey Schmitt and Trevor McDonald are done for the year. And Harrison Bader decided to scoot through it, and made his injury worse. So who knows when we’ll see him again now.

We’re really going to need to start wrapping them in bubble wrap, and telling them to stay the heck away from Jeremy Affeldt so they don’t get any more creative ideas for how to get injured in their off time. (I kid, of course. No one can match Affeldt on that front.)

Honestly though, at this point, we should really just be preparing ourselves for the worst news possible at any given moment when it comes to this team. Natural disasters, civil unrest, dive-bombing squadrons of seagulls, the four horsemen of the apocalypse, the bullpen…yeah, it’s all happening.

What do you think the next bad news to plague the Giants will be?

What time do the Giants play today?

The Giants head down south to begin a four-game series against the San Diego Padres tonight at 6:40 p.m. PT.

Randy Dobnak threw 7 scoreless innings, and Salvador Perez tripled for the first time since 2022, in Royals 4-0 win.

And in the fourth, Royals captain Salvador Perez hit a leadoff triple — his first since the 2022 campaign. Perez chugged around the bases before belly-flopping into third base with his trademark smile. “Somebody told me it was four years ago,” Perez said. “So yeah, I saw the center fielder and kind of the ball got away from him. And I was touching second base. You know, I was thinking I can make it. So I go for it.”

Here are the key stakeholders involved in the Royals new stadium project

Vinnie Pasquantino was placed on the Injured List yesterday with a sore wrist

Almost three weeks after Vinnie Pasquantino returned following surgery on a right hamate fracture, the Royals first baseman is on the injured list again as he deals with right wrist soreness.

Kansas City on Wednesday placed Pasquantino on the 10-day IL, calling up outfielder John Rave from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. Pasquantino exited Tuesday night’s 3-2 loss to the Twins in the ninth inning with right hand soreness after it had progressed throughout the game. He had felt some discomfort on a diving play at first base in Detroit over the weekend, and that discomfort hadn’t subsided.

Maikel Garcia felt pain in first rehab start and has gone back to KC for further evaluation

Maikel Garcia (left hand muscle strain) faced a setback in his rehab assignment, and is headed back to Kansas City for further evaluation.

Garcia went 0-for-3 with a strikeout and played five innings at third base on Tuesday night in his first rehab game with Double-A Northwest Arkansas. During his last at-bat, Garcia felt similar discomfort in his hand that had initially caused his injured list stint a month ago.

Some actual positive injury news, Kyle Isbel, who is rehabbing is on track to return in early August

Royals center fielder Kyle Isbel continued his Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday as he nears his return to the Major League club after being sidelined by plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

Isbel, who has been on the injured list since June 10, has played in seven rehab games so far with Omaha and is ramping up his workload, especially in center field as he gets ready for a return that could come as soon as the first week of August when the Royals return home after their road trip.

David Lesky posted his top 25 prospects in the Royals organization

Caleb Moody of Kings of Kauffman had some thoughts on what the Royals should do at the trade deadline

Angels trade catcher Logan O’Hoppe to Rangers, along with reliever Chase Silseth

Tarik Skubal notched his 1,000th career strikeout in potentially final start for Tigers, as they also blew a huge lead and lost to Baltimore

Chris Sale remains unbelievably talented for someone his age.

Here is your song of the day, Take it Easy by the Eagles

Today’s Reflections

The first two games of the four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals have been a dream of near-perfection for the Cubs. (I hope I’m not jinxing the team when I write this Tuesday afternoon)

Alex Bregman, Nico Hoerner and Seiya Suzuki had two games where they were playing out of their collective minds. Yes, it’s just two games, and yes, we don’t know how long Dansby Swanson will let Bregman use his bat (my guess is as long as Bregman wants).

Bregman was the table-setter for the team, going 7-10 with five runs scored and two RBI, including a home run and three doubles. He was a triple short of a cycle on Monday. The disclosure of Bregman using Swanson’s bat is a little funny, but as superstitious as baseball players are, he might be sleeping with the bat right now (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

Hoerner cleared off the table, going 5-for-10 with three runs scored, six RBI and a HR. As an example of Hoerner settling in, of his four hits Monday, the first two were up the middle on each side of second base. After a solid single to left field, his home run was in the left field seats. He’s still showing the occasional signs of his natural tendencies of not depending on pulling the ball. Hope he keeps building on that.

