Jul 20, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) during batting practice prior to the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Juan Soto is headed to the 10-day IL with a left calf strain, the same injury that kept him out for three weeks earlier this season. Eric Wagaman has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse with the corresponding move.
Soto left Friday night’s game with calf soreness and was replaced at DH by Jorge Polanco, as the 2026 Mets season continues to depress. Soto, an irreplaceable presence in the Mets lineup, was the lone All-Star for the club this season. Rejuvenated in the field and carrying a 163 wRC+, Soto can’t seem to shake problems with his calf. The left fielder has 15 RBIs and an OPS of .760 in 23 games played in July.
Wagaman has appeared in 28 games for the Mets this season, registering a 68 wRC+. He has DH’d and played the corner outfield spots as well as the corner infield spots.
Soto’s absence will make it easier for the Mets to audition possible trade pieces like Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. as the trade deadline quickly approaches.
Aug 31, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; A general view of Fenway Park as workers prepare for a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Game #105.
After yesterday’s game, John said that Tyler Rogers wasn’t available for the game and that Louis Varland would only be used if there was a save situation.
It was nice to see them score more than one run. Today let’s shot for more than one run and a win. I know that is asking a lot, but that’s what I would like.
Though I’m ok with a loss if they put up an effort.
Beyond that, there isn’t much for news. Jesus Sanchez and Yimi Garcia are both starting rehab assignments. I’m thinking neither will be much longer than a week.
Jul 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) receives receives congratulations from teammates after he hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
The Tigers looked to make it three in a row at home against the Royals in a four-game weekend series. It was a tight game all throughout, not unlike Friday night’s game, but a couple of solo home runs late in the game spoiled a solid pitching performance as the Royals won 3-2 on Saturday afternoon.
Casey Mize made his sixteenth start for the Tigers; his last one was cut short after getting hit by line drive but he ended up being alright. He’s also continuing to experience groin tightness from time to time, and that is not an ailment about which I’d ever make a lewd joke. Mize’s won-loss record coming into today was 4-6 but he had a 2.79 ERA, an even-better 2.62 FIP (Fielding-Independent Pitching, what his ERA would be if the defence had been average behind him), and a sensational WHIP of 1.029. In conclusion, win-loss records ain’t worth a hill o’ beans.
The veteran Michael Wacha took the hill for the visitors. He’s been Mr. Reliable since 2022: in every season he’s had an ERA between 3 and 4, kept his HR/9 innings between 0.8 and 1.3, and WHIP between 1.11 and 1.22. If there’s a knock on him, it’s perhaps that he’s fairly durable but gets put on the shelf for a short spell every year. Good so far in ‘26, though.
Vinnie Pasquantino led off the second with a single, was bunted over to second, took third on a wild pitch, and trotted home on a long sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead. Early on, Mize wasn’t looking as sharp as one might hope; his fastball was topping out around 93 mph (4.2 cm/ms) and his command looked a little off. Wait… control? Command? I’ve seen that those are two different things, but I’ll be darned if I know the difference between ‘em.
Riley Greene turned on the first pitch of the bottom of the second and slammed a double off the left-centrefield wall, narrowly missing a home run. No matter; Hao-Yu Lee hit a line drive to right that was misplayed by Jac Caglianone, Lee ended up on second and Greene came home to tie the game.
(In that clip, there’s a guy in the crowd at the very end who’s wearing a boat captain’s hat and a sash that looks like it says “GROOM” on it. Best of luck to ya, bud!)
In the third Mize’s pitch speeds crept upwards, with his fastball reaching 95 mph (12.6 furlongs/min) at times, and he was also locating his pitches better. To wit, he ended the fourth with a perfectly-dotted 94-mph heater low and away to Nick Loftin who was, as Ernie Harwell might’ve observed, “Out for excessive window-shopping.” Maybe it just took him a couple of innings to fully warm up.
Lee kept on a-rollin’ in the bottom of the fourth, thwacking a high changeup into the left-field seats for a solo home run to put the Tigers up 2-1.
Mize’s day was done after six very solid innings: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K. He limited the hard contact and coaxed a whole lot of soft fly balls to left field from left-handed hitters. Even though he clearly isn’t at the top of his game, he figured out how to work with what he had and did a great job.
