Kansas City Royals slugger Jac Caglianone is the latest to commit to participating in the Home Run Derby on Monday in Philadelphia.
The 23-year-old Caglianone joins Ben Rice from the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero in the competition. The other five participants have not yet been announced.
Five Kansas City players have previously participated in the event: Bo Jackson (1989), Danny Tartabull (1991), Mike Moustakas (2017), Salvador Perez (2021) and Bobby Witt Jr. (2024). None have come away with the title.
Witt was the runner-up in 2024 when he hit 50 home runs in total. He hit 13 HRs in the final round, one shy of Teoscar Hernandez’s 14.
In his first full season with the Royals, Caglianone is hitting .258/.322/.455 (77-for-299) with a team-high 14 home runs and 33 RBIs in 85 games. His 14 home runs have averaged 418 feet in length, which is tied for the best average in the majors this season.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 06: Ryan Conwell #7 of the Miami Heat looks on in the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on July 06, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s taken a little under three weeks for former Louisville guard Ryan Conwell to endear himself to Miami Heat fans both on and iff the court.
On the court, Conwell was Miami’s clear standout during its three games at the California Classic Summer League. Conwell led the team in scoring at 21.0 ppg, while also adding 5.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists per contest.
On a team in need of exactly the type of niche player that Conwell can be at the next level, it certainly appears that Conwell has a very good shot at not just making the Heat’s opening night roster but cracking the team’s rotation.
You can count former NBA standout turned podcaster Jeff Teague among Conwell’s believers.
Jeff Teague says Ryan Conwell is making summer league look easy:
“He’s actually killing though. The fact he got 26… I ain’t gonna lie, Ryan you out there killing boy! You ain’t ever scored on me like that. He’s making it look easy.”
Off the court, Conwell also has received praise for the way he has handled the Heat adding superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, a player who expressed a desire to wear Conwell’s No. 7 for Mimi.
“Giannis, I mean, he get whatever he wants,” Conwell said on Tuesday. “I’m just now coming into the league. I got a lot of work to do and I’m trying to get to where he’s at. So whatever number Giannis wants, he can have it. And I’m going to take whatever number the team gives me.”
He was an easy guy to root for here, and he’ll be an easy guy to root for at the next level.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 13: Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred announces Dax Kirby as the thirty-eighth overall pick by the New York Yankees during the 2025 MLB Draft presented by Nike at Coca-Cola Roxy on Sunday, July 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
We are now just a few days out from the start of the 2026 MLB Draft. Both here at Pinstripe Alley and around the media, you’ll fine plenty of analysis and mock drafts projecting who the Yankees and the rest of the teams will be selecting, and how those players could pan out in the future.
This is not that. Instead, we’re going to be taking a look at the history of the 35th, 63rd, and 99th overall picks, the Yankees’ first three available slots in 2026 (due to some tax and free-agent signing penalties), and looking back at who have managed to make something from those slots over the years. Those three picks aren’t going to have the hype or pedigree that come with an early selection, but it’s definitely still possible to get some talent from those picks. Let’s see what history can tell us.
Pick 35
The best player to ever come out of the 35th pick wasn’t selected by the Yankees, but does have a history in the Bronx: Johnny Damon. The Royals took him 35th overall in 1992, and he went on to an 18-year MLB career. The most notable of which, of course, came with the Yankees and Red Sox, helping each franchise to a World Series title.
Another “Hall of Very Good-er” was taken at this spot, with four-time All-Star pitcher Mark Langston going there in 1981. Super center fielder Aaron Rowand also went there, as seven 35th picks overall have had career rWARs over five. One of those is the most notable recent 35th pick: Brent Rooker. The A’s DH and outfielder is already done for 2026 following knee surgery, but has been a very productive hitter in recent years, swatting 99 homers between 2023-25.
The Yankees only ever selection at 35 came back in 1969. They selected New Jersey high school pitcher Peter Helt, but didn’t come to an agreement to sign him. At least according to this Facebook post, he went on to play college baseball at Michigan (where he was a captain), but didn’t get drafted after that and never played minor-league ball.