Suzuki was 5-for-10 with three runs scored, two RBI and a pair of doubles.

Carson Kelly DH’d one game, so he contributed in both games, going 3-for-9 with two runs scored and two RBI.

On Monday, Miguel Amaya went 2-for-4 with an RBI. On Tuesday, Ian Happ went 2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and two RBI on two doubles. Also, Pedro Ramirez, went 3-for-5 Tuesday with a run scored, an RBI and a double.

Colin Rea and David Peterson, enjoying the offensive support, posted solid performances. Monday night, Peterson went 5.2 innings allowing just three hits and a pair of walks while striking out three. He allowed two runs, one on a solo homer for his only mistake.

Tuesday, Rea went six innings of four-hit ball, allowing two walks and one run scored while picking up a pair of strikeouts.

There are still two games left in this key series. Hoping the hitting/pitching combo keeps chugging on.

I’m not ignoring the trade deadline. You all know the needs, and there are plenty of opinions below to pique your interests. A lot of the usual names, plus a couple of “yeah, right” names, but that keeps things interesting. My hopes? If they swing big, Detmers or Holmes for starting pitching, maybe with Gausman. For relievers, continue with the Mets by trying to pair Weaver with Raley or Minter. Adrian Morejon has entered the chat and is quite intriguing if the Cubs choose a non-Met route. This will clean out most of the top of the minors for the Cubs, though.

I tend to be pessimistic about the trade deadline, but where there’s smoke, there’s at least a bunch of sizzling embers. And the names above are just dreams, not predictions or expectations. And compared to usual years, my expectations are on a medium setting. The above fun thoughts won’t happen, so it will be more like one SP and one RP, then continue to scour the wire for RPs after the deadline.

I thought I’d add this on — I’m sure many feel discussion about Sandy Alcántara after this length of time is exhausting. But this line in one of the stories had me thinking: “He may not yet have returned to his elite form from a few years back, but the big right-hander is still a workhorse – and can be controlled through 2027 via a team option.”

A WORKHORSE! As nice as it would be to get an ace, a guy that you can (hope to) carry you deep into a game every fifth day would be a major gain. Alcantara has averaged seven innings and 102 pitches in his last five games. It would be nice to have one pitcher who when he starts the fourth inning, you don’t have to start wondering how fast the bullpen can warm up. In my fun game above, I’d put him in as a Gausman-like addition. But as a stand-alone option, gambling on him instead of Detmers would not be the most horrendous thing, especially if it opens options on other deals, like Holmes and a couple of Mets relievers. Just another out-there thought is all.

Let the dealing began!

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Tuesday’s Game Stories:

• Sean Holland (Cubs Insider): Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (7/28/26): Cubs 10, Cardinals 2 – Early Offensive Outburst Buries Birds. “The Cubs ambushed the Cardinals and starter Michael McGreevy at Busch Stadium Tuesday night.”

• Associated Press (Chicago Tribune {$}): Chicago Cubs race to an early 7-run lead on the way to 10-2 win over St. Louis Cardinals. “Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner drove in two runs apiece and the Chicago Cubs jumped out to a seven-run lead after two innings.”

• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Cubs’ mighty offense gives Rea big cushion in nice start. “The strength of the Cubs’ offense has been the ability to have multiple hitters delivering on any given night.”

Monday’s Game Stories:

• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Bregman, Hoerner back up Peterson’s solid start with 4 hits each. “Through all the peaks and valleys, the Cubs have continued to pick up wins to remain in the thick of the National League playoff picture.”

• AP (WGN.com): Bregman breaks out of slump with a HR and 2 doubles as Cubs beat Cardinals, 7-3, to open four-game series. “Alex Bregman broke out of his slump in a big way, at least for one night.”

Trade Deadline Stories:

