After a stormy Tuesday kept the tarp on the field at Yankee Stadium, the Pirates (52-49) and the Yankees (56-44) will take the field today twice in the form of a day-night doubleheader. The Yankees sit atop the Wild Card standings and two games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East while the Pirates sit 11 games back of the Brewers in the NL Central and tied for the final Wild Card spot.
As a refresher, New York won the series opener Monday night, 8-5, thanks in large part to a pair of home runs and five runs batted in by Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Game 1 today pits two veteran right-handers Mitch Keller (6-7, 5.14 ERA) and Gerrit Cole (3-5, 3.93 ERA) against one another. Keller has been bad for about the last six weeks allowing 26 earned runs over just 35 innings. In his two July starts he has been even worse allowing eight runs in nine innings. In his last start Keller gave up three home runs. Well, the Yankees hit more home runs than anyone. Cole is beginning to look more like himself following his return from Tommy John surgery in late May. He was special against the Dodgers in his last start…until his last pitch. Max Muncy took him to the second deck in the seventh inning in a 2-1 Yankees loss. In July, Cole has thrown 17.1 innings and allowed seven earned runs, walking two and striking out 21.
The nightcap features a matchup of power arms at very different points of their seasons. Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.77 ERA) remains one of Pittsburgh's most talented young pitchers, possessing high-end strikeout stuff, but command issues have led to inconsistency. He has struggled recently, posting a 6.60 ERA over his last three starts. Chandler was better in his most recent start, though, allowing two runs over 4.2 innings. Great? Hardly but better than his previous two starts in which he allowed a combined nine runs in 10.1 innings of work. For the Yankees, all eyes will be on Max Fried (4-3, 3.21 ERA), who is being activated from the injured list for the nightcap. The left-hander has been sidelined since May with a bone bruise in his elbow and was originally expected to make another rehab start before joining the rotation. Instead, the rainout accelerated his return. Expectations are he will throw a max of 60 pitches tonight.
Lets dive further into today’s doubleheader and find a sweat or two.
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Game Details and How to Watch Game 1: Pirates vs. Yankees
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The Latest Odds for Game 1: Pirates vs. Yankees
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Pittsburgh Pirates (+142), New York Yankees (-172)
Spread: Pirates +1.5 (-143), Yankees -1.5 (+119)
Total: 9.5 runs
The Latest Odds for Game 2: Pirates vs. Yankees
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Pittsburgh Pirates (+141), New York Yankees (-171)
Spread: Pirates +1.5 (-143), Yankees -1.5 (+119)
Total: 8.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers for Game 1 – Pirates vs. Yankees for July 22
Yankees: Max Fried Season Totals: 61.2 IP, 4-3, 3.21 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 50K, 19 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Pirates vs. Yankees
The Pirates have hit .271 as a team and have outscored their opponent by 18 runs over their last 10 games
Ben Rice has hit safely in 13 straight games (17-45)
Cody Bellinger is 4-14 since the All-Star Break
Jose Caballero is 2-9 since the Break
Paul Goldschmidt is 3-11 since the Break
Nick Gonzales has 17 hits in his last 37 ABs
Bubba Chandler has 6+ Ks in 4 of his last 7 starts
Bryan Reynolds is 4-15 since the Break
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Top Betting Trends & Insights: Pirates vs. Yankees
The Pirates are 52-49 on the Run Line this season
The Yankees are 48-52 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 59 times in Pittsburgh’s 101 games this season (59-39-3)
The OVER has cashed 44 times in New York’s 100 games this season (44-52-4)
Expert picks & predictions: Pirates vs. Yankees
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s doubleheader between the Pirates and the Yankees:
Game 1 Predictions: Pirates vs. Yankees
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.5
Game 2 Predictions: Pirates vs. Yankees
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 8.5
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As we continue our series we get to the most difficult position to profile. It is difficult because we entered into this series with some established rules. Players need to play a considerable amount at the position (you’ve seen some players qualify at more than one position) and they need to record at least 120 outs. Yordan Alvarez is the only player on the Astros to qualify in left field, but he does not play a ton of left field. So, later in the article we will create a player we will name Joey Dezenfido Jr. to tally up essentially what the Astros have been getting in left field.
We could have included Taylor Trammel, but he is playing more center these days and that will become important in the next piece. There can be no doubt that Yordan Alvarez is the best offensive player in the American League. Whether that makes him an MVP is certainly open to debate. Usually MVPs contribute with both the bat and the glove and there are certainly worthy candidates on other teams that do that. However, today we are looking only at offense.
Looking at the triumverate of Lamont Wade Jr, Joey Loperfido, and Zach Dezenzo becomes important because it will be the benchmark we measure any possible outfield acquisitions with. Obviously, both left field and center field are open possibilities and these next two articles will hopefully settle which position the Astros should target in a perfect world.
We use bases per out because they are much more accurate and all encompassing than cruder stats like OPS and OPS+. They are probably most similar to wOBA and rOBA, but since the formula is more transparent (because it is mine) it will hopefully be more meaningful. This is a gentle reminder that the MLB average for BPO is .676, but as we have seen, each position is different and brings with it different expectations. Otherwise, this article will serve as the lime wedge for the tequila shot that will be the other outfield positions.
Outs
TB
BB
SB
HBP
BPO
Yordan Alvarez
242
219
61
1
5
1.182
Randy Arozorena
214
145
37
19
14
.881
Riley Greene
255
158
51
2
2
.835
Wyatt Langford
128
87
12
6
1
.828
Sam Antonacci
192
105
22
13
17
.818
Tyler Soderstrom
236
139
45
1
2
.792
Trevor Larnach
188
109
34
2
3
.787
Cody Bellinger
270
143
50
10
0
.752
Taylor Ward
277
128
73
3
3
.747
Masataka Yoshida
132
68
19
2
3
.697
Isaac Collins
212
94
38
5
6
.675
Jesus Sanchez
165
94
10
1
5
.667
Andrew Benintendi
201
111
27
14
4
.660
Angel Martinez
184
100
7
9
5
.658
George Springer
210
96
29
6
3
.638
Jorge Soler
221
106
31
0
5
.638
Chandler Simpson
255
112
18
22
0
.596
Jarren Duran
279
118
27
14
4
.584
Steven Kwan
245
84
46
6
3
.567
Mean
217.7
116.6
33.3
6.5
4.2
.737
Median
221
109
31
5
3
.697
We should start with the number of left fielders. There are 19 here. More designated hitters are classified as left fielders than any other outfield position. They include Alvarez, George Springer, Jorge Soler, and Masataka Yoshida. We can continue with the notion that pegging numbers during a baseball season is always a moving target. These were the numbers prior to Sunday’s game before the all-star break. A few hot games or a few 0 fers can change the numbers a little, but when you are 90 games into the season we begin to see some crystallization of numbers.
Simply put, Yordan’s numbers are stupid. Only Taylor Ward has more walks and Alvarez laps the field in total bases. One of the markers of an MVP is how much better a player is than the rest of the players at his position. It isn’t even close. If Randy Arozorena wasn’t a human target at the plate the gap would even be more significant. The question isn’t so much of what to do with Yordan or how great he is then what is happening at the rest of the position.
As you can see, the bar for being the mean or median AL left fielder is higher than any other position save first base. So, when we look at the numbers for the other left fielders on the roster we have to look at it in that context. It is one thing to get a league average hitter at any position but a league average hitter is not a league average left fielder.
Outs
TB
BB
SB
HBP
BPO
Joey Dezenfido Jr.
154
70
22
2
1
.617
We should start with some uncomfortable truths. Dezenzo and Loperfido have the bulk of the plate appearances and Denenzo sits at a .600 BPO at the break and Loperfido sits at a .585 BPO at the break. Wade just doesn’t have enough plate appearances to really peg where he is at this point. There is no way of telling whether he is another Breden Shewmake or Raymel Deglado or whether he can stick as a legitimate option from the left side of the plate.
Similarly, Trammel could be an option there as well and he is performing better than this, but putting him in left field means a steady diet of Brice Matthews in center field. As we have seen, the Astros are league median or better at every position on the diamond except for this one. Obviously, we haven’t looked at center field or right field yet.
