SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 11: Jake McCarthy #31 of the Colorado Rockies sprints towards first base for a single during the top of the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on July 11, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jake McCarthy readily admits that he enjoys being part of the Colorado Rockies ‘fun’ offense.
“I just think it looks different every day,” the team’s leadoff hitter said prior to the Rockies’ season finale July 19 against Cincinnati. “I think we’re capable of putting the ball in play and, maybe, in a certain situation doing a job. Also, there are times when you slug a little more and we hit home runs. I just think we’ve done a pretty good job.
“We could always do a better job of doing what the game kind of asks of us. But it’s just been fun. I feel like, 1-9 in the lineup, you never know who’s going to make an impact.”
McCarthy, acquired by Colorado in a trade with Arizona for pitcher Josh Grosz in January 2026, has certainly made his impact known in his inaugural season with the Rockies.
Through July 18, McCarthy was tied with Esmeryln Valdez of Pittsburgh for the National League league in RBI with 18 for July—a month in which is slashing .321/.400/.842 with three doubles, one triple and four home runs.
For the season, the left-handed outfielder was batting .303 (fifth in the NL), with 10 home runs, 55 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 21 attempts through action of July 18.
His .392 average with runners in scoring position tops the National League and is third in the Majors.
Those numbers have helped fuel a Rockies offense which, since June 1, has scored 227 runs—second only to Milwaukee’s 231 tallied in that span.
McCarthy recalls that this year’s Colorado offense is similar to that of the 2024 Diamondbacks squad.
“I think we had a really good offense in Arizona, just a similar concept,” he said. “1-9 having some guys who—if they’re not necessarily crushing home runs but they are seeing a lot of pitches—are maybe working a walk or something to start an inning to give us the lead or chip away and get a starting pitcher out of the game early. Maybe it’s stuff that necessarily does not show up in the box score but it’s important to the team.”
With two out and a runner on third base in the second inning, McCarthy saw an opportunity to lay a bunt down the third base line that not only drove in the runner from a third but ended up as a base hit.
McCarthy’s teammates followed with four consecutive hits to plate three more runs as Colorado bolted to a 6-0 lead against Reds starting pitcher Rhett Lowder. Two more runs an inning later ended Lowder’s day after just 2.2 innings in an eventual 10-3 Rockies win.
McCarthy’s performance this season has impressed rookie teammate TJ Rumfield.
“I can’t say enough about Jake McCarthy,” said Rumfield, who finished with career highs of four hits and four RBI with a career-long 456-foot, two-run homer in the contest.
“First of all, just a constant professional hitter. He’ll do what it takes. He doesn’t care if it’s a bunt, if it’s moving a guy over, whatever the situation dictates. He’s going to get it done and you believe he’s going to get it done.”
Whether it’s a a key bunt or a big home run—he has two leadoff inside-the-park home runs this season (July 12 at San Francisco, June 20 vs. Pittsburgh) to become the first player with multiple leadoff inside-the-park homers since the New York Giants’ Ed Roush in 1929—McCarthy is enjoying his leadoff role.
“It’s been awesome,” he said. “I feel like every time I come up (to the plate), there’s someone on base, there’s someone in scoring position.
“I just think we’re always applying pressure to the (opposing) pitcher. I think we have done a nice job of taking pressure off each other because it I don’t come through, I trust that Mickey (Moniak) or whoever’s hitting behind me will come through.
Yeah, we’re a little late but there’s a lot to ponder.
The end of the Brooklyn Nets two summer leagues, coinciding with the start of free agency, seems like a good time to assess things. The Nets could make a move yet and LeBron James hasn’t made his decision.
Just Saturday, the New York Knicks tendered an offer sheet to the Dallas Mavericks for Moussa Cisse, a 6’11” 23-year-old center, only to see it matched hours later. On Sunday, the Mavs, Thunder and Hawks did a three-way swap that sent All-Defensive Wing Lu Dort from OKC to Atlanta, former overall No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher from Atlanta to the Dallas, Ryan Nemhard from Dallas to Atlanta and multiple draft picks, what else?, to OKC.
Things change.
Also, the Nets won’t play now for nearly three months, sometime the first week of October when training camp and preseason open. So where are we?
The Nets two lottery picks from 2025 and 2026, acquired as the centerpieces of a two-year long rebuild, have looked as Summer League head coach Dutch Gaitley said of Mikel Brown Jr., “electric” both as individuals, one coming off a development spree, the other a prized newcomer, AND as a fit, aka the “Aura Bros” as fan described them … a sobriquet Egor Demin seems to like. The organization is already taking advantage of the connection in a stream of recent social media. Why not? And the Nets do still hold the trademark to “Brooklyn’s Backcourt” if not Aura Bros…
Michael Porter Jr., in comments we noted Saturday, seems quite happy with the Nets, offering to recruit Peyton Watson and praising what the organization is building. The recent back-and-forth mostly on the timing of negotiations on an extension seem the normal NBA foreplay than evidence of some split.
And?
Julius Randle who did average 21, 7 and 5 in 79 games, all starts, last season is all-in on his newest home, thirsting for a leadership role and, per Brown Jr., encouraging him already, telling him he expects the team to “shock the world.”
And?
The Nets have rewarded the hard work of Day’Ron Sharpe, giving him a new (and reasonable) contract as well as apparently the starting 5 spot come October now that Nic Claxton is gone. They also added Moe Wagner as a backup, too, although he hasn’t signed yet.
And?
Chaney Johnson had a breakout in the Summer League, leading all Vegas in steals at 3.3 per game while finishing only behind the Aura Bros in scoring and leading the Nets in rebounding.
And???
Well, there’s where it gets dicey. Yes, Josh Minott is a good gamble at 23 years old and Keon Ellis fills a need and brings quintessential 3-and-D numbers, but after that big list, things begin to slip from the positive into the negative or at least mediocre,
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Two of the Flatbush 5 seem to have regressed based on their summer league performances. Drake Powell had a 1-of-28 shooting slump followed by a 4-of-6 3-point effort followed by a 1-of-6 outing, including 0-of-4 from deep. Where’s that SMH emoji?
Danny Wolf had some bright spots, averaging a little less that 10 points, a little more than six rebounds, across four appearances for Brooklyn. He did struggle, as he did last year, from deep, going 0-for-6 in his last two games before Friday, then didn’t take a three at all in that one. His passing potential has been hurt by his turnovers. In Friday’s game, he had two assists and a whopping five turnovers in 18:35, a few of them of early when the Rockets took charge.
