Ridiculous Tigers splits for your amusement

Apr 9, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Tigers designated hitter Gleyber Torres (25) hits a sacrifice fly against the Minnesota Twins in the seventh inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images | Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

Almost no matter how you slice it, the Detroit Tigers have been pretty bad this year. Their overall record of 37-49 has them 12th in the American League, ahead of only the Kansas City Royals and LA Angels, facing down a likely selling role at the Trade Deadline. But they’re only 6 games behind the Seattle Mariners for the final AL Wild Card slot, which gives a faint glimmer of hope.

In a typical year, that third Wild Card team would post about an 86- to 88-win season. The lowest it has been is the 83-win Cincinnati Reds from 2025. Given the overall weakness in the AL field this year, that lower end seems a reasonable target, which means chasing down something like an 85-win season should keep the Tigers thoroughly in the mix. That would be a .631 win rate for the final 76 games of the season, which is high but hardly impossible.

The big question: how do they get there?

Instead of answering this seriously – trade for a new bullpen, call up every Max in AAA, and reduce playing time for Matt Vierling, Jahmai Jones, and most of their relievers as much as possible, for a start – I decided to have a little fun with the extreme nature of Detroit’s season. Meaning I looked at all their ridiculous splits throughout a ridiculous season and found what situations favor Detroit the most. If they’re going to chase down the Mariners, or even more improbably the Guardians, they’ll have to play to their win conditions.

All stats are taken prior to the victory over the Yankees on July 1, 2026.

Environmental Factors

What time the Tigers play is, unfortunately, out of their control. However, if it were in their power, the Tigers should only play day games. The earlier the start time, the better. With the sun at their backs, the Tigers are a competitive 17-16. At night, they’ve sleepwalked their way to a 20-33 record. That won’t do the trick.

Where Detroit plays is also predetermined, and so is the result, seemingly. In the friendly confines of Comerica Park – not the Friendly Confines themselves, where Detroit has yet to visit – the Tigers are a respectable 23-21. When they pack their bags and travel, though, they’re a woeful 14-28. Ouch.

Opponent’s Factors

When it comes to opponents, the Tigers have a few clear preferences. Whether it’s a bugaboo about the Believeland Guardians or an overall talent issue, the Tigers are a brutal 9-16 against the rest of the AL Central. If you’re looking for a reason the team is at the back of the Central pack, that’s as good a place to start. They’re a slightly better team when you look at the AL as a whole (26-36) or versus their National League foes (11-13). None of those light the world on fire, but they’re at least an improvement.

A weird one for you: the Tigers have been significantly better against good teams than bad ones. No, seriously, this doesn’t make any sense. How are the Tigers 23-21 when they play teams above .500, but 14-28 against everyone else? Do they just imitate whoever they face on any given day, rising to the occasion against the Yankees but floundering against the Twins and Angels? Utterly bizarre. Common sense says a playoff contender needs to take care of business against bad teams. Low-hanging fruit and all that.

There’s one final split here that might actually be meaningful. The starting pitcher the Tigers face seems to greatly impact their odds of winning a game. Shocking, I know. Against a lefty starter, the Tigers are a mere 10-17; versus a righty, they’re a way-less-bad 27-32. Can anyone here figure out why they struggle against left-handed starters? Anyone? I hate to pin it all on one guy, but we’re all thinking about the same guy, right?

Tiger’s Factors

OK, finally, the series of things Detroit can actually control. If Detroit’s going to take their season by the horns and claw their way back, this is a place to start.

For starters: keep Jake Rogers out of as many games as possible. The lineup is not deep enough to hide him at the bottom routinely, because hiding him at the bottom routinely means Outman, McKinstry, and Vierling can’t all hide at the bottom. They’ve got to keep Dillon Dingler healthy, but a 9-18 record with Rogers and a 28-31 record without him speaks volumes. Upgrade the backup catcher role next year if possible, and then Dingler can DH more and stay fresh throughout the season.

Another big one: get Gleyber Torres back in the lineup! He might not be their best hitter, but he sure seems to stabilize their lineup. A grind-it-out, depth-heavy lineup sure looks better when there’s another guy with a .400 OBP in it. Case in point: 23-20 with him, and 14-29 without him. Get healthy, Gleyber. We need you. Although Hao-Yu Lee is doing a really nice job in this second go-around on both sides of the ball. Pretty impressive step in development going on there seemingly.

This last one comes down largely to “play better, win more”, but the sheer volume of games is what I’d like to call attention to. In games in which the Tigers hit multiple home runs, they’re 15-7, a whopping .682 pace that clears the .631 win rate I threw out earlier. In all other games, they’re 22-42. What stands out here is not the conclusion drawn – hitting home runs and winning have a large correlation for a reason – but the fact they’ve only hit multiple home runs 22 times seems problematic to me. Good teams tend to hit home runs in bunches, and the Tigers really haven’t done that. They should probably work on that.

There you have it, folks. If the Tigers want to make the playoffs, they should be sure to face National League playoff contenders, at Comerica, during the day, against right-handed pitchers, and get Gleyber Torres into (and Jake Rogers out of) the lineup as much as possible. Oh, and hit a ton of home runs. And get a new high-leverage relief corps…Keider Montero may be the start of that process, at least for this season.

They’re also 8-5 on Sunday, so maybe shift as many games as possible to Sunday.

Simple enough, right?

Why LeBron James should end his career with the New York Knicks

I’m going to preface this with the following:

There’s a good chance that you are a Knicks fan reading this. A good portion will naturally see this and immediately go to the comments and say how much you don’t want this to happen. That is fine. I am not fully advocating for it either.

