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Lance McCullers Jr., on the IL since May 19 with a right rotator cuff impingement, is scheduled to make his first rehab start tonight with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys at Constellation Field.
Josh Hendrickson is currently listed as the Space Cowboys starter tonight when the team hosts the El Paso Chihuahuas.
That, combined with the wording of the tweet from the Triple-A team, indicate McCullers will likely get a 1 inning appearance out of the bullpen.
McCullers showed promise in spring and had a terrific first start of the season, but it has been a struggle for the veteran ever since with fluctuating velocity levels and intermittent command.
McCullers currently sports a 2-3 record with a 6.86 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 8 starts in 39.1 IP.
Yes, good morning, everyone. To conclude their four-game series in St. Petersburg, the Royals and Rays face each other on this fine Thursday a.m. Itâs not every day that you can watch baseball before noonâwell, maybe it is if you live out west, but rare is this chance for Kansas Citians.
At stake: the series! The Royals won the first two games against the Rays in vastly different fashions before dropping last nightâs ho-hum contest. Now, Kansas City can take the series with a victory while the Rays, bless their hearts, can only split the series.
Letâs check out the lineups with the Royals first, of course.
Once more, Bobby Witt Jr. is not in the lineup, nor has he been placed on the Injured List. Maybe heâll show up in Chicago.
But focusing on those starting, Carter Jensen remains in the leadoff spot, where heâs hit very well. Iâm glad to see Nick Loftin getting another start, although, I mean, who else is there to play over him? Jac Caglianone didnât hit a home run yesterday, so heâs clearly a bust. Lane Thomas is batting cleanup. Sure, whatever. Salvador Perez remains in the sixth spot, Isaac Collins and Starling Marte round out the outfield, and Tyler Tolbert starts at short.
The Royals face OpenerâI refuse to call this man a starting pitcherâCasey Legumina. Have you heard of him? If so, kudos. I hadnât, though Iâm not exactly a Rays fan. Itâll be his 17th appearance for the Rays after appearing in eight games to start the season with the Mariners. Looking at his numbersâŚheâs fine.
Seth Lugo is on the mound for the Royals. Recently on 810 Sports Radio, ESPNâs Jeff Passan named Lugo as the biggest Royal name to be moved at this yearâs deadline. Makes sense. I like Lugo a lot, but heâs probably better off pitching for a contender (heâs already 36) while bringing back a younger piece or two to Kansas City.
Lugoâs last outing was an odd one. He picked up the win against the Cardinals after surrendering only one earned run (two runs total) through six. He gave up five hits and allowed three walks while not striking out a single batter. In fact, his strikeouts have decreased each of his last four starts from six to four to two to zero. Expect negative strikeouts today.
Hereâs the Rays lineup:
Game starts at 11:10 a.m. CST.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are hosting the Mariners for their final game of a three-game set in a Thursday matinee at PNC Park.
Bubba Chandler is drawing the start for the Buccos, and heâs coming off a game in which he pitched six innings against the Colorado Rockies on June 19 at Coors Field. Chandler went six innings, giving up just two earned runs, but could not grab the win as he failed to generate any run support. The Pirates offense will have to step up against the Mariners, but they wonât have it easy against Bryce Miller.
Miller has been very impressive since entering the rotation in the middle of May. He has a 3-0 record with a 1.58 ERA. He hasnât given up more than two earned runs in any start this season and has gone at least five innings in every appearance heâs made. This doesnât bode well for the Pirates, who have been inconsistent with their offense as of late.
With the Pirates slipping in the standings, they need to ensure that they arenât dropping too many games, especially at home. The halfway point of the season has come and gone, so the Piratesâ margin for error is growing increasingly thin for the standings.
Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh
Pitching Matchup: Bryce Miller (3-1, 1.58 ERA) vs. Bubba Chandler (2-7, 4.62 ERA)
BD community, chime off in the comments section below.
The WooSox got out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on Wednesday against the Mud Hens (DET), thanks to a two-run double from Allan Castro. The pitching was unable to hang on, though, with starter Raymond Burgos allowing four runs (three earned) in four innings. Reliever Tyler Samaniego gave up a home run in the fifth, to get the loss, falling to 1-1 with a 5.56 ERA in his time at Triple-A. Samaniego had a 2.66 ERA in the big leagues over 20 1/3 innings, but has struggled at Worcester over 11 1/3 minor league innings.
Braiden Ward had two hits for the Woo Sox in the leadoff spot, stealing his 33rd and 34th bags of the season. Ward would be a great September call-up when the rosters expand for his speed, or even the last guy on the bench in a playoff series ⌠never mind.
Brayan Bello (0-0, 5.19) will get the ball for the Woo Sox on Thursday at 6:45.
Lastly, when I used to read the Boston Globe box scores meticulously every day as a kid, my favorite team name in any sport or level was the Toledo Mud Hens. Iâm just glad this team name still exists in the same form.