Pick 63
The team’s next pick will come at 63rd overall. That spot has produced a no-doubt Hall of Famer, as the Orioles took slugger Eddie Murray there back in 1973. The O’s inked him to a deal and “Steady Eddie” went on to hit 504 home runs, over 300 of which came with Baltimore.
If the early career hype can keep going, it’s certainly possible another star could come out of No. 63. That’s where the Brewers took their flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski in 2022 out of a little known JuCo, Crowder College. There’s obviously still a long way to go in his career, but “The Miz” definitely has Hall of Fame potential at his peak.
Darren Oliver, Jason Kipnis, Zane Smith, and former Yankee Elliott Maddox all had 15+ rWAR career after going 63rd. (However, Maddox didn’t sign that year and ended up getting re-drafted two years later.)
The Yankees have had this exact pick twice, both in the 2000s. They took Jason Arnold in 2001 and J.B. Cox in 2005, but neither ended up reaching the major leagues.
Pick 99
The team’s last top 100 pick will come at 99th overall. There are no elected Baseball Hall of Famers from this spot, but there’s someone who arguably should be, as the Tigers picked Lou Whitaker there in 1975. Whitaker had a productive 19-year career in Detroit, winning the 1984 World Series, and eventually getting his No. 1 retired by the team. It took his longtime double-play partner Alan Trammell a long time to get to Cooperstown, but Whitaker has never gotten remotely close. He only garnered 2.9 percent when he appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2000, but further reexamination of his career with more modern metrics make him look much more favorable, as he was a stud both at the plate and in the field.
There are not a ton of success stories in recent years from the 99th overall pick. Reliever/opener pioneer Ryne Stanek is probably the most recognizable name to come out of this slot in the last 20 years.
Over the years, the Yankees have had the 99th pick on three occasions. They took outfielder Steve Madden there in 1980, but didn’t come to terms with him. In 2004, they selected pitcher Christian Garcia. He never made the majors with the Yankees, eventually getting released in 2010. Garcia did end up having a brief MLB career with the Nationals. Most recently, the team picked Trevor Hauver 99th in the COVID-shortened 2020 draft. The Yankees later used him as part of the Joey Gallo trade with the Rangers. Hauver is still in Texas’ organization, but hasn’t made the big league level as of yet.
As said before, the 99th pick hasn’t produced any Baseball Hall of Famers, but there’s a reason I specified “Baseball.” In 1979, football legend Dan Marino was taken by the Royals out of Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh. He probably made the right choice in attending Pitt and later going to the Dolphins in the NFL.
For a bonus, here’s a quick rundown of some famous picks from the Yankees’ other spots this year (focusing on anyone who actually signed), if not only to offer a reminder that gems and contributors can be found anywhere:
127th: Starter Marty Pattin (1965), reliever Mike Timlin (1987), infielder Dee Strange-Gordon (2008)
160th: Reliever Hunter Gaddis (2019)
189th: Infielder Casey Blake (1996)
218th: Utilityman Mark McLemore (1982) and outfielder Will Venable (2005)
248th: Infielder Ben Oglivie (1968) and reliever Scott Eyre (1991)
278th: Relievers Scott Williamson (1997) and Tony Watson (2007)
338th: Infielder Dan Uggla (2001) and catcher John Jaso (2003)
428th: Outfielder Kenny Lofton (1988)
458th: Outfielders Mike Cameron (1991) and Jermaine Dye (1993)
So, there’s the history of the Yankees’ first few picks in this year’s draft. Hopefully, they can take some players who can rewrite the history of those numbers in the coming years.
After the Boston Celtics won the title in 2024, you couldn't blame fans — or Jayson Tatum — for envisioning a few more to follow. This was a well built team with two elite perimeter players in the form of Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics were primed to go after banner 19.
Instead, just more than two years later, the roster is barely recognizable from the one that won that ring. The last dagger was Boston’s surprising trade of Brown to division rival Philadelphia for a way-too-small package built around Paul George and draft picks.
"To be honest, weird. It's weird... You play on a team with a guy for nine years. I was fortunate enough to go to the finals with him twice, and win a championship, and push each other to be the players that we are today...
