KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 01: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates a 4-0 win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What has transpired in the last week or so, in terms of American League East baseball, cannot happen again. After play concluded on Wednesday, the Yankees had turned in seven consecutive losses, while the Rays won seven consecutive contests, flipping the standings completely. What was a 3.5 game division lead at the start of this miserable stretch is now a deficit of the same volume, as the Bombers have begun to dig themselves a hole rather rapidly.
New York’s game against the Tigers on Wednesday, and yet another convincing Rays win did not help things. Junior Caminero’s reign of terror also continued, and the Guardians bounced back after a tough loss on Tuesday. Let’s take a look at the details for a Wednesday full of baseball.
Tampa Bay Rays (50-33) 4, Kansas City Royals (35-52) 0
The tone was set from the get-go in Kansas City. With a runner on in the top half of the first, Junior Caminero belted a two-run shot into the left field seats. It was the first pitch he saw, and the booming homer made it his sixth straight game with a long ball, making him the youngest player to reach that feat in the modern era.
With Caminero’s historic blast giving Tampa Bay a lead out of the gates, it cleared the way for Shane McClanahan’s excellent outing on the mound. The talented lefty worked six scoreless innings on the mound, allowing just three hits and striking out four. It was an excellent start, and a needed one, as he was coming off of a couple of clunkers.
The Rays added to their lead thanks to the work of Cedric Mullins, who pitched in with a solo home run in the sixth and an RBI knock in the eighth. McClanahan and the Rays’ bullpen kept the Royals out of the run column from wire-to-wire, and locked in yet another important victory. With the Yankees loss, Tampa Bay gains a seventh game in the division in as many contests, as they now proudly own a 3.5-game lead.
After a brutal loss on Tuesday, the Guards bounced back with a good win over the Rangers. The game was essentially decided in the second inning, when they roughed up Mackenzie Gore for five runs. Some small ball runs and a three-run blast from David Fry did the trick, and had the Guardians up 5-0 early on. Joey Cantillo battled through adversity on the hill for Cleveland, turning in a solid start despite five walks in his outing. The Texas offense woke up in the second half of the game, but it wasn’t enough to match the Guardians, who plated four more in their final two innings.
Toronto Blue Jays (41-46) 9, New York Mets (36-51) 3:
Apparently everyone in the East was able to have fun on Wednesday other than the Yankees. The Blue Jays cruised to victory against a disappointing Mets squad at home. Nathan Lukes, Kazuma Okamoto, Alejandro Kirk, and Ernie Clement all tallied multiple hits for the Jays, while homers from Sean Keys and Myles Straw helped them have multiple four-run innings.
On the pitching side, a three-arm tandem did the job for Toronto, which saw Spencer Miles toss three spotless innings in the early going, while Patrick Corbin tossed the final five innings of the ballgame. The Jays still have plenty of work to do to get themselves in a good position.
Man, am I sorry for the Cub fans who jumped off the bandwagon and decided to pack it in early for “Wait ‘til next year.” While there might be some efficiency in doing that and almost certainly an avoidance of future heartache and frustration, this team is a lot of fun when it’s going good. This third hot streak of the year continues to roll in a game that got so comically out of hand that the Padres went to a position player in the seventh inning. Between Wednesday’s blowout win and last week’s double header sweep of the Mets, these have been some of the most fun days I can remember.
The script remains the same for this team. In more than half their wins they have scored nine or (many) more runs or won in their last team at-bat. If this team doesn’t blow the other team out of the water, there’s a good chance they won’t win it until late in the game. In this game, they blew out real early. Seiya Suzuki slugged a three-run homer in the first inning and the Cubs were quickly off to the races. Walker Buehler had been throwing pretty well for the Padres, but he was clocked for nine earned runs in this one. That was only one more than Padre catcher Rodolfo Duran ended up being tagged with in relief.
The Cubs piled up 17 hits and drew seven walks in this one. If those numbers weren’t crazy enough, it was the eight homers that was the eye popping number. Dansby Swanson had his first career three homer game and missed another one by maybe a foot. Michael Conforto had his first two-homer game as a Cub. Alex Bregman was designated to make the outs for the team and was 0-5 with a walk. Seven different Cubs drove in runs, led by Dansby Swanson who has fixed his offensive numbers to a large degree over the last two weeks. 10 different Cubs scored runs, led by four from Conforto and Swanson.
