Pitching staff flops as Brewers lose series finale 14-5

Jul 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras (24) watches game action from the dugout against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Good news and bad news.

Good news: It’s officially the All-Star Break.

Bad news: The Brewers pitching staff gave up 14 runs today.

In recent history, the Brewers and the Pirates have played in the final series before the All-Star break, and it has never fared well for the team in blue and yellow. That trend continued in today’s series finale as the Brewers fell to the Pirates 14-5.

As we’ve seen consistently throughout this long road trip, the Brewers’ opponents were typically the ones taking the lead first. That happened at the bottom of the second inning as Ryan O’Hearn drove in the first run of the game on a double to right field. A couple of at-bats later, Jackson Chourio narrowly missed robbing a two-run homer, but instead it went over the wall for Henry Davis’s eighth of the year.

The Brewers offense showed life in the top of the fourth inning as Chourio hit a double to drive in Christian Yelich to cut the Pirates’ lead down to 4-1. Later, Gary Sánchez grounded out and drove in a run as a result to make it 4-2.

That was about it for the Brewers offense in what quickly turned into a nightmare. In the bottom of the fourth inning, everyone in the Pirates lineup reached base before there was an out recorded. At that point, the Brewers found themselves down 11-2. After the Pirates recorded the first out, they scored two more runs to extend their lead to 14-2.

For the Pirates, that was it in terms of offense. For the Brewers, they’d have to wait until the top of the eighth inning to get a two-run home run from Brice Turang and an RBI double from Garrett Mitchell to bring the final score to 14-5.

There’s no doubt that the pitching was the problem this afternoon. Beginning with Jacob Misiorowski’s scratch from the game, and the announcement of moving Brandon Woodruff to the 60-day injured list. As for pitchers who actually appeared in the game, Robert Gasser was knocked around and pulled after three innings as he gave up seven runs on eight hits and allowed two home runs. Jared Koenig took things another step further as he didn’t record an out after allowing five runs on two hits and two walks. Grant Anderson did complete one inning but gave up two runs on three hits in the process.

On the bright side of things, Bryse Wilson made his return to the Brewers by throwing three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out four batters. On the offensive side of things, Chourio had the lone multi-hit game on the day, and Turang had the home run with two RBIs. Braden Shewmake struggled in his debut with the Brewers as he went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts before being replaced by Andrew Vaughn.

As for what’s to come next, nothing. At least for most of the week. William Contreras will be the lone Brewers representative in this year’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia, and you can find that game on Tuesday on FOX at 7:00 p.m. The rest of the Brewers will get a much-needed break as they prepare to be back home Friday night as they start a three-game series with the Miami Marlins.

Yankees Draft: 2026 Rounds 11-15 pick analysis

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 11: A general view of giveaway shirts on fan seats prior to the 2026 MLB Draft presented by Nippon Express at Pennsylvania Convention Center on Saturday, July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Day 2 of the MLB Draft is a loaded one, as we’ve got 16 picks to get through over the course of the day. Jake guided us through the first six that have come in taking us through the 10th round, and now I’ll be taking over to recap what the Yankees do with their next five selections. It’s been a pitcher-led class for New York thus far, with their first two selections on Day 1 both going towards left-handed starters and three pitchers coming today including Luke Pettitte, son of the five-time World Series winner Andy. Catching has also seen some love as the team has selected two thus far, with Brendan Brock coming in the third round and Bear Harrison getting chosen in the fifth.

Where they go from here will be anyone’s guess, but you can catch updates as the picks are made and then check back here for more commentary as we look into the newest names that’ll be gracing the lower minor leagues before you know it.

Round 11, Pick 338: Anthony Potestio, SS, UC San Diego, 5’11”, 195 lbs.

The Yankees’ first pick back from the break is a shortstop from the Big West Conference. Potestio was a three-year starter out at UC San Diego and made the All-Conference team this past season after posting a .298/.431/.436 triple slash with four homers in 49 games. Potestio saw some time around multiple positions in his freshman year, including left field, second and third base, but has primarily played shortstop ever since and served as the Tritons’ leadoff hitter. Among other notes, Baseball America said the following about him:

Potestio is a selective, patient hitter who works the count and is difficult to strike out because of his swing decisions and solid contact skills. He doesn’t project for much power and never hit more than five home runs in a season, but does offer defense versatility.

That makes back-to-back shortstop selections for New York, who has also gotten a couple of third baseman as they look to replenish their athletic infield supply.

Round 12, Pick 368: Austin Berggren, P, Miami (OH), 6’3”, 225 lbs.

The Yankees go for a college reliever in the 12th round, selecting Berggren out of Miami University in Ohio. Berggren appeared in 25 games for the RedHawks this year as the team’s closer, tossing 44.1 innings with a 3.65 ERA to his name with 61 strikeouts against 13 works. It was a significant step up from Berggren’s debut season with Miami in 2025 when he ran an ERA north of 10 in 32.1 innings, getting four starts out of his 20 games played. Prior to that Berggren spent a year in JUCO pitching for Johnson County Community College in Kansas, and initially started his collegiate career with Nebraska in 2023, though he only pitched in 3.1 innings for the Cornhuskers.

Berggren has an interesting mix of pitches for a reliever, going with a three-pitch arsenal of a low-mid 90s heater, an 88-90 mph cutter, and a curveball that registers in the mid 80s as well. Baseball America noted in a writeup on Berggren earlier this year that he’s got hefty spin on all of his pitches and “it’s that outlier feel for spin that makes Berggren an outstanding name.”

(Thanks to our own RedHawk alum, Jeff Middleton, for his own insight on Berggren.)

Round 13, Pick 398: Lee Garris, OF, Maury HS (VA), 6’0”, 200 lbs.

The Yankees go back to prep school for their second outfielder of the draft. Garris is a left-handed hitting 18-year-old who earned first-team all-state honors in Virginia and is committed to James Madison University, so we’ll have to see if the Yankees can convince him to sign. Notably on that front, ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel did rank him in his top 250 prospects at No. 235, and mentioned that he threw out any prospects that he thought were impossible to sign, so there’s room to negotiate here. Garris went through a rough patch at the start of his senior season that left him with some major doubts about his future with the game, as he struggled mentally to deal with the pressure. Fortunately, there was a local with a little bit of pro experience around to talk to him: former All-Star Michael Cuddyer, who gave him a pep talk and encouraged him to simplify his approach helping Garris find his form again.

Round 14, Pick 428: Diego Castellanos, OF, Saint Mary’s (CA), 6’0”, 190 lbs.

Going back to the college ranks, the Yankees pick up another outfielder in Castellanos that has some gap power in his swing. Castellanos hit .382/.458/.554 with six home runs and 21 doubles, scoring 61 runs in 62 games for the Gaels in his junior season, earning All-Conference first team as well as All-Tournament honors as Saint Mary’s made it to the NCAA Regionals. He set a program record with a 39-game hitting streak running into postseason play. Baseball America’s read on him is as follows:

Castellanos has a high handset and a hitch in his load, but he does a tremendous job putting the barrel on the baseball. He had standout overall contact (88.2%) and in-zone contact (92.1%) rates as a junior in 2026, and while most of his power is of the doubles variety, scouts think he has some sneaky power in the tank as well. Finding a way to tap into more power could be key for Castellanos because, while he can run a bit, he’s more likely a corner outfielder than a true center fielder.

Castellanos entered the transfer portal at the end of this season and visited Tennessee last month, but as of right now it doesn’t look like he’s committed to a new school. That might mean it’s a perfect time for him to commit to going pro instead.

Round 15, Pick 458: William Cutshall, SS, Seneca HS (SC), 6’2”, 190 lbs.

