PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 30: Rafael Devers #16 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates in the dugout during the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Brendon Baranov/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
Another week of San Francisco Giants baseball comes to a close this weekend, so it’s time to make our picks for Player of the Week!
I’m picking Rafael Devers this week, specifically for his performance in last Saturday’s 5-0 win over the Atlanta Braves, in which he hit TWO home runs, knocking in four RBI in the process. As of the time this is being written, he also has a hitting streak going for seven of the last eight games. Not a bad week, in my opinion.
Who is your pick for Player of the Week?
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants play game two of this three-game series against the Colorado Rockies tonight at 5:10 p.m. PT.
Saturday's schedule is packed with intriguing matchups from start to finish, and I've broken down my favorite MLB picks for every game on the board.
From heavyweight contenders to live underdogs, these predictions are based on current form, pitching matchups, and where I see the biggest edge heading into first pitch.
MLB moneyline picks for July 4
Matchup
Pick
Pirates vs Nationals
-117
Twins vs Yankees
-170
Tigers vs Rangers
-122
Blue Jays vs Mariners
-138
Orioles vs Reds
+122
Rays vs Astros
-104
White Sox vs Guardians
-127
Cardinals vs Cubs
-127
Mets vs Braves
-163
Giants vs Rockies
-133
Phillies vs Royals
-138
Red Sox vs Angels
-138
Marlins vs Athletics
+113
Brewers vs Diamondbacks
-144
Padres vs Dodgers
-233
Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 7-4.
Trade on the MLB at Polymarket!
Sign up now using our exclusive Polymarket promo code'COVERS' (on your mobile app only) and get a $50 trading bonus after you deposit $50 to trade on any other event contracts — including MLB moneylines!
Sign Up Now at Polymarket
*Eligible locations only
Expert MLB moneyline picks for July 4
Pirates vs Nationals: Pirates (-117)
Pirates win probability: 54%
Pittsburgh is simply the better team right now. The Pirates own one of the league's best offenses, ranking near the top in batting average, OPS, and hits, while Washington continues to struggle on the mound. Zack Littell's ERA sits north of five, and that's a tough matchup against a lineup that consistently puts the ball in play. I'll back the deeper, more complete club.
Twins vs Yankees: Yankees (-170)
Yankees win probability: 63%
This one starts with the pitching matchup. Minnesota has been one of baseball's worst teams at preventing runs, while the Yankees lead the majors in ERA and continue to get quality starts from Carlos Rodón. New York also brings the league's top home run offense, giving it another edge if this turns into a power game. The Yankees are the side.
Tigers vs Rangers: Rangers (-122)
Rangers win probability: 55%
Neither offense has lit the world on fire this season, so I'll trust the steadier starter and the home team. Cal Quantrill has quietly put together a strong year, while Jack Flaherty has struggled to find consistency. Texas has been slightly better offensively across the board, and in what projects as a close game, that's enough to get my vote.
Blue Jays vs Mariners: Mariners (-138)
Mariners win probability: 58%
Toronto has been better at putting the ball in play, but Seattle has the much stronger pitching staff, and that's the difference for me. The Mariners rank among the league leaders in ERA, WHIP, and runs allowed, while Luis Gilbert has been one of their most reliable arms. In a game where runs could be hard to come by, I'll side with the better staff.
Orioles vs Reds: Orioles (+122)
Orioles win probability: 45%
Neither bullpen has been particularly trustworthy, so I'll lean on the better lineup. Baltimore has been more consistent getting on base and creating scoring chances, while Brandon Young has given the Orioles a solid chance to win nearly every time out. Cincinnati has enough power to stay in it, but Baltimore is the more complete team.
Rays vs Astros: Rays (-104)
Rays win probability: 51%
Everything points toward Tampa Bay. The Rays have been the better team on both sides of the ball, ranking near the top of baseball in batting average, on-base percentage, ERA, and WHIP. Houston still has dangerous hitters, but its pitching staff has been far too inconsistent. With Drew Rasmussen on the mound, I'll gladly back Tampa.
White Sox vs Guardians: Guardians (-127)
Guardians win probability: 56%
The White Sox actually own the better offensive numbers, but I'm still backing Cleveland. Parker Messick has been one of the more effective starters in this matchup, and the Guardians continue to do a much better job limiting runs than Chicago. Pitching usually wins games like this, and Cleveland has the edge where it matters most.
Cardinals vs Cubs: Cubs (-127)
Cubs win probability: 56%
Chicago has the edge almost everywhere I look. The Cubs rank near the top of the league in runs scored, OPS, and on-base percentage, while the Cardinals have struggled to generate consistent offense. This isn't a matchup where I want to overthink things. Chicago has the better lineup and enough pitching to take care of business at Wrigley.
Mets vs Braves: Braves (-163)
Braves win probability: 62%
This is Atlanta's matchup to lose. The Braves own the edge offensively, defensively, and on the mound, and Chris Sale has been one of the best starters in baseball with a 2.10 ERA. Sean Manaea has struggled to find consistency, while the Mets rank near the bottom of the league in just about every major offensive category. I'll lay it with Atlanta.
Giants vs Rockies: Giants (-133)
Giants win probability: 57%
Colorado's offense has been solid, but the Rockies simply don't get enough outs. They rank dead last in both ERA and WHIP, and that's a dangerous combination against Robbie Ray, who's quietly put together another strong season. San Francisco doesn't need to light up the scoreboard here—they just need to take advantage of one of baseball's weakest pitching staffs.
Phillies vs Royals: Phillies (-138)
Phillies win probability: 58%
Kansas City has been competitive, but Philadelphia checks more boxes. The Phillies have the better lineup, more power, and a clear edge on the mound with Jesús Luzardo facing Michael Wacha. Kansas City's pitching staff has struggled to keep runs off the board all season, and that's not the recipe you want against a Phillies offense that can score in a hurry.
Red Sox vs Angels: Red Sox (-138)
Red Sox win probability: 58%
Boston isn't an offensive powerhouse, but this matchup sets up well. The Red Sox have been the better pitching team all season, and Sonny Gray has been outstanding with a sub-3.00 ERA. The Angels have a little more pop in the lineup, but they've consistently given those runs back with shaky pitching. I'll trust Boston's starter to be the difference.
Marlins vs Athletics: Marlins (+113)
Marlins win probability: 47%
These teams are fairly even offensively, but Miami gets the nod because of the pitching matchup. Sandy Alcantara has looked much closer to his old self this year, while the Athletics continue to rank near the bottom of the league in ERA and WHIP. The Marlins don't need a huge offensive night if Alcantara gives them another quality start.
Brewers vs Diamondbacks: Brewers (-144)
Brewers win probability: 59%
Milwaukee has been one of the more complete teams in baseball, and the numbers back it up. The Brewers rank near the top of the league in runs scored, ERA, WHIP, and on-base percentage, while Arizona has struggled on both sides of the ball. Brandon Woodruff also owns a big edge over Merrill Kelly. This is one of my stronger leans on the board.
Padres vs Dodgers: Dodgers (-233)
Dodgers win probability: 70%
There's no need to overcomplicate this one. The Dodgers lead baseball in runs, batting average, OPS, ERA, and WHIP, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto gets the ball against a Padres starter carrying an ERA over seven. San Diego simply hasn't hit enough to overcome that kind of mismatch. Los Angeles is the deserved favorite.
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.
There is a lot of talk about the 23-3 blasting of the Padres below, and plenty of talk about Dansby Swanson hitting out of his mind, so I won’t regurgitate all the names, numbers and legends involved.
I was just reflecting on this first half of the season. No matter where the Cubs finish this season, it will still be a season to remember. Two 10-game winning streaks in a 23-game span when everything was clicking. A 10-game losing streak when it all was falling apart. PCA doing things just a couple of guys have done before. Swanson matching a gathering of legends. While they were killing it, Seiya Suzuki was steadily pumping out key hits and improved defensive play. Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ and Michael Conforto are starting stir a bit at the plate. All of this during a 15-4 run in the Cubs’ last 19 games. And don’t forget the 10 walk-off wins they have already collected. All in all, the Cubs have positioned themselves for a run for the Central Division title.
Yes, we have to hold our breath with each start and pitching change as the staff keeps its head just above water. But there have been some remarkable games and performances we won’t forget.
*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.
Steve Drumwright (North Side Baseball): Drew Pomeranz Returns To Cubs’ Bullpen. “The left-hander had been released by the Angels a couple weeks ago, but finds a second life in 2026 with Chicago, where he pitched last season.”