The Cubs had a team line of .405/.490/1.024 (wRC+ 309). Of course these numbers are inflated by silly time at the end of the game. You have to finish the game. The Cubs were pretty aggressive at the plate, but they weren’t passing the opportunity to take some quality rips.
On the other side, Colin Rea did his best Javier Assad impression, wherein he allowed a ton of baserunners but somehow escaped trouble over and over again. He three five non-impressive innings and got a win for his efforts. Do you love a pitcher win more with 13 runs scored during your five innings of work or a three-inning save? That makes three of the latter for the Cubs this year.
Jordan Wicks moved into second on the team in saves with his three innings of one-run ball. In his two appearances since being recalled, he has been handed a three-run lead in the 10th at Milwaukee and a 13-run lead against the Padres on a windy day in Chicago and asked not to blow them. He did not blow either one. I’m at least curious to see if Wicks benefits at all from being used out of the pen. As Andrew Chafin reminds us, most relievers are just failed starters. I can’t ever remember watching Wicks pitch and being impressed, but I’m sure it is possible I’ve blocked something out.
The team now sits 11 over .500 at 49-38. As of this morning, there are just four teams with more wins than this Cubs team. The team is flawed, I get it. Of all of the competitive teams in the Ricketts era, it might be the most flawed team. But this team is fun. This team can buzzsaw you. The Padres team the they just swept is also a flawed team. A flawed team that is pretty good. They are no joke. The Cubs just posted 35 runs across three games. Ignoring the eight by a position player, that is 27 runs in 25 innings as they didn’t bat in the ninth the last two games. That’s quite an outburst. The 12 they allowed doesn’t look outlandish, and you feel better in that seven of them came in one game while they were nursing a pretty large lead (at least initially).
I don’t know what anyone is going to do about the Dodgers. There are no rules that stop them from hiring a small market wizard to run one of the very largest market teams. But they are terrifying. They are an organization that churns out elite talent from their system year after year after year. And when there is something they don’t have and can’t trade for with enormous prospect capital, they buy it. They don’t ever have to shop in the clearance rack. But hey, small market wizard, right? They shop in all of the bins. They are a problem.
Aside from the Dodgers, there is no team that you wouldn’t expect to have a puncher’s chance against. This team can pack a pretty significant punch. Especially if they can get any number of their key pitchers standing upright with their arm properly attached come playoff time.
What a time to be a Cub fan.
Three Positives:
Dansby Swanson is scorching the ball right now. Three homers, eight runs batted in and four runs scored. Two of his homers were pre garbage time.
Michael Conforto had three hits, two of them homers and was intentionally walked. He drove in four and scored four.
Seiya Suzuki kicked off the scoring with his three-run homer. He had a double and a single as well and drew a walk. He scored three to go with the three RBI. His season line is up to .274/.357/.466 (wRC+ 128). He is a force offensively.
Obligatory PCA line: two hits, one a homer, stolen base, three runs driven in, two scored. Didn’t play in garbage time.
Game 87, July 1: Cubs 23, Padres 3 (49-38)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
Billy Goat: Michael Busch (-.066). 2-6, HR, RBI, 2 R
Goat: Nico Hoerner (-.020). 0-3, BB
Kid: Michael Conforto (-.003). 3-4, 2 HR, BB, 4 RBI, 4 R
WPA Notes: WPA does not care how much traffic a pitcher allows. Assuming you finish the inning, it’s binary. Did runs score? Conforto made an out the first time up and it got lopsided fast. So he ends up with one of the best lines I’ve ever seen on the wrong side of the ledger.
WPA Play of the Game: Seiya Suzuki’s first inning three-run homer. It came with runners on first and third with one out. (.187)
Padres Play of the Game: As has happened so many times recently, the other biggest play immediately preceded it. Michael Busch struck out for the first out of the inning. (.058)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 86 Winner: Dansby Swanson received 95 of 134 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Pete Crow-Armstrong +17
Ben Brown +13.5
Trent Thornton +12.5
Michael Busch +12
Carson Kelly +11.5
Dansby Swanson -9
Edward Cabrera -9.5
Phil Maton -10
Seiya Suzuki -11.5
Caleb Thielbar -13
Up Next: An off day Thursday. The Cardinals (44-39) come to town. They lost to the Braves Wednesday night and play them again in Atlanta before heading to Chicago. Go Braves. The Cubs haven’t named a starter for the Friday game yet. Andre Pallante (9-5, 3.83) will be the Cardinals starter. This should be David Peterson’s spot for the Cubs. He is 4-6 with a 5.86 ERA, but looked good in his Cub debut in Milwaukee (5.2 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 2 ER).