The Sea Dogs exploded for 14 hits against the Yard Goats (COL) on Wednesday, in a 10-4 rout. Portland also had eight walks and a hit by a pitch on the day. By my math, thatâs 23 baserunners. Tons of multi-hit efforts, including three from Matt Fraizer, and two from Franklin Arias, Nate Baez, Jack Winnay, and Marvin Alcantara.
Starting pitcher Hayden Mullins fell one out short of qualifying for the win, going 4 2/3 with 6 strikeouts and 2 runs allowed. Michael Sansone took it from there, going the final 4 1/3 for the win, allowing 2 runs. Hopefully, this is a step in the right direction for Mullins, who was excellent a year ago (2.21 ERA between High-A and Double-A) but had not gotten out of the fourth inning in three consecutive starts.
Gage Ziehl (3-2, 4.56) will start for the Sea Dogs on Thursday at 7:10.
The best performance of the day throughout the minor leagues for the Red Sox was from last yearâs eighth-round pick, Dylan Brown. Brown dominated Asheville (HOU) hitters over seven innings, striking out 11. Brown has a 3.34 ERA combined between Salem and Greenville this season, in 12 games.
Luke Heyman hit a two-run homer for the Drive, his fifth, and Antonio Anderson had a two-hit day.
This line in the box score made me laugh. I wish I could find a video. âEjections: Drive hitting coach Jarrett Pico ejected by HP umpire Natanael Rodriguez Garcia (2nd).â
Jojo Ingrassia (1-0, 1.52) takes the hill for Greenville at 6:45 on Thursday.
The RidgeYaks got ahead early, thanks to home runs from Adonys Guzman and Andruw Mussett, to take a 3-0 lead after two.
Starter Leighton Finley, a sixth-round pick a year ago, took it from there, pitching great against the Pelicans (CHC) to pick up the win on Wednesday. He struck out ten batters in five innings, allowing two runs. Williams Rodriguez picked up a seven-out save, not allowing a run.
Cole Tolbert (1-0, 2.55) will toe the rubber for Salem on Thursday at 6:35.
Finally, a reminder that if you want to chat about major league or minor league Red Sox baseball, you can reach me on Twitter @BobOsgood15 or by email at redseatpodcast@gmail.com
The 1993 Yankees were a pivot point. After posting four straight losing seasons for the first time in nearly 80 years, the â93 squad climbed out of the morass with an 88-win season. While that finish left them with the third-best record in a two-team AL playoff picture, it served notice that the Gene Michael and Buck Showalter-led Yankees were on the rise. On a team laden with veteran stars like Don Mattingly, Wade Boggs, and Paul OâNeill alongside up-and-comers like Bernie Williams, the teamâs most valuable position player was a much less heralded player who, at the age of 30, was getting the chance to start full-time for the first time in his career.
Robert Michael Stanley
Born: June 25, 1963 (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Yankees Tenure: 1992-95, 1997
Mike Stanley grew up in Florida, where he starred on both sides of the ball at the University of Florida, earning all-scholastic SEC team honors. Taken by Texas in the 16th round of the 1985 MLB Draft, the catcher quickly rose through the Rangersâ system, hitting .327 across three levels of the minor leagues to turn himself into a legitimate prospect. Stanley made his debut on the day before his 23rd birthday in 1986 and the future looked bright.
However, he struggled to translate his offensive profile into big-league success. Over parts of six seasons, he never held down a regular job while posting a subpar .699 OPS. âI never knew until about the last day (of spring training) whether I had a job,â said Stanley of this frustrating period. Things got bad enough that he considered walking away from the game altogether. âI love fishing,â he later said. âI thought I might open a tackle shop.â
The Rangers did not offer Stanley a contract after the 1991 season, letting him become a free agent. With his career on the brink, Michael offered him an opportunity as a non-roster invitee to compete in Yankees camp for a backup role behind Matt Nokes. The legendary talent evaluator saw enough in the consistent, âquality at-batâ and ability to handle a pitching staff Stanley demonstrated with Texas. âI made calls around to ask people I respect about him, and I liked what I heard,â said the Yankees GM of the fortuitous decision.
Stanley indeed won a role with the â92 Yankees and began to show some offensive upside, hitting a career-high eight homers in just 173 at-bats while posting an .800 OPS. He also contributed positively to the clubhouse culture, making âgoonersâ t-shirts for himself, Pat Kelly, Mike Gallego, Jim Leyritz, and Randy Velarde to wear in a tongue-in-cheek embrace of their roles as part-time players.
That performance was enough to net Stanley a two-year extension after the season, giving him some welcome stability for the first time in his career. âWhen youâre not a superstar and not one of the top five players in the game, you feel fortunate to be in the majors,â Stanley said upon receiving the deal. âI think you sit back and appreciate it more when youâve been the 25th man. I know I do.â
Expected to serve as a backup once again, Stanley quickly overtook a struggling Nokes and ended up playing in 130 games, by far the most of his career. He emerged suddenly and unexpectedly as one of the best offensive catchers in baseball, slashing .305/.389/.534 with 26 homers and 84 RBI while leading Yankees regulars in everything from WAR to OPS and OPS+ and earning a Silver Slugger.
