ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JULY 27: Hunter Dobbins #40 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium on July 27, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals begin a crucial 3-game homestand against the Philadelphia Phillies Monday night at Busch Stadium. Hunter Dobbins gets the start for the Cardinals while the Phillies will give the ball to Andrew Painter who’s returning from hamstring issues. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45pm central time and the game broadcast will be available through Cardinals.tv.
Seth Halvorsen of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Getty Images North America)
The team is calling up reliever Seth Halvorsen from triple-A, a source confirmed on Monday, adding the hard-throwing right-hander to its big-league roster less than a month after he was acquired in a trade with the Colorado Rockies.
A 26-year-old with three seasons of MLB experience and a fastball that routinely tops 100 mph, Halvorsen got the promotion following six scoreless with triple-A Oklahoma City.
He returns to the majors for the first time since late June, when the Rockies placed him on the injured list with shoulder inflammation after he posted a 4.74 ERA in 21 outings to begin the season. In his career, he has a 4.31 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 71 innings.
Seth Halvorsen of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Getty Images North America) Getty Images
Halvorsen’s initially arrived in the organization last month via what was a minor transaction at the time, when the Dodgers sent a pair of prospects (pitcher Nick Frasso and outfielder Landyn Vidourek) to the Rockies two weeks before the trade deadline.
Since then, though, the former seventh-round draft pick has flashed impressive stuff at the triple-A level, striking out eight of the 25 batters he has faced.
And now, he joins a Dodgers bullpen that has been in need of reinforcements, especially with top right-handers such as Edwin Díaz and Evan Phillips both scuffling in their return from injuries, and several other veteran options, including Blake Treinen and Brock Stewart, both sidelined on the injured list.
TONIGHT’S GAME: The first-place Astros continue their six-game road trip with the opener of a three-game series at Oracle Park.
RHP Hayden Wesneski (2-0) will make his third start of the season since returning from Tommy John surgery, opposite RHP Blade Tidwell (0-0) and the Giants.
THE TURNAROUND: After a slow start to the season, the Astros are 40-28 since May 22, which is the second best record in the AL in that span.
On that date, the Astros were 20-31, 11 games under, which is their low water mark for the season.
THAT’S OFFENSIVE: The Astros lead the AL in SLG (.415), and OPS (.735), while ranking second in home runs (161), OBP (.321) and hits (983).
In the Majors, the Astros rank third in homers, trailing only the Nationals (171) and Yankees (167).
BIG WES: After missing 14 months with injury, RHP Hayden Wesneski has recorded consecutive winning decisions in two starts in his return to Major League action.
Logged a quality start last Tuesday vs. the Blue Jays (2ER/6IP), marking his longest start since tossing 6.0 innings on April 13, 2025 vs. LAA.
Earned the win in his season debut on July 29 at LAA (3ER/5.2IP)…this solid start to the season has continued a strong run for Wesneski, who was great in his rehab appearances, posting a 2.25 (5ER/20IP) combined ERA in five minor league rehab starts.
Has faced the Giants six times (3 starts) in his career, his second-most appearances vs. an opponent, trailing only the Reds (7g).
AYA IN ACTION: The Astros Nike RBI Softball Team recorded a 6-3 win today over the defending champion Detroit Nike RBI Softball Team in day one of the 2026 Nike RBI Softball World Series in Vero Beach, FL.
The team’s next game will be at 7:45 a.m. CT tomorrow vs. either Softball Beyond Borders Nike RBI or Roberto Clemente Nike RBI.
The Astros Nike RBI Softball Team, which has won five Nike RBI World Series Softball Championship, is making its 12th appearance in the Nike RBI Softball World Series.
ROAD WARRIORS: The Astros continue a six-game West Coast road-trip with the opener of three-game series at Oracle Park, the club’s first trip to the venue since a three-game series from June 10-12, 2024.
Houston has gone 23-15 (.605) on their last five road trips and are 29-21 (.580) on the road since going 1-9 on their first road trip of the season.
Houston is 30-30 overall on the road in 2026.
YESTERDAY’S GAME: The Houston Astros dropped the rubber match of their series vs. the Padres with a 7-2 loss at Petco Park on Sunday Night Baseball.
CF Daulton Varsho belted a two-run homer in the second inning, his first home run as an Astro, to account for all of the club’s scoring.
LF Taylor Trammell (1×3) singled in front of Varsho’s homer to account for the club’s only other hit of the evening.