The Cubs will seek a sixth straight win and their 16th win in 20 games.
The White Sox made meaningful strides in June, proving they can win through depth and resourcefulness even as key areas still require attention. | (Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
June was everything you expect from summer in Chicago. The White Sox feasted on the AL Central’s collapse and picked up a few unexpected wins during the East Coast road trip. While there are many strong takeaways from June, a gap still hasn’t been fully patched.
The Sox don’t need Munetaka Murakami, and they don’t need big contracts…but it sure would help
At first, losing Mune to a hamstring strain left me feeling defeated. Winning was fun while it lasted, right? Wrong. Without Murakami, the Sox lineup hit about the same as they did with him.
In June, Chicago slashed .255/.325/.443, scoring 138 runs and slamming 38 home runs. Compared to May, when Murakami had a monster slugging month, the Sox hit more consistently at the small cost of 12 fewer runs and four fewer dingers. Although they won fewer games, Chicago’s overall performance dip should be attributed to its shakier pitching, as evident by the +32 run differential in May versus +10 in June.
Losing Murakami likely through the All-Star break threw a wrench in the excitement, but this team didn’t collapse. Chicago’s front office has managed to assemble a winning team costing less than $115 million, and has found more success than five teams ranked in the top 10 in payroll. Money doesn’t always buy effectiveness.
In the same vein, their expensive closer Seranthony Domínguez, who’s rolling in his $10 million average annual value salary, isn’t coming close to earning his money. The 31-year-old reliever had a poor June, posting a 5.40 ERA with five walks while only converting one of three save opportunities. Sean Newcomb, Grant Taylor, Bryan Hudson, and Chris Murphy all pitched better than Domínguez, and their salaries combine to just over $6 million.
This team has never thrived more on its ability to maximize limited resources than now, but that doesn’t mean some expensive firepower won’t take it to new heights. If Chris Getz is smart, he’ll start cashing in his infield capital and abundance of Triple-A talent to acquire some high-end starters to keep the arms from getting too stale.
Chicago’s catching depth still hasn’t been resolved
Last year, the dynamic Kyle Teel–Edgar Quero catching duo seemed to be the solution to Chicago’s catching depth problems dating back to 2012, when A.J. Pierzynski and Tyler Flowers ranked sixth in the league in WAR among catchers (1.7). But that overflowing talent pool has quickly shriveled up.
Teel missed nearly half the season and is still finding his footing since suffering a hamstring strain during the World Baseball Classic. It’s too early to tell how he’ll fare over the rest of the season, but his early numbers at the plate and behind the dish say that he’ll either experience a backslide, or his IL recovery might take some time to iron itself out. Quero, on the other hand, has experienced one hell of a sophomore slump. He went from slashing .268/.333/.356 in 111 games in 2025 to hitting below the Mendoza line and recording a meager .233 slugging percentage. Quero is ranked 94th among big league catchers with -19 overturns versus expected by the average catcher and -3.6 runs, which includes challenges as a batter and fielder, amounting to a 47% challenge success rate.
Things look even worse considering Quero’s framing and block grades are -4 and -6, putting him in the bottom 10%. His performance was so lackluster that he got the boot back to Charlotte when Teel came off the IL.
Korey Lee and Drew Romo don’t deepen the depth chart dramatically. Lee seems to be in professional baseball purgatory, with never being able to outplay the Quad-A hitting and catching standard he’s sustained since 2024. And Romo, who is somehow still on the 26-man roster, is batting worse than all three ever have.
Perhaps that’s why Getz swapped Charlotte’s best relief arm for a catcher who hasn’t caught in Triple-A since 2024. The Sox aren’t in danger at catcher, but the expectedly long offseason should give enough time to address the situation fully.
Summary Metrics
Chris Getz Trade Confidence (How much better does a Chris Getz trade make this team?): 15%
Average Drinks Required (Average number of alcoholic drinks required to tolerate this team): 2.75 – a light buzz won’t kill anyone, but the starters sometimes prompt a heavier pour
Rebuild Index (1 is full rebuild, 5 is sustaining current pace, 10 is aggressively pursuing a World Series): 7
May 2, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Oakland Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker (25) reaches base on a fielding error by Miami Marlins shortstop Xavier Edwards (9) in the ninth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Welcome to Thursday A’s fans!
The squad managed to avoid a sweep yet again last night, winning the series finale in convincing fashion against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It brought the A’s record to 41-46 and with the weak AL West that’s good enough to be just three games out of first place.
