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Mets claim infielder Gabriel Arias off waivers from Guardians

The Mets have claimed infielder Gabriel Arias off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians, the club announced on Friday.

Arias, 26, was designated for assignment by Cleveland earlier this week. In 42 games this year, he has three doubles, five home runs, 11 RBI with a .244/.284/.386 slash line for a .669 OPS (87 OPS+, 85 wRC+). 

His final appearance with the club came on Tuesday against New York, he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. Strikeouts have been an issue for Arias, with 57 in 127 at-bats on the year after going down on strikes 162 times in 432 at-bats a year ago.

A corresponding roster move was not immediately announced.

He's known as a versatile infielder – during his five big league seasons with the Guardians, he has started at all four infield positions and all three outfield positions – with one of the strongest arms in baseball: 94th percentile in arm strength in 2025 and 85th percentile this year. (By position, he's made 174 starts at shortstop, 64 at third base, 29 at second base, 16 at first, 17 in right field, two in center, and one in left.)

Over his 362 career games at the MLB level, he has 30 home runs, 53 doubles, four triples, 111 RBI, and a .219/.275/.359 slash line for a .635 OPS (76 OPS+, 77 wRC+).

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Two-start pitchers: Sonny Gray headlines an uneven group of options as we roll into the middle of August

Hello and welcome to the 19th installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2026 MLB season.

I will continue to be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week providing my insights and recommendations on which options should be started or benched.

With each passing week, I’m getting more emotional thinking about the fact that there may not be a full season in 2026 due to the uncertainty surrounding the labor dispute between Major League Baseball and the Player’s Association. I’m really trying to take time to appreciate each day that we have baseball and the joy that it’s able to bring me.

As fantasy managers have turned their full attention to football, there are opportunities to creep up in the standings where others aren’t giving their teams the full attention that they still deserve. Keep putting in the work and plugging away, striving to improve each week, and you’ll reap rewards at the end of this season.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week. With teams still trying to get their rotations lined up for the second half, there’s more uncertainty than usual for a Friday afternoon:

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As things currently stand, with the additions of Clay Holmes and Kevin Gausman to their starting rotation, the Cubs appear to be rolling with a six-man alignment for the time being. It’s possible that David Peterson or Javier Assad get bumped to the bullpen, but that has yet to be confirmed. That means with six games on tap for next week, none of their hurlers are currently lined up to make two starts. Assad is set to pitch on Tuesday and he would go twice (at Nationals, vs. Cardinals) if Peterson were to be shifted to the bullpen, and would make for a solid streaming option. If Assad gets pushed to the bullpen, it would be Shota Imanaga getting the two-start assignment. We’ll update here if we gain any additional clarity throughout the weekend.

The Giants have yet to announce a starter for Monday, so we don’t know who (if anyone) will make two starts for them next week (vs. Astros, vs. Rockies). Blake Tidwell got the call last time and went five strong innings against the Rangers. If he gets another opportunity, he could be worth a look as a deep league streaming option, especially for the home tilt against the Rockies over the weekend. If we get clarification or if anything changes over the weekend, we’ll update here.

Someone on the Blue Jays is likely to make two starts next week in place of the injured Trey Yesavage, we just aren’t sure exactly who that will be just yet. Whoever gets the assignment will face a very tough draw with matchups against the red hot Red Sox and the Yankees. Once we get clarity on the situation we’ll provide an update here, but it’s unlikely that any of them will relevant for fantasy purposes.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of August 7 and are subject to change.

American League

▶ Strong Plays

Sonny Gray, Red Sox, RHP (at Blue Jays, at Pirates)

Gray has been absolutely incredible in his first season with the Red Sox, posting a 14-2 record, 2.78 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 106/32 K/BB ratio across 119 2/3 innings through his first 21 starts. He has been the ace atop the pitching staff that has helped to fuel the club’s ridiculous 31-5 run over their last 36 games. Gray hasn’t allowed more than five runs in a start this season and has allowed more than three runs just three times. He should be locked into fantasy lineups each and every week, so there’s no inflection point or decision to make here. Just sit back and enjoy double the production from one of the best pitchers in baseball.

Trevor Rogers, Orioles, LHP (at Twins, at Rays)

Rogers has had a very polarizing season for the Orioles and for fantasy managers. He started strong, with a 1.89 ERA across his first three starts. Then he went through a terrible stretch where he held a cringe-inducing 10.01 ERA (6.30 xFIP) across 29 2/3 innings over his next seven starts. Most fantasy managers completely wrote him off at that point. Since then? He’s back to dominating with a 2.28 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and a 60/14 K/BB ratio over 67 innings since the start of June. Continue to ride the hot hand here. Rogers makes for an excellent play in all league formats for this two-start week.

Sean Burke, White Sox, RHP (vs. Reds, at Tigers)

Burke has been fantastic through his first 23 appearances (19 starts) for the White Sox this season, registering a 3.08 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and a 144/39 K/BB ratio across 128 2/3 innings of work. He has also pitched extremely well recently, as he hasn’t given up more than two earned runs in a start since June 13. The Reds and Tigers offenses have both been swinging the bat well lately, but that’s not enough to sway us from using Burke in a two-start week. He should be started in all leagues without question.

Tanner Bibee, Guardians, RHP (at Tigers, vs. Padres)

Despite tallying just four victories on the season, Bibee has actually pitched pretty well for the Guardians, compiling a 3.85 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 110/38 K/BB ratio over 138 innings. They’re in the thick of the Wild Card race in the American league and he’ll have to battle a pair of other contending teams this week, which should lead to increased focus and positive results for the 27-year-old right-hander. He looks like an easy start in all league sizes this week.

Reid Detmers, Angels, LHP (vs. Rangers, vs. Royals)

Detmers continues to find success and pile up strikeouts as a full-time member of the Angels’ rotation this season. He holds a 4.12 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 150/39 K/BB ratio over 129 innings in his first 23 starts. He now draws a terrific pair of matchups against the Rangers and Royals and gets the added benefit of making both of those starts at home. That makes Detmers a terrific option in all leagues this week.

Ryan Weathers, Yankees, LHP (vs. Mariners, at Blue Jays)

Weathers has been a key cog in the Yankees’ rotation this season, posting a strong 3.79 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and a 132/34 K/BB ratio over 121 innings through his first 22 starts. He enters his two-start week in terrific form – allowing just one run over 18 2/3 innings in his last three starts while compiling a 17/5 K/BB ratio. He now gets to take on a struggling Mariners’ offense before finishing the week with a neutral matchup against the Jays in Toronto. He’s an easy start in all leagues this week.

▶ Decent Plays

Bryan Woo, Mariners, RHP (at Yankees, at Astros)

While he has still been good this season, we haven’t quite seen the elite results that we have come to expect from Woo through his first 22 starts in 2026 – posting a 4.31 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and a 127/27 K/BB ratio over his 127 1/3 innings of work. He now gets a particularly rough draw in matchups, having to battle the Yankees in New York before taking on the surging Astros in Houston. Even in the shallowest of leagues, it’s impossible to bench Woo for a two-start week. Just understand that he’s much more likely to deliver middling ratios than he is to dominate the way that we have seen over the previous two seasons.