You cannot have an all-star at every position. However, you also can’t have a batting order with three holes in it. That doesn’t even count that some other hitters have been wildly inconsistent throughout the season. Unless you plan on sewing some alternate jerseys and employing some funky fake facial hair, you cannot maximize Yordan more than what you are currently doing. Even a league average left and center fielder would do wonders for this lineup.
As people have pointed out in comments, there are other holes on the roster. There is at least one hole if not more in the rotation. There could probably be an argument made for a late inning leverage guy from the right side. We have now identified two outfield slots. That’s as many as five guys. So, which hole is the most pressing to fill? That is the question the Astros face as they approach the deadline.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 21: Manny Machado (13) of the San Diego Padres watches his home run clear the wall during the Tuesday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres on July 21, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Fernando Tatis Jr. put the exclamation point on an 8-3 win with a monster two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning to lead the San Diego Padres over the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday night. Tatis stepped to the plate in the top of the inning with Luis Rengifo on first base after a one-out walk. Tatis worked the count full against Atlanta reliever JR Ritchie, battling through seven pitches. On the eighth pitch of the at-bat Ritchie left a curveball over the middle of the plate and Tatis deposited it into the left-center field bleachers 474 feet away to give San Diego a six-run lead.
Tatis was not the only Padres player to homer in the game, but he was the last. Jackson Merrill started the slugfest with a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning that tied the game, 2-2. Manny Machado added a solo home run in the top of the fifth to make the score, 5-2 and he hit his second home run of the game in the top of the sixth to push the score to 6-2.
Walker Buehler started on the mound for San Diego and turned in his best performance of July. Buehler work into and out of trouble in the second inning when two walks and a triple by Jim Jarvis gave Atlanta a 2-1 lead. Buehler then allowed a walk to Drake Baldwin to put runners on the corners for the Braves, but he got out of the jam with a strikeout of Ozzie Albies to keep the Padres within a run. Buehler settled in after the second and retired all three batters in the third, fourth and fifth innings. He pitched into the sixth where he was able to get two outs but left the game with runners on second and third. Yuki Matsui came in and allowed a walk to pinch-hitter Joey Bart to load the bases before he got Brewer Hicklen to strikeout on three pitches to end the frame.
Bradgley Rodriguez followed Matsui and Adrian Morejon handled the eighth inning before Mason Miller made his first appearance since striking out three consecutive batters against the Kansas City Royals on Friday night. Miller allowed a hit and walked one, but ultimately ended the inning and the game with three more strikeouts in a non-save situation.
For the second time in as many days, the Padres outhit the Braves. San Diego finished with 13 hits, while Atlanta managed just four hits. Tatis led the charge for the Padres finishing 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBI, with Machado finishing 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBI. Merrill went 2-for-4 with a run an RBI and a walk and Ty France chipped in with a multi-hit night, finishing 2-for-5 with an RBI. Jake Cronenworth, Luis Campusano, Xander Bogaerts and Rengifo all finished with a hit in the game.
San Diego will look for a similar offensive output against Atlanta when Michael King takes the mound in the third game of the series this afternoon at 4:15 p.m.
The 2026 offseason for the Anaheim Ducks hasn’t gone according to plan for general manager Pat Verbeek and the front office.
They entered the offseason with seemingly enough cap space to re-sign their three high-profile RFAs (Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Pavel Mintyukov) and add a star-level missing piece or two to bolster either the forward group or blueline, or both.
Verbeek recouped good value for two young roster players at the Draft by trading, in aggregate, Mason McTavish and Olen Zellweger in exchange for two 2026 first-round picks (Nikita Klepov and Marcus Nordmark), a 2026 second-round pick (Jayden Kurtz), and Anton Wahlberg (39th in 2023).
When free agency opened, the Ducks signed depth pieces AJ Greer, Nick Jensen, Jeff Malott, and Laurent Brossoit. On July 3, the Philadelphia Flyers signed Ducks franchise center Leo Carlsson to a historic offer sheet to the tune of five years and $90 million ($18 million AAV). Two days later, seemingly in an effort to avoid another OS, the Ducks signed young defenseman Pavel Mintyukov to a five-year contract at a $7.2 million AAV. On July 9, the Ducks matched Carlsson’s offer sheet.
Anaheim’s cap sheet will require some gymnastics moving forward to fit remaining RFA and leading goalscorer, Cutter Gauthier, and his extension under the cap ceiling. However, barring a surprise move or two, the roster, as it stands, is essentially the one that will skate on opening night of the 2026-27 season on Oct. 2.
The roster, as currently constructed, isn’t as talented, deep, or experienced as the one that traveled to Edmonton for Game 1 of the 2026 playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers. On paper, the glaring weak spot is the right side of the blueline, where the Ducks saw all three Game 1 starters (Jacob Trouba, John Carlson, Radko Gudas) sign with opposing teams on July 1.
Trouba became a top-pair defenseman for the Ducks, playing mostly alongside star Jackson LaCombe. Carlson required considerable assets to acquire from the Washington Capitals at the trade deadline (2026 first-round pick and 2027 third-round pick), and the Ducks were hopeful he’d choose to remain in Anaheim. Radko Gudas was the Ducks' captain for two of his three seasons in Anaheim and was instrumental in the team turning the corner out of their elongated rebuild.
As of today, Trouba, Carlson, and Gudas are projected to be replaced on the Ducks’ blueline by a combination of Drew Helleson (25), Ian Moore (24), Nick Jensen (35), and rookie Tristan Luneau (22). Some or most will see this shift in personnel at a key position on the ice as a monumental downgrade, but is it, in actuality?
What was Lost
Trouba (32) logged the second-most TOI in 2025-26 for the Ducks, including the most TOI/G on the penalty kill. He and LaCombe were given the toughest minutes during the Ducks’ playoff run to the second round, and he was an influential presence both on and off the ice. When he was on the ice at 5v5 in 2025-26, the Ducks accounted for 50.5% of the expected goals in the regular season and 60.2% in the playoffs.
Carlson (36) was an immediate offensive success on the Ducks’ blueline, and scored 14 points (4-10=14) in 16 regular season games, adding six points (0-6=6) in 12 playoff games. He ran point on one of the Ducks’ two evenly distributed power play units and featured on the second penalty kill unit. His biggest strength for the Ducks may have been his breakout acumen, as chipped pucks rarely led to extended zone time when he was on the ice. When he was on the ice at 5v5, the Ducks registered 58.2% of the expected goals in the regular season and 51.6% in the playoffs.
As captain, Gudas (36) was Anaheim’s emotional leader, exuding 100% effort and physicality with every stride. He’d been a reliable partner to several young Ducks blueliners over the previous three seasons and logged some difficult minutes along the way, including consistent minutes on the penalty kill. Injury and a decreased role kept his minutes down in this third year with the Ducks, but when he was on the ice at 5v5, the Ducks generated 51.7% of the expected goals in the regular season.
Though boasting some impressive numbers and providing impactful leadership to a young team, all three players are well into their thirties, would have required big-money or long-term contracts this summer, and aren’t quite an on-ice fit with the Ducks roster and coaching style moving forward.
The Ducks have evolved into a high-octane, dynamic, offensive NHL club, generating the majority of their scoring chances off rush sequences. The three right-shot veterans they lost lack the pace to join and positively influence that area of their attack on a regular basis.
On the defensive end of the ice, the Ducks have struggled to protect the inner slot for the better part of a decade. While all three veterans logged heavy defensive minutes and provided a physical presence in the tight areas, they were all susceptible to coverage lapses and missed assignments below the dots in their zone.
Due to their lack of foot speed, they afforded attackers much too large a gap when defending the rush and relied solely on active sticks to disrupt transitions. Contrary to their reputations, they didn’t provide the defensive prowess in the critical areas, and at the critical times, Anaheim needed to thrive in their half of the ice.
Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
What is Gained
From the forwards to the defensemen to the goaltending, the Ducks will rely on their young core and youthful support players to continue taking steps and making greater impacts if they’re to keep their build on an upward trajectory in 2026-27.
