It was the timing that surprised fans: Charlotte had gone 33-16 from Jan.1 through the end of the season, with the top-ranked offense and fifth-ranked defense in the NBA in that stretch — the Hornets were fun and good. They won 44 games, the most in a decade. So why break things up? Why trade All-Star point guard and fan favorite LaMelo Ball to Minnesota rather than build on that finish?
Jeff Peterson, the Hornets' president of basketball operations, explained his thinking to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. As a reminder, Peterson and the Hornets got a haul in that trade: Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps and three second-round picks.
"These decisions are challenging at times, but when you look at the totality of the season and everything of where we were, it's important to take an honest look in the mirror of where you guys are as a team. And that's what I had to do at the end of the season. And it just felt like the goal is never to compete for a play-in spot. The goal isn't to get to the play-in or even the playoffs for one year.
"I've said it plenty of times since I've been here in Charlotte: The goal is to get to the playoffs and stay there for a long time. And eventually contend to compete for championships. Getting Naz Reid when you can get a player of his caliber. And of course, the draft capital and the flexibility just felt like it was something that was able to achieve multiple goals in one transaction."
After years of watching the team struggle, Hornets fans were rightfully excited about how the season ended. Peterson saw a bigger picture: There were a lot of inflated records at the end of last season due to all the tanking teams, and in the play-in his team needed overtime to beat an uninspiring Miami squad, then got run out of the building in the last play-in game by the Magic (who were shorthanded and lost in the first round of the playoffs). Was Charlotte really that good?
We had Charlotte as a winner in this trade. Peterson sold high on Ball and is restructuring a team around Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller, with Reid now at the four. They also have Coby White at the point and Moussa Diabate at the five. It's a good team with a lot of shooting and spacing, and now a lot more flexibility to build around them.
The Hornets likely take a small step back on the court this season — the East is a lot deeper and better — but, in Peterson's view, they are better positioned to build something sustainable and long-term. It's a big bet, but if he nails the picks and other moves, this will be looked back on as a turning point for the franchise.
There was logic to the move, even if some fans didn't like it.
While last year was a “shortstop” draft, 2026 went hard for hitters, particularly outfielders (eight of the first 20 picks, and every pick from No. 5-9). Just three pitchers went in the Top 20, and just one arm (Jackson Flora, Giants, No. 4) before pick 18.
All of the first nine position player prospects this year (through pick No. 14) are shortstops. Getting deeper into the round, 12 of 21 picks were shortstops, still almost exclusively among position players.
On Day 2, the White Sox finally got their “first overall pick” vibe that shoulda/woulda been theirs in any other past draft, and at No. 106 did not quite take the top remaining talent on the board.
Note, all picks with breakout stories on site are linked below. Picks on Sunday (Rounds 5-20) who fall outside of MLB’s Top 250 without a truly distinguishing trait won’t have individual stories published on site, but merely will show up here on our tracker.
Day 2: Sunday, July 12 (Rounds 5-20) 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. CT Rounds 5-20 (MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+)
White Sox picks First Round (No. 1) Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA Cholowsky was the consensus No. 1 pick pretty much since the end of last year’s draft, with an MLB-ready bat and glove. We could see him in Chicago as soon as September.
We’ll drop this into our draft signing tracker (up soon) as well, but Roch has passed his physical and signed for an all-time draft record of $10,350,000 (yes, that’s almost exactly 47% of the White Sox bonus pool — but less than the $11,350,600 slot).
Competitive Balance Round A (via Pirates) (No. 34) Landon Thome, 2B/3B, Nazareth Academy (Ill.) The White Sox telegraphed this pick with last night’s trade, as Thome was falling right around this slot in predraft rankings and the club did not want to gamble on him falling to their second-round pick (No. 41). Thome is likely to shift off of his prep spot, shortstop, as his hitting and speed are more advanced than his glove. Thome will quickly join Nazareth teammate Jaden Fauske, taken by the Sox in the second round a year ago, in Low-A Kannapolis.
Second Round (No. 41) Cole Prosek, 2B, Magnolia Heights (Miss.) H.S. Prosek was ranked as the No. 27 talent in the draft, meaning that the White Sox snagged a first-round talent about a dozen picks lower than they should have. He and Thome both might take a bit of an over-slot offer to sign, but the White Sox have oodles of bonus money to wave their way. Prosek is another bat-first talent who can hold his own defensively, and the 18-year-old (turns 19 in three days) packs a wrinkle into his game — he just started playing catcher this past season.