In the bottom of the sixth with one out Kerry Carpenter singled and Greene walked, bringing up Lee who grounded out to second, pushing the runners up to second and third with two outs. Alas, Zack McKinstry popped up harmlessly for the third out.
Kyle Finnegan took over for Mize to start the seventh, and on his second pitch Salvador Perez took the all-time lead in home runs as a Kansas City Royal with his 318th, passing George Brett on that list and tying the game at two. Let’s face it, Perez is gonna mash at least one home run per series against the Tigers, and there it was; merely a matter of time. After a single and a strikeout Finnegan was out and Tyler Holton was in, and a flyout and a groundout ensued.
Wacha carried on into the seventh, and he got the Tigers to go 1-2-3. There was some solid contact off Wacha all day but he managed to, for the most part, scatter it around enough to minimize the damage. The Tigers only struck out 5 times all game but they weren’t finding the outfield grass much either.
Holton carried on to the eighth, as he does so often, and gave up a single to Carter Jensen after a lineout. Jacob Waugespack took over and struck out Lane Thomas, but a wild pitch sent Jensen to second and a grounder booted by Gleber Torres allowed him to advance to third. But Waugespack coolly got Perez to bounce out and the game remained tied.
What wasn’t so cool was Loftin hitting an 0-2 up-and-in Waguespack fastball into the seats with one out in the ninth to put the Royals up 3-2.
So, it was up to the Tigers to get out of the one-run hole they’d dug, and Greene led off with a single on the second pitch to put the tying run on base. The Royals then called upon Old Friend™ Alex Lange to try to close things out; he hasn’t been that great, and he’s ditched the curveball that he used to use a lot with the Tigers. After striking out Lee, McKinstry singled to right and Greene advanced to third to put runners on the corners. But then Vierling tried a safety squeeze, failed to get a bunt down, and struck out, leaving things up to pinch-hitter Spencer Torkelson… who popped up to the catcher to end the game on the first pitch. That’s disappointing.
With his second-inning double, Hao-Yu Lee has now hit safely in ten straight games.
Coming into today’s game, Colt Keith’s July was going pretty well: 11-for-42 for a .262 batting average, but three of those hits were home runs, boosting his OPS to .800. That’s going to go up after today with his multi-hit game, of course.
Riley Greene had ten putouts in left field. That’s one short of tying the all-time record of 11, shared by four people including Tigers great Willie Horton.
On this day in 1837 the first commercially-viable electrical telegraph was demonstrated in England. The prefix “tele-” means “at a distance” (think telescope, television, telephone), and “graph” means “to draw.” So, telegraphs draw things far away; kinda makes sense. This has been Etymology Corner for today.
Jul 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Salvador Perez has resume most baseball players would envy – All-Star appearances, Gold Gloves, Silver Slugger Awards, and a World Series MVP. Now he can add one more accomplishment to his list – all-time Royals home run champ.
Salvy jumped on a hanging breaking ball from Kyle Finnegan and deposited it into the left field stands at Comerica Park in Detroit, the 318th home run of his career.
The nine-time All-Star is also just seven home runs away from passing Gary Carter and Lance Parrish for fifth-most home runs by a player who spent more than half his games behind the plate.
Here are some fun facts about his home runs:
His first career home run came on August 29, 2011 in Detroit against Max Scherzer.
He has hit 141 home runs at Kauffman Stadium – more than any other player.
The other top stadiums he has hit home runs in are Target Field (23), Guaranteed Rate Field (20), Comerica Park (17) and Progressive Field (12). Nationals Park is the only active stadium he has played a game in but not homered.
He has homered off Lucas Giolito and J.A. Happ the most, with five each.
He has homered off 14 Cy Young winners.
225 home runs have come off right-handers, 92 against lefties
He has 242 home runs as a catcher, 59 as DH, and 17 as a first baseman.
The sixth inning is the inning he has hit his most home runs – 51.
162 home runs have come with the bases empty. He has six career grand slams.
He has three career walk off home runs (September 15, 2012 vs. the Angels, September 14, 2018 vs. the Twins, April 17, 2021 vs. the Blue Jays)
From all of us at Royals Review, congratulations Salvador Perez, truly a Royals all-time great!
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 24: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals looks up at Geraldo Perdomo #2 of the Arizona Diamondbacks after sliding in safely to second base in the sixth inning at Nationals Park on July 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last night was not your usual Nationals game. The pitching gave them a chance to win, but the offense could not deliver. That led to a frustrating 3-2 loss. Now, the Nats will need to win this contest to give themselves a chance at a series win. With Foster Griffin on the mound, they will be all in on getting this curly W.