The A’s now have a day off to rest and recuperate before welcoming the Miami Marlins to town. The Marlins came into this season with low expectations but they’ve surpassed them and then some. At 46-40 not only do they have a better record than every team in the AL West, but they’re also third in arguably the toughest division in baseball, the NL East. They also come to Sacramento riding a a hot streak, having won two in a row and taking 10 of their past 12 contests. Wrong time to be facing the Fish right now.
Miami has worked as a team to help them to their successful first half. While they’re second-to-last in the National League in home runs, they’re sixth in batting average, fifth in on-base percentage, and tied for 7th (with the Giants) in OPS. What they’ve lacked in power they’ve made up for with speed as their 94 steals are tops in the entire sport. They have four players already in double-digit swipes so A’s catchers will likely have their hands full with Marlins on the basepaths. Plus, they’ve been without their top power threat in Kyle Stowers for portions of this year but he’s back and hitting well since his return. Miami could be a buyer this deadline season.
The Miami starting rotation also has a couple bright spots. Max Meyer, a former 3rd overall pick in the draft, has broken out and is one of the best arms in the NL this year. Former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara hasn’t been quite found his old form but has generally given them a chance to win when he takes the mound. And Eury Perez has also been adequate, though not quite living up to the hype that surrounded him when he arrived to the big leagues. We’re likely to see Meyer this weekend but probably not Alcantara or Perez since they started the Marlins’ past two games.
Anyway, the A’s. Unfortunately the bad injury news keeps on coming for the squad. Two days ago we learned that Designated Hitter Brent Rooker isn’t making as much progress in his return from the knee injury that landed him on the injured list at the beginning of June…
Brent Rooker is away from the A’s today being reevaluated at Stanford for his knee injury. Kotsay: “I wouldn’t say that his progress has stopped. … it hasn’t progressed as efficient as we’d like. So he’s down there going through another exam.”
… but just last night just an hour or so before first pitch, the A’s announced the bad news: Rooker would be undergoing the knife, ending his season prematurely:
Brent Rooker is set to undergo surgery to address cartilage in his left knee. He will miss the remainder of the 2026 season.
Not great news. Though Rooker was suffering his worst season to date with the Athletics (.200/.281/.389, 10 home runs), the club would surely have prefered their expensive DH to be playing and trying to right himself. He’s hit at least 30 home runs the past three years and the A’s were counting on that production in the middle of the lineup this season. Instead he’s been on the shelf since the first week of June and that’s where he’ll remain the rest of 2026.
It’s a brutal blow for Rooker, who likely wanted to come back, turn his season around, and help drive the A’s to the playoffs. Now he’ll begin the process of rehabbing his knee and hopefully being 100% ready to go next year, when he’ll be 32-years-old. That’s no spring chicken but he’s still locked in with the A’s for another three years, and his salary is about to make a big jump this offseason from $8 million this year to $14 million next season. The club will certainly take things slow with Rook to make sure this surgery and rehab goes as perfectly as possible. The A’s can’t afford to have that big a salary be an anchor and still compete.
Originally placed on the IL with what the team called a “bone bruise”, it’s now officially to the point where the club needs to stop thinking of a stopgap for his roster spot, and start thinking about how they’re going to replace him for the final three months of the season. The most likely option is to just simply stick in-house and rotate guys like Carlos Cortes, Lawence Butler, Shea Langeliers and others in and out of that spot depending on who Kotsay wants to give a half-day off to. It wouldn’t cost the A’s anything as far as prospects or salary, and the team could get some answers regarding some of their young bats, but the floor is also much lower without a more proven hitter in that spot.
If the club has their sights set on the postseason and wants to bolster the DH spot, the front office had better at least be doing their due diligence on guys that could step into the roll for half a season. Would the A’s make a bold trade for someone like the Giants’ Luis Arraez? Or someone a bit less costly like the Rockies’ Mickey Moniak or Boston’s Willson Contreras? Who would you guys target now that Rooker is indeed done for the year?
No game today everyone, but we have a big Fourth of July weekend ahead of us! Have a great one guys.
Scary moment down in Double-A last night as outfield prospect Ryan Lasko suffered a collision with fellow outfield prospect Devin Taylor. Lasko was carted off while Taylor stayed in the game:
A's No. 18 prospect Ryan Lasko was carted off the field after this terrifying collision with his teammate in center field. No update yet on his condition. #Athleticspic.twitter.com/eZ4LH20JmM
But at least some good news. Keep Lasko in your thoughts, A’s fans. Get well soon Ryan!