Even the man himself was caught off guard by his sudden dominance. âThere is no explaining it. I never hit like this on the big-league level,â said Stanley. âI feel good, donât feel any extra pressure. I feel I belong.â
His manager agreed. âMike Stanley exemplifies what in a lot of ways our team is about this year,â said Showalter. âHeâs a gamer.â
Entering the â94 season with higher expectations, Stanley proved his first season as a starter was no fluke, once again hitting .300 and improving on his OPS in the strike-shortened season. By the time baseball returned in â95, Stanley was firmly entrenched in the middle of the Yankeesâ order, making his first and only All-Star. In the first game of a doubleheader on August 10th, he set career-highs against the Cleveland team that would romp to the pennant, clobbering three homers and driving in seven runs.
That October, Stanley joined most of his teammates in seeing the first playoff action of his career. He rose to the challenge against Seattle, recording at least one hit in each of the four ALDS games in which he played. He particularly shone as a bright spot in his teamâs losses, reaching base in six of his 14 plate appearances in Games 3-5.
The Yankeesâ heartbreaking first-round exit prompted many changes before the â96 season. Michael and Showalter were out at GM and manager, with Bob Watson and Joe Torre taking their places. With Stanley a free agent and his greatest internal champions no longer calling the shots, the new administration chose to trade for the more defensively sound Joe Girardi to man the backstop and let Stanley walk.
Stanley signed with the Red Sox that offseason and was magnanimous after his departure, offering his best wishes to Girardi when the latter was booed at a fan festival by Yankees fans upset with Stanleyâs departure. âI appreciate immensely the fanfare I had in New York,â Stanley said. âBut itâs not (Girardiâs) fault. Whatâs done is done. Itâs time for me to move on and for him to come in and do a job for them.â
Perhaps in part due to the grace with which he handled his exit, Stanley had a brief second act in pinstripes. To augment an aging roster at first base and DH, Watson traded for Stanley in August of 1997 in what would be the last trade between the Yankees and Red Sox for 17 years. So beloved was Stanley among his former teammates that Wade Boggs and Paul OâNeill had made sure his locker, situated between theirs, remained empty after his departure. With his locker reclaimed, Stanley posted an .871 OPS in 28 games before going 3-for-4 during another futile ALDS tilt, this time at the hands of Cleveland.
Despite Watson expressing an interest in retaining Stanley, he signed with Toronto that offseason. Heâd play three more seasons, splitting time between the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Athletics before retiring at the age of 37. The 16th-rounder who didnât earn a regular role until the age of 30 ended his career with 1,138 hits and 187 home runs to go with a sterling .827 OPS.
After hanging up his spikes, Stanley briefly served as a bench coach for Boston in 2002 before retiring to Florida for good. He remains a fan favorite among the Yankees faithful for his underdog narrative, prowess on both sides of the ball, and reliability during a time when baseball in the Bronx became exciting again. Please join us in wishing a very happy 63rd birthday to Mike Stanley.
See more of the âYankees Birthday of the Dayâ series here.
The Pittsburgh Pirates had struggled in the month of June but despite the 40-40 record the Bucs are still three games out of a Wild Card spot.
Whatâs clear is the team has to improve before this yearâs MLB Trade Deadline, and that marker is quickly approaching. With limited time, the Pirates have to accomplish these three things before the deadline passes.
The biggest issue right now with the bullpen is that there isnât a single pitcher that you can rely on in the late innings. Guys like Mason Montgomery, Gregory Soto, Yohan Ramirez and Denis Santana have been too inconsistent. Since there has been that inconsistency that has put a lot of pressure on the starting rotation which of late has been shaky as well. Going six innings isnât enough anymore, as turning the ball over to the pen is a gamble manager Don Kelly seems hesitant to play.
The Bullpen right now ranks 18th in the league with a 4.38 ERA. That needs to improve if Pittsburgh wants to stay in the National league Wild Card race.
The Pirates adding Hunter Stratton is fine but its not a piece that will completely change the bullpen and make them better. A reunion with Aroldis Chapman is something that could work. Antonio Senzatela from the Colorado Rockies is another pitcher that could come in and change the bullpen for the better.
Consistency can go a long way for this team, especially offensively. The Bucs made a big move in the offseason to bring in 35 year old veteran Marcell Ozuna as the designated hitter. However, Ozuna has struggled with a .201 batting average and six home runs with 25 RBIs.
Those stats donât warrant him starting on an everyday status. The Buccos have been putting different guys like Bryan Reynolds, Henry Davis and Spencer Horwitz. The lack of consistency in this lineup is caused by injuries to Konor Griffin and Oneil Cruz. Itâs clear to me that the Pirates need to move on from Ozuna, and it starts by finding someone they can put at the DH spot everyday that can produce.
With Oneil Cruz expected to miss more time, the Pirates really need to find another outfielder. Jake Mangum hasnât been horrible but Billy Cook and Tyler Callihan arenât reliable options.