With another lefty on the mound, the lineup is not too different for the Nats. There are only a couple changes. Andres Chaparro moves to first, which slides James Wood to DH, making room for Daylen Lile. Keibert Ruiz will also be behind the plate in this one. He will be catching the Nats ace Foster Griffin, who might be making his last start for the team.
The D-Backs are making a couple tweaks at the bottom of their order. Old friend Ildemaro Vargas will start at first base. James McCann will be behind the dish, while Gabriel Moreno is the DH. Rookie Ryan Waldschmidt will make his first start of the series as well. Another rookie will be on the mound, with Mitch Bratt taking the ball.
Last night was a tough loss, but the series is still up for grabs. With Griffin on the mound, this feels like a game the Nats need to win. However, the offense will have to be better if they want to do that. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
When hundreds of Utah hockey fans traded their Vegas Golden Knights jerseys for Mammoth sweaters during last season's Stanley Cup Playoffs, many wondered what became of the pile of jerseys left behind.
Now, there's an answer—and it turned into something far more meaningful than simply being thrown into storage.
The jerseys collected during the Utah Mammoth's popular exchange event were donated to the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation, which then distributed them to nonprofits throughout the Las Vegas area, including HELP of Southern Nevada.
The nonprofit recently shared photos of youth and staff members wearing the donated jerseys while thanking everyone involved in giving them a second life.
"Those jerseys are being proudly worn by HELP youth and staff members, creating smiles and reminding us that sports have the power to bring communities together both on and off the ice."
HELP of Southern Nevada also expressed its appreciation to the Utah fans who surrendered their jerseys, the Mammoth organization for organizing the promotion, and the Golden Knights Foundation for ensuring the jerseys reached families and young people in the community.
"Your generosity is making a difference for local families and youth throughout Southern Nevada."
The jersey exchange took place before Game 3 of Utah's first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Golden Knights. Fans who brought in a Vegas jersey received a blank 2025-26 Mammoth home jersey at no cost, with hundred, according to The Salt Lake City Tribune, taking advantage of the promotion before the supply of replacement jerseys was exhausted.
What began as a lighthearted rivalry promotion ultimately produced a lasting impact, turning old Golden Knights jerseys into donations that continue to benefit families and youth across Southern Nevada.
And now other sports are beginning to follow suit. Earlier this month, NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar hosted an event where offered free T-shirts repping his No. 77 team to the first 77 fans who brought in shirts that supported active drivers for a free trade-in at his merch trailer.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 19: Robbie Ray #38 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on July 19, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s time for game two between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Angels, arguably the two worst teams in baseball. Yay! What fun!
Robbie Ray takes the mound for the Giants, in what is almost certainly either his last or penultimate start with the Giants. Ray is 8-6 on the year, with a 3.33 ERA, a 4.60 FIP, and 96 strikeouts against 54 walks in 110.2 innings. He gave up three runs (one earned) in four innings against the Seattle Mariners his last time out.
For the Angels, it’s righty Ryan Johnson, a 23-year old rookie. In 10 games this year, he’s 2-4 with a 6.10 ERA, a 6.26 FIP, and 30 strikeouts to 16 walks in 38.1 innings. He gave up just one run in five innings against the Detroit Tigers in his last game.
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 14: PJ Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks helps up Daniel Gafford #21 of the Dallas Mavericks during the game against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 14, 2024 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Before making the incredibly sensible and reasonable trade to send Luka Dončić to the Lakers, the Mavs have pieced together a formidable roster that made the Finals.
For LA, there would be sound rationale, then, to potentially pick off some of the players that had success in Dallas with Luka and bring them to California. However, the front office looks to be set on building things out their own way.
Reports about a hesitancy to bring in PJ Washington have already existed and, during a recent show on Bleacher Report, Jake Fischer reiterated the Lakers’ lack of interest in both Washington as well as center Daniel Gafford.
“I know Lakers fans want to keep drawing a line to a trade with Dallas for either PJ Washington or Gafford because of their success with Luka Dončić. I really don’t have any inclination that the Lakers have had trade talks about either of those guys of real consequence this offseason.”
