The Detroit Tigers had to settle for a split in their four-game home series against the Kansas City Royals last weekend, succumbing to the visitors in a 5-4 finale on Sunday afternoon. Framber Valdez was far from efficient and the bullpen once again squandered a late lead, resulting in the team’s 56th defeat this season.
Opening things up against the Baltimore Orioles this week for the Motor City Kitties is right-hander Keider Montero, who will make his second start since being brought back out of the bullpen. The 26-year-old justified his return to the rotation by throwing 5 1/3 frames of one-run ball on three hits — including a solo home run — and zero walks while matching his career high of eight strikeouts.
For the O’s, fellow righty Kyle Bradish will climb the hill looking to continue his recent stretch of success that saw him toss quality starts in five of his last six outings and his last three straight. The 29-year-old posted a 2.03 ERA and 2.56 FIP over his last 40 innings of work, allowing 23 hits (one home run) and 12 walks against 37 strikeouts, earning wins in four of those six games.
Here is a quick look at the matchup on paper ahead of the showdown in the D.
Detroit Tigers (50-56) vs. Baltimore Orioles (51-55)
Time (ET): 6:40 p.m. Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan SB Nation Site:Camden Chat Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 107: RHP Keider Montero (7-5, 3.14 ERA) vs. RHP Kyle Bradish (7-9, 3.49 ERA)
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal delivers against the Kansas City Royals on July 24. Don't count on the Dodgers acquiring Skubal at the trade deadline. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is one of the few players who could actually elevate the Dodgers’ roster at the trade deadline. And the Dodgers are one of the few teams that could reasonably part with the prospect capital it would take to acquire the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner.
That doesn’t mean it will come to fruition.
With a week to go before the MLB trade deadline on Aug. 3, the Dodgers don’t appear to be moving toward a trade for Skubal, according to people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly. And it’s unclear whether the Tigers will indeed trade him; rival executives’ expectations appear to be inconsistent.
The Dodgers can never be fully counted out for a big swing, of course. They weren’t expected to sign closer Edwin Díaz or right fielder Kyle Tucker during the offseason, either.
But having a strong farm system supplements big spending. And part of the reasoning behind those indulgent offseason moves was to make a big trade-deadline move unnecessary. So, barring a significant shift either in rotation health or in the market, don’t count on Skubal joining the Dodgers in their quest for a three-peat.
The Dodgers have shown a willingness in the past to give up top prospects for starting pitching when they see a need. Look no further than 2024, when they pursued then-White Sox ace Garrett Crochet before pivoting to a different Tigers starter, Jack Flaherty, who they acquired for catcher Thayron Liranzo and shortstop Trey Sweeney — top-25 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline.
Between the Dodgers’ position in the standings, and the amount of talent they expect coming off the injured list, however, they don’t need to add Skubal to still be widely considered World Series favorites.
Despite injuries to key players, the Dodgers (67-39) have the best record in the majors and a 12-game lead in the National League West entering Monday.
The signings of Díaz and Tucker haven’t gone as the Dodgers pictured. Neither elevated the team in the first half. Díaz was hurt for most of it, and Tucker has had an underwhelming offensive season.
But when Díaz (loose body elbow surgery) returns from the injured list — manager Dave Roberts said the Dodgers plan to reinstate Díaz on Wednesday — and if Tucker can break out offensively, as he showed signs of over the weekend, they could essentially function as major trade-deadline additions.
The same goes for utility player Kiké Hernández and starting pitchers Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. Hernández (strained left oblique) is expected to return from the IL on Tuesday. Snell (elbow surgery) is scheduled to make at least one more rehab start this coming week. And Glasnow (back spasms) is in the live batting practice phase of his build-up.
Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell puts on his cap before a game against the Atlanta Braves on May 9. (Caroline Brehman / Associated Press)
So, off the IL alone, the Dodgers are expecting to add two well-established starters, a closer, and a versatile position player in the second half.
Shohei Ohtani’s lingering left knee problem, which is holding him out of the rotation even after he received an Orthovisc injection to lubricate the joint going into the All-Star break, doesn’t change the team’s trade deadline calculus, according to people with knowledge of the matter not authorized to speak publicly.
Roberts all but confirmed as much Sunday.
“I don’t think so,” Roberts said when asked if his view of the team’s deadline pitching needs has changed. “I really don’t. We expect him to be pitching. ... So I don’t think that our approach to the deadline has changed given these last three weeks with Shohei.”
The Dodgers’ MLB-leading payroll (estimated by Roster Resource to be $397 million) draws a lot of attention. But their commitment to player development has helped extend their run of postseason success. The Mets (44-62), No. 2 in payroll ($366 million) are proof that big spending doesn’t guarantee winning.
The Dodgers will weigh the upside of adding someone such as Skubal — even better World Series odds, not having to face him in the postseason, etc. — against the blow to their young talent pool. Though the Dodgers do have an excess of prospect talent, especially in the outfield, the Tigers aren’t going to settle for anything short of a robust return.
If the Dodgers don’t trade for Skubal, what will they do?
Most likely, the Dodgers’ deadline moves will be around the periphery. They approached last year’s deadline similarly, when they traded for reliever Brock Stewart and outfielder Alex Call. This year, the Dodgers have even fewer obvious needs.
To borrow a favorite buzz word of executives across baseball, they’ll be opportunistic, as they look for ways to solidify the roster for the stretch run and into the playoffs. And if they see a way to upgrade their roster for future years without hurting their 2026 championship odds, they would be open to taking it, according to people with knowledge of the team’s stance not authorized to speak publicly.