• Zoe Grossman (Chicago Cubs On SI): Cubs Trade Rumors: Ramírez Available, Detmers a Top Target? Possible Mets Deal, More. “Another week, another fresh batch of MLB trade deadline rumors for fans to stress over before the time finally comes on Aug. 3 at 5 p.m. CT. It’s pretty widely.”
• Jedd Pagaduan (ClutchPoints): Cubs rumors: Jeff Passan responds to fan’s question on star prospect’s ‘untouchable’ trade status. “Jeff Passan shut down a Cubs fan’s way too ambitious evaluation of Pedro Ramirez’s trade value ahead of the deadline.”
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): Cardinals’ Masyn Winn drops brutal trade deadline quote ahead of game v. Cubs. “if the Cardinals do end up selling, that could deepen the pool of pitchers available on the trade market – which might help Hoyer tackle the one job he’s got ahead.“
• Ryan O’Rourke (Cubbies Crib): MLB insider made Jefferson Rojas’ 2026 trade deadline Cubs future crystal clear. “There’s no obvious spot for the team’s #2 overall farmhand anytime soon.”
• Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): ESPN insider reveals why Cubs are ‘fortunate’ amid starting rotation need. “This is a great time for the Chicago Cubs to need starting pitching help.”
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): 3 familiar Cubs trade partners that could be in play again, 2 who aren’t worth the effort. “The Chicago Cubs could soon circle back to some familiar trade partners as Jed Hoyer looks to make a splash leading up to the MLB trade deadline.”
• Brock Beauchamp (North Side Baseball): Four Popular Cubs Trade Targets, According To Fans. “We asked our community which trade candidates were drawing their attention. Here are the top four players on the list.”
• Fox Sports: Pirates? Cubs? 3 Best MLB Trade Deadline Fits For Padres Closer Mason Miller. “Here are the three best MLB trade deadline destinations for San Diego Padres star closer Mason Miller.”
• Brandon Glick (Cubbies Crib): 3 Cubs’ internal options to replace Jameson Taillon before the 2026 trade deadline. “There’s an open spot in the rotation to fill before August 3.”
• Sam Caulder (North Side Baseball): Intradivisional Blockbusters Never Happen, But This One’s Worth Dreaming On. “Rental pitchers certainly have value, but acquiring someone like Greene would strengthen the Cubs’ rotation for years, instead of months.”
• Aldo Soto (Sports Mockery): Trade Rumors: New York Mets Scouts Checking Out Cubs’ Double-A Team. “The New York Mets are one of the few teams in MLB that are clearly sellers at this year’s MLB trade deadline, and despite their disaster of a season, they have plenty of intriguing pitching targets that the Chicago Cubs would love to acquire.”
• Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Cubs, already strong, eye getting even better at trade deadline: ‘Hopefully we get everything we want’. “Having put the front office in a position to buy at the trade deadline, the Cubs are simultaneously excited by what they’ve already got and what they might add in the coming days.”
• Elias Schuster (Chicago Cubs On SI): Are the Cubs and Marlins About to Link Up Again for a Deadline Trade? “The Miami Marlins could finally be willing to part with Sandy Alcantara, and the Cubs could be lurking.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Cubs doing their part to encourage aggressive Trade Deadline. “There is no escaping the weight of each game in front of the Cubs over the next several days.”
• Elias Schuster (Chicago Cubs On SI): Cubs Ready to Deal “Majority” of Top Prospects as Big Trade Deadline Looms. “As if it wasn’t clear already, the Chicago Cubs are ready to push their chips in.”
• Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): With pitching obvious trade-deadline focus, are Cubs getting best version of David Peterson at right time? “As Jed Hoyer’s front office looks to improve the pitching staff before Monday’s trade deadline, an earlier-in-the-summer deal might be paying off, if Peterson keeps pitching like he did Monday in Missouri.”
• Randy Holt (North Side Baseball): Cubs Can Meet Their Trade Deadline Bullpen Needs By Looking Toward A Division Rival. “As the Cubs search for trade partners, there may be a pathway to one in Cincinnati. If anything, they may be able to lean heavily on one aspect of their division rival’s roster.”
• Carson Wolf (Just Baseball): 3 Mock Trades That Would Make for a Perfect Cubs Deadline. “Jed Hoyer has a chance to capitalize on one of the best teams he’s assembled in Chicago, and an aggressive deadline could be the move that defines the Cubs’.”
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): Chicago Cubs — with less than a week to MLB trade deadline — have earned investment from front office. “Less than a week from Monday’s MLB trade deadline, the Chicago Cubs are poised to bolster a roster that owns the fifth-best record in the majors.”