Another shortstop rounds out this batch of draft picks, as the Yankees go for the South Carolina kid Cutshall with the 458th pick. Cutshall was born in Panama and played for the country in the U-18 World Baseball Cup that was held in Japan last year. Cutshall also participated in Perfect Game’s Class of 2026 Tourney back in 2024 and earned rave reviews following a year where he hit .577 and drove in 53 runs in 43 games. Baseball America had Cutshall listed in their Top 500 High School list, where they noted:

Cutshall has a handsy swing with good bat-to-ball skills. He mostly showed gap power on the travel circuit, though he has shown more home run juice for his high school team.

Cutshall is committed to Ole Miss, and might be a more difficult signing for the Yankees to make than the ones they’ve drafted up to this point, but he’d be a talented addition if they can convince him.

How to watch San Francisco Giants vs. Colorado Rockies

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JULY 07: San Francisco Giants pitcher Trevor McDonald (72) throws a pitch during a MLB game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the San Francisco Giants on July 07, 2026 at Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA. (Photo by Trinity Machan/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The San Francisco Giants conclude this four-game series against the Colorado Rockies this afternoon from Oracle Park.

Taking the mound for the Giants will be right-hander Trevor McDonald, who enters today’s game with a 5.46 ERA, 3.99 FIP, with 50 strikeouts to 20 walks in 59.1 innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 9-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, in which he allowed eight runs on 11 hits and one walk in two and a third innings.

He’ll be facing off against Rockies right-hander Michael Lorenzen, who enters today’s game with a 6.46 ERA, 4.83 FIP, with 72 strikeouts to 35 walks in 92 innings pitched. His last start was in the Rockies’ 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, in which he allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits with five strikeouts and three walks in six innings.

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Game #96

Who: San Francisco Giants vs. Colorado Rockies

Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California

When: 1:05 p.m. PT

Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area

National broadcast: n/a

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

2026 Mets Draft profile: Luke McNeillie

Milton, Georgia native Luke McNeillie attended the eponymously named high school in the city, lettering all four years he attended the school and establishing himself as a prospect to follow. Considered one of the better high school pitching prospects in Georgia in 2023, the right-hander had a strong commitment to the University of Florida and went undrafted in the 2023 MLB Draft.

The results did not exactly match the stuff in his freshman season with the Gators. The right-hander 26 appearances in 2024, including two midweek starts, and posted a 7.07 ERA in 35.2 innings, allowing 33 hits, walking 21, and striking out 43. That trend continued in 2025, his sophomore season, where McNeillie posted a 4.82 ERA in 52.1 innings over 28 relief outings and 2 starts, allowing 44 hits, walking 24, and striking out 72.

That summer, the right-hander played for the Harwich Mariners Cape Cod Baseball League. Making four starts, he posted a 5.68 ERA, allowing 8 earned runs in 12.2 innings, giving up 12 hits, walking 8, and striking out 14. Returning to Florida for his junior season, the 21-year-old appeared in 18 games for coach O’Sullivan, making 3 starts. The right-hander posted a 3.97 ERA in 34.0 innings, allowing 40 hits, walking 17, and striking out 48.

McNeillie is 6’3”, 200-pounds and has a slim, athletic build. He throws from three-quarters arm slot with a long arm action through the back. His mechanics are simple and present no obvious injury red flags, but he has a problem repeating them, specifically keeping his arm angle up and repeating his release point.

The right-hander’s fastball sits in the mid-to-high-90s, reportedly topping out as high as 99 MPH. The pitch does not have the best shape, generally showing low spin rates for a four-seam fastball. The right-hander has occasionally unintentionally thrown the pitch as a sinker, lowing his slot and giving the pitch more running action, and the pitch would almost certainly be better if converted into sinker, given its natural sink.

He complements the pitch with a mid-80s, high-spin slider that is almost certainly an above-average or better offering. With readings reaching 2,600 RPM, the pitch features sharp gyroscopic break with a bit of horizontal movement and good downward action. McNeillie uses the pitch against left-handers and right-handers alike, but also has a changeup that has been effective at neutralizing the platoon advantage of left-handed batters.

Over the course of his three seasons at Florida, the right-hander has a cumulative 38.2% groundball rate, 21.6% line drive rate, and 40.2% flyball rate. With 16 home runs over 122.0 innings, McNeillie has a perfectly manageable 1.2 HR/9 rate, but against professional hitting, he will likely need to do something to improve on his groundball-to-flyball ratio in order to thrive.

D-backs @ Dodgers Discussion

An aerial image shows the sun setting behind smoke covering the downtown Los Angeles skyline and Dodger Stadium from wildfires, including the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire, at sunset over Los Angeles, California, on January 8, 2025. At least five people have been killed in wildfires rampaging around Los Angeles, officials said on January 8, with firefighters overwhelmed by the speed and ferocity of multiple blazes. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

Today’s Lineups

DIAMONDBACKSDODGERS
Ketel Marte – DHShohei Ohtani – DH
Geraldo Perdomo – SSAndy Pages – CF
Corbin Carroll – RFFreddie Freeman – 1B
Gabriel Moreno – CMookie Betts – SS
Lourdes Gurriel – LFTommy Edman – 2B
Ildemaro Vargas – 2BKyle Tucker – RF
Nolan Arenado – 3BTeoscar Hernandez – LF
Tim Tawa – 1BMax Muncy – 3B
Ryan Waldschmidt – CFEliezer Alfonzo – C
Mitch Bratt – LHPEmmet Sheehan – RHP

Roster moves

The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ 40-man roster is at 39.

  • Recalled from Triple-A Reno: SP Mitch Bratt
  • Placed on 10-day IL: SP Zac Gallen (right elbow inflammation; retro to July 9)

Bratt makes his return to the D-backs rotation, after a brief outing on June 24. He went three innings and allowed one run, throwing 54 pitches. We probably won’t be getting too much more than that from Mitch this afternoon. He threw 57 pitches his last outing for Reno, tossing four shutout innings, and that’s likely to be the cap on what we should expect today. Still, with this being the last game before the All-Star break, we can empty the bullpen as necessary. If you’re going to have a game with a short starter, this is probably the best possible time to have one!

PhoenixSportsFan is on the guest recap, so stay tuned for that!

Jesús Made drives in National League’s lone run in 6-1 Futures Game loss

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 12: Jesús Made #12 of the Milwaukee Brewers hits an RBI ground out during the 2026 All-Star Futures Game Presented by Nike at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Box Score

Brewers top prospects Jesús Made and Luis Peña both represented Milwaukee in this year’s All-Star Futures Game, though neither could help the National League avoid a 6-1 loss in the seven-inning exhibition. While the game remained tied 1-1 through four innings, the American League pulled away late, scoring a run in the fifth and two runs in each of the final two frames.

The National League managed just four hits all afternoon and never generated much offense against a deep American League pitching staff, although Made wasted little time making an impact. Batting third for the National League, he came to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the first and looped a single into shallow right field against Mariners prospect Kade Anderson, widely regarded as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. 

Made later accounted for the National League’s only run, driving in Pirates prospect Edward Florentino with an RBI groundout in the third inning. In his third and final plate appearance, against Ryan Sloan, the Mariners’ No. 2 prospect, Made flew out to right field. He would finish the afternoon 1-for-3 with an RBI.

The performance wasn’t enough to spark the National League offense, but Made still turned in one of the better offensive outings on the team. His first-inning single accounted for one of the National League’s four hits, while his RBI groundout produced the club’s only run of the game.

Peña, meanwhile, made his Futures Game debut after earning a starting nod at third base. The 19-year-old finished 0-for-3 at the plate, flying out to center field twice and left field once, but looked comfortable defensively throughout the afternoon. He handled all five of his chances cleanly without committing an error, highlighted by a terrific running catch in foul territory down the left-field line. Peña covered a ton of ground, ending up nearly halfway to the outfield wall, before making an over-the-shoulder grab to rob Guardians prospect Ralphy Velasquez of a hit.