The Dodgers’ catching depth, with Will Smith still sidelined with a lingering neck injury, is the most obvious roster soft spot. But the Dodgers are comfortable with backup catcher Dalton Rushing taking the bulk of the innings until Smith returns.
Smith’s recent recovery progress, since shutting down baseball activities and receiving an injection to address the discomfort and inflammation, has been encouraging enough for the team to feel confident in his return.
Still, the Dodgers could benefit from at least another third-string option at the physically and mentally demanding position.
If this all sounds boring compared to adding Skubal to a rotation that’s full of star power when healthy, that’s by design. For perennial postseason contenders, a splashy offseason ideally sets up a low-key trade deadline.
Jul 25, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio (11) and outfielder Luis Lara (18) celebrate a win over the Colorado Rockies as center fielder Garrett Mitchell (5) looks on at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Results
Monday: Brewers 8, Mets 3
Tuesday: Mets 4, Brewers 0
Wednesday: Brewers 4, Mets 3
Thursday: Off Day
Friday: Rockies 5, Brewers 2
Saturday: Brewers 8, Rockies 5
Sunday: Brewers 11, Rockies 2
Division Standings
Brewers: 66-39
Cubs: 59-46 (7.0 GB)
Pirates: 54-52 (12.5 GB)
Cardinals: 53-52 (13.0 GB)
Reds: 49-55 (16.5 GB)
Last Week
Brewers: 4-2
Cubs: 3-3
Pirates: 2-4
Cardinals: 2-5
Reds: 4-2
Top Pitching Performance of the Week
Jacob Misiorowski continues to dominate opposing lineups, as he made a pair of starts against the Mets and Rockies this week, totaling nine innings but striking out an incredible 18 batters. That includes a seven-strikeout stretch to begin Sunday’s game against Colorado, breaking a franchise record for strikeouts to begin a game previously held by Quinn Priester (six in 2025). Miz also allowed just two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk.
Cooper Pratt continued to make a case for NL Rookie of the Month, as he led the team with nine hits in 18 at-bats this week (.500 batting average), including a pair of homers — the first and second of his career — and a double, driving in six. He also swiped a pair of bags.
Honorable mentions to Andrew Vaughn (two homers, .313/.333/.750 line), Joey Ortiz (seven hits, including two doubles, two triples, and a homer), Brice Turang (eight hits, including a pair of doubles and a homer), and Luis Lara (four hits, including three doubles, and five RBIs), as well as to known hitter Randy Wolf, who slugged the deciding two-run homer in the Brewers Alumni Legends Game.
Infielder David Hamilton made his return to the roster on Friday ahead of the series with the Rockies, as he missed just over two weeks with a strained hamstring. Infielder Braden Shewmake, who the Brewers acquired from the Astros for cash considerations in the wake of Hamilton’s injury, was designated for assignment.
Just over a week after acquiring him (along with left-hander Colton Gordon) in a trade for Jadyn Fielder and cash considerations, the Brewers designated right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. for assignment. McCullers looked great in his first couple of innings as a Brewer (pair of 1-2-3 innings with three strikeouts), but he struggled overall, totaling 4 2/3 innings with five runs allowed (just two earned) as he gave up three hits and four walks. Right-hander Garrett Stallings was recalled to replace him on the active roster, but McCullers’ DFA means the Brewers now have two 40-man spots open.
Left-handed pitcher DL Hall and outfielder Brandon Lockridge were both sent on rehab assignments with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, as we could see both make their return to the majors in the next couple of weeks.
Outfielder Sal Frelick, who went on the IL last weekend with a right shoulder strain, was shut down from baseball activities for the next week. His return is still listed as TBD, but it’s looking like we won’t see him until at least mid-August.
Right-hander Joel Kuhnel threw his first bullpen session on July 21, and left-hander Kyle Harrison threw four “ups” in a live batting practice session on Saturday. Next steps for Kuhnel are TBD, while Harrison is expected to either make a rehab appearance in the minors or directly return to the rotation.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 29: Pau Gasol #16 and Head Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs talk during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 29, 2018 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 2018 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In a recent interview, retires basketball player Pau Gasol sat down and shared that working with Gregg Popovich was a factor in his decision to join the San Antonio Spurs later in his career.
Pau Gasol says one of the main reasons for signing with the Spurs was to be coached by Pop and experience the Spurs culture. On what he appreciated about Coach Pop beyond the Xs and Os:
“Pop was also very caring about the social aspect. Understanding that we all had a platform,… pic.twitter.com/OUnN1onvdO
“Pop was also very caring about the social aspect. Understanding that we all had a platform, that that was important to have perspective of what was going on. That basketball was kind of our job, but what’s truly important is family, what’s truly important is giving back and being aware and sensitive to social injustices, to what’s going on and how we can affect our communities. So I appreciated those messages more than the basketball itself.”
Gasol played with the Spurs over three seasons before a stress fracture limited his play in his third year. He won two titles with the Lakers. He’s been celebrated in the NBA as well as overseas. His career is adorned with multiple FIBA and Liga awards. Since retirement, Gasol has increased his involvement UNICEF, St. Jude’s, and his own Gasol Foundation.
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 15: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals pursues David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins as he carries the puck during a game at Capital One Arena on April 15, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by John McCreary/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Well folks, we’ve reached the last week in July. Time flies, it was just May, why are there Halloween decorations in the stores, etc.
In keeping with the normal flow of the offseason, there isn’t a ton happening right now, either in the Bruins orbit or around the NHL.
However, we’ve still got some things to kick around and pass the time as the calendar flips to August.
Messrs. Worldwide
In case you missed it (and who could blame you if you did), the NHL will be using a new format at the 2027 All-Star Game, which will be held on SCENIC Long Island.