Weighing the pros and cons of LeBron James as a Knick in 2026 is a legitimate thought exercise that we’d be able to do if it was something that felt near-inevitable, rather than a fun thought.

So consider this a pitch, rather, to the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer on why he should want to be here. Whether the front office wants him or not is a story for another time.

So, Mr. James, if anyone in your circle just happened to see this article, let me state our case.

The video above is from well-known unlicensed sports investigator Pablo Torre, who’s found a lot of interesting stuff in and around the NBA over the past few years.

There’s been funny stuff, like what you see above with the unearthed 2010 pitch to a much younger LeBron that was ultimately regarded as historically bad (thanks, Jim). There’s also been super serious stuff, like the Clippers’ Aspiration scandal and Dolan’s weird surveillance thing to keep people he doesn’t like out of MSG.

However you feel about Torre, who also threatened to look into Jalen Brunson’s pay cut last year before finding absolutely nothing, he gave us an absolute gem with that video being finally revealed. The centerpiece to the failed pursuit of one of the greatest players ever was able to be seen.

You know, I kinda get why he saw that and went to Miami.

Nevertheless, I’ll start the pitch here. Consider what you saw in that clip.

There’s so much here that shows the world of differences between the Knicks of then and the Knicks of now.

They relied on star power, past glory, and the allure of New York City to pitch him. They had all sorts of guys who would go on to be super problematic try to pitch him. Hell, they played a damn Jay-Z song at the beginning when he just got done pitching LeBron to join the Nets that same week.

It didn’t feel personalized, they even sent carbon copies to his buddies Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, acting like they weren’t all going to say “Did you seriously get the exact same pitch that I did?”

All reports indicate that, with or without that video, the 2010 pitch was a disaster. Some of those reports, though, say that New York was actually an appealing place for LeBron, but the pitch and direction were so disastrously bad that he walked out and never came back.

Well, 16 years later, the only person in the entire organization who’s still here is… well, Dolan. But he’s mostly not involved with basketball operations, only getting involved when he says how much he’ll pay to keep a contender toge- moving along.

In 2010, the Knicks were a mess. They hadn’t won 40 games in a season since 2001. They were perennial bottom-feeders run by buffoons who gave bloated deals to Jerome James and traded their future for Eddy Curry. The fact that a good pitch with a promising vision could’ve been enough for a guy who, at the time, had never had a good supporting cast in his life is insane.

But now, as he nears the end of his career, the vision is clear. The Knicks are the reigning champions, regardless of what anyone wants to say about their players, what they won analytically, or whatever Wemby thinks about how the NBA Finals went.

For a guy who cares so much about his legacy, he will almost certainly be looking for a place where he can win his fifth championship before he rides off into the sunset. Well, going to a team returning all but one key piece of the most dominant playoff run in playoff history would be a good way to do that.

You know who LeBron’s first agent was? Leon Rose. When they split in 2012, it was with no ill will, just a separation of ways due to his good friend, Rich Paul, founding Klutch Sports. We don’t know if LeBron is still on good terms with his former agent 14 years later, but considering he’s the one who took him through the first Decision, I’m sure there are no issues.

He’d also be entering a situation with shockingly little pressure on him, if you can believe it. The biggest reason that any star might not have wanted to join the Knicks during the dark years was the victim complex that the franchise had become.

They needed someone to save them, but while you could be the knight in shining armor, you could also be the latest victim of the pit of alligators known as New York media pressure. Why do you think KD and Kyrie decided to go to the B-team across town that would never get as much coverage as whatever went on in Manhattan?

With the championship won and the need for a savior completely off the table, that victim complex is gone. If LeBron wants, he can hitch a ride to a very successful team as a complementary piece, rather than the knight in shining armor to save a destitute franchise.

Let’s talk roster construction.

The Knicks are operating under some very tight financial circumstances, so I would think only a veteran minimum is on the table, but that shouldn’t be an issue for a billionaire. If he wanted maximum money, he would’ve accepted his player option and requested a trade.

The Knicks, as constructed, are pretty deep everywhere but the center position. Adding LeBron into the mix would add yet another tool in Mike Brown’s toolbox.

At age 41, whatever team LeBron goes to will know he cannot be relied on for 82 games of high-end performance. It’s not 2018 (or 2012, or 2008, etc) anymore. This means that the deeper a team is, the easier it can stomach his bouts with Father Time creeping in and keeping him sidelined with whatever ailment he has.

The currently constructed Knicks are co-favorites to come out of the East, even without adding LeBron. With him? They’d be able to move Josh Hart to the bench and have ultimate flexibility at as many as four positions. Sporadic injuries wouldn’t hurt the rest of the team nearly as much.

When you want to go to a team to win a championship, you want to go somewhere that won’t collapse with one injury. While the Knicks are probably in that boat with Jalen Brunson and probably Karl-Anthony Towns, they’re well-equipped for absences for… anyone else.

Lastly, I want to pitch the personal aspect. It’s about righting wrongs, legacy, and personal objectives.

If Bill Simmons and multiple others are to be believed, LeBron wanted to play in New York when he hit free agency. The Knicks were just so wildly incompetent that a guy who had never been surrounded by a roster even capable of winning a title couldn’t see any path to winning one here.

In the years since, all he’s done is wax poetic about New York as a basketball city and the World’s Most Famous Arena. In 2018, when he faced his good pal Wade for the final time at Staples Center, he said that this game could’ve only happened “here or the Garden”.