A’s prospect Ryan Lasko is in stable condition. As of now, the swelling in his spine is to the extent where he doesn’t have feeling in his lower half. There is hope that the feeling will come back with time. Thoughts and prayers to him and his family.
Some “positive” injury news regarding a top prospect:
A's 20-year-old Taiwanese LHP Wei-En Lin underwent successful surgery on June 30 with Dr. Neil ElAttrache to reconstruct his left ulnar collateral ligament. He'll complete his rehabilitation in Arizona.
— Bill Moriarity – A's Farm (@AthleticsFarm) July 1, 2026
Leo De Vries and Jamie Arnold are heading to the Futures Game, where many of the game’s current stars made their national debuts:
The future is here!
Congratulations to Leo De Vries and Jamie Arnold on their selection for the Futures Game. pic.twitter.com/fabmSuGRco
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 02: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics embrace after the 76ers defeated the Celtics 109-100 in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden on May 02, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey didn’t take long to make a big splash, huh?
On July 1, he agreed to trade Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks to the Boston Celtics for Jaylen Brown. He wasn’t done there, though. Three weeks later, the Sixers signed LeBron James (!) to a two-year, $7.9 million veteran-minimum contract (!!!).
The Sixers also split their non-taxpayer mid-level exception between Dean Wade ($9 million) and Anfernee Simons ($6 million), and they used a portion of their bi-annual exception to sign Ariel Hukporti to a one-year, $3.4 million deal. As a result, the Sixers are now hard-capped at the $209 million first apron, which means their payroll cannot exceed that threshold from now through June 30, 2027.
Since LeBron signed a two-year contract instead of a one-year deal, his contract will not be prorated. His full $3.9 million salary will go on the Sixers’ cap sheet rather than the standard $2.45 million two-year veteran-minimum.
That means another shoe had to drop before the Sixers officially signed LeBron. They were only $3.4 million below the first apron prior to his arrival. Adding him to their cap sheet would have pushed them roughly $460,000 above the hard cap, which is a no-go.
Luckily, they had a few options to clear that space. Dalen Terry’s $2.6 million contract was fully non-guaranteed, while only $250,000 of Jabari Walker’s $2.6 million deal is guaranteed. They wound up waiving Terry to make room for LeBron, but they weren’t done there.
Shortly after LeBron made his decision, longtime NBA reporter Chris Haynes broke the news that the Memphis Grizzlies were planning to waive Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and that KCP was expected to sign with the Sixers on a one-year, $3.9 million veteran-minimum deal. Since it’s only a one-year contract, it does get prorated down to roughly $2.4 million.
However, the Sixers once again didn’t have enough room under the first apron to fit him in. They were only $2.1 million below the hard cap after signing LeBron. To create enough space for KCP, they wound up trading Johni Broome and a 2027 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for cash considerations. (Yes, this is their first acceptable salary dump in years.
With both LeBron and KCP in the fold, here’s where the Sixers now stand financially:
Player
2026-27
Joel Embiid
$57,985,752
Jaylen Brown
$57,736,350
Tyrese Maxey
$40,770,520
VJ Edgecombe
$11,663,880
Dean Wade
$9,000,000
Anfernee Simons
$6,000,000
LeBron James (!!)
$3,876,529
Labaron Philon Jr.
$3,597,120
Dominick Barlow
$3,415,000
Ariel Hukporti
$3,400,000
Jabari Walker
$2,584,539
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
$2,449,421
Justin Edwards
$2,411,090
Adem Bona
$2,296,271
TOTAL
$207,186,472
SALARY CAP
$164,961,000
CAP ROOM
-$42,225,472
LUXURY TAX
$200,428,000
TAX ROOM
-$6,758,472
1ST APRON
$209,015,000
1ST APRON ROOM
$1,828,528
2ND APRON
$221,686,000
2ND APRON ROOM
$14,499,528
With 14 players under contract, the Sixers are now roughly $1.8 million below the first apron. They do not have enough room under the hard cap to sign anyone else, even to a minimum contract, unless it’s an undrafted free agent ($1.4 million) or a two-way deal (doesn’t count against the aprons).
The Sixers figure to go into the season with that roster spot open. Veteran-minimum contracts begin to prorate downward on a daily basis once the regular season begins, so they could look to sign someone in-season once the value of the vet-min deal decreases enough to fit under the hard cap. That should be as early as December, although they might prefer to keep it open until the trade deadline to see which ring-chasers shake loose.
