CHICAGO, IL - MAY 13: Chicago White Sox outfielder Derek Hill (25), center fielder Tristan Peters (29) and right fielder Jarred Kelenic (24) celebrate their victory over the Kansas City Royals as mascot Southpaw runs with the flag after an MLB game on May 13, 2026, at Rate Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Fresh off a sweep of the Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim) the Boston Red Sox head to Chicago to take on a rejuvenated White Sox team. Possibly outsmarted by (checks notes) Chris Getz, Craig Breslow’s team has been taking a step back while the other Sox skipped the “improve’ step of the rebuilding process and went right to Division Leader.
Chase Meidroth is hitting .268/.339/.378 with 7 homers.
Brandon Montgomery is at .233/.309/.395 with 2 homers.
Kyle Teel has missed most of the season but in the 11 games he’s played he’s put up a .220/.304/.390 slash line with 2 homers.
Garrett Crochet, who the Sox got for this haul, hasn’t done much in 2026.
So, the White Sox owe a little “thank you” to Boston for their bounce back.
Payton Tolle was ambushed by the Washington Nationals for 6 runs in just 3.0 innings. He wasn’t throwing hard. It was almost 100 degrees. Hopefully he bounces right back with Connelly Early and (probably) Ranger Suarez joining Crochet in the IL void. Mass Pike is opposed by Noah Schultz. A 22-year-old southpaw, Schultz is in his first major league season. In 9 starts he’s tossed 43 innings while striking out 40, walking 26, and allowing 29 runs (28 earned).
Another one of the Sox young lefty starters, Jake Bennett has been cruising. His outing against the Angels was 7.2 innings of two-run ball with 6 Ks against 0 walks. You might say “well that’s the Angels” and he was basically as good against the Yankees. Regardless of opponent right now, Bennett looks like a promising major league starter. Righthander David Martin has been a real gem for the White Sox, but not without his struggles. Two of his last five starts have been 3.1 innings including his most recent. He can struggle with walks in his down outings but overall doesn’t walk many people. So patience might be a good plan for Boston batters.
The finale is currently TBD but that’s likely to be Patrick Sandoval. The lefty was last seen in 2024 when he needed Tommy John surgery and missed the entire 2025 season. Finally healthy, across two levels in the minors during his rehab, Sandoval put up a 3.42 ERA over 23.2 innings. He’s struck out 22 against 13 walks. His best year was 2022, so it’s been a minute since he was both healthy and good and 25. Now 29 what does he have left? OTM’s own Jake Roy answers that question in detail. With starts dropping like flies and Sonny Gray possibly on the trade block, we’re about to find out. Anthony Kay, a lefty who spent the last two years in Japan, has been a bit better than he was during his first five major league seasons in MLB. But he’s still not great. He’s leading the league HBPs. He has 67 Ks over 84 innings against 33 walks.
Munetaka Murakami hit 20 homers before hitting the IL.
Old friend Andrew Benintendi is still in Chicago hitting .240/.298/.424 with 10 homers.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Tuesday, July 7: Payton Tolle (3.39 ERA / 3.53 FIP) vs. Noah Schultz (5.86 ERA / 4.85 FIP)
Wednesday, July 8: Jake Bennett (3.10 ERA / 3.13 FIP) vs. Davis Martin (3.08 ERA / 3.08 FIP)
Thursday, July 9: TBD (— ERA / — FIP) vs. Anthony Kay (4.39 ERA / 4.93 FIP)
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 02: Hurston Waldrep #64 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the first inning during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Truist Park on July 2, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After two tough losses in a row, the Atlanta Braves will head to PNC Park to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Tonight’s matchup will feature newly returned Hurston Waldrep against reigning Cy Young Award winner, Paul Skenes. Both pitchers have something to prove. Waldrep is likely looking to show he is fully good to go, and Skenes is looking to prove his 3.62 ERA is a fluke.
Skenes is clearly having a down year by his standards when comes to ERA. In his previous two seasons his ERA stayed within 0.01 point of each other with a 1.96 and 1.97 respectively. However, it does appear that he has been a bit unlucky. If you look at his expected ERA (xERA) of 2.76 it is not far off from his previous two seasons of 2.65 and 2.50.
Skenes has been plagued by a terrible left on base percentage. In his previous two seasons his strand rate was 82.4 percent in 2025 and 85.6 percent in 2024. This season his strand rate is 65.8 percent. Odds are we could see his ERA go down just based on that.
One area that could be good for the Braves is that Skenes’ fastball velocity has dropped every single month this season. In April his average fastball was 97.4 MPH and so far in July it has been 96.3. If we go back to the start of his career his velocity has gone down every season. In 2024 there were months when he was averaging 99.3 MPH.
It should be no shock the Braves have struggled against Skenes in their limited sample sizes against him. Five players on the roster have faced Skenes before and none of them have faced Skenes more than three at-bats. Albies has one hit in two at-bats, and Olson has one hit in three. Riley, Smith, and Yastrzemski are all hitless.
Waldrep will be making his third appearance and second as a starter this season. In his last start he lasted 5.1 innings where he gave up five hits to include a HR, three earned runs, a walk, a HBP, and accumulated four strikeouts. It should be noted that all three of those runs happened in the first inning and he was able to settle down and have a solid start overall. In his lone relief appearance, he went 2.0 innings and struggled with command, giving up four walks, but did not give up a run.
The only player on the Pirates that Waldrep has faced in the past is Brandon Lowe, and surely, he remembers it because it was only one at-bat and Lowe took him deep for a solo shot.