RHP Cristian Javier (4ER/5IP) was handed the losing decision, making his 2nd consecutive turn in the rotation.
ROSTER MOVES: The Astros have claimed OF Nelson Velázquez off waivers from the Cardinals…Velázquez, 27, has played in 34 games for the Cardinals this season and 228 career games at the Major League level, also appearing with Cubs (2022-23) and Royals (2023-24).
Velázquez owns a career .739 OPS vs. left-handed pitching in the Majors.
To make room for Velázquez on the 40-man roster, the Astros designated IF Shay Whitcomb for assignment.
THE LINEUP: The Astros have used 117 different lineups in their 119 games, repeating a lineup just twice on the season.
DH Yordan Alvarez has the most starts at any spot in the lineup among Astros, hitting second 106 times.
VS. THE GIANTS: The Astros have a long history with the Giants, having played them 741 times, their second-most against a single opponent, trailing only the Reds (860g).
The Giants recorded a three-game sweep in the last series between the clubs from March 31-April 2, 2025, at Daikin Park.
This will mark the Astros’ first trip to Oracle Park since June 10-12, 2024 (Giants went 2-1).
The Astros have a pair of players who spent portions of their Major League careers with the Giants in LHP Steven Okert (2016-18) and OF LaMonte Wade Jr. (2021-25).
MVP-CALIBER: Yordan Alvarez leads the AL in all three Triple Crown categories, ranking first in batting average (.322), HR (35), and RBI (86).
Additionally, he leads MLB in OPS (1.060), OBP (.435), SLG (.624), and TB (266).
In the AL, he ranks first in hits (137), extra-base hits (59), and runs (79), and second in walks (82).
MR. RELIABLE: LHP Steven Okert has recorded a 2.20 ERA (14ER/57.1IP) with 59 strikeouts, 12 walks, a 0.87 WHIP and a .189 opponent batting average in 57 appearances, including one start this season.
Among AL relievers, he ranks first in WHIP (0.81), second in appearances (56), second in H/9 (5.56), second in opponent batting average (.179), fifth in opponent OPS (.546) and seventh in ERA (2.06).
T-TIME: OF Taylor Trammell has been stellar since the club’s road trip to CWS and LAA in late July and has posted a 1.009 OPS (.404 OBP/.605 SLG) with 10 runs, one double, four home runs, eight RBI and seven walks in his last 11 games (since July 26 at CWS).
His 1.009 OPS since July 26 ranks third among AL players in that span (min. 45 PA).
THREES COMPANY: 2B Jose Altuve enters tonight’s game with 224 career games of 3+ hits, which is just one game of 3+ hits from tying Hall of Famer Craig Biggio (225) for the most in Astros franchise history.
Altuve has multiple hits in six of his last 11 games (since July 28 at LAA), batting .349 (15×43) with an .846 OPS in that span.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: 1B Christian Walker has not commited an error in his 113 games at first base this season, which is the longest errorless streak in the Majors this season.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Monday, August 10, 8:45 p.m. CT
Location: Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 09: Tyler O'Neill #9 of the Baltimore Orioles runs the bases following a two run home run against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on August 09, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Orioles will face a familiar face tonight in Minnesota. Dean Kremer will make his second start for the Twins after spending over six seasons in Baltimore.
The outcome of tonight’s game feels significant. The offense let Shane Baz and Kyle Bradish down over the weekend but broke out for 10 runs on Sunday. The team can take another step forward with a strong performance this evening, but failing to hit Kremer would serve another blow to a struggling lineup.
Gunnar Henderson will look to breakout of a season-long slump in the leadoff spot. He’ll be followed by first baseman Pete Alonso and second baseman Jackson Holliday. Tyler O’Neill will bat cleanup and serve as the DH against the right-handed Kremer.
Dylan Beavers, Colton Cowser and Leody Taveras will make up the outfield. Coby Mayo will look to build on a impressive stretch at third base, and Carlos Narváez will catch Trevor Rogers.
Rogers will look to best his old teammate, but there’s more on the line than just bragging rights. The Twins enter the series a half game above the Orioles in the race for the third wild card spot. The Orioles trail Texas by two games after dropping two out of three over the weekend.
You can read more about the series in Minnesota here.
An overwhelming success? No, that would be a bridge too far.
Especially when factoring in the holes remaining on their roster seven weeks before training camp starts and some of the details with certain decisions.