Tyler Courtney (LastWordOnSports): Who Can Fill the Gap in the Cubs Right Field? “The combination of (Seiya Suzuki and Matt Shaw) left the team feeling confident, with solid depth across the rest of the organization. However, that has quickly taken a turn for the worse due to injuries. Now, the team is desperate to find a solution as it looks to build on its recent hot streak.”
Food For Thought:
Big ED Sullivan comes from Brooklyn, New York. He grew not far from the Gowanus canal, but god knows he never fished there! But, he spent hours and hours shaprening his talents on guitar and harmonica while watching his friends falling like flies, victims of drugs and gang wars.
“Yes,” says ED, “Music for me was an escape, but at the same time, it was really what saved me from the street and from a choice that could have ruined my life.” It was this escape, like the influence of some of the great names of the blues and rockabilly — such as Slim Harpo, Albert Collins, Danny Gatton and Link Wray — which inspired Ed’s style. All these musicians hold a special place in Ed’s list of musical gods. No one plays the guitar like Ed. He has a way of transforming a melody of traditional blues or rockabilly by adding all his personality to it. His slide guitar playing is perfectly wild.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
Nov 9, 2025; Mesa, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies infielder Charlie Condon during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) will tell you the adjustment was not dramatic.
In Eli Whitney’s Weekly Pebble Report, the Rockies’ top prospect described his midseason surge in fairly modest terms. There were some tweaks with his “load and gather,” a growing comfort in his swing, and a better ability to stay within himself instead of trying to force damage early in counts.
Condon’s June was not subtle: The power finally arrived. The question is whether the surge is being supported by something more than a hot stretch.
Across 22 games in June, Condon slugged .778 with nine home runs and 30 RBI. That surge pushed his full-season line to .296/.419/.612 with a 1.033 OPS, 20 home runs and a 145 wRC+. For a player selected third overall in 2024 largely because of his offensive ceiling, a surge of that magnitude carries weight. This is the production the Rockies were waiting to see.
The production is the headline. The process underneath it is what makes the breakout worth taking seriously.
The approach was already there
Condon’s underlying data does not simply show a hitter who got hot. It shows a hitter whose selectivity, damage and swing-and-miss are beginning to interact in a more encouraging way. Even so, there is still risk in his profile, and it does not make his eventual transition to Denver automatic. It does, however, give real analytical context to what Condon told Eli: He is trusting the swing more, getting deeper into counts with more confidence, and doing a better job punishing mistakes.
The plate discipline is the easiest place to start. Condon has walked at a 14.6% clip while chasing only 18.0% of pitches outside the zone. That is the foundation of the profile. He is not expanding the zone to get to his power, and for a hitter with Condon’s raw strength, that matters.
The key is that this was not a brand-new approach. Condon was already patient earlier in the season. What changed is that the patience has started producing damage.
Making patience more dangerous
The rolling data shows the shape of the adjustment: Condon’s expected slugging and hard-hit rate have climbed while his swing rate has drifted down and his whiff rate has backed off its rougher midseason peak. He is not chasing power by simply swinging more. He is doing more damage while becoming more selective.
Condon’s quote about chase is useful because discipline is not just refusal. It is confidence. His best stretch has not come from abandoning patience. It has come from making patience more dangerous.
The damage matters because the approach still gives pitchers a path. Condon’s overall swing rate sits at 39.7%. His zone-swing rate is 62.8%. His zone-contact rate is 79.9%, and his whiff rate is 28.4%. If the damage is not there, pitchers have every reason to attack him in the zone, steal early-count strikes and trust the swing-and-miss to show up before he hurts them.
That is what makes the recent stretch important. Condon controls the zone well, but he also gives pitchers a reason to believe they can enter it. The more he punishes mistakes when they do, the harder it becomes for that plan to survive.
Patience comes with risk. A low chase rate is a strength, but MLB pitchers do not have to live outside the zone if a hitter is willing to take strikes. Against Condon, the plan may be less about getting him to chase immediately and more about stealing early-count strikes, getting ahead and using spin to finish the at-bat.
The secondary-pitch question is more complicated
Condon is already punishing fastballs. Against four-seamers, he has produced a .417 xwOBA, .421 xSLG, +11.1 Run Value (RV) and a 61.1% hard-hit rate. That matters because MLB pitchers are unlikely to build their plan around simply challenging him with fastballs in the zone. The next test is how well they can use breaking balls and offspeed pitches to keep him from getting to that damage.
The slider results show why the question is not as simple as “Can he hit spin?” Condon has a .628 xSLG and +7.3 RV against sliders, so the damage is real. But the 38.9% whiff rate means pitchers still have a reason to keep testing him there.
The margins are thinner elsewhere. Against sweepers and changeups, Condon has still produced positive run value, but the expected slugging is more modest — .370 xSLG against sweepers and .386 xSLG against changeups — while the whiff rates sit above 37% on both pitch types.
Fastballs are getting punished. Sliders are dangerous both ways. Sweepers and changeups look more like the pressure points MLB pitchers may try to exploit. Run value says the overall results have worked in Triple-A. Expected slugging and whiff rate show where those results could be tested by better execution.
Pitch Type
Usage
RV
xwOBA
xSLG
xBA
Whiff %
Hard Hit %
Swing %
4-Seam
28.20 %
11.1
.417
.421
.271
22.45 %
61.11 %
38.3 %
Slider
23.80 %
7.3
.428
.628
.261
38.93 %
41.46 %
40.4 %
Sinker
12.80 %
-0.3
.382
.484
.310
12.16 %
48.72 %
42.5 %
Change
11.10 %
4.1
.333
.386
.245
37.14 %
29.17 %
46.4 %
Cutter
7.60 %
4.4
.301
.301
.195
15.79 %
52.38 %
54.8 %
Sweeper
7.30 %
1.9
.287
.370
.187
39.29 %
50 %
28 %
Curve
5.40 %
-1.1
.168
.166
.124
33.33 %
0 %
24.3 %
Splitter
2.10 %
-0.5
.169
.087
.058
50 %
50 %
35.7 %
This is where the pitch-type table reaches its limit. It can show the pressure points, but it cannot show the progression of the at-bat. For Condon, that progression is the point: the same patient foundation that was producing walks and playable contact in April is now creating chances to do damage.
The progress shows up pitch by pitch
In April against Sacramento, Condon was already showing the approach. He was working counts, taking walks and forcing pitchers to execute, but the contact was not consistently changing the way pitchers had to attack him. Against Carson Whisenhunt, he walked in a six-pitch plate appearance, later doubled on an 83.3 mph changeup in a seven-pitch at-bat, and added a 101.0 mph sacrifice fly in a five-pitch plate appearance. The approach was competitive, but the double was a 94.6 mph ground ball at a 5-degree launch angle — useful contact, not the kind of impact that forces pitchers to rethink the plan.
That is the important baseline. Condon was not trying to become patient. He already was patient. The question was whether that approach would start producing enough damage.
The July 1 matchup against Marco Gonzales showed the later version.
Condon’s first at-bat against Gonzales was a six-pitch triple. Gonzales started him with a cutter for a called strike, then mixed a cutter, another cutter, a four-seam fastball and a changeup. Condon stayed in the at-bat, ran the count full and drove an 86.8 mph cutter for a 390-foot triple at 95.2 mph off the bat.
Then came the ambush. In the third inning, Gonzales opened the next plate appearance with an 80.9 mph changeup, and Condon hit it 103.5 mph at a 31-degree launch angle for a 397-foot home run. That at-bat lasted one pitch.
His third look at Gonzales showed the fuller version of the progress. In a six-pitch plate appearance, Gonzales changed speeds and shapes: cutter, fastball, curveball, cutter, changeup, fastball. Condon fouled off the first cutter, took a fastball off the plate, took a curveball below the zone, fouled off another cutter, then took a changeup to run the count full.
The sixth pitch was a 90.1 mph four-seam fastball. Condon hit it 101.8 mph at a 26-degree launch angle for a 385-foot home run.
That is the difference. The April version was taking pitches and working counts. The July version is doing that while turning the eventual mistake into damage.
The July 2 double against Ryan Lobus added a breaking-ball example without needing as much space. In a six-pitch plate appearance, Condon took two sweepers for balls, watched two more sweepers land for called strikes, took a fastball to run the count full, then drove an 81.2 mph sweeper 108.9 mph for a double. It was a deep count, it was spin, and it was loud contact.
Condon can miss breaking balls and off-speed, but he can also hurt them. The next test is whether more advanced pitchers can separate his selectivity from his damage often enough to keep him from changing the game.