On paper it appears that the Pirates have the upper hand as they usually do with Skenes on the mound, but Skenes just came off of his worst start of his career where he gave up seven earned runs in 4.0 innings against the Phillies, and he gave up four earned runs in the start before that. If the Braves were to ever want to face Skenes, now is the time.
Waldrep is going to have to be on his A game. The Pirates have scored the fourth most runs in MLB since the start of June, and the fourth most in the last two weeks. They are staying steady as an offensive force.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 19: Rasheer Fleming #20 of the Phoenix Suns plays defense during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 19, 2025 at the Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
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The draft is done. Free agency is pretty much done, at least for the Phoenix Suns. So the next mile marker on the calendar arrives this Friday at 8 p.m., when the Suns’ Summer League team makes its debut in Las Vegas against the Portland Trail Blazers.
There are numerous storylines to follow, especially for an organization that has emphasized development and moved up in recent drafts to acquire prospects it believes in. Summer League matters to this organization, even if we have to temper expectations and avoid overreacting to the results. That’s easier said than done.
Personally, I don’t put too much stock into Summer League. But with nothing else happening in the basketball world, we tend to place a little more weight on it than we probably should. That being said, the Phoenix Suns have several second-year players participating in Summer League, and expectations for them will naturally be higher this time around.
PHOENIX, AZ – JULY 7: Rasheer Fleming #20, Khaman Maluach #10, and Koby Brea #14 of the Phoenix Suns are introduced during a press conference on July 7, 2025 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Khaman Maluach was taken 10th overall in last summer’s draft and quite possibly could be the last lottery pick the Phoenix Suns make for quite some time. He is still only 19, not turning 20 until September 14, and we know it typically takes big men longer to develop at the NBA level. That being said, the expectation is that we see progress. Sharper decision-making, better basketball IQ, and an improved understanding of how to utilize his unbelievably long frame to be effective on the basketball court.
Rasheer Fleming might have been a second-round pick, but he was selected 31st overall last summer and was the rookie who appeared to pop a little more as the season progressed. So what does he look like during his second summer in Las Vegas? It’s been reported that he has added muscle, so how does he carry that extra weight as he moves around the court? What does his three-point shot look like? Does he attack the interior with more ferocity and frequency?
Lastly, there is Koby Brea, who returns on a two-way contract after being selected 41st overall last summer. He’s another player the Suns moved up to target and acquire, and while there still isn’t room for him on the big league roster, what does his progression look like? How crisp is his three-point shot, and how often is he taking it during Summer League? More importantly, how effective is he in other aspects of his game?
There are plenty of storylines to monitor with the Suns’ sophomore class, and that is the subject of this week’s Suns Reacts poll.
Who do you need to see the most improvement from this year in Las Vegas, and what is driving that need for improvement? Is it about seeing progress from one summer to the next and building upon what we saw at the end of last season? Or is it about showing improvement toward what could ultimately be that player’s ceiling? Please take the time to vote in the poll, then let us know in the comments below why you voted the way you did.
A series of injuries over several years kept him from achieving his potential. In 2025, he started games for the Nationals, then was a reliever (with one game as opener) for the Cubs.
Why did the Diamondbacks acquire him?
Mike Hazen said Soroka had a combination of stuff, bounce-back potential, and upside to make him a good fit for the Diamondbacks. What he did NOT say (but is likely true) is that the acquisition was risky (both under-performance and injury were possible), but with risk limited by a one-year contract.
Perhaps the Diamondbacks knew about his new pitch before they signed him. In 2026, he added a cutter to his arsenal so batters would be concerned with the other half of the plate. In 2026, it was 11-12% of pitches to each of left-handed batters and right-handed batters.
One aspect of Michael Soroka’s mental attitude is shown in the following quote:
Concerns about injury risk were expressed by AZ Snakepitters in a roundtable.
“Mike Hazen and his staff are mad if they think Soroka is going to be able to provide 120 IP out of the rotation. He might not even reach 80 IP.” — James Attwood
“…That’s not to say ERod hasn’t had the better career thus far, but if I’m going for ceiling and floor, I’m riding the potential of Soroka knowing he’s only good for 20 starts at most….” — Spencer
Soroka pitching for the Diamondbacks was outstanding.
An immaculate inning is rare (only 121 times in MLB). It requires striking out three consecutive batters with exactly 9 pitches (the least possible pitches).
“On March 30, 2026, in his first start with the Diamondbacks, Soroka threw the 120th immaculate inning in MLB history against the Detroit Tigers.” — Wikipedia
This season, his best stat is 5.1% walks (94th percentile). Two other Baseball Savant stats of note:
His 33.6% Chase is at the 81st percentile.
His 34.1% hard hits is at the 79th percentile.
My view is that for the Diamondbacks, there are two more general stats that will indicate the teams winning chances:
Percentage of Quality Starts (at least 6 innings with 3 or less earned runs).
Percentage of games with 3 or less earned runs.
The following table looks at those two stats for all the Diamondbacks starters except Cabrera and Bratt (who together have accumulated 4 games started through 5 July). Based on the table, my view is that Soroka is the second best pitcher in the Diamondbacks rotation.
Soroka was injured, but is expected back soon.
Soroka injured his left glut on 19 June (after 15 starts, 82 innings pitched). Although some might say I told you so, it was a relatively minor injury and he is expected back this season.
“That glute injury is fairly asymptomatic, so he’s going to begin his throwing program, bullpens, etc., and building up as best he can, as fast as he can to return to us.” — Torey Lovullo
“It’s a fast turnaround. Once he gets back on the bump, and starts that progression we want to be as quick as possible.” — Torey Lovullo
Outlook for 2027 and 2028.