While Peña didn’t record a hit, simply reaching the Futures Game is another milestone for MLB Pipeline’s No. 18 overall prospect. Despite missing significant time this season because of health issues, Peña has continued to show why he’s regarded as one of the game’s top young infielders whenever he’s been on the field.

Neither player delivered a headline-grabbing performance, but that’s not necessarily the point of the Futures Game. Made and Peña earned their invitations by establishing themselves among baseball’s premier prospects, and Sunday’s showcase served as another reminder that both belong on the same field as the sport’s brightest young talent. With Made continuing to strengthen his case as baseball’s consensus top prospect, Peña cementing himself as one of the game’s best young infielders, and a boatload of depth behind them, Brewers fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about the organization’s future.

MLB Futures Game 2026: Rays catcher Nathan Flewelling, deep pitching staff lead American League to 6-1 win

In the midst of a day filled with MLB action, the league's top prospects took the field in Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia to show off their talent to a national audience. Despite this being the 27th year of the MLB Futures Game, the game has grown in popularity and exposure over the last few years. The seven-inning contest features talent from every Major League organization and nearly 40 players on the MLB Pipeline Top 100 Prospects list.

Even though some players are top 10 prospects in all of baseball who are putting up big-time numbers at Triple-A, and others are in their first full year of pro ball or not in the league-wide top 100, each prospect was on a level playing field and excited to show their talents to a larger audience.

"At the end of the day, I think the gap between who people consider the best player here and who people consider the worst is so minuscule that you almost wouldn't notice it," said Twins outfield prospect Walker Jenkins, who's the 13th-ranked prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. "Every person here has earned it, and there's a reason they're here because they are probably going to be a really good big leaguer someday. And man, it's just so cool to be around them."

Jenkins started the game in centerfield for the American League team and went 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. The 21-year-old is currently hitting .306 with five home runs, 16 RBI, 29 runs scored, and seven steals in 42 games for Triple-A St. Paul. There's a real chance he could be the first player from this game to be promoted to the big leagues. As of now, 25 players from last year's game have already made their MLB debut.

Two of the most high-profile prospects were involved in the American League's first run.

Athletics infield prospect Leo De Vries, the 2nd-ranked prospect in baseball and the headliner of the Mason Miller trade from last season, singled in the first inning and stole second and third base. That put him in a position to score on an RBI groundout from Red Sox shortstop prospect Franklin Arias, who's the 7th-ranked prospect in baseball. De Vries would finish 1-for-2 on the day, while Arias finished 0-for-2 but had the one RBI.

The National League then tied the game on an RBI groundout by the game's top prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, Brewers' INF Jesus Made, who would finish the game 1-for-3 with an RBI. Before Rays outfielder Theo Gillen, the 9th-ranked prospect in baseball, had an RBI single in the fifth inning.

The game sat 2-1 entering the final two innings, and most of the damage had been done by the game's top ten prospects. Yet, the game's biggest hit came from a player still in High-A when Tampa Bay Rays catching prospect Nathan Flewelling (72nd-ranked prospect) hit a pinch-hit two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to expand the American League's lead to 4-1.

"Obviously, he had just walked a guy, so I knew he was going to try to be aggressive," said Flewelling after the game. "I was looking first pitch heater, down in the zone, and that's where I got it. The rest is history."

That history involved Flewelling being named the 2026 Futures Game MVP. "It was a complete honor to be here amongst some really talented players. It was just a pretty surreal moment being able to do that," he reflected. The 19-year-old is hitting .261/.394/.496 at High-A Bowling Green with 16 home runs, 47 RBI, and six steals on the season.

With the game still within reach in the seventh - and last - inning, the American League worked to put the contest away. Astros outfield prospect Kevin Alvarez, the youngest player in the game and the 67th-ranked prospect in the league, started the inning by being hit by a pitch and was eventually driven in on a double by Blue Jays' infielder JoJo Parker (27th-ranked prospect). One batter later, Guardians first base prospect Ralphy Velazquez (37th-ranked prospect) laced a line drive the opposite way to drive in the sixth run.

"This is my second time being invited to the features game, and it's a blessing for sure," said Velazquez before the game. "My family gets to come out and visit me, and I get to play baseball at a big league stadium, so it's awesome."

Those six runs proved to be more than enough for this impressive American League pitching staff.

American League manager Larry Bowa started the game with Mariners left-hander Kade Anderson, who is the fifth-ranked prospect and top-ranked pitching prospect in baseball, and has a Minor League-leading 1.36 ERA and 0.69 WHIP for Double-A Arkansas. "I'm very grateful for the opportunity and excited to get out there," said Anderson before the game. He then went on to allow just one hit in a scoreless first inning.

He was then followed by a scoreless inning from Rangers' prospect Caden Scarborough (63rd-ranked prospect) before the National League manufactured a run off of Blue Jays' Double-A prospect Nolan Perry (96th-ranked prospect). The American League then had five more pitchers combine for four shutout innings to close out the game.

For their part, the National League pitchers may have been more overpowering, striking out nine batters on the day compared to just three for the American League. They just had a few more hiccups.

National League manager Shane Victorino started with Phillies' prospect Gage Wood (51st-ranked overall), who has a 3.44 ERA in 16 starts split between Single-A Clearwater and Double-A Reading. After the American League manufactured that first inning run against Wood, the National League rebounded with three scoreless innings pitched by Pirates prospect Seth Hernandez, the 6th-ranked prospect, who struck out two, Braves prospect Cam Caminiti (43rd-ranked prospct and cousin of former MVP Ken Caminiti), who struck out one, and Cardinals pitching prospect Liam Doyle (22nd-ranked prospect), who walked two but also struck out two to keep the American League off the board.

The American League would go on to score off of four of the next five pitchers in the game for the National League before the game finished with a light-hearted seventh inning when the American League, in an effort to get everybody into the game, used three different pitchers to get the final three outs even though Orioles left-hander Joseph Dzierwa (100th-ranked prospect), Yankees right-hander Ben Grable, and Angels right-hander Tyler Bremner (44th-ranked prospect) each needed just two pitches to record their out.

At the end of the day, the laughter and smiles on the mound during a pitching change in that moment are what this game is all about. The best young players in the game are not only being recognized as the potential future of Major League Baseball, but also get to show their talents on an MLB field in front of a national audience that may otherwise not know much about them. Maybe next year they'll get to do so without a full slate of MLB games being shown at the same time.

In the meantime, they'll continue to relish the experience and what it might mean for their MLB future.

"I just wanted to learn from everybody," said Flewelling as he sat with his MVP trophy. "There's such great talent here, and I wanted to take a piece from everybody and better myself, and gain the experience so hopefully when the day comes it's smooth sailing."

Toronto Blue Jays at San Diego Padres

Toronto Blue Jays (45-50) at San Diego Padres (47-48), July 12, 2026, 1:10 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Petco Park – San Diego, Calif.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan



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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: A.J. Ewing, Jared Jones show league-winning potential

Welcome to Waiver Wire Watch, our weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire guide. We'll be doing things a little differently this season, with Eric Samulski publishing the initial waiver-wire article on Friday afternoon. Then James Schiano updates it every Sunday to make sure you get the most up-to-date information.

The premise of the article is pretty straightforward. We'll give you some recommended adds each week based on recent production or role changes. When we list a player, we'll list the category where we think he’ll be helpful or the quick reason he’s listed. We hope this helps you determine whether the player fits your team's needs. Not every "trending" player will be a good addition to your specific roster.

To qualify for this list, a player needs to be UNDER 40% rostered in Yahoo! formats. We understand you may say, “These players aren’t available in my league,” and we can’t help you there. These players are available in over 60% of leagues and some in 98% of leagues, so they’re available in many places, and that can hopefully satisfy readers who play in all league types.