On paper, the blueline looks bleak. LaCombe is the only proven impact player of the bunch. Mintyukov has yet to find his offensive footing and was a healthy scratch for multiple 2025-26 regular season games. Tyson Hinds (23) played the majority of the season in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls before logging six regular season NHL games and nine in the playoffs. Helleson accounted for some of the worst metrics among NHL-regular defensemen last season (46.2% xGF). Jensen will be coming off a knee surgery in March to repair a torn meniscus, is a year removed from a hip resurfacing surgery in May 2025, and his advanced metrics were unspectacular (-6.7% rel. xGF). Luneau has the talent to become a top-four defenseman in short order, but will still require all-important reps at the NHL level to achieve that potential.
LaCombe will lead the blueline as the team’s true No.1, but Mintyukov will now be relied on with a heavier role, as he’s now paid as their No. 2. He will be entering his fourth year in the NHL, having only shown flashes of the offensive impact he can ultimately provide. He’s tactical with his activations and can discombobulate opposing defensive structures, but will need to execute with more consistency. His 200-foot defensive game has progressed immensely and is arguably more impactful than his offensive one.
Hinds has more NHL playoff experience than regular season experience, but had nearly three full AHL seasons (204 games) under his belt before making his NHL debut. At the end of his AHL tenure, he’d become the San Diego Gulls most reliable defender, logging heavy minutes and matchups. He moves well, defends with his stick and body, angles, and provides a physicality that was left vacant by Trouba and Gudas’s exits.
Helleson’s first full regular season in the NHL was a roller coaster at best and unspectacular at worst. Much of where he struggled could, theoretically, be easily ironed out, as he struggled with first efficient first passes and losing sight of pucks funneled to the goal mouth, which often took poor bounces on their way to the back of the net. He possesses textbook defensive fundamentals, and with some puck skill refinement, he can become a reliable NHL defenseman.
Moore had one of the more bizarre rookie seasons imaginable, as he was en route to becoming an exciting modern defensive defenseman when circumstances drove him to finish his campaign as a fourth-line winger. As a defenseman, where he projects long-term, he has clear top-four upside with refined defensive habits and rare four-way mobility. He will be expected to take a significant jump in his development in the upcoming season.
Jensen will likely hold a role buoying younger counterparts as they inevitably brush up against obstacles and growing pains. He’s in the “reliable veteran” mold, but even after his hip surgery, he was more mobile than the likes of Trouba, Carlson, and Gudas. The hope is that his recent knee surgery won’t hinder that aspect of his game too much.
Luneau is the true wild card on the Ducks’ blueline. After some past injury issues, he’s been fully healthy over the past two seasons with the Gulls in the AHL, becoming one of the league’s top defensemen. He’s the epitome of “two-way”: offensively productive and defensively impactful. He’s active, tenacious, physical, smart, mobile, and possesses any other tool necessary to become a top-pair NHL defender. The Ducks will simply require him to reach that potential sooner rather than later to remain on track.
Should they be called upon, Stian Solberg (23rd in ’24) and Noah Warren (42nd in ’22) now each have several years of professional experience, can be relied upon in their end, and are as ready as they’ll ever be to make their NHL debuts.
Ultimately, the Ducks lost a lot of name-brand talent on their backend from 2025-26, heading into 2026-27. However, that name-brand talent greatly contributed to the Ducks finishing as the NHL’s 28th-ranked defensive team in terms of xGA/60 (2.91) and the 29th-ranked team in terms of GA/G (3.51). On top of poor defensive results, they weren’t stylistic fits with where the Ducks are heading and what makes them a successful on-ice team.
Though the projected 2026-27 blueline will undoubtedly have to work their way through adjustments and struggles, they can’t be much worse than their predecessor, and with their more cohesive stylistic fit, their ceiling is far greater, both in the immediate and future outlooks.
The Mets are expected to be active sellers at the 2026 MLB trade deadline. Here's the latest news and rumors...
Aug. 3, 12:15 p.m.
Kodai Senga is having a down season, but it appears he's drawing interest ahead of Monday's deadline.
The Padres have checked in with the Mets on the righty starter, according to the NY Post's Joel Sherman.
As per Sherman, San Diego pursued Senga when he was a free agent coming over from the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks following the 2022 season.
Though he has struggled mightily this year, the Padres are in desperate need of rotation help.
Senga is on the books for $4.7 million the rest of this season, and $14 million for next year.
The 33-year-old has shown positive flashes at times this year, but has taken the loss in eight of his 13 appearances, pitching to an ugly 8.66 ERA over that span.
The Pirates are also interested in Weaver, per multiple reports.
Weaver, who has allowed just one earned run in 31.0 innings since April 30, should be among the most sought-after relievers ahead of the deadline.
However, unlike Freddy Peralta, Brooks Raley, and Tyrone Taylor (pending free agents) and Clay Holmes (set for free agency since the expectation is that he'll decline his player option), Weaver is under team control through 2027.
That should make Weaver especially valuable to interested teams, and it will increase the price it takes to pry him away from New York.
If the Mets end up trading Weaver, the return will almost certainly be much better than what they got for the Twins for rental reliever A.J. Minter (two prospects at the back end of Minnesota's top 30 list).
Per Gelb, Philadelphia had a scout at Peralta's start at Citi Field this past Sunday, and have been "tracking" Holmes' rehab.
Peralta, a pending free agent, is expected to be traded ahead of the deadline.
Holmes is working his way back from a freak injury to his fibula that he suffered when he was struck by a line drive on May 15, and his return is imminent. His next outing, which would be on Sunday (the day before the deadline) is TBD due to his presence on the trade block.
There is mutual interest between Holmes and the Mets on a potential extension, according to SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes. However, Holmes said last week that there hadn't been "a ton" of progress toward a deal, meaning it is very likely that Holmes will be traded ahead of the deadline.
That's because Holmes holds a $12 million player option for the 2027 season that he is all but certain to decline.
Holmes, 33, has a 2.39 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 52.2 innings over nine starts this season.
However, Heyman notes that the Mets are "very reluctant" to trade Torrens.
Torrens is one of the best defensive catchers in baseball, and has a .604 OPS in 63 games this season while serving as the backup to Francisco Alvarez.
Alvarez's name has also been floated in rumors, during a season where the backstop has a career-best .791 OPS.
July 27, 10:54 a.m.
There is interest around the league in Mets catcher Luis Torrens and outfielder Tyrone Taylor, reports SNY contributor Jim Duquette.
Taylor is set to be a free agent after the season, while Torrens recently inked an extension that runs through 2028.
Taylor brings a blend of speed, pop, and plus defense. He has a .761 OPS this season in 61 games, and has been on a power tear lately, with five homers in his last 27 at-bats.
With it sounding like Holmes is prepared for a trade, league front office execs indicated to SNY contributor Jim Duquette that he is “likely” to be traded before the Aug. 3 deadline.
Additionally, Duquette reported that reliever Luke Weaver "has become the top arm available and it’s also 'highly likely' he will be traded as well."
Weaver has another year on his contract that runs through the 2027 season, while Holmes has a 2027 player option worth $12 million that he is expected to decline to enter free agency.
The Mets hold a $20 million team option for the 2027 season on Robert, who recently returned after being out since April 27 due to a back injury.
With New York all but certain to decline that option if Robert remains on the team through the end of the year, trading him before the deadline makes sense.
Robert hit a mammoth 451-foot homer on Tuesday night against the Brewers in Milwaukee and played strong defense in center field, showcasing the upside that should be of interest to contending teams.
Potentially complicating matters is that Robert still has a relatively significant amount owed to him this season, which could possibly make a deal tough unless the Mets eat a portion of that money.
He is giving up a ton of hard contact, fly balls, and struggling to keep it in the park. Keller has conceded 2.57 homers per nine innings during that stretch.
The New York Yankeesrank eighth in homers and seventh in ISO against righties in July. They are not a team Keller wants to see, especially at Yankee Stadium.
Gerrit Cole should get all the run support he needs as he works to find his footing.
The Yankees fit the criteria, and the power boost they’ll see playing at Yankee Stadium only makes matters worse.
Cole has not looked sharp, and that’s been problematic at home. He has allowed 1.91 homers per nine innings in New York.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have real power and will capitalize on any mistakes.