Even when Cruz comes back he could be the reliable designated hotter that the pirates need. His defense is still not great and there is nowhere else on the field to put him. I donât think Bryon Buxton is realistic but someone like Taylor Ward from the Baltimore Orioles could be someone to target and be that reliable piece with Ryan OâHearn and Bryon Reynolds.
Adding another strong right handed bat like Ward would help the lineup as well with the injury of Konnor Griffin.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Kansas City Royals fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Earlier this week, we asked if yâall wanted to watch Jac Caglianone play in the home run derby
I have to admit, Iâm surprised by these results. Almost all of the comments I saw on the poll were quite negative in one way or another toward Jac Caglianone participating, but perhaps I should take that as a sign that the comments arenât actually representative of much.
In the end, not just a plurality, but a full majority of voters think Jac belongs in the Home Run Derby, hitting his hammers, jacks, and whatever other word play we can come up with to signify his home runs. A full 53%! And yeah, after this poll question went up, Jac had a two bomb night in Tampa Bay, including a mammoth shot that absolutely went further than the 444-foot estimate and line drive hit so hard that it cleared the centerfield fence before it could drop enough to stay in the park.
31% of voters felt that while Jac might âdeserveâ a trip to the derby, they hoped he wouldnât go. Most of you who voted that way fear that it would wreck his swing, I imagine. If he does get to participate, you can take solace in the fact that every study on the subject has debunked this myth.
16% of fans just donât think Jac would be one of the best possible contestants. And to those people, I submit the above highlight video. Watch those two bombs again and tell me the guy who can hit those doesnât have a place in the derby. At the very worst, Jac Caglianone deserves to go on the same merits that saw Oneil Cruz selected last year. He hits the absolute tar out of the ball on a regular basis, and there simply canât be eight more people in MLB who would be more fun to watch strut their stuff like that.
Last year, MLB The Show developer Sony San Diego studios brought back an in-game prediction game that had been part of the series previous for the Home Run Derby. Players were encouraged to guess who would win the derby, who would hit the longest home run, who would hit the most home runs in a round, and which league would win the All-Star Game itself. Once I knew who was in the field, guessing who would hit the longest dinger was a no-brainer for me; it was always going to be Oneil Cruz. Cruz indeed hit the longest blast at an estimated 513 feet. Outside of maybe Giancarlo Stanton or Cruz again, Jac has the best chance among current MLB players to outdo that.
These survey results are sponsored by FanDuel.
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The Chicago Cubs won the first three games of this series while scoring 9+ runs in each.
My Cubs vs. Mets predictions and MLB picks are banking on more of the same as they look to complete the sweep on Thursday night.
The Chicago Cubs have feasted on right-handed pitching over the past two weeks, ranking seventh in wOBA, eighth in OPS, and first in walk rate.
They should get to Freddy Peralta, who has allowed four runs or more in four of his past six starts â and has simply not lived up to expectations with the New York Mets.
Matthew Boyd is unlikely to provide much length in his return, but the Cubs should be able to patch things together against an offense sitting 22nd in runs and 29th in OBP.
Back Chicago to -120.
COVERS INTEL: Freddy Peralta ranks in the 31st percentile in pitcher run value.At least 13 runs were scored in each of the first three games, and Iâm expecting more fireworks in tonight's finale.
Chicago has plated 6+ runs in six consecutive games and scored five or more in eight of the past 10. The Cubs are firing on all cylinders at the plate and can be relied upon to do heavy lifting.
Boyd has given up multiple runs in four of five starts and will be making his first MLB appearance since May 3. Behind him is a taxed bullpen; New York should score.
Play the Over to -130.
Temperatures are expected to approach 80 with 15-mile-per-hour winds blowing out. Clear boost to the offenses.
The Mets have cashed the Over in 13 of their last 23 games for +6.3 units and a 25% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Mets.
| Location | Citi Field, Flushing, Queens |
| Date | Thursday, June 25, 2026 |
| First pitch | 7:10 p.m. ET |
| TV | MARQ, SNY |
| Cubs starting pitcher | Matthew Boyd (2-1, 6.00 ERA) |
| Mets starting pitcher | Freddy Peralta (5-6, 4.83 ERA) |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
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.
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Welcome in to Friday Junior's MLB player props & best bets for June 25.
One pitcher is entirely unhittable right now, while the other is a prime target for a blowout. Tonightâs card centers around two massive pitching angles: backing the sheer dominance of Cristopher SĂĄnchez and aggressively fading a fading Zac Gallen. Here is how we are exploiting the mismatch.
Let's dig in to my top MLB picks for Thursday.
| Player | Pick | Odds |
|---|---|---|
 Cristopher SĂĄnchez | Over 6.5 Strikeouts | +107 |
 Zac Gallen | Under 3.5 Strikeouts | -103 |
| Zac Gallen | Over 2.5 Earned Runs | -141 |
Sure, the Washington Nationals have been one of the most dangerous offenses in baseball this season, but they have yet to face a pitcher of Cristopher SĂĄnchez's caliber. On the year, Washington owns a 38.1% strikeout rate against left-handed pitching at home. Over their last 12 games against southpaws, that number still sits at 25%.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies' ace has been on an absolute tear, posting a 28.54% strikeout rate and 31.09% whiff rate this season. He draws a Nationals lineup that features five hitters striking out above the league average. SĂĄnchez also enters with an elite rating on Batters-Box. In 47 elite-rated starts, he has recorded 6+ strikeouts 57.45% of the time and 7+ strikeouts 42.55% of the time.