Ranger Suarez, Red Sox, LHP (at Blue Jays, at Pirates)

Normally I’d be starting Suarez in a two-start week without any hesitation at all, but he hasn’t quite been the same since returning from the injured list. He has yet to make it through five innings in any of his three starts since returning while allowing six runs over 11 2/3 innings. Hopefully he’s just shaking off the rust and there’s nothing more to it. You probably still have to roll with him in a two-start week against mediocre competition, just understand that he carries more risk than you’d typically expect from the 30-year-old southpaw.

Noah Cameron, Royals, LHP (at Dodgers, at Angels)

While Cameron’s overall numbers on the season are a bit underwhelming, he has been weighed down by a couple of absolutely disastrous outings. He seems to have turned the corner after his last dud though, allowing just one run in total over 25 innings in his last three starts, going at least seven innings and striking out at least seven batters in each of them. That’s pretty impressive. It’s hard to stream anyone in a two-start week that includes a matchup against the Dodgers, but with the way that Cameron is throwing the ball right now, I’m be comfortable using him against any lineup. He then gets to balance that out a bit with a softer matchup against the Angels to finish the week. There’s enough to like here that Cameron should be utilized in both 15 and 12-team formats this week.

Dean Kremer, Twins, RHP (vs. Orioles, vs. Phillies)

Historically, Kremer has usually made for a strong option in two-start weeks as long as he isn’t facing elite competition. He gets the added fun this time around of starting the week with a revenge game against the Orioles after they shipped him off to the Twins at the trade deadline. Kremer looked great in his first start with the Twins, allowing just one run over five innings against the Royals. I anticipate him pitching well in that first start this week before a tough matchup against the Phillies over the weekend that could really go either way. In 15-teamers I’d definitely be willing to use him, in 12’s it would depend on what my other options were or how desperate I was to add volume in wins and strikeouts.

Freddy Peralta, Rays, RHP (at Athletics, vs. Orioles)

You can cut him some slack because it was at Coors Field, but Peralta’s first start with the Rays was a complete disaster – giving up seven runs on nine hits while failing to make it through four innings. The venue isn’t going to get any easier his next time out, as he’ll tangle with the Athletics in West Sacramento. An impending free agent at the end of the year, Peralta needs to finish the season strong if he’s going to cash in on the open market. Fantasy managers who have absorbed his ratio damage to this point probably need to keep rolling with him and simply hope for the best.

Jacob Lopez, Athletics, LHP (vs. Rays, vs. Rangers)

Lopez had been written up as a two-start option this past week, but as the A’s shuffled their rotation he got pushed back a day, moving his two-start assignment to this week instead. While his overall numbers on the season look terrible at a glance, Lopez appears to have figured something out recently, registering a 1.76 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 21/7 K/BB ratio over 15 1/3 innings over his last three starts. Having to make both of his starts this week at Sutter Health Park is a bit terrifying, but I’m willing to trust his recent form enough to use him as a streaming option in deeper mixed leagues.

MacKenzie Gore, Rangers, LHP (at Angels, at Athletics)

Gore’s overall line on the season has been underwhelming at best, but we have at least seen stretches from him over the course of his career where he has been a viable mixed league option. He’s coming off of perhaps his best start of the year after firing six shutout innings against the Giants and now gets a solid matchup against the Angels in Los Angeles to start the week. I’d actually like it better if that was it and he didn’t have to travel to West Sacramento to give up a few homers over the weekend. It’s fine in deeper leagues if you need an extra arm, but don’t get carried away here.

Cristian Javier, Astros, RHP (at Giants, vs. Mariners)

Javier has struggled since his return from the injured list, posting a 6.59 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and a 23/15 K/BB ratio across 27 1/3 innings in his first nine appearances (five starts). The matchups fall in his favor this week, giving at least some credence to attempting to use him as a streaming option – especially since he has looked better in each of his last two starts. I’ve gone back and forth on this one, but I’m leaning toward rolling the dice and hoping that he lands on the good side of variance. In 15-teamers I’d be willing to take the shot.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Cal Quantrill, Rangers, RHP (at Angels, at Athletics)

Is Cal Quantrill a good pitcher? Despite his performance so far with the Rangers, history tells us that he is not. The matchups also don’t fall in his favor this week, especially that scary tilt over the weekend against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park. If you want to think that he can avoid the ratio correction that’s surely coming, then go ahead and roll him out there. I’ve been burned by Quantrill too many times in the past to put myself in that position again.

Drew Anderson, Tigers, RHP (vs. Guardians, vs. White Sox)

If Anderson were fully stretched out or the team was committed to him staying in the rotation for the remainder of the season, then I would admittedly have more interest in him than I currently do. As it stands though, he’s merely keeping the seat warm until Jack Flaherty returns from the injured list. He threw just 42 pitches over 3 2/3 innings in his first start against the Mariners and I have a hard time seeing him getting through five against the Guardians to start the week. If you’re trying to pile up strikeouts and want to use him instead of a fringe starter or an extra reliever this week, that could make some sense. Just don’t expect a victory unless the Tigers use an opener in front of him.

Ryan Johnson, Angels, RHP (vs. Rangers, vs. Royals)

While he has shown glimpses of the elite upside that he possesses, Johnson has really struggled through his first 13 outings (10 starts) on the season, posting a miserable 7.11 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and a 38/25 K/BB ratio over his first 50 2/3 innings on the season. Even with a pair of decent matchups on the docket, there’s far too much ratio risk here to trust Johnson as anything more than a desperation volume play. I’d avoid this one if possible.

National League

▶ Strong Plays

Logan Henderson, Brewers, RHP (at Padres, at Dodgers)

The Brewers are leaning on their tremendous rotation depth to utilize a six-man rotation through a very tough part of their schedule. That means that even during a seven-game week, only one of their hurlers will toe the slab twice. Henderson has been incredible when he has been healthy enough to take the mound this season, going 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and a 62/10 K/BB ratio across 50 innings in 10 starts. That’s absolutely elite-level production. The matchups are admittedly difficult this week, having to battle the Padres and Dodgers – both on the road. Henderson has shown the ability to dominate any opponent in front of him though and we shouldn’t let the schedule scare us away from what should still be a very strong two-start week.

Christian Scott, Mets, RHP (at Braves, vs. Nationals)

While many things have gone wrong for the Mets yet again this season, Christian Scott has been a shining beacon of hope. Over his first 16 starts, he holds a 3.15 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a 92/32 K/BB ratio across his 74 1/3 innings of work. He has also been remarkably consistent, as he has allowed more than three runs just once on the year – and that was only four runs against the Cardinals on June 11. He should be started in all leagues every week and makes for a particularly strong option in a two-start week that includes a home tilt against the Nationals.

Eury Pérez, Marlins, RHP (vs. Pirates, at Reds)

The prized 23-year-old right-hander has shown plenty of inconsistency this season, but the overall results have been very solid with a 3.61 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 121/42 K/BB ratio across 109 2/3 innings. He’s a player that should be in all fantasy lineups on a weekly basis unless it’s a brutal one-start matchup. Fortunately, he gets two starts this week and one of them is at home against the Pirates, which makes him one of the better all-around options on the entire board this week. He should be deployed with complete confidence.