This year, the teams will be split into players from Canada, the United States, Sweden, Finland, and…THE WORLD.
This set up seems like a bit of an affront to the rest of the hockey world, similar to the Four Nations tournament, but at least they get to participate this time.
What’s the point of all this? For discussion’s sake, NHL.com released a projected roster for Pitbull’s favorite team, and it’s a pretty stacked group.
The selectors went with nine forwards and no defensemen, a bold choice until you remember it’s the All-Star Game, it’s 3-on-3, and no one plays defense.
I’m not sure if this new format will make the game must-see TV, but it should at least be entertaining.
Acting Locally
In closer-to-home news, there’s not a ton to report on the Bruins, but here are some items to consider:
The Boston Globe’s Jim McBride had a piece on the Bruins’ recent trend of drafting tall blueliners, something that certainly doesn’t appear to be a coincidence.
Mikey Eyssimont certainly sounded like a player who didn’t expect to be back in Boston next season when he spoke at the end of the last campaign.Boston Sports Journal points out how he remains in the mix and wonders what happens next.
James Hagens spoke to the Boston Herald about how “pressure is privilege” and what he expects from his first full NHL season. (This may be behind a paywall.)
And last, but not least, The Athletic ran a list of the biggest on-ice villain for each NHL franchise. I originally misread the title, I guess, and expected it to be each franchise’s biggest villain for on-ice activity; instead, it’s who each fanbase considers the biggest villain against their team (the Bruins choice was Ulf Samuelsson). Some of the answers are obvious, while some are funny: the Hurricanes, for example, consider their biggest villain to be…….Erik Haula?
BALTIMORE — What does it look like when nine seasons of toil comes down to six games?
For the Baltimore Orioles, it looks like this: Three 100-loss seasons amidst front office regime change, an influx of insanely talented young players, a 101-win season, a sale of the franchise, a desultory regression, a managerial firing and finally, this fence-sitter of a season, stuck in a quagmire of American League mediocrity at 51-55.
The crucible: A three-game series at Detroit that looks like a trade deadline play-in match - winner to buy, loser to sell - followed by a three-game set at Camden Yards against the eternally contending Philadelphia Phillies.
And then, the Aug. 3 trade deadline, where their performance in the next six games very likely will determine their stance: Buy aggressively, sell off parts or play the middle.
Oh, the franchise won’t collapse if these Orioles miss the playoffs for a second consecutive year. They are poised to be at least serviceable in coming years, even as their prized young players march toward free agency.
It’s just that 118 losses in 2018, and 110 losses in 2021, followed by club president Mike Elias’s promised “liftoff” after 2022 was supposed to mean much more.
Those 101 wins in 2023 bought a playoff bye and two home games at Camden Yards. And then five consecutive losses over two postseasons.
It’s enough to add a jolt of urgency for franchise cornerstones.
“We haven’t won a playoff game since I’ve been here,” Gunnar Henderson, the 2023 Rookie of the Year and two-time top-10 MVP finisher, tells USA TODAY Sports. “That’s something a lot of guys in this room, including myself, want to do, want to get past, and make a run.
“I feel like we got the group to do it. It’s just a matter of doing it.”
For these Orioles, the doing has been challenging. After last year’s 15-28 start cost manager Brandon Hyde his job on the way to an 87-loss season, this year was supposed to be different. Elias augmented the club well in the offseason, most notably his first nine-figure commitment in first baseman Pete Alonso.
But an improved squad has performed arrhythmically. Injuries have not helped, but sloppy play and failures at various points in all departments has dragged them into the mire.
Now, they are 2 ½ games out of a playoff berth and one of 22 teams – 11 in each league – across the majors within 3 ½ games of the postseason.
Limbo, basically. And one week to ensure they emerge with hope.
Playing spoiler against Skubal
Wednesday, July 29 at Comerica Park will mark a most dramatic time: It is possibly the final home start for Detroit Tigers ace and two-time reigning Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. And the pitching matchup epitomizes the volatility of this trade deadline.
Opposing Skubal will be another left-hander, Baltimore’s Trevor Rogers, in a similar but scaled-down situation.
Like Skubal, Rogers is a pending free agent and was his club’s opening-day starter this season. Like Skubal, his team could view him as a crucial piece of a playoff push – or an asset to be sold for future parts.
And while Rogers’ up-and-down journey to the verge of free agency lacks Skubal’s dominance and accolades, his performance the past two months - a 1.80 ERA, a 45-14 strikeout-walk ratio and the Orioles’ 6-3 record in his nine starts – would make him more than a consolation prize for a team that can’t land Skubal.
With the Orioles a game up on Detroit (50-56) entering the series, Rogers-Skubal is one of just dozens of mini-battles that will play out within the vaster landscape of the deadline: Buyers and sellers and losers who get caught on the wrong side of that line.
“We know where we’re at, standing-wise,” says Rogers. “These games really matter this close to the deadline. If we play really good ball and make that gap a little bit closer, change the front office’s mind, maybe we add a couple pieces. (Unlike) last year, getting rid of some guys.
“We know where we’re at in terms of the season.”
Rogers hit the accelerator at a perfect time for himself and the Orioles. He had a 6.96 ERA through nine starts, at which point the Orioles were 23-30 and their pitching staff ranked 28th with a 4.87 ERA.
Yet Rogers figured it out, improving his command to both sides of the plate in this two-month run, and so, too has the Orioles staff. They rank third in the majors with a 3.42 ERA since that point, giving them a chance.
So long as they win enough this week to keep the band together.
“The standard we’re trying to create here, especially what they did in ’23 and ’24 – we have the talent to do it,” says Rogers. “There’s just been times we haven’t been consistent doing it every single day.