Ben Saraf’s game has seemed to stabilize at the level we saw year with some kudos on his defense coming from Jordi Fernandez. There was no breakout. We didn’t get to see Nolan Traore at all. He’s rehabbing from a ‘scope on his left knee. Not exactly encouraging across the board. Yes, you can argue, “what do you expect from players taken in the back half and deep in the first round?” More. Development and scouting are crucial for a team whose strategy is based on garnering draft picks for an organic regrowth.
That Johnson has advanced so while Powell and Wolf hit road blocks says both positive and negative things about the Nets.
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The lack of rim protection and rim running. Sharpe deserves his shot and his forte’ — indeed historical value — are about rebounding and offensive rebounding in particular. He is not about blocking shots and looking down the depth chart at the 5, he is not alone. Nic Claxton’s shot blocking may have declined from 2.5 per game to 1.1 over the last four years but he had that skill. You can also argue, if you wish, that the Nets will be more physical, more defensive-oriented, and that will compensate. Maybe.
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At this moment, the lack of offense in general off the bench should be worrisome. The first players off the bench this season likely will be some version of Noah Clowney, Josh Minott, Terance Mann, Keon Ellis, Moe Wagner. Maybe one of the other rookies will get minutes: Joshua Jefferson or Tyler Bilodeau who’s on a two-way deal. Clowney, 22, and Minott, 23, are the only ones who have any real potential to throw up some points in a hurry and both are young and inexperienced while the role seems daunting, based on past history. The Nets bench to any offensive credibility, there will have to be a breakout and a breakout is always a surprise.
Good things can happen. Late trades get done. Players surprise … in good ways. Moves get made at the deadline. Pray for good health! But as we’ve noted, while the tank is over, the rebuild is not, as the off-season showed. The Nets have made some improvements, particularly in the starting lineup as long as the Aura Bros. play as well as we expect. MPJ and Randle are both capable 20-point scorers if both are always a bit controversial.
Could the Nets have been more aggressive? Done either of those weekend deals? Probably, but how much more since we don’t know any details of any proposal, it’s hard to debate. Frustrating but only in fan discussions. How much it really matters won’t come known until the fall. They did keep their flexibility, mostly manifest in that cache of draft assets.
It is getting easier to debate where we think the team will stand starting in October. As Bobby Marks has said, we are entering the time when all GMs love their roster and how it fits their strategy, a phase that usually lasts till the end of the first third of the season which simultaneously falls around the unofficial beginning of trade season on December 15. Sean Marks (no relation) said something this week that matches what Bobby said, “I like the roster we have.”
Of course fans’ opinions are different with most wanting more wins now but others willing to show some patience over a longer run. None want a replay of last season. The Nets didn’t overpromise like the Mets nor simply promise, like the Jets who won their last title the month before Julius Erving turned 13. You can have you own opinion and we’ll all set our crystal balls up for late September.
Jordi wants a career in Brooklyn
Jordi Fernandez has won only 46 games in his two years as NBA coach, but has won plaudits from his and other teams’ players and coaches for developing young players — and holding things together during a tank. Now, his priority is winning.
On Sunday, Fernandez, a native of Spain and Catalonia’s basketball-mad city of Badalona, was honored by his hometown as its “native son,” an award the Nets coach cherished. He is the first Spanish-born head coach in the NBA, of course. He also a native of Catalonia, the autonomous republic in Spain’s north east whose capital is Barcelona one of the world’s great cities.
In receiving the award, he spoke to the media and told local reporters this, thanking among others the Nets and added this…
Translation: “I hope to retire with the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA.”
In today’s NBA, of course, that would be a very big deal. Fernandez is in his early 40s with a career that could with good fortune stretch into the 2040s. It doesn’t happen anymore unless you win multiple championships like Gregg Popovich or Steve Kerr. We assume Fernandez is well aware of the record!
Meanwhile, a Fernandez acolyte from Catalonia, tweeted out his thanks to the Nets for giving him an opportunity as one of the team’s “guest coaches.” For several years, unpublicized, the Nets have invited young international coaches to join the Summer League staff…
Boris Balibrea is currently the head coach of GTK Gliwice, one of Poland’s top teams. He is seen as one of Europe’s top young basketball minds, having been coach of the year twice in Sweden and once in the Alpe Adria league in central Europe’s alpine region. He’s currently the head coach of Sweden’s national team and has also coached elsewhere in Euope, Africa and China.
Last year, the guest coaches included another Catalonian, Spanish league legend Anna Cruz.
Final Note
Nets fans of a certain age and era understand that geopolitics can interfere in the world of basketball. Mikhail Prokhorov, the team’s Russian owner for nine years, sold the team in part because of pressures from Moscow and Vladimir Putin after the U.S. heavily sanctioned Russia following its 2014 invasion of Crimea. So it’s always wise to monitor what’s going on between the U.S. and China. Although neither Joe Tsai nor his Kansas-born wife, Clara Wu Tsai, are citizens of China, Alibaba, the company Tsai helped found is one of China’s biggest and best known companies.
So, we reported the other day how a U.S. congressman, John Moolenaar, Republican of Michigan, had told ESPN that the NBA should review Tsai’s ownership of the Nets following the Pentagon’s designation of the giant Chinese e-commerce, AI and Cloud computing giant as a “Chinese military company,” in the process banning any contracts with the company.
However, it should be noted, as we also did in our reporting, that neither Moolenaar nor his advisory committee on connections between U.S. companies and China has any power to do anything more than suggest a review and there is no indication the NBA would even consider such a request … if indeed the congressman has forwarded one to the league. At this point, there is no indication he has. NBA China, along with the International Olympic Committee, the UEFA championship league and world federations governing several sports, have AI and Cloud computing deals with Alibaba.
At least at the moment, rest easy if that’s your want about the possibility of a change in ownership. You have enough to worry about re: rim protection and Drake Powell’s jumper.
Another video emerged on Sunday afternoon featuring a fan telling Thompson, “We need you on the Warriors, buddy,” to which Thompson responded, “Never say never.”
Stein added that the Miami Heat have had interest in bringing Thompson down to South Beach via trade and having him play alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
The Warriors are considered a favorite to make the biggest move of the offseason in pursuit of acquiring LeBron James. NBAE via Getty Images
While Thompson clearly has an interest in returning to the Golden State next season, there have been no indications from the Warriors’ front office whether the feeling is mutual.
With Thompson set to turn 37 next season, the end of his career is near.
During his time with Golden State from 2011–2024, Thompson was one half of the “Splash Bros” alongside Steph Curry, with the Warriors winning four NBA championships.
Thompson was one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA and was a five-time NBA All-Star during his time with the Warriors.
In Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, Thompson tore his left ACL, which caused him to miss the rest of the final plus the next season.
On his way to recovery, he suffered another major setback when he ruptured his right Achilles tendon during a pickup basketball game in November of 2020.
Thompson returned to the court in 2021 but he never looked the same and he was eventually reduced to a reserve role.