Third Round (No. 77) Joey Volchko, RHSP, University of Georgia The White Sox opt for an arm four picks in, grabbing this electric righty from Georgia. He’s a definite project, however, with some concerning contradictions: his mid-90s fastball (that can run up to 101 mph) has little movement and thereby is hittable, while his breaking stuff (splitter/change and curve) cannot be thrown for strikes. His upside remains a No. 2 or 3 starter, and the downside … not getting out of A-ball.
Fourth Round (No. 105) Eric Segura, RHP, Oregon State University Segura is the first pick of the draft where the White Sox moved on a player ranked lower on the MLB draft board, as this righty was ranked just 196th by MLB Pipeline. Beyond this possibly being a cost-cutting pick to push some extra money at other selections, Segura seems to always outkick his coverage. He bulled his way into the Beavers rotation as a freshman hurler, and after a year in the pen ran with a rotation opportunity once more, improving his control and putting up a 2.22 ERA that was one of the 10 best in Division I.
Fifth Round (No. 137) Cal Scolari, RHP, University of Oregon Scolari has significant injury history — TJS wiped out his high school senior and college freshman seasons — but brings a powerful fastball (running up to 98 mph) to the system. His background screams reliever, but his solid mechanics and pitch mix put Scolari in the running for rotation work when the time comes for his pro debut.
Sixth Round (No. 166) Alex Weingartner, OF, St. Augustine Prep (N.J.) H.S. Weingartner was a pitcher/shortstop as a prep, but the White Sox are drafting him to man the outfield, with an arm for right and the speed for center. He’s so fast, he broke a 60-yard dash record at a showcase this past offseason. There are questions regarding his ability to catch up to higher velocity in the pros, so the White Sox will be working on shortening Weingartner’s swing.
Seventh Round (No. 195) Clay Burdette, RF, Xavier University Burdette has the raw tools of a first-day drafted player, but falls to Day 2 (and ranked just No. 248 by MLB) due to his swing-and-miss and selectivity issues. Evaluators see Burdette’s 50 Ks in 51 games in a baseball-soft conference like the Big East as a red flag. But otherwise, Burdette’s skills are off the charts, with 60 speed and some of the best exit velocities in all of Division I.
Eighth Round (No. 225) Jayson Jones, 3B, Wichita State University It took eight rounds for the White Sox to pick a player outside of MLB’s Top 250, and that reason is easily explainable: transience, and contact issues. Jones has played at three schools in four college years, never fully realizing his preposterous raw power. He’s a value pick with amazing upside given his strong arm and raw power. Jim Callis on the MLB draft broadcast recalled Jones winning a high school home run derby at Coors Field and tabbed his raw power (hyperbolically?) as “at least 70 grade.”
Ninth Round (No. 255) Luke Craytor, RHRP, Virginia Tech University After a mediocre career running to its very end in his 2026 senior season, Craytor came through in the clutch, seeing high-leverage time for the Hokies and jumping from like UDFA to a ninth round pick. He went 4-0 with two saves and a solid 3.16 ERA as a senior. His fastball can run up to 98 mph, although that velocity ticked down as he got deeper into his 25 2/3-inning season. But analysts love Craytor’s spin on both his slider and cutter, so he seems an ideal candidate for perfecting in the pitching lab.
10th Round (No. 285) Matthew Bucciero, OF, Farifield University Bucciero is another four-year senior and value pick for the White Sox. He was the MAC Player of the Year, leading the conference with 20 homers and a .688 slugging percentage
The pool the White Sox will have to sign their first 10 picks is $20,489,500.
11th Round (No. 315) Kyle Casteel, RHSP, Butler (Pa.) H.S. Casteel is an absolute steal for the White Sox, a third-fourth round talent (ranked No. 162 by MLB) secured in the 11th thanks to smarts and persistence. At 6´4´´, the 18-year-old has the size to add even more oomph to his mid-90s fastball (think Tanner McDougal, perhaps). He’s absolutely a starter at this point, with a strong slider as his secondary pitch and on the road to adding a solid change. Casteel might be the best pick of the entire draft for the White Sox, and for a team with the 1-1 that’s saying something.