The question has changed
At this point, the more interesting question is whether Triple-A can keep sharpening the test. Condon is walking, not chasing, doing damage, adjusting deeper in counts and forcing pitchers to pay when they come into the zone. The remaining question is whether the balance of patience and impact holds against big-league spin, better sequencing and pitchers with better command of how to attack him.
That does not make the call-up decision simple, and it does not guarantee an easy first month in Denver. But Condon has moved beyond simple prospect hype. The power everyone was waiting on has arrived, and it is showing up without him abandoning the strike-zone control that made the profile so interesting in the first place.
Condon looks ready for the next test, and increasingly, that test looks like one that may have to come at the big-league level.
Whether that happens next week, next month or later in the season is up to the Rockies.
The Albuquerque Isotopes (44-41) used early offense, late insurance, and a strong start from Keegan Thompson to handle the Round Rock Express (37-48) in an 8-2 win on Friday night.
Brenton Doyle got Albuquerque moving with a one-out solo homer to left-center field in the first inning. Doyle’s first AAA home run of the year traveled 356 feet with a 96.9 mph exit velocity. He finished 2-for-5 with the homer, his second double, and two RBI.
The Isotopes added on in the second inning with three straight two-out RBI doubles. Adael Amador drove in Drew Avans with his 10th double of the season, Doyle followed with a double to score Amador, and Sterlin Thompson added his seventh double to bring in Doyle. Amador went 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, and a run scored, pushing his OPS to .768.
Albuquerque put the game away late. Jordan Beck opened the eighth with his second home run of the season, sending an outer-edge changeup to left-center for a 355-foot homer. Beck later added an RBI single in the ninth and finished 2-for-5 with two RBI, bringing his season OPS to .879. Bryant Betancourt added an RBI single in the eighth and finished 2-for-5 with his first AAA stolen base.
Keegan Thompson worked five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and three walks with five strikeouts. He improved to 2-4 and lowered his ERA to 4.04. His biggest outs came with runners on, including strikeouts to end both the third and fourth innings. Domingo Acevedo covered the final four innings, allowing two unearned runs on two hits with three strikeouts to earn his first save.
The Isotopes finished with 15 hits, went 6-for-13 with runners in scoring position, and produced five two-out RBI. Round Rock managed five hits and went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
The Somerset Patriots (42-37) held off a late push from the Hartford Yard Goats (42-36) in a 5-3 win on Friday night.
Hartford had the baserunners to make this one look different, but missed chances shaped the loss. The Yard Goats finished with eight hits, drew eight walks, and went just 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position while leaving 11 on base.
Jack O’Dowd stayed hot in his first week at Double-A. O’Dowd started at catcher and went 2-for-4 with a walk, his second double, and an RBI. Through his first four Double-A games, he is hitting .375/.444/.875 with a 1.319 OPS.
Roc Riggio also reached three times, going 2-for-4 with a walk and his 19th double of the season. Riggio now has an .837 OPS. Dyan Jorge added an RBI single and a walk, while Andy Perez drove in a run during Hartford’s ninth-inning push.
The pitching split was sharp. Stu Flesland III opened with two scoreless innings, and Michael Prosecky followed with a clean third, but Fisher Jameson allowed all of Somerset’s damage after taking over following a rain delay. Jameson gave up five runs on five hits, three walks, and two home runs over four innings, raising his ERA to 9.26.
Hartford got one run back in the fifth, then made Somerset work in the ninth. Mike Antico singled, Jorge walked, and Perez singled home Antico to cut the deficit to 5-2. O’Dowd then brought in Jorge on a force-out, but Aidan Longwell lined out to end the game with the tying run still at the plate.
The Spokane Indians (38-41) scored early and got enough pitching to beat the Hillsboro Hops (38-41) in a 4-2 win on Friday night.
Spokane built its lead in the first two innings. Tommy Hopfe opened the game with a single, Roynier Hernandez walked, and Ethan Hedges drove in Hopfe with a single to left. Jacob Humphrey followed with his 12th double of the season, bringing in Hernandez and Hedges to give the Indians a 3-0 lead.
Hopfe helped set the table again in the second with his 15th double of the season, and Hedges brought him home with another RBI single. Hopfe finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored and carries an .846 OPS on the season. Hernandez reached four times, going 1-for-2 with three walks and a run scored, raising his season OPS to .850.
Hedges and Humphrey drove the offense. Hedges went 2-for-5 with two RBI, giving him 42 on the season, while Humphrey went 1-for-3 with a walk, his 12th double, and two RBI to push his season total to 28. Spokane finished 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Bryson Hammer gave the Indians a strong start, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out seven, improved to 4-6, and now owns a 5.26 ERA. Hunter Mann followed with three innings of one-run ball, allowing three hits and striking out one. Nathan Blasick handled the ninth with two strikeouts to earn his sixth save and lower his ERA to 3.20.
The Fresno Grizzlies (43-36) kept answering and eventually walked off the Ontario Tower Buzzers (41-38) in a 10-9 win on Friday night.
Fresno trailed 2-0 after the top of the first, but Roldy Brito and Wilder Dalis helped erase it right away. Brito singled in the bottom half, and Dalis drove him in with his 11th double of the season. Jesus Freitez followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2.
Brito was in the middle of everything for Fresno. He went 4-for-4 with a walk, a run scored, and two doubles, pushing his season line to a .322 average and .872 OPS. Dalis also had a big night, going 2-for-5 with his 11th double, his sixth home run, two RBI, and two runs scored. He now has an .832 OPS.
The Grizzlies kept climbing back after Ontario built leads of 6-3, 8-5, and 9-6. Cameron Nelson hit his fourth home run of the season in the fourth, a two-run shot that cut the deficit to 6-5. Dalis homered in the fifth, and Jeremy Ciriaco added his second home run in the sixth to make it 9-7.
Fresno tied it in the seventh without needing a big swing. Freitez singled, Ashly Andujar was hit by a pitch, Ciriaco walked, and Yeiker Reyes brought in Freitez with a sacrifice fly.
The ninth inning was messy, but Fresno took advantage. Reyes singled, Nelson walked, and Brito walked to load the bases with two outs. Luis Mendez was then hit by a pitch, forcing in Reyes for the walk-off run.
Fresno rarely had a clean inning on the mound, but Dylan Crooks struck out one in a perfect ninth inning to earn the win.
AP looks at Hunter Goodman’s season through both sides of the ABS system. Goodman’s power has already made him one of the Rockies’ clearest All-Star cases, but his value has extended behind the plate, too, where his strike-zone feel has translated into one of the better challenge records among catchers. It is another reminder that with Goodman it is not just about the home runs — it is also about how much more complete his profile has become.
With the draft just a week away, MLB.com’s latest mock has the Rockies going back to the college position-player pool at No. 10, targeting an outfielder whose profile is built more around the hit tool and plate discipline than pure power. There is still some pitching intrigue here, though, with at least one college arm mentioned as a possible fit if Colorado decides to chase upside on the mound instead.
Kevin Henry looks at why TJ Rumfield’s rookie season still has not fully broken through nationally despite the production. Rumfield has now won back-to-back NL Rookie of the Month honors, and the underlying case is strong: he leads qualified NL rookies in several major offensive categories, including average, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, and hits. The question is whether voters will look past the Rockies’ record, the Coors Field factor, and the lower defensive spotlight that comes with playing first base.
Feb 13, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets left fielder MJ Melendez (1) takes batting practice during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
MJ Melendez broke the 6-6 tie in the bottom of the seventh with a go-ahead two-run home run that led Syracuse to victory. Jorge Polance reached base once in his rehab appearance.
The Rumble Ponies scored four runs, but Nick Lucky was the driver, driving in three-runs and stealing a base. R.J. Gordon was good, going five and striking out two, allowing no runs.
The Cyclones hit three home runs in their loss to the Keys. The Mets were in the hole early, as Dakota Hawkins gave up six runs (five earned) in two innings pitched.
The Tarpons scored in the second off of Christian Rodriguez, who allowed seven hits across his three and two-thirds innings of work. From there, the St. Lucie bullpen was phenomenal, allowing no baserunners in five and a third innings, striking out nine. Unfortunately, the Mets couldn’t push a run across on their five hits.
Jan 29, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) controls the ball as Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) defends during the first quarter at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
This past NBA season, there was a fascinating Rookie of the Year race between former Duke roommates Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel.
Everyone expected Dallas Maverick Flagg to be the leading contender, but not many thought Charlotte Hornet Knueppel would be there.