"It's tough. But it just makes you appreciate the moments and time that we had. Obviously, it came to an abrupt ending, but it doesn't mean that it wasn't super successful. Great years, obviously, that he gave to the city and to the organization."
Celtics boss Brad Stevens was clear when speaking about the trade this week, he did not consult Tatum in making the deal.
Stevens’ reasoning for the trade was that, in the salary cap apron era, having two supermax players (Tatum and Brown) eating up a combined 70% of the salary cap meant the team couldn't build out a championship roster. He pointed to recent champions built around one star, such as the Knicks being built around Brunson.
That also only worked because Brunson willingly took far below the max. Good luck finding another star willing to do that. It's going to take some very creative team-building to win in the luxury-tax apron era, and Stevens believed he was getting ahead of the curve with this trade.
However, in the short term, the Celtics got worse, and that's going to be hard on Tatum.
The New York Islanders' summer business has churned to a halt, as most teams start to breathe for a few months.
The Islanders, as expected, did not undergo any major surgery. They did lose longtime captain and franchise stalwart Anders Lee to free agency, where Lee signed with the Utah Mammoth.
The #Isles are making #NHL history by becoming the first team to let fans design an official jersey.
One fan's creation will become the club's 2027-28 Third Jersey.
The Islanders signed Matias Maccelli to a one-year, $2.25 million deal. Depth one-year signings in Matthew Kessel ($850,000) and Vitek Vanecek ($1 million) made up the rest of New York's business on July 1.
With all the dust settled, the Islanders currently have a team cap hit of $101,002,083 million. The new cap ceiling sits at $104,000,000, meaning the Islanders have $2,997,917 in cap space remaining.
However, that cap number is based on the Islanders carrying three goalies and 20 skaters, with Vanecek on the books.
In reality, Vanecek likely begins in Hamilton, with his entire hit getting buried.
That one change gives the Islanders just under $4 million in cap space.
With that type of money, they have plenty of room if they choose to offer a one-year deal to any of the remaining free agents.
If they make no other changes, the Islanders could carry one of Isaiah George ($913k cap hit), Victor Eklund ($974k cap hit), Mitchell Chaffee ($850k cap hit), or Liam Foudy ($850k cap hit).
That gives additional wiggle room, even if only in a small amount.
The Islanders can save that space for Matthew Schaefer's likely $3.5 million in bonuses for 2026-27.
Next summer, the Islanders will begin with over $40 million in cap space before any trades or extensions for Simon Holmstrom and Emil Heineman.
The entire setup for this summer is about flexibility, and that's exactly what the Islanders have.
The Cubs (51-40) and the Orioles (42-50) continue their three-game series Wednesday night at Camden Yards with Chicago looking to win their third in a row following last night’s 5-2 win to open this series.
Chicago won 5-2 last night thanks in large part to six shutout innings from Matthew Boyd. The lefthander gave up just three hits and struck out seven to earn his fourth win of the season. Alex Bregman, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Dansby Swanson drove in runs for the Cubs. Baltimore managed just six hits in the game in total and didn't get on the scoreboard until the seventh inning, when Adley Rutschman delivered a two-run single. Cubs’ catcher Miguel Amaya scored three runs, while Bregman drove in two. With the win, the Cubs remain in second in the NL Central but are still a full seven games behind the Brewers. The loss dropped the O’s into the cellar in the AL East.
Tonight's pitching matchup features Colin Rea (6-5, 4.74 ERA) for the Cubs against Dean Kremer (1-1, 3.18 ERA) for the Orioles. Rea’s most recent start came on July 1 against the Padres. In a 23-3 win, Rea allowed six hits and two runs over five innings. This will be Kremer’s second start since returning from injury earlier this month. In his first start since April, Kremer limited the White Sox to four hits and one run over six innings on July 1.