⚾️ Baseball is back on NBC: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters

A.J. Ewing - 2B/OF, NYM (34% rostered)

(POWER SURGE, BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

Perhaps we forgot about Ewing, but the rookie is hitting .298/.368/.512 in his last 35 games with six home runs, 18 RBI, and five steals. He has three home runs in his last five games and has started to lift the ball a touch more, which has led to far more barrels. On the season, he has a 36.4% fly ball rate with the Mets, but in his last 15 games (where he has a 14.7% barrel rate), that fly ball rate has increased to 41.2%. His launch angle hasn't gone out of whack, but he's just finding more pitches that he can elevate and drive out of the park. It's a nice adjustment to see from a rookie.

Sunday update: Ewing has hit lead-off for the Mets in seven straight games, including against the left-handed Payton Tolle on Sunday. Hitting directly in front of Juan Soto, Bo Bichette, and Francisco Lindor will be a huge boost to Ewing's fantasy value. There's a whiff of league-winning potential in the second half here.

Caleb Durbin - 2B/3B, BOS (34% rostered)

(HOT STRETCH, STOLEN BASE UPSIDE)

The narrative around Durbin at the beginning of the season was so toxic that we're not sure people realize how good he's been. When he started off the year poorly and Kyle Harrison, the pitcher he was traded for, dominated in Milwaukee, there was this pervasive idea that Durbin was a bust. However, it appears that he just needed to find his footing. In 32 games since June 1st, Durbin is hitting .288/.344/.568 with eight home runs, 21 runs scored, 17 RBI, and six steals. That's a 146 wRC+ and is exactly what people envisioned from the second-year hitter when moving into a park like Fenway. Perhaps it took Durbin a bit longer to adjust his approach. His pull rate is 51% during this stretch, but was just around 43% in Milwaukee last year. The Green Monster has come calling. Nick Gonzalez - 2B/3B/SS, PIT (37% rostered) is another option for batting average. Since June 1st, Nick Gonzales is hitting .320 in 34 games with three home runs, 23 runs scored, and 15 RBI. In that span, he is tied for the 6th-highest groundball rate in baseball at 59% (league average is 41%). On the season, he also has the 3rd-most groundball base hits in baseball with 45 (Otto Lopez has 60), and Gonzales has increased his groundball rate from last year to this year the 6th-most of any hitter in baseball. It's an approach that is clearly working for him and will work for fantasy managers if you need batting average.

Sunday update: Durbin reached base four more times in his last two games and moved up to fourth in the Red Sox's order on Saturday. He has a huge green up arrow.

Dylan Crews - OF, WAS (32% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, POWER POTENTIAL)

Last week, we mentioned that we were buying into Crews because we were betting on the quality of contact winning out over the poor June stats. Crews has then continued to hit, and even made Eric’s recent article on hitters who should see a second-half power surge, but his roster rate hasn't moved. In his last 20 games, Crews is hitting .274/.346/.397 with two home runs, 14 runs scored, and three steals. That has come with a 45% hard-hit rate, and a Pull Air% that should lead to more home runs. Yes, he is still chasing more than we'd like to see, and there remain some contact issues in his game, but we saw Jordan Walker take three separate seasons to finally have his approach click, so these are the types of gambles we should be making when the results are at least solid.

Cole Carrigg - OF, COL (32% rostered)

(COORS FIELD, POWER UPSIDE)

Despite putting up a nearly .900 OPS over his first month, Carrigg's playing time seemed at jeopardy with Mickey Moniak's recent return to the Rockies' outfield Brenton Doyle due back soon. Yet, Doyle's rehab has stalled a bit which should keep the door open for Carrigg. Just bear in mind that he's struck out in seven of his last 11 at-bats and he doesn't have a hit since Tuesday.

Brayan Rocchio - 2B/SS - CLE (30% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, AVERAGE/SPEED UPSIDE)

Rocchio went through a cold stretch in June that saw him get dropped in a lot of places, but he's back to producing again. Over his last 20 games, he's hitting .293/.329/.440 with two home runs, 10 RBI, and three steals. He has seven home runs and a career-high 15 steals on the season and continues to make more contact than he has before. He's just 25 years old, so there is reason to believe he will continue to make strides. In deeper formats, Joshua Kuroda-Grauer- SS, ATH (3% rostered) seems to be playing every day even with Tyler Soderstrom back off the IL and could play more if Zeck Gelof's knee injury causes him to miss time. The 23-year-old is an elite contact hitter with a 96% zone contact in Triple-A and a 98% mark so far in his MLB career. He will chase outside of the zone, but almost always at pitches he can hit. That's been a bit harder for him in the big leagues, but this is not a guy who hits the ball overly hard, so you don't need to worry about his power production. He hit .352 in 42 games at Triple-A and is 15-for-34 to begin his MLB career. He also stole 27 bases last year in the minors and had 15 in 75 minor league games this year, so perhaps he can be a batting average and steals asset.

Kyle Karros - 3B, COL (28% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, HOT STREAK)

We covered Karros a couple of weeks ago during "Rockies Week," but he probably deserves more love. Since June 1st, he's hitting .333/.433/.618 with five home runs, 24 runs scored, and 16 RBI. That has come with an 11% barrel rate and 50% hard-hit rate, so even though some of the power production could be aided by a lot of recent home games, Karros is making tons of hard contact. We also know that is approach at the plate is tremendous, so if there is going to be hard contact on top of that, he could be an interesting fantasy player. We know you've forgotten about Curtis Mead - 1B/2B/3B, WAS (22% rostered), but he remains a solid player. Even in his last 15 games, he's hitting .279/.333/.557 with four home runs, seven runs scored, eight RBI, and two steals. He plays pretty much every day for the Nationals and hits third in the lineup. We're not sure why he was dropped in so many leagues.

Nasim Nunez - 2B/SS, WAS (25% rostered)

(STOLEN BASE UPSIDE, HOT STREAK)

There may not be a better speed pick-up on the wire in many leagues right now. Since June 1st, Nunez is 3rd in baseball with 11 steals. However, instead of that being empty speed, he's also hitting .356/.420/.456 with 15 runs and 12 RBI in 30 games. Yes, this is mainly a speed play, but if he can even keep a .270 average, that's going to be incredibly valuable to your fantasy teams.

Garrett Mitchell - OF, MIL (22% rostered)

(POWER/SPEED UPSIDE, STREAKY PLAYER ON HOT STREAK)

We featured Mitchell a bunch earlier in the season, and he's back to putting up really solid numbers. Over his last 20 games, he has a .328/.397/.574 slash line with three home runs, 11 runs scored, and nine RBI. That's with an 18.6% barrel rate and a 53.5% hard-hit rate. The tools have always been loud, but the plate approach has been the question. Over this stretch, he has a 15.3% swinging strike rate, but his 29.7% chase rate and 82.2% zone contact rate are actually improvements from what we've seen before and are more in line with MLB averages. Perhaps he is improving his approach after all. Another streaky outfielder add could be Josh Lowe - OF, LAA (2% rostered), who has hit .316 with two home runs, 8 runs scored, 6 RBI, and 2 steals in 12 games since being back. That comes with a 48.3% hard-hit rate and 22.5% strikeout rate, but nearly 18% SwStr%, so, much like Mitchell, some contact and approach concerns may come back to bite him. However, as we've seen from Esmerlyn Valdez, who also has massive contact concerns, sometimes that approach can lead to a scorching hot few weeks.

Tommy Edman - 2B/3B/OF, LAD (21% rostered)

(BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE, GREAT LINEUP)

As we mentioned last week, you're probably not getting much speed from Edman anymore due to his myriad lower-body injuries. He had just nine steals in 134 games in 2024 and 2025 combined, and now has two steals in just three attempts in 19 games this season since being activated from the injured list. However, he is also hitting .351/.431/.491 in those games with nine RBI because he hits in the Dodgers' lineup. That's going to be production that helps if you need average and counting stats. Cole Young - 2B, SEA (13% rostered) was a player we highlighted earlier in the season and remain fans of. Over the last 15 games, he's hitting .250/.304/.519 with four home runs, nine runs scored, and seven RBI. The batting average over this stretch is not what we're used to, but he is starting to drive the ball a little more and get to the pull side more often (54% pull rate over this stretch). Like with Ewing, it's nice to see a young player adjusting and finding an approach that works for him, and we like that Young is finding more pitches he can drive out of the yard.