But considering what the Lakers’ goals and options were entering the summer, and what they have been able to accomplish with rebuilding the roster around franchise superstar guard Luka Doncic over the last 1 ½ months, the Lakers have delivered an offseason they should be proud of.
Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, on Monday, March 23, 2026. (Getty Images North America) Getty Images
Ziaire Williams (one year, $2.8 million) and Matisse Thybulle (one year, $3.3 million) were signings made to address the Lakers’ need for wings while clearly also having the upside to outperform their veteran’s minimum deals.
Cameron Carr (first round draft pick), Kevon Looney (one year, $3.9 million) and Jaden Hardy (acquired from the Wizards) could factor into the Lakers’ rotation for 2026-27 to varying degrees.
The Lakers addressed their biggest needs.
They got younger and more athletic. They improved their collective perimeter defense while also adding more bench scoring.
These moves came at a cost, though.
Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball during the first half of the Emirates NBA Cup game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on Friday, October 31, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Jazz 118-96. (Getty Images North America) Getty Images
The Lakers lost one of their best players in James. They lost their best defender from 2025-26 in Smart. They lost a player in Ayton who could’ve been a strong reserve center behind Kessler. They lost one of the league’s best 3-point accuracy shooting pairings in Hachimura and Kennard.
A lot of experience and proven production have left the building.
And it was – and will be – worth it.
Because the Lakers chose a direction, firmly establishing themselves in the Doncic era by surrounding him with a better-fitting roster.
A roster with a foundation of room for growth and improvement, rather than year-to-year retooling and rentals.
And they aren’t done yet despite the significant roster reconstruction.
Quentin Grimes of the New York Knicks takes a shot in warmups before the start of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at the Kaseya Center on Friday, May 12, 2023, in Miami. (FR NY POST) Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
They could also add another big man to back up Kessler.
Neither move would be likely to close the gap between the Lakers and the top two teams in the Western Conference (Spurs and Thunder).
At the minimum, they’ll need to drop one player from their roster by the start of the regular season to be compliant with the league’s rules.
But even without another significant addition, president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka has built a roster that made this offseason successful.
Was the price for Kessler steep? Yes, but the two first-round pick swaps the Lakers sent the Jazz shouldn’t convey. And the pair of unprotected first-round picks were in line with Kessler’s market before he became a restricted free agent.
As for his pay: Kessler’s $30.1 million salary for 2026-27 will make him either the 10th- or 11th-highest paid center in the league next season – in line for a player with All-Defensive upside.
Similar could be said for Reaves, who could’ve signed a more lucrative contract with another team.
The criticisms for the long-term nature of the deals for Grimes and Mamukelashvili are fair. But that’s also the prime for locking up good players – players the Lakers believe in – for what could be the prime of their careers.
And despite the outside noise, the Lakers will still have ways to make moves beyond this summer to improve the roster.
The Lakers weren’t realistically going to be able to make enough moves this summer to become upper-tier NBA title contenders.
But their present and future appears brighter than it did when their 2025-26 season ended.
Which is why the last three months have been a success.
ST. LOUIS – With a tired bullpen and a need to string together some wins, Phillies manager Don Mattingly was looking for one thing from starting pitcher Andrew Painter on Monday night.
“We need a good one,” he said before the game.
Painter delivered.
In his third start since returning from Triple A, the 23-year-old right-hander carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning to help the Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-5, at Busch Stadium.
Pitching with a 3-0 lead, Painter retired the first batter in the sixth before allowing a walk, a double and a two-run single as the Cardinals made it a one-run game. Painter exited at 93 pitches and Alan Rangel got the final two outs of the inning to preserve the lead.
Painter (2-8) earned his second big-league win and first since his debut on March 31. It was the first time since May 18 that the Phillies won a game started by someone other than Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo or Aaron Nola.
Painter struck out six and walked three.
Rangel, the right-hander who has yo-yoed between Triple A and the majors this season, played a large role in the win.
He got eight outs after Painter left the game, a huge contribution that allowed Mattingly to rest some of his main bullpen guys.
The Phils led 6-2 entering the bottom of the eighth, thanks to an RBI double by Kyle Schwarber in the seventh and a two-run double by Edmundo Sosa in the top of the eighth. The Cardinals got to Rangel for five hits and three runs to make it a one-run game, but the right-hander stranded runners on second and third to get out of the inning with the lead.
A handful of Phillies relievers were clearly unavailable due to recent workload. Finally, after Rangel soaked up eight outs, Mattingly was able to get Jonathan Bowlan up in the bullpen. He got the final three outs and the save.