Now we move on to their respective careers, and who might be in position to win a championship first. And while most people would concede the talent advantage to Flagg, things may be different when it comes to their teams.
The Mavericks have overhauled their front office, bringing in Masai Ujiri, who has an excellent reputation. He’s made several interesting moves. He hired Mike Schmitz as his GM, fired Jason Kidd as coach, hired Michigan’s Dusty May to replace him, and drafted May’s frontcourt utility man Morez Johnson, along with Sergio de Larrea, and Virginia Tech’s Toby Lawal. He’s made a number of other behind-the-scenes moves revolving around scouting and analytics.
The Mavericks are almost certainly heading in the right direction.
But Charlotte is way ahead of them.
GM Jeff Peterson has made some brilliant moves of his own. His most acclaimed effort so far was drafting Knueppel, but he also picked up Sion James, which in retrospect was a smart second-round pick. This year, he selected Hannes Steinbach and Christian Anderson. He got one good year out of the erratic and oft-injured LaMelo Ball, then traded him to Minnesota for Naz Reid and a bunch of draft picks before he could flake out again. They then sent Miles Bridges to Phoenix for Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and more draft picks.
Then Peterson got Dorian Finney-Smith from Houston for nothing. Yes, it was a salary dump, but Finney-Smith is an excellent defender and reputedly a solid presence in the locker room.
And the Rockets kicked in draft picks, too, which in some ways, is the most interesting thing Charlotte has done lately.
The Hornets now have two first-round picks in 2026, up to 3 in 2027, 1 in 2028, and multiple picks in 2029 and beyond.
As for second-round picks, they have 20 over the next seven years.
In other words, if a rising young star – hypothetically Cade Cunningham, VJ Edgecombe, or Paolo Banchero – decided to force a trade, Charlotte has the assets to make a move like that happen.
In other words, the Hornets absolutely have the potential to become an elite NBA team.
Dallas isn’t in quite as good of a situation, but with a transcendent talent like Flagg, assuming they draft well, they can pick up the pieces they need via free agency.
And Flagg will draw other players. His new coach, May, says that the chance to work with a player like Flagg was a major part of his decision. He won’t be the last guy to say that.
Boston, MA - June 28: Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Sonny Gray tips his cap to the fans after he was taken out of the game in the seventh inning. The Boston Red Sox played the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on June 28, 2026. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
For the next few weeks we’ll be doing some theorizing on optimal returns at the trade deadline as the Red Sox look to do another tear down amidst a hopeless season. This week, it’s Sonny Gray—and unlike last week’s Chapman conversation, this one comes with a wrinkle.
Week two of Sock Drawer. Last week it was Aroldis Chapman and a relatively clean simulation—the Sox have the asset, contenders want it, Breslow sets the price. This week is messier, because Sonny Gray has a no-trade clause, and that changes the whole conversation.
Gray has been one of the few things working on this roster in 2026. This season, he’s commanding a 2.69 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 75 strikeouts across 83.2 innings. He’s somehow 9-1. On a team that’s going nowhere and gives NO support for its starting pitching. As a 36-year-old who wasn’t supposed to be anyone’s ace, that’s not a just real asset. That’s a legitimate AL Cy Young contender, and the market is starting to understand what it’s looking at. The Braves, Cubs, Brewers, Giants, and others are already circling. Jon Heyman has Atlanta’s name attached.
The complication is clearly the NTC. Gray restructured his contract when he came to Boston—the Cardinals are covering $20 million of his $31 million salary, meaning an acquiring team only owes the prorated remainder plus a $10 million buyout on a mutual option. That’s manageable. But Gray gets final say on the destination, and he’s been measured about it: “If someone came to me from the Red Sox and made a decision that that’s the direction this team was going to go, I would be open for a conversation.”
Open for a conversation is not a yes. The Sox can’t just shop him to the highest bidder. The field narrows to places Gray would actually approve. Frankly, I don’t blame Gray for being measured about it. I would think even for his age and long career, staying settled in one city might be more important to him and his family than title chasing.
The whole situation is actually fine if you’re looking at things from Craig Breslow’s perspective. The teams that make sense for Gray make sense for the Sox, and the NTC creates a different kind of leverage. The places Gray would approve are serious contenders with real farm systems (for the most oart), and serious contenders with real farm systems don’t get to lowball you. If you’re smart.
One more complication: Connelly Early just went to the IL with an elbow injury. On the surface, you might think that makes Breslow more reluctant to move Gray, now that the rotation has lost two legitimate arms and he’s even more exposed. That’s not wrong. But on a team that’s going nowhere, “we need pitching depth” is not a reason to hold a guy you can turn into a top prospect or a real bullpen piece. Early going down hurts the on-field product. It doesn’t change the deadline ethos.
There’s also a decision Breslow has to make before he picks up the phone: how much salary relief is Boston putting in? The answer to that question changes the return completely.
If Boston eats a chunk of salary: the acquiring team’s cost drops, Gray becomes easier to move, and the Sox can push for a real prospect from the top of the system.
If the full contract goes with him: the team absorbs more cost, and what comes back is an MLB piece, a bullpen arm who can contribute now rather than a name on a list, but isn’t the most valuable in general.
Neither is wrong, it just depends on what Breslow thinks this team needs more. I’ll give you both just to show you what that means.
Atlanta is the most obvious match here and maybe the most likely destination if this deal gets done. Their rotation is beaten up more than a room in Magic City—Spencer Strider, Joey Wentz, Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver are all missing some time—and the Braves are still contending, which means they need a real arm, not a depth add. Gray is exactly that.
The NTC nearly solves itself. Gray is from Nashville. Atlanta is close, the organization is stable, and the Braves have been in October almost every year for half a decade. If I were him, I would approve this one. Breslow knows that and should price accordingly. The fact that Gray probably says yes to Atlanta when he might say no to someone else is leverage, not a concession.
Murphy is the arm I want here. He dominated High-A in limited action before the injury, has one of the higher ceilings left in an admittedly thin Braves system, and fits the pitching-for-pitching logic cleanly. If Atlanta pushes back on Murphy, Southisene is the alternative, different profile, still a legitimate top-five piece from a system that isn’t deep enough to be holding onto anyone. The Braves farm being ranked near the bottom of the league is exactly why the salary relief matters here. Boston is making the deal easier in exchange for a sweetened pot.
If the full salary goes with Gray, Dodd gives you a back-end MLB starter with some upside who could slot into a Boston rotation that always needs arms. Lee is the more established bullpen piece, lefty, track record, knows how to get hitters out. Either is a legitimate MLB contributor, not a lottery ticket. In a year where the Sox bullpen has been a problem, adding a proven arm to that mix has real value even if it doesn’t change the rebuild timeline.
Full salary — Phil Maton (RH) or Porter Hodge (RHP)
Chicago’s rotation is a mess and they know it. Two Tommy Johns, two hammies, a neck, a back, you may as well walk into the recovery ward of any ER Northside and see the venerable Cubs starting rotation. They had to trade for David Peterson just to stay afloat right now! If the Cubs are going to make a run, they need another reliable starter, and Gray is the definition of a reliable, veteran presence, experience in big games, innings-eater who won’t need to be pulled in the fourth. The fit is clean.
The double-package angle is worth noting: there’s real reporting floating around that Chicago could go after both Gray and Chapman in the same deal. Whether that’s actually on the table or just a fun idea that got written up is unclear—I get it with Chapman winning the WS in 2016 with the Cubbies—but if Breslow can work that angle, he should. Two complementary needs from one buyer is a GM’s dream negotiation.
Wiggins is the one I want from Chicago. He just cracked the top 100 and the scouting reports have gotten genuinely interesting, the stuff was always there, now the polish is catching up. The Cubs system has thinned out from where it was a couple of years ago (Shaw and Horton graduated, Caissie got traded), which makes Wiggins the clear headliner of what’s left. Pitcher for pitcher makes the most sense for both sides.
Full salary to Chicago means pushing for Maton or Hodge. Maton is a power arm with swing-and-miss stuff who would fit well in the back of a Boston bullpen that needs exactly that. Hodge is the younger option with more upside but less certainty. Either gives the Sox a real MLB reliever back, which is a reasonable ask when you’re handing over a $21 million arm and not asking for a cent back.
Eats salary — Jett Williams (SS/CF)/Bishop Letson (RHP)
Full salary — Aaron Ashby (LHP)/Abner Uribe (RHP)
Milwaukee is the most interesting team in this conversation that isn’t getting talked about enough. The Brewers have the best farm system in baseball, by most accounts the best in years, and they’re contending, which means they need what Gray provides. They also develop pitching better than almost anyone in the sport. A guy like Gray going to Milwaukee under their coaching staff could buy him another productive season-plus.