12th Round (No. 345) Braden Holcomb, OF, Vanderbilt University Holcomb is another great talent given his draft slot, the No. 226 talent in the draft according to MLB. He’s an absolute thumper, with 30-homer potential. However, there is some swing-and-miss built into his game that will have to be stitched up for him to get there. Plus, he has five-position (OF, corner IF) experience but has yet to find his spot on the field to thrive.
13th Round (No. 375) Grayson Fitzwater, 1B, Virginia Military Institute And in order to help afford the two picks above, we have a fourth-year senior value pick here, a bat-first thumper. Fitzwater plays in a baseball backwater but stands as VMI’s all-time leader in several categories, including homers, total bases and RBIs. He was the Southern Conference’s preseason Player of the Year, was its Player of the Week twice, and finished 2026 in the Top 25 in the country in homers (21) and slugging percentage (.753).
14th Round (No. 405) Isaac Yeager, RHRP, Oregon State University Yeager is a massive hulk of a pitcher, running 6´6´´, 255, yet a savvy enough one to have his own web site touting his draftability (shout-out isaacyeager.com)! As a fourth-year senior, it would have been unsurprising to see Yeager picked up to seven rounds earlier, given his absolute lockdown 2026: 2.04 ERA, 39 2/3 innings over 25 games, 0.908 WHIP. The White Sox have landed another sleeper, and their draft keeps getting better and better.
15th Round (No. 435) Cameron Johnson, LHSP, University of Oklahoma Johnson was the 250th talent in the draft, yet the White Sox were able to get him at No. 435. Again, the White Sox strike for big talent late, something they have done rarely over the years. Johnson was a member of the 2026 national champion Sooners, but his wildness kept him mostly on the outside looking in. His big arm can hit 99 mph on the gun, but he’s a bigtime project for the pitching lab.
16th Round (No. 465) Darin Horn, RHRP, Coastal Carolina University Just two picks after taking a late-game ace in Isaac Yeager, the White Sox strike again with Horn, a closer for the Chanticleers. Horn picked up seven saves in 31 games in 2026, with a 3.21 ERA. However, with that ERA and an outstanding 3.88 Ks per walk, Horn’s WHIP lags a bit at 1.262, possibly indicating hitters can see him pretty well. Thankfully, he minimizes damage (just four homers in 67 1/3 innings), and will get right in to the closer mix in the org.
17th Round (No. 495) Crew McChesney, OF, Brigham Young University Not quite sure what to make of the Name of the Draft for the White Sox. McChesney was a center fielder for the Cougars but didn’t steal bases. He also seemingly sold out for power in a push for draft position — but that sellout resulted in just three more homers (from five to eight) and triples (zero to three) but gutted his plate discipline (12 walks, 51 Ks). Crew’s slugging percentage did rise prodigiously (.445 to .584), but the White Sox are likely going to have to find a way to unlock eight-homer power without blinding McChesney’s batting eye.
18th Round (No. 525) Jackson Bergman, RHSP, University of Indiana The White Sox may be ending the draft on a puzzling note, as this one is another puzzler. Bergman is a fourth-year senior, so he probably wasn’t going to be drafted too much higher than the 18th Round, but being sidelined for all but three games in 2026 with an elbow injury didn’t help. Bergman’s prior stats seem to warrant UDFA status at best, so perhaps Bergman is this year’s Gotta Getta Indiana Playa.
19th Round (No. 555) Jake Berkland, SS, Minnesota State University-Mankato Northern Sun Conference monster Berkland is a mini-mite (5´9´´, 155) with a mighty bat (in two seasons with the Mavericks, he’s slugged .526 with a .999 OPS). Several years back the White Sox drafted Nick Altermatt out of Minnesota, a two-way player with massive offensive numbers — and he’s a short reliever in the system now. So past metal-bat dominance in Minny is no indication of future mashing in the White Sox system.
20th Round (No. 585) Connor Fennell, RHSP, Vanderbilt University The best draft in recent memory for the White Sox ends on an intriguing note, and perhaps with one more over-slot signing. As a starter in 2o24 and 2026, Fennell wasn’t too special for the Commodores, but his season spent as a swingman in 2025 was extraordinary (6-0, 2.53 ERA, 53 1/3 innings and a 0.825 WHIP). He’s got a nice strikeout tendency (10.7 per nine in his college career) and is extremely stingy with walks (5.73 K/BB). The White Sox may feel they have the key to unlocking his success as a starter, or want to plug him in as a stopper or closer.