He’s always admired the market, even if fate had never taken him to the bright lights of New York City. In another life, the Knicks could’ve been competently run, and he could’ve been the one to end the title drought as the savior everyone was begging for.

But now, as he reaches the end of his incredible career, he’s in a perfect spot to ride into the sunset playing for one of the league’s most iconic franchises, in the most famous arena in the world, and completing a dream he’s seemed to have for a long time now, all without the pressure of being the “savior” and being able to just be a complimentary piece on the reigning NBA champions.

The ball’s in your court, King. Follow your heart.

NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 1: Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers throws chalk in the air before the game against the New York Knicks on February 1, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Why a divisional rival’s shrinking free agency market may benefit Bucks

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 8: Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 8, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Following a playoff performance that, it is fair to say, was pretty disappointing after finishing atop the Eastern Conference in the regular season, the Detroit Pistons clearly set out this offseason to rectify the main issue that prevented them from thriving in the playoffs: half-court offence (and lack of shooting in general). Put simply, they needed another guard who can get buckets at a high level to take some weight off Cade Cunningham.

Per reporting from a range of credible insiders, the Pistons pursued Austin Reaves as their top priority in free agency, who re-signed in LA on a max deal. They then turned their attention to Coby White, who swiftly re-upped on a deal with the Hornets following the LaMelo Ball blockbuster trade to Minnesota. Detroit was also rumoured to be interested in Norman Powell, who just inked a deal with the Bulls. See where I’m going with this?

As these names who can credibly help the Pistons continue to decrease, Tyler Herro’s value as a trade chip for the Bucks increases. You know, supply and demand. It’s worth noting that Detroit has remained interested in Herro since the Bucks acquired him, per reports, but, for a range of reasons, I could see why he wouldn’t have been their first priority. It’s not as if Herro is some sad consolation prize, though; I mean, he’s an All-Star! Say what you want about his defensive shortcomings or availability issues, but you can’t deny that he fits that team like a glove.

Herro commands attention all over the court. His gravity as a shooter—both off the catch and off the dribble—means primary defenders must guard him closely, and secondary defenders must be be right there once the primary gets beaten. Don’t get me wrong, he’s no Dame or Steph in terms of gravity, but he’s got the ability to hurt you in similar ways. Conceptually, the tandem of Herro and Cunningham playing off each other seems as if it would work brilliantly, while both can command units when the other is on the bench.

And then you get to the other end, where the fit makes even more sense. The main issue Miami had with Herro was that they felt they couldn’t play him alongside another poor defender, which limited lineup flexibility. But in Motown, Herro would be insulated by uber-talented defenders in Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren (who I am assuming ends up back on the team). Cade is not some plus defender, but he’s passable and has size. John Collins, whom they just signed, is solid on that end too.

As for why Milwaukee wouldn’t keep Herro, the main issue is that he feels like the wrong player to invest in at this point in their journey. If he were 22 years old, maybe, but at 26, is he really the guy you want to spearhead your rebuild and pay a massive contract after this season? To me, he feels much more like a finishing piece to add to a team that needs what he can provide than he does a cornerstone for a franchise in the opening years of a rebuild. That said, it’s not like I’d throw a fit if Jon Horst wasn’t happy with the offers and wanted to keep a hometown guy who can sell tickets.

The fit is good in Detroit, and I think Trajan Langdon knows it. Now they just have to come and get him.

Brewers’ top prospects Jesús Made, Luis Peña named to 2026 All-Star Futures Game

Feb 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers infielder Jesus Made sits in the dugout against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

For the second straight year, the Brewers will have one of baseball’s premier prospects on the Futures Game stage. This time, he’ll have company.

Baseball’s consensus top prospect, shortstop Jesús Made, will represent the Brewers for the second straight year at the annual prospect showcase. Made has backed up the hype this season, slashing .289/.359/.448 (.807 OPS) with seven home runs and 25 total extra-base hits while helping lead the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers to the first-half Southern League title. MLB Pipeline gives Made 60-grade hit, power, and arm tools, making him one of the most well-rounded prospects in baseball.

Joining Made in Philadelphia will be Luis Peña, the Brewers’ No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 18 overall prospect. Peña has missed a lot of time this year — he was hospitalized after overheating in the dugout during a game with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in April, then missed another two and a half weeks following a separate health scare.

When he’s played, Peña has been as electric as expected, slashing .318/.431/.432 (.863 OPS) through 88 at-bats. The 19-year-old infielder carries a 60 future value from MLB Pipeline, including an impressive 70-grade speed tool, and he posted an .844 OPS in Single-A before earning a promotion to High-A earlier this season. If Peña can stay healthy, he has just as much upside as Made.

Brewers fans hoping to catch Made and Peña on the national stage can tune into the All-Star Futures Game on Sunday, July 12. First pitch from Citizens Bank Park is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. CT, airing exclusively on NBC.

What’s the hottest baseball game you’ve ever been to?

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 30: Edmundo Sosa #33 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on prior to the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

If you are heading down to the Phillies game this afternoon, you are braver than most.

The weather forecast is something akin to the surface of the sun, as the temperature is expected to reach into the triple digits with feels like temperatures surpassing 110 degrees. For all of you brave souls acknowledging that and still making the trek to watch an Alan Rangel start, please be careful and remember that you are allowed to bring a sealed bottle of water into Citizens Bank Park.

Anyway, extreme heat is something you just have to deal with sometimes as a baseball fan. A sport that is primarily played in summer is bound to have days where it is absolutely miserable to sit outside at a game. And yet, thousands of us still go take in a ballgame, even if the seats we’re sitting in are melting our skin.