SAN ANTONIO,TX - JANUARY 21 : Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs gets congratulations from Patty Mills #8 during game against the Indiana Pacers at AT&T Center on January 21, 2018 in San Antonio, 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. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s a Spurs reunion! Well, sort of. Two members of the 2014 Spurs Championship and longtime teammates are teaming up again, this time as player and coach over in France. ASVEL of the French LDLC and Euro League has announced it has signed Patty Mills for the 2026-27 season, and he will be coached by none other than his former Spurs teammate, Tony Parker, who is a 20% owner and head coach.
Welcome Patty Mills ! 🇦🇺
LDLC ASVEL est heureux de vous annoncer la signature du meneur australien Patty Mills pour la saison 2026-2027.
Champion NBA avec les San Antonio Spurs en 2014 et figure emblématique des Boomers, "FIBA Patty" apportera au collectif villeurbannais son… pic.twitter.com/o45BynHZ2M
37 years old (I honestly thought he was older by now), Mills was drafted at 55th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2009 before joining the Spurs in 2012, eventually earning the spot of Parker’s back-up and playing a huge role off the bench in their 2014 championship run, averaging 10.2 points while shooting 56.5% from three-point range across the Finals. He ended up spending 10 seasons with the Spurs and was the leader of the team through the 2021-22 season before moving on as the Spurs began the youth movement. He journeyed around from there, with his last NBA appearance being with the Clippers in the 2024-25 season. (That’s another Spurs reunion we won’t talk about.) He is also the general manager of the University of Hawai’i basketball program.
Many Spurs fans believe/hope the Spurs will retire Mills’ #8 jersey someday (last worn by Kelly Olynyk last season), and it’s quite possible once his playing career comes to a end. Hopefully such an event will bring Patty back to San Antonio, but in the meantime, how about some highlights for old time’s sake?
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 21: Connor Norby #1 of the Miami Marlins in action against the San Francisco Giants at loanDepot park on June 21, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Jasen Vinlove/Miami Marlins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies have announced they are placing Tyler Freeman on the 10-day IL with lumbar pain and have recalled infielder Connor Norby from Triple-A Albuquerque.
The Rockies announced today the following transactions:
-Placed INF/OF Tyler Freeman on the 10-day IL (retroactive to Aug. 9) with lumbar pain. -Recalled INF Connor Norby (#35) from Triple-A- Albuquerque.
— Rockies Club Information (@RockiesClubInfo) August 10, 2026
Norby was drafted in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles and made his MLB debut on June 3, 2024. He appeared in nine games for the Orioles before being traded to the Miami Marlins at the 2024 deadline alongside Kyle Stowers for Trevor Rogers.
In 65 games this season for the Marlins, Norby is slashing .205/.313/.325 with 17 runs scored, 12 doubles, four home runs, 16 RBI, 24 walks and 70 strikeouts. He also has six stolen bases in nine attempts.
He also settled in quickly with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. In 25 plate appearances, he has slashed .400/.520/.800 with a 1.320 OPS. This is, admittedly, a small sample size, but Norby’s ability to play multiple infield positions is consistent with the Rockies strategy of valuing utility players.
As for Tyler Freeman, this will be his second stint on the Injured List during the 2026 season. He was first place on the IL on May 25, 2026, and he returned to the Rockies roster on April 1.
He is slashing .247/.317/.314 in 288 plate appearances.
However, the defensive side of his game continues to lag, and he currently has -9 DRS in the outfield. The Colorado Rockies have announced they are placing Tyler Freeman on the 10-day IL with (INJURY) and have recalled infielder Connor Norby from Triple-A Albuquerque.
Norby was drafted in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles and made his MLB debut on June 3, 2024. He appeared in nine games for the Orioles before being traded to the Miami Marlins at the 2024 deadline alongside Kyle Stowers for Trevor Rogers.
In 65 games this season for the Marlins, Norby is slashing .205/.313/.325 with 17 runs scored, 12 doubles, four home runs, 16 RBI, 24 walks and 70 strikeouts. He also has six stolen bases in nine attempts.
He also settled in quickly with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. In 25 plate appearances, he has slashed .400/.520/.800 with a 1.320 OPS. This is, admittedly, a small sample size, but Norby’s ability to play multiple infield positions is consistent with the Rockies strategy of valuing utility players.
As for Tyler Freeman, this will be his second stint on the Injured List during the 2026 season. He was first placed there on May 25, 2026, and he returned to the Rockies roster on April 1; following that, he also spent time under concussion protocol.