Sadly, Fennell is now looking like a longshot pick and long shot to sign; scouting director Mike Shirley admits that the White Sox simply drafted Fennell as insurance in case another pick fell through (money or health). If the first 20 players sign as the White Sox now project, there will be no money left over to ink Fennell.
That’s it for the draft! Stay tuned for our podcasts and recaps of the draft, as well our our draft signing tracker.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Koa Peat #18 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on July 10, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The first game from the summer league Suns was a sloppy but exciting game highlighted by the offseason development of Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming. Can those two, plus Koa Peat, continue to build our excitement for the long-term future of Planet Orange?
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Chris Cenac Jr. #12 of the Boston Celtics celebrates scoring the game tying shoots a three point basket during the game against the Toronto Raptors on July 10, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston Celtics (1-0) vs Charlotte Hornets (1-1) Sunday, July 12, 2026 5:00 PM ET Summer League Game #2 TV: NBCSB, ESPN2 Cox Pavilion
The Hornets are the defending Summer League champs. Their first game in Summer League was against the Orlando Magic who eliminated them in a Play In game this season. They beat the Magic 86-74 in that game. They played a second game on Saturday against the New Orleans Pelicans, which they lost 95-91. The Celtics had a day off while the Hornets are playing in back to back games.
Even though their #4 draft pick from last season, Kon Knueppel, isn’t playing in this year’s Summer League, they still have plenty of experience on their team. They have 5 players with 1 year of experience. They have 1 player, Tidjane Salaun, with 2 years experience. And, they have i player, Terrell Brown, Jr, who has 4 years experience in the G-League. They also have 8 Rookies listed. The Celtics have 13 rookies listed with 2 players with 1 year NBA experience and 1 player, Alondes Williams, with 3 years experience with Brooklyn, Miami, Detroit and Washington.
The Celtics are coached by Amile Jefferson. Jefferson was named Director of Player Development for the Duke Blue Devils in 2021. He was promoted to assistant coach at Duke for the 2022-23 season. In 2023, Jefferson became an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics under head coach Joe Mazzulla. Jefferson played with Jayson Tatum at Duke and he played for the Celtics on an Exhibit 10 contract before being hired as an assistant coach.
Blaine Mueller is the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets Summer League team. Mueller has prior experience coaching in the G League with the Maine Celtics. He was an assistant at Middletown HS from 2013-2016. He was an assistant at Lindenwood University from 2016-2018. He was an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks from 2018-2023. He coached the Maine Celtics for the 2023-24 season. He has been an assistant with the Charlotte Hornets from 2024-present.
Celtics Summer League Roster Mohammad Amini #54 R Chris Cenac, Jr #12 R Tucker DeVries #41 R Hugo Gonzalez #28 1 Caleb Grill #37 R Curtis Jones #26 R Kyle Mangas #43 R Dillon Mitchell #20 R Hank Morgan #51 R Nick Pringle #40 R Day Day Thomas #38 R John Tonje #8 R Milos Uzan #29 R Chauncey Wiggins #50 R Alondes Williams #46 3 Amari Williams #77 1
Head Coach Amile Jefferson
Starters vs Toronto Curtis Jones John Tonje Hugo Gonzalez Dillon Mitchell Amari Williams
The Celtics struggled on offense for much of the game, shooting just 15.6% from the field and 12.5% from beyond the arc. rallied in the 2nd half, shooting 47.1% from the field, 41.2% from beyond the arc. The Raptors weren’t much better, shooting 33% from the field and 20.9% from beyond the arc for the game and much of that is due to the Celtics defense.
The Celtics held their own on the boards with 51 rebounds to 52 for the Raptors. 10 different players saw action in this game for the Celtics, with Hugo (37), Amari (30), Milos Uzan (30), Chris Cenac (29), Dillon Mitchell (26) and John Tonje (26) getting the most minutes. Amini, DeVries, Grill, Pringle, Thomas, and Wiggins all received DNP’s. My guess is that we will see the same starters with possibly a change at PG but that the players who sat out that game will play in this game.