Personally, I can think of two examples of when I went to a ballgame in ridiculous heat. The first is the 2008 ten-year reunion game that took place in 2018. The Phillies beat the Marlins 5-3 on the back of a two-run homer from Asdrubal Cabrera in the eighth inning. Tommy Hunter got the save in the ninth inning. It was the first time I ever experienced the concessions stands giving out free cups of water. My cousin and I also grabbed ice from the concession stands and stuck them under our hats in an attempt to stay cool. I got some real bad sunburn on my kneecaps, as I did not realize that sometimes when you sit down, your shorts don’t quite cover the same length that they did when you put sunscreen on as you were standing. We also pulled our own doubleheader that day, as we went to the Eagles open practice that night, being that it was the first time they took the field after Super Bowl 52. Cory Clement was the first player on the field to thunderous applause. There I remember standing in line for a bottle of water and realizing if the line didn’t move faster, I would probably pass out. Good times.

I can’t remember the other example as clearly, but I’m pretty sure it involved an extra-innings walk-off hit from Odubel Herrera where I was just happy that the game was over, as I’m sure many were in an era where a walk-off hit from Odubel Herrera was a highlight.

So, what’s the hottest baseball game you’re ever been too? Is there anyone heading to the game this afternoon?

In MLB first, NBC, Peacock airing all 15 games on 'Star-Spangled Sunday'

If baseball fans plan on watching any of the 15 Major League Baseball games on July 5, they will have to find their way to one of NBCUniversal's television properties.

All 30 MLB teams that day will be in action, and their games will be broadcast on either NBC, Peacock, or NBCSN, the first time a media company has presented all 15 MLB games nationally in a single day.

Two of the games on "Star-Spangled Sunday" (New York Mets at Atlanta Braves, 12:30 pm ET, and San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers, 7 pm ET) will be broadcast on NBC, with the other games on the schedule all streamed on Peacock, with three simulcast on NBCSN. Peacock will also have a multiview four-box presentation.

"There's no better way to enjoy some free time on Fourth of July weekend than with one of the great rivalries in MLB, the Padres and Dodgers. In 2024, the Padres were this close to knocking the Dodgers out in the Division Series," NBC lead play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti told USA TODAY Sports. 

Benetti will call that game with former pitchers and Cy Young winners Orel Hershiser, Jake Peavy and C.C. Sabathia.

Rob Hyland, SVP of Production and Coordinating Producer for NBC Sports, is producing "Star-Spangled Sunday" and said the network reached out to producers and directors in more than a dozen markets over the past three months to bring them on board for the broadcast.

“We appreciate the tremendous cooperation from the local production teams and Major League Baseball to help put together this presentation, which is like nothing else I’ve worked on in nearly 30 years with NBC Sports," Hyland said. "Producers are typically in charge of every detail of a show and can react in the moment and adjust, but this production requires constant communication, collaboration and trust. We can’t wait for first pitch this Sunday."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: In MLB first, NBC, Peacock airing all 15 games on 'Star-Spangled Sunday'

Recovering emotionally from the gut punch trade

Jan 9, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; A Boston Celtics fan holds a sign as the Boston Celtics take on the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images

I’m not going to even try to re-litigate the particulars of this trade (yet). There are other posts on this blog and all over the internet explaining just how bad a trade the Boston Celtics made yesterday. Until we get the silver bullet “now they tell us” reasons for what happened, we’re just not going to know.

What I’m more concerned for is each of you. The real, diehard, bleeding green forever fans of this team. The Jaylen Brown trade immediately goes down as one of the worst I can think of, even across sports. I’m not as big a fan of the Red Sox as I used to be, and part of the reason I stopped caring was the Mookie Betts trade. This deal has that kind of impact potential.

I’ll speak for myself first. I’ve been walking around in stunned silence for so long that my wife is concerned about me. Internally I’m ping ponging through the stages of grief, mostly bouncing between anger and sadness. I haven’t started sobbing “Minnie Driver in Good Will Hunting” style, but I’m not ruling it out. I’ve even started questioning myself and my ability to understand basketball. Maybe I’m really just dumb and Jaylen Brown isn’t as good as I think he is. Clearly the market wasn’t what I thought it was, so at a minimum I misjudged that.

Or perhaps I’m way too invested in a silly kids game played by millionaires who are paid by billionaires using our money. That’s been true for decades and I don’t really see it changing. But enough about me.

Every one of you is unique and interacts with sports and the Celtics differently. You are all going to process this in your own way. Anger, sadness, confusion, denial, resignation, and a myriad of other emotions are expected. Some will say that this is all overreacting, and I understand the perspective, but I disagree. I would venture to guess that most of the people reading this post have invested time, money, passion, and love into this team. So witnessing a trade like this one for as little as they got back is traumatic. Not nearly on the scale of losing a loved one, but there can be minor echoes of that sort of feeling.

So I want this blog to be a safe place to work through all those emotions. That means if you are someone who copes by lashing out at people, please, please resist the urge. There are a lot of fragile human beings searching for answers, so try to follow my golden rule on here: Respect others by treating them the way you would like to be treated. I generally try to go the other way. Reach out to people that are struggling with this. Help them through their own emotions. You’ll find a funny thing happen when you do that. It becomes cathartic to you to help someone else and you actually end up helping yourself as well. Give it a shot.

We’ll get back to the basketball stuff soon enough. Just try to be excellent to one another. God bless.