Despite a myriad of injuries to its pitching staff, the Cubs sit atop the Wild Card standings. The Orioles’ season continues to take on water. They sit 4.5 games back of the final wild card spot.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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The Latest Odds: Cubs vs. Orioles
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Chicago Cubs (+105), Baltimore Orioles (-126)
Spread: Cubs +1.5 (-191), Orioles -1.5 (+157)
Total: 10.0 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers and their Stats: Cubs vs. Orioles for July 8
Cubs: Colin Rea Season Totals: 89.1 IP, 6-5, 4.74 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 68K, 34 BB
Orioles: Dean Kremer Season Totals: 17.0 IP, 1-1, 3.18 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 20K, 3 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Cubs vs. Orioles
Pete Crow-Armstrong has hit safely in 7 consecutive games (11-24)
Alex Bregman is 3-9 with a couple of doubles in his last 2 games
Dansby Swanson is 11-26 over his last 7 games
Pete Alonso has hit safely in 3 of his last 4 games (5-15)
Adley Rutschman has hit safely in 5 straight games (7-22)
Samuel Basallo is 6-19 over his last 7 games
Michael Conforto is 3-4 including 1 HR in his career against Dean Kremer
Jackson Holliday has struck out in 4 of his 5 ABs against Colin Rea
Gunnar Henderson is 2-5 in his career against Rea
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Top Betting Trends & Insights: Cubs vs. Orioles
The Cubs are 38-53 on the Run Line this season
The Orioles are 45-47 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 50 times in Baltimore’s 92 games this season (50-39-3)
The OVER has cashed 49 times in Chicago’s 91 games this season (49-41-1)
Expert picks & predictions: Cubs vs. Orioles
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Orioles and the Cubs:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Orioles on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 10.0
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With two days to go until a final resolution, the Philadelphia Flyers officially have the last remaining active offer sheet in the NHL with Leo Carlsson.
On Wednesday, ahead of their 5 p.m. deadline, the Utah Mammoth matched the one-year, $4.775 million offer sheet tendered to forward Barrett Hayton by the New Jersey Devils, setting some precedent for the Flyers and Anaheim Ducks.
Hayton, 26, is eligible to sign a contract extension on Jan. 1, but cannot be traded for one calendar year, and like Carlsson, there is little logic being followed by the matching team.
Hayton played bottom-six minutes for Utah last year and agreed to sign with the Devils by taking them up on the offer sheet, so by matching, the Mammoth pass up on a second-round pick for a player who tried to leave, won't play significant minutes, and could leave for nothing as an unrestricted free agent this time next year.
The Ducks have until 5 p.m. Friday to match the Flyers' eye-watering five-year, $90 million ($18 million AAV) offer sheet for Carlsson, and if they don't, they will receive four first-round picks from the Flyers.
Like Hayton, Carlsson provisionally agreed to leave his team, and the Flyers can offer Carlsson much more from a hockey perspective than the Ducks as currently constructed.
And should the Ducks match the Flyers' Carlsson offer sheet, they will have to do major roster surgery to become cap-compliant, with an already terrible defense, a shallow forward group, and a number of veteran forwards with prohibitive no-trade lists that greatly limit the potential suitors they'll have on the trade block.
But, with Hayton, the Mammoth, and the Devils all square without much fanfare, all eyes around the NHL now turn to the Flyers and Ducks.
The Flyers have entered uncharted territory with their bold move, and the final outcome, one way or another, will send shockwaves through the NHL in short order.
The Phillies (51-41) won the series opener versus Cincinnati (41-49), 4-1. The Reds as a team struck out 18 times with three walks and five hits, while the Phillies had eight hits, including Kyle Schwarber's MLB-leading 31st home run.
Chase Burns makes his final start before the All-Star break with the Reds. Burns has been spectacular in the first half of the year with a 10-1 record, 2.40 ERA, and 116 strikeouts to 31 walks. The Reds have won five straight games and nine out of the past 10 when Burns is on the mound. Overall, the Reds' bats are going cold during a 3-7 stretch over the last 10 games.
Philadelphia has started July with a 3-3 record behind some rocky pitching performances, excluding yesterday's of course. After losing 15-1 to the Royals on Monday, the Phillies bounced back with a much-needed win. The Phillies have a 5.88 ERA in that six-game span (23rd) and opponents are hitting .306 (29th), while boasting the most strikeouts (71).