If the Sixers want additional flexibility to shuffle around their end-of-the-bench pieces this offseason, they could choose to waive Walker. However, waiving him and signing a player to a minimum contract in his place would cost about $115,000 more than just keeping him around.
That might sound relatively inconsequential when we’re talking about a $200-plus million budget, but teams have gotten aggressive about pushing boundaries with their hard caps. The reigning champion New York Knicks finished less than $240,000 below their second-apron hard cap this past season, while the Los Angeles Lakers were less than $620,000 below their first-apron hard cap. In 2024-25, the Knicks finished exactly $53,349 below their second-apron hard cap. (Walker is also a Klutch client, so he’s not going anywhere.)
Either way, the Sixers are now poised to enter the season nearly $6.8 million over the luxury-tax line. And if they aren’t willing to pay the tax for a roster with LeBron James on it, fire Josh Harris and Co. directly into the sun.
LOS ANGELES, CA - May 08: Jim Jarvis #74 of the Atlanta Braves looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 8, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | Getty Images
After last night’s victory, the Braves are shuffling their bench once again. Or, maybe, their not-quite-bench:
The #Braves today recalled INF Jim Jarvis to Atlanta and designated INF Rowdy Tellez for assignment.
This will be Jim Jarvis’ second stint in Atlanta. The 25-year-old infielder made his MLB debut on the Braves’ West Coast trip to Seattle and Los Angeles earlier this season, where he made two starts and collected a single to go with two strikeouts in five PAs. Jarvis has a pretty silly 133 wRC+ at Triple-A Gwinnett this year, but if you put any stock in minor league xStats (not sure if I do or not, truly), he’s way outhitting his xwOBA down there.
It’s unclear whether Jarvis will simply hang around for left-handed depth, or whether things will get more complicated. Ha-Seong Kim is pacing himself for a historically awful season, though he’ll probably improve or just flat-out stop getting playing time if it keeps up. Jorge Mateo was a fun story earlier, but has cratered while trying to play through a mild injury over the last few weeks. Mauricio Dubon, the only Brave to have an unequivocally good June offensively, would be a solution, except that he’s been needed to patch up the Braves’ outfield issues. And then there’s Austin Riley, who appears to be auditioning for a role in a local stage production of Frozen 2 (if you know, you know) moreso than effectively hitting baseballs, so there’s another infield question mark that perhaps Jarvis will be called upon to address in some way.
The roster casualty of Jarvis’ promotion is Rowdy Tellez, who ends this round of his Braves tenure with 11 PAs in which he singled, homered, and walked in 11 PAs. He actually put up a .500+ xwOBA in those 11 PAs, so hard to say he didn’t do his job, but the Braves don’t need two no-field DH guys who probably won’t hit better than league average on the roster.
Jarvis will presumably be around and in uniform as the Braves play a rubber game against the Redbirds later tonight. Will he grab a start somewhere? Stay tuned.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 1: Samad Taylor #0 of the San Diego Padres slides but misses a catch during the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on July 1, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Walker Buehler had been the most consistent starter in the San Diego Padres rotation, but that image took a critical hit when the right-hander allowed nine runs over the first three innings to the Chicago Cubs, and the Padres suffered an embarrassing 23-3 loss to cap a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field on Tuesday.
Buehler was atrocious from the start of the game. He allowed a leadoff single to Pete Crow-Armstrong who stole second and then advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Alex Bregman followed with a walk before Buehler recorded a strikeout against Michael Busch for the first out of the inning. Buehler’s success was short-lived because he then allowed a three-run home run to Seiya Suzuki and that set the stage for the rest of the game.
Buehler then allowed a solo home run to Dansby Swanson in the bottom of the second inning and followed that with a two-out two run single and a two-out three-run homer – again to Swanson – in the bottom of the third inning that gave the Cubs a commanding 9-0 lead over the Padres. It was the fourth home run San Diego pitching has allowed to Swanson in the past two games.
The lone bright spot for the Padres came in the top of the fifth inning when Sung-Mun Song hit his first MLB home run. San Diego added a second run in the inning on back-to-back doubles by Manny Machado and Ty France that cut the deficit to 9-2. That deficit, like Buehler’s success in the first inning, was short-lived. Kyle Hart came into pitch in the fifth inning and allowed a solo home run and then a three-run home run that extended the Chicago lead to 13-2 over San Diego. Hart was still on the mound in the bottom of the sixth inning when Michael Conforto connected on a two-run home run to make the score, 15-2.