Former Blackhawks Forward Finds New Home With Panthers

After a tough 2025-26 season with the Chicago Blackhawks, Sam Lafferty has found a new home in free agency.

The Florida Panthers have announced that they have signed Lafferty to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2025-26 season. 

Lafferty will now be aiming to compete for a spot on the Panthers' NHL roster after landing this contract. The possibility of him being an extra forward for Florida, like he was with Chicago this past season, is there.

Lafferty appeared in 29 games during this past season with the Blackhawks, where he recorded one goal, one assist, and 35 hits. This was after he had four goals, seven points, and 89 hits in 60 games for the Buffalo Sabres during the 2024-25 season. 

In 126 games over multiple stints with the Blackhawks, Lafferty recorded 16 goals, 18 assists, 34 points, 63 penalty minutes, and 232 hits. His best season with the Blackhawks was in 2022-23 when he recorded 10 goals, 21 points, and 94 hits in 51 games before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs later that campaign. 

The 2026 Red Sox season should become the summer of Venezuela

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 30: Wilyer Abreu #52 of the Boston Red Sox and Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox react with Boston Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry as they collect donations for Venezuela earthquake relief efforts on Jersey Street before a game against the Washington Nationals on June 30, 2026 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In the closing innings of Sunday’s exhilarating and chaotic finale against the Yankees, a surreal series of events events unfolded that one way or another should come to define the rest of the Red Sox season.

It started in the top of the ninth inning when Wilyer Abreu launched this hideous throw to nowhere, directly leading to a blown save:

Then it continued in the top of the tenth with another Abreu mistake, leading to an additional pair of Yankee runs:

I can count on one hand the number of times I felt as bad for a player on a Major League Baseball player within a game as I did for Wilyer Abreu in that moment. Normally a wonderful defender, he made two back to back blunders that looked likely to cost his team the highlight sweep of the season. And of course, this all came against the far more important, and far more devastating backdrop of the back to back earthquakes that rocked his home country, leaving behind a disaster with thousands dead, and tens of thousands more still missing.

As he stood there in the outfield with his “All together for Venezuela” message written on his hat, no player ever needed a hug on a baseball field more than Abreu in that moment:

But then something remarkable happened. The Red Sox offense – This Red Sox offense! – rallied out of nowhere in the bottom of the tenth to to take the game and pick up their despondent teammate. In that moment, it was probably better than any solace a hug could have provided.

Here’s the whole rally because it’s also probably the best half inning of baseball Red Sox fans are going to see all season:

The bottom line is this: One way or another, that tenth inning should become emblematic of the rest of the Red Sox season. Ideally that would involve the Red Sox making a remarkable comeback in the second half to go further than the Yankees by the time the end of fall rolls around, but at the very least, it should be the start of the Red Sox as an organization and fanbase rallying around Venezuela for the rest of the year.

This Red Sox roster is loaded with Venezuelan players (Willson Contreras, Wilyer Abreu, Ranger Suarez, Andruw Monasterio, Carlos Narvaez), and most of them are key contributors to the few positive things going on with the club. With everything that’s happened, they are now the main characters in our 2026 Red Sox story. Regardless of what happens on the field, the long, arduous process of Venezuela’s recovery should be tied to this baseball team.

And even though it’s just a game and a team thousands of miles away from the disaster, baseball can have that power. One of the biggest threats to Venezuela going forward is to have this tragedy fall out of the news cycle in places that can help. The Red Sox shouldn’t let that happen, and I know the players from Venezuela won’t let that happen. That’s why it’s so encouraging to see not just guys like Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu out on Jersey Street before the games collecting disaster donations, but also folks like John Henry and Sonny Gray.

Recently, the Red Sox started a new celebration when they do something good with their bats, reaching their hands together above their head to emulate the missing Citgo Sign over left field. Appropriately, here’s highlights of Wilyer Abreu and Willson Contreras doing it last week:

This may sound crazy, but I actually think this is the perfect celebration and symbol for the 2026 Red Sox and Venezuela going forward. Not only is the Citgo Sign a legendary landmark in the heart of Boston itself, but the company has deep ties to Venezuela. Without going into details there (because at the end of the day they’re an oil company that’s obviously up to no good) there’s probably nothing else that so clearly unites Boston and Venezuela as this oddly comforting red triangle, and the deep love for baseball it represents.

After all, the roots of Venezuela’s remarkable baseball history tie back to U.S. oil interests entering the country more than a century ago, and teaching locals the game. Now, all these years later, Venezuela’s returned the favor in a love letter back to us, reminding everyone of the joy and passion you can still bring to this wonderful game. As a group, they do it on a daily basis across all of Major League Baseball as well as anyone, and as an individual, Willson Contreras might do it the best.

So for the rest of the season, every time I see that Citgo sign, I’m now going to think of Venezuela. While it’s gone from the Boston skyline, I’m going to think of the buildings that are gone from the Venezuelan skyline. As it builds back up, I’m going to think of the resiliency of the Venezuelan people, who will also rebuild their country stronger and more beautiful than ever with time. And each time any Red Sox player does something good and celebrates with that Citgo Sign display, I’m going to smile at the ability baseball has to bring us all together, because that might just be the greatest power of this magnificent game.

Here’s where you can make donations to Venezuela via the Red Sox site. Hopefully, it will keep getting visits all year long. And hey, if we’re really lucky, maybe the comeback that’s coming for Venezuela will end up emblematic of both that tenth inning on Sunday, and the rest of the Red Sox season.

As Wilyer wrote: “All together for Venezuela!”