The Warriors have been considered a favorite to make the biggest move of the offseason in pursuit of acquiring LeBron James.
While the NBA continues to wait for LeBron James to announce where he's going to play next season — and there is NBA business held up because of it — there are still other talks and things going on. Here are some of the latest non-LeBron rumors.
Lakers, Hawks not close on Jonathan Kuminga
There is a segment of Lakers fans talking them into Jonathan Kuminga as a difference-maker, likely the same fans who talked themselves into Deandre Ayton being a difference-maker a year ago despite a long history suggesting otherwise (which echoes Kuminga).
"...it appears that momentum has stalled with the sides far apart on terms and L.A. not overly motivated to push significant draft capital into sign-and-trade scenarios. Still, he appears to be the biggest upside play left on the table, and could re-emerge as a target if his market remains tepid. Cleveland, according to league sources, is the team most-often connected to Kuminga other than the Lakers."
Atlanta reportedly wanted the Lakers' 2032 first-round pick swap — the only first-round pick the Lakers can trade right now — and that was not on the table (nor should it have been). Then there is the issue of Kuninga's next contract, he is rumored to want around $25 million a season average, while the Lakers reportedly offered two years, $20 million total.
The Lakers have filled all their roster spots, they will ultimately need to clear a roster spot for anyone they acquire, like the rumored interest in Matisse Thybulle.
Pistons, Duren still not close
With all due respect to LeBron, the best free agent still technically available is Pistons All-NBA center Jalen Duren. He's a restricted free agent, the Pistons have zero interest in trading Cade Cunningham's running partner in a sign-and-trade (and no team has the money to make a max offer to Duren, which the Pistons would just end up matching anyway). Ultimately, it's a matter of the Pistons and Duren working out a deal.
Detroit made some moves this offseason, bringing in John Collins, Isaiah Joe, and Gary Harris. However, the two primary goals heading into the summer were to get a high-level secondary shot creator to go next to Cunningham and to re-sign Duren, and the Pistons have struck out on both fronts. It's not been a great offseason in the Motor City.
Trey Murphy available?
My leader for most perplexing offseason is the New Orleans Pelicans, which changed coaches to Jamahl Mosley but, aside from that, is running back a 26-win team and expecting different results.
A number of teams have expressed interest in trading for two-way wing Trey Murphy, but the asking price has been so high that no deal has come to pass. Will that change when the teams that strike out on LeBron start to look for their next move? Maybe, reports John Hollinger at The Athletic.
Chatter about a Trey Murphy trade, while lessened, hasn't vanished and is one of many potential pieces of league business that could resurface once LeBron James' next destination becomes clear.
At this point, it feels unlikely a deal gets done, but it's something worth watching.
Arena fight in Portland
One topic discussed more around the Las Vegas Summer League than expected was the decisions by new Portland Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon, specifically around needed upgrades to their arena, the Moda Center.
More than one person pointed out to NBC Sports that Dundon appears to be following the Clay Bennett playbook, when he bought the Seattle Supersonics with every intention of moving the team to Oklahoma City. That includes fighting with the city about upgrades to the arena, as Jason Quick at The Athletic details.
"I think we are very far apart," said a team source Sunday, one of two within the Blazers who were granted anonymity to discuss the situation freely.
On Friday, the city of Portland sent the Blazers a term sheet for a 20-year-lease agreement. If the Blazers agree to the terms, the team would receive $600 million in public funds to renovate the Moda Center. Of significance, the city is asking the Blazers to pay $3 million annually for a property tax offset, which would escalate over time. Additionally, the deal would require the Blazers to hire union workers and set caps on project-cost overruns.
"The term sheet is a non-starter," the source said. "I don't know why they sent it to us, because they know very little of the stuff we would agree to. They are playing politics at this point." The city and Trail Blazers have until the end of the year to work out a deal, otherwise, another $365 million in state money for the renovations would go away.
To be clear, Dundon has never talked about moving the team, and even in Quick's story team sources deny any intention to move the team. That said, actions speak louder than words, so it's a concern. The Trail Blazers moving out of Portland remains highly unlikely. First, it would get a lot more pushback — including from the league office and other owners — than Dundon might expect. Also, with expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas coming, that is two big markets off the table for a move. Still, this negotiation is something to watch.
Two of the hottest teams in baseball open a three-game series tonight at Fenway Park as the Red Sox (50-48) welcome the Baltimore Orioles (49-51) to town.
Boston enters the matchup riding a franchise-best 13-game winning streak, while Baltimore arrives having won seven straight games and fresh off consecutive series sweeps. The season series between these teams is tied at three games apiece, adding even more importance to a matchup with significant Wild Card, if not suddenly AL East, implications.
The Red Sox finished off a sweep of AL East-leading Tampa Bay yesterday and have now gone a couple weeks since their last loss. Boston’s run differential is +40 over the course of their winning streak. The result, they are now just six games behind Tampa in the division. Of late, Baltimore has been nearly as impressive. The Orioles swept Houston this past weekend and have won seven consecutive games, going 7-3 in their last 10. Elite pitching has been the difference for the O’s with the staff posting a stellar 2.97 ERA over that span. Baltimore is now within eight games of first in the AL East and within two games of the final wild card spot.
Shane Baz takes the mound for Baltimore with a record of 4-9 with a 4.19 ERA. The right hander has recorded quality starts in three of his last five outings but is without a win since June 12. The right-hander has shown swing-and-miss stuff all season but run support and consistency have been issues. The Red Sox will counter with Payton Tolle who carries a record of 5-6 with an ERA of 3.11 to the bump. Tolle enters Monday with a full week of rest after the Red Sox shortened his July 12 outing for workload management purposes.
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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Game Details and How to Watch: Orioles vs. Red Sox
Date: Friday, July 17, 2026
Time: 7:10PM EST
Site: Fenway Park
City: Boston, MA
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, MASN, NESN
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.
The Latest Odds: Orioles vs. Red Sox
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Baltimore Orioles (+134), Boston Red Sox (-162),
Spread: Orioles +1.5 (-163), Red Sox -1.5 (+135)
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers and their Stats: Orioles vs. Red Sox for July 20
Red Sox: Payton Tolle Season Totals: 84.0 IP, 5-6, 3.11 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 87K, 25 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Orioles vs. Red Sox
Willson Contreras is hitting .294 with 11 RBIs over his last 10 games
Wilyer Abreu has 10 hits in his last 10 games including 5 HRs
Cedanne Rafaella was 5-17 in the 4-game series against the Rays this past weekend.
Masataka Yoshida is 10-27 (.370) in July
Pete Alonso was 2-9 in the recently-concluded series against Houston
Taylor Ward was just 1-9 in the Sox ‘ series against Houston.