My view of the Diamondbacks’ starting pitchers who could be part of the rotation is summarized in the following table.
One view is that next season’s return of Corbin Burnes will cover the loss of Soroka, and at least one of the other pitchers will be ready to cover for the loss of Gallen. In that view, there is no reason to extend Soroka.
My view is that at least seven starters will be needed in each of the next two seasons. Subject to changes made via trades and off-season acquisitions, the quality of Diamondbacks pitching would be significantly improved by acquiring one additional starting pitcher for each of 2027 and 2028. Therefore, extending Michael Soroka would fill a need. Let’s look at whether it would be a good move.
Four reasons to extend Michael Soroka.
This season, his performance in percentage quality starts is better than all the other Diamondbacks starters except Rodriguez.
The Diamondbacks have made some bad signings of starting pitchers, such as Madison Bumgarner. That stands in stark contrast to Soroka’s signing, which helped the Diamondbacks.
Next season would be Soroka’s second season with the Diamondbacks. That is significant because this AZ Snake Pit article found data that showed that newly acquired starters (age 30 and older) tend to perform better their second year with a new team.
Soroka is a known quantity, reducing acquisition risk tremendously.
Summary.
The Diamondbacks acquired Michael Soroka because he had a combination of stuff, bounce-back potential, and upside to make him a good fit for the Diamondbacks. The acquisition was risky (both under-performance and injury were possible), but the risk was limited by a one-year contract.
For the Diamondbacks, Michael Soroka’s pitching was outstanding. His excellent stats included percentage walks, chase percentage, and hard hit percentage. His percentage of quality starts ranked second best in the Diamondbacks rotation.
On 19 June, after starting 15 games, Soroka was injured. He is expected back soon.
Looking at the rotation in the next two seasons, my view is that the Diamondbacks would benefit from extending Soroka’s contract. Reasons include high percentage of quality starts, my expectation of improved performance in his second season with the Diamondbacks, and he is a known quantity which reduces risk.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 20: A view of basketball as Charlotte Hornets wins the championship game of NBA 2K26 Summer League against Sacramento Kings at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States on July 20, 2025. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
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Although the St. Louis Blues entered the 2026 NHL draft with four first-round picks, they left making just two of those picks but added three left-handed centers.
With the 11th overall pick, the Blues selected two-way, smooth-skating center Tynan Lawrence. Then, they flipped the 15th and 29th overall picks to land 23-year-old Mason McTavish. With their final piece of business in the first round, the Blues selected 6-foot-4 Quebec native Maddox Dagenais.
The Blues entered the draft with a bit of a shortage of centers. In the NHL, they had Robert Thomas and Dalibor Dvorsky, both of whom stand at six feet and 6-foot-1. While they are not small by any margin, size and physicality aren’t strengths of their game. McTavish is listed at 6-foot-1, but he can play with a physical edge.
Lawrence is listed at 6-foot-1 as well, but his play style doesn’t scream bruiser. Dagenais, on the other hand, is a physical beast, bringing an element that the Blues need at the center ice position.
The 18-year-old was a former first overall pick in the QMJHL, but he hasn’t necessarily lit it up offensively just yet. In 2025-26, Dagenais notched 30 goals and 62 points in 62 games, taking a large step forward in his development from his rookie season in 2024-25.
Dagenais has some international experience as well, representing Canada at the U-17 and U-18 Levels, but hasn’t broken out offensively there either.
Despite that, Dagenais brings several intriguing elements. We’ve touched on his power forward traits, but he is also a strong skater who excels in transition. His shot is strong, and he became more comfortable utilizing it as the season went on.
His playmaking needs some development, but if that develops, Dagenais has all the traits of a top-six NHL center.
Eliteprospects.com compared Dagenais’ game to Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies and former Blues first-round pick Zachary Bolduc.
The Blues have plenty of highly skilled prospects, and although Dagenais is very skilled, he brings a different element that the Blues may have been putting off recently. Diversifying the prospect pool was a must, and there is an avenue for Dagenais to be successful with the Blues in the NHL.
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NEW YORK, NY - MAY 21: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during Game Two of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 21, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The most successful NBA player that Louisville basketball has ever produced is well on his way to becoming the most financially successful former Cardinal this side of Junior Bridgeman.
Donovan Mitchell has agreed to a new 4-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers that will reportedly earn him $273 million. Mitchell could have waited until next summer to add an additional season worth an extra $80 million on the deal, but instead chose to re-up with Cleveland on the first day he was eligible.
A three-time NBA All-Star, Mitchell has averaged 26.7 points, 5.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game in his Cavs tenure. He’s led the team to the playoffs in each of his four seasons in Cleveland, most recently taking them to the Eastern Conference Finals where they were swept by eventual World Champions New York.
“I love it here. I don’t know how else to say it. I have no doubt these guys can get there. We have unfinished business,” Mitchell said after the sweep.
And now he’s backed up those words by committing to Cleveland for the next four years … and giving them a little bit of extra wiggle room to bring in some help.
Carlos Lagrange of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders exits the field during a Minor League Baseball game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, United States, on May 22, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Injuries are a real party pooper. Just like with the major league roster, the Yankees’ top prospects are dropping like flies. With several top hitters and pitchers injured, the guys on the periphery are going to get a chance to shine, and there’s one guy in particular who’s starting to gain some real helium down in Tampa.