Take this down to even money, but do not pay any juice.
If you enjoy my write-ups, first off, thank you. Secondly, you are going to hear me mention Zac Gallen's name a lot today.
The Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander draws an offense that is not only on fire, but simply does not strike out. According to Batters-Box's current season dataset, the St. Louis Cardinals have zero hitters above the league-average strikeout rate.
They also have five hitters in their projected lineup with a strikeout rate of 15% or lower over their last 60 at-bats against right-handed pitching. As a team, St. Louis owns just a 15.9% strikeout rate over its last 12 games.
On the other side, Gallen owns the lowest matchup strikeout rate on the board today, per Batters-Box. Over his last five starts, his strikeout rate has dipped below 10%.
I find it hard to envision him shoving here. He has struggled for much of the season, the Cardinals' bats have been scorching hot, and I expect that to continue.
Go for the Under.
One of the worst-rated pitchers on today's slate happens to be Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen, who brings a poorly rated matchup ISO, hard contact rate, and ground ball rate to the table.
Away from home this season, Gallen owns a 7.68 ERA and 6.00 xERA while allowing 48% hard contact and an 11.5% barrel rate.
To make matters worse, he draws seven, yes, SEVEN elite-rated St. Louis Cardinals hitters, according to Batters-Box's current season ratings.
Over their last 12 games, the Cardinals have been squaring the ball up all over the yard, posting a 122 wRC+, .782 OPS, .345 wOBA, and .151 ISO. With that many bats in a premium spot tonight, how could I not back the Cardinals against Gallen's noodle arm?
If you are not in the juice-paying business, the Cardinals First Five Team Total Over 2.5 is another great way to attack this matchup.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
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.
I want everyone to be honest with themselves. Ignoring the sequencing, did you think the Cubs would be on a pace for more than 87 wins? I did. So yeah, Iâm a little disappointed where this half of baseball ended up. I donât have to convince any of you that this team left wins on the table. Though if we are being honest, this team stole a ton of games in the first half too. It absolutely won more than a handful of games that should probably have been lost while losing more than a handful that probably should have been won. It has been that kind of an odd season.
But the team approaches todayâs halfway point of the season at 43-37 and going 9-3 over their last 12 after having dropped to 34-34. Certainly, if youâd listed all of the injuries this team would face over the first 80 games, I wouldnât have thought theyâd win even 43. And yet, weâre left feeling a bit like theyâve underachieved. The only reason that ends up mattering is that the road ahead looks really bumpy and problematic.
Iâve always said that the whole thing about too many teams being in front of you is fairly overrated. The only question that matters when you fall behind the pace is if you are capable of stringing together the type of 10-game winning streak or 15 wins in 20 games type of stretch that really makes up ground. If you are that type of team, you can work your way through a crowd.
The problem for this team is that the projection going forward just canât be very optimistic. Maybe the lineup and some let up in new injuries in the second half allows the team to play .500 or a little better ball the rest of the way. Playing .500 the rest of the way nets 84 wins. Iâll eat my hat if that is even within a few games of a playoff spot in this yearâs NL.
I donât see how this team can get on any kind of sustained streak and I donât know how youâd convince this front office and ownership group that you can give up the kind of talent necessary to swing a needle moving trade. Without a needle moving trade, you are relying on healthy productive returns and development from within. I can allow myself to think of Matthew Boyd making strong contributions down the stretch. Do I think Jameson Taillon can? What would I be basing that on? He hasnât had real sustained success in quite some time.
This team has been excellent against NL East teams struggling at the time the teams meet. This team has otherwise been extremely ordinary. The Cubs are 12-1 against the Phillies and Mets and 31-36 against the rest of the league. After this series, the Cubs will be done with both. The Cubs presently have more wins against the NL East (14 in 19 games) than the Central (8 in 17 games). There are a heck of a lot more games left against the Central than the East.
This series has been a lot of fun. Just prepare for a rough road ahead.
Game 79 Positives:
Game 80 Positives:
Game 79, June 24: Cubs 10, Mets 3 (42-37)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
THREE GOATS:
WPA Play of the Game: Dansby Swansonâs sixth inning three-run homer gave the Cubs a three run lead. (.356)
Mets Play of the Game: Jared Youngâs two-run homer with no outs in the fourth opened the scoring in the game. (.194)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 80, June 24: Cubs 10, Mets 5 (43-37)
THREE HEROES:
THREE GOATS:
WPA Play of the Game: A.J. Ewingâs two-run homer with two outs in the second gave the Mets a two run lead.(.207)
Cubs Play of the Game: Dansby Swansonâs RBI-triple with a runner at second and no outs in the sixth inning gave the Cubs a 5-4 lead (.182).