Adley Rutschman is 1-11 over his four games
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Orioles vs. Red Sox
The Orioles are 50-50 on the Run Line this season
The Red Sox are 47-51 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 52 times in Baltimore’s 100 games this season (52-45-3)
The OVER has cashed 44 times in Boston’s 98 games this season (44-50-4)
Expert picks & predictions: Orioles vs. Red Sox
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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 for tonight’s game between the Orioles and the Red Sox:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Orioles on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Red Sox on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total OVER 9.0.
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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors on October 13, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It is not breaking news to say that the LeBron James watch, as it is about to enter week three, has all the eyes and ears of the league. A subplot of LeBron’s latest destination decision is that teams around the league are placing a pause on their decisions until this is all sorted out. One of those players who appears to be impacted is fellow wing Jonathan Kuminga.
In an article written by The Athletic’s Dan Woike, Kuminga has garnered interest from the Los Angeles Lakers since late June. However, “it appears that momentum has stalled with the sides”, with Woike noting that the Lakers aren’t “overly motivated to push the significant draft capital into sign-and-trade scenarios.”
It appears that the Cleveland Cavaliers are looking hard into the services of Kuminga if the Lakers interest dissipates. “According to league sources, (Cleveland) is the team most-often connected to Kuminga other than the Lakers,” Woike noted.
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This makes sense as the Cavaliers appear to be looking to upgrade their wing rotation. Obviously, they have been a prominent name in the LeBron James sweepstakes; Kuminga appears to be their second pathway to ensuring there is an influx of talent.
Kuminga could be a necessary gamble for the Cavaliers. His talent has not necessarily translated to someone who projects as a difference-making wing. What Kuminga does offer is an upside play on potentially a cheaper deal than most younger wings his age. It is also good to note that Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has a prior relationship with Kuminga from their shared time on the Golden State Warriors together.
It appears that there could be more movement on the free agent front once teams and players have an idea of where the King will preside this upcoming season. The NBA’s silly season never ends, and neither does the league’s intrigue about LeBron James.
From a Monarch to the Shark Tank, San Jose Sharks forward Tyler Toffoli's career has taken him everywhere imaginable.
Toffoli, who currently wears the number 73 for the Sharks, is only the second player to ever wear that number for the team in teal, as Noah Gregor was the first to break it in half a decade ago.
The 34-year-old winger's professional hockey journey began in 2010, when he was selected 47th overall by the Sharks' arch-rival, the Los Angeles Kings. He broke into the NHL during the 2012-13 season, appearing in 10 games for the Kings. That same season, he was named the American Hockey League's Rookie of the Year after scoring 28 goals and 51 points in 58 games for the Manchester Monarchs.
Then, during the 2013-14 season, Toffoli took a much greater role at the NHL level appearing in 62 regular season and 26 playoff games. At the end of the playoffs, he lifted the Stanley Cup for the first and, to this point, only time in his career.
Toffoli remained with the Kings for another half decade or so, before departing the organization when he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in the middle of the 2019-20 season.
After a total of 17 games in Vancouver, Toffoli made his way across Canada and joined the Montreal Canadiens for the 2020-21 season. He spent roughly a season and a half with the historic franchise, before being traded once again, this time to the Calgary Flames.
After a season and a half in Calgary, Toffoli would be traded once again, this time south of the 49th parallel and he was on his way to New Jersey. After another short stint, this one just over half of a season, he was traded across the border once again, as he joined the Winnipeg Jets to close out the 2023-24 season.
At this point, Toffoli opted to sign with the Sharks as an unrestricted free agent. He ensured that he wouldn't be on the move anytime soon, including a no-trade clause in the first three years of his contract and a modified clause in the final year. In 157 games with the Sharks to this point, the veteran winger has scored 49 goals and 103 points while also serving as a mentor for the young forwards like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith.
While there is certainly a logjam of forwards on the Sharks roster, Toffoli's trade protection makes him one of the few veterans safe from a potential move.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 11: General view of the scoreboard as the San Francisco Giants show their first overall draft pick, Jackson Flora, a pitcher from UC Santa Barbara before a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park on July 11, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 MLB Draft is in the rearview mirror, and it was a very exciting one for the San Francisco Giants. They had their highest pick since 2018, a pair of top-30 selections, and 21 total draftees in the 20-round spectacle.
Of course, drafting is only half of the battle. Once players are drafted, they also have to be signed, and that’s not always easy. The Giants did very well with that assignment last year, signing everyone except their 20th-round pick, prep shortstop Elijah McNeal. The last time they signed all of their selections was 2023. Pitcher Ryan O’Sullivan, a 10th-round selection in 2008, was the time the Giants were unable to sign a player selected in the first 10 rounds.
It’s even harder to sign everyone now that NIL money impacts things so much. But the Giants are surely optimistic that they can get most of their players inked.
What follows is a tracker of all 21 drafted players, and their signing status. I’ll update it as news comes in. As a reminder, the Giants had a bonus pool of $17,350,600 this year. Teams are allowed to spend up to 5% on top of their bonus, albeit with a 75% tax. Anything beyond 5% means sacrificing future first-round draft picks.
There are assigned slot values for the first 10 rounds, and all money spent in those rounds counts against the pool, even if players are signed below their slot value. In rounds 11-20, players can be signed for up to $150,000 without it counting against the pool. Anything beyond $150,000 starts to impact the team’s signing pool.
As always, a thanks to all the great people who cover the Giants on social media for reporting so much of this information. A special shoutout to Twitter user Coast to Coast Baseball, and reporter Jeff Young.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 14: Shea Langeliers #23 of the Athletics speaks with Dylan Cease #84 of the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
To hear it from some readers, Shea Langeliers is a top catcher in MLB worthy of the All-Star starting gig afforded him by a landslide of fan votes. To hear it from other readers, Langeliers is highly overrated and only reducing his value every month he takes the field and has his shortcomings further exposed.
As usual, the truth is somewhere in between two extremes. We don’t know if the A’s intend for Shea to be their primary catcher through 2028 (when his contract expires), if they will try to deal him this off-season or next, or even as soon as this August 3rd deadline. Internet rumors around Langeliers’ possible available in the next 2 weeks have ramped up but are, at this point, mostly based in opinion and conjecture and not actual inside scoop.
Here is an honest look at the complex statistical landscape that informs Langeliers’ many strengths and many weaknesses both as a hitter and as a defensive catcher — what it all adds up to becomes highly subjective because you will get the good with the bad and you will get the bad with the good, and it’s always anybody’s guess how all these stats will evolve moving forward.