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Phillies at Reds
Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Site: Great American Ball Park
City: Cincinnati, OH
Network/Streaming: ESPN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Phillies at the Reds
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
Moneyline: Cincinnati Reds (-143), Philadelphia Phillies (+119)
Spread: Phillies +1.5 (-175), Reds -1.5 (+144)
Total: 9.0
Probable starting pitchers for Phillies at Reds
Wednesday’s pitching matchup (July 8): Chase Burns vs. TBA
The Phillies’ Brandon Marsh is hitting .305 with 98 hits, 15 home runs and 46 RBI over 321 at-bats
The Phillies’ JT Realmuto is hitting .200 with 43 hits and 50 strikeouts over 215 at-bats
The Reds’ Elly De La Cruz is hitting .270 with 76 hits, 13 home runs, and 41 RBI over 282 at-bats
The Reds’ Matt McLain is hitting .190 with 51 hits and 83 strikeouts over 268 at-bats
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Phillies at Reds
The Reds are 47-43 ATS
The Phillies are an MLB-worst 35-57 ATS
The Reds are 51-38-1 to the Over, ranking fifth-best
The Phillies are 48-39-5 to the Under, ranking fourth-best
The Reds are 21-24 ATS at home
The Phillies are an MLB-worst 18-28 ATS on the road
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Reds and the Phillies
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Reds and the Phillies:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Reds on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Reds at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 9.0
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FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 12, 2026: Skylar King #29 of the Boston Red Sox looks on prior to a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at Lee Health Sports Complex on March 12, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Worcester and Portland were both victims of rain-outs on Tuesday night, but there was still good baseball being played from the farm. Let’s get into it.
Outside of Ronny Hernandez going 3-for-3 with a home run and Yoelin Cespedes hitting his 15th long ball of 2026, the Grasshoppers (Braves High-A) didn’t really allow too much offensive contact from Greenville, but when you have a start like the one Jojo Ingrassia had, you don’t need too much help (though it’s always nice to reach that six-run mark.) Ingrassia, the lefty from Cal State Fullerton who turns 24 this month, was absolutely dealing; he had a perfect game going through five innings and only ended his night from giving a home run up that scored the first two baserunners he allowed. Still, retiring 17 of your first 17 is nothing to sneeze at. He struck out ten and between him and Griffin Kilander, only one Greensboro runner even reached scoring position all night.
Salem was certainly aided on Tuesday by a six-run eighth inning to put this one on ice, but a big factor in this big win against the Fireflies was their nine hits with runners in scoring position. The team had 21 total on the night, and five batters had at least three hits, but none were as important as the 4-for-6 line leadoff hitter Skylar King amassed over the night, starting with a home run that you can watch below with the very first at-bat of the game. By the next inning, the 2025 15th round draft pick had his triple hitting into the gap in right field. The rest was history. It’s even sweeter that this cycle came in King’s hometown of Columbia, South Carolina. Although King is hitting just .231 even with these four hits, he definitely has power potential.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 7: Henri Veesaar #13 of the Atlanta Hawks is pressured by Lawson Lovering # 34 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half of their 2026 NBA Salt Lake City Summer League game at the Jon M Huntsman Center on July 7, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. ( Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images) | Getty Images
The second round of Summer League games ended Tuesday night with the completion of the Utah Summer League. Like the California Summer League, the Utah Summer League had a limited number of teams that got some extra reps in before all 30 NBA teams head to Las Vegas for the main event and conclusion of Summer League play. However, unlike the California Summer League, the Utah Summer League only had four teams and only one Tar Heel was represented. So without further ado, here is a look at that one player, a guy a lot of North Carolina fans were hoping might still be wearing Carolina blue this upcoming season instead of the uniform he will be donning instead.
Henri Veesaar, Atlanta Hawks
Veesaar, playing in his first Summer League as second round pick of the Hawks, played in all three games during the Utah Summer league and even started his third game. The former UNC center had an auspicious start in his first two games combing to score just seven points while shooting 3 for 8 from the field and just 1 of 4 from downtown while also grabbing 10 boards across the two contests.
Veesaar finally looked like a rotation player in his third game, the one he started, scoring 11 points and grabbing five rebounds in 23 minutes of action. Veesaar hit 2 of 5 from three-point range and also had four assists, a block, and a steal. Veesaar also had four turnovers but it was a promising sign for the rookie big man as he will look to improve on those numbers in Las Vegas and become an important part of an Atlanta Hawks rotation in desperate need of some quality size after getting exposed by the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs.