Celtics Players to Watch
Hugo Gonzalez | NBAE via Getty Images
Hugo Gonzalez – Celtics fans will be watching for a big Summer League showing from Gonzalez. Hugo was the 28th pick in last year’s draft. In last year’s Summer League, he averaged 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. He averaged 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 14 minutes per game last season. His +11.9 rating was the highest for any rookie that played at least 100 minutes. Against the Raptors, he finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 1 steal. He shot just 18.8% from the field and 11.1% from beyond the arc but he showed off the motor and athleticism that have made him a Celtics fan favorite.
Chris Cenac, Jr – Cenac was the 27th pick in this year’s draft. He is 19 years old and was a highly recruited center going into his one season at Houston. He averaged 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds in college, while shooting 48% from the field, 33% from beyond the arc and 62% from the line. He has a combination of size and athleticism that makes him a very intriguing player. He finished Friday’s game with 14 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal and 4 blocks while shooting 38.5% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc.
John Tonje – Tonje came to the Celtics as a 2-way player from Utah in the Chris Boucher trade at last year’s deadline. At the end of last season, his contract was converted to a standard contract. His option wasn’t picked up this season but the Celtics have two 2-way spots and a spot on the parent team to fill. On Friday, he finished with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals while shooting 42.9% from the field anf 55.6% from beyond the arc. When most of his teammates were struggling on offense, Tonje kept them in the game with some key threes. Amari Williams – Amari was the 46th pick in last year’s draft. He spent most of last season on a 2-way deal but was converted to a standard contract at the end of last season. He averaged 1.4 points, and 1.8 rebounds in 6.6 minutes with Boston last year. He averaged 15.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.8 blocks with Maine last season. He has already been signed to a 2-way contract for this season. He was great against the Raptors, finishing with 23 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks while shooting 77.8% from the field with no 3’s. Charlotte Hornets Roster Sion James #4 1 year Christian Anderson #5 R Michael Ajayi #10 R Ryan Kalkbrenner #11 1 year Terrell Brown, Jr #12 4 years Wyatt Fricks #17 R Kylan Boswell #18 R Max Mackinnon #20 R Hannes Steinbach #22 R Cameron Matthews #25 1 year Tidjane Salaun 31 2 years Liam McNeeley #33 1 year Latrell Wrightsell, Jr #35 R Josiah Allick #53 1 year Head Coach Blaine Mueller
The Hornets are already playing their 3rd game in Summer League. They beat the Orlando Magic 86-74 on opening night on Thursday.. They then lost to the New Orleans Pelicans 95-91 on Saturday. They are playing in the second of back to back games in this one. They started the same 5 of Christian Anderson, Sion James, Liam McNeeley, Tidjane Salaun, and Ryan Kalkbrenner in both games so far. The Hornets 4th pick from last season, Kon Kneuppel, isn’t playing in Summer League.
Hornets Players to Watch
Liam McNeeley | NBAE via Getty Images
Liam McNeeley – McNeeley, a UConn standout, made a strong Summer League debut showing scoring, rebounding, and playmaking skills. He was the 29th pick in last year’s draft. He averaged 4.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game in his first season with the Hornets. He averaged 22.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1 steal per game over the Hornets’ first 2 Summer League games.
Tidjane Salaun – Salaun was the 6th pick in the 2024 draft and has played 2 years for the Hornets. Last season, he averaged 6.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game while shooting 50.3% from the field and 43.4% from beyond the arc. In the first 2 Summer League games he averaged 10.5 points, 6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1 steal per game. Hannes Steinbach – Steinbach was the 14th pick in this year’s draft. He is a German basketball player who played college basketball for the Washington Huskies. In his year at Washington he averaged 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 57.7% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc. In his first 2 Summer League games, he averaged 10.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1.5 blocks per game.
Ryan Kalkbrenner – Kalkbrenner was the 34th pick in last year’s draft. In his first season with the Hornets, he averaged 7.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 75.3% from the field. In his first 2 games in Summer League, he averaged 8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3.5 blocks per game.
Wherefore art thou, Mr. Schultz? | Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
For all of the surprises we’ve gotten out of a wonderful first half of play from the 2026 White Sox, it feels perhaps a little fitting that they’ll head into the break by addressing (or at least attempting to address) one of the premier uncertainties that will have a heavy hand and determining whether we get October baseball on the South Side this year: What, exactly, can we plan on getting out of Noah Schultz the rest of the way?