Langeliers’ Batting/Offense: Pros
No one questions that Langeliers is a legitimate power threat. With 29 HR in 2024 and another 31 in 2025, Shea is at it again with 22 HR in 89 games and a great shot at surpassing 30 again in 2026.
wRC+, which comes league and park adjusted, shows Langeliers to be a solidly above average hitter, with a 132 wRC+ last season and 124 wRC+ so far this season. That’s good for anyone, and especially impressive for a catcher.
The past two seasons, Langeliers has brought down his K rate substantially from its previous 34.6%, 29.2%, and 27.2% marks. Not only did they decline each season to a low of 19.7% in 2025, this season’s 22.6% is still very good.
Despite being a catcher, Langeliers provides the lineup with a fast runner. His sprint speed is in the 81st percentile.
Langeliers’ Batting/Offense: Cons
A lot of Langeliers’ 2026 stats are buoyed by an incredible April in which he batted .328/.382/.592, 167 wRC+ with 8 HR in 30 games. He cooled off considerably when the calendar turned to May, and has batted only .225 with a .302 OBP since.
Like so many of the A’s hitters, Langeliers gets a big boost from hitting in West Sacramento (with a Summerlin chaser) half the time. The reality is that on the road, Shea’s numbers begin to look much more pedestrian: .237/.302/.446, 107 wRC+. If that’s closer to “the real Langeliers” it will give other teams pause as to what they should expect if they trade for him.
Langeliers’ Catching: Pros
Langeliers’ ability to control the running game actually remains strong despite the caught stealing data itself. The A’s pitchers routinely fail to keep runners close, a flaw that was vividly on display Sunday as the Nationals took liberties and swiped 6 bases in which Jonah Heim really had little to no chance each time. Statcast rates Langeliers as being in the 84th percentile for “CS above average” because when given a fair shot Shea comes through often.
Langeliers has emerged as one of the better catchers with regard to a new key skill: ABS challenges. Shea ranks 5th in MLB with 51 successful challenges behind the dish and he has been successful on 61% of his tries (not elite, but above average).
Langeliers’ Catching: Cons
While he has improved since his early years, Langeliers is still a liability overall when it comes to blocking errant pitches. He ranks in the 19th percentile in “blocks above average” and his 7 passed balls tie Francisco Alvarez for the most in MLB.
The need for elite framing has been muted some by ABS but it is still an important skill. For one it can force more ABS challenge decisions from the other team and also at times one team or the other (or both) are out of challenges. Langeliers still languishes in the 7th percentile this season in framing.
These flaws have helped keep Langeliers’ FRV (fielding run value) numbers negative each and every season of his career, including 2026 where it currently stands at -4.
A purely subjective concern has been raised on AN and that is pitch calling. How much credit or blame goes to the catcher or to the coaching staff is an open question, as is whether a given catcher’s game calling is excellent, decent, poor, or terrible. There’s no way to measure this, but it has been noted as a source of possible concern. Specifically, Shea seems prone to predictable patterns and to encouraging his pitchers to throw a lot of off speed pitches to open at bats. But this may or may not be a legitimate issue.
What Does It All Add Up To?
Offense: With regard to stats bolstered by a sizzling April, that April did happen and can’t be dismissed. Neither can the reality that May-July has been lukewarm. Langeliers’ uninspiring road stats can’t be ignored but also come in the context that generally players hit better at home and worse on the road. And wRC+ is park adjusted so Shea’s excellent overall stats can’t be waved off as purely a SHP-induced phenomenon.
Conclusion: Langeliers is, in fact, an above average hitter but not an elite one. I would describe him as a “legitimate power threat and a dangerous hitter — but not a great hitter overall, just a good one.”
Defense: Even though you often see poor rushed throws and an uninspiring CS percentage, Langeliers brings strength to controlling the running game and is as good as his pitchers allow him to be. However, he has established over several seasons now that he brings more weaknesses than strengths to the party so as to finish each season in negative FRV territory.
Conclusion: What you get with Langeliers is a “bat first” catcher who is below average defensively overall, but at least brings a couple key skills to recommend him.
Is this a fair assessment, or am I being too harsh, too forgiving? Most to the point of the next 2 weeks or perhaps this off-season, how is Langeliers viewed by the industry and what would teams be willing to offer in order to call him theirs. He’s under contract 2 more years after this one, and service time certainly highly informs value. Discuss.
Draft position is a sensitive topic when it comes to NBA prospects.
Warriors first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg had choice words when asked about Memphis Grizzlies No. 3 overall pick nd former college rival Cameron Boozer, after Golden State took down Memphis 94-90 in the NBA Summer League championship game at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center.
“I think about [revenge] every time I play him,” Lendeborg said of Boozer, whose Duke handed Lendeborg’s Michigan a loss in their regular-season meeting last season (h/t ESPN’s Ben Golliver). “Every game we play, them refs be saving him. … It is a competitive nature [with] everybody that gets drafted ahead of me.”
Warriors' Yaxel Lendeborg on getting revenge against Grizzlies' Cameron Boozer in Las Vegas Summer League championship game after Duke beat Michigan in February: "I think about [revenge] every time I play him. Every game we play, them refs be saving him. … It is a competitive…
The Michigan alum had a fantastic summer, but Boozer wasn’t far behind. The former Blue Devil averaged 18.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game. In their first matchup against one another, Lendeborg displayed his physicality against Boozer.
The Warriors are currently in limbo waiting for LeBron James to make a decision on where he’ll play next season. Lendeborg’s playing time could be impacted based on the outcome. Boozer, on the other hand, will be asked to come in and contribute right away in Memphis.
The Grizzlies traded Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers back in June. Memphis received veteran forward Jerami Grant, reserve wing Kris Murray, and cash considerations in the deal. This trade ended Morant’s seven-year tenure with the Grizzlies.
The Warriors had the second-oldest roster in the NBA last season, so Lendeborg brings much-needed youth to the franchise.
The 2026 NBA Draft class is projected to be one of the best in a long time. The 2003 draft was stacked, and this group of young talent is being compared to the year James, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh entered the league.
Time will tell which players will emerge as NBA stars, and both Lendeborg and Boozer have the potential to become great — with or without the referees.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 02: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres bats during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, July 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
As of right now, both of the teams that the Atlanta Braves will be facing this week are under .500. You’d think that would mean that this could be an opportunity for the Braves to really kick their second-half start into high-gear with two series wins against teams with mediocre records. That definitely could still happen and if the Braves continue to hit like they have during the month of July, it’s certainly possible!
With that being said, this could end up being one of those weeks where things get sideways and that’s because they could be running into one team at exactly the wrong time while it’s seemingly always the wrong time to run into the other club that Atlanta’s facing this week. The Orioles will be hosting the Braves at Camden Yards this weekend and they’re hot at the moment. Starting today, however, the Braves will be facing a Padres team that has just been a nightmare for them to deal with over the past two seasons.