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 78 Winner: Pete Crow-Armstrong over Dansby Swanson 59-50 (113 total votes).
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Dansby Swanson is +7 over the Cubs last six games to leave the bottom of the leaderboard.
Up Next: The fourth and final game of this series and seventh and last game of the season series. The Cubs are a perfect 3-0 in the series and 6-0 on the season against the Mets. Matthew Boyd (2-1, 6.00) returns. Heâll face Freddy Peralta (5-6, 4.83).
2026 MLB Draft Preview: Peyton Bonds scouting report.
The 2026 is about a month away â the first round kicks off on July 11, 2026 â so its time to start offering capsule looks at players the Texas Rangers could select with their top picks. The Rangersâ first round pick is at #16, their second round pick is at #54, and their third round pick is at #89.
Leading up to draft day, we will be doing writeups of some of the players who could end up getting selected by the Rangers with one of their first three picks. Today we are looking at Rutgers outfielder Peyton Bonds.
Peyton Bonds is a 6â5âł, 230 lb. righthanded hitting centerfielder who just wrapped up his junior season at Rutgers. Bonds is the son of Bobby Bonds, Jr., and the nephew of Barry Bonds. Undrafted coming out of high school in New Jersey in 2023, he spent his freshman season at Campbell, then transferred to Rutgers, where he has played the past two seasons. Bonds turns 21 next month.
Bonds has a good hit tool and an ability to make contact that belies his bloodlines, at least as far as his grandfather goes. MLB Pipeline praises his bat-to-ball skills and his bat speed. He also puts up impressive exit velocities. However, his present in-game power is lacking â he has just 16 homers in three years of college ball. Given his size and bat speed, it would seem that he should be able to hit for power, but he has had a high groundball rate in college. A team that drafts him is going to be looking to work with him on getting the ball in the air consistently.
There appear to be differing opinions on his speed, with BA putting it at plus and MLB Pipeline at average. However, it appears heâs seen as good enough defensively to stick in center field. MLB Pipeline says he earns praise for his instincts, makeup and âpassion for the game.â
Bonds put up a .267/.341/.427 slash line in 170 plate appearances at Campbell as a freshman while going 14 for 14 on stolen base attempts. Upon transferring to Rutgers as a sophomore, he slashed .300/.384/.430, with 45 Ks against 21 walks in 258 plate appearances while stealing 16 bases in 18 attempts. He took a step forward in 2026, though he missed time due to a hamstring injury suffered in April. He slashed .352/.436/.535 in 166 plate appearances, walked 16 times against 21 Ks, and was 13 for 15 on the basepaths.
Baseball America has Bonds at #109 on their board. MLB Pipeline has Bonds at #74 on their board. Kiley McDaniel puts Bonds at #93 on his top 150 list. Keith Law does not include Bonds on his board. Fangraphs has does not have Bonds on their board. Baseball Prospectus does not have Bonds on their top 30 draft board.
Bonds is a guy who has shown significant improvement year-over-year, going from an underwhelming performing in the Colonial League as a freshman to being one of the best position players for Rutgers as a sophomore, and then the best player on the team this year. That sort of improvement would show an ability to adapt and show significant growth which, along with the high makeup grades, could indicate greater potential upside, as well as a greater likelihood of Bonds getting the most out of his abilities.
Despite his size and pedigree, heâs not a toolshed like his grandfather and uncle. His father was a grinder who was an 18th round pick in 1992 who barely played above A-ball, who spent seven years playing in the Padres and Giants systems, then five more in the Indy Leagues. Bonds should go well before the 18th round.
Bonds is someone who would seem to profile as a second to fourth round pick. If the reports on the defense are correct and heâll be able to handle center field going forward, it gives him a decent floor. His ability to succeed long-term in the majors, though, likely will be dependent on his ability to elevate the ball, and convert the impressive exit velocities into extra base hits instead of 6-3s.
Previously:
The other day, we posted a poll about which thing has been most surprising this season for the Phillies. The results:
Brandon Marshâs tenure with the Phillies have been something of a roller coaster. His acquisition in 2022 was met with a bit consternation as the Phillies had to send Logan OâHoppe back to the Angels in return. At that time, OâHoppe was seen as the heir apparent to J.T. Realmuto and his inclusion for what some called a platoon player was seen as an overpay by Dave Dombrowski.
I think itâs safe to say that that trade can be deemed a success.
However, in the years since then, the allure of the platoon was too strong for Rob Thomson. Marsh was summarily chained to the bench whenever a southpaw has been on the mound opposing the team, though the numbers behind the decision were sound (.202/.276/.309 in 393 PA against LHP from 2022-25). This year, those numbers have perked up quite a bit (.273/.305/.429 in 82 PA against LHP), leading to his getting more time against southpaws. It doesnât hurt that the team didnât have a right handed option better than Marsh to take on that platoon with him, but it reminds me a bit of Chase Utley when he first came to the majors. One of his bugaboos was that he also struggled with left handed pitching, but it was plainly obvious he just needed to be exposed to them more often, his natural hitting talent great enough that he should have been able to be successful.