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Record: 7-4 (44-41), 2 GB in the International League East after a 4-1 week against the Norfolk Tides (Orioles)
Run differential: +13 (+16)
Coming up: Away @ Buffalo Bison (Blue Jays)
It was a good start to July for the RailRiders in the win column, bouncing back from a loss on Tuesday to win four straight to close out the week. Saturday’s game was postponed due to rain and was never made up, as only one game was barely squeezed in on Sunday. But while they picked up some wins, this level’s prospect pedigree is shrinking fast.
George Lombard Jr. should be back soon, though probably not until after a Futures Game he’ll likely miss. Garrett Martin went on the injured list a week ago. Brendan Beck filled in for the big league club on the Fourth of July due to Carlos Rodón’s injury, and while he was optioned shortly after, you’d expect Elmer Rodríguez to get promoted in his place for this week. The big kicker, though, is Carlos Lagrange’s season potentially being over because of a shoulder injury. He’s in no-throw for six weeks, which makes a September return the best-case scenario. So much for a 2026 big league debut…
In a depleted lineup that will, at least, welcome back Spencer Jones this coming week, there’s not too much to write home about. JC Escarra has been good as he stays ready for his next big league opportunity, while Ernesto Martinez Jr. and Marco Luciano have hit well. The team’s most reliable hitter, though, has been Jonathan Ornelas, as the 26-year-old journeyman has been hitting over .300 all season long and came through with a walk-off grand slam on Sunday.
Beck’s emergency promotion thinned the rotation. Dom Hamel allowed six runs in six innings, Alexander Cornielle didn’t finish the fourth in a choppy outing on Friday, and Adam Kloffenstein pitched well on Tuesday. Rodríguez tossed a quality start on Wednesday, getting through 6.2 innings, but the main storyline was the promotion of former third-round pick Kyle Carr, who didn’t allow an earned run in 5.2 innings on Sunday in his Triple-A debut.
The Scranton Shuttle keeps on shuffling the bullpen. Jake Bird and Angel Chivilli are up, while Yovanny Cruz is back down and has really strung together some good outings to get out of a minor funk he had prior to his second promotion. Outside of him, Danny Watson and Zach Messinger have remained under-the-radar, low-velocity arms that have been effective in their roles.
Record: 5-7 (42-39), 3 GB in the Eastern League Northeast after a 3-3 week against the Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies)
Run differential: -1 (+35)
Coming up: Home vs. Reading Fightin’ Phils (Phillies)
It was a week of inconsistency down in Somerset, as two early-week victories weren’t able to yield anything other than a split after they scored just one run on Saturday and Sunday combined.
Because of promotions, the offense is a shell of what it was when they dominated the Eastern League with gaudy power numbers for the first two months. They’re leaning on Jace Avina and Coby Morales right now for production, with DJ Gladney and a resurgent Jackson Castillo helping out. They really need some other bats to step up, but where will it come from? The catching room is depleted, Connor McGinnis has been so-so in the infield, and others haven’t picked up the slack.
It was a tale of two starts for Cade Smith, who got a rare double this week. He was great on Tuesday with six strong innings, but didn’t record a strikeout in five rough innings on Sunday. Xavier Rivas lasted just two innings after struggling with the ridiculous heat on Wednesday night, Jack Cebert (6 IP, 2 R, 6 K) tossed a quality start on Thursday, Chase Hampton tossed four shutout innings, and Ben Hess allowed three runs in four innings.
The bullpen welcomed back a key piece from injury in Geoffrey Gilbert, but they continue to rely on Tony Rossi to throw big innings, in which he’s been up and down. Harrison Cohen has been good in relief since he was sent back down, while Ben Grable finally allowed a run on Thursday, but continues to be the man to watch in that bullpen. Hayden Merda also bounced back big time with a five-strikeout outing.
Record: 7-8 (38-42), 4 GB in the South Atlantic League North Second Half after a 3-3 week against the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals)
Run differential: +8 (+17)
Coming up: Home vs. Rome Emperors (Braves)
The Renegades basically had the exact opposite week as Somerset. They got off to a bad start, going 1-3 heading into the weekend before back-to-back wins on Fourth of July weekend to salvage a sweep. Sunday’s game was especially thrilling, as Hudson Valley blew a 4-3 lead in the ninth, but rallied to come back on a massive walk-off homer by Kyle West.
— Hudson Valley Renegades (@HVRenegades) July 5, 2026
Wilson Rodriguez, a former 18th-round pick out of Puerto Rico, has silently become their best and most consistent hitter, carrying an offense that’s struggling. Kaeden Kent is still around .300, but he’s not slugging much and just hit the shelf with an injury. Enmanuel Tejada has struggled of late, Kyle West hasn’t made enough contact around his light-tower power, and guys like Roderick Arias and Camden Troyer are the human embodiment of hot and cold.
Bryce Cunningham (5.2 IP, 5 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 1 K) took a step back in his Tuesday start, struggling with command. Luis Serna and Allen Facundo had identical starts, each allowing four runs over six innings. Franyer Herrera and Sean Paul Liñan scuffled, but there was some progress in one regard this week as 2025 sixth-round pick Rory Fox allowed just one run in 5.2 innings in another strong start.
The bullpen was good all week. Wilmy Sanchez and Bryce Warrecker got big outs, with the latter continuing a terrific season that’s seen him pitch to a 1.64 ERA in 22 innings across two levels. A few of them got screwed over with shoddy defense, like with what happened to Jack Sokol on Sunday when he “blew” the ninth inning with three unearned runs.