Can the Braves break their hex against San Diego? Will they be able to cool off the O’s? It’s time to take a look at the week ahead.
July 20-23: San Diego Padres
Current Record: 49-50 Projected Record (via FanGraphs): 80-82
The last time the Braves saw the Padres, it went disastrously for Atlanta. Petco Park confirmed itself as the latest house of horror for the Braves as the three-game sweep at the hands of San Diego provided plenty of nightmare fuel for fans across Braves Country. In fact, the Padres may as well be the boogeyman as far as the Braves are concerned since Atlanta has gone 7-19 against San Diego since the start of the 2023 season and including the 2024 NL Wild Card series.
Of course a lot of that is due to Atlanta’s abysmal record at Petco Park but at the same time, the Braves haven’t fared too well against the Padres in Cobb County, either! In fact, the last time these two teams played a four-game series at Truist Park, the Padres ended up taking three-out-of-four. For some reason or another, the Padres have just had Atlanta’s number as of late.
Before the Braves ran into the brick wall that is the Padres, Manny Machado had been having a very underwhelming season at the plate as he had been hitting .179/.259/.366 with a wOBA of .273 and a wRC+ of 73. Then he ran into his good pals from Atlanta and it was as if that walk-off hit he delivered in the series opener reminded him of who he was and how good he can be. Ever since the Braves left town, Machado has hit .258/.383/.530 with a wOBA of .384 and a wRC+ of 147. Considering how well he’s done against the Braves historically and this run that he’s currently on, you can expect him to be a problem yet again.
San Diego will also be starting Michael King on Wednesday and he’s been a problem for the Braves to deal with since donning the brown-and-yellow. Counting the Postseason, two of King’s past three starts against the Braves have seen him go seven scoreless innings. Heading into this start, he’s only given up four runs across 17 innings over his past three starts, so that could be tough sledding for the Braves once again if King continues on his current run of form and his usual sense of comfort when pitching against the Braves.
Guys like Fernando Tatis Jr., Ty France, Sung-Mun Song, Luis Campusano and Miguel Andujar have been swinging the bat well for the Padres lately and you never want to meet Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon in the dark alley that is “trailing the Padres heading into the eighth inning” so there’s still plenty to worry about with this crew. With that being said, they’ve only won one series since sweeping the Braves (a home series against the Blue Jays) and they’ll be coming into Atlanta after having dropped a series against the woeful Royals. With that being said, the Padres did absolutely paddle Kansas City for nineteen runs on their way out so maybe they could be heating up just in time to face a foe that they appear to be really comfortable with as of late.
Monday, July 20, 7:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision) Tuesday, July 21, 7:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision, Gray TV) Wednesday, July 22, 7:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision) Thursday, July 23, 12:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision)
July 24-26: Baltimore Orioles
Current Record: 49-51 Projected Record: 80-82
Everybody knows that the Red Sox are currently on a serious heater, as they’ve won 13-straight games and have vaulted themselves back into the thick of the Postseason conversation. Did you know that coming into this week’s action, the Orioles have won seven straight? Indeed, the Orioles are pretty hot as well and they’re also probably cursing their luck that they started to heat up at exactly the same time as the Red Sox. As a result, the Orioles are still in fourth place and far behind both the Yankees and Rays in the AL East but at the same time, they’re also only two games out of a Wild Card spot. That’s all it takes in this current era of baseball to get into Postseason contention, folks.
Anyways, one of the two streaks will have to end soon as O’s will be facing the Red Sox this week. While the Red Sox have won 13 straight, the O’s have won 10 of their past 13 so it’s not like this’ll just be chalk for the Red Sox since they’re the hotter team. Tyler O’Neill has been swinging a red-hot bat during this stretch (which started on July 1), as he’s mashing at a .316/.381/.947 clip with a .540 wOBA and 258 wRC+ since July 1. Coby Mayo, Blaze Alexander and Taylor Ward have also been tearing it up at the plate during this stretch and then you have players like Jackson Holliday and Dylan Beavers providing plenty of production as well. Our “old friend” Pete Alonso has also been swinging the bat very nicely as of late, so that just adds to the list of concerns heading into this series.
As you can imagine for a team that’s been as hot as Baltimore has been, their pitching has also been excellent in recent times. The O’s will likely be starting Brandon Young, Trevor Rogers and Shane Baz during this series and that’s going to be a challenge since all three of those guys have been doing very well on the mound during this month. The top of Baltimore’s rotation has been keyed in and as I mentioned earlier, the pitching staff has really been locked in to the point where the O’s have had the third-best ERA- (66) and the fifth-best FIP- (89) since the start of July. The O’s could come into this weekend’s series having been humbled by the Red Sox or they could be the new hottest team in baseball — either way, the Braves will have to be on their toes and ready.
Friday, July 24 at 7:05 p.m. ET (BravesVision) Saturday, July 25 at 7:05 p.m. ET (BravesVision) Sunday, July 26 at 1:35 p.m. ET (BravesVision)
Immediately after the Cubs dedicated their newest addition to Gallagher Way, the Champions Gate that commemorates the franchises three World Series wins in 1907, 1908 and 2016, Anthony Rizzo described the special character of the 2016 team, how hard it is to win in baseball, and honestly, what seemed like a bit of luck in how everything came together for that World Series Champion team. Those comments were echoed by his teammates throughout the day, as pitchers reflected on how rare it is for five guys to make 29+ starts a piece, as players reflected on how Joe Maddon really was the perfect manager for this particular crew, you got a sense that yes the 2016 team was the best in baseball that season, and honestly, they also just had a bit of magic around everything they did.
Late Friday afternoon the smoky haze that had been blanketing the area around Wrigley Field cleared out through Saturday evening. It seemed like even the smoke from the Canadian wildfires wasn’t going to interrupt the long-planned celebration of the 2016 team at the corner of Clark and Addison. But maybe that shouldn’t surprise us. This is the team who had a perfectly timed 17-minute rain delay give them a chance to regroup and summon the vibes that carried them all season during one of the greatest Game 7 victories in baseball history.
Prior to Saturday’s game, the area around Gallagher Way was packed with fans. It was standing room only around a VIP area set up. There was a blue carpet where each member of the 2016 team entered to applause from fans. Marquee Sports Network’s Cole Wright served as the master of ceremonies, passing the mic to team owner Tom Ricketts, then Joe Maddon and finally Rizzo, speaking for the players:
Anthony Rizzo on what it meant to win the 2016 World Series and the Champions Gate Dedication – “You guys don't understand how much us players appreciate you fans … these last few days have been the best few days in the last ten years of my life.” 💙 pic.twitter.com/DFFhqrX5bY
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) July 18, 2026
The whole team ultimately dedicated the gate, which also honored the 1907 and 1908 teams, who were represented by the descendants of Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown. The gate has plenty of room for more plaques should the Cubs decide to win another championship (or five, as Rizzo himself requested).