Marshâs success against left handed pitching has carried over and led to greater overall numbers, his ability to mash right handed hitting remaining the same. In fact, since the beginning of last season, Marshâs 121 OPS+ is eighth among all outfielders in the game. Heâs been good for a while, so his success this year shouldnât be too, too surprising. But in a season in which some things have been good, some things have been bad, you voted Marshâs year as the most surprising thing about them.
1903
It was a tale of two games.
The first nine innings, played to a tie, was full of hitting and sloppy fielding (12 errors, six per team). The second nine, also played to a tie, featured a pitcherâs duel that ended in the dark.
The White Sox and Highlanders (Yankees) played the longest game in American League history (and just shy of the MLB record set a year earlier between the Colts and Pirates), squeezing in 18 innings in fewer than four hours.
The game was tied on a barrage of late hits from the Highlanders, and the White Sox only escaped the innings thanks to a deft catch by catcher Ed McFarland in foul territory that doubled up a New York runner.
From there, it was goose eggs, as White Sox reliever Roy Patterson and New York sub Jesse Tannehill ended up pitching longer than the starters in the game â Patterson giving up seven hits and two runs over 9 â innings, Tannehill nine and one over 11 frames.
The White Sox flubbed two chances to score in the final two frames. In the 17th, Frank Isbell led off with a double and was sacrificed to third â but Lee Tannehill hit a comebacker to the mound and Isbell was caught off of third, to be thrown out at home. And with two outs in the 18th, Ducky Holmes got on with a bunt and then moved to third on a hit-and-run with Fielder Jones. Jones stole second base, but Danny Green could muster only a weak tap to second base.
At approximately 7:15 p.m., umpire Jack Sheridan called the game, to objections from neither team. The White Sox were stalled at 25-24 and in fifth place in the AL, on their way to falling to 60-77 and seventh by seasonâs end.
1940
It was Bill Webb Day at Comiskey Park, honoring the Chicago native, longtime White Sox third-base coach and newly-promoted farm system director. Webb never played for the White Sox (over his 14-year pro career, Webb in fact appeared in just five MLB games, with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1917) but spent the majority of his post-career time in Chicago.
Webbâs story has a sad end, however, as he died just three years later, at age 47, after suffering a heart attack while driving to work at 35th & Shields.
1953
White Sox manager Paul Richards was regarded as one of the smartest people ever to lead a baseball team.
With the Sox going for a series sweep of New York and leading 4-2 in the ninth inning, Richards brought in pitcher Harry Dorish to relieve Billy Pierce. Only Richardsdidnât remove Pierce from the game â he moved him to first base! After Dorishfaced two hitters, Pierce was brought back to the mound to end the game â which he did, getting Johnny Mize to hit into a force out and then striking out pinch-hitter Bill Renna.
Richards pulled off this maneuver at least twice as the White Sox skipper, the first time on May 15, 1951 at Boston. In both cases, the pitchers involved were Dorish and Pierce.
Years later, baseball writer Rob Neyer began tracking these moves in a historical database, and one of his readers termed the maneuvers âWaxahachie Swaps.â Richards, who also made these swaps twice as Baltimore Orioles manager, was known as the Wizard of Waxahachie (Texas).
1961
Completing a doubleheader sweep and four-game series sweep of the Washington Senators at Comiskey Park, the White Sox ended a long homestand with a 15-1 record, one of two (1906) in team history. Normally such a run, during these White Sox glory years, would have ended with the White Sox well better than .500 and leading the AL, but the 1961 team had started slow; the homestand began with the Pale Hose 21-33, 14 1â2 games out and flirting with the basement of the AL. By the start of the next road trip, Chicago had re-set itself, at 36-34, 9 1â2 games out and in fifth place.
The White Sox could only make it to fourth place in 1961, where they finished the year, at 86-76. It was their worst finish in the standings in 10 years.
1962
With the team stuck at .500 in a season that aspired to a pennant, the White Sox made two off-day trades, picking up reliever Dean Stone and left fielder Charlie Maxwell.
Stone came over from the Houston Colt .45s for Russ Kemmerer and finished out the season well as the part-time closer for the club. Over 29 games he tallied nine saves along with a 3.26 ERA/3.38 FIP and 0.7 WAR. The White Sox sold Stone to Baltimore in the offseason, where he played his final season. Kemmerer, a similar relief pitcher as Stone, actually ended up providing the same 0.7 WAR value for Houston in 1962, so this was a win-win deal. Incidentally, this was the first trade the White Sox had ever made with the Colt .45s.
Maxwell cost the White Sox outfielder Bob Farley and gave the White Sox a nice punch in the outfield for the rest of 1962, tallying 1.4 WAR over 69 games. Maxwell played one more season with the White Sox and was released very early in the 1964 season, ending his career. Farley fared poorly for Detroit (-0.5 WAR) in 1962 and was out of baseball after that season.
Ultimately, the White Sox fell short of the 1962 pennant, finishing 85-77 and fifth in the AL. It was Chicagoâs poorest placing since 1950.