The Brewers tend not to overpay at the deadline—it’s an organizational strength of theirs, which means Breslow has to go in knowing his floor. But their system is deep enough that they can give up a real piece without gutting themselves, and that’s exactly the kind of trade partner you want.
Williams is the intriguing prospect here. Traded to the Brewers from the Mets in the Freddy Peralta trade, his ranking has slipped slightly but the tools are still there and Milwaukee’s development track record means the ceiling hasn’t closed. Letson is more of a pure pitcher profile with a legitimate shot to move fast. Either way, the Brewers have the depth to make this hurt a little, and when the top farm system in baseball is making a move hurt, that’s a good outcome for the Sox. I’ll also say this: I really want Shane Drohan back. Boston drafted him, developed him, and then let him walk. If there’s any version of this deal where Drohan is part of the return, I’m listening.
Ashby is the name on the full-salary track. Lefty, swing-and-miss, already knows how to pitch at the big league level. He’s exactly what the Sox bullpen needs and the Brewers have the depth to absorb losing him. Uribe is the higher-upside option: the stuff plays in high leverage and if he figures out the command piece, he becomes someone. Either way, Milwaukee has the bullpen to send a real piece back without hurting their October chances.
Eats salary — Hagen Smith (LHP)/Tanner McDougal (LHP)
Full salary — Sean Newcomb (LHP)/Grant Taylor (RHP)
Here’s the one nobody is writing about. The White Sox have been one of baseball’s most historically futile franchises for the better part of a decade. Multiple 100-loss seasons. A rebuild that took forever and delivered mixed results. Guaranteed Rate Field on a Tuesday. None of that sounds like a Gray destination.
Except they’re leading the AL Central right now.
That changes everything about this conversation. Chicago isn’t calling Boston because they’re stockpiling assets for three years from now. They’re calling because they have a pennant race on their hands for the first time in years, a market that has been starved for relevance, and a front office that knows exactly how rare and fragile first place feels when you’ve spent most of your recent history losing 95 games. A team in that position does not let a shot at Sonny Gray pass them by.
The NTC is the real question here. Gray has to approve the destination, and Chicago’s recent history is not exactly a draw. But if the White Sox are still in first at the deadline, that’s a different conversation than it would have been in April. Pitchers want to pitch in October. Gray says he’s open to a conversation. A first-place team with a real need is the kind of conversation that moves the needle on a waiver.
The farm depth is real too. All those top draft picks from the losing years are still in the system. Smith is already in the top 100 and has the profile of a back-of-rotation starter with real MLB durability. McDougal is the longer-range bet, younger, rawer, higher ceiling if the stuff develops. The Sox adding another lefty arm to the system is never a bad thing given how they develop pitching.
The full-salary version of this deal is the one I find most interesting. Boston could have a funny reunion on their hands. Newcomb returning to the organization would be interesting, and he’s been more effective in this stint than his previous run in Boston that the Sox would have something to work with. Taylor is the option if Newcomb isn’t available, left-handed, serviceable, fills a need in a pen that has needed help all year.
San Francisco is the most interesting team on this list and probably the most overlooked one. Tony Vitello took over as manager this past offseason, coming straight from Tennessee where he built one of the better college programs in the country. He doesn’t have the personal history with Gray that Bob Melvin did, so the NTC approval is less certain here than it might have been a year ago. Oracle Park is a great place to pitch, San Francisco is a good market, and the Giants are a respectable organization—Gray could do a lot worse. But this one is a harder sell than Atlanta, and Breslow should know that going in.
What makes San Francisco interesting is Gavin Kilen.
Kilen was a Red Sox draft pick. Boston selected him, he went back to college (Louisville first, then transferred to Tennessee), and now he’s a top-five piece in the Giants system. The Tennessee connection is the thread that makes this section worth writing: Vitello coached Kilen with the Vols before taking the Giants job. So you have a manager who knows this prospect intimately, which cuts both ways — Vitello may be the last person who wants to trade him, or he may be exactly the person who knows what Kilen is and isn’t at the MLB level. Either way, Breslow has leverage in asking, because the Giants need rotation help and the Sox hold the asset. He’s the name I want from San Francisco if Boston is putting money in. Jacob Bresnahan and Blade Tidwell are also in the top-five conversation if Kilen isn’t available, Bresnahan is a sneaky-good lefty who keeps getting better, Tidwell has the stuff to move fast.
Brubaker is the headliner on the full-salary track, a legitimate MLB arm who gives the Sox a real contributor and not a project. Hentges is the alternative, left-handed and serviceable, fills a pen need. Carson Whisenhunt is worth a mention too: still a top-30 Giants prospect but he’s been down in Triple-A and could be framed as MLB-ready depth, which makes him an interesting piece that straddles both tracks.
With the tsuris Buster Posey has put himself through this season alone in the Bay Area, I could see Breslow actually end up on the right side of a deal between these former players here. We’ll give Devers to Posey, even with the drama there of late.
Atlanta is the deal that should get done and probably will. Gray approves it, the Braves need it, and the NTC leverage means Breslow can squeeze them. Cubs are the second call because of the double-package angle and the Wiggins possibility. Brewers are the sleeper with the best farm in the sport.
The Giants are the wildcard. The NTC approval is probably the easiest of any team on this list, and the Kilen homecoming angle is the best narrative piece in this whole conversation. The White Sox are the sleeper. Nobody is putting Chicago in this conversation right now, and that’s exactly why Breslow should. A franchise that’s been irrelevant for years just found itself in first place and they know the window could slam shut by September. That’s panic-buy energy, and panic-buy energy gets you Smith or McDougal. Make all five teams think the other four are ahead of them. Then close the right deal.
The salary decision is the only open question. If Breslow is building toward the deadline as a genuine rebuild, eat the salary, get the prospect, add to the system. If he thinks this team has a window to compete sooner than the standings suggest, take the MLB piece and plug the bullpen. Both are defensible. Just know what you’re doing before you pick up the phone.
Bobrovsky said he and McKenna spoke on Thursday about the number.
"He gave that number to me, we had a little chat," Bobrovsky said. "He's a bright guy. He's got really positive energy. And I'm excited to watch him develop into the big superstar, honestly."
In the meantime, McKenna can't even use the two fallback options as his number, because No. 27 and No. 9 are both in the rafters. So, what number will McKenna wear for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL next season? Here are three suggestions.
There are a couple of reasons why McKenna could wear the No. 12 for the Maple Leafs in the upcoming campaign.
The No. 12 is the closest McKenna can get to wearing No. 72 in terms of the numbers looking similar.
But the more meaningful reason behind wearing No. 12 is in relation to how the Maple Leafs landed the 2026 first overall pick in the first place.
At the NHL's draft lottery, Toronto had an 8.5 percent chance of winning the first pick. The first three lottery balls were Nos. 7, 2 and 11. And to officially win the NHL draft lottery, out came the ping-pong ball that was labelled with the No. 12. Without that number on the ball, McKenna's life would've played out differently.
The last player on the Maple Leafs to wear this number was Zach Aston-Reese in 2022-23.
It would certainly generate plenty of reactions from hockey fans, but what if McKenna decided to wear No. 16, previously worn by Mitch Marner?
Marner wore No. 16 throughout his entire tenure with the Maple Leafs from 2016-17 to 2024-25, scoring 741 points in the process, putting him sixth among all-time leaders in franchise history. He was known for his playmaking and chemistry on the ice, regularly setting up Auston Matthews.
In a sense, McKenna has similarities to Marner in his game, particularly in his ability to see the ice, his vision, and his playmaking. Also, the 18-year-old may get a spot on the top line with Matthews, just like Marner did for a chunk of his career.
It would be a bold choice to wear No. 16, but McKenna has shown he is a confident individual.
Marner is an example of a player choosing a number to match an idol. Though he wore No. 16 with the Leafs, he wore No. 93 with the London Knights, and now for the Vegas Golden Knights because of his hockey hero, Doug Gilmour.
McKenna has also revealed another hockey hero of his to be Patrick Kane, but his famous No. 88 is already taken by William Nylander.