Paul Skenes, Pirates, RHP (at Marlins, vs. Red Sox)

One thing that hasn’t quite received the attention that it deserves this season, is the unexpected falloff in the performance of Paul Skenes. He entered the season as the consensus number two overall starting pitcher behind only Tarik Skubal, but his overall performance has fallen well short of that. Through his first 24 starts he sits at 9-10 with a pedestrian 3.98 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and a 162/36 K/BB ratio. Fantasy managers that called his name in the first round have undoubtedly been frustrated and disappointed with the way that his season has played out. He should still be started each and every week for fantasy purposes, but he’s no longer going to find himself in the top two rounds of drafts next season unless things turn around over the final two months.

Bryce Elder, Braves, RHP (vs. Mets, vs. Diamondbacks)

Elder’s 2026 campaign has been an absolute rollercoaster. He came out of the gate strong before floundering miserably over a seven-start stretch from late May to early July. Since then though, he has somehow righted the ship. Over his last four starts, the 27-year-old hurler holds a sparkling 1.88 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and an 18/10 K/BB ratio over 24 innings. With the way the Braves are playing right now, he’s in a terrific position to earn a victory every time he takes the hill and now gets to make a pair of starts at home against middling competition. I know it can be hard to trust Elder if you have been burned by him this season, but he makes for a strong play in all league sizes this week.

▶ Decent Plays

Justin Wrobleski, Dodgers, LHP (vs. Royals, vs. Brewers)

Since they have been rolling with a full six-man rotation for the duration of the season, it’s a rare occurrence when a Dodgers’ starter actually gets a two-start week. Things could change depending on when they want to slot Blake Snell back into the rotation, but as things currently stand it looks like Wrobleski will go on Monday and get the two-start assignment. He has been fantastic overall on the season, but has run into some very hard times his last two times out – giving up a combined 12 runs over 10 1/3 innings against the Mariners and Cubs. A matchup against the Royals should be just what the doctor ordered to get him back on track before a tough matchup against the Brewers over the weekend. He has earned enough trust this season that fantasy managers should continue to roll with him even after the struggles in his recent starts.

Casey Mize, Padres, RHP (vs. Brewers, at Guardians)

Change isn’t always easy. After being dealt away from the only organization that he has ever known, Mize struggled in his first start with the Padres, giving up eight runs on nine hits over 3 2/3 innings against the Diamondbacks. Yikes. Mize is still a quality pitcher though and should continue to be a mixed league asset over the final two months of the season. A matchup against a familiar foe in the Guardians to finish the week should help him to settle in. I understand the apprehension, but unless there’s an injury concern that the Padres announce, I’d roll with him in all leagues if he’s still taking the ball on Monday.

Hunter Dobbins, Cardinals, RHP (vs. Phillies, at Cubs)

Dobbins has done a nice job so far in his limited chances with the Cardinals, compiling a 3.60 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and a 36/14 K/BB ratio over 40 innings in his first eight appearances (five starts). We also saw him post similarly strong results over 61 innings for the Red Sox in 2025. The matchups are both on the tougher side this week, but I feel like there’s something to be had here. I’d be willing to roll the dice with Dobbins as a streaming option for this week and I also feel like he may end up having mixed league value over the remainder of the season.

Gabriel Hughes, Rockies, RHP (at Diamondbacks, at Giants)

I knew that this day could come eventually. The first time all season that we have had any Rockies’ pitcher ranked as anything more than at your own risk. The best pitcher in the team’s rotation is making two starts away from Coors Field and one of them is against the Giants in San Francisco. That’s about as good of a draw as you can get. I love what we have seen from Hughes through his first six starts, putting together a 4.25 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and a 28/9 K/BB ratio over 29 2/3 innings. I’m going out on a limb and saying that he makes for a solid streaming option this week and should pick up his first MLB victory. If he gets bombed here, I only have myself to blame.

Rhett Lowder, Reds, RHP (at White Sox, vs. Marlins)

This one is interesting to me. Lowder hasn’t pitched well this season. He holds a 5.26 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and a 73/39 K/BB ratio over 89 frames through his first 20 appearances (17 starts). So where’s the reason to even consider him here? I like what we have seen from him recently. Small sample size caveat, but over his last three starts he has registered a 3.18 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and a 12/4 K/BB ratio over 17 innings. Can that trend continue this week? That’s up to you to decide. I think there’s enough here though that I’d risk using him in 15-teamers as a streaming option and may even consider it in some 12’s if I needed to volume or was struggling to find another strong option.

Mitch Bratt, Diamondbacks, LHP (vs. Rockies, at Braves)

Bratt has done a decent job overall through his first six starts with the Diamondbacks, registering a 3.90 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and a 21/18 K/BB ratio over 27 2/3 innings. It’s going to be hard to sustain success at this level though if he can’t cut back on the walks. The matchups are a mixed bag, starting the week with a strong matchup at home against the Rockies before having to battle the red-hot Braves in Atlanta to close out the week. If you’re not worried about your ratios and are looking to gain ground in wins and strikeouts for the stretch run, you could give Bratt a try this week, just understand the ratio risks that you’re taking on by doing so.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Jake Irvin, Nationals, RHP (vs. Cubs, at Mets)

At this stage of his career, we have a pretty good idea of who Jake Irvin is. He holds a troublesome 5.37 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 62 innings in his 13 starts this season, winning two games and striking out 62 batters in 62 innings. If you’re only chasing strikeouts and can handle the inevitable ratio hit, he can be worth a look here. Otherwise, it’s probably best to steer clear.

Andrew Painter, Phillies, RHP (at Cardinals, at Twins)

While his long-term outlook still remains strong, Painter has been a major disappointment in his first season in the Phillies’ rotation. Through 16 appearances (14 starts), Painter holds a grotesque 6.48 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and a 63/28 K/BB ratio over 75 innings. Until he shows significant signs of putting everything together at the game’s highest level, there’s no reason at all that fantasy managers should trust him at all. Don’t be swayed by the prospect pedigree, there are smarter risks to take.

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An early look at the Red Sox potential playoff lineup and rotation

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 5: Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox runs out an RBI single during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox on August 5, 2026 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Red Sox started 2026 with legitimate postseason aspirations. Those vanished for three months before a historic 31-5 run revived them. With two months to go, the Red Sox are back on track for October, just not in a way anyone could’ve imagined. 

Given how fluid this roster is with stars eventually set to return amid a long list of contributing characters, the construction of a playoff roster is as fascinating as ever. 

For now, let’s start with a potential lineup and a three-man rotation necessary for a first-round series. 

LINEUP

Let’s dive right in.To me, here’s the best group they can line up (heath dependent, obviously). 

  1. Roman Anthony, LF
  2. Ceddanne Rafaela, CF
  3. Wilyer Abreu, RF
  4. Willson Contreras, 1B 
  5. Adley Rutschman, C
  6. Caleb Durbin, 3B
  7. Curtis Mead, 2B
  8. Masataka Yoshida/Jahmai Jones, DH
  9. Franklin Arias, SS

Other players for bench consideration: Jarren Duran, Trevor Story, Connor Wong, Eli White, Anthony Seigler, Andruw Monasterio, Jake Rogers, Nick Sogard

If the Red Sox can trot out that 1-9, they’ve got a great shot at a pennant. Look how much better that lineup is than what they had for the series against the Yankees last year!