CITGO Sign In Kenmore Square

Former Penguins Tough Guy Signs With Panthers

Bokondji Imama's time with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization is over, as he has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Florida Panthers. 

Imama spent the majority of this past season down in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In 66 games with the AHL club this past season, he posted six goals, five assists, 11 points, and 137 penalty minutes. This was after he had three goals, five points, and 47 penalty minutes in 24 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton during the 2024-25 season. 

Imama also made appearances at the NHL level for Pittsburgh during each of the last two seasons. In 18 games with Pittsburgh over that span, the 6-foot-1 forward scored one goal and recorded 35 penalty minutes.  

Imama will now be joining a Panthers club that certainly values grit and toughness. He should be a call-up candidate for the Panthers when they want to add more bite to their lineup or when injuries arise. 

Yankees Report Card: Grading the bullpen halfway through the 2026 season

When you keep hearing about how the Yankees need to shop in the relief aisle come the trade deadline, that probably tells you something about the state of their bullpen.

Despite nice numbers in some departments, the pinstriped ‘pen has provided too many agita moments for a team with big-time October aspirations and needs, at the very least, more depth. 

Your move, Brian Cashman. 

Their closer has been nails lately, but had a 5.14 ERA as recently as May 18. Their hoped-for primary setup man has issues with left-handed hitters. Their lefty killer had a 4.02 ERA entering Wednesday (all numbers in this piece are entering Wednesday), nearly a run worse than his final mark last season. They’ve blown 13 save opportunities. 

But the Yankees also have seen some pitchers emerge – Brent Headrick, for one – and have hope that one of their top prospects, Carlos LaGrange, can transition from the rotation to the bullpen to become a hard-throwing intimidator late in games. Fernando Cruz’s splitter is fearsome. 

And the pen as a whole grades out well by several stats – entering Wednesday, the Yanks were sixth-best among bullpens in fWAR. They own the fourth-highest ground-ball rate of any bullpen in the majors and the third-best homers-per-nine-innings rate. 

They are second in pen ERA (3.19) and have the fifth-lowest opponent average. They’ve also thrown the sixth-fewest bullpen innings. In their last 10 games entering Wednesday, Yankee relievers had a 1.13 ERA. In their last 22, it’s 2.12. 

We’ll have to take it all into consideration as we formulate a grade for the relievers for the first half of this season. 

David Bednar, the closer, has had some late adventures, but he’s bloomed recently. He went on the paternity list on Monday carrying a streak of 12 straight scoreless appearances that trimmed his ERA more than two runs, down to 3.09. He’s saved 16 games in 18 chances. And some of his expected numbers suggest his numbers could be even better.

He gets a lot of chase (his chase percentage is in the 100th percentile, according to Statcast) and his ground ball rate is in the 96th percentile. 

New York Yankees pitcher Camilo Doval (75) looks on while a bug flies by his head during a game against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium, Aug 13, 2025, Bronx, New York, USA
New York Yankees pitcher Camilo Doval (75) looks on while a bug flies by his head during a game against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium, Aug 13, 2025, Bronx, New York, USA / Yannick Peterhans -- NorthJersey.com

Camilo Doval looks the part of a high-leverage reliever with a 98.5-mile-per-hour fastball and an expected ERA of 2.81. But overall this season he owns a 4.55 ERA, allows 8.5 hits per nine innings, and gives up massive hard contact.

Lefties, in particular, are mashing against him with a .350 average and a .941 OPS. To give you an idea of the OPS, there are only four batters in MLB who have an OPS that high this season and it’s a glittering group – Yordan Alvarez, Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber.

But Doval has been better lately, recording a 0.96 ERA in 10 games since June 5. But, perhaps indicative of his season, the one earned run he’s allowed in that span came when he inherited a jam and surrendered a grand slam to Andrew Benintendi of the White Sox on June 18.

“Slumps are part of the game as baseball players,” he told MLB.com through an interpreter afterward. “We all go through them. I’m not exactly getting the results that I expect of myself right this moment, but I know they’re coming. I know a good streak is coming.”

Cruz had a nifty 2025 and he’s even better now with a 2.57 ERA in 39 games. He throws his diving splitter half the time and batters are only hitting .130 against the pitch. He’s also finished 41 strikeouts with it, the fourth-most strikeouts on splitters in the majors. The three pitchers with more – Nathan Eovaldi, Shota Imanaga, and Kevin Gausman – are all starters.

Lefty Tim Hill has seen an uptick in ERA, thanks in part to a 7.45 mark in May. But he still gets ground balls as well as anyone, limits walks, and keeps the ball off the barrel while primarily relying on a sinker. If he keeps getting ground balls at his usual rate (63.6 percent), his ERA likely will plunge.

Headrick, in his first extended run in the majors, has proved invaluable as another lefty in the pen. The 28-year-old has a 1.58 ERA in 41 outings and only one pitcher who has pitched in at least that many games has a lower ERA – Toronto’s Louis Varland (0.98).

“He’s been huge down there,” Aaron Boone said recently of Headrick. “He just continues to solidify himself at this level. He’s pitching with a lot of confidence.”

The Yankees have gotten some good innings from Paul Blackburn, who has a 1.17 ERA in June and a 2.50 mark overall. Ryan Yarbrough can offer multi-inning stints, too.

The Yanks haven’t fixed Jake Bird, though. Bird, who came over at the trade deadline last year, has a 4.88 ERA and has been up and down from Triple-A.

GRADE: B-

There’s high-level talent and it’s hard to ignore the numbers. It just feels like the path to Bednar should be smoother. The Yankees have always shown a willingness and an ability to upgrade their bullpen, to say nothing of how they’ve unearthed relief gems others might’ve missed. Here’s betting they do that again. The final grade could be much higher.