Jameson Taillon fallout:

• Matt Ostrowski (North Side Baseball): Jameson Taillon’s Unceremonious Dismissal Is A Result of Cubs’ Longest Unsolved Problem. “The past four seasons, the Cubs needed Jameson Taillon to do exactly what he did: prevent runs at a league-average rate, and do so over a lot of innings.”
• Aldo Soto (Sports Mockery): A. J. Pierzynski Hates the Chicago Cubs So Much That He’s Willing to Kill His Credibility Talking About Jameson Taillon. “Yes, this is an A.J. Pierzynski hate post because I cannot believe his take on the Chicago Cubs letting go of Jameson Taillon earlier this week.”
• Tyler Courtney (LastWordOnSports): What’s Next for the Cubs Rotation After Taillon DFA. “The pressure will now be on the Cubs’ rotation to step up to the challenge.”
• Elias Schuster (Chicago Cubs On SI): What’s the Next Move After Cubs Shockingly DFA Veteran Starter Jameson Taillon? “The Chicago Cubs aren’t messing around to start trade deadline week.”

Assorted Stories:

• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Report): Cubs Swap Starters for Thursday’s Finale Against the Cardinals (UPDATE). “As of this moment (i.e., before tonight’s Game 3 matchup against the Cardinals in St. Louis), the Chicago Cubs are tied for a season-high 15 games over .500.”
• Darragh McDonald (MLBTradeRumors): Cubs Select Jake Woodford, Designate Andrew Wantz For Assignment. “Woodford will give the Cubs an arm capable of absorbing some innings for the time being.”
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): Chicago Cubs’ Alex Bregman finds an offensive groove with an assist from Dansby Swanson’s bat. “Alex Bregman’s seven hits in his last two games for the Chicago Cubs tied his career high for most in a two-game stretch.”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Alex Bregman, the hitter the Cubs have needed, might be showing up at the deadline. “Part of Chicago’s calculus at the trade deadline is its well-rounded position players are good enough to win multiple rounds in October.”
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): Former Cubs first-round pick’s injury saga was even more heartbreaking than believed. “It’s easy to simply put Ed Howard in the ‘draft pick bust’ basket and move on, but there is a lot more to the story of this Chicago Cubs infield prospect. The local prep product hasn’t given up on his big-league dreams just yet.”
• Ron Luce (OnTapSportsNet): David Peterson Has Been an Unsung Hero for Cubs. “One lousy game against the Cardinals aside, David Peterson has been an unsung hero for the Cubs in their starting rotation.”
• Vanessa Serrao (Yardbarker): Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong is making the NL MVP race more competitive. “Crow-Armstrong has made the National League MVP race more competitive with his high-caliber defense, historic plate discipline and offensive surge.”

Food For Thought:

(It doesn’t fail — no matter how many times I listen to SRV, the song I’m listening to is his best and my favorite. Until the next song.)

Through the early 1980s Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble played the Texas club circuit, becoming one of the most popular bands in the area. In 1982 the band played the Montreux Jazz Festival and their performance caught the attention of David Bowie and Jackson Browne. After Double Trouble’s performance, Bowie asked Vaughan to play on his forthcoming album, Let’s Dance, which, with Stevie’s lead guitar on six of the eight songs, became Bowie’s best selling record to date. After an after-hours jam in the artists’ bar Jackson Browne offered the group free recording time at his Downtown Studio in Los Angeles. Shortly afterward, legendary producer John Hammond landed Vaughan and Double Trouble a record contract with Epic, and the band recorded its debut album in two days over the Thanksgiving weekend at Downtown Studios.

Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.

It’s trade deadline season, and though this has been a tame deadline period so far, the continuous swirl of rumors and (eventually) actual transactions will be the focus of much of the baseball world in the coming days. Yesterday, we discussed which players the Yankees were most likely to move, and today, we ask: what weakness do the Yankees most need to address, and which one are they most likely to address?

The answer to this question has been fluid throughout the year. Early on, it seemed obvious to most that the Yankees would need to make big additions to their bullpen, yet here we are at the end of July, and the Yankee relief corps has the second-best ERA in the majors. Paul Blackburn has proven to be the second coming of Luke Weaver, Brent Headrick almost never allows runs, David Bednar has been the top-tier closer the team envisioned, and Matt Blake’s latest reclamation project, Angel Chivilli, has looked dynamite since his most recent call-up. Add in the fact that players like Will Warren and Ryan Weathers (and perhaps Carlos Lagrange?) could get shifted to the bullpen if they’re not traded, and the unit looks like an area of strength, not weakness.