Therefore, it wouldn't be completely out of the ordinary if McKenna went on to choose No. 86. In fact, he'd become the first player to ever wear that number in franchise history.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
San Antonio TX, - June 25, 2026: Maliq Brown #15, Jayden Quaintance #22, Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Tarris Reed Jr. #10 and General Manager Brian Wright of the San Antonio Spurs pose for a photo during the San Antonio Spurs Rookie Press Conference on June 25, 2026 at Victory Capital Practice Center, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Per a Spurs press release:
“The San Antonio Spurs announced that they have signed first round selections Jayden Quaintance (20th overall) and Tarris Reed Jr. (26th overall), along with San Antonio’s second round picks Ja’Kobi Gillespie (42nd overall) and Maliq Brown (44th overall). Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not announced.”
Jayden Quaintance is out awaiting surgery on his torn ACL. Reed, Jr., Gillespie and Brown are participating in the Spurs Summer League. Friday evening was game one of the California Classic in San Francisco.* The teams are off today in observance of the Independence Day. The tournament resumes Sunday and concludes on Monday before the Silver & Black head to Las Vegas for the NBA 2026 Summer League.
*I wrote this last night as I had to work, I have not watched the game yet. If you did, please share your thoughts in the comments.
Happy 4th, Pounders. Celebrate safely and if you are in Texas, stay hydrated! It’s hot out there.
Welcome to The Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.
Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.
LeBron James, bringing the ball up the court while chased by Hornets guard Sion James, will finish his career with another team. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)
I will miss watching the greatest maestro and savant in the history of basketball, LeBron James. He is to basketball what Van Gogh was to painting, Coltrane to music, Hemingway to literature. He came from poverty and rose to a global hero and gave back. His after-game interviews were always intelligent and sometimes humorous. To all his detractors and haters? Eat your hearts out, he is a happy man.
Dell Franklin Cayucos
I have always been in awe of LeBron’s athleticism and basketball IQ. And I greatly admire his dedication to maintaining his physical abilities throughout the years and his philanthropic pursuits.
But, as a lifelong Lakers fan, I will not miss LeBron. He was never a true Laker. He made it clear when he announced that he was taking his talents to South Beach that he cared only about LeBron, not the team.
So, as he closes out his career elsewhere, I will enjoy watching his superior playing prowess from afar. But I will be grateful that I can now cheer for my Lakers without the drama LeBron brings to every team he’s been on.
Linda Salzman Rancho Palos Verdes
I agree that it was probably time to move on from LeBron simply in the interest to pursue a long-term player versus one more year from the King. But Bill Plaschke’s argument that he was tired of the mind games LeBron supposedly was playing is a terrible take. Losing 27-7-7 is not replaceable overnight, if ever.
George Metalsky Redondo Beach
While acknowledging LeBron James as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, it never really felt as if he was selflessly committed to the Purple and Gold team concept like so many of the legendary players that preceded him.
During his eight years as a Laker there seemed to be countless occasions when Lakers brass capitulated to his “demands.” Year after year we endured a mishmash roster with his hand-picked players, just to appease LeBron.
During the Lakers’ dynasty we had championship teams. With LeBron we had a king shaping his fiefdom to first and foremost best serve him.
He’s a great player but a horrible GM. The Lakers will be a better team without him.
David Griffin Westwood
I only have one question regarding LeBron James: What happens to Bronny now?
David Waldowski Laguna Woods
Cheers for Roberts
Great article “Deep into Dodgers career, he’s batting close to 1,000” by Maddie Lee. Dave Roberts has a tough job. When he substitutes a pitcher or a hitter and it works out, Dave is a hero, and when it doesn’t work out, Dave is a bum. Sometimes there is a fine line between being a hero or a bum, but Dave has been able to negotiate that line, because players trust him, and the players know that Dave cares about them and their families. Maybe one day Dave will have 2,000 wins as a Dodger, and he will be closing in on Walter Alston.
Vaughn Hardenberg Westwood
I have never thought much of Dave Roberts’ managerial abilities when it comes to handling pitchers but I’ve seen improvements in that area, particularly in last year’s playoffs. He has been blessed with terrific talent but clearly has melded that talent to win games and keep the clubhouse on the same page. Congrats on hitting the 1,000-win milestone, Dave, let’s go for 2,000!
Ken Blake Brea
Leonard far from the worst
Kawhi Leonard has played terrifically the last couple of years. Maybe Bill Plaschke would be aware of that, and give due credit, if his hometown major newspaper bothered to have a dedicated correspondent covering one of the city’s NBA teams. The Clippers aren’t the minor leagues.
E.R. Samulon Los Angeles
Bill Plaschke claims Kawhi Leonard is the worst free-agent signing in L.A. sports history. Not a chance. That dubious honor belongs to the Angels (of course!) for signing Anthony Rendon.
With the Clippers, Kawhi has been a three-time All-Star, a four-time All-NBA selection, and finished high in the MVP voting multiple times. He averaged nearly 28 points per game in 65 games last season. The Clippers had a couple of decent playoff runs during his tenure.
What did the Angels get for their $245-million investment in Rendon? Setting aside the shortened 2020 season, Rendon averaged just 51 games per season from 2021 through 2024. He then didn’t play at all in 2025 or 2026. Over the last six seasons, he hit a total of 13 home runs, and his batting average never exceeded .240. The Angels never made the playoffs during his tenure. Rendon’s attitude and performance became so disappointing that the Angels effectively told him to stay away in 2026 and restructured the final year of his contract.
Rendon wins the title of worst free-agent signing in L.A. sports history by a landslide.
Dave Ring Manhattan Beach
Getting defensive
A number of years ago, the Lakers had a coach by the name of Mike D’Antoni. The joke then was that his name should be Mike Antoni, as there is no “D” to be found in his coaching. There is no “D” in Sparks coach Lynne Roberts either. If the Sparks want to seriously ride the wave of WNBA and women’s sports popularity, and take advantage of great players like Kelsey Plum, they need to quickly make a change in the direction of this franchise.
Arnold Anisgarten Los Angeles
Fantastic flops
I thought NBA players were bad with respect to yelling at the referee to call a foul every time they hit the floor. Soccer players, however, are in a league of their own. They fall to the ground after barely being touched, writhing in fake pain and yelling at the ref to call a foul. Luka Doncic played soccer when he was a kid. Now I know where he learned it from.
Doug Vikser Manhattan Beach
Please save us from these boring British futbol announcers that only inspire narcolepsy. There needs to be the excitement and energy that matches the game. Install hockey play-by-play announcers who emphasize the rising action, then scream “goal!” Otherwise, we will keep watching the games in Spanish.
Billy Gonzalez Redondo Beach
The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used.
The Athletic reported on Friday that an internal debate over Jaylen Brown’s value, anticipated issues with Brown returning to his former role after Jayson Tatum’s return, fallout from the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga and concerns over Brown’s playing off-script in the Philadelphia series led to this weeks stunning trade to the 76ers.
Brad Stevens, long a fan of Brown, finally relented and moved Brown for Paul George, two future first-rounders and a pair of seconds — a seismic trade he and the franchise will now wear while facing an uncertain path forward.
Downplaying any financial motivations for a deal, the story by The Athletic’s Jay King and Sam Amick focused on Brown’s analytical profile that left much to be desired from both Boston and suitors around the league. It also highlighted Brown’s numerous statements stemming back to March that stressed his pride proving himself as a top option on a team and leader, commentary he continued after the trade this week. Speculation over how much Brown wanted to maintain that status in Boston proved true, King said on CLNS’ latest Celtics Daily episode, and the Celtics wanted to get ahead of any potential conflict over his role. Amick and King also referenced Tatum trainer Drew Hanlen’s regular references to the team’s success when Tatum garners a higher usage.
“Still, the Celtics began to have questions about whether he would remain fully bought in moving forward, according to league sources. Internally, they wondered whether they could keep everyone on the same page basketball-wise, as they had always managed to do in the past.“
Celtics president Brad Stevens and governor Bill Chisholm will address the trade with reporters on Monday afternoon when it becomes official. Tatum posted an Instagram story wishing his former teammate the best, assistant coach Sam Cassell expressed optimism after the trade while others in the organization posted their appreciation for Brown in the aftermath. Brown said younger players like Neemias Queta and Luka Garza reached out to him directly. The Celtics reportedly liked what they received for Brown, George returning to his prior form in a more complementary role as the Sixers defeated Boston in the first round. Two picks they received could become valuable given new flat lottery odds, or drive a follow-up move.
That won’t happen this offseason, for now. King reported that the Celtics will keep George who is owed $114.3 million over the next two seasons, despite speculation over the veteran’s goodbye post to Philadelphia that did not reference Boston. The Celtics’ status as a hard-capped team at the first apron, which they’re $5 million short of, makes utilizing their trade exception or acquiring a contributor with those picks difficult until next summer.