The Padres added a meaningless run in the top of the eighth inning when Miguel Andujar singled through the right side of the infield to score Samad Tayor from third base. That capped the scoring for San Diego, but Chicago added another eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning off position player pitcher Rodolfo Duran. Four of those runs came on a grand slam by Swanson, his third home run of the game, and the final run for the Cubs came on a solo home run from Busch, which brought the score to 23-3. It was a fitting end to an embarrassing game that capped a miserable series in Chicago.
San Diego heads to Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium today at 7:10 p.m.
The Knicks already took their first steps toward repeating the success of their 2026 championship, locking up their bench backcourt to new deals. Unfortunately, they lost a key ingredient to their run as well, with Mitchell Robinson heading to Boston for three years and $47.4 million.
This was a contract value the front office couldn’t match without going into the second apron, a hard line for this offseason.
With Robinson gone, the Knicks need to fill the hole left at their center position — here are some ways they can do it:
Kevon Looney
Looney is an unrestricted free agent after playing only 21 games for New Orleans last season. He has championship mettle from his 10 years in Golden State, including time spent under Knicks head coach Mike Brown.
He’s a bit undersized at 6-foot-9 and is now 30 years old, but is a smart defender and offensive rebounder who sets good screens and can make a couple plays in the halfcourt offense. He won’t wholly replace Robinson -- no bench big can -- but he’d be a solid veteran pickup who can easily slide to third string if a better option rises up.
Nick Richards
Richards is a free agent who’s closer to the Robinson mold at 6-foot-11 and sporting strong athleticism and rim-running. He’s only 28 and is a New York local who averaged 9.4 points and 7.6 rebounds on 52.3 percent shooting from the field in his last 20 games with Chicago last season.
The Bulls were his third team in two seasons after the Hornets and Suns both traded him. That's not a shining endorsement, but the right structure could help him find his footing. He’s been linked to the Knicks in the past so it wouldn’t be surprising if they came back around to seal the deal this time.
Apr 30, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (1) reacts to his score against the Boston Celtics during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. / Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Andre Drummond
Drummond is a veteran of 14 seasons, spending his last two in Philadelphia having to play almost 20 minutes per game as Joel Embiid’s backup and stand-in. He would be comfortable in a potential role in New York behind Karl-Anthony Towns and bring high-level offensive rebounding, plus a newly developed three-point shot to the table.
His defense isn’t great and he’ll be 33 before the start of next season, but Drummond combined with one of the names above or below could help strengthen New York's frontcourt depth.
Moussa Diabate
This will depend on Charlotte and New York’s appetite for a trade, but a salary match of Miles McBride or a couple of the Knicks prospects could net them a young promising big via the trade market. The Hornets may play ball given they also employ Ryan Kalkbrenner, Naz Reid and newly drafted Hannes Steinbach.
New York would net a freakish athlete at just 24 years old who averaged 7.9 points and 8.7 rebounds on 63.1 percent shooting in 73 games and 47 starts last season. They’d have to pay him after this season, which could be a risk, but if possible this is their highest upside means of filling the role.
Drew Eubanks
Not the hottest name, Eubanks has spent the last five seasons on six different squads, culminating in a quiet season in Sacramento. He’s not the strongest rebounder but can defend and finish nicely, bringing toughness to the frontline.
Eubanks hasn’t been brought up as much as these other names, but could be as effective if not more in making up for some of Robinson’s lost production.
More baseball across the Majors means more value in my same-game parlay predictions.
Jacob Misiorowski will dominate once again this afternoon, while Davis Martin is also in line for another quality showing. Read more in my MLB picks for Thursday, July 2.
Jacob Misiorowski takes the hill today for the Milwaukee Brewers, and he continues to dominate. The right-hander owns a 1.74 xERA across his last four outings, giving up just 0.32 HR/9 during that span.
Misiorowski has consistently limited loud contact with his elite fastball-slider combination, making this a difficult matchup for a Cincinnati Reds lineup that has struggled to square up pitching recently.
He's also hit the Under in hits allowed in two of his previous three outings, and Misiorowski comes up against a struggling Reds offense that has an xBA of .229 over the last week.
The Brewers' .208 ISO over their last six games is a reason to believe they can score some runs off Chase Burns, who is home run-prone lately. Cincinnati's bullpen also sports an 8.14 FIP over its last 19 2/3 innings of work.