And yes, I’m all in on the Franklin Arias spot here. I will let the 2013 Xander Bogaerts blueprint come back to life. Risky for his development? Yes. Risky for the club? Yes. But he’s not here to carry a lineup. He’s a young spark at the No. 9 spot who may also be their best defensive option. 

Rotation

Assuming the Red Sox start in the Wild Card round, they’ll only need three starters for that rotation. 

Game 1: Sonny Gray

Game 2: Ranger Suarez 

Game 3: Payton Tolle

Similar to the lineup, Boston should feel better about this group than last year’s set in New York. It’s hard to imagine the Red Sox not handing the ball to Garrett Crochet without thinking twice, but his build-up will not have him ready to let loose as a full starter by then.

Is combining Crochet and Brayan Bello into a start an option? Sure, but I’ve talked myself into using Crochet in the 2017 David Price role (still deserves more respect). 

Jake Bennett should be on a WC roster, though he wouldn’t be ready for a playoff start until a longer series where he can take Game 4. 

How would you draw up the lineup and rotation for October? Build out yours in the comment section!

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On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Royals series preview

After making the postseason in 2024 and contending last year, the Royals have fallen apart in 2026 and have one of the worst records in MLB entering this weekend, 20 games under .500.

Incidentally, the Cubs have now played 14 games of their 17-game stretch without an off day. Their record in those games is 10-4. Really, you can’t ask for much better than that. Well done, Cubs.

For more on the Royals, here’s Max Rieper, manager of our SB Nation Royals site Royals Review.

After back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in a decade, the Royals had designs on contention in 2026. But it all went very wrong right from the start. The offense struggled to begin the year due to poor performances from Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez.

The team was unable to dig out of an early hole, and once they hit the summer months, the pitching staff was ravaged by injuries. The Royals thought pitching depth would be a strength, but they lost Kris Bubic, Cole Ragans, Carlos Estevez, Ryan Bergert, Stephen Kolek, Luinder Avila, and Nick Mears to significant injuries, decimating the staff. Many fans felt they should have been aggressive sellers at the deadline, trading All-Star Michael Wacha while his value was high. Instead, the team held onto him and Seth Lugo, arguing that keeping them for next year could help them compete in 2027.

They have had to turning over every rock to find pitchers to finish the season. They may have found something in former Twins starter Randy Dobnak, who has a 1.16 ERA in his first four starts. Hard-throwing Steven Cruz may be emerging as their future closer. Daniel Lynch IV and John Schreiber have been useful relievers. Otherwise this has been one of the worst bullpens in franchise history. Much of the pitching staff is being held together by duct tape, comprised of has-beens and never-weres.

Bobby Witt Jr. returned this week from a back injury and he has picked up where he left off, with one of the best seasons ever by a player on a last place team. His offensive numbers are down slightly from last year, but he leads the AL in steams and in Outs Above Average defensively. The Royals thought their season hinged on the development of young hitters Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen. But both have been very solid this year, and yet the offense still stinks. Chicago-area native Michael Massey (Brother Rice High School) also seems to have turned a corner with his offensive development, providing some pop at second base. But the lineup is pretty thin, and the team has had to fill out the roster with “Quad-A” players.

Witt can still carry the team on occasion, but this is largely a team playing out the string. They make poor baserunning decisions, struggle to hit with runners in scoring position, and blow leads any chance they get. The Cubs should take this series and really should be aiming for a sweep.

Fun facts

The Cubs are 22-18 in their 40 games against the Royals since the interleague rivalry began in 1997, for a winning percentage of .550.

They have had a higher percentage against four other American League teams, all in no more than 29 games: Orioles (.679, 19-9), Athletics (.667, 18-9), Mariners (.643, 18-10) and Angels (.621, 18-11).

The Cubs are 9-8 vs. the Royals at Kansas City. They lost two of three in the first and third of their visits there, in 1998 and 2011. Since then, they are 5-3, having won two of three in 2015, splitting a pair in 2020, then bouncing back in 2024 from a 6-0 first-game loss to win, 9-4 and 7-3. Patrick Wisdom hit a grand slam in the seventh inning to erase a 4-3 deficit in the first of those games, then hit a solo shot in the second.

(Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)

Probable pitching matchups

Friday: Kevin Gausman, RHP (5-10, 4.38 ERA, 1.288 WHIP, 3.50 FIP in 23 starts with Blue Jays) vs. Daniel Lynch IV, LHP (4-2, 1.96 ERA, 0.935 WHIP, 3.05 FIP)

Saturday: Clay Holmes, RHP (4-4, 2.39 ERA, 1.101 WHIP, 3.21 FIP in nine starts with Mets) vs. Seth Lugo, RHP (4-7, 4.41 ERA, 1.391 WHIP, 4.26 FIP)

Sunday: Matthew Boyd, LHP (7-1, 3.59 ERA, 1.225 WHIP, 3.82 FIP) vs. Randy Dobnak, RHP (2-0, 1.16 ERA, 1.194 WHIP, 4.22 FIP)

Times & TV channels

Friday: 7:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

Saturday: 6:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

Sunday: 1:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

Prediction

The Cubs have three strong starters going in this series and really ought to win at least two of three.

Up next

The Cubs have Monday off — their first off day after playing the aforementioned 17 games in a row — then will be in Washington for a three-game series against the Nationals that begins Tuesday evening.

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Sabres Top 40 Prospects – #31

The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.  

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. These players are all 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 82 NHL games. 

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 31. Doman Kristof Szongoth - C (KooKoo Jr. - Finland)

Szongoth was the Sabres fifth round selection at the 2026 Draft in June (156th overall). A native of Budapest, the 18-year-old played his youth hockey in his home country and in Austria before shifting to Finland in 2023-24, where he scored 49 goals in 33 games at the under-16 level and six goals in nine games at the under-18 level, while also playing for Hungary internationally. 

Which Atlantic Division teams had the best and worst offseasons?

The next season as a 16-year-old, he played spot duty in Finland at the under-18 level, 37 games at the under-20 junior level, and internationally for Hungary, who was attempting to qualify for the under-18 and under-20 World Junior Championships, and the Milano Cortina Olympics. He also played in the 2025 World Championships.

Last season, Szongoth posted 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 44 games for KooKoo Jr. (U-20), captained Hungary at the under-18 qualifiers, and scored a goal at the 2026 World Championships in Switzerland. 

Elite Prospects says that the 6’1, 194 lb. forward is a “diligent two-way centre, always scanning and identifying his assignments while supporting his defencemen and leveraging his 200-pound frame when battling for pucks down low and along the walls.” Selected in the CHL Import Draft by the Soo Greyhounds, Szongoth will be coming to North America to play in the OHL this fall.  

 

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Wizards sign Alondes Williams to Exhibit-10 deal

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Alondes Williams #31 of the Washington Wizards celebrates after a play against the Indiana Pacers during the second half at Capital One Arena on February 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Washington Wizards have signed Alondes Williams to an Exhibit-10 contract, sources told to Bullets Forever. Chris Haynes first reported the agreement.

The deal, which doesn’t count toward Washington’s 15-man roster, allows Williams to participate in training camp with the Wizards while the team secures his G League rights. The 27-year-old has exhausted his two-way eligibility, so Washington can either sign him to a standard contract or a G league contract following training camp.