Still, the Celtics’ front office will continue receiving enormous scrutiny following a trade that left many confused over its urgency. George’s sparse availability across recent seasons, age, his salary that equals Brown’s this season, overall declining productivity and a 25-game suspension last season for violating the league’s anti-drug policy gave him negative trade value. Should Philadelphia have needed to trade a first simply to move on from his contract, that effectively left the Celtics with one first of value in return for Brown, albeit while shedding the final $65-million year on his deal in 2028-29. That will make George an expiring contract next summer.
There’s a world where George’s contract, as many as five tradable future firsts and Brown’s decline could make the trade look better in one year, but that’s forecasting numerous uncertain outcomes far from likely to occur. Boston seemingly misjudged Brown’s market and went too far down the road of assessing it that they couldn’t turn back. A source cited in the Athletic story said the Celtics worked at a disadvantage having not actively shopped Brown previously. For what it’s worth, those assessments by executives and scouts around the league led to a maddening month of reporting around the trade saga, one revelation often refuted by the next.
Since the Brown trade, it became clear that Boston’s thwarted Antetokounmpo pursuit both fell much shorter of acquiring him than simply adding Hugo González and another pick, and wasn’t hindered by money. Antetokounmpo’s agent drove a push to land with Miami. Also, the Trail Blazers, reportedly a leading suitor at one time, did not actively pursue Brown, according to The Athletic. Numerous other teams expected to have interest in Brown never got involved, and others floated their assessments of him falling far below his achievements and counting statistics. One general manager said that his team did not consider Brown a top-50 player.
Brown’s long-running criticism of those assessments have continued into this summer, going back-and-forth with ESPN’s Bobby Marks after he shared an even more hyperbolic anecdote of a source in analytics whose numbers saw Brown as seventh-best on a team. Anonymous critiques turned personal, returning old tropes about Brown’s intelligence that he artfully played off on his stream. Brown lamented his character becoming targeted throughout the process, though King stressed that the Celtics’ trade did not stem from personal issues they had with him.
Many will continue to wonder why, if that wasn’t the case, the Celtics couldn’t wait. Brown had certainly shared a number of gripes between the late stages of the Philadelphia series, Boston’s shot attempts playing into the Sixers’ hands, a desire to have played the style they did in Game 7 earlier and his own critiques of the Celtics’ three-point heavy approach, which he believed the league had moved past. Tracy McGrady relayed Brown’s deep frustrations with the organization, comments he later walked back, while multiple reports noted that Brown never asked out of Boston. In fact, following the wave of criticism over his favorite season comments, Brown said that if it was up to him, he’d play the next 10 years with Boston.
Instead, he’ll suit up for the 76ers now, another layer to the brazenness of Boston’s move, sending him to a direct competitor, 300 miles away, who plays the Celtics four times per year and just defeated Boston in the playoffs. Brown joins Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. LeBron James will consider joining the Sixers, too. And for Boston, uncertainty awaits about how they’ll construct the next contender around Tatum and before that, how they’ll explain a difficult transaction to a saddened and confused fan base. Brown sounded at peace with the result late this week, calling his new teammates and looking forward to his new role in Philadelphia.
“The process of how we got there, the work ethic, the guys buying in, the guys growing and allowing me to lead them, getting it done night-to-night, it was an honor,” Brown said on his stream. “It was an honor, because we could’ve rolled over. I probably would’ve reached this result, personally, either way it goes. It I would’ve not gave any effort, let it be a throwaway year, it probably would’ve gotten to the same result. Me showing up, leading us to the two seed, it would’ve probably the same result. So it was, I think, it was inevitable either way. Their mind was already made up. So it’s all good. We move forward.”
Fans greeted him with a vinyl banner reading "Marsh To The Polls," with several supporters sporting beards to match his own.
It marked the official start of the Phillies' final campaign push to send Marsh to the Midsummer Classic at The Bank on July 14, something he told USA TODAY Sports before the game he wasn’t letting himself think too much about.
He opened the year hitting .295 in April — a far cry from the .095 he posted through his first 17 games last season — and strung together a 13‑game hit streak from April 28 to May 12. He followed his strong month of April with a .333 average in May. That dipped only slightly to .315 in June.
Factor in that he’s tracking toward his first All‑Star nod, and the arc becomes even more impressive.
“It’s been a different season for sure, having to adjust with the body and having to adjust with playing every day,” Marsh said. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Just enjoying the ride.”
To reach this point — where he’s sitting among MLB’s top 10 leaders in batting average — Marsh has ridden out his share of turbulence. Dealt from the Los Angeles Angels at the 2022 trade deadline for top catching prospect Logan O’Hoppe, Marsh was seen as an everyday outfielder for both the present and the future. But he sat against lefties to lose starting opportunities and has mustered only two total hits across the last two postseasons, so the potential never fully materialized until now.
His path, once that of the Angels’ former No. 1 prospect, simply developed on a slower burn. It took time, and now the moment has arrived. Inside the Phillies clubhouse, his 2026 breakout hasn’t surprised anyone.
"He’s always been a good player," Phillies shortstop Trea Turner told USA TODAY Sports in May. "... Other people are starting to recognize him and deserve to do so."
Marsh said his breakout season stems more from a different approach and finding consistency, both with his pregame routine and playing time, than from any physical changes he made in the offseason.
To build his pregame consistency as an everyday player, Marsh has zeroed in on how veterans like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Turner attack their work and how “stubborn” they are about sticking to their routines. He also mentioned he’s trying to keep his own routine simple, hoping that simplicity creates steady production.
"May not be true, but if you think that way, I feel like it’ll help," Marsh said.
Marsh finally got that consistent, everyday run when Don Mattingly took over as interim manager on April 28 after the Phillies’ 9-19 start under Rob Thomson. Since then, he’s hit .329, forcing Mattingly’s hand by penciling his name into the lineup every day, including some games at cleanup.
"It’s definitely helped just with staying in the flow of the game" Marsh said of the consistency he’s received from Mattingly. "Because pinch hitting is one of the hardest things to do in this game. It’s harder than playing every single day. … So there's something to the consistency that Donnie's been giving me and I'm super thankful."
Mattingly said he’s always believed Marsh had a good swing, and even conceded after the Phillies’ April 30 win over the Giants that when he was the manager of the Miami Marlins, the Marlins tried multiple times to trade for Marsh.
"He’s always been, for me, a good hitter. Been able to see this guy really young and probably just building confidence over time," Mattingly said in May when asked by USA TODAY Sports what he’s seen from Marsh. "Better game planner now (too), it sounds like. Knows what he wants to do with every guy (he’s facing)."
One contributing reason to Marsh’s platoon role under Thomson was his inability to hit against left-handed pitching. He’d either come off the bench as a defensive change late in the game once the opposing team’s left-handed starter was removed, or not play at all.
Last season, Marsh hit .197 against left-handed pitching. He’s hitting .259 against southpaws this season.
"You always knew he had it just by looking at his numbers based off right-handed pitching," Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott said. "Now he’s getting his chance and probably one of the best hitters in the league. It’s been really fun to watch him."
In just the last week, Marsh has delivered in big moments. In the Phillies’ dramatic 14-9 come-from-behind win over the Washington Nationals on June 23, Marsh crushed a game-tying, two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Through the Phillies' first 88 games, Marsh leads the team with a .315 batting average and 97 hits while he’s third in home runs, only trailing Schwarber and Harper, who have combined for 50 home runs themselves.
Marsh’s .315 batting average is good for the seventh-best among MLB hitters. He’s already surpassed his RBI total from last season, as he has driven in 46 runs thus far in the first half.
"He’s always asking questions, always wanting to get better. He’s putting it together," Harper said to USA TODAY Sports in May. "But he’s also taking his hits, (which) I think that’s huge also. He hits the ball both ways from left-center to right-center."
Former Phillies shortstop and manager Larry Bowa believes a big part of Marsh’s success at the plate comes from not being as hard on himself as he used to be.
"Sometimes he used to worry about his previous at bat, what he did or didn’t do. He’s finding a way now, whether you get a hit or whether you make an out, it’s a different at bat," Bowa told USA TODAY Sports. “Once you get into that mindset, the game’s never going to be easy, but you can relax a little bit."
Marsh agreed with Bowa and pushed it further. He said he’s made it a point this season not to sulk or dwell on past at‑bats, something that he’s struggled with in the past, especially once he came up to The Show after his success in the minors in the Angels’ organization.
"Learning how to honestly laugh at yourself a little bit without making a fool out of yourself,” Marsh said. “But (also) don’t be so hard on yourself because it’s already such a hard thing. It’s a game of almost impossible odds stacked against you as a hitter … Just have to know you’re going to fail."