The Devils made the one-year, $4.775 million offer sheet to Hayton on July 1 after the Mammoth had announced it had traded for Vincent Trocheck and signed Anders Lee to a three-year deal with a $5.4 million cap hit. If Utah hadn't matched, the Devils would have given the Mammoth a second-round pick.
The Mammoth have $4.5 million left in cap space after the move. The only complication with matching is Utah can't trade Hayton for a year, and that takes him to unrestricted free agency.
But Utah indicated Hayton is a key part of its plans.
"Barrett is a key piece of our team and important to what we are building here in Utah," Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong said in a statement. "He’s strong in the faceoff circle, plays both sides of the puck and can play with anyone in our forward group. We are grateful to be able to count on Barrett in our lineup next season."
Here's more to know about the Mammoth matching the offer sheet:
"I’m fired up to get back with my teammates and remain in Utah,” he said in a statement released by the team. “I’ve been with this core group for my whole career and it’s exciting that we have an opportunity to do some special things next season in front of the best fans in the NHL."
Barrett Hayton statistics
The 2018 No. 5 overall pick had 25 points in 67 games last season, but had a career-best 20 goals, 26 assists and 46 points in 2024-25. That includes a hat trick on Feb. 22, 2025.
All told, he has 65 goals and 155 points in 358 career games with Utah and the Arizona Coyotes.
With the offer sheet matched, the Devils could still look for a depth center via the trade route. Seattle Kraken center Shane Wright, whose numbers the last two seasons are similar to Hayton's, is reportedly available in a trade.
What's up with the Leo Carlsson offer sheet?
The Anaheim Ducks have two days left to match the Philadelphia Flyers' five-year, $90 million offer sheet to Leo Carlsson that makes him the league's top-paid player. The Ducks would receive four first-round picks from the Flyers if they don't match.
Since the offer sheet, the Ducks have re-signed defensemen Pavel Mintyukov and Tyson Hinds, leaving them with $9 million in cap space if they match. That won't be enough to re-sign Cutter Gauthier long-term unless they move out a player or two.
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When does the 2026-27 NHL season begin?
The schedule for the 2026-27 NHL season will be released on July 16, with the opening day games announced on the 15th. The season typically begins in early October.
NHL key dates 2026-27
July 15: Opening day schedule announced
July 16: Full NHL schedule announced
July 20: Arbitration hearings begin
September: Training camps open
October: 2026-27 NHL season begins
December 18-20: 2026 NHL Global Series Germany (Blackhawks vs. Senators in Dusseldorf)
February 6: NHL All-Star Game at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.
The San Diego Padres are -140 favorites to take the series lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night.
I think the home team is overpriced, and my Diamondbacks vs. Padres predictions and MLB picks reflect that on July 8.
Who will win Diamondbacks vs Padres today: Diamondbacks moneyline (+120)
Michael King’s profile is littered with red flags. His 5.08 xERA and 5.14 FIP are noticeably higher than his 3.81 ERA over the last month, indicating he is poised to take a step back.
The Arizona Diamondbacks haven’t hit righties well of late but they’ve avoided strikeouts, ranking 25th in K% over the last two weeks. That should allow them to put the ball in play consistently.
The San Diego Padresrank dead last in GB% vs. righties the past 30 days, putting a cap on their offensive ceiling.
Diamondbacks vs Padres Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-115)
For King’s faults, he does a good job of keeping the ball in the park. He has allowed 0.88 homers per nine innings this season, and playing in a pitcher-friendly environment against a team sitting dead last in homers per fly ball will make his life easier.
The Padres have improved their averages of late but they are still consistently putting the ball in the dirt, limiting their power.
Neither team is much of a homer threat, and it’s difficult to score in bulk without quick-strike attacks.
Bet the Under to -125.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 53-42, +1.85 units
Over/Under bets: 51-41-4, +6.49 units
Diamondbacks vs Padres weather
Temperatures in the low 70s are projected with winds blowing east. Pitcher-friendly conditions for this time of year.