If Williams is waived by the Wizards and later signs with their G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, he can earn a bonus of up to $75,000.

Williams appeared in four games with the Wizards last season and scored 25 points in a win over the Pacers.

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Wizards release 2026-27 preseason schedule

INGLEWOOD, CA - January 14: Kyshawn George #18 of the Washington Wizards, Bilal Coulibaly #0 of the Washington Wizards, Alexandre Sarr #20 of the Washington Wizards, and Tre Johnson #12 of the Washington Wizards looks on during the game against the LA Clippers on January 14, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Washington Wizards have released their 2026-27 preseason schedule, which features four games in October.

Washington opens preseason play at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 8 at Madison Square Garden against the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks.

The Wizards then return home for two contests at Capital One Arena. The first is against the Detroit Pistons at 7 p.m. on Oct. 10, followed by a 7 p.m. tilt on Oct. 12 against the Brooklyn Nets.

Washington concludes the preseason at 8 p.m. on Oct. 16 against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.

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Defending historical dominance against Merrill Kelly

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 23: Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats during the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 23, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Dodgers 5-4. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

For a brief period last season, Merrill Kelly defended a team other than the Diamondbacks for the first time in his career, and to anyone who follows the NL West closely, it felt unusual. Now back where he broke through as a big leaguer at 30 years of age in 2019, Kelly hadn’t had the greatest of seasons; in fact, by every way you look at it, this is his worst-ever campaign, currently with an ERA above 5.00. Focusing on the Diamondbacks starter is of special importance in the context of this Friday night matchup between the two top teams in the NL West.

In a bizarro edition of “unstoppable force meets immovable object,” the Dodgers and their six-game losing streak—their worst of the season—will face a pitcher that perhaps more than any other one in the sport has felt the strength of the Dodgers across the last several years. Even in extremely lopsided battles, baseball has a way of rewarding the weaker sides occasionally, but for Kelly against the Dodgers, there has been none of that even when he’s been at his best.

A regular of the Diamondbacks rotation since he first came up to the bigs back in 2019, Kelly has accumulated a healthy sample size against the NL West, including 17 starts and 89 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Throughout it, he owns a 0-11 record, which includes a 2022 season in which he was the losing pitcher of record in all five starts against the Dodgers. Kelly had eight losses total in a 200-inning campaign that season. The last time Kelly faced the Dodgers was an 8-6 loss at the end of the 2024 campaign, one that doesn’t even count towards his 11 decisions, even though he allowed six of those runs (4 earned).

The only Dodger for the entirety of Kelly’s big-league career, Max Muncy has faced him the most, and while he has only hit one home run, the veteran third baseman has reached safely in 22 of 43 plate appearances. Mookie Betts, who is coming off a four-hit game, might get on a run, having taken Kelly deep four times in 35 at-bats. And if the Dodgers do anything close to what has been their common production against Kelly, Roki Sasaki may not even need his best start to take the win. Now more than ever, the Diamondbacks starter seems less than ideally prepared for this matchup.

Friday’s game info

  • Teams: Dodgers at Diamondbacks
  • Ballpark: Chase Field, Phoenix
  • Start time: 6:40 p.m.
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
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2027 NHL Mock Draft: Early Projections Of The Top 16 Lottery Picks

The Chicago Blackhawks and the rest of the National Hockey League are always scouting. There are plenty of junior showcases going on right now, and it will bleed into prospect challenges ahead of training camps. 

There are plenty of undrafted players doing what they can to raise their stock going into their draft year to give themselves the best chance at being a first-round pick. 

When it comes to the 2027 NHL Draft, there is one player who most believe will be the number one pick, and a consensus top three. Things can and will change, which is why doing the best scouting possible is pivotal for front offices. 

This mock draft is an early look at the lottery selections (1-16) with the team order based on how each projects to finish following the 2026-27 season:

1. Vancouver Canucks - Landon DuPont, D

After an incredibly successful year in Everett, Landon DuPont is going to play for the University of Michigan. He is an elite skater who handles the puck with high-end skill, intensity, and confidence. He is incredible at making plays at even strength or with the man advantage, which gives him the ceiling of an incredible playmaking blue-liner. While defending, his effort is unmatched, and he will do whatever it takes to keep his opponents from creating. That emphasis on playing a two-way game is what separates him from other great defensemen his age, which will make him a top pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. 

2. Calgary Flames - Nazar Privalov, FWD

If anyone is going to challenge DuPont for the top spot in the 2027 NHL Draft, it is Nazar Privalov. He is a huge player with the skills that you don't usually see from a guy his size. Right now, he's the top forward in the draft for these reasons. A long-term KHL contract would be a problem, but we've seen guys find ways to North America when they are ready recently. 

3. Chicago Blackhawks - Alexis Joseph, FWD

Few have risen on the draft boards as quickly as Alexis Joseph. He is a power forward who stands tall and plays with incredible skill, much like Privalov. As it stands right now, he is the clear rounder of the top three prospects in the 2027 class. 

4. Seattle Kraken - Carter Meyer, FWD

Carter Meyer enters his draft year as the top American-born player. For being a medium-sized player, Meyer is a wrecking ball on the ice. He also matches that intensity with a strong focus on being a two-way player. 

5. Nashville Predators - Sergei Skvortsov, FWD

Sergei Skvortsov may have the best pure hands in this entire draft class. What scouts will be looking for from him during his draft year is his level of compete against stronger competition. He is a strong skater, and he uses that to his advantage on every shift by never slowing down. If these skills translate to the pro game in North America one day, he will be a nightmare for defenders to face. 

6. Detroit Red Wings - Sammy Nelson - FWD

Wyatt Cullen was the only player selected from the United States National Team Development Program in 2026, and Sammy Nelson missed joining him by four days. Instead, he will be one of the oldest players in the 2027 NHL Draft. He will play for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2026-27, which is a great place for him to advance his skills as one of their top players. 

7. New York Islanders - Milan Sundstrom, FWD

Good two-way centers from Sweden have become a staple in the NHL and their farm systems. Milan Sundstrom is one to keep an eye on heading into this year from a prospect perspective. He has a high level of skill, which is a big reason he could be a top-ten pick, but his effort on every play allows him to take advantage of said skill. 

8. St. Louis Blues - Jonah Neuenschwander, FWD

Jonah Neuenschwander is a big forward who is going to create havoc at the pro level. He likes to be a force with his shot and playmaking, but the numbers don't suggest that he has an incredibly high ceiling offensively. However, as a middle-six forward in the NHL, he has the tools to make him successful, especially knowing the emphasis that the Swiss put on playing hockey the right way. 

9. Winnipeg Jets - Brock England, FWD

Brock England is not a huge player, but he's not small, either. What he is, however, is an elite skater, perhaps the best in the entire draft class or close. He's not afraid to run around and make his presence felt, but the offensive upside is where teams will question him. If he explodes in that regard during his draft year, he may find himself going even higher than 9th. 

10. New York Rangers - Dima Zhilkin, FWD

When Dima Zhilkin steps onto the ice for a shift, he is going to do something to get noticed. He may make a play, get a shot on net, or do something physical. Either way, he's the type of lead-by-example guy that every team in the NHL wants/needs. 