“Hopefully, we can continue that. The trust in here is really high. We all know what we’re capable of and where we can go with this team.”
Time to clean it up
Rogers is in some ways symbolic of this close-but-not-quite era in Baltimore. He was a trade-deadline acquisition in July 2024, Elias’s first major burning of club assets by shipping future All-Star outfielder Kyle Stowers and infielder Connor Norby to Miami.
And then Rogers was hit hard in four starts, posting a 7.11 ERA, and optioned to Class AAA in mid-August. The Orioles would get swept at home by Kansas City in a two-game wild card series, giving them five losses in as many playoff games over two seasons in which they won 192 regular-season games.
Over those two deadlines, Elias did not shine on the buy side, bringing in starting pitcher Jack Flaherty and reliever Shintaro Fujinami in 2023. Rogers, starter Zach Eflin, relievers Seranthony Dominguez and Gregory Soto and outfielder Eloy Jimenez were 2024 adds.
None save for Eflin factored heavily into postseason plans. All of which contributed to the strong feeling Elias could build a team, yet perhaps not act aggressively enough on the buy side.
Third-year owner David Rubenstein remains publicly effusive of Elias.
“Mike was the baseball executive of the year a few years ago. Widely regarded as outstanding by his peers. I’m very very happy, couldn’t be more pleased,” Rubenstein said Friday at a news conference announcing a $90 million contract extension for starter Kyle Bradish. “We’ve had some injuries, but that’s not Mike’s fault.
“In the end, we’re very pleased and happy to have such a talented executive leading our baseball team.”
Elias, aware of the perception he’s perhaps too protective of young organizational talent, has sounded bullish on the trade deadline even when the Orioles were well below .500. Hours before the Orioles dropped the first of two games against Atlanta, he cast an eye toward what they have – and can be.
“We have so much talent on this team. I think we all look at our record and it should be better,” says Elias. “Where we’re at right now, we’re within arms’ reach of a playoff spot, have enough time to get there.
“We’re coming up on the deadline so the next several games are really important and everyone’s focused on that. But I look at the talent on this team and we’re extremely optimistic we’re going to get where we want to go.”
For now, they’ll have to do so without catchers Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo, both on the injured list with wrist and shoulder injuries, respectively. Their absences were felt in losing two of three games this weekend to Atlanta, including a particularly aggravating 3-2, 11-inning loss Sunday.
It was more of the same: Inopportune hitting and two runs given away when simple defensive plays – a booted ball in the outfield, a shallow fly falling – were not made.
“We’re way better than what our record shows,” says Alonso, who has upheld his end of the bargain with 22 home runs and an .812 OPS. “But we’ve given a lot away collectively, through mistakes. That’s why our record is what it is.
“But we have the ability to go on a run. To do damage and win a lot of games.”
If Rutschman were healthy and the Orioles deeper below .500, he’d likely hear his name bandied about even more in trade rumors. As it is, Rutschman’s eventual departure would leave Henderson as the significant symbol of Elias’s transformative 2019 draft. Yet as Henderson eases into his mid-20s – he celebrated his 25th birthday last month – the game has come harder.
In his four full seasons, Henderson’s OPS has gone from .814 his rookie to season to .893, .787 and now .701. His adjusted OPS was a whopping 155 in 2024; now, he’s a slightly below league average hitter.
At times – particularly in the lost 2025 season – Henderson has worn his frustrations outwardly, as if the burden at times became too much. He notes that dealing with failure is something every player must navigate himself.
“It’s something that’s been a long learning curve for me,” Henderson says of managing disappointment. “Still trying to break through that. I obviously have high expectations of myself. When you don’t really, to my standard, achieve that, it’s hard to not be hard on yourself.
“That’s something that’s definitely been tough, for me. And definitely something to work on.”
Henderson himself will have two seasons remaining before free agency after this year. It’s not so much do-or-die time for him as much as it is an inflection point in his tenure and, more broadly, this Orioles era.
The franchise must work to ensure their missed opportunities in 2023 and ’24 weren’t the high-water mark after years of ugly, ugly baseball. This year may offer another bite at the apple.
This week will determine whether that occurs.
“The ground that we need to make up – we honestly need to win every game we can,” says Henderson. “We want to make the playoffs. We’re close, but not in there. We gotta keep winning games.
Lael Lockhart worked through a pair of homers in the first two innings — one being of the inside-the-park variety — and then it was smooth sailing for Toledo’s pitching staff in this one.
Ivan Johnson took Lockhart deep on the very first pitch of the game, and Carlos Jorge got around the bases in about 16 seconds after Javy Baez misplayed a ball in center field. Lockhart was fine after that, retiring 10 of the next 11 batters.
Baez took a decent route to the ball, but it got over his head and bounced off the higher fence that starts to the right of the batter’s eye. Some slight hesitation occurred, as it looked like Baez was expecting a ground-rule double, and that cost Toledo the run. We’ll chalk it up to not knowing the outfield very well at this park, but it’s not a great look for Javy.
Carlos Jorge hits a fly ball over Javier Baez in center field and speeds all the way around the bases for an inside-the-park home run. pic.twitter.com/gFuiDuu2ni
The Hens had their chances early, loading the bases in the first and stranding two runners in the second. They finally broke through in the third with a Max Anderson double and RBI single from Corey Julks. Andrew Navigato and Gage Workman had back-to-back singles to tie the game up in the fourth. A fielding error on Workman’s ball helped move things along with two outs.