Diamondbacks vs Padres odds
Moneyline: Arizona +125 | San Diego -145
Run line: Arizona +1.5 (-165) | San Diego -1.5 (+140)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-105) | Under 8.5 (-115)
Diamondbacks vs Padres trend
Arizona has hit the Game Total Under in 29 of the last 45 games (+14.85 units, 30% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Diamondbacks vs. Padres.
How to watch Diamondbacks vs Padres and game info
Location
Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Date
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
First pitch
10:10 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Jose Cabrera (0-1, 4.73 ERA)
Padres starting pitcher
Michael King (5-7, 3.52 ERA)
Diamondbacks vs Padres latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Los Angeles Dodgers (-228) host the Colorado Rockies in a series-deciding Game 3.
My Rockies vs. Dodgers predictions and MLB picks expect some offense given the weather and starting pitching matchup between Gabriel Hughes and Roki Sasaki.
Who will win Rockies vs Dodgers today: Rockies moneyline (+206)
I can't lay the juice with Roki Sasaki, who's allowed 19 earned runs in his last four starts (1.88 WHIP and 8.82 FIP).
The Colorado Rockies have the better numbers at the dish in the last 14 days (134 wRC+ and .390 wOBA), as the Los Angeles Dodgers have been struggling (99 wRC+ and .317 wOBA).
Since L.A. has been held down by ineffective starters like JP Sears and Michael Lorenzen lately, it's not a bad time for Gabriel Hughes (2.94 FIP in the Minors) to make his first MLB start. Play this to +200.
COVERS INTEL: The Rockies are poised for success against Roki Sasaki's three-pitch arsenal as they have strong numbers against four-seamers (sixth in runs above average), splitters (ninth), and sliders (11th).
Rockies vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (-118)
With temperatures in the high-70s and the wind blowing out to center field at 8 mph at the time of first pitch, runs should come in bunches.
Sasaki's allows a wealth of hard contact (fourth percentile barrel rate, ninth percentile hard-hit rate). He's walked 11 batters in his last four starts alone, and Colorado (9.6% walk rate against RHP in the last 14 days) will be happy to take the free passes.
L.A.'s bullpen has an unsavory 1.48 WHIP (24th) in the last 14 days, while Colorado has a 4.39 SIERA (24th).
JD Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 26-25, -2.9 units
Over/Under bets: 35-17, +17.2 units
Rockies vs Dodgers weather
Rockies vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Rockies +223 | Dodgers -228
Run line: Rockies +1.5 (+108) | Dodgers -1.5 (-115)
Over/Under: Over 9.5 (-115) | Under 9.5 (-103)
Rockies vs Dodgers trend
The Dodgers have cashed the Over in nine of Roki Sasaki's last 12 starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Rockies vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Rockies vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
First pitch
10:10 p.m. ET
TV
Rockies.TV, SportsNet LA
Rockies starting pitcher
Ryan Feltner (3-2, 4.27 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Roki Sasaki (3-5, 5.40 ERA)
Rockies vs Dodgers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 21: Jac Caglianone #14 of the Kansas City Royals hits a home run in the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Kauffman Stadium on June 21, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s just what it says on the tin.
Jac Caglianone just announced on MLB Network that he’ll be doing the Home Run Derby!
Junior Caminero and Ben Rice are the only other confirmed names so far, with Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber lurking. pic.twitter.com/o7O5N6YY6u
— Baseball Is Dead (@baseballisdead_) July 8, 2026
While Jac Caglianone is not (currently) an All-Star, though there’s still a remote chance he could be selected as an alternate for a player who is injured or opts out between now and then, but he will still be participating in the Home Run Derby.
Caglianone is tied for 19th in the American League with 14 home runs, but as noted in the above clip, he is tied for the longest average home run distance this year in a minimum of 10 blasts. The Royals also provided a bevy of home run-related trivia for Jac in their press release this morning:
Caglianone, 23, will be the sixth Royal to participate in the Home Run Derby, following Bo Jackson(1989), Danny Tartabull (1991), Mike Moustakas (2017), Salvador Perez (2021) and Bobby Witt Jr.(2024). No Royal has won the Home Run Derby but Witt Jr. was the runner-up in 2024, when he hit 50 home runs in total, including 13 in the final round, 1 shy of Teoscar Hernández’s 14.