11. Pittsburgh Penguins - Petr Tomek, FWD

Petr Tomek will also be one of the older players in the 2027 NHL Draft, and he has the intelligence to back up taking a player like him this high. When you combine that level of smarts with an elite ability to skate, which Tomek has, you get a prospect who has a high ceiling of development. 

12. Boston Bruins - Jaxon Jacobson, FWD

One of the smaller forwards in the first round will be Jaxon Jacobson of the Brandon Wheat Kings. He is a high-end offensive player who would likely go higher if teams didn't foolishly undervalue undersized forwards. For a player of his size, he is also unafraid of anything on the ice, including a physical brand of hockey. Passing on him may be regrettable for a lot of teams down the line. 

13. Philadelphia Flyers - Brock Cripps, D

This draft, as it stands right now, is very forward-heavy at the top. Right now, Brock Cripps is one of the few defenders to consider outside of DuPont, who is likely going to be first. A few departures on his Prince Albert Raiders team are going to allow him to skate as their number one defenseman, which will either help or hurt his stock. As a smaller defender with high-end skill, big offensive numbers will keep teams intrigued.  Like Jacobson but on defense, teams may regret passing on a smaller player. 

14. Columbus Blue Jackets - Timothy Kazda, FWD

Timothy Kazda, as it stands right now, seems like a lock to be a top-16 pick in the draft as one of the best Europeans in the Draft. As a former member of the Chicago Steele, he is now set to play at Boston College, which will be incredible for his development. 

15. Los Angeles Kings - Luca Santala, FWD

Luca Santala is a big forward who can dominate offensively, but leaves a little to be desired when it comes to being hard to play against. If he can find a way to elevate his game in that way, it will provide a whole new element to his game. He has the tools to become an incredible power forward in the pros if the team that drafts him sees that and develops him properly. 

16. Toronto Maple Leafs - Yevgeni Yakunin, FWD

Yevgeni Yakunin is a great power forward who has an incredible offensive ceiling for being a big-bodied prospect. The problem with him is that he is signed to a KHL contract that runs through 2031. Any team that drafts him has to either be incredibly patient or get incredibly lucky enough to see a rather lucrative buyout. If he falls outside of the top-16, that will be the main reason why. A contending team that can afford to wait it out may be interested, but you never know when it comes to elite prospects. 

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The Connelly Early injury update is concerning on multiple levels for the Washington Nationals

WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - JULY 27, 2026: Connelly Early #19 of the Washington Nationals watches the action from the dugout during the first inning of an interleague game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Nationals Park on July 27, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. The Blue Jays beat the Nationals, 3-2. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Yesterday we got some more bad news on the injury front. Big trade acquisition Connelly Early was shut down from his rehab after feeling forearm tightness. The team insists it is minor and that they are not concerned. However, that is certainly not the update you want to hear.

Despite the messaging about the team not being concerned, I am certainly worried. For a guy who was out with an elbow injury, experiencing forearm tightness on rehab is the last thing you want to hear. Fans have heard this update plenty of times before only to be told that the pitcher needs Tommy John Surgery a couple weeks later.

The new front office better hope that Early does not need any elbow surgery because if he does, it would be a really bad look. From the outside, it would sure seem like Paul Toboni got played by his former boss Craig Breslow if that is the outcome here. However, we are not there yet.

One other thing that raised my eyebrows was the fact that it was reported that Early is not getting an MRI. In Spencer Nusbaum’s piece, it was stated that Early “did not need an MRI”. I feel like it would be good practice to just get one anyways just to make sure everything is fine. What is the downside of doing that?

The worst thing that could happen is that Early doesn’t get an MRI, starts throwing before getting shut down again, only to find out he does in fact need surgery. If the Nats really want to proceed with extreme caution, an MRI needs to be part of the process.

It was reported that Early got an MRI after his initial injury in Boston, and there was no structural damage. However, after another arm related issue, they should check again. I am trying not to jump to conclusions here, but this just reads like the type of update you get before someone goes under the knife.

Even if Early is healthy and this is just a minor setback, he would be racing against time to get back on the mound. Presumably, he will not throw for at least a week or two and after that he will have to build back up. Once he gets through his rehab process, he will only be able to make a couple starts before the season is over.

It was true when the trade was made and even more true now, but Paul Toboni has a lot riding on Connelly Early. He started the deconstruction of an elite offense to go get his guy from Boston despite the fact Early was on the shelf. Toboni needs Early to work out, or else the fanbase will start getting grumpy.

There is still plenty of time before we can fully announce the winner of the Bennett for Perales swap, but so far Boston has the upper hand. If another trade with his old club gets off to a bad start, that would be tough optics. Toboni is pretty lucky that Mead is on the shelf and not mashing right now.

Toboni has done a phenomenal job this year developing hitters in the majors and minors. However, his trades with the Red Sox are off to a less than ideal start. For the sake of everyone involved with the team from the front office to the fans, Connelly Early needs to be healthy ASAP.

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All eyes on Austin Wells after deadline inactivity

CHICAGO, IL - JULY 28: Austin Wells #28 of the New York Yankees talks with home plate umpire Roberto Ortiz after calling for an ABS challenge in the ninth inning during the game between the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Lawrence Brown/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

If you polled 1,000 anonymous Yankees fans at random and asked them the biggest issue with the team in 2026, generalizing it that you could name a player, team figure, or even approach, you’d get a lot of answers.

There’d be a fair amount of Aaron Boone, Brian Cashman, Hal Steinbrenner, and “analytics” answers, but you’d also think that certain positional groups or players would be named as well. The most common player that would probably be individually named would be Austin Wells, who is having an unmitigated disaster of an season to the point where one of my fellow writers mused about the worst position players on a World Series-winning Yankees team.

Indeed, Wells is quickly approaching Yankees infamy. Entering Friday night’s series opener against Atlanta, the 27-year-old backstop has a 59 wRC+, tied for the lowest by a Yankee with at least 250 plate appearances since Austin Romine in 2017 and the third-worst by any Yankee since the last World Series title in 2009. It wasn’t too long ago that it was even worse, as the 33 wRC+ he had through early July would’ve been the worst by any Yankee with 200 PAs since Jim Mason in 1976.

As such, with his struggles encompassing nearly the entire season, it seemed inevitable that some right-handed catcher would come in to take a share of the reps behind the plate at the trade deadline. Names such as Ryan Jeffers, Adley Rutschman, Hunter Goodman, and Tyler Stephenson were all floated, but when the dust settled, the Yankees elected to ignore the catcher position in an absolute stunner.

As if the pressure wasn’t already immense on Wells to produce, the lack of reinforcement has only heightened it. In a lineup that still cannot find a way to get going even after the acquisitions of Luis García Jr. and Heliot Ramos, the scrutiny will only get louder on the parts that fail to get going.

But maybe that pressure can be a good thing for Wells. After all, his best three weeks of the entire season preceded the deadline when everyone and their mother thought he would lose the starting spot he seized from Jose Trevino for good in the summer of 2024. Since July 9th in a span of 19 games and 51 plate appearances, he’s slashing .256/.373/.558 with a 161 wRC+, the best on the team. While this sample represents just one-fifth of his season, the overnight switch flipped in Boston shows that things like these might not just be small sample nonsense.