Jake Mangum- OF, PIT (14% rostered)

(NEW SPOT IN LINEUP, SPEED UPSIDE)

Over his last 20 games, Mangum is hitting .329/.376/.430 with one home run, 13 runs scored, six RBI, and five steals. Those five steals are tied for 13th in all of baseball over that stretch. When you factor in the runs he's also producing at the top of the lineup with Konnor Griffin hurt, Mangum is becoming a far more interesting fantasy pick-up. A prospect people forgot about because he didn't set the world on fire is JustinCrawford - OF, PHI (6% rostered), who has hit .350/.381/.433 over his last 20 games with eight runs scored, seven RBI, and three steals. It remains more of a profile that will help you in on-base percentage leagues, but he will also put up a solid batting average and should push 23-25 steals on the season. That might be more for five-OF leagues, but he has a skill set that can help.

Trevor Larnach - OF, MIN (7% rostered)

(HOT STRETCH, DAILY MOVES PICK-UP)

Larnach is a good option if you're in a daily moves league or a mid-week lineup change league since he won't play against lefties. He was also in Eric's most recent article about hitters who should see a power boost in the summer. In that article, Eric mentioned that, since May 20th, Larnach is hitting .310/.378/.481 with four home runs. He does have just a 7.6% barrel rate and a 38% hard-hit rate. While he’s not knocking the cover off of the ball, he has a 26.2% Pull Air rate, so he is getting the ball in the air to the pull side far more often than league average, which means he's likely deserving of better than an 8.5% HR/FB rate. He has seemingly shortened his swing and changed his bat path, which is giving him a little more lift and getting him to be a bit less oppo-focused. He has only played over 112 games once in his career, so we're not banking on this being a rest-of-season add, but it's working right now.

Sunday update: Larnach has hit lead-off for the Twins against 23 straight right-handed pitchers and is 3-for-7 with two doubles and a walk so their in series against the Angels. He is highly productive in a platoon role.

Lars Nootbaar - OF, STL (4% rostered)

(SOLID BATTING AVERAGE, RUNS UPSIDE)

Nootbaar also appeared in Eric's article on potential power surge, but in a spot of the article Eric reserved for players who need to pull the ball more to get to power. Nootbaar had the second-lowest Pull Air% of anybody on this list at 11.6%, but his blast per contact rate is an elite 19.8%, and he has a 10.1% barrel rate. Blasts are a Statcast metric that measures when a batter squares up a ball and does so at a high bat speed. According to Statcast research, blasts lead to a .563 batting average, 1.182 slugging percentage, and a +34 Run Value. Non-blasted batted balls average out to a .231 batting average, .295 slugging percentage, and -5 Run Value. So, pretty clearly, Blasts are usually balls that result in impactful contact, and it's worth noting that Nootbaar is making a ton of hard contact at high-end bat speeds. That could lead to some power boosts down the stretch. Tristan Peters - OF, CWS (7% rostered) is another low-rostered outfielder who has performed well this season. We admit that we were not (and potentially still are not) the biggest believers, but he is hitting .283/.333/.450 over his last 20 games with 13 runs scored and 10 RBI. He plays against all right-handed pitching and has just been a boring but solid piece for the White Sox.

Sunday update: Peters-mania hit a new high on Friday night when he hit for the cycle. His triple and home run came in the same inning as they poured it on against the Athletics and Peters was named to the All-Star team the following day. As a former Savannah Banana, his rise is one of the best stories in the league this season and should be given a more serious look while he's this red-hot.

Jacob Gonzalez - 1B/2B/SS, PIT (2% rostered)

(PLAYING TIME? POWER UPSIDE)

This was a turbulent week for Gonzalez. First, he was demoted back to Triple-A as Munetaka Murakami returned from the injured list to reclaim his spot at first base. Then, Gonzalez was traded to the Pirates on Friday night along with reliever Brandon Eisert for the 34th pick in Saturday's draft. Reports indicated that the Pirates went after Gonzalez to replace Konnor Griffin at shortstop in the short term. That was Gonzalez's primary position despite getting time at all four infield positions, but in two games since the trade Gonzalez hasn't started yet. Still, he did well to keep his head above water in his everyday stint with the White Sox and could provide some power in deeper leagues as a multi-eligible player. Keep an eye on how his playing time shakes out immediately after the break.

Michael Conforto - OF, CHC (1% rostered)

(STRONG SIDE PLATOON, POWER UPSIDE)

Conforto's playing time is ticking up a little bit since he starts against all righties, but he has just 42 plate appearances since June 19th, compared to 73 for Dansby Swanson, who plays every day and hits at the bottom of the lineup. That makes Conforto a better option for daily moves leagues, but he is hitting .308/.357/.641 in those 42 plate appearances with four home runs and nine RBI. We know that the ball flies out of Wrigley in the summer months, so this could be the time to scoop Confort. Another small sample size add could be Victor Bericoto - OF, SF (2% rostered) who has seen a decent chunk of playing time with Casey Schmitt sliding to third base while Matt Chapman is out. In 43 games at Triple-A this season, Bericoto hit .299/.355/.449 with six home runs, 32 runs scored, and 30 RBI. That came with a 50% hard-hit rate but also a 13% swinging strike rate. In his 59 MLB plate appearances, he has gone 17-for-58 (.293) with four home runs, nine RBI, one steal, and a 47% hard-hit rate. He has shown very little interest in taking a walk, but he has tremendous bat speed and has posted at least average zone contact rates in the minors, so it's a profile that can work.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Peter Lambert - SP, HOU (45% rostered)

Lambert has a good matchup this weekend against the Rangers and then won't pitch next week, so it's tough to add him in shallower formats now, but we just wanted to shout out that he's been a very solid starting pitching option for most of the season. To be honest, when we were intrigued by his first two starts in Houston back near the beginning of the season, we thought it would fizzle out pretty quickly. However, he has proven that he can elevate his four-seamer and then attack low with changeups to lefties and sweepers to righties. It works.

Sunday update: Lambert tossed another gem on Saturday, holding the Rangers to on run over six innings with seven strikeouts. He'll head into the All-Star break with a 3.14 ERA across 86 innings and has an arsenal that should keep him effective.

Cade Cavalli - SP, WAS (34% rostered)

Too much is being made about Cavalli's velocity "drop" in his last start. He was only down about 0.6 mph from his season average. It's just that his start before against the Red Sox had a 1.5 mph velocity spike, so the drop seemed larger. But he made a start on short notice and on short rest in the heat, so he could start before his suspension kicked in. We would ignore that performance. Eric recorded a video on him last week with more details about what we like.

Reynaldo López - SP/RP, ATL (32% rostered)

López has back-to-back starts where he's gone five innings, and he even threw over 80 pitches the last time out. No, we don't think he's going to replicate what he did for Atlanta when he was healthy in 2024, but he's a solid starting pitcher on a good team, and that's better than you can say for a lot of potential streamers out there on the waiver wire.

Sunday update: López took the loss against the Cardinals on Saturday and allowed four runs in five innings. His stuff looked good though and his fastball-slider combo should keep him effective. He also slightly increased his pitch count again, up from 80 to 85.

Yoendrys Gómez - RP, MIN (28% rostered)

We've had Gómez here a few times, and we know he only has five saves since June 12th, which doesn't feel like a lot, but it's actually tied for 12th in baseball with Raisel Iglesias, Riley O'Brien, and Mason Miller. On, and Gómez has a 2.61 ERA over that stretch. Yes, he doesn't strike people out, but he also doesn't walk guys, and so we'd rather a profile like Gómez's than somebody like Alex Lange, who has four saves over the same stretch but far bigger command issues.