The 22-year-old makes his third start today after a month-long injury layoff, and unfortunately, the backsliding and lack of consistency that were becoming worrisome prior to his IL stint are still major concerns. He’s got a 6.00 ERA through 10 starts, with fewer than a strikeout per inning and over five walks per nine. His start on Tuesday against Boston, in which he battled through five innings but couldn’t keep anyone off the bases and ultimately put the Sox in a multi-run hole, was pretty emblematic of what we’ve seen out of him at the big-league level thus far.
There’s clearly little to nothing for him left to prove in the minor leagues, so all we can see is where the adjustments will fall.
The biggest thing I’m looking at today? Schultz’s fastball usage. His sinker is his most frequently-used pitch at a touch more than 25%, and unfortunately it’s gotten hammered. His four-seam fastball draws three times as many whiffs and has held hitters to expected stats significantly more muted than what they’re doing against his sinker.
More important than the whiffs is the fact that he can’t actually keep his sinker on the ground. Over 60% of the batted balls against Schultz on the whole so far have been in the air, which is a really bad way to go about things in a place like Rate Field. The average launch angle on contact against Schultz’s sinker is 15°, just a couple degrees below his four-seamer. That’s one of the 20 highest rates in the major leagues.
So I must ask: If it doesn’t get whiffs, and doesn’t keep the ball on the ground, then what’s the point of throwing it? Perhaps today, we’ll find out.
Here’s the Athletics lineup that this hypothesis may or may not be tested against:
Meanwhile, despite another power outage yesterday, with a sweep and first place at the break on the line, Will Venable is putting out a full-strength Sox lineup against burgeoning Athletics starter J.T. Ginn.
It’s almost surreal, looking at a Sox lineup and thinking that it wouldn’t actually necessarily be that much better if you stuck Roch Cholowsky in there right now this second!
First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. CT at Rate Field in Armour Square. If you want to join us, broadcasts are available on CHSN (TV) and WMVP AM 1000 (radio), like always!
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MAY 3: Dustin May #3 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium on May 3, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up their 3-game series against the Atlanta Braves Sunday before the All-Star Game break. Dustin May gets the ball for the Cardinals while the Braves will send Danny Young to the mound followed shortly thereafter by JR Ritchie. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15pm at Busch Stadium Sunday afternoon and the game TV broadcast will be available through Cardinals.tv.
Jul 10, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Danny Young (63) looks on after giving up a solo home run to St. Louis Cardinals catcher Jimmy Crooks (8) during the eighth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Can the Braves end this matchup on a high note and avoid a sweep before going into the All-Star break?
We’re set to find out in just a few hours. Tune in at 2:15 p.m. EDT for the first pitch at Busch Stadium.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 9: Wyatt Langford #36 of the Texas Rangers hits a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the game over the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field on July 9, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 09: Collin Sexton #2 of the Chicago Bulls reacts during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on April 9, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One of the Lakers’ big weaknesses last year was their bench production.
During the regular season, LA’s reserves scored just 29.3 points per game, the second-worst mark in the NBA. Things didn’t get much better in the playoffs. The backups scored 21.6 points per game, which was bottom-four in the postseason.
It should be no surprise, then, that the Lakers moved quickly to bring in Collin Sexton, who was officially announced on Sunday, to bolster their bench this season.
Last season, Sexton averaged 15.4 points and shot 48.5% from the field and 40.1% from the 3-point line. He did that as a backup for both the Hornets and Bulls and the hope is that he can replicate that with the Lakers.
Sexton’s first-step burst is what separates him from the pack. He can drive on anyone and, thanks to his agility, he can contort his body near the basket to score in the paint even against the most physical defenders.
In a league that’s increasingly becoming about being able to catch and shoot, Sexton is a great balance of new and old-school.
Sexton had 183 catch-and-shoot attempts and converted on 43.7%. For context, these numbers would’ve made Sexton fourth-highest on the Lakers in catch-and-shoot attempts. His shooting percentage on these attempts would’ve been second-best on the roster for those who took at least 150 shots.
At the rim, he had a whopping 204 attempts and made 64.7% of his baskets. The only guard on the Lakers who took more attempts at the rim last year was Luka Dončić at 255. And on the bench, no backcourt player was able to get to the rim better than Sexton. Luke Kennard had just 59 shots at the rim, and Marcus Smart took 61.