I can break up Wells’ seasons into three parts:

Part I: Process/plate discipline improved from ‘25, results lagged behind
Part II: Six weeks surrounding the cervical headaches that put him on the injured list, where he looks utterly lost
Part III: The revival over the last four weeks; process meets results.

Mr. Wells, who art thou?

Part I

Date: March 25 to May 7
Stats: .195/.336/.310, 87 wRC+, 17.8 BB%, 19.6 K% (107 PA)

The biggest reason why Wells regressed at the plate in 2025 from his strong rookie season was the sharp drop in his plate discipline. His chase, whiff, walk, and strikeout rates all plummeted from average to poor to flat-out bad. To me, improving that aspect of his game was the biggest priority for him in 2026.

And for a while, it worked. Wells was drawing walks, laying off bad pitches, and doing what you want from a guy like him. His quality of contact took a step back as he struggled to put it all together, but the process was where you wanted it to be for a guy with the thump he’s been proven to have:

This version of Wells was getting many hits fall in through May 7 and had an underwhelming slash line, but he had 19 walks to 21 strikeouts in 107 plate appearances. It was the kind of profile you could live with, even if it was disappointing for a guy who was supposed to be a good offensive catcher. But after that day, things went downhill.

Part II

Date: May 8 to July 8
Stats: .105/.141/.147, -24 wRC+, 4.0% BB, 37.0 K% (100 PA)

For two whole months, this looked like a guy who had been picked up from a local beer league and asked to hit in a major league game. He started chasing everything, doing significantly less damage in-zone, and was perhaps the easiest out in the majors. This was where his playing time began to be reduced and where things really started to get bad:

The key with this stretch was Wells going down with cervical headaches on June 6, just as the team aggressively looked to energize the unit with the promotion of Ali Sanchez. We know that said headaches were an issue for up to a week beforehand and that, as the team’s starting catcher, he has endured a beating this season behind the plate. When he came back, things didn’t get better at all in the short term.

It’s hard to blame all of this on the headaches, but when a player has six absolutely horrendous weeks of baseball centered around a neurological issue, you have to take it all with a grain of salt. Think back to the two months of sharp regression we saw out of Anthony Rizzo after his collision with Fernando Tatis Jr. in 2023 before we learned of his brain fog. While Rizzo never functionally recovered, we can see that Wells has.

Here’s a note that defines this stretch. In his first 104 plate appearances of the season, Wells drew 19 walks. He drew just four in these 100 PA’s, with all of them occurring in the first few weeks. He went 50 plate appearances between walks from May 31 to July 9, when a rebirth of sorts occurred.

Part III

Date: July 9 to present
Stats: .256/.373/.558, 161 wRC+, 13.7 BB%, 19.6 K% (51 PA)

The renaissance of Wells’ bat over the past four weeks has been predicated on, well, everything getting way better. His plate discipline has completely recovered and even reached another level. He’s no longer giving away at-bats with lousy strikeouts. He’s seeing pitches, hunting mistakes, and doing damage again. The peripherals back up the numbers.

Is this sustainable? Probably not, based on his true talent level, but the production gives you hope that he can be productive for the remainder of the season. Think of the current lineup and the hypothetical lineup when Judge, Bellinger, and Stanton return. It should be a lot deeper than it currently is, and imagine much the complexion of the bottom of the order changes if you have a Wells that hold his own at the plate.

Ryan McMahon is who he is at third base. George Lombard Jr. has boundless potential but is a rookie at shortstop. Wells, to this point, has been a black hole. For a lineup that will rely on its heavy hitters, they just need the guys at the bottom to not sink the ship, and Wells can go a long way towards achieving that standard. He’s been given all the trust in the world by management, and now he’s got all the pressure in the world on him. Wells must produce down the stretch, because the Yankees have given themselves no other options.

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Yankees signing catcher Mitch Garver to minor league deal

The Yankees are adding to the organization's catching depth by signing veteran Mitch Garver to a minor league deal.

Garver, 35, appeared in 50 games with the Seattle Mariners this season before he was released earlier this week.

"Obviously a ton of experience. Had a lot of success, too, in the league," manager Aaron Boone said of Garver ahead of Friday's game against the Atlanta Braves. "Just trying to add to our depth and protection. Get him into our system and see where we can help him and see what he has. And you never know."

The backstop has seven extra-base hits (four home runs) with 15 RBI while posting a .175/.302/.294 slash line for a .596 OPS (73 OPS+, 82 wRC+) with the Mariners, and he would give the Yanks a right-handed option if he is called up to the big league level. He has been better against left-handed pitchers this season with a .659 OPS in 64 plate appearances on the year after posting a .718 OPS against LHP in 156 plate appearances in 2025.

Catcher was a position that general manager Brian Cashman confirmed the club targeted but was unable to make a move before the MLB trade deadline, including having conversations with Baltimore about Adley Rutschman before he was dealt to Boston, as they have not gotten the offensive production from that unit all season.

"We grinded through the market at catching,” Cashman said Monday, but it was “a very thin market of opportunity.”

The GM said that despite the interest, they believe that while the offensive side has been a "struggle," there's hope that Austin Wells is “trending in the right direction” of producing more at the plate.

“I think Austin has been getting his offense going this past month,” Cashman said. “A much more closer version to what he’s capable of... Hopefully, the best is yet to come... he does possess a lot of potential with that bat. Hopefully he's starting to finally tap into it."

Since the All-Star break, Wells is 8-for-31 (.258) with three extra-base hits for an .879 OPS. That run has seen his season slash line rise to .169/.268/.289 for a .557 OPS (57 OPS+, 59 wRC+). While he has dealt with some injuries on the year, that is a .155 decrease in OPS from last season. 

Ali Sanchez, the lone righty catcher, has 15 hits in 56 at-bats (.268), but with just three extra-base hits, his .357 slugging percentage over 32 games has left much to be desired. Lefty batting J.C. Escarra, currently in the minors, slashed .188/.239/.271 for a .510 OPS with six extra-base hits and seven RBI in 32 games earlier this year.

Garver is two years removed from his best big-league career at the plate when he slugged 19 home runs and 50 RBI with a .270 average and .870 OPS in 87 games with the Texas Rangers' World Series-winning side of 2023. He belted three homers that postseason, including one in the Fall Classic, and batted .226 with a .751 OPS in 14 games.

But his hitting really never caught on in the Pacific Northwest. He slashed .185/.292/.333 for a .626 OPS with 28 home runs and 96 RBI in 251 games over parts of three seasons with Seattle.

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Los Angeles Kings to honor Anze Kopitar with retired number, statue

The Los Angeles Kings will retire Anze Kopitar's No. 11 and unveil a bronze statue of him at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 24, 2027, as they honor the franchise's all-time leading scorer.

Kopitar, 38, retired after the 2025-26 season, his 20th in the NHL, all spent with the Kings after they drafted him 11th overall in 2005.

The ceremony will give Kings fans another chance to celebrate the Slovenia native after they shouted "Kopi" and gave him a standing ovation following a Game 4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs. The Kings are playing the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 24.

Kopitar won Stanley Cup titles in 2012 and 2014, was team captain from 2016-17 through last season and passed Marcel Dionne on March 14, 2026, to become the franchise's leading scorer.