Three more base hits, courtesy of Julks, Trei Cruz and Tyler Gentry, gave Toledo the lead in the fifth. Another set of consecutive singles from Baez, Anderson and Eduardo Valencia made it 4-2 in the sixth. Toledo had 18 hits on the day, but only four went for extra bases.
Yilber Diaz took over for Lockhart in the sixth. He faced the minimum, erasing a leadoff walk with a pickoff. Andre Granillo got the seventh and eighth, working around a base hit in the former. Nick Sandlin closed things out in the ninth, allowing a one-out double, but not before a big eighth inning for the offense.
Valencia put the game away with a grand slam, and Gentry hit a two-run shot a couple of at-bats later. Cal Stevenson also doubled in the inning, which means three of the four extra-base hits for Toledo came in the eighth.
Erie couldn’t claim the series win on Sunday, as the SeaWolves struggled to figure out Chesapeake Baysox starter Luis De Leon, who went 6.1 innings and only allowed one run.
Carlos Pena did his best to match that performance, but a two-run homer in the second put him in line for the loss. Pena made it through 4.2 innings, striking out six and walking none along the way.
Erie only had five hits on the day, but three went for extra bases. Garrett Pennington couldn’t score after doubling in the second, but Bennett Lee found his way home after leading off the third with a triple. Seth Stephenson hit into a fielding error at first base to bring Lee across.
Things stayed pretty quiet for both teams until the sixth. Yosber Sanchez, who came in for Pena to get the last out of the fifth, had some command issues before getting the third out. His struggles continued with a leadoff double in the sixth and a two-out walk, so Erie turned to Johan Simon, who gave up a two-run double to the first batter he faced.
Simon pitched through the seventh, working around a pair of baserunners. Eric Silva was next out of the bullpen, but he couldn’t hold the score at 4-1. A solo homer and two base hits led to two more runs for Chesapeake.
Patrick Lee homered in the ninth, but the SeaWolves needed much more for a comeback. The series ends tied at three games apiece.
Patrick Lee crushes a 418-foot home run to center off former Tigers prospect Micah Ashman. It’s Lee’s 2nd homer with Erie, and his 9th overall this year. It’s also just the 2nd home run allowed by Ashman, who leads the minors in FIP (min 30IP). pic.twitter.com/y9Va2N0aaP
Despite the final score, things were closer than they appear in this one. West Michigan trailed halfway through the game and only led by one run going into the eighth. If it weren’t for a massive eighth inning, Peoria’s two runs in the ninth could’ve been a walk-off.
Fortunately, the Whitecaps scored eight in the eighth. Chiefs reliever Dylan Driessen was the victim of four straight hits to start his outing. Andrew Sojka doubled to start things off, Juan Hernandez scored him with a single, Woody Hadeen doubled, and Bryce Rainer brought both runners home with a single.
Bryce Rainer with a hard single to right that brings home two more runs and gives West Michigan an 8-4 lead. pic.twitter.com/5DPSXjxC4G
Clayton Campbell flew out, the first of the inning, and Samuel Gil singled in Rainer. The Whitecaps made it one time through the order, bringing Sojka back up to the plate, and he smashed a grand slam to make it 13-4. West Michigan outscored Peoria in this inning alone.
Andrew Sojka blows the game open for the Whitecaps with an opposite field grand slam against his former club. West Michigan leads 13-4 in the 8th. pic.twitter.com/6gOdOIBR18
Campbell and Zach MacDonald both had homers earlier in the game, the former coming with two men on base. Luke Shliger also had an RBI single in the seventh.
Clayton Campbell smashes a 3-run homer to deep left to give the Whitecaps the lead. It’s his 7th home run of the year. pic.twitter.com/uENbE9hcOb
On the pitching side, Connor Fenlong got the start. He had some control issues in the second, walking the bases loaded and hitting a batter for the first run of the game. A leadoff solo homer in the fourth made it 2-0 at that point, but Fenlong didn’t allow a baserunner otherwise.
Eliseo Mota took over in the sixth. He loaded the bases before recording an out but worked his way out of the jam without giving up a run. Juanmi Vasquez got the seventh. Back-to-back two-run homers made it a one-run game, but we know what happened after that.
Luke Stofel went 1-2-3 in the eighth, and Zack Lee gave up a pair of inconsequential runs in the ninth. West Michigan takes the series, 5-1.
Rainer: 2-6, 2 R, 2 RBI
Sojka: 2-5, HR (6), 2, 4 RBI, K
Campbell: 1-3, HR (7), R, 3 RBI, BB, K
Fenlong (W, 1-0): 5.0 IP, 2 ER, H, 3 BB, 3 K, HR
Coming Up Next: The Whitecaps are back home next week against the Beloit Sky Carp, starting Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. ET.
So… the pitchers were just kind of there for this one. Lakeland and Jupiter combined for 31 runs on 30 hits and 21 walks, so, yeah…
Owen Hall and Donye Evans gave up six and five runs, respectively, but it’s Jan Caraballo who takes the loss for giving up a three-run homer in the ninth.
Caleb Leys got the start, striking out five over two innings of one-run ball. Jose Guzman went 1-2-3 in the third. That’s when things fell apart. Jupiter scored runs in each of the next six innings, putting a crooked number up in four of them. It was bad…
Lakeland’s runs were a bit more concentrated, with eight coming in the seventh, all with two outs. Nick Dumesnil, Jesus Pinto and Hunter Dobbins strung together consecutive hits to put Lakeland ahead after entering the inning down by one.
Anibal Salas extended the lead with an RBI single, and Jack Goodman took a bases-loaded walk to make it 13-9. Jordan Yost joined the party with a two-run double, and things looked good for a moment.