He also took 232 field-goal attempts with zero dribbles, but he also attempted 194 shots on 3-6 dribbles and a whopping 150 with seven-plus dribbles.
Sexton was most efficient when he took 3-6 dribbles, making 50.5% of those shots.
His comfort with the ball makes him a great option to run the offense behind Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. And on the nights one of them is unavailable, he can be slotted in the starting lineup.
Sexton isn’t just a scorer. He can also distribute the ball well. Last year, he averaged 3.3 assists per game. If he replicates his scoring and assist numbers from last year, he’d be the best backup guard they’ve had since Dennis Schröder.
Right now, though, the Lakers just need him to replace Kennard, which is still a tall order.
Kennard was an elite 3-point shooter for the Lakers during the regular season. In the opening round against the Rockets, he had some great performances. He scored 27 points in the team’s Game 1 win and 23 points in Game 2’s victory. Without his play, an argument can be made that the Lakers wouldn’t have beaten the Rockets.
Sexton has demonstrated he can shoot near Kennard’s level. He’s a career 38.9% 3-point shooter and has three seasons where he converted over 40% from deep, including last season.
The Lakers weren’t looking for a like-for-like replacement for Kennard. Instead, they brought in a player in Sexton who can do just enough of the things that made Kennard a great addition to the team midseason while also providing other elements to the bench that, hopefully, see the team take a step forward.
This is an opportunity for Sexton to flourish. Now on a winning team with title aspirations, he can show what he can really do and produce at a higher level.
The Lakers are banking on it, and if he accomplishes that, the bench can become a strength rather than a weakness.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 04: Austin Hedges #27 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates after hitting a fly ball to center field for a home run, tying the game 1-1 in the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field on July 04, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Russell Lee Verlinger/Cleveland Guardians/Getty Images) | Getty Images
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - JUNE 20: Ian Seymour #61 of the Tampa Bay Rays throws against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on June 20, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jul 10, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers designated hitter Eduardo Valencia (32) hits an RBI single against the Philadelphia Phillies in the sixth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (44-51) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (53-42)
Time/Place: 1:40 p.m., Comerica Park SB Nation Site:The Good Phight Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: LHP Tarik Skubal (5-4, 3.06 ERA) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (9-1, 2.28 ERA)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 11: Ty France #25 of the San Diego Padres flips his bat after hitting a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning at Petco Park on July 11, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres haven’t had a win like this in quite some time. It’s been a while since the Friars have won in such thrilling fashion. The last time that happened was when San Diego came back against the Atlanta Braves after being down 5-0. The Padres got off to an early lead, scoring two in the first, before starter Walker Buehler struggled in the second inning. He surrendered four runs to the Toronto Blue Jays in the top of the frame.
The Friars immediately tied it in the bottom of the frame. They then hit the go-ahead run in the third to make it 6-4. The club knocked in one more run in the fourth to lengthen their lead before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. tied it on a three-run shot against Bradgley Rodriguez. The Padres got their go-ahead run on a solo homer from Ty France. That one run was all they would need as Mason Miller blanked the Jays to slam the door shut.
Taking the mound
Kevin Gausman (TOR) v. Germán Márquez (SD)
Despite sporting a below-average 4.32 ERA, Gausman has looked good this season for the Jays. That higher mark has been due to some recent struggles. In his last seven starts, the righty’s surrendered 27 runs toward a 6.51 ERA. In his last three, Gausman has surrendered 11 runs.
The Padres have historically hit quite well versus Gausman. Chief among them is Fernando Tatis Jr., who has two homers and a career .400 batting average. Additionally, France and Manny Machado both have batting averages over .300 against the Toronto right-hander.
Márquez dominated the Arizona Diamondbacks in his first start since coming off the IL. The veteran right-hander pitched five shutout innings, walking just three batters. Since returning from his IL stint, the righty has given up just two runs across eight innings pitched.
Only one of Toronto’s batters (Daulton Varsho) has more than 10 career at-bats against Márquez. The Jays haven’t had much success against the veteran apart from George Springer (.444 batting average in nine at-bats). Márquez has had his knuckle curve working lately. He’ll look to keep that up against the Jays this afternoon.
Batter up!