Record: 11-4 (46-35), 2.5 GA in the Florida State League West after a 5-1 week against the St. Lucie Mets (Mets)
Run differential: +21 (+44)
Coming up: Home vs. Clearwater Threshers (Phillies)
Tampa keeps cooking. They won three games via shutout and dominated from Tuesday to Saturday with five consecutive wins before a bullpen collapse spoiled the sweep on Sunday. They led 5-1 after seven before allowing nine runs in two innings.
They’re doing it mostly with pitching, but don’t confuse that with bad offense. Sure, they’re no longer getting carried by the likes of Jackson Lovich and Hans Montero while Luis Escudero’s hot bat is on the shelf. It’s the depth of the lineup with guys like Luis Puello behind the plate, JoJo Jackson in the outfield, Logan Maxwell returning from injury, and a blistering hot bat from 2025 UDFA David McCann:
Huge game for David McCann down in Tampa today.
3-4, 2 HR, 7 RBI, BB, 2 R
In 29 games combined with his time in the FCL, he has seven home runs, 26 RBI, 12 XBH, and a .321/.427/.643 slashline.
10-3 Tampa.
— Yankees Prospect Watch (@NYY_Prospects) July 4, 2026
Onto the pitching, which is downright incredible. Justin West got things started with 5.2 shutout innings on Tuesday, followed by Thatcher Hurd (5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K) completing five innings for the first time as a pro on Wednesday. JT Etheridge followed up Wyatt Parliament’s mediocre start on Thursday with four shutout innings as a piggyback; Henry Lalane continued to be incredible on Friday; Tyler Boudreau tossed a quality start on Saturday, and Brennan Stuprich tossed four strong innings on Sunday.
The bullpen was inconsistent. Jose M. Rodriguez continued to impress, now holding a 2.51 ERA in 32.1 innings with 45 strikeouts, but a blowup on Sunday soils a lot of numbers for his teammates. Brian Hendry continued his rehab with 1.1 innings on Wednesday, and I’m curious what the team’s plan is for him. He’s already 26 but has dominated in the limited time he’s been on the mound. I’d compare him to Brendan Beck from a few years ago, but his stuff is quite a bit better.
Record: 23-24, 7 GB in the FCL North after a 2-3 week.
Run differential: +14
The FCL Yankees are all but dead in the playoff race, sitting five games behind the wild-card spot occupied by the FCL Orioles with just 13 games to go. The bats cooled off this week, but Wilberson De Pena and Dexters Peralta continue to be the two most prolific home run hitters in all of rookie ball.
Blake Gillespie’s season is likely over due to injury, so the rotation is just a hodgepodge right now. Jerson Alejandro, a mountain of a man at 6-foot-6, 255 pounds, has re-emerged after injuries but is struggling. Sabier Marte continues to slowly improve, while Austin Breedlove and Edinzo Marquez are dominating in the bullpen.
DSL Yankees: Record: 15-10, 0.5 GB in DSL East after a 3-2 week Run differential: +94
DSL Bombers: Record: 11-15, 6 GB in DSL Southeast after a 2-4 week Run differential: -26
Did you know the DSL Yankees have the best run differential of any Dominican affiliate? They’ve won by some truly comical margins with a ferocious offense powered by Isaias Castillo and Juan Torres, but have lost some brutal close games. That first week of the season where they seemed to choke every other game away in the late innings hurts.
Not much is going on with the Bombers, who have seven-figure prospect Mani Cedeno struggling. It’s still early in his pro career, but the more the last few classes of international prospects struggle, the more you understand why Danny Rowland was canned when he was, sacrificing the most recent international class.
This is now the third time in the last month and a change that we’ve had Lalane as Prospect of the Week, and for good reason. In his most recent dominant start, he was absolutely untouchable in the early innings, eventually racking up 11 strikeouts in another walk-less start. Since May 17, he’s allowed just five earned runs in 42.1 innings with 61 strikeouts to just 10 walks. This is phenomenal stuff.
It’s getting to the point where I actively question if he might be the team’s best starting pitcher prospect. Hess, Cunningham, and Hampton’s stocks are all down this year. ERC is going to graduate in the coming weeks. Lagrange is in the bullpen. There’s real runway to get to Top 100 prospect status with a strong summer from Lalane.
Los Angeles, CA - April 15: Former Los Angeles Dodgers Tommy Davis, member of the 1963 World Series team and a two-time NL batting champ who holds the Dodgers single-season records with 230 hits and 153 RBIs passed away at the age of 83.Former Brooklyn Dodgers' pitcher Don Newcombe, right, with former Los Angeles Dodgers' Dodgers, Sweet Lu Johnson, center, and Tommy Davis, left, on Jackie Robinson Day prior to a baseball game between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles on Sunday, April 15, 2012. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Monday night was a notable game in franchise history for the Dodgers, and not just because the team played their first extra-inning game of 2026, snapping a 91-game stretch that was the second-longest to open a season without playing past nine innings, seven games behind the 2005 Boston Red Sox.
The series opener against the Colorado Rockies was more historical, encompassing the entirety of 143 years as a franchise. Between the regular season and postseason combined, the Dodgers in Brooklyn played 11,109 games. Monday night was the Dodgers’ 11,109th such game since moving to Los Angeles.
The franchise started in Brooklyn in 1884 in the American Association, where they would play for six seasons before joining the National League in 1890.
The World Series as we know it didn’t begin until 1903, but earlier attempts to determine a champion were less series. For example, the Dodgers won the National League in 1890 and played the American Association-champion Louisville Cardinals in the “World’s Championship Series,” but the series ended in a tie (3-3-1) and was never settled. The Dodgers’ only other 19th century postseason was in 1889, when they lost in the postseason to the NL-champion New York Giants, six games to three.