Sunday update: make that six saves! Because Gómez notched the save for the Twins' on Saturday against the Angels.

Jared Jones - SP, PIT (27% rostered)

Last week we said we still believe in Jared Jones, and so that feels pretty good after his start on Wednesday. Before that start, we mentioned that his Location+ was actually above-average despite coming off Tommy John surgery, and his 14.5% K-BB% and 16% swinging strike rate showed that he is missing bats. We saw the good version of what that can lead to on Wednesday, andEric recorded a video with some more detailed thoughts on the performance and the fantasy implications of it.

Brandon Sproat - SP, MIL (22% rostered)

Sproat was featured in Eric’s article last week on starting pitchers to buy or sell as one of the better buy targets. Jake Bennett and Ian Seymour were also some options in that article who are no longer in the streaming category. After five straight games where Sproat hadn’t issued more than two walks, he had a rough command outing over the weekend in Arizona. Still, overall, Sproat is doing a better job of commanding his fastball up in the zone and his secondaries at the bottom for whiffs. His matchup this weekend against Pittsburgh is not ideal (they're a top 3 offense against RHP), but we think Sproat is worth a roster spot for his upside.

Sunday update: Sproat took a step backwards with a poor start on Saturday against the Pirates. It took him 83 pitches to only record nine outs and while he didn't give up much hard contact, his command was a bit of a mess and he struggled to put hitters away. We still like him as a second half breakout.

Grant Taylor - RP/SP, CWS (21% rostered)

It seems that Seranthony Dominguez's struggles have finally cost him the closer's role. Lately, the White Sox have been using a two-man committee of Taylor and Sean Newcomb. Newcomb has been used to face mainly left-handers or has been the leftover reliever when Taylor is used in high-leverage spots in the seventh or eighth inning, so Newcomb has more saves than Taylor of late, but Taylor is the arm we want. He has electric stuff and is finally getting the chance to pitch in more traditional save spots, so we'd add him now before a hot stretch comes.

Sunday update: Taylor was used in his fireman role on Saturday, entering the game with a runner on third base and one out in the eighth. He struck out Shea Langeliers, got out of that jam, and then stuck around for the ninth inning to complete the save. That's now three save opportunities in his last four appearances.

Robert Gasser - SP, MIL (20% rostered)

Despite being eviscerated for seven runs by the Pirates on Sunday, we like Gasser moving forward. He's been up and down for the Brewers over the last few weeks despite pitching well every time his number is called. On a mostly regular schedule since the beginning of June, Gasser had a 3.60 ERA, 23.2% strikeout rate, and 5.6% walk rate before Sunday's blowup. Now, he should maintain a rotation spot for the foreseeable future with elbow soreness landing Kyle Harrison on the injured list. He doesn't have over-powering stuff with a 92 mph fastball, but often locates it well and its shape helps it miss bats at the top of the zone. His sweeper is plus and is his primary pitch while he also leans on a sinker and cutter. It's a very Brewers profile and he should find success in the second half.

Tyler Wells - RP, BAL (17% rostered)

Ryan Helsley is out with another elbow injury and is going to get a second opinion, which is never something you want to hear. After that injury, Tyler Wells picked up the first two save chances, and he has pitched well as a reliever this season. He doesn't have a ton of strikeout upside, but as a former starter, he has a deep arsenal of pitches and his velocity has ticked up a bit in the bullpen. Andrew Kittredge also got a save on Thursday, and Felix Bautista should be back in late August, plus the Orioles are in last place in the AL East, so we wouldn't go crazy trying to figure out this bullpen.

Caleb Kilian - RP, SF (14% rostered)

Kilian is now the clear closer for the Giants and has the only saves on the team over the last three weeks. Of course, he also has a 9.53 ERA in 5 2/3 innings over that stretch, so that's not ideal. He doesn't miss a ton of bats, but he's probably the best reliever in this bullpen, so if you wanted to gamble, we guess he'd be the guy. . Clayton Beeter - RP, WAS (11% rostered) would be another low-rostered closer option. He has similar walk rate concerns to Kilian and an equally fine but not great 11.7% swinging strike rate. However, he pitches for a better team than Kilian and has allowed fewer hits on average this season. He still makes us nervous, but we can see taking the gamble.

Sunday update: Kilian had an ugly blown save on Friday night allowing three runs and not recording an out. Then, JT Brubaker nabbed the save for the Giants on Saturday. So, these roles may still be a bit turbulent.

AJ Smith-Shawver - SP, ATL (13% rostered)

If you're looking for a starting pitcher injury stash, it might be time to add Smith-Shawver. He is moving his rehab up to Triple-A this weekend and might be back in Atlanta in two weeks. The 23-year-old is an intriguing young arm, but he had a 3.86 ERA in 44.1 innings for the Braves last year with a 22% strikeout rate, so this isn't a high-end pitching prospect that you need to stash. Could he be a valuable arm for a good team? Yes, he could, but you don't need to drop a pitcher who is helping your team right now just to get Smith-Shawver on your squad.

Noah Schultz - SP, CWS (11% rostered)

We didn't love the Boston start because they're a much better offense against left-handed pitching, and some home runs really hurt Schultz in that one. Yes, he has had some issues with command throughout the season that make him hard to trust. But he has three fastball variations and a sweeper that should miss bats. It sometimes takes a while for pitchers to figure out how to get major league hitters out, but we think Schultz should have a better second half.

Jacob Webb - RP, CHC (8% rostered)

Cubs' closer Daniel Palencia is out with another arm injury, and the Cubs are trying to piece together something at the back end of their bullpen. While they will probably make a trade, both Webb and Trent Thornton - RP, CHC (1% rostered) have two saves over the last three weeks. Ryan Rolison has the other one, but also a 6.35 ERA in his last eight appearances. We think Webb is the better bet than Thornton, and he has more strikeout upside, but neither is a slam dunk. We'd see adding both of them if you were chasing saves, but don't expect some Bryan Baker type of breakout.

Sunday update: Thornton secured a one-out save for the Cubs on Saturday after Webb pitched a clean eighth inning against the heart of the Reds' order and Rolison ran into trouble in the ninth. Thornton and Webb seem like the players to roster here.

Zach Thornton - SP, NYM (6% rostered)

Thornton is back in the Mets' rotation and is through six scoreless innings on Sunday as of publishing this piece. He profiles as a crafty lefty without overpowering stuff, but has a really nice cutter that he leans on. Known as a bit of a command artisan, he can command that pitch beautifully on the edges of the plate and avoid hard contact. Putting hitters away will be another challenge, but he has a modicum of value as a back-end starter with a solid home park.

Patrick Sandoval - SP, BOS (5% rostered)

Sandoval made his first start in two years on Thursday and was far better than we expected. He sat 94.3 mph on his four-seam fastball and had an 88% strike rate on it. He then worked the slider and sinker off of it to lefties and the change and curve off of it to righties. The curve was a bit of a mess, but the changeup had a 22% swinging strike rate, and that has always been his bread and butter. If he can locate 94.5 mph well with a plus changeup, he'll be a solid streamer, but this is just a deep league add right now. He doesn't have any minor league options though, so he's up to stay, whether that's in Boston's rotation, their bullpen, or on another team.

Janson Junk - SP, MIA (4% rostered)

Junk came off the IL on Thursday and allowed one run on three hits in five innings against the Mariners. He somehow had five strikeouts with just five whiffs, but his four-seam fastball was 94 mph with 19.1 inches of iVB. Somehow he got zero whiffs on it because the locations weren't great, but we dug the raw stuff in this one. He's got a true six-pitch mix, and if that fastball is going to keep that kind of vert, he's going to be a solid streaming option going forward.