Pirates vs Phillies Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies wrap up a series this afternoon, as Philly eyes a sweep.

The P's come into this one as a short -122 home favorite, and it's not difficult for me to understand why. I'll be backing them as they hold a clear pitching advantage in this matchup.

Here are my Pirates vs. Phillies predictions and MLB picks for July 2.

Who will win Pirates vs Phillies today: Phillies moneyline (-126)

Alan Rangel is set to make his first career start for the Philadelphia Phillies. While the specifics of his pitch count haven't been confirmed, I believe he's the best setup for success between the two hurlers today and would play Philly down to -135 because of it.

Rangel gets hitters to expand, carrying a 38.9% chase rate, and the Pittsburgh Pirates have a whiff rate of just over 27% — the highest in the league.

On the other hand, Jared Jones' 9.7% barrel rate allowed figures problematic against a team with plenty of power.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Jared Jones' average exit velocity is one of the highest allowed in the league, sitting in the Bottom 19 percent of the sport.

Pirates vs Phillies Over/Under pick: Under 10.5 (-107)

I like the Under with a projection of 9.4. Jones can give up damage, but he still misses enough bats to avoid a complete unraveling, and the Phillies’ offense has been closer to average than elite at 4.52 runs per game. 

Rangel is the bigger reason I’m comfortable below this number. His chase-heavy profile attacks a Pirates lineup with MLB’s highest whiff rate, giving him a path to soft counts and strikeout leverage. This total is priced as if both starters get hit (and hard), and I don’t agree.

I'd play this to -120.

Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 33-29, +6.86 units
  • Over/Under bets: 38-26, +16.62 units

Pirates vs Phillies weather

Pirates vs Phillies odds

  • Moneyline: Pirates +114 | Phillies -124
  • Run line: Pirates +1.5 | Phillies -1.5
  • Over/Under: Over 10.5 | Under 10.5

Pirates vs Phillies trend

The Phillies have cashed the moneyline in 29 of their last 45 games for +10.60 units and a 17% ROI.

How to watch Pirates vs Phillies and game info

LocationCitizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
DateThursday, July 2, 2026
First pitch12:35 p.m. ET
TVSportsNet Pittsburgh, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Pirates starting pitcherJared Jones
(1-1, 5.76 ERA)
Phillies starting pitcherAlan Rangel
(0-1, 4.50 ERA)

Pirates vs Phillies latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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2026 Columbus Blue Jackets Free Agency: Day 1 Recap

The Columbus Blue Jackets went into Day 1 of NHL Free Agency with a ton of uncertainty. But the black cloud hanging over the franchise revolved around Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko and whether they would be traded anytime soon. 

There was other business to attend to as well though. From signing free agents to signing their own RFA's, Don Waddell was a busy man on Wednesday. 

Let's recap everything that happened on Day 1. 

The first piece of business was Zach Werenski. After all the chaos that ensued on Tuesday night, with reports of a declined trade by Werenski, Columbus fans were left in shock and NHL fans begging for more. Late on Wednesday, the CBJ and Werenski put out joint statements to address the situation. 

Read both statement below. 

SIGNINGS

Columbus Blue Jackets To Sign Forward Ryan LombergColumbus Blue Jackets To Sign Forward Ryan LombergBartlett Hockey, who represents Ryan Lomberg, has stated that the Columbus Blue Jackets are signing the 31-year-old forward.  The deal is a 2-year contract with the CBJ carrying a $1.3 million AAV.  

Ryan Lomberg - 2 Years - $2.6 Million per season

Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Goalie Pheonix CopleyColumbus Blue Jackets Sign Goalie Pheonix CopleyCopley was undrafted out of North Pole, Alaska.

Pheonix Copley - 1 Year - $850k

Blue Jackets Sign Owen SillingerBlue Jackets Sign Owen SillingerThe Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that theyve signed Owen Sillinger to a one-year, two-way NHL/AHL contract for the 2026-27 season.

Owen Sillinger - 1 Year, 2 Way - $850k

Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Riley Bezeau To One Year DealColumbus Blue Jackets Sign Riley Bezeau To One Year DealBezeau is undrafted out of Mansfield, Massachusetts.

Riley Bezeau - 1 Year, 2 Way - $940k

LOSSES

Blue Jackets Lose Boone Jenner To Division RivalBlue Jackets Lose Boone Jenner To Division RivalElliotte Friedman has reported that Columbus Blue Jackets Captain Boone Jenner has signed with the Washington Capitals. The deal is a four-year, $23 million contract.

Boone Jenner - Washington Capitals -  Four-Year, $23 Million Contract

BREAKING: Sharks Sign Mason Marchment to 5-Year ContractBREAKING: Sharks Sign Mason Marchment to 5-Year ContractThe San Jose Sharks have reportedly signed forward Mason Marchment, the son of former Sharks player and long-time scout Bryan Marchment, to a five-year contract with an average annual value of roughly $7 million.

Mason Marchment - San Jose Sharks - 5 Year, $35 Million Contract

OTHERS

  • Erik Gudbranson has yet to sign with a new team. It's possible he still returns to the CBJ. 
  • RFA's Adam Fantilli, Jet Greaves, Cole Sillinger, and Luke Tuch have been given their QO's, but have yet to sign their contracts. 

Next Up For Columbus: Free Agency continues on. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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Let us know what you think below.