Bet to -115.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 62-50, +1.15 units
Over/Under bets: 62-45-5, +9.34 units
Pirates vs Yankees weather
Temperatures should approach the mid-80s with strong winds blowing out. Clear and noticeable boost to the bats.
Pirates vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Pirates +145 | Yankees -170
Run line: Pirates +1.5 (-130) | Yankees -1.5 (+110)
Over/Under: Over 9.5 (-105) | Under 9.5 (-115)
Pirates vs Yankees trend
Pittsburgh has hit the Game Total Over in 30 of last 45 games (+14.95 units, 31% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Pirates vs. Yankees.
How to watch Pirates vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
First pitch
1:05 p.m. ET
TV
SNP, YES
Pirates starting pitcher
Mitch Keller (6-7, 5.14 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (3-5, 3.93 ERA)
Pirates vs Yankees latest injuries
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Jun 2, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz (15) celebrates while rounding the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are heading down the back half of the season in the midst of a playoff race, and they have a myriad of questions surrounding whether or not they will be buyers or sellers at the MLB Trade Deadline. Apparently, according to one source, the Bucs are listening to offers on outfielder Oneil Cruz.
Holy crap: Big time baseball insider Bob Nightengale says the Pirates will listen to offers on Oneil Cruz. First time I’ve heard a credible voice legitimize the Cruz trade rumors. pic.twitter.com/oAyPoHpcrj
MLB inside source Bob Nightengale had this to say about the situation:
“They do have outfield depth. Can they trade Oneil Cruz to get some bullpen help? They need bullpen help as much as any contender out there. They can use another starter too. So I think they’re going to listen to offers on Oneil Cruz to see if they get the other pieces.”
Cruz has been the topic of trade speculation before, as many people felt he wasn’t reaching his potential in Pittsburgh and could get some interest from teams chasing a pennant. The irony is that Cruz is having his best season at the plate.
Despite currently being on the 60-day injured list, Cruz is expected back sometime around the beginning of to middle August. He’s averaging .264 at the plate with 14 homers and 44 RBIs as well as 21 stolen bases. The average is the best of his career, as is his OBP of .350 and his slugging percentage of .472.
He still has some work to do in the field, with his .986 fielding percentage sitting in the 30s for centerfielders, but overall, Cruz is having his finest season as a pro, which would certainly drive his value higher. One potential issue is do we trust Ben Cherington to get the most out of a Cruz deal? He hasn’t exactly been crushing trades with the Bucs.
But with the team currently loaded on offense and the pitching staff struggling, dealing Cruz for an arm to help down the stretch run certainly isn’t the worst idea.
Tell us in the comments how you feel about a possible Cruz deal.
Don’t forget to vote in our poll in The Feed, and our Reacts poll will be up later today.
After Monday’s tough extra-inning loss to the Tigers. it was certainly fun to see the Cubs get out of the gate quickly Tuesday, with a six-run first leading to an easy 11-2 win over Detroit, evening up the series.
David Peterson had a quick 1-2-3 first and then the Cubs got to work against Framber Valdez. Pete Crow-Armstrong led off with a line drive down the right field line that went for a triple [VIDEO].
Seiya Suzuki walked and Alex Bregman was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out.
A single by Nico Hoerner re-loaded the bases, and Ian Happ blooped a single to right, scoring Kelly [VIDEO].
It’s 4-0, the first seven Cubs have reached base against Valdez, and the bases are still loaded. The next two Cubs made outs — Dansby Swanson popped up and Kevin Alcántara struck out. But the Cubs were not done scoring.
That was it for Valdez. It was the worst start of his career, only the second time he had failed to finish the first inning, and the other time, back in 2019, he allowed “only” four runs.
More on the Cubs’ six-run first from BCB’s JohnW53:
The Cubs’ six-run inning was just their second of the season. The first was May 27, in their 56th game, when they won at Pittsburgh, 10-4. They have had three innings with seven runs and one with eight.
Through the first inning, the Cubs had scored multiple runs in 130 innings and a single run in 131. ….. The Cubs have scored 12 runs in the first inning of their last six games: two, one, one, two, zero and six. They had scored 41 total runs in the first of their previous 96 games.
Peterson had an interesting second inning. He allowed a leadoff double, then got three fly outs on hard-hit balls. It was a good thing the wind was blowing in, because all four of those balls would have probably left the yard on Monday, when the wind was blowing out.
After that, though, Peterson settled down. Overall he allowed just three hits over the first six innings and got eight outs on ground balls. One of the outs that wasn’t a ground ball was this sliding catch by Alcántara in the third [VIDEO].
While that was going on, the Cubs were extending their lead. Swanson led off the third with a walk and stole second. That was Swanson’s 14th steal of the year without being caught. PCA singled him in [VIDEO].
That was Conforto’s ninth homer of the year and fourth as a pinch-hitter. Here are some Cubs PH HR facts from John:
According to my research, Michael Conforto’s pinch-hit home run was the Cubs’ 363rd since the Modern Era began in 1901.
It was his fourth of the season. That tied the Cubs record for a single season, set by Glenallen Hill in 1999. Players with three: Jeff Blauser 1999, Thad Bosley 1985, Dave Clark 1997, Kevin Roberson 1993, Willie Smith 1969, Chuck Tanner 1958, Julio Zuleta 2001.
Only six players have hit more in their careers as a Cub:
9: Hill 6: Bosley, Roberson 5: Ernie Banks, Ian Happ, Patrick Wisdom
Five others hit four: Jeff Baker, Dale Long, Jerry Morales, Smith, Zuleta
The MLB record for pinch homers in a season is seven, set by Dave Hansen in 2000, tied by Craig Wilson in 2001.
Peterson was removed with two out in the seventh to a warm ovation. He’s now made four starts as a Cub. While one of them was unspeakably bad, the other three have been good-to-excellent. More on that from John:
David Peterson’s start was the Cubs’ first this season of at least 6.2 innings with no runs, three or fewer hits and no more than one walk.
Shōta Imanaga had the only two longer shutout starts, both 7.0, both at home, on May 2 vs. the Diamondbacks (four hits, one walk) and Sunday vs. the Twins (six hits, one walk).
Then it got to silly season, as the Tigers put in infielder Zach McKinstry, a former Cub, to pitch the bottom of the seventh. He threw some pitches at 80-plus miles per hour, but others with velocity in the 30s (listed as “slow curve” on the Wrigley video boards). The first hitter he faced was Happ, who walked. Swanson hit a ground ball to short that went for a hit. After a fly out, PCA walked, his third one of the game, loading the bases.
As you can see, that was called a double play on the field, but Suzuki pretty clearly beat the relay, so the run scored and left runners on first and third.
Civale ran out of gas in the ninth and allowed a two-run homer to Dillon Dingler, and wound up loading the bases with two out before getting this fly to center to end the game [VIDEO].
The Cubs could have scored a lot more than 11 runs, too. They had hits in their first four at-bats with runners in scoring position and overall went 6-for-20 (!) with RISP and left 12 runners on base. It was a terrific display of offense.
The Cubs gained a game on the Brewers, who lost to the Mets, and trail in the NL Central by six games. They also gained on the Phillies in the wild card race. The Dodgers beat the Phillies, so the Cubs lead Philadelphia by 1.5 games for the top wild card spot.
And the Cubs will go for yet another series win Wednesday evening at Wrigley Field. Colin Rea will start for the Cubs and Keider Montero goes for the Tigers. Game time is 7:10 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be on ESPN (full national broadcast, no blackouts).
Jun 29, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson (2) mishandles a ground ball allowing two runs to score in the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images | Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
The Orioles had won seven straight before traveling to Boston to face the only team in the league touting a better win streak. The Birds were set to play in their first series in over a year that carried a heightened sense of meaning. Playing the Red Sox—a division opponent in possession of a playoff spot—marked an opportunity for the club to measure itself against a contender.
How did the Orioles respond? They committed four errors and lost a one-run game.