ALL-STAR WEEK RELIEVER ADDS

If you're playing in NFBC or other weekly waiver wire redraft leagues, you know that this upcoming week is only three games due to the All-Star break. That means many of the starting pitchers you might normally stream are not going to pitch at all. You can choose to hold them on your roster, or you can drop them and stream a middle reliever or a multi-inning reliever to get a steal a win or get a few innings of solid production. Some of the ones we'd target, who aren't listed above, are:

Keider Montero - SP/RP, DET (15% rostered)
Ryan Zeferjahn - RP, LAA (2% rostered)
Dylan Dodd - RP, ATL (0% rostered)
Brent Headrick - RP, NYY (3% rostered)
Garrett Whitlock - RP, BOS (20% rostered)
Andrew Morris - SP/RP, MIN (5% rostered)
Steven Okert - RP, HOU (4% rostered)

Colorado Rockies vs. San Francisco game discussion: Michael Lorenzen vs Trevor McDonald

Jul 7, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Michael Lorenzen (24) throws during the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

So at last it’s come to this: the final game of the first half for the Colorado Rockies before the All-Star Break. They’ll take on the San Francisco Giants with the goal of salvaging a series tie in the Bay Area.

At this time last year, the Rockies were 22-74. They were well on their way to over 100 losses and mired in what would be a historically bad and miserable season that would kick off a long-awaited rebuild. The Rockies’ lone All-Star was breakout catcher Hunter Goodman.

Now the Rockies enter their final game with a record of 39-58–still bad, but nowhere near the historic levels of last season. They’re scuttling along with multiple other teams in the league with bad records. Still bad, but just “regular” bad. “Competitive” bad. A foundation is being built and the offense has been greatly improved upon. The lone All-Star is Hunter Goodman, but we can confidently say there were some snubs.

Right-handed veteran Michael Lorenzen will be starting for the Rockies and looking to end the first half with another quality start. After struggling immensely for most of the season, Lorenzen has found his footing somewhat. In five of his last six starts he’s gone at least five innings, something he had done in just half of his first 14 starts of the year. During this stretch he’s given up more than two earned runs just once.

Lorenzen pitched a six inning quality start in a win against the Los Angeles Dodgers his last time out. He gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out five batters.

On the bump for the Giants is rookie righty Trevor McDonald. McDonald made four appearances across the 2024 and 2025 seasons, but this is the first year he has been called upon by the Giants to perform significant work. In 12 starts the 25-year-old has a 5.46 ERA and 50 strikeouts over 59.1 innings of work. In his last start, McDonald gave up eight runs on 11 hits to the Toronto Blue Jays without tallying a strikeout and lasting only 2.1 innings.

McDonald has faced the Rockies just once before, but had great success in that lone outing. He pitched a seven inning quality start while giving up three earned runs and striking out what is still a career high 10 batters.

This season McDonald has done well to avoid barrels and induce groundouts. His primary pitch is a sinker that averages 93.6 MPH, and he backs it up with a slider, a cutter, and a changeup.

First Pitch: 2:05 p.m. MDT

TV: Rockies.TV

Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM KOA Rockies Radio Network; KNRV 1150 AM (Spanish)

Giants SB Nation Site:McCovey Chronicles

Lineups:


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Pistons vs. Cavaliers: Ebuka Okorie looks to build off strong Summer League start

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Ebuka Okorie #23 of the Detroit Pistons looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2026 at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Detroit Pistons rookie Ebuka Okorie showed you just about everything you’d hope to see from him during his first Summer League game. Now, he looks to keep the momentum going in game two against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Okorie scored 20 points and had four assists in his first game as a member of the Pistons. He was able to showcase a reliable 3-point jumper (2-of-4) and his special mix of speed, body control, and spatial awareness to get by his defender and find lanes at the rim. While he still obviously has a long way to go, you could tell that even at the NBA level that burst, coordination, and intelligence is going to be a difference-maker. It needs to be, too, because it’s tough being an impactful guard when you’re only 6-foot-1 without shoes on.

Game Vitals

When: 4 p.m.
Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
Watch: Prime Video

Analysis

It’s a good thing Okorie showed up like he did because otherwise the Pistons lineup was pretty dreadful. Bigs were having trouble catching the ball, rebounding, defending, and finishing. The perimeter talent was mostly non-descript.

Isaac Jones, a Pistons two-way player, led the team with 22 points, and did at least do plenty of good things, but he also really struggled on defense. Second-year player Chaz Lanier, Detroit’s second-round pick last season, didn’t really show out like he needed to in a league where he should be far more advanced than the competition. As a catch-and-shoot guy, maybe his game isn’t conducive to taking over in Summer League, but at this stage, you can’t afford to be invisible. Lanier was largely invisible.

Roddy Gayle Jr., an undrafted rookie out of Michigan, mostly acquitted himself quite well, and Drake Allen, undrafted out of Utah State, showed himself to be an NBA (or at least G League)-level defender, if not NBA-level in other areas of the game. Otherwise, it was a bunch of forgettable guys delivering forgettable performances.

The Cavs were in their first Summer League game (a loss to the Pacers), with third-year player Nae-Quan Tomlin and rookie Meleek Thomas with 20 points apiece.

All I want to see tonight is an Okorie that is more aggressive in looking for his own shot and in creating his own offtense. It seemed clear he was looking to be more of a willing passer in Game 1, and it is important to show he can run an offense if he’s fighting to be a primary backup guard for the Pistons. But a lot of those passes went to bigs who could do nothing with them. It also meant the explosive Okorie, who averaged more than seven free throws per game in college, only got to the free-throw line one time. I want more of everything from Okorie, and a little less of everything else from Not Okorie.

Boston Celtics Daily Links 7/12/26

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 7: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on April 7, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

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Former Canucks Winger Taking On Elevated Role With Old WHL Team

Once upon a time, Sven Baertschi was thought of as a staple in the Vancouver Canucks’ top-six. After retiring from playing hockey after the 2022–23 season, however, the forward made his way into the coaching space. 

Earlier this week, it was announced that Baertschi had been elevated from his role as an assistant coach with the Portland Winterhawks, now serving as their associate coach for the 2026–27 season. 

Baertschi has been with the Winterhawks as a coach since the 2024–25 season, with this being his first formal coaching gig. The familiarity with the WHL organization extends past this, however, as he played two seasons worth of junior hockey with Portland back in 2010–11 and 2011–12. After putting up an impressive 85 points in 66 games in his rookie season with the Winterhawks, Baertschi recorded 94 points in only 47 games, following that up with a 34-point post-season run. 

After four seasons as part of the Calgary Flames organization, having been drafted 13th-overall by the Flames in 2011, Baertschi was traded to the Canucks for a second-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. This pick turned into now-Vegas Golden Knights defenceman Rasmus Andersson. 

Jan 20, 2019; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Sven Baertschi (47) skates against the Detroit Red Wings during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2019; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Sven Baertschi (47) skates against the Detroit Red Wings during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

The winger spent the better-half of seven seasons with the Canucks organization, scoring a career-high of 35 points in 2016–17, though injuries towards the back-half of his career ultimately ended with him and Vancouver parting ways. He spent one season with the Golden Knights organization before heading back to Switzerland and concluding his playing career. 

Players currently listed on the Winterhawks’ 2026–27 roster include defencemen Avery Laliberte and Stevie Grumley, as well as goaltender Ondrej Stebetak. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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A look back at the Mets’ representatives in past Futures Games

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Jenrry Mejia #58 of the New York Mets pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during their game on May 9, 2014 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The All-Star Futures Game is the newest of the All-Star week events*, as it is celebrating its 27th year** in 2026. Much like the All-Star Game itself, the moments in the games themselves are not nearly as important as the season/career that led to a selection to the team in the first place.

Since its inception, 40 Mets’ farmhands have been selected to play in the Futures Game, both in its original ‘USA vs the World’ format and the current American League/National League matchup. Let’s look at how those selections panned out for the Mets, in terms of the players developing into something special.