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Yankees potential trade partner: Los Angeles Angels

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 27: An injured Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels watches his team play the Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 27, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Yet again, the Los Angeles Angels boast one of the greatest baseball talents of the generation, Mike Trout. Once again, that same Mike Trout finds himself limited due to injuries, even as he puts together his best season since 2022. Once again, the Angels failed to put together a team capable of winning significant games around Trout, and without him, they are downright terrible. And once again, despite finding themselves far out of playoff contention, their owner Arte Moreno seems disinclined to permit his front office to be true sellers, declaring Reid Detmers, José Soriano, and Jo Adell off-limits.

The only one thing different this year? The team fired general manager Perry Minasian last week, hiring John Mozeliak as the interim for the remainder of the season.

Should the Angels decide to do the smart thing and begin tearing everything down, they do have some pieces that may be of interest to teams throughout the league, including the Yankees. The pitching staff in particular is filled with quality names. A pair of young starters in Detmers and Soriano should be able to bring back sizeable prospect hauls if the front office was able to convince ownership to shop them around, as they are under team control for another two seasons. While Soriano gathered attention with his otherworldly start to the season, posting a 0.84 ERA through his first seven starts, it is Detmers who would be the more highly sought pitcher. His 2.9 fWAR ranks fourth among starters this season, and his metrics suggest that he is underperforming his 3.88 ERA. Soriano, meanwhile, has come down to earth after his meteoric rise, with a 5.34 ERA across his last 11 starts.

With the Angels’ interim general manager inexplicably believing that the team doesn’t need a rebuild, merely a small retool (perhaps influenced by ownership?), it’s much more likely that the team will be more inclined to trade from their bullpen depth. They may not exactly have an elite bullpen — they began the year with Jordan Romano as their closer, after all — there are some arms that may interest the Yankees. Veteran reliever Kirby Yates has rebounded nicely from a disastrous 2025 with the Dodgers, even if he hasn’t recaptured the magic of his 2024 season as the Rangers’ closer. With a 34.2 strikeout percentage that ranks 11th among relievers with at least 10 innings of work (he has pitched 17 innings this season), he would provide some swing-and-miss that the Yankees’ bullpen desperately needs.

On the offensive side, Los Angeles does not really match up with the Yankees. Zach Neto would give the team an offensive boost at the shortstop position, as he has a 114 wRC+ this season; defensively, though, he has taken a step back — instead of Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average disagreeing on his performance (he had 13 DRS and -8 OAA last year), both stats are very low on him this year (-2 DRS, -8 OAA). Jo Adell gives the Yankees something they don’t need more of — an outfielder who can function in center field but is below average there.

It’s unlikely, but a new front office in LA may finally cause Trout to force his way off the Angels. Now in his age-34 season and with an average salary of $37 million per year through 2030, he would still be a help to any team in the league…so long as he would be able to stay healthy. At this stage, he needs considerable DH time, and with Giancarlo Stanton still under contract through next season (with a team option for 2028), the fit is a bit awkward — even if a middle-of-the-order of Rice/Judge/Trout/Bellinger/Stanton would be a dream lineup.

Still, given the Angels’ refusal to trade Shohei Ohtani a few years back despite knowing that they would not even attempt to re-sign him…if you want to see that lineup, turn on MLB The Show. In fact, you might need to do that if you want to see any Angels players donning the pinstripes this season. Blame Moreno.

Mets Morning News: O Canada, Mets blown out in Toronto

TORONTO, ON - JUNE 29: New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette (19) is seen during the top of the first inning of an MLB game between the New York Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays on June 29, 2026, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Mathew Tsang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Meet the Mets

The Mets were blown out in the finale against the Blue Jays to drop the series. Starter Freddy Peralta was awful again putting the Mets behind early. The offense didn’t score until the game was well out of hand and all told it was just another sloppy loss in a season full of them.

Choose your recap:Amazin’ Avenue, Athletic, Daily News, Faith and Fear in Flushing, MLB.com, NY Post

One of the only positives coming out of the lopsided loss was Carson Benge’s home run off of a lefty.

Owner Steve Cohen went on a podcast and discussed a variety of topics including the alleged feud between Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor, David Stearns’s job, the firing of Carlos Mendoza, the ejection of a fan at Citi Field holding a sign against Stearns, his unhappiness with the season, and the future of the team.

Luke Weaver has been one of the most dominant relievers in all of baseball, but should the Mets trade him at the deadline since he still has another year on his contract?

Jonah Tong’s family helped hand out his bobblehead giveaway to fans in Binghamton.

Around the National League East

The Braves started off July with a 5-1 win over the Cardinals.

The Marlins fell 6-3 to the Rockies in Colorado.

The Phillies defeated Paul Skenes and the Pirates 10-6.

Washington starter Cade Cavalli apologized for yelling a racially charged phrase at Wilson Contreras that caused a benches clearing incident.

The Nationals blew out the Red Sox 10-2.

Around Major League Baseball

The Yankees dropped their seventh in a row with a 6-2 loss against the Tigers.

The MLBPA’s latest CBA proposal included expanded rosters at the start of the season and placement on the 60-day IL in November.

Evidence is mounting that Major League Baseball may have changed the ball again, and that has led to more offense in the game.

Many teams could be interested in acquiring Tarik Skubal at the deadline, but it is still unclear what team will have a good enough package to acquire the Cy Young winner.

MLB has gutted the minor leagues in recent years for various reasons, and the strain is starting to show at the developmental level.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Grace Carbone took a look back at David Peterson’s tenure with the Mets.

This Date in Mets History

Happy birthday, Ángel Pagán!