It’s always tempting to over analyze after a bad loss, and yesterday’s rain out only helps the cause. We all know that every outcome counts as one win or loss in the standings, but that game was rich with symbolism. Baltimore pulled Shane Baz (6 IP, 2 ER) after 77 pitches, and both relievers allowed a run. The team left the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. Craig Albernaz pinch hit for Christian Encarnacion-Strand despite his strong offensive night, and Sam Huff finished 0-for-3 with three strikeouts for the second consecutive game.
At the same time, Tyler O’Neill squared up a ball that could have kept the Birds alive. The Orioles scored in four different innings despite missing Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo. They got another solid start from the rotation, and the Red Sox are obviously a good team too. Winning teams lose all the time, and you shouldn’t make a mountain out of a one-run molehill. But those four errors… Those are the type of plays that make you wonder if this team is capable of playing winning baseball.
So what exactly is winning baseball? Did the Orioles play winning baseball when they won seven consecutive games? It’s kind of like that thing the Supreme Court spent some time discussing in the 1960s. You know it when you see it.
The Orioles have been a bad defensive team all season, but they made some winning plays over that recent stretch. O’Neill extended the game with an impressive catch and throw in Houston. The outfielders made several running grabs, and Brandon Young’s kick save was named MLB’s play of the week.
This team is capable of making the necessary plays, but defense will never be considered a true strength. One or two defensive miscues may be inevitable, but those four errors felt like something more. It felt like the Orioles crumbled in their first big game of the season.
The American League is bad enough that a flawed team is going to make the playoffs. The Orioles could be that team. The question is whether a team like that can do any damage once they get there. Flawed teams can go on a run if they—and stop me if you’re over it by now—play winning baseball.
Jim Palmer has spent enough time explaining the value of hitting the cutoff man, but those things make a difference. Gunnar Henderson is capable of making the “wow” type of plays, but can he remain engaged over nine innings? Baltimore’s shortstop made his 12th error of the season on Monday and could have been credited with another when he failed to catch an 82 MPH line drive in third inning.
The rotation has provided some real reason for hope, and the bullpen has been better than it should be on paper. At a minimum, it feels like the Orioles could hang around with any AL team in a three-game series. Unfortunately, Baltimore is 8-15 in one-run games. Their eight wins are the lowest number of one-run victories in all of baseball.
The Orioles can’t go back and win any of those 15 games, but they can learn from the outcome. The front office, if they plan on buying, must determine what this team really needs. The club probably doesn’t want to pay the premium for Tarik Skubal or Joe Ryan. If acquiring a true ace is off the table, the team doesn’t need another mid-rotation starter.
The bullpen is a different story. The Birds need to flip the script in one-run games, and a shutdown reliever or two would go a long way. Ryan Helsley will be out until at least September, and it’s far too early to expect anything from Félix Bautista.
Will the team address the defense? A steady third baseman that hits righties would work wonders for this team, but nobody is replacing Henderson at short. It feels like the Orioles have been “learning how to win” since 2022, but the sentiment still rings true. The team had an extra day to flush Monday’s loss and can take a big step in the right direction by playing 18 innings of winning baseball today.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 21: Jim Jarvis (74) of the Atlanta Braves scores on a balk by the Padres pitcher during the Tuesday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres on July 21, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Braves lost to the Padres on Tuesday night. That in and of itself isn’t weird, especially considering that it came at home. Did you know that the Braves haven’t won a home series from the Padres since 2018? That’s a lot of really good years (including 2022 and 2023, where the team won 100-plus games), but… the Padres in Atlanta have been an issue. (The Braves have also lost a bunch of series to the Padres going back to mid-2024, including a playoff series… but they did actually win a road series against them in 2024.)
Anyway, here’s some random weird stuff about last night:
The Braves set a season-high in walk rate at 20.5 percent. They tied their season high in walks with eight. In the other three games they had eight walks, they scored eight, 10, and 17 runs. Yet, they scored just three runs.
Despite all the walks, the team had its second-worst quality of contact of the season (.224 xwOBACON). It was shut out in its only game with a worse xwOBACON on the season. In essence, the Braves did nothing on swings, but did a lot when not swinging.
Two of their runsscored on a not-that-well struck ball that perfectly split the defense and looked awesome. Jim Jarvis’ triple had a .163 xBA and .214 xwOBA, and came off the bat at 94 mph. Then, Jarvis had a nearly-perfect bloop single off Mason Miller of all people. Speaking of…
The Padres used Mason Miller in a five-run game for some reason. Talk about a bazooka to kill a fly. They had a five-run lead. Miller ended up having to throw a lot of pitches because of Jarvis’ bloop and a walk to Drake Baldwin, not that he had any real issues in the inning. Imagine using the best reliever in baseball in a situation where the other team could’ve been justified in pitching Elieser Hernandez in the top half of the inning.
The Braves scored a run on a balk. I don’t even have anything to add. I don’t know the last time the Braves scored a run on a balk. To add to the weirdness: when the home plate umpire spoke to the crowd about the balk, his words said that the batter at the time (Austin Riley) was to take first base, maybe because the pitch-on-which-there-was-a-balk was taken outside the zone. (The words were, “run scores, second and first” or something along those lines.) Yet, per the rules, Riley did not take first base, and actually struck out instead of making more of a game of it. So the umpire called a balk, and then goofed the verbal (not applied) explanation of what was to happen.
Bonus: the Phillies didn’t gain a game in the standings because of an Eli White-level baserunning mistake. In case you missed it, they had the tying run on third with one out in the ninth, and the go-ahead run on second in the form of JT Realmuto. Brandon Marsh hit a sliced dribbler to third. The runner on third was cut down in a rundown, prolonged enough to allow Realmuto to reach third. But, for some reason, Realmuto started running back to second base, which allowed the Dodgers to easily throw in that direction and tag him out, ending the game.
Jul 13, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (27) against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
It’s Nola Day. He’ll be taking the mound tonight for the rubber match against the Dodgers. It’s not news to you that Nola has struggled this season and last. But he’s been solid over his past trio of starts, allowing three runs in two of them, and two in the other. Prior to that he had a seven-ER clunker, but before that, another trio of games with no more than three runs allowed. Of course, his old enemy, the long ball, has still been a problem: all three of the runs in his last start came on solo shots, and he’s only had one homer-free game in his last seven starts.
All of which is to ask: has Nola’s unspectacular but solid performance over his past few starts changed how you’re feeling about him?
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Bruce Thornton #2 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the Semifinals on July 18, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Editor’s Note: Welcome back to our old friend, Lachard!
The Houston Rockets Summer League saw their season come to an end Saturday with a 97-86 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in the semifinals. The Rockets made the semifinals after finishing 3-1 in the quarterfinals because of point differential, the second tiebreaker.
Players like Quadir Copeland, Tristen Newton, and the Rockets’ second-round pick Bruce Thornton led the way through the first four games on their way to Saturday’s win-or-go-home game.
The Rockets Summer League team, for the first time in several seasons, didn’t have any players expected to be in the regular rotation to start the season. In past years, the Rockets have had multiple first-round picks, from Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun in 2021 to Reed Sheppard most recently.
That wasn’t the case this season, as Thornton was the Rockets’ only draft pick and was selected in the second round. The Rockets are expected to again compete for a top-four seed this coming season and will be welcoming back Fred VanVleet, who missed all of last season.
They also signed veterans Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic, so there isn’t a lot of room for a second-round guard in the rotation, at least to start the season. The question is, where does that leave Thornton for the upcoming season?
How the G League Will Help Bruce Thornton Develop His Game
Now that the draft and Summer League are over, Thornton moves on to the next step of his career. Unlike the Rockets’ last several draft picks, Thornton has an uphill battle to get into the regular rotation to start the season.
As mentioned before, the Rockets are expecting to be fully healthy to start the season and have brought in two players who are expected to be part of the rotation throughout the season. Thornton could ride the end of the bench, which isn’t a bad idea for a rookie, but he is more than likely going to start the season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets’ G League affiliate, once it kicks off.
Current Rocket players like Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson have spent time in the G League. Thompson spent time with the Vipers his rookie season as he recovered from an early-season injury, and Sheppard played a few games with the Vipers to help him adjust to the NBA after struggling to start his first season.