However you feel about Washington’s fit on the Lakers, the team clearly feels his contract, which runs through the 2029-30 season, is not worth trading for. On paper, he fills a need for the team, but that deal is guaranteed longer than anyone currently on the Lakers’ roster, including Luka, Austin Reaves or Walker Kessler.
Gafford, meanwhile, is a player who made more sense prior to the team acquiring Kessler. Gafford’s injury woes in recent seasons limit how much he can be counted upon. He also has a contract guaranteed through 2028-29 and is set to make over $18 million per season in the final two years of the deal.
The Lakers have more pressing issues, as well, than the center position. While the center depth isn’t great, trading the limited assets they have for Gafford might not make the most sense.
For now, the Lakers aren’t revisiting a trade with Dallas. But if the hole remains at the forward position or the team’s depth at center becomes an issue, it wouldn’t be a shock to see them linked to the Mavericks down the road again.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 19: Sonny Gray #54 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on July 19, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s the most beautiful day of the summer and we’ve got ourselves a bona fide pitcher’s duel that will start in the late afternoon and carry us into the gloaming.
Sonny Gray, whose 2.48 ERA would be fifth in baseball if he had enough innings to qualify, will take the bump in the top of the first to try to notch two-in-a-row for the hottest team in baseball. In the bottom of the first it’ll be Dylan Cease, who will likely end the night as the American League strikeout leader.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 24: Luis Rengifo #21 of the San Diego Padres reacts after hitting a home run against the Miami Marlins in the eighth inning of the game at loanDepot park on July 24, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Diego Padres (51-53) at Miami Marlins (52-52), July 24, 2026, 1:10 p.m. PST
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Mets star Juan Soto's MRI results Saturday showed a Grade 2 left calf strain and the team placed him on the 10-day injured list.
In a corresponding move, New York recalled Eric Wagaman from Triple-A Syracuse.
Interim manager Andy Green said Saturday more people both in-house and outside of the team are looking at the MRI to determine a timeline for Soto's return. He added that it will take Soto longer to return this time than it did during his first calf injury (a right calf strain) earlier in April.
"Anticipation right now is it's going to take longer than last time; he was out about three weeks last time, so it's a little more significant than last time," Green said. "It's not what we were hoping for... We'll be without him for a period of time now."
Green was asked if Soto may not play again this year due to the expected recovery period, but said they "would not characterize it that way at this point in time."
Soto left Friday's 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth inning with left calf soreness, getting pinch-hit for by Jorge Polanco. He walked twice in his two at-bats and ran the bases without any noticeable issues.
After the loss, Green expressed some "concern" about the injury that limited Soto to DH duties most of the week. He also did not play in the series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers so he could try to have "48 hours to get the calf thing completely behind him" with the team's off day on Thursday. When asked Saturday if there's anything the team could have done differently with the injury, Green mentioned how Soto wanted to try to continue playing.
"Someone like him wants to be on the baseball field, he wants to play," Green said. "And the desire to be on the field is why he's so special in what he does. So this last week we gave him at-bats, we gave him rest at times when we felt were appropriate, and then yesterday he couldn't get over the hump. Is it possible we could've looked back and thought we could have moved a bit quicker on this? Given where we're at today, yes.
"I don't know if that ultimately changes the situation we're in right now. I respect somebody who's trying to get on the field and play through things."
Overall across 84 games this season, the All-Star is hitting .283 with a .947 OPS and has 21 home runs, 52 RBI, and 63 walks.
Salvador Perez will likely join George Brett in baseball's Hall of Fame after his playing days are done. And now he's surpassed him in one of the most significant statistical categories in Kansas City Royals history.
Perez hit his 318th home run Saturday, July 25 at Comerica Park in Detroit, dislodging Brett atop the Royals' all-time home run list, a spot he'd held for 40 years.
Perez's home run off Tigers pitcher Kyle Finnegan was his 15th this season, the 11th consecutive full season that Perez, a nine-time All-Star, reached that plateau. Perez debuted with the Royals in 2011 and has signed multiple contract extensions to remain a Royal.
He'd already joined Brett in another revered circle, leading the Royals to the 2015 World Series championship, 30 years after Brett hit a career-high 30 homers and finished second in AL MVP voting to lead Kansas City to its first title.
The Royals' home run list is a testament to the style of play the franchise developed in spacious Kauffman Stadium. Brett set the franchise record in 1986 with his 194th home run, topping Amos Otis, who was far better known as a basestealer in his 17-year career.