Brooklyn also finished first in the National League in both 1899 and 1900, but had no postseason to play.
In the modern era, the Brooklyn Dodgers played in nine World Series, totaling 56 games. Since moving to Los Angeles, the Dodgers have played in 14 World Series and 79 Fall Classic games, but also 174 other postseason games.
Location
Games
Record
Pennants
Titles
Brooklyn (1884-1957)
11,109
5,650-5,325-134
13
1
Los Angeles (1958-2026)
11,109
6,094-5,009-6
14
8
regular season and postseason combined, through July 6, 2026
At the moment, 143 years of Dodgers history is perfectly balanced between Brooklyn and Los Angeles.
When Kyle Lowry was traded from the Rockets to the Raptors in the summer of 2012, Toronto was a directionless, lost franchise. It had been above .500 just once in the previous 10 seasons and hadn't gotten out of the first round of the playoffs since Vince Carter wore a Raptors uniform.
Lowry spearheaded a transformation on the court that, within a year, saw Toronto win 48 games and then beat that mark for the next six years, making the playoffs every season — and winning the NBA title in 2019. Lowry may not have always been the best player on those teams (although he made six-straight All-Star Games), but he was the leader, the player who changed the culture, who not only turned Toronto into a winner but also wanted to be north of the border and became active and invested in the community. He created a legacy unlike any other in franchise history.
After a 20-season NBA career, Kyle Lowry signed a one-day contract with Toronto on Tuesday so that he can retire a Raptor.
"This is home, and Toronto will always be home. Together we built something special here, and together we became champions," Lowry said of his decision. "I always said I would retire as a Raptor, and to be able to do that today means everything to me."
How Lowry became Raptors legend
Lowry was traded to Toronto for Gary Forbes and a first-round pick because Houston no longer believed in him and how far he could take the team. They sent him to a Toronto team and a franchise that didn't believe in itself.
Lowry sparked something that changed Raptors' history.
"Kyle is the Toronto Raptors — he created an identity for the Raptors that we strive to uphold every time we take the floor, play hard and play to win, for your teammates, for Toronto and for Canada. Put your body on the line. Take a charge, dive for a loose ball - do all the little things that don't always show up in the box score, but add up to a storied, celebrated career," Raptors general manager Bobby Webster said. "Kyle was the ultimate competitor whose No. 7 will always be remembered with the Raptors' very first championship, and it's our honor to raise it to the rafters, where it belongs."
In nine seasons with the Raptors, Lowry averaged 17.5 points, 7.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game.
He is a true Raptors legend, who comes back to step away just as maybe his most famous teammate, Kawhi Leonard, returns to Toronto in the fall, hoping to take them back to the top of the East.
Somewhere during that season will be Kyle Lowry night, when his No. 7 jersey will be retired and hung in the rafters in Canada.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 05: Dylan Beavers #12 of the Baltimore Orioles scores on a sacrifice fly ball hit by Gunnar Henderson #2 (not pictured) during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 05, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Orioles fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
More than halfway into the 2026 season, the Orioles have not yet emerged from the disappointing rut they fell into early on. They have avoided the kind of disaster that destroyed their season early last year. That’s something. However, they still have to actually find success. As we experience weekly, they just can’t manage to do this consistently.
In this week’s survey, the question is very simple. Are the Orioles going to figure this thing out and make it into the postseason? Vote below:
The odds are not in their favor as they sit 3.5 games out of the third AL Wild Card spot. At Baseball Reference, the team has a 10.9% chance of getting into the playoffs. FanGraphs currently gives the Orioles a better, but still bad, 19.9% chance of making it. No one would want to have their life or any meaningful amount of money staked on odds ranging from 5-1 to 9-1.
Even after three months of watching these doofuses, and even considering my inherent pessimistic streak, it’s still hard to avoid wondering what this team could look like if just a couple more pieces fall into place. Gunnar Henderson starting to hit like a star again would be the biggest help. Maybe ahead of the trade deadline, Mike Elias will acquire someone useful, sorry, he won’t, I don’t know why I even said that.
The vibes remain confusing. How are you feeling now? Let us know in the comments below.
The Utah Summer League wraps up tonight, with the hometown Jazz trying to complete a 3-0 run at Jon M. Huntsman Center.
They'll face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the late tip, on the heels of a matchup between the Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies — and all eyes will be fixed on what kind of workload the big-name rookies receive after playing yesterday.
Here are my NBA Summer League picks ahead of the July 7 action.
NBA Summer League predictions for July 7
Pick
Jazz moneyline
-144
Hawks moneyline
+156
Today's Summer League Picks
Jazz moneyline (-144 at Kalshi)
How carefully will the Utah Jazz manage Darryn Peterson’s minutes in tonight’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder? That’s the biggest question looming over this clash, with Peterson scoring 53 points across his first two summer outings.
I still like the Utah moneyline even if Peterson and Cody Williams are just spectators here. Max Abmas and Jonas Aidoo have had some nice moments off the bench, and Blake Hinson is a steady starter at this level.
After starting the Summer League schedule with an ugly blowout loss, the Thunder were more competitive in yesterday’s loss to the Hawks, but the same availability questions apply to rookies Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz, who were a combined 7-for-23 last night.
I’ll bank on the home crowd giving the Jazz backups enough juice to grind out a win.
Hawks moneyline (+156 at Kalshi)
This pick counts on the Memphis Grizzlies deciding they’ve seen enough of the talented Cedric Coward-Cam Boozer duo and shelving them for Vegas. In that world, Memphis would be relying on a bench that was run out of the gym last night against Utah.