He goes into the Phillies’ upcoming nine-game road trip to close out the first half of the season with 18 hits and 12 RBIs in his last 15 games to go along with six home runs, three of which came in the Pirates series.
For all the success at the plate this season thus far, Marsh said it’s made him appreciate the work that it took to get here "a lot more."
"It makes me respect the guys that show up and step in the box or toe the rubber every single day. I now know how physically taxing it can be, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. I love everything that comes with it," Marsh said.
Marsh ranked third among NL outfielders in Phase 1 of All‑Star voting with 668,191 votes, trailing only the Dodgers’ Andy Pages (800,496) and the Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. (693,472).
He’ll find out Saturday whether he’s been elected a starter for Dave Roberts’ NL squad. Starter or not, Marsh has more than earned the right to be considered for the Midsummer Classic, even if he’s too modest to say so himself.
“As a kid growing up, it's what everyone wants to be a part of, other than winning a World Series. Getting an All Star nod is pretty freakin cool,” Marsh said. “Hopefully this year I get to check it off of a bucket list. … It would mean the world, especially here in Philly playing for Philly.
“I'm getting chills right now thinking about it."
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 03: An overall view of Yankee Stadium during the national anthem before the game against the Miami Marlins on April 3, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Fourth of July! Or: Happy 43rd anniversary of Dave Righetti no-hitting the Red Sox at the old Yankee Stadium during another disgustingly hot day! And thank you to Rags for always giving us memories of that highlight every time Independence Day comes around.
There probably won’t be similar no-hit theatrics today, as the Yankees had to reach into the Triple-A cupboard to tap Brendan Beck for his second career appearance today with Carlos Rodón hitting the IL. On the bright side, Beck at least won’t have the pressure of snapping a losing streak, as the Yanks thankfully already did that last night by beating the Twins, 5-2. The seven-game skid is no more! So how about making it two wins in a row?
Today on the site, Nick will consider the rebuilding (but new-look) Rockies as a potential trade partner, Madison will run through the Rivalry Roundup, Jeff will celebrate what would have been the 88th birthday of our recently-departed dear friend John Sterling, and Josh will muse on how sports make us feel, particularly when our preferred team is playing such an ugly brand of baseball that it’s not even entertaining in a gallows humor-esque fashion.
Today’s Matchup:
New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins
Time: 1:35 p.m. EST
TV: YES Network, Twins.TV
Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Questions/Prompts:
1. How long do you think rookie Brendan Beck will pitch today? (The Yankees have confirmed that he will start.)
PITTSBURGH - JUNE 15: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins holds the Stanley Cup aloft for the fans along the Blvd of the Allies during the Stanley Cup Champion Victory Parade on June 15, 2009 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Saw this graphic online and figured it would make for a fun summer weekend exercise. What if the Penguins had to face the team that lost the Western Conference final in the years that Pittsburgh made the SCF? How might history have played out if the results of the other conference were flipped? Here are the hypothetical near-miss opponents that failed to advance in reality to the Cup finals each year that Pittsburgh made it.
By 1991 the Oilers were a shell of their dynasty years. They were the defending Stanley Cup champions from 1990 (the one Cup they won post-Wayne Gretzky) but by 1990-91, their leading regular season scorer only had 69 points. That’s a far cry from the team they once were. All of Gretzky, Paul Coffey and Jari Kurri were long gone by ‘91, so too was Grant Fuhr out as their top goalie. The Oilers had some remnants of their glory days, this would be Mark Messier’s last season with the Oil and Esa Tikkanen and Glenn Anderson were in the lineup, though far from their primes. The Penguins probably still roll to the Cup at this point, but at least they would have done it against an opponent with a marquee name and the defending champ, instead of beating the Minnesota North Stars and the 27-39-5 regular season record they somehow carried into playoff success.
In 1992, it’s even more amazing that Edmonton was hanging on and making it to the Conference Finals. A potential alt-world Stanley Cup PIT/EDM rematch in ‘92 would have been a lot of fun given that Edmonton was able to reload quite a bit by 1992 to look better than they did in ’91. By this point they were almost completely reshaped with players like Vincent Damphousse, Bernie Nichols, Scott Melanby and Bill Ranford taking over for the departed former Gretzky/Messier/Fuhr core. Edmonton would hardly be confused from the dominant team of Hall of Famers that they were 5-10 years earlier, but it would have made a nice story. On the other side, the Penguins were peaking to 11 straight playoff wins, they still would have absolutely crushed anyone that came out of the other conference so it wouldn’t have mattered on the ice. Out of any alt-world hypothetical, this is the one to (by far) feel the most confidence in what would have happened. No team existing in 1992 was going to stop the Penguins from winning the Cup that year.
Would Sidney Crosby have four Stanley Cups if he had gotten to play against Dallas in 2008 instead of the loaded Detroit team? It sounds like a very real possibility. The Stars had a quality team back in ‘08, but the Pens (who went 12-2 in the East portion of the playoffs and had Marc-Andre Fleury arguably at his absolute most locked in) would have stacked up very well in a potential matchup against the Stars. Dallas, like the Pens, won two playoff games against the Red Wings, though it came after falling in an 0-3 hole for the Stars. Of course, in reality, there’s no reason to suspect Detroit ever would have been losing to Dallas, but if somehow they did, Pittsburgh’s second run of Stanley Cups likely starts one year earlier.
Much like it’s a shame the generation before that we never got a Gretzky/Lemieux Stanley Cup Final, it’s unfortunate that the two best teams of the 2010’s never made the SCF in the same year to see the Crosby/Malkin/Letang/Fleury core battle against Chicago’s group with Kane/Toews/Keith/Crawford. Between PIT/CHI, they won six out of the nine Cups between 2009-17, yet never played each other. There was this near miss in 2009, as well as 2013 when Pittsburgh was eliminated in the ECF and the Blackhawks won the Cup. The 2009 season was Chicago’s playoff breakout in the way that 2008 was for the Pens, the Hawks would have been younger and less experienced for the Stanley Cup moment at that point in history. That could give Pittsburgh the edge in this hypothetical battle, but of all the matchups I think this one could be considered the most up in the air to where Chicago might have made the series result a question. The Blackhawks would go onto make 2010 their version of Pittsburgh’s 2009 by winning the Cup the following season, they were well on their way to future glory. It would have been amazing to see those two young cores compete directly for the Cup, but it wasn’t meant to be since the Red Wings were still giving their last gasps of contention. The Pens probably still had enough talent with their experience boost to beat Chicago but it would have been one heck of a series. (Can’t be too mad since the real ‘09 SCF was one for the history books).
The 2016 Blues team was built around goaltending, tight checking and defense. They may have presented a challenge for the Penguins to punch through and earn a win, but St. Louis didn’t have enough offensive firepower to make the SCF that year and give little reason to believe they would beat the ‘16 Pens in a series. Given the balance and strength of the Pens this year, the result of this alternate reality ends up probably the same as it did in the real world where Pittsburgh eventually overpowers the Western representative that year in somewhat convincing fashion.
A 2017 Pens/Ducks SCF would have been fun. Anaheim had an older core (Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, Corey Perry) complimented by emerging young players (Rickard Rakell, Cam Fowler, Shea Theodore). Overall the Pens would have matched up well against the Ducks, though the way John Gibson was playing might have given them more problems that year than Pekka Rinne did in reality. This would have been a fairly even battle, but at this point the Pens were battle-tested and always managed to find a way to come out on top. It’s not hard to believe they likely would have done the same against the WC runner-up just as they did against the team that defeated Anaheim.
–
What matchup would you have liked to seen actually played out? It’s 2009 against Chicago for me, though several of the old Penguin players still talk about the bitterness they received from the outside over a perceived ‘easy path’ in 1991. Seeing them beat even a depleted version of Edmonton (who were defending champs) would have given a lot more street cred than they got, which is a shame since teams can only play whoever it is that they get matched up against. In the widest hypothetical possible, it would have been some of the most legendary hockey of all-time had Gretzky+Messier stayed with the Oilers a little deeper into the 1990’s to compete against Lemieux, but that window ended up not meant to be.
Pirates
Nationals
Twins
Yankees
Tigers
Rangers
Blue Jays
Mariners
Orioles
Reds
Rays
Astros
White Sox
Guardians
Cardinals
Cubs
Mets
Braves
Giants
Rockies
Phillies
Royals
Red Sox
Angels
Marlins
Athletics
Brewers
Diamondbacks
Padres
Dodgers