He hit 6 home runs in a span of 5 games from June 18-23, including a 2-HR game on June 21 vs. St. Louis and another 2-HR game two days later on June 23 at Tampa Bay.
Among American League players age 23 or younger, his 14 home runs rank tied for 3rd, trailing only Junior Caminero(26) and Nick Kurtz (20).
Caglianone participated in the 2024 Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby. During his collegiate career at the University of Florida, he set the school’s single-season home run record (35) and the career record (75). He homered in 9 consecutive games from April 6-19, 2024, matching the NCAA Division I record.
Only Junior Caminero, Nick Kurtz, and Kody Clemens have hit more home runs in the AL since the beginning of June. Caglianone joins the Yankees’ Ben Rice and the Rays’ Caminero in the field of competitors, but we’re still waiting to see who the other five will be. Kyle Schwarber has indicated he will participate if his back feels alright, but that’s still to be determined.
If Jac could become the first-ever Royals’ Home Run Derby Champion, he would also be awarded this sick Home Run Derby Victory Chain.
I’d love to be able to get a replica during next season after Jac hammers his competition. I hope you’re all looking forward to Monday night on Netflix at 8 PM EDT/7 PM CDT. I know what I’ll be doing!
Before we cast our stones for me writing up a $1.61 priced prop, let us all take a moment to appreciate how cheap this is for one of baseball's premier hitters to simply do the floor.
Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber enters today with an elite rating on Batters-Box, while also carrying nearly 70% arsenal coverage against Cincinnati Reds right-hander Chase Burns. Across 262 elite ratings dating back to the last three seasons, Schwarber records at least one hit 61.07% of the time.
Over his last 60 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, Schwarber is batting .320 with a .560 SLG, .977 OPS, and a hard-hit rate north of 74%.
Meanwhile, Burns has struggled against left-handed hitters in his recent outings. Over his last 60 left-handed batters faced, he is allowing a 70.4% elevation rate, a 10.8% barrel rate, and an expected slugging percentage of .501.
At home against lefties this season, Burns is allowing them to elevate the baseball nearly 72% of the time. We just need a base knock, but I would not go much further than this -161 price.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ESPN
Bryce Harper Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (-116)
Another mispriced prop in my book is Bryce Harper Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI, currently priced at -116.
This season, when Harper has received an elite rating on Batters-Box, he's gone Over this prop 73% of the time. Sure, the sample size is only 15 games, but over the last three seasons, he has gone Over 1.5 HRR in 55% of his 191 opportunities.
On top of that, Harper owns a 95% arsenal coverage rating against Burns' entire pitch mix. He has been locked in against right-handed pitching as of late, batting .320 with a .400 OBP, .607 SLG and .957 OPS over his last 60 plate appearances against right-handed pitching. During that stretch, he's also producing a 61.5% hard-hit rate and a 12.8% barrel rate.
We already know how much trouble Burns has had against left-handed bats in his recent outings. I think both Harper and Schwarber are in excellent spots this evening. Take this up to -120.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ESPN
Dillon Dingler Over 1.5 total bases (-102)
One of my favorite looks on the day is Detroit Tigers slugger Dillon Dingler to go over his bases prop this evening.
The Tigers catcher has been seeing the ball extremely well over the last few weeks, posting a .510 SLG and .827 OPS while generating a 54% hard hit rate and 71.8% elevation rate against the last 60 left-handed pitchers he has faced.
Dingler also owns an elite rating on Batters-Box today, where he has an 85% arsenal coverage against Athletics left hander Jeffrey Springs' pitch mix.
Springs has struggled in his most recent outings, especially against right-handed bats. The last 60 righties he has faced are elevating the baseball at nearly an 80% clip. Yes, nearly 80%!
Those hitters are also posting a .358 xBA, .781 xSLG and .372 xwOBA, while generating a 16.3% barrel rate during that span. Getting this near even money is well worth the squeeze. I would play this down to -110 at the most.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: DSN, NBCS-California
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 277-520, -16.4 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
COVERS INTEL:
Kyle Schwarber
Dillon Gingler