While the Atlanta Hawks may reach a similarly cautious decision with their bigger names, rookie Kingston Flemings could give the underdogs some extra zip in this contest.
If Atlanta rolls with a cast of reserves, both Devon Higgs and Keshon Gilbert shot the ball well in yesterday’s loss to the Thunder, and the Hawks held OKC to just five made 3-pointers.
In what could descend into an end-of-the-bench rock fight, I’ll take the plus odds with an Atlanta squad capable of pulling off an upset.
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Tuesday’s NBA Summer League parlay
Jazz moneyline
Hawks moneyline
+334 at Kalshi
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The Buffalo Sabres could go a number of different ways as the NHL is in the midst of trade season following the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency on July 1. With the departure of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, GM Jarmo Kekalainen is expected to seek out offensive reinforcements to make up for the 44 goals lost by their departures.
Over the next few weeks, we will continue to look at potential options for the Sabres. Some of the possibilities are not going to match Tuch’s stats, but any additions could provide some relief to the pressure that youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, or Noah Ostlund will be under to make up the deficit.
Kekalainen ideally would like to replace the 60-to-70 point production that he lost with Tuch, and one possibility is Seattle Kraken winger Jared McCann. The 30-year-old is in the final year of a five-year, $25 million contract with the Kraken, and his name has begun to pop up on trade rumors. After starting his career in Vancouver in 2015, the winger played three years in Florida, and another three with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Sabres extend Zach Benson for seven years
The Pens traded him to Toronto, who exposed him in the 2022 expansion draft, where the Kraken claimed him. The Stratford, ON native has scored 20 or more goals in each of his five seasons in the Pacific Northwest, with his career-high 40 goals in 2023. McCann played only 52 games last season due to recurrent lower-body injuries, but still posted 40 points (20 goals, 20 assists).
McCann has a 10-team modified no-trade list, which could still be a hurdle that Kekalainen has to clear with some players. The cost certainty of a $5 million cap hit would be attractive to the Sabres with their limited cap space, and the fact that he could be a one-year rental would keep the trade price down. Moving him would be a head-scratcher for former Sabres GM Jason Botterill, but it could be indicative that McCann or the Kraken are not open to a contract extension.
The Sabres have to be looking for someone who could replace as much of Tuch’s production as possible, and in the final year of his contract, McCann would be motivated to put up big numbers in advance of hitting the open market next July. The fact that the Sabres are relying on internal improvement of their young players to make up the difference is a risky proposition, since them taking the next step is not linear. The addition of someone like McCann or Buffalo native Patrick Kane will not make up for all the offense and leadership lost with the departure of Tuch, but it would definitely help.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 05: Heriberto Hernandez #13 of the Miami Marlins celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the top of the first inning against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on July 05, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Following a fantastic 5-1 homestand, the Mariners head to Florida for a six-game road trip during the final week of play before the All-Star break. If they win both of these series, Seattle will effectively match their first-half record from last year — they were 51-45 at the break in 2025. For a season that’s felt so up and down, the M’s really aren’t in such a bad position. They definitely haven’t played up to their talent level, and they’re benefitting from a thoroughly mediocre American League, but FanGraphs gives them the highest odds to win their division of any of the division leaders around the league.
The Marlins were the best team in baseball in the month of June, running a 20-6 record that vaulted them into the thick of the NL Wild Card race. Their pitching staff was characteristically fantastic, allowing just 3.1 runs per game last month. The real surprise has been the offense; they scored 5.1 runs per game in June and their lineup now has a 103 wRC+ on the season. That would be the highest mark in franchise history, and two of the four times the team has had a wRC+ of 99 or higher, it won the World Series. No big deal.
Player
Position
Bats
PA
K%
BB%
ISO
wRC+
Liam Hicks
DH
L
319
9.1%
9.7%
0.174
126
Kyle Stowers
1B
L
282
30.9%
9.6%
0.223
117
Otto Lopez
SS
R
383
13.3%
4.4%
0.174
143
Xavier Edwards
2B
S
383
11.7%
12.8%
0.125
124
Griffin Conine
LF
L
74
29.7%
13.5%
0.194
116
Owen Caissie
RF
L
243
39.5%
7.0%
0.208
96
Jakob Marsee
CF
L
367
22.9%
12.8%
0.104
76
Joe Mack
C
L
156
24.4%
7.1%
0.183
104
Javier Sanoja
3B
R
225
9.3%
6.2%
0.139
101
The Marlins don’t have a superstar anchoring their lineup. Instead, they’re benefitting from breakouts from a bunch of their young role players all at the same time. Liam Hicks, Otto Lopez, and Xavier Edwards are the core trio that have been driving the production all season long. The thing all three of them have in common is an excellent approach at the plate and elite bat-to-ball skills. They may not produce the loudest contact, but they rarely strikeout, take their walks, and maximize every ball they put in play. For the loud contact, the Marlins turn to Kyle Stowers. He enjoyed a huge breakout last year but injuries caused him to get off to a slow start this year. Since the beginning of June, he’s posted a 159 wRC+ with eight home runs.