At other times, the matter of the infield appeared to be most pressing. Ryan McMahon and Jazz Chisholm Jr. each got off to nightmarish starts, and the shortstop duo of Anthony Volpe and José Caballero has had its ups and downs. But even on the dirt, things don’t look nearly as shaky as they did two or three months ago. Since seeing his OPS bottom out at .498 on April 22nd, Chisholm has played exactly as expected, with a .239/.309/.463 slash line and 16 homers plus 21 steals. McMahon has run a roughly .750 OPS over the last two months while bringing his usual quality defense at third base. And despite his penchant for high-profile miscues, Volpe’s combination of high-OBP and good range at short has made him a valuable contributor.

Then, there’s the most obvious need now, at catcher, with Yankee backstops having combined to “hit” .181/.261/.284. But even adding a catcher comes with major complications, as most teams are loath to make significant changes to their caching room midseason. For as awful as Austin Wells and Co. have been with the bat this year, a catcher’s primary job is to catch, to field his position, to manage his pitching staff. The Yankee backstops have done that portion of their job with aplomb this year (it’s probably not a coincidence that the Yankees prioritize defense at catcher and have the best team ERA in baseball), and it’s not trivial to just add a plus bat to that room without shaking things up on the run-prevention front.

Add it all up, and it leaves the Yankee roster in a weird spot heading into a crucial deadline. The roster has been slammed by injuries and has some seemingly clear places to upgrade, but actually making those upgrades is less straightforward than it might appear. What do you think? Where are the Yankees most likely to make moves in the next four days?

On the site today, Josh analyzes Matt Chapman as a possible hot-corner target, and Jeff writes up the great Casey Stengel as part of our Yankee Birthday series. Also, Andrew provides the day’s Rivalry Roundup, Matt delivers the All-July Team, and Peter provides his Sequence of the Week, which features great work from David Bednar.

Today’s Matchup:

New York Yankees at Chicago White Sox

Time: 2:10 p.m. EST

TV: YES Network, Chicago Sports Network

Venue: Rate Field, Chicago, IL

ESPN | Jorge Castillo: The two New York teams are expected to have wildly different trade deadlines, with the Yankees presumed to be buyers and the Mets perhaps the biggest sellers. While there’s a couple possible deals to be had between the two clubs — hello, Luke Weaver? — the largest possible splashes for the Yankees look like they could come from the West Coast. The San Diego Padres offer two relievers that could reinforce the bullpen, and the Angels feature both Zack Neto and Reid Detmers as alluring trade targets.

FanGraphs | Jay Jaffe: With Cody Bellinger out 4-6 weeks with a hamstring strain, the Yankee lineup and outfield are starting to look pretty bald. The team is already suffering significantly without Aaron Judge in the lineup, and while they still have a chance to win the AL East, they need someone to step up and start hitting, or they have an increased need to bring in an impact bat before the Trade Deadline.

Front Office Sports | Eric Fisher: As a longtime lover of MLB.tv, I get to benefit from what might be sports’ best livestreaming experience. From what I’ve heard from New York locals, the Gotham Sports App has not been a very good livestreaming experience. The platform has repeatedly had playback, UI, and general quality issues over the past two seasons, and it seems it is being sunsetted by the YES and MSG networks. Streaming service DAZN is being tapped as the replacement for Gotham Sports, and I’ll keep using MLB.tv.

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: The Yankees announced who will be coming back to the Bronx on August 8th for the 78th edition of Old-Timers’ Day. Hall of Famers Joe Torre and Mariano Rivera lead the way, and they’ll be joined by Monument Park honorees Ron Guidry, Willie Randolph, Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez, Paul O’Neill, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte. The first-time Old-Timers are Dellin Betances (born in 1988, gulp), Todd Frazier, David Weathers, and Adam Ottavino (who just pitched last year). Check out the full list!

TSN: If you know me, you know I’m a born hater. I want Shohei Ohtani to grow old and die warm in a bed surrounded by loved ones and I hope he has a rock in his shoe every single time he steps on a baseball field. Yesterday was a win for the haters, as Alek Manoah was released by the Angels. One imagines Gerrit Cole opened a particularly special bottle of wine last night’s game with the White Sox.

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The New York Yankees are slim underdogs at nearly pick-em prices when they meet the Chicago White Sox in Game 4 of a four-game series.

Chicago rakes against lefties, and my Yankees vs. White Sox predictions and MLB picks expect a high-scoring White Sox victory. 

Who will win Yankees vs White Sox today: White Sox moneyline (-112)

The Chicago White Sox offer clear moneyline value when they host the New York Yankees. 