For Thornton, it will be an opportunity to get regular playing time, as he would be the main focus for the Vipers, unlike with the Rockets. That means 30-plus minutes a game, 15-20 shots, and running the offense. All valuable experience for any rookie, especially a second-round selection who otherwise wouldn’t get time with the big squad.
Also helps that the Rockets have one of the best G League teams in the NBA and run the exact offense and defense they use throughout the season. Thornton showed flashes of a player who could be solid in the NBA, and even though he may not start the season with the Rockets, he could play his way into a more prominent spot later in the season as injuries and inconsistent play become factors.
According to NHLTradeTracker.com, the Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers have made 14 trades in their history. On the fourth anniversary of the blockbuster that sent Matthew Tkachuk to Florida in exchange for Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar, it was the perfect opportunity to revisit their legendary transitions featuring some superstar names.
Revisiting Flames Trade History With the Panthers
September 29, 1994
Calgary acquires: 1996 Third-round pick (73rd overall - Dmitri Vlasenkov) and 1997 fourth-round pick (100th overall - Ryan Ready)
Florida acquires: Róbert Švehla and Magnus Svensson
Róbert Švehla had the longest career of the four players involved in this trade, playing 573 games with the Panthers and just one season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Interestingly, outside of his debut season in 1994-95, he missed a total of five games in his NHL career.
Meanwhile, Magnis Svensson played 46 games with Florida in 1995 and 1996. Ryan Ready never played with Calgary, dressing for seven games with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2006, while Dmitri Vlasenkov played one season in the IHL (2001) before spending the rest of his professional hockey career in his native Russia.
September 30, 1999
Calgary acquires: Bill Lindsay
Florida acquires: Todd Simpson
Bill Lindsay was a key player in the Panthers' first seven seasons, helping the team to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996. He played 506 of his 777 NHL games with the club, and they dealt him to the Flames at just 29 years old. Calgary dealt away Todd Simpson, who would be a journeyman defenseman who played with seven teams over 10 seasons.
March 16, 2000
Calgary acquires: Filip Kuba
Florida acquires: Rocky Thompson
Filip Kuba played 14 seasons in the NHL, two with the Panthers before they dealt him to the Flames in March 2000. Interestingly, he never suited up for a game with Calgary, instead departing for the Minnesota Wild in the Expansion Draft. Going the other way was Rocky Thompson, a third-round pick from 1995, who played 25 NHL games between the Flames and Panthers.
June 23, 2001
Calgary acquires: Rob Niedermayer and 2001 second-round pick (56th overall - Andrei Medvedev)
With his brother, Hall of Famer Scott, Rob Niedermayer, one of the young stars of the expansion Panthers, would eventually win the Stanley Cup in 2007 as a member of the Anaheim Ducks. The former fifth overall pick from the 1993 Draft skated in 1,153 games and scored 469 points. Meanwhile, the Flames used their pick in the trade to select Andrei Medvedev, who never played in the NHL.
Unlike his brother, Hall of Famer Pavel Bure, Valeri Bure had a respectable 10-year NHL career and scored 176 goals and 400 points. He went to Florida along with forward Jason Wiemer, who played 726 games over 11 seasons with six different clubs.
June 22, 2002
Calgary acquires: First-round pick (10th overall - Eric Nystrom) and 2002 fourth-round pick (99th overall - Michael Lambert)
Florida acquires: First-round pick (9th overall - Petr Taticek)
At the 2002 Draft, the Panthers and Flames swapped first-round picks, which didn't shake the foundations of either team. At ninth overall, Florida picked Petr Taticek, who played just three NHL games, while Calgary used the very next pick to select Eric Nystrom, who would go on to play 593 games over 10 seasons. With the 99th overall pick, the Flames drafted Michael Lambert, who didn't make it to the NHL.
March 8, 2004
Calgary acquires: Marcus Nilson
Florida acquires: 2004 second-round pick (53rd overall - David Booth)
David Booth would play in the NHL for 10 seasons, becoming a multi-time 20-goal scorer with the Panthers. Meanwhile, after six years in Florida, the club sent Marcus Nilson to the Flames, where he played four years and scored just 42 points in 194 games.
December 2, 2005
Calgary acquires: Kristian Huselius
Florida acquires: Dustin Johner and Steve Montador
Kristian Huselius recorded two 20-goal seasons in Florida before reaching a career high of 34 with the Flames in 2006-07. He spent 10 years in the league, with another four seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets. To acquire him, Calgary traded Dustin Johner, who never played in the NHL, and defenseman Steve Montador, who produced his best season in Florida, with 23 points in 2008. The undrafted defender also played 10 years with six different teams.
June 27, 2009
Calgary acquires: Jay Bouwmeester (signing rights)
Florida acquires: 2009 third-round pick (67th overall - Josh Birkholz) and Jordan Leopold (signing rights)
Jay Bouwmeester may have had his best statistical seasons with the Panthers, but he would go on to win the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019. The Flames acquired his signing rights in June 2009, and he'd go on to play four seasons in Calgary after six in Florida. Going the other way was a third-round pick, which turned into Josh Birkholz, who never played in the NHL, and the signing rights to defenseman Jordan Leopold. Leopold would go on to play one season with the Panthers, one of the eight teams he skated with over his 12-year career.
July 9, 2011
Calgary acquires: Jordan Henry
Florida acquires: Keith Seabrook
One of the odder trades between the Flames and Panthers took place in July 2011, when the clubs traded two players who never played in the NHL, Jordan Henry and Keith Seabrook. Moreover, a team never drafted Henry, and Seabrook was a second-round pick of the Washington Capitals in 2006. Although neither played higher hockey than the AHL, at least Seabrook got to celebrate with the Stanley Cup as his brother Brent won it three times with the Chicago Blackhawks.
June 18, 2013
Calgary acquires: Corban Knight
Florida acquires: 2013 fourth-round pick (97th overall - Michael Downing)
Corban Knight played just nine games with the Flames in 2014 and 2015, before dressing in 20 for the Panthers in 2016 and another five with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2019. He scored just four goals and 12 points over four seasons, with the Panthers using their draft pick in this deal on Michael Downing, who never made it to the NHL.
January 9, 2015
Calgary acquires: Drew Shore
Florida acquires: Corban Knight
As of 2026, Knight is the only player traded twice between the Panthers and Flames, going back to Florida in a 2015 deal that brought center Drew Shore to Calgary. Unlike Knight, who had a brief NHL career, Shore played a total of 98 games, scoring nine goals and 26 points.
Jiri Hudler was already a Stanley Cup winner by the time he came to Calgary in 2012, where he became a fan favorite thanks in part to a 31-goal and 76-point campaign in 2014-15. He spent four years with the Flames, winning the Lady Byng Trophy in 2014-15. Eventually, the team dealt him to Florida in exchange for two draft picks, Tyler Parsons and Demetrios Koumontzis, neither of whom ever made it to the NHL.
April 12, 2021
Calgary acquires: Emil Heineman and 2022 second-round pick (61st overall - David Goyette)
Florida acquires: Sam Bennett and 2022 sixth-round pick (187th overall - Gustav Karlsson)
Sam Bennett is the highest-drafted player in Flames history, going fourth overall at the 2014 Draft. He played six seasons in Calgary but went on to become a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Panthers, capturing the Conn Smythe Trophy for his heroics in 2025. He never scored 20 goals with the Flames, but is now a four-time 20-goal scorer in just six seasons in Florida.
The Panthers flipped their sixth-round pick acquired in this deal to the Buffalo Sabres in 2022 for defenseman Robert Hägg. Meanwhile, the Flames flipped the second-round pick from this deal to the Seattle Kraken in 2022 for Calle Järnkrok. Then, traded Emil Heineman to the Montreal Canadiens in a package for Tyler Toffoli in 2022.
July 22, 2022
Calgary acquires: Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt, and 2025 first-round pick (32nd overall - Cullen Potter)
Florida acquires: Matthew Tkachuk and 2025 fourth-round pick (112th overall - Mads Kongsbak Klyvo)
Everyone knows the story by now. Tkachuk told the Flames he had no intention of signing long-term, so they dealt him to the Panthers, where he'd go on to play in three Stanley Cup Finals, winning a championship in 2024 and 2025. Meanwhile, Florida used their fourth-round pick to select Mads Kongsbak Klyvo, who, at 19, has yet to come and play professionally in North America.