Longtime first baseman Mike Sweeney ranks No. 3 on the list with 197 homers, while Alex Gordon – like Otis, better known for speed and defense – is fifth with 190.
Perez hit a career-high 48 home runs in 2021, leading the majors in longballs and RBIs, with 121. He produced another 30-homer, 100-RBI season in 2025, his age-35 season. Perez, who has largely ceded catching duties to Carter Jensen, is eligible for free agency after this season. He's hit 242 of his home runs as a catcher.
DETROIT, MI - JULY 10: Pitcher Tim Mayza #37 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after being charged with a balk that scored James Outman of the Detroit Tigers during the sixth inning at Comerica Park on July 10, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This week, I asked you what the Phillies were going to end up acquiring at the trade deadline by way of a poll. Here are the results:
Maybe this is all of us thinking the bare minimum will be a reliever, but there seems to be a pretty good split amongst people about what the Phillies will end up doing. What we can kind of say is that the general consensus is that there will be multiple players brought into the organization once the dust has settled.
There seems to be a large swath of players that have been linked to the team right now. Anywhere from one year rentals to players that are on huge contracts that would require teams to help pay down the remaining salary to players with team control that would help the Phillies beyond 2026. With the CBA ending soon and negotiations already contentious, adding long term money without a clear picture of what will be allowed in the future as far as spending is probably not something the team is terribly interested in.
Who knows though, maybe that’s a way to get the opposing team to ask for a little less in a trade.
Injuries forced Spencer Jones into a much larger role last season in Denver, he started 37 games for them. However, most fans may best remember him as the guy who dropped 20 in Game 5 against the Timberwolves in April, keeping the Nuggets' season alive another game.
20 points on 78% shooting for Spencer Jones in Game 5 of the first round,
Oklahoma City was impressed enough with all of it to sign the restricted free agent to a two-year, $12 million offer sheet, a story first reported by Michael Scotto of Hoopshype and confirmed by other reports. Both years of this offer sheet are fully guaranteed.
Denver now has 48 hours to match. That might seem like a no-brainer for the Nuggets, who have struggled with depth issues — you keep a 6'7" wing who is a strong on-ball defender and shot 39.6% from 3-point range last season. Except, because the Nuggets are in the repeater tax (and still have to work out a deal with their other restricted free agent, Peyton Watson), bringing back Spencer on even this reasonable a deal hits the bottom line hard.
Denver still should match this, but if they don't, we know why.
If Denver lets Jones walk, the Thunder will be hard-capped at the second apron and be about $842,000 below that number (with a full roster of 15 guaranteed contracts), as noted by Keith Smith of Spotrac. The Thunder are only able to offer this deal — for the taxpayer mid-level exception — because they were far enough under the second apron to do it after the Lu Dort trade.
The next chapter of Andrew Agozzino’s hockey career won’t take place on the ice.
Just days after announcing his retirement from professional hockey, the former Colorado Avalanche forward is staying with the Utah Mammoth organization, this time behind the bench. Utah announced Saturday that Agozzino has been named an assistant coach for the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners, allowing the longtime minor-league standout to transition directly into coaching.
Agozzino spent the past two seasons serving as an alternate captain in Tucson, where he totaled 82 points (39 goals, 43 assists) and 78 penalty minutes in 111 games. His leadership and experience made him a respected voice inside the Roadrunners’ locker room, qualities the organization will now lean on in a coaching role.
Although his NHL opportunities were limited, Agozzino appeared in two games with the Mammoth during the 2025-26 season, adding to a career that spanned eight NHL campaigns with Utah, the San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators, Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Avalanche.
The 5-foot-10, 187-pound forward finished his NHL career with 12 points (three goals, nine assists) and four penalty minutes across 53 games.
Agozzino’s greatest impact, however, came in the American Hockey League. A three-time AHL All-Star, he compiled an impressive 662 points on 284 goals and 378 assists while appearing in 847 career games over 15 seasons. His consistency and offensive production made him one of the league’s most recognizable veterans before ultimately deciding to hang up his skates.
Now, instead of leading from the ice, Agozzino will help develop the next generation of players from behind the bench as he begins the coaching phase of his hockey career.
We wish Agozzino success in his new role and given his history in the AHL, it would be appear on the surface that he’s the right man for the job.