Chicago starter Sean Burke’s 83rd-percentile extension (6.8 feet) allows his 94.9 mph heater to play like 96+ mph, lowering hard contact (35.0% Hard-Hit rate), which should slow a longball-reliant Yankees lineup. 

Conversely, Yankees starter Ryan Weathers' shorter extension (5.8 feet) leaves his four-seamer sitting in the zone, exposing him and his .441 xSLG to Chicago's .168 ISO against lefties. 

I am fading Weathers' poor fastball optics and backing the White Sox moneyline, playable to -125. 

COVERS INTEL: New York's bullpen has surrendered a 13.0% walk rate over the last 14 days. Facing a White Sox order slugging .407 with RISP, unearned traffic makes Chicago a solid choice. 

Yankees vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 Runs (-116)

The White Sox and Yankees present strong value on the Over 7.5. 

Weather's short extension robs his fastball of late deception, and Chicago's lefties are recognizing it early, exposing his 1.42 HR/9 to their .168 ISO against southpaws. 

Burke isn't airtight either: a 3.81 home xFIP and 1.11 HR/9 should allow the Yankees bats to do their share of the scoring today. 

Both bullpens raise the floor even further; Yankees relievers are walking 13.0% of hitters over the last 14 days, while Chicago's pen carries a 4.09 ERA. 

I am taking the Over to  8.5 runs. 

Yankees vs White Sox weather

It will be a warm and humid day with light winds blowing in from centerfield. 

Yankees vs White Sox odds

• Moneyline: Yankees -104 | White Sox -100
• Run line: Yankees -1.5 (+156) | White Sox +1.5 (-178)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+104) | Under 8.5 (-117)

Yankees vs White Sox trend

White Sox are 5-0 in their last 5 during game 4 of a series. Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. White Sox.

How to watch Yankees vs White Sox and game info

Yankees vs White Sox 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.

The Athletics went into the 10th inning before falling to the Boston Red Sox at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California, on July 29.

Red Sox infielder Andruw Monasterio had the heroic moment in the top of the 10th inning with a leadoff, two-run home run, taking a 91 mph, four-seam fastball 428 feet off the bat across left center to give Boston a 4-2 advantage. He finished the game going 3-for-4 with a home run and 2 RBIs.

The Red Sox improved to 56-51. They have the third-best record in the American League East.

"Really, since the road trip before the All-Star break, we gave him some run there. He started playing more, and he started playing very good defensively. He's taken some good swings against both left and right," Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy told reporters of Monasterio. "He's hit some home runs, a lot of doubles, but he's been huge for us."

It was a homecoming for Red Sox third baseman Nick Sogard, who is familiar with the Sacramento region. Sogard, 28, attended Jesuit High School in Carmichael. Naturally, he had dozens of fans out at the West Sacramento ballpark to root him on.

He didn't disappoint.

Sogard went 2-for-5 in the ballgame and accounted for an RBI in the sixth inning, which tied the game at 2.

"You feel the game going along, and actually the series, like we've had some runners, we've had some trouble getting them in, so you only get so many chances. So when you get get an opportunity, you can get a two-out hit and get the game tied, and now you've moved at that point, you've moved towards the back end of your bullpen. So, just a really, really good at-bat there," Tracy said of Sogard's timely hit.

But it was the veteran pitching of nine-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion Aroldis Chapman that stole the show and set up Monasterio's moment in the 10th.

In the ninth inning, it looked as if the A's were going to go ahead. Lawrence Butler hit a 85 mph slider that looked like it would have been a walk-off homer, but it stayed in the park and got down. Butler was caught watching the spectacle, hoping it would go over the wall, but Boston got it back in play as Butler settled on a double. Butler finished the game 2-for-3 with a home run and RBI.

Donovan Walton took a sacrifice bunt to get Butler to third, but that's where it ended as Chapman delivered a series of four-seam fastballs and splitters, racking up strikes. Jacob Wilson struck out swinging − the splitter got him. Jeff McNeil struck out on a 99 mph sinker.

Jonah Heim had a really good bat for the A's, despite the losing effort. Heim, who went 3-for-4 at the plate, hit a home run in the bottom of the second inning.

A's first baseman and slugger Nick Kurtz left the game in the first inning after taking a fastball to the elbow.

The A's fell to 45-63 and have the second-worst record in the American League West and AL overall. Their next game is Thursday, July 30 against the Red Sox at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. PT (9:40 p.m. ET).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Red Sox get 10-inning win vs. A's in homecoming for Nick Sogard