But the remarks really kept returning to the unique moment of 2016, how hard it is to repeat as World Series Champions (including a great quip from David Ross about how what was really missing in 2017 was him), which Rizzo flawlessly segued to a note about how every team is different and winning is really hard.
The 2016 Cubs core weren't able to win more championships, but Anthony Rizzo doesn't look back on those seasons with any regret.
"Winning every day, winning a a ballgame on July 18th against the Minnesota Twins is not easy. So you have to cherish every one of them.," says Rizzo. pic.twitter.com/sY0G5SgyIY
Some of that magic is still clearly following this blessed team around. Given the elite vibes is it really all that surprising that for the second time in as many seasons Anthony Rizzo sat in the bleachers only to have a Cubs home run ball find him?
Anthony Rizzo is wearing his Game 7 jersey from 2016
It was just that type of day at one of baseball’s greatest cathedrals. A ballpark that has seen so many historic moments. This is the ballpark where Babe Ruth called his shot. It’s the only remaining active MLB park where Jackie Robinson played a game. But one thing it had not seen, until 2017, was a victorious Cubs champion team returning with the Commissioner’s Trophy:
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) July 18, 2026
During the top of the fifth inning on Marquee Sports Network, one of the Cubs with multiple rings tried to put it into words. Jon Lester invoked winning “as a belief…obviously…“ However, in listening to him discuss that with Ryan Dempster it became clear, not all teams treat a championship as their destiny. Dempster, specifically described how revealing it was to him to have them just expect to win and how powerful that was in manifesting some good luck and good outcomes.
That luck was on display all afternoon at Wrigley Field, whether it was Michael Busch’s home run finding Rizzo, or the cheer that erupted all around the upper concourse as Dexter Fowler, Jason Heyward and Rizzo made their way around the concourse tossing fans baseballs and taking photos with them. And maybe, just maybe, a little bit of that expectation of winning and things going right rubbed off on the 2026 Cubs a decade later. It’s the best explanation I have for the penultimate play of the game being one of the wildest double plays you’ll ever see. You can see all of the highlights, including an 8-4-2-5-3 double play, below:
In his annual head coach rankings, The Hockey News' Adam Proteau ranked the San Jose Sharks' bench boss, Ryan Warsofsky, 25th in the league.
Warsofsky, 38, just completed his second season running the bench for the Sharks, his fourth season overall in the organization. Through 164 games, the North Marshfield, MA native has led the team in teal to a 59-85-20 record and nearly helped them reach the postseason for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
With Warsofsky heading into the final year of his contract, it's time for him to show the Sharks' General Manager Mike Grier that he has what it takes to lead the team into the postseason, without sacrificing the development of the organization's young core. While playoffs are certainly the expectation, players like Michael Misa, Sam Dickinson and, to a lesser extent, Will Smith would ideally take major steps forward for the 2026-27 season to truly be considered a success in the long run.
Warsofsky ranking in the bottom third of the NHL's head coaches certainly doesn't inspire much confidence heading into the final year of his contract, but now he'll have the opportunity to prove those who are skeptical of his abilities wrong and attempt to earn himself a contract extension in San Jose.
You can't cash home run tickets all week if you don't start on Monday!
These are my top looks to leave the yard, including a double-dose of Kyle Schwarber moonshots to go along with Ben Rice and Colt Keith in these MLB player props.
Here are my favorite MLB picks & home run predictions for Monday, July 20.
Ashcraft has allowed left-handed hitters to do just about whatever they want as of late. Over his last 60 batters faced, lefties have generated a 74.3% elevation rate, 57.1% hard-hit rate, and 14.3% barrel rate. During that stretch, they own a .407 xBA, .825 xSLG, .350 xwOBA, and .319 ISO.
Rice has been crushing right-handed pitching recently as well. Over his last 30 at-bats against righties, he owns a .308 BA, .692 SLG, 1.092 OPS, and .384 ISO. During that span, he has produced a 66.7% hard-hit rate and 22.2% barrel rate.
This is an excellent spot for the All-Star to leave the yard.
Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: YES, SNP
Home run pick: Colt Keith (+415)
Wind blowing out and Jameson Taillon on the mound? Yeah, we need to back a Tiger to go Ya-Ya, and Colt Keith is our guy.
The Detroit Tigers third baseman carries an elite rating on Batters-Box’s current season dataset while covering over 61% of Taillon’s pitch mix. The expected data suggests that arsenal coverage should actually be higher, which is why I am leaning heavily into Keith this evening.
Plus, he has been one of the hottest hitters in the Tigers lineup. Over his last 30 at-bats against right-handed pitching, Keith owns a .654 SLG, 1.021 OPS, .428 wOBA, and .346 ISO, while producing a 47.4% hard hit rate and 15.8% barrel rate.
Taillon has struggled against left-handed bats this season, allowing a 75% elevation rate and 15% barrel rate. Lefties have posted a .553 xSLG, .407 xwOBA, and .315 ISO against him.
At that price, it is hard to pass up on a hitter who is absolutely crushing the baseball.
Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MARQ, DSN
Home run pick: Kyle Schwarber 2+ Home Runs (+1400)
Kyle Schwarber finds himself in a mouthwatering spot tonight, and the books appear to be overcompensating for the matchup. His home run prop is currently well under 2-to-1 and will likely continue to drop as we get closer to first pitch.
However, Schwarber carries an elite rating on Batters-Box while holding an 82.5% arsenal coverage matchup against Dodgers right-hander Emmet Sheehan. Across 107 elite ratings over the last three years, Schwarber has homered nearly 35% of the time.
The Phillies slugger has also been generating nearly 60% hard contact over his last 60 at-bats against right-handed pitching, and I think he is an ideal option for not just one, but two nukes this evening.
Sheehan has struggled against left-handed hitters this season, allowing a 47.4% hard-hit rate and a 73.7% elevation rate to his last 30 faced. Those hitters have produced a .546 xSLG during that stretch.
If you want to play it safe, take the one, but there is far more value in chasing two.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ESPN
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 81-287, +9.8 units
Today’s HR parlay
Ben Rice
Bet Now +29332
Colt Keith
Kyle Schwarber
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.
DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 17: Eugenio Suárez #28 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates with teammates in the dugout his sixth inning solo home run against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With a 50-50 record through 100 games, the Mariners have become the embodiment of that famous Tommy Lasorda quote. They’ve got 62 games left to prove how good or bad they really are. There were glimpses of that competent roster last weekend; Cole Young blasted two huge home runs, Julio Rodriguez collected a walk-off hit in his first game off the IL, and the pitching was mostly solid. Now the trick is to string a few series wins together to build some momentum as the season barrels towards the trade deadline.