Jordan Yost gets 98 and flops it down the left field line for a 2-run double. Lakeland leads 15-9, and they have scored 9 runs this inning, all with two out. pic.twitter.com/fPKGns1ZJl
Evans gave four of those runs right back in the top of the eighth, and Caraballo gave up the deciding blow in the ninth.
Good gravy. Echedry Vargas crushes a 3-run homer 446 feet to left center and Jupiter has taken a 16-15 lead over Lakeland with 2 out in the 9th. pic.twitter.com/zLPuILe86R
Javier Osorio and Jude Warwick both hit homers earlier in the game. Warwick’s was more impactful, coming with two runners on and the Flying Tigers trailing, 7-3, in the fifth.
Jude Warwick smashes a 3-run homer to right to pull Lakeland back within a run. It’s his 8th home run of the season, and it snaps a 7-game hitless streak. @AaronArnstein on the call. pic.twitter.com/MUypoKMUK0
There’s too much going on to cover every detail here, but the bottom line is pitching bad, hitting good (but not good enough). Classic Single-A ball on a Sunday, really. This is why they say the SEC is comparable to Double-A; even college isn’t this wild.
The series ended in a 3-3 tie.
Yost: 1-4, 2B (11), 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Pinto: 4-6, 2B (14), 2 R, RBI
Warwick: 2-4, HR (8), 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, K
Leys: 2.0 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 5 K
Coming Up Next: Lakeland is in Tampa next week, starting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 27: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defenseman Chase Pietila (44) on the ice during the first period of the American Hockey League game between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Cleveland Monsters on February 27, 2026, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Getting us underway on this year’s Top 25 Under 25 countdown is rising defenseman Chase Pietila who just completed his first full professional season as a member of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League.
Following two seasons of collegiate hockey at Michigan Tech, Chase Pietila signed his entry level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins in March 2025 and got his first taste of professional hockey with 12 games played between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Wheeling Nailers at the end of the 2024-25 season.
After getting his feet wet in the professional game, Pietila entered the 2025-26 season looking to further establish himself and continue his development. Like many prospects, he joined the Penguins for the start of training camp before ultimately being reassigned to the AHL where he spent the entire season, developing into a solid blue line option for the Baby Pens as they made a deep playoff run all the way to the Eastern Conference Final.
Pietila began the season on the WBS second defensive pairing, but was moved up and down the lineup throughout the season to fill injury holes and experiment to see where he best fit. He saw action on both the left side and right side of the blue line, but his more regular place was on the right which is where he played in all 14 postseason contests for the Baby Pens.
Offense was not the name of the game for Pietila this season, but he did manage to contribute some, scoring twice and totaling 14 assists in the regular season. He added an additional goal and assist in the Calder Cup playoffs.
Where Pietila did excel was in the physical nature of the game. He was second on the team in penalty minutes with 85 and posted five fighting majors, equaling Boko Imama for most among the Baby Penguins.
To be certain, he had a strong — if hardly spectacular — first professional season. But there’s still plenty of refinement needed if he is to reach the NHL.
Pietila plays a by-the-book game rooted in defense, penalty killing and toughness. Any offense he provides is a bonus.
He is headed in the right direction, even if it will take him some time to get to his desired destination.
While Pietila did not particiapte in the Penguins recent development camp earlier this month, his Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach Kirk MacDonald was in attendance and spoke on several of his players, including Pietila who MacDonald praised for his defensive game.
Per Trib Live:
“I can kind of say the same thing,” MacDonald said. “I think they (Pietila and Harding) were top-five in the league in plus/minus (as rookies). … He competes really hard. Defends well. Penalty kills. He provides some offense, but I think he knows for him to take the next step, he’s got to continue to defend hard and consistently do that. When you can have guys like that, first-year guys, that you can lean on consistently every night on the back end, it’s great not only for our team but the organization.”
As MacDonald said in the quote above, Pietila posted a huge plus/minus this season of +27, among the best in the AHL. MacDonald was also clearly impressed by the defensive side of Pietila’s game and hopes he can continue to develop in those areas as his career progresses.
Solid defense with the occasional contributions on offense seem to be the best route for Pietila to take if he hopes to crack the NHL roster at some point in his future. Right now, the right side of the Penguins blue line is clogged with the likes of Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang, in addition to fellow prospect Harrison Brunicke.
It’s unlikely Pietila finds his way to Pittsburgh in 2026-27 with where he stands on the Penguins depth chart, but another season in the AHL where he can log a ton of ice time and play in high leverage situations will help continue his development and give him his best chance to break into the NHL down the road when the path ahead becomes a little more clear cut.
Aug 30, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Yankees players celebrate team's win against the Chicago White Sox in a baseball game at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
A fun weekend in Philadelphia ended with a dud, Will Warren getting knocked around by the Phillies as the Yankees fell on Sunday Night Baseball. A road series win against a strong opponent is still a fine outcome, though, and we’re onto the next, with the Yankees set for a lengthy date in Chicago. It’s a four-game set with the first-place White Sox, who enter the series looking much more formidable than they have in recent years.
On the site today, get prepped for the four games in Chicago with Josh’s preview, and get the rundown on what happened on Sunday with Kevin’s Rivalry Roundup. Later, Jonathan analyzes Jo Adell as a plausible trade target should the Angels decide to make some moves, and John writes up the one and only Alex Rodriguez, today A-Rod’s 51st birthday.
Today’s Matchup:
New York Yankees at Chicago White Sox
Time: 7:40 p.m. EST
TV: YES Network, Chicago Sports Network
Venue: Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Questions/Prompts:
1. How big of a blow do you think Cody Bellinger’s hamstring injury will be?
2. How surprised are you to see the White Sox leading the AL Central? Do you think they’ll see it through and win the division?