On the flip side, the Flames acquired Huberdeau, who recorded 115 points the season before relocating to Calgary, producing a meager 55 points in his first campaign in Alberta. Despite Weegar having his best statistical seasons with the Flames, he was dealt to the Utah Mammoth during the 2025-26 season. Finally, Calgary used their draft pick in the exchange, 32nd overall in 2025 because the Panthers won the Stanley Cup, to select Cullen Potter, a 19-year-old who plays in the NCAA.
Jan 11, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) attempts a shot as Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson (8) guards in the fourth quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Bucks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Editor’s note: You may have already spotted this week’s Bucks Reacts question in The Feed—that’s by design, giving more Bucks fans a chance to have their voices heard. These survey articles will continue to provide context behind each question before following up with the results later in the week.
Just over a week ago, reports emerged linking the Bucks to Denver Nuggets restricted free agent Peyton Watson. With Watson remaining unsigned, a potential move to Milwaukee is still very much a possibility.
Pursuing Watson is a no-brainer. A 6’8” wing known for his defensive chops, who’s also blossoming into an offensive force, Watson is undoubtedly a hot commodity that any team would be thrilled to have. After all, the NBA Finals have just reminded us how valuable rangy wings are—and you already know my stance on the value of forwards.
But pursuing Watson and getting him are two very different things; you don’t get a player like him without giving up something of value, no matter how much cap hell the Nuggets may be in. It’s the reason the Nuggets are reportedly looking for a Walker Kessler-like return in any sign-and-trade.
That said, the Bucks do have the capital needed to get a deal done. For one, they have the $25.5m trade exception created in the Giannis trade, a figure likely around what Watson would command. They also have draft picks to offer—though they should be cautious in parting with these. But the Nuggets, like the Bucks were with Giannis, are a win now team, and might be more inclined to facilitate a Watson to Milwaukee move if they received an established young player on a team-friendly contract who would fit in seamlessly with their existing core.
So, we put it to you, our Brew Hoop community: Considering the Bucks’ depth at guard, would you be willing to give up Ryan Rollins to acquire Peyton Watson in a sign-and-trade? Vote below and, as always, share your rationale in the comments.
Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week, the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — gives their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
This week there was one basic question, “What is your evaluation of __’s performance in Summer League?” which was asked about 4 players, Maluach, Fleming, Peat, and Brea.
Q1: Khaman Maluach
GuarGuar: I was absolutely blown away by the performance Khaman put on this summer. He was absolutely a dominant force on both ends and he’s given me so much hope for this upcoming season. His defense and rebounding were elite, and his offensive game looked way more polished. The 3 point shot looked very legit. He shot a small sample size obviously but the form looked very solid and promising. He looked too good for summer league and that’s exactly what you want to see from ur raw potential project player. He gets an A++ from me.
zenzino: No notes. Mostly, this year’s Summer League was sunshine and rainbows for me. Mostly.
Was Khaman perfect? Nope. Is he ready to challenge for the starting position? Also nope. Did he show some real progress? Absolutely! I think we all loved what we saw from Man Man. His performance in Summer League showed he is ready for significant regular minutes in the center rotation. Who knows, he might get some starts in the second half of the season. Especially if there are injuries.
Ok, I lied. I have some notes. Offense and rebounding looked great. He was aggressive and confident, taking it to the basket. He also hit some nice 3s when they needed them. On defense, his footwork is looking better, but he still needs to improve. He also got lost and found himself out of position at times. That’s something that will get better with more playing time.
While some might say his performance in Summer League confirmed that he should have played more last season, I firmly believe it was strong evidence that the coaches’ player development is working.
I especially liked game 4 against the Pistons, when Man Man got off to a slow start in the first half and then recovered in the second to finish with 23 points and 15 rebounds. That showed maturity and grit.
Speaking of maturity, if you caught the post-game interviews, Man Man shone there, too. He embodies a part of the Suns culture that I think we all want to see. In addition to a future Suns star, we might just have the future leader on the court and in the locker room.
Ashton: I just wanted to get a couple of things out of the way first. I have AZ Family Channel and Prime, and still managed to miss most of the full games. So, I am probably not the most qualified person to answer these questions. There was a phrase used to fire back at gamers who complained, and it was “Get Gud”. I will be rating these players on their grades in “Gud” and “Get Gud” but without the stats, I will leave that to my peers.
Rating: Really Gud. Okay, I did not include “Really Gud” as a category, but can anyone really argue this one? He became an All-Summer League Second-teamer. A week ago, Inside the Suns had a question about the center position minutes, and I rated “Man-Man” last. I have previously stated that I would never call KM “Man-Man,” but I retract, as he deserves it. Hey Oso! 7’2” objects in the mirror are closer than they appear for your minutes.
OldAz: KM looked dominant and engaged on both ends of the floor. He certainly looks like he has put on some muscle and is comfortable using it, and appears very confident with his three-point shot. My only question about his summer league performance is the level of competition, because bigs who are only 1-2 years out of college ball often have a lot of development to do. However, KM is also very young, so he is certainly in a great place. My concern is just about readiness to show many of those same skills against true NBA centers. If he is, then the Suns will come out looking like the winners of the KD trade, and I don’t think it will be particularly close in the end.
Rod: Khaman was the most impressive of all the Suns’ SL players. He led the team in scoring and a points/rebounds double-double in each game isn’t an easy feat, even in Summer League. Add in 3.3 stocks per game and 40% shooting from three, and I’d say that Jordan Ott is going to have a hard time keeping him on the bench this season. I’d be surprised if he’s not given at least some minutes playing with either Williams or Ighodaro in a big frontcourt lineup at times. He’s still young, so I wouldn’t want to put too much pressure on him too early, but I don’t think Ott needs to be too cautious with him either.
Q2: Rasheer Fleming
GuarGuar: Fleming’s play style is better suited when he’s surrounded by stars. He’s a 3 and D guy and not as much a shot creator so he wasn’t going to “dominate” Summer League unless his play style completely changed. He had a rough game 1 but after that he was very solid and the 3pt shot looks a lot smoother and quicker. We know his defense is elite so don’t gotta worry about that. Overall give him a B+ for SL.
zenzino: I’m going to start by saying I am not worried about Sheer at all. Not even a little bit. He didn’t have the show-out Summer League that Man Man did, and that’s ok. He did have a breakout offensive game (3, I think). Defensively, he quietly showed he is going to be the type of player who can guard 1-5. His weight gain was also obvious, just by looking at him, and also by the way he wasn’t getting moved around in the paint like last season.
I would be shocked if he’s not part of the regular rotation as a backup to Miles Bridges. The only caveat to that is the next guy, right on his heels. Iron sharpens iron.
Ashton: Rating: Gud. The question posed by a recent John Voita article was whether Sheer could be the next 3-and-D wing for the future. I think he has a good shot at it. Yes, good defense is not normally recognized by the casual audience, especially those who weren’t watching SL games… oh wait, I have turned into that casual fan? I am also encouraged by his three-point shooting.
OldAz: I thought Fleming looked good, especially when doing the things the big club will want him to do this coming season. He looked good shooting from the corner and played good defense. His stat lines in the summer league obviously suffered from the guard play, as the Suns have not had NBA-level play (even grading on an SL curve) for a long time. Again, Fleming looks bigger and stronger, but that might also be due to comparisons with summer league competition.
Rod: Rasheer started out a bit slow offensively but seemed solid defensively and ultimately hit 42.1% of his threes. I’m not sure SL was the best environment for Fleming to thrive, as both the offensive and defensive schemes are very simple in those games and without much structure, more akin to pickup games than a real NBA game. Also, with CJ Huntley sidelined with a hamstring injury, Fleming was occasionally pressed into service at center, which I don’t believe was inside his comfort zone.
Overall, what I saw at SL tells me that Fleming is ready for some steady rotation minutes in 2026-27. I believe he could be effective at either the 3 or 4 spots as a 3&D player.