1964
An overflow crowd of 52,712 jammed Comiskey Park to watch the White Sox hammer the Cubs, 11-1, in the annual âBoys Benefit Game.â
The Sox, who played as the âvisitingâ team that night, hit four home runs, including back-to-back-to-back shots in the third inning. The home runs were hit by Ron Hansen, Tommy McCraw and Jerry McNertney. Floyd Robinson also had a home run.
What was significant, however, was the fact that fans were allowed on the outfield grass behind ropes, because there wasnât any room left in the park. It was the last time fans have ever been permitted to stand on the playing field for a game.
The game ranks No. 6 all-time in attendance at old Comiskey Park, which is by extension No. 6 all-time in White Sox and Chicago baseball annals.
1991
White Sox pitcher Jack McDowell fired the first shutout for the home team at new Comiskey Park, blanking the Mariners, 4-0. Jack was masterful on the day, and carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning. Heâd end up with a three-hitter, and seven strikeouts.
2006
With the White Sox trailing the Houston Astros, 9-2, in the eighth inning at U.S. Cellular Field, second baseman Tadahito Iguchi hit a three-run home run to narrow the deficit to 9-5. In the ninth inning, Iguchi connected again, this time for a grand slam to tie the game.
The Sox lost the game in the 13th inning, but Iguchi set a franchise record, as the White Sox had hit grand slams in three consecutive days. Scott Podsednik hit a grand slam two days earlier, and Joe Crede did so the day before.
2016
The White Sox tied the franchise record, first set in a 29-6 blowout in 1955, by blasting seven home runs in a single game. It took place against the Blue Jays at U.S. Cellular Field.
But there was one problem ⌠they lost the game, 10-8.
It was only the third time in baseball history a team hit that many home runs in a game and lost (Detroit, in 1995 and 2004). The Sox players to hit home runs were Brett Lawrie (two), Dioner Navarro, J.B. Shuck, Tim Anderson, Alex Avila and Adam Eaton.
Feelings of deja vu in Triple-A and Double-A as the Comets and Drillers experienced similar results to those of the previous day.
Chase Harlan had been one of the standout performers not only with the Tower Buzzers but across the whole Dodger minor league system when he got promoted to High-A earlier this week. In the first game with the Loons, Harlan recorded half of the teamâs six RBI in a win over the Lugnuts.
Through 58 games, Harlan has an OPS above 1.000 and nearly as many RBI (48) as he does strikeouts (52), looking like he wonât have much issue adjusting to the promotion.
Providing a sort of carbon copy of the previous dayâs game, the Comets once again fell on the losing end of a game decided by one run in which the bulk of its offense came from the rehabbing Teoscar HernĂĄndez. The two-run shot in the third inning from HernĂĄndez accounted for all of the Cometsâ RBI in a 4-3 loss, with the other run coming on an error.
Opportunities were there for a bigger output, but the Comets finished the game 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position, wasting Alek Thomasâ three-hit effort, which accounted for a third of the teamâs total hits.
HernĂĄndez might have had a big game, but other known big leaguers did not so much. Starter Landon Knack only recorded four outs before being removed in the middle of the second inning, and reliever Evan Phillips also allowed a run in the third.
What is it more rare, one might wonder: to lose a second consecutive game by a score of 10-1 or for a starting pitcher to allow four runs without conceding a single hit? All of this happened to the Drillers against the Hooks, as starter Peter Heubeck could not find the strike zone in the first inning, walking six hitters before being pulled in the opening frame.
Mike Sirota did not homer like the day before, but he did record a hit to take his on-base streak to a whopping 60 games. Other than that, there was very little to talk about concerning the offense that finished the game with just four hits.
Promoted after a phenomenal start to the year in Ontario, Chase Harlan started his Loons career on the right foot, recording a pair of hits and three RBI in the cleanup spot, the protagonist of a 6-2 win away from home against the Lugnuts.
The Loons took the lead with a first-inning home run from Emil Morales and never looked back, supported by five scoreless frames from starter Aidan Foeller. There was the potential to see a rare four-inning save from Isaac Ayon, but three solid innings were enough, and Alex Makarewich came out for the final frame.
Eleven hits and 15 walks drove forward one of the Tower Buzzers more complete offensive performances of the season, beating the Rawhide 13-9. Freshly activated leadoff hitter Kendall George was one of the few who struggled before being removed for pinch-hitter Oswaldo Osorio, who hit an important three-run shot in the late innings. However, the Tower Buzzers had their secondary leadoff hitter cooking: second baseman Javier Herrera reached in all five of his plate appearances with a hit and four walks, scoring three of Ontarioâs 13 runs.
After going through a homer drought between the end of May and the start of June, teenager Ching-Hsien Ko has once again found his power stroke. Ko was responsible for one of the Tower Buzzersâ three homers, his third in the last six games.
Outfielder Kendall George was assigned from the Drillers to the Tower Buzzers, activated off the injured list, while starter Landon Knack began a rehab assignment with the Comets.