He finished his career with 452 goals and 1,316 points in 1,521 regular-season games, plus 89 points in 107 playoff games. He also won two Selke trophies, three Lady Byng trophies and the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award.

"To have my number retired and a statue unveiled by the LA Kings is an incredible honor, and one that is difficult to put into words," Kopitar said in a statement. "When I arrived in Los Angeles 21 years ago, I simply hoped to earn the opportunity to play in the NHL. I never imagined something like this."

Los Angeles Kings retired numbers

Kopitar will be the eighth Kings player to have his number retired. The others:

  • Rob Blake (4)
  • Marcel Dionne (16)
  • Dave Taylor (18)
  • Luc Robitaille (20)
  • Dustin Brown (23)
  • Rogie Vachon (30) 
  • Wayne Gretzky (99)

Statues at Crypto.com Arena

Kopitar’s statue is being created by sculptors Julie Rotblatt Amrany and Omri Amrany.

It will join statues honoring Gretzky, Robitaille, Brown, Bob Miller, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Oscar De La Hoya, Chick Hearn, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, Elgin Baylor, Kobe and Gigi Bryant, and Pat Riley in Crypto.com Arena's Star Plaza along Chick Hearn Court.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Los Angeles Kings to honor Anze Kopitar with retired number, statue

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Today in White Sox History: August 7

SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 07: Luis Robert Jr. #88 of the Chicago White Sox rounds the bases during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Thursday, August 7, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.
On this day one year ago, and in fact on this play one year ago, Luis Robert Jr. joined Chicago’s 100-100 club. | (Photo by Mollie Handkins/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

1910
White Sox pitcher Ed Walsh fired the first shutout in the original Comiskey Park, when he blanked Washington, 4-0. He allowed only two hits and struck out 10 in the game.

Senators outfielder William “Wid” Conroy got both of the hits off of Walshthat afternoon.

1932
With a 1-0 loss in the second game of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Athletics, the White Sox started a season-worst, 10-game losing streak. Given the 1932 team was the worst in White Sox history, that the worst stretch for the team was just 10 losses is something of a minor miracle. However, the rest of August was simply miserable, as the 10 straight losses also were strung into 13 of 14, 16 of 18, and 21 of 24.

To put into perspective how horrible the 2024 was through 117 games, at this spot on the season calendar, that team was nine games worse than the 1932, worst-ever, White Sox club.

1960
The White Sox swept a doubleheader from the Senators, 9-7 and 3-2, both in walk-off fashion, with Gerry Staley picking up wins in both games.

In the opener, Washington rallied to tie, 7-7, in the top of the ninth off of Staley, but in the bottom half the Sox assaulted reliever Pedro Ramos: Sherm Lollar doubled, Al Smith walked, and Gene Freese crushed a homer to left to win it. (Ramos had started the game on Friday and had just pitch-ran in the ninth to enter the game, so it’s hard to blame him for being out of gas.)

The pattern repeated itself in the nightcap, with Washington rallying to tie in the top of the ninth and the White Sox punching right back. Again, Lollar instigated the rally, with a leadoff single. After two fly outs, Roy Sievers singled pinch-runner Jim Rivera to third, and then Minnie Miñoso cracked a single through the box and into center field for the game-winner.

On the day, Staley threw four innings of one-hit, one-run, one-walk ball. He blew his ninth save of the season in the opener, but earned two wins to up his record to 11-5 on the year (he’d finish at 13-8, topping all AL relievers in both wins and losses).

The White Sox were in the midst of a final push to defend their 1959 AL pennant, just 1 1⁄2 games out after the sweep. The South Siders fought back into a tie for first after another doubleheader sweep a week from today, but faltered from there and finished 10 games out, in third place, at 87-67.

1970
In the midst of the worst season in franchise history, some smiles were seen after the White Sox unveiled the “Big White Machine” at Comiskey Park.

The car was a 1929 Ford, rebuilt by Sox players Ed Herrmann, Bill Melton, Syd O’Brien and the folks at Hawkinson Ford (now known as Hawk Ford). It circled Comiskey Park every time the Sox won a home game — which wasn’t often! 

1972
He played in the big leagues for 23 seasons, and his 300 lifetime wins punched Early Wynn’s ticket intothe Hall of Fame, on this date.

Wynnpitched five seasons for the Sox, winning 64 games. He led the American League in innings pitched, games started, strikeouts and wins at various times between 1958 and 1962 when he was in Chicago. He averaged 38 starts per year during that stretch.

Wynn’s signature season was the pennant-winning year of 1959, when he won the Cy Young with 22 wins and a 3.17 ERA. (There was only one award in those days, instead of one winner per league.) In the early 1980s, Wynn became a White Sox broadcaster.

1974
Comiskey Park was the site for one of the most exciting games of the early 1970s, and it involved Nolan Ryan. The flamethrower took a no-hitter into the ninth inning and led, 1-0, thanks to a Frank Robinson home run. However, after getting the first out in the ninth, it all fell apart for Ryan. 

Dick Allen beat out an infield hit, spoiling the no-hitter, and Carlos May reached on an error. Ken Henderson ripped a single to center to tie the game, and then with two out, Billy Sharp singled to right to win it.

The Sox beat the Angels, 2-1, getting all three of their hits in the final inning. White Sox starter Jim Kaat was brilliant as well, and the late rally saved him from a hard-luck loss.  

1994
In a game in Anaheim, Frank Thomas drove in two runs in the a 10-5 White Sox win, in 12 innings over the Angels. The RBIs were his 100th and 101ston the season. They came in the team’s 110th game, which set the franchise mark for fastest to 100 RBIs. 

Thomas also held the old mark — set the year before, when he collected his 100th RBI in the team’s 118th contest.

2005
Before a 3-1 win over Seattle, a concourse statue of Carlton Fisk was unveiled, the third-ever at Sox Park after Charles Comiskey and Minnie Miñoso. The big blow in the game was a 20% WPA home run from Paul Konerko, a two-run shot that put the White Sox up for good, 2-1.

Fisk had his No. 72 retired by the White Sox eight years earlier, in 1997.

2025
With a steal of second base in a game during a 4-3 loss in 11 innings at Seattle, Luis Robert Jr. became only the fourth member of the franchise to log at least 100 home runs and 100 steals while in a White Sox uniform. Robert led off the eighth inning of a tie game with a single, then stole his 100th career base (earlier in the game, Robert led off the second inning with a walk, but was picked off first, getting safely second base on a throwing error). Robert joined Minnie Miñoso, Ray Durham and Alexei Ramírez in the select 100-100 club.

Robert, who went 3-for-4 in the game with a double and a walk, finished his White Sox career with 102 home runs and 102 stolen bases.

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Andrew Flintoff makes surprise exit as England Lions head coach after two years

  • Other demands meant he was unable to commit fully

  • Mike Yardy will step in for upcoming Pakistan fixture

Andrew Flintoff has decided to step down as the head coach of England Lions with immediate effect before his winter spell working in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL).

The former all-rounder, 48, has been in charge of England’s second string since September 2024 and had been given the all-clear to leave this winter’s Lions tour of South Africa early to take up his new role at BBL side Sydney Thunder.

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