Q3: Koa Peat
GuarGuar: I was really impressed with how polished Koa looked from game 1. He seemed like he was almost always in control and showed a really nice finishing ability throughout the week. The 3 point shot is a massive issue but if he somehow figured that out this dude can be special. He does literally everything else good on the court, including playmaking which impressed me a lot. I think this was a great pick by the Suns and am excited to see him progress. A for Koa.
zenzino: BG did it again. Turned a “nothing to see here” draft for the Suns into an exciting first round draft day (for Suns fans) that ESPN totally botched (shocking). I don’t watch college ball so I don’t judge drafts on draft day. I just knew that Peat was someone the Suns wanted and then got him. And I’m really glad they did.
My Summer League overreaction is that the Suns need to think long and hard about that Miles Bridges extension. They might have drafted the power forwards they needed last year and this year.
I heard ‘poor man’s Aaron Gordon’ comparisons and thought, “meh”. Then someone said Grandma (IYKYK). YAS! Larry Johnson! I see it.
I’m glad he changed his shot for the combine. And I’m glad he changed it back for Summer League. It looked fine to me. Small sample size, I know. His NBA-ready body showed through his post moves, dunks, and rebounds. He ran the floor really well and was solid on defense. I think he showed out like a lottery player.
He’s not ready for primetime, yet. But I also don’t think he’s a big project.
19 years old. 4 High School State Championships. 4 Team USA FIBA Gold Medals. Final Four his freshman year. Pro Bowl older brother. This guy knows what it takes to win. I couldn’t be more excited for his future with the Suns.
Ashton: Rating: Really Gud. Okay, Okay. Just Kidding! That was my Arizona bias coming through, so I will just rate it as “Gud”. Still, I really enjoyed the Bucks game when Peat and former teammate, Brayden Burries were going at it. It seemed like Burries was blowing by everyone on the Suns squad, but he was blowing by everyone to his SL MVP. I would say that all of the front-court defenses will need to learn to contain smaller, quicker guards, and Peat had to do it against Burries for a year.
Koa is who I thought was coming out of college. He is going to the hoop, not shooting mid-range shots or threes. He plays decent defense and can lob or pass the ball out. And if he gets some minutes under Ott’s system (get it to the paint, please), there is real potential for defensive mismatches from the opposing team, as he can stop them from spacing the floor if he gets the rock and they collapse on him. All eyes are on Miles Bridges this season, but Koa has serious potential to be a fan-favorite off the bench.
Final note. I thought there was good synergy between Koa and KM. I wonder if they ever talk smack about the Arizona/ Duke game in the 2024 Sweet 16?
OldAz: Really impressed with his basketball IQ in knowing where to be, when to cut, and how to attack. Certainly showed a lot of tools he can build on, but I still expect the Suns to bring him along slowly like they did with RF and KM last season.
Rod: I was impressed by his aggressiveness and his ability to get to the basket. He seemed very confident in himself, which also seemed to be well placed. One thing I really liked about his drives to the basket was that, while he didn’t try to avoid contact, he also didn’t seem to initiate contact to draw fouls. He was going in to score first and, if he got fouled on the way there, so be it, but he wasn’t hunting fouls at the expense of getting off a good shot.
Q4 : Koby Brea
GuarGuar: Koby had one great game but outside of that he was pretty horrendous and the most disappointing of all our main prospects by far. His shot wasn’t falling most of the summer but my biggest issue is he showed nothing positive he can contribute in other areas. He was a turnover machine and not great at defense either. I give Koby a D for the week.
zenzino: Now we get to the ‘mostly’. Summer League exposed Koby. The lack of ball movement really hurt him as his strength is catch-and-shoot 3s. Game 3 had better ball movement, and he had a really good game.
He needs to get better at creating space, on-ball and off-ball. When he had the ball, he was struggling to get to a spot and get an even semi-open shot. When he didn’t have the ball, he’d get open enough to get a pass, but by the time the ball reached him, the defender had closed out. This was due more to not creating enough space than to smothering defense.
I heard early on he was patterning his game around Booker. I don’t see it. I think he should be more like Steph, particularly in the way Steph never stops moving when he doesn’t have the ball to create open shots for himself.
In game 3, we saw what Koby could do when he was getting open catch-and-shoot looks.
Summer League is a different animal. Offensively speaking, bigger guys and players that can get put-backs and create their own shots show out better, as Man Man and Peat did. Players like Sheer and Koby, who rely on kick-outs and teammates setting them up, don’t look as good in this format.
I think what happens in the next 2-and-a-half months of workouts and practices will have more to do with rotations and playing time than Summer League did.
Meanwhile, we had a fun interlude of Suns basketball to try to hold us over until the preseason begins. And I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Ashton: Rating: Get Gud. I was all aboard last season’s SL hype train that Brea could be the future Suns sharp shooter. A decent G League stint did not deter me. But wow! He basically turned in one good game out of five. How were those Las Vegas clubs, Brea? This is not inspiring confidence for a team that needs more sharp shooters of the bench. In fact, if a two-way spot needs to open up, Brea would probably be the one targeted.
All in all, I came away from Summer League feeling “Gud” about our future prospects. Rod’s new format blew me for a loop, and had I known, I would have made a more concerted effort to watch and research.
OldAz: Has he been released yet? I 5ink he had one good shooting game in there, but for someone who was billed as a shooting specialist, he has vastly underdelivered, and I believe will be released at some point when the Suns need a player in his 2-way spot. Up till now, he seems to just be occupying that roster spot and needs to show something soon in training camp and G-League opportunities.
Rod: To put it mildly, Brea was pretty unimpressive in the SL games. Three-point shooting was supposed to be his one true NBA-ready skill, but he wound up hitting only 28.6% from three. Brian Gregory must still have hope in Brea turning it all around, but I’m thinking that Brea’s two-way roster spot might be better used on another player. I don’t know who that might be, but I’m sure Gregory keeps an updated list of prospects in his pocket and quite likely already has a replacement in mind to go after if/when he feels the need to do so.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Suns Trivia/History
On July 20, 2007, on the same day that Tim Donaghy was officially investigated by the FBI, the Phoenix Suns traded Kurt Thomas plus two firsts in 2008 (Serge Ibaka) and 2010 (Quincy Pondexter) to the Seattle SuperSonics. The Suns gained… luxury tax relief.
On July 24, 1996, the Suns officially signed their 1st-round pick (15th), Steve Nash, to a 3-year deal worth $992,300 per season. When asked what kind of player he expected to be, Nash joked, “Probably a little bit like Michael Jordan at first.”
On July 26, 2010, the Suns waived Taylor Griffin (the older brother of Blake Griffin), whom they had drafted with the 48th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Taylor turned out not to be anywhere near the player his soon-to-be NBA All-Star younger brother would become, and played in only 8 games for the Suns (averaging only 4 minutes per game) throughout the season. He would not play in the NBA again, although he was briefly picked up by the Charlotte Bobcats for 9 days in December before being waived yet again without seeing any court time there. Taylor did actually make the Suns’ highlight reel once, though…
On July 27, 2013, the Suns traded Luis Scola to the Indiana Pacers for Gerald Green, Miles Plumlee, and a 2014 1st round draft pick (Bogdan Bogdanović was later selected). Green and Plumlee played integral parts in the Suns’ short-lived turnaround in 2013-14 when they went 48-34. They improved by 23 wins over the previous season (25-57) and just barely missed the playoffs in an extremely tough Western Conference. That 23-win turnaround is tied with the 1969-70 Suns for the 4th largest in team history. The 1st is 33 wins by the 1004-05 Suns, 2nd is 27 wins by the 1988-89 Suns, and 3rd is 26 wins by the 1999-00 Suns.
Important Future Dates
Late September (dates TBD) – NBA Training Camps open Oct. 10 – Suns vs. Spurs (preseason) 7:00 PM Oct. 14 – Suns at Spurs (preseason) 5:00 PM Dec. 15 – Most players signed to new contracts can be traded Jan. 5 – 10-day contracts may now be signed Jan. 10 – All NBA contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season Jan. 15 – All players signed to new contracts can be traded Feb. 19-21 – NBA All-Star 2027
COVERS INTEL: Keller's contact profile is alarmingly bad, 