The offense looked fantastic last night, showing real fight throughout the whole game. The club scored in each of the first four innings and had some great at-bats against Toronto. The club walked a ridiculous eleven times, showing plate discipline they haven’t had most of the year. They’ll need to keep that consistent in order to win the rubber match today.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jackson Merrill, CF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Manny Machado, 3B
Gavin Sheets, LF
Ty France, 1B
Miguel Andujar, DH
Luis Campusano, C
Sung-Mun Song, 2B
Merrill has had a very productive turnaround lately, hitting .321 in his last seven games and .288 over the last 15. He went 2-for-3 with two walks in last night’s game against Toronto. Hopefully, the center fielder will be able to continue that production after the All-Star break.
Relief corps
Despite Buehler going just 2 innings, the San Diego bullpen was saved by the unlikeliest of heroes. Matt Waldron made his return from the IL yesterday and pitched three shutout innings. He dominated, striking out three and stranding two hits. Yuki Matsui, Bradgley Rodriguez, Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller filled out the final four innings for San Diego, though Matsui struggled.
With the All-Star break beginning after the conclusion of today’s game, the bullpen will get some rest no matter how many arms the Friars need to turn to. Kyle Hart, Ron Marinaccio and Wandy Peralta will be the readily available options for San Diego.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 15, 2025: Emiliano Teodo #82 of the Texas Rangers throws a pitch during the eighth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on March 15, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Texas Rangers have placed righthanded pitcher Chris Martin on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement, the team announced today. To take his place on the active roster, the Rangers have recalled righthanded reliever Emiliano Teodo.
This is the third trip to the injured list this season for the 40 year old Martin, and its possible he will not be activated again. Martin, who planned to retire after 2025 but opted to return for one more season, has a 9.00 ERA in 14 innings over 16 appearances this season, and has battled a shoulder issue throughout. It would be great if rest and rehab can get him back to being a semblance of the pitcher he was previously, the reality is that he may simply be done.
To replace him the Rangers are turning to righthanded flame thrower Emiliano Teodo. Teodo can reach 100 mph on the radar gun, but has had a challenging relationship with the strike zone in his career. It was hoped that he would be able to step up in 2025 and be a meaningful part of the Rangers’ bullpen, but he instead had an awful year plagued by injury and ineffectiveness.
Teodo is up now less because he’s shown he’s ready and more because the Rangers need arms and their options are limited. He has a 3.76 ERA in 40.2 innings over 35 games, with 35 walks, 8 hit batters, and 10 wild pitches to go with 52 strikeouts. He’s allowed just 4 earned runs in 15.2 IP since the beginning of June, but has walked 16 batters in those 15.2 innings. He’s also struck out 16 batters in those 15.2 innings, but having a 1:1 K:BB ratio isn’t generally a good thing for a pitcher.
Clay Burdette brings one of the best exit velos in Division I to the White Sox organization. | (Photo by Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
It was a back-to-back, strong-armed outfielders move from the White Sox in the seventh round, nabbing Clay Burdette from Xavier University with the No. 195 pick in the 2026 MLB draft.
Just three years ago, Burdette was regarded as one of the three best shortstops in Ohio, but blossomed as a right fielder after a transfer from Ohio State to Xavier. Ranked No. 248 on MLB’s board, the White Sox had fears that Burdette would be gone by their eighth-round pick and nabbed him despite his lower overall rank.
It’s not immediately apparent why Burdette was so slightly regarded in the MLB rankings. He boasts a strong arm for right field and the speed to see time in center. Burdette also has a proven combination of raw power and top-notch bat speed, with exit velocities among the best in Division I.
Playing in a more minor conference, as the Big East is regarded in baseball, Burdette doesn’t have a big track record of plate appearances against top-notch pitching. He also has some selectivity and swing-and-miss issues that could rear up, with 50 Ks in 2026 against just 23 walks.
For you Xavier fans, Burdette’s selection in the seventh round makes him the highest-drafted Musketeers position player ever.
On the surface, Burdette kills it with his scouting ratings, particularly for an seventh-rounder, with his running ability leading the way at 60. But a hit tool of 40 drags his overall evaluation down to 40. Seems like a chip Burdette needs to put on his shoulder.
Expect Burdette to hit the ground running and get some time in a Kannapolis later this summer, as a player who’s been overlooked of late trying to prove his mettle.