Freeman is slashing .247/.317/.314 in 288 plate appearances.
However, the defensive side of his game continues to lag, and he currently has -9 DRS in the outfield.
Tyler Nickel looks on during the Knicks-Spurs Summer League game on July 11, 2026.
There is a bit more clarity surrounding Tyler Nickel’s Knicks future.
There is momentum toward the second-round pick joining the team this year rather than returning to college, a league source confirmed to The Post.
Nickel, whom the Knicks drafted with the No. 47 pick in June, is part of the 2022 class of college athletes who were granted a fifth year of eligibility — after a ruling from U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney late last month — if they’ve already exhausted their four years of eligibility.
Tyler Nickel looks on during the Knicks-Spurs Summer League game on July 11, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Nickel played four seasons of college basketball — one year at North Carolina, one year at Virginia Tech and then the past two seasons at Vanderbilt.
He could return to play one more season of college basketball.
Since the Knicks issued the required tender for unsigned second-round rookies ahead of the Aug. 5 deadline, they would retain his draft rights if he decided to pursue that route.
But he is leaning toward starting his pro career with the Knicks.
An NIL deal back in college would likely see him earn more money than he would make on a two-way deal with the Knicks.
It is not entirely clear if he is set to sign a two-way deal or a more lucrative standard contract with the Knicks, though the latter would prevent the team from signing a third center — a clear need on the roster — to a standard contract and remain under the second apron.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 29: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves in action against the New York Mets in game two of a double header at Citi Field on July 29, 2026 in New York City. The Braves defeated the Mets 1-0. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 06: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees celebrates his first inning home run against the Boston Red Sox with teammate Jasson Dominguez #24 at Yankee Stadium on June 06, 2025 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Red Sox 9-6. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across Major League Baseball. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Yankees fans and fans across the country.
When the Yankees sent down Jasson Domínguez and Anthony Volpe last week, it felt like it might have been the end of an (abbreviated) era. The two former top prospects once shone bright as the future of the Yankees; Domínguez was (irresponsibly) comped to Hall-of-Fame talents from the moment he signed as a teenage IFA, and Volpe tore through the Yankee system after being selected in the first round of the 2019 draft. Both of them flashed immense promise upon debut, Domínguez homering off of Justin Verlander in his first at-bat as part of a torrid first month in the majors, and Volpe wowing early in his career with slick glovework at short and exciting aggression on the base paths.
And yet, after years of struggles and injuries, both found themselves flat demoted, sent to Triple-A for no reason other than their respective failures to hit at the big league level. It felt like the closing of a chapter, two young talents who seemed to have the whole world in their hands before everything came crashing down.
But is it the end? For all their struggles, both players have also had periods of success in the majors at extremely young ages. Domínguez is only 23, Volpe just 25, each have years of team control remaining, and they’re in a business where things change fast. Just because it feels like they’ll never contribute again right now doesn’t mean the pendulum can’t swing back come next spring.
If you had to choose, who do you think could prove to be more of a factor in 2027, Domínguez or Volpe? Let us know in the Feed poll below, and we’ll have analysis of the results later in the week.
TORONTO, CANADA - 2026/06/12: The CN Tower rises against a clear blue sky in downtown Toronto. The 553-meter communications and observation tower is one of Canada's most recognizable landmarks and a defining feature of the city's skyline. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images) | LightRocket via Getty Images
The first of four against the Red Sox. We do need some wins.
Okamoto has the day off after fouling the ball off his knee yesterday. So Charles McAdoo gets to play third. He was on a hot stretch with the Bisons, so I’m hoping it continues. And Ernie Clement gets a day off. He rarely gets one, I hope he gets to relax all game.
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 04: MacKenzie Gore #1 of the Texas Rangers pitches during a game against the San Francisco Giants at Globe Life Field on August 04, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Gunnar Word/Texas Rangers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for August 10, 2026 against the Anaheim Angels: starting pitchers are MacKenzie Gore for the Rangers and Reid Detmers for the Angels.
Texas takes on Anaheim in the first of a four game set in the land of Mickey. With a lefty going for the Angels, we have a collection of righthanded bats in the lineup that, well, hit righthanded, anyway.
The lineup:
Langford — CF
Seager — SS
Duran — LF
Nimmo — RF
Burger — 1B
Foscue — DH
Diaz — C
Bride — 3B
Cauley — 2B
8:38 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -111 favorites.