Max Meyer was the Marlins’ number three overall pick in the 2020 draft but has had to overcome a bunch of obstacles en route to his breakout season this year. Tommy John surgery cost him two years of development and he’s struggled with inconsistency and additional injuries since returning from that elbow surgery. He added a sweeper and a sinker to his pitch mix last year, but he’s finally found a feel for that new breaking ball. It’s become his primary pitch alongside his sharp gyro slider and that’s made all the difference.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Janson Junk
60
16.9%
5.1%
10.7%
43.2%
4.80
4.11
George Kirby
104
21.1%
5.6%
9.5%
49.0%
3.81
3.70
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
22.0%
39.2%
94.3
98
62
119
0.309
Sinker
6.3%
0.6%
93.4
Changeup
13.0%
23.6%
87.3
104
106
126
0.306
Curveball
0.6%
10.9%
80.7
94
Slider
31.6%
19.1%
86.4
104
54
130
0.325
Sweeper
26.5%
6.6%
80.1
104
39
128
0.289
The Marlins have essentially been using a four-man rotation for the past month after Janson Junk and Robby Snelling went down with injuries in May. Junk is finally close to returning — he completed a three-inning rehab outing on Saturday — though Miami hasn’t officially announced a starter for Wednesday’s game yet. Junk enjoyed a small breakout last year by honing his command to an elite level; his 2.9% walk rate led all starting pitchers with at least 100 IP last year. He doesn’t really possess a swing-and-miss weapon, though the development of a new changeup this year has given him something to build on.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Tyler Phillips
69
17.5%
10.8%
11.0%
46.2%
3.52
4.54
Bryce Miller
52.2
33.2%
2.7%
12.5%
38.1%
1.71
2.77
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
5.6%
12.0%
96.3
79
44
77
0.271
Sinker
30.4%
21.6%
95.8
88
41
66
0.458
Splitter
24.0%
24.5%
87.4
95
88
103
0.267
Curveball
8.1%
23.2%
83.6
107
142
124
0.326
Sweeper
31.9%
18.6%
84.2
106
108
73
0.272
Tyler Phillips bounced around a few organizations before landing with the Marlins as a multi-inning reliever last year. He saw a little bit of high-leverage work, but was mostly used as a fireman who could eat up a couple of innings before giving way to the setup men or closer. This year, Miami has used him more frequently as a bulk reliever operating behind an opener, though seven of his last eight outings have been traditional starts. He’s got a really weird profile: he has three bat-missing weapons in his two breaking balls and a splitter but he relies too heavily on a mediocre sinker instead of featuring those secondary pitches. The result is far too many balls in play early in the count before he can finish off batters with one of those swing-and-miss pitches.
The Big Picture:
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Mariners
47-44
0.516
—
+27
W-W-L-W-W
Rangers
45-45
0.500
1.5
-8
W-L-W-L-L
Astros
45-48
0.484
3.0
-45
L-L-W-W-L
Athletics
41-49
0.456
5.5
-72
L-W-L-L-L
Angels
36-55
0.396
11.0
-58
L-L-L-L-L
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Yankees
50-40
0.556
+5.0
+82
L-W-L-L-W
Guardians
47-44
0.516
+1.5
-9
W-W-W-L-L
Rangers
45-45
0.500
—
-8
W-L-W-L-L
Astros
45-48
0.484
1.5
-45
L-L-W-W-L
Twins
44-47
0.484
1.5
-17
L-W-L-W-W
The Rangers wound up dropping the final two games of their series against the Tigers to fall to 1.5 games back in the division; they’ll host the Angels for three games this week. The Astros managed to win their series against the Rays last weekend but dropped the first game of a series in Washington yesterday; they’re now three games back in the division and just 1.5 games back in the Wild Card race. The Athletics are on the verge of dropping entirely out of the playoff picture — they were swept by the Marlins over the weekend and head to Detroit to face the Tigers this week.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 06: Owen Murphy #73 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the tenth inning during the game against the New York Mets at Truist Park on July 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One last road trip on deck before the All-Star break, and the Braves are making some roster moves ahead of tonight’s opener in Pittsburgh.
Yesterday it was Eli White, and now reliever Tyler Kinley will hit the paternity list as he welcomes a new addition to the family. Congratulations, Tyler! May the paternal powers bless you and Eli both as they have Michael Harris II and Dylan Lee this season thus far.
The Braves have recalled righty James Karinchak in Kinley’s place. Optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, July 3, he had a 2.08 ERA in 8 games with the Braves since having his contract selected on June 10.
Karinchak will share Gwinnett shuttle to the airport with LHP Connor Thomas. A Georgia native and Georgia Tech alum, he was signed to a minor league contract this offseason. Thomas debuted last year and pitched in two games with the Milwaukee Brewers before spending some time on the IL with left elbow arthritis. He began the season on the IL with the Stripers before heading on a rehab assignment in Rome. He has a 1.14 ERA in 10 games / 23.2 innings pitched with Gwinnett. Farewell to Daysbel Hernández, who was released in order to open up the spot on the 40-man.
Owen Murphy’s call-up resulted in a kind of nightmarish scenario last night – he entered in the 10th inning tasked with keeping the game tied with the ghost runner lurking on second base. He got two quick outs, but a double by Luis Torrens drove in the aforementioned ghost runner and a Met he’d clipped with a pitch. The Braves only getting one run back in the bottom of the tenth and leave Murphy on the hook for the loss. A valiant effort by the rookie in a tough situation. But he’s Gwinnett-bound after being optioned in the other side of the move for Thomas.
What will be next on the carousel of arms?
The #Braves today selected LHP Connor Thomas to the major league roster and optioned RHP Owen Murphy to Triple-A Gwinnett. To make room on the 40-man roster, the club released RHP Daysbel Hernández. Atlanta also recalled RHP James Karinchak and placed RHP Tyler Kinley on the…
Jazz moneyline 
Hawks moneyline 