It took a historic collapse from the Mets, but the Reds made a surprise playoff appearance last year. It didn’t last long — they were trounced in the Wild Card round by the Dodgers — but it seemed like something promising to build on. Cincinnati got off to a really strong start to this year, but the team has crashed after the first month of the season. Since May 1, the Reds’ 24-42 record is the worst in baseball. There are a few bright spots around the roster; Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart are a solid pair to build a lineup around and Hunter Greene and Chase Burns are a flamethrowing duo to lead the starting rotation. The rest of the roster is rather lackluster, and the wave of young talent that had been working its way through their farm system a few years ago hasn’t panned out at all.
Player
Position
Bats
PA
K%
BB%
ISO
wRC+
Elly De La Cruz
SS
S
354
27.4%
9.6%
0.225
130
Sal Stewart
1B
R
428
21.0%
10.7%
0.221
114
JJ Bleday
LF
L
297
19.9%
13.8%
0.243
124
Spencer Steer
RF
R
371
22.1%
9.2%
0.188
105
Eugenio Suárez
DH
R
279
36.2%
8.6%
0.187
82
Tyler Stephenson
C
R
265
24.9%
10.6%
0.149
95
TJ Friedl
CF
L
222
23.4%
8.1%
0.088
43
Edwin Arroyo
2B
S
114
21.1%
26.0%
0.047
50
Ke’Bryan Hayes
3B
R
139
15.8%
5.8%
0.077
7
Elly De La Cruz is one of the most dynamic, young players in baseball. He possesses an exciting combination of speed and power, and he’s managed to take a pretty big step forward at the plate this year. After an excellent debut last September, Sal Stewart has continued to pound big league pitching in his first full season. His contact quality isn’t great as it was last year, but he’s still been able to crush 20 home runs during his rookie campaign. The lineup goes downhill from there. JJ Bleday is in the middle of a nice bounce ball season and Spencer Steer has turned into a solid utility guy, but Eugeno Suárez is really showing his age now and TJ Friedl and Ke’Bryan Hays simply can’t hit enough to make up for their solid defense.
A fun note: the two position player prospects sent to Cincinnati in the Luis Castillo deal are finally on the major league roster together. Noelvi Marte has had a rough, up-and-down start to his career that included a PED suspension last year. Edwin Arroyo was just recently made his major league debut last month, though he looks pretty overmatched by big league pitching.
It seemed like Andrew Abbott had taken a big step forward last year; his strikeout-to-walk ratio improved to 3.47 and his ERA sat below three, even if his FIP was a little higher at 3.66. He hasn’t been able to replicate that success this season. His strikeout-to-walk ratio has fallen to 1.75 thanks to a huge jump in walk rate. He’s still putting his fastball in the zone a ton, but he’s trying to get batters to chase his secondary offerings outside the zone and it just isn’t working. He’s also suffered from a pretty significant increase in hard contact allowed — contact management was a big reason why he was so successful last year. None of the steps backwards are that big on their own, but taken all together and it’s a recipe for a pretty uneven season.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Chase Burns
102.2
28.6%
9.0%
10.5%
36.1%
2.54
3.40
Luis Castillo
87.2
20.8%
7.2%
10.3%
37.4%
4.93
4.16
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
53.3%
59.4%
97.8
108
81
113
0.324
Changeup
0.2%
9.0%
90.1
89
107
106
0.427
Slider
46.5%
31.6%
90.5
125
155
107
0.195
Chase Burns is one of the most exciting young pitchers in baseball, and he just earned a huge pay day. Last week, the Reds signed him to a seven-year extension to keep him in Cincinnati until 2034. It’s easy to see why they like him so much. He easily reaches triple-digits with his fastball and possesses one of the nastiest sliders in baseball. The depth of his repertoire is pretty limited — right now, he’s working with the Spencer Strider two-pitch special — but he’s dabbled with a changeup and a curveball, though neither of those pitches is ready for primetime. It doesn’t really matter right now because his slider is so unhittable, and his fastball so difficult to square up, that he’s thriving without the need for a third or fourth pitch.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Brady Singer
96.2
19.2%
7.2%
18.6%
43.0%
4.56
5.44
Emerson Hancock
99.1
24.1%
6.4%
11.0%
41.0%
3.17
3.66
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
2.3%
3.8%
90.6
94
Sinker
51.6%
45.4%
91.3
98
106
83
0.362
Cutter
4.7%
8.4%
86.8
79
91
78
0.461
Slider
25.1%
33.2%
82.5
86
110
68
0.294
Sweeper
16.3%
9.2%
81.6
86
130
101
0.316
Brady Singer is in the midst of the worst season of his career. Yes, his ERA isn’t as high as it was in 2023 when it was over five, but his peripherals have all taken a dive this season and his FIP has shot up to a career-high as a result. He’s lost a full tick off his fastball velocity, further degrading an already mediocre pitch. His two breaking balls are decent enough, especially against right-handed batters, but neither is very effective against opposite-handed opponents. He could really use a changeup to keep lefties at bay; instead, he’s tried to add a cutter to his pitch mix but that pitch has been crushed.
The Big Picture:
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Rangers
50-49
0.505
—
-31
L-W-L-W-L
Mariners
50-50
0.500
0.5
+13
L-W-L-W-W
Astros
47-54
0.465
4.0
-53
W-L-L-L-L
Athletics
42-57
0.424
8.0
-114
L-L-L-W-L
Angels
39-61
0.390
11.5
-62
L-L-L-L-W
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Yankees
55-44
0.556
+4.5
+85
W-W-L-L-W
Guardians
52-48
0.520
+1.0
-12
W-W-L-W-L
Red Sox
50-48
0.510
—
+45
W-W-W-W-W
Mariners
50-50
0.500
1.0
+13
L-W-L-W-W
Twins
49-51
0.490
2.0
-24
W-W-W-L-L
Orioles
49-51
0.490
2.0
-13
W-W-W-W-W
The Mariners gained a game on the Rangers after they dropped their weekend series against the Braves. Texas hosts the White Sox this week before a huge showdown against the M’s this weekend. The Astros were swept by the Orioles this past weekend, dropping to four games back in the division. Meanwhile, Baltimore has won seven straight and played their way onto the fringe of the Wild Card race. The O’s aren’t even the hottest team in baseball — that’s the Red Sox who have now won 13 in a row and are now in possession of the final Wild Card spot, a game ahead of the Mariners.
Ben Rice
Colt Keith
Kyle Schwarber 2+ HR