The footnotes

Jorge Toca (1999) and Grant Roberts (2000) each played for parts of a few seasons with the Mets, but never went anywhere and didn’t play for another big league club. You may remember backup catchers Kevin Plawecki (2014) and Tomás Nido (2017), both of whom were good, not great, backups for the Mets for a number of seasons. Royce Ring (2003) had some nice years pitching out of the Mets’ bullpen. Mike Vasil got claimed in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft by the Phillies. Jenry Mejia (2009) was done in by PED charges and suspended for life in 2016. Though he was eventually reinstated, his effectiveness was long-since sapped.

The trade chips

Alex Escobar ( 2000 and 2001) played 18 games for the Mets in 2001 before being part of the trade to Cleveland for Roberto Alomar ahead of the 2002 season. Jae Weong Seo (2001) was a decent starter for the Mets as they transitioned out of the Art Howe-era and was part of the trade that brought in Duaner Sánchez. Deolis Guerra (2007), Justin Huber (2002 and 2003) and Kevin Mulvey (2007) were part of the haul of prospects the Twins got for Johan Santana in 2008. Yusimero Petit (2004 and 2005) was part of the trade for Carlos Delgado ahead of the 2006 season. Matt Lindstrom (2006) was part of the Jason Vargas trade (the first, non-embarrassing, time Vargas was a Met)

Jefrey Marte (2011) went to the A’s for Opening Day hero Colin Cowgill, while Anthony Kay (2019) went to the Blue Jays as part of the Marcus Stroman deal. Dilson Herrera made the Futures Game as a Pirate in 2013 before being traded to the Mets along with Vic Black for John Buck and Marlon Byrd. Herrera then made the Futures Game as a Met in 2016 before being dealt to the Reds for two-time Met Jay Bruce. Both Amed Rosario (2016 and 2017) and Andrés Giménez (2018) had decent Mets careers going before being dealt to the Guardians for Francisco Lindor. Brandon Sproat (2024) was part of the swap for Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers, but don’t hold that against him.

The next big things that never were

Not all prospects work out, obviously, but some hurt more than others when their prospect status doesn’t accurately reflect their big league tenure for your club. Those names include Fernando Martinez (2007 and 2008), Lastings Milledge (2005), Rafael Montero (2013), Brett Baty (2021) and Mark Vientos (2022). While there still may be time for Baty and Vientos, only Montero thus far really took a step forward elsewhere after being a Futures Game selectee and having a disappointing Mets career.

The stars

Not all of these are necessarily superstars (though some are), but the Mets have had 11players in the 27 years of the Futures Game that could be unequivocally called successes as Mets: Pete Alonso (2018), Michael Conforto (2015), Jeurys Familia (2010), Wilmer Flores (2009 and 2012), Matt Harvey (2011), Brandon Nimmo (2013 and 2015), José Reyes (2022), Dominic Smith (2016), Noah Syndergaard (2013 and 2014), Zack Wheeler (2012) and David Wright (2004). Of all of those, only José Reyes has won the Larry Doby Award, aka the MVP of the Futures game (2002).

The unknowns

It is still too early to say how the careers of Francisco Alvarez (2021 and 2022), Jonah Tong (2025), Carson Benge (2025), and Ryan Clifford (2026) will be in the long run, but Alvarez and Benge are currently on the Mets’ MLB roster and doing well for themselves. Will Tong and Clifford join them in the next year or so? Let’s hope so.

* the draft is newer to All-Star Weekend, but is a much older event

** there was no Futures Game in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season

Jamie Arnold can't wait for the A's future. Triple-A Vegas is another story.

PHILADELPHIA — Don’t get Jamie Arnold wrong. He'd love to be promoted by the Athletics to Triple-A – if not the big leagues – this season. But Midland, Texas has never looked so beautiful.

Arnold, the A’s top pitching prospect who was drafted in the first round last season, paid particularly close attention to the A’s recent Las Vegas series against the Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies at their Triple-A ballpark in Summerlin, Nevada.

And like every other pitcher in the A’s organization, he cringed.

Six games. 102 runs – 55 runs given up by the A’s staff. 32 runs scored in one game. 20 home runs.

No A’s starter lasted longer than 5⅔ innings.

Yep, so pardon the A’s pitching prospects for not jumping up and down with a promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas. They'd prefer to go directly to the Triple-A ballpark in Sacramento, the one where they temporarily play their big-league games, and wait to pitch in Vegas for the first time in 2028 when their new ballpark opens on the Vegas Strip.

"I mean, I heard how the PCL is as a whole and how Vegas in general," Arnold told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday before the Futures Game. "But seeing the games there really solidified it for me. The ball flies. I mean, that’s not normal for the big leagues, 19-13, whatever, that was pretty crazy."

You had to be there to believe it with Brewers manager Pat Murphy still calling it the craziest environment he ever experienced in his college, minor league and major league career.

"It’s just a tough environment," A’s manager Mark Kotsay said after the six-game series ended in June. "There’s no other way to explain this. As a pitcher, you go out there and you compete. It’s not easy from a confidence standpoint when you’re on the mound and playing in these elements."

Well, the good news is that when the A’s move into their new Las Vegas home, the elevation is nearly 1,000 feet less on the Strip than in Summerlin, and there will be a baseball humidor, just like the ones used at Coors Field in Denver and at Chase Field in Arizona.

And when the A’s do make their move, they’re expected to have a much-improved pitching staff, with Arnold expected to be the centerpiece of a talented, young rotation. Arnold is 4-5 with a 4.15 ERA in his first professional season at Midland, striking out 85 batters with 38 walks in 80⅓ innings. Arnold pitched a scoreless inning in the Futures Game, with one walk and one strikeout.

"Right now, I’m just trying to get ready for the bigs and get hitters out," Arnold said. “Whether it’s in Double-A or Triple-A, it’s all the same thing. Just growing myself, and getting ready for the bigs."

And when Arnold arrives, the A’s could have an anchor in their rotation with hope to be a serious contender to win the AL West for the first time in a full season since 2013.

"That’s one of the most exciting things about the A’s," Arnold says, "knowing what they’re building and all of the pieces they’re adding. We’ve got a lot of young talent."

And even more talent coming with the selection of Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress as their No. 1 pick in Saturday’s MLB draft. Burress is the first player in the school’s history to hit 60 homers, setting school records in RBI (189), runs (232) and total bases (503), joining their young star-studded core led by All-Star first baseman Nick Kurtz.

"I faced him in college," Arnold said, "and I was nervous facing him. He’s really good. I played with him on the USA team two years ago, and it’s really awesome to have him. I mean, everyone else jumps quickly to the big leagues right now, and we’ve got a lot of young talent."

Jamie Arnold, the Athletics' first-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, walks onto the field before a game against the Mariners at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California on July 28, 2025.

Arnold, who watches the A’s games on TV at every opportunity, is so excited about the A’s future that he even went to Las Vegas on his own in January to get his own stadium tour, knowing that one day he’ll be pitching in their new digs and should be a vital cog to their return to the playoffs.

Arnold, who had never been to Philadelphia, might have gotten a glimpse of a future American League West pitching rivalry in the clubhouse, too, meeting Kade Anderson, the Seattle Mariners’ top prospect, for the first time Sunday. They faced one another in their first professional game this season and, for an afternoon, they were teammates.

"It’s pretty awesome to see what he’s doing," Arnold said. "I mean, here we're in the same draft a year ago. And now we’re at the Futures Game together."

And perhaps by the end of the year, or next, pitching against one another in the big leagues.

"We really haven’t talked about that," Anderson said, "but I think that’s kind of an outspoken thing. He’s a really good player. It’s been kind of cool to pick his brain a little bit.

"I’m sure we’ll be seeing plenty of each other."

Follow Bob Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jamie Arnold can't wait for the A's future. Triple-A Vegas is another story.