During his playing days, Jerry West was devastated nearly every year when his Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics. He briefly coached, but given his high-strung nature, that really didn’t suit him in his post-player career.
He worked as a scout until 1982, when he took over as GM.
The Lakers had a nice base with Jamaal Wilkes, Norm Nixon, Michael Cooper, and the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but things changed enormously when L.A. drafted Magic Johnson, and Showtime was born.
Johnson was a 6-9 point guard who could play any position on the court. He had immense charisma, and his teams tended to win.
Los Angeles started to run, and while the main focus was winning, the Lakers introduced a level of entertainment that the basketball world had never seen.
When West took over as GM, he truly found his second career. He drafted James Worthy, but he was part of the decision, and he traded Norm Nixon for Byron Scott.
Later, he would draft A.C. Green, who also did very well.
Nov 27, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) talks with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
There was a lot of hullabaloo last week when LeBron finally made his free agency decision and chose the Philadelphia 76ers, which was a surprise. Most people expected him to pick either Miami or Cleveland; in fact, Miami had already prepared a social media announcement, which was accidentally posted prematurely.
But it’s Philly, because, as always with James, it’s where he thinks he’s most likely to win a title. Is that going to happen?
Well, maybe, but the odds are against it. Let’s look.
First, there’s James himself. He’s played for 23 seasons already, and give him full credit: he’s done an amazing job of keeping himself in great shape, and still, at 41, remains a tremendous player.
But he’s not the player he once was. Last year, we saw several occasions when he just didn’t react on defense. He’s not nearly as explosive as he once was, and the brutal reality is that he will never be better than he was last season. Time catches up to everyone, even King James.
This is also important: He played 82 regular season games in 2017-18, but since then?
2018-19: 55 games
2019-20: 67 games
2020-21: 45 games
2021-22: 56 games
2022-23: 55 games
2023-24: 71 games
2024-25: 70 games
2025-26: 60 games
He missed more than a quarter of last season, and he’s missed plenty over the last eight seasons, as noted. But he’s not the biggest problem.
That would be Joel Embiid, who, at 32, has had even more problems.
Over the same period, here’s how his availability has been:
2018-19: 64 games
2019-20: 51 games
2020-21: 51 games
2021-22: 68 games
2022-23: 66 games
2023-24: 39 games
2024-25: 19 games
2025-26: 38 games
Now, bear in mind that in 2019-20, the season was limited by Covid, and no one played more than 67 games, but still, that’s not a great track record. And don’t forget that Embiid lost his first two seasons to injuries.
On the bright side, the Sixers now have Jaylen Brown, who has been outstanding for his entire career, VJ Edgecombe, who will really benefit from James’s experience, and Tyrese Maxey, who has really proven himself. That’s a great perimeter, but there’s a lot riding on James and Embiid staying healthy.
And if they don’t, who do they have to step in?
There’s not much on the bench.
If you were betting on next year, you’d probably be wise to look to the Spurs. They crashed hard against the Knicks in the finals, but their core is young, talented, and just got socked in the nose. They learned a lot from New York, and our guess is they’ll be highly motivated for another shot.
Has there ever been a more calamitous trade-deadline collapse than the Miami Marlins' pratfall the past two weeks?
The Marlins went from National League East contenders to almost certain trade deadline sellers over the course of a franchise-record 12-game losing streak, taking them from 52-42 and three games out of the division lead to 52-54 and the No. 8 position in the NL wild card chase. Suddenly, the hottest team in baseball - the Marlins were 26-8 from June 1 until July 9, their last win before this cold spell - could be poised to sell one of the most cherished assets on the market.
Yes, former Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara, long a subject of trade conjecture until the Marlins' hot streak, is very much back in play. That's what made the Marlins' 12th loss in this skid even stranger: The San Diego Padres rallied for four runs in the eighth inning, setting up Mason Miller for his 27th save. Miller, too, has been targeted as potential trade fodder with the Padres slipping from contention.
But a weekend with the Marlins vaulted them ahead of Miami - not just in the NL standings but USA TODAY Sports' power rankings. Miami has tumbled nine spots to No. 18 - and who knows how far it may fall once the deadline is done.
New York Post | Greg Joyce: The Yankees, already missing Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, suffered another blow on Sunday, as fellow outfielder Cody Bellinger was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. The former 2019 NL MVP suffered the ailment while running the bases on Saturday night.
Spencer Jones has been called up to replace Bellinger in the lineup. With so many top performers down with injuries, the Yankees now have even more pressure to add an impact bat or two before the August 3 deadline.
Bellinger’s injury doesn’t appear to be overly serious, though. At least he was able to perform some light agility drills on Sunday:
Cody Bellinger (placed on the 10-day injured list today) is performing light agility drills in left field: pic.twitter.com/WuH0yRF8C7
CBS Sports | Mike Axisa: The Yankees need a catcher badly and have been linked to Ryan Jeffers and Tyler Stephenson in the last few days. Shea Langeliers, however, won’t be an option because he suffered a serious knee injury and might be out for the season.
Langeliers was a long shot to be traded, anyway, as he is one of the Athletics’ top players and building blocks. Still, you never know with that organization. He has 23 home runs, a 127 wRC+, and 2.8 fWAR in 2026.
MLB.com | Dan Cichalsky: The National Baseball Hall of Fame welcomed its three newest members: Jeff Kent, Carlos Beltrán, and Andruw Jones, on Sunday. The last two played for the Yankees when they were past their prime, but are still part of franchise history.
Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home: Alice ‘Betsy’ Richardson, the longtime wife of former Yankee Bobby Richardson, passed away last week. They were married for 70 years. Reading the condolences and testimonies of those who knew her, it’s safe to say she left a huge mark on their lives. Our thoughts are with the Richardson family.
The three players were enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday as part of the Class of 2026. Now, baseball fans can start looking ahead to the 2027 ballot.
Next year’s ballot does not have nearly as much star power as the 2026 class. Still, a handful of players could be on their way to Cooperstown next summer.
Here’s a look at the top names to watch in the 2027 Baseball Hall of Fame voting process.
First-ballot potential
Buster Posey
Jon Lester
Only a pair of players have even a remote chance at becoming first-ballot Hall of Famers next summer.
Buster Posey, now the president of baseball operations for the San Francisco Giants, became a franchise legend behind the plate from 2009 to 2021. The star catcher earned three World Series titles, seven All-Star selections, 2012 NL MVP honors, 2010 NL Rookie of the Year honors, five Silver Slugger awards and a Gold Glove.
Jon Lester is another three-time World Series winner atop the 2027 Hall of Fame ballot. The southpaw won 200 regular season games and posted a 3.66 career ERA during his 16-year career, which he primarily spent with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs. He won a pair of championships in Boston and helped the Cubs end a 108-year World Series drought in 2016.
Returning candidates
Chase Utley
Andy Pettitte
Félix Hernández
Chase Utley is the only returning player who received at least 50% of the vote from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in 2026. The former Philadelphia Phillies shortstop jumped up nearly 20% from his second year of eligibility in 2025 (39.8%) to his third in 2026 (59.1%). A similar jump would get him past the required 75% to get into the Hall of Fame.
Andy Pettitte, a five-time World Series champion with the New York Yankees, received 48.5% of the vote in 2026 and only has two more years of eligibility remaining.
Félix Hernández is another notable name to watch following a major second-year leap. The Seattle Mariners legend went from 20.6% of the vote on his first ballot in 2025 to 46.1% of the vote in 2026.
Returning longshots
Alex Rodriguez
Bobby Abreu
Jimmy Rollins
Cole Hamels
Dustin Pedroia
Mark Buehrle
Omar Vizquel
David Wright
Francisco Rodríguez
Torii Hunter
Alex Rodriguez, who was prominently linked to MLB’s steroid era, is entering his sixth year of eligibility after landing 40.0% of the vote in 2026.
Bobby Abreu (30.8%) is the only other returning player to receive more than 30% of the BBWAA vote in 2026. All other players listed above exceeded the 5% minimum vote in 2026 to stay on the ballot for 2027.
First-year longshots
Brett Gardner
Ryan Zimmerman
Kyle Seager
Ervin Santana
Asdrúbal Cabrera
Todd Frazier
Josh Reddick
Jake Arrieta
Scott Kazmir
Jordan Zimmermann
Brett Gardner, Ryan Zimmerman and Jake Arrieta are among the World Series winners who will make their first appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot next year.
The three players were enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday as part of the Class of 2026. Now, baseball fans can start looking ahead to the 2027 ballot.
Next year’s ballot does not have nearly as much star power as the 2026 class. Still, a handful of players could be on their way to Cooperstown next summer.
Here’s a look at the top names to watch in the 2027 Baseball Hall of Fame voting process.
First-ballot potential
Buster Posey
Jon Lester
Only a pair of players have even a remote chance at becoming first-ballot Hall of Famers next summer.
Buster Posey, now the president of baseball operations for the San Francisco Giants, became a franchise legend behind the plate from 2009 to 2021. The star catcher earned three World Series titles, seven All-Star selections, 2012 NL MVP honors, 2010 NL Rookie of the Year honors, five Silver Slugger awards and a Gold Glove.
Jon Lester is another three-time World Series winner atop the 2027 Hall of Fame ballot. The southpaw won 200 regular season games and posted a 3.66 career ERA during his 16-year career, which he primarily spent with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs. He won a pair of championships in Boston and helped the Cubs end a 108-year World Series drought in 2016.
Returning candidates
Chase Utley
Andy Pettitte
Félix Hernández
Chase Utley is the only returning player who received at least 50% of the vote from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in 2026. The former Philadelphia Phillies shortstop jumped up nearly 20% from his second year of eligibility in 2025 (39.8%) to his third in 2026 (59.1%). A similar jump would get him past the required 75% to get into the Hall of Fame.
Andy Pettitte, a five-time World Series champion with the New York Yankees, received 48.5% of the vote in 2026 and only has two more years of eligibility remaining.
Félix Hernández is another notable name to watch following a major second-year leap. The Seattle Mariners legend went from 20.6% of the vote on his first ballot in 2025 to 46.1% of the vote in 2026.
Returning longshots
Alex Rodriguez
Bobby Abreu
Jimmy Rollins
Cole Hamels
Dustin Pedroia
Mark Buehrle
Omar Vizquel
David Wright
Francisco Rodríguez
Torii Hunter
Alex Rodriguez, who was prominently linked to MLB’s steroid era, is entering his sixth year of eligibility after landing 40.0% of the vote in 2026.
Bobby Abreu (30.8%) is the only other returning player to receive more than 30% of the BBWAA vote in 2026. All other players listed above exceeded the 5% minimum vote in 2026 to stay on the ballot for 2027.
First-year longshots
Brett Gardner
Ryan Zimmerman
Kyle Seager
Ervin Santana
Asdrúbal Cabrera
Todd Frazier
Josh Reddick
Jake Arrieta
Scott Kazmir
Jordan Zimmermann
Brett Gardner, Ryan Zimmerman and Jake Arrieta are among the World Series winners who will make their first appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot next year.