Chicago White Sox rookie Jacob Gonzalez is hitting .409 over his last six contests with an impressive 50% hard-hit rate. He's posted four multi-hit games in his last seven as well, and Gonzalez just smacked five hits in a three-game set with the Baltimore Orioles. He'll face Slade Cecconi tonight, who has allowed a 39.5% hard-hit rate across the last month.
White Sox ace Davis Martin owns a stellar 2.51 xERA across his previous two appearances, limiting opponents to a 33.3% hard-hit rate. The Cleveland Guardians are ice cold, with just 78 wRC+ in their last six games. This is a clear opportunity for Martin to toss another gem.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CSN, Guardians.TV
Tigers at Rangers SGP: Eovaldi racks up the Ks
Nathan Eovaldi has been a strikeout machine this season for the Texas Rangers, racking up 101 Ks in 100 1/3 innings of work. He's struck out nine hitters in back-to-back outings, and he's averaging 9.06 K/9 at home. The Detroit Tigers have averaged nine punchouts per game across their last three.
Kerry Carpenter has recorded a hit in six straight contests, and he's batting .320 over his last seven games with an impressive 52.4% hard-hit rate. Justin Foscue is also swinging it well, finishing with five hits across his previous four games. He's whacked lefties this season with a .357 average, and he'll face Framber Valdez tonight. It's a favorable matchup for Foscue.
Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: DSN, RSN
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
SGP picks: 0-8, -8.00
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.
Australian No 1 dismisses French veteran 6-3 6-2 6-2
‘I just love it here,’ says No 5 seed
Alex de Minaur was not at his best against French veteran Adrian Mannarino as Wimbledon’s fourth day opened with the sun out and mercury rising, but he was good enough.
The Australian No 1 saw off his potentially troublesome left-handed opponent 6-3 6-2 6-2 in one hour 49 minutes on Thursday.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 16: Andrei Kuzmenko #96 of the Los Angeles Kings and Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins battle for a loose puck during the first period at Crypto.com Arena on October 16, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NHL teams can give out up to 50 contracts per season. After the dust from an active day one of free agency settles in, let’s check on how the Penguins are looking this year towards that metric.
Departed from 2025-26
The following players left the organization officially yesterday via free agency, their new organizations noted if they found one already.
Noel Acciari (PHI), Sebastian Aho (Sweden), Connor Clifton (BOS), Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Kevin Hayes, Boko Imama (FLA), Joona Koppanen (Sweden), Anthony Mantha, Ryan Shea (EDM) and Stuart Skinner (WIN).
Add Alexander Alexeyev to the list of players coming off the 50 organizational contracts. Pittsburgh will retain his NHL rights though the defender has signed with the KHL to play for the next two seasons and won’t be a part of the organization in the near-future (if ever again).
Parker Wotherspoon, Emil Pieniniemi and Jack St. Ivany join the outgoing rush of NHL contracts that were on the books in 2025-26 that won’t be moving forward due to offseason trades in their cases.
All in all there were six forwards, seven defensemen and one goalie who were the positional splits of NHL contracts last year that have left in 2026-27. That raw count encompasses a wide range of impacts, from the NHL team leader in goals (Mantha) and important figures in the lineup (Shea, Skinner, Acciari) to depth part-time players (Clifton, Hayes) down to players that helped at the AHL level made little to no NHL impact last season (Aho, Alexeyev, Harvey-Pinard, Imama, Koppanen).
Added for 2026-27
Pittsburgh has added the following new contracts to the books for 2026-27. This includes an old face in Atley Calvert who graduated from an AHL contract to signing a two-year NHL deal with the Penguins.
Andrei Kuzmenko, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Declan Carlile were signed as free agents yesterday. So too, technically was Calvert getting his first NHL contract. (Goalie Taylor Gauthier was signed late in 2025-26 to an NHL deal, so for this purpose neither he – nor Jake Livanavage – are considered as ‘new’ in 2026-27).
For incoming traded players: Kaeden Korczak, Oliver Okuliar and David Gustafsson join the organization. Hendrix Lapierre and Nick Robertson as restricted free agents to be signed before the season ought to be considered in this category as well.
2026-27 will be the first year entry level contracts officially start for Harrison Brunicke, Gabriel D’Aigle, Bill Zonnon and Melvin Fernstrom (the latter whose contract still slid due to his age and lack of NHL games last season). So that represents another area of change to add those players to the mix. We’re not accounting for Peyton Kettles, who is signed to his ELC, but will have his contract slide and not start until 2027-28 if he doesn’t play 10+ NHL games this season (sounds like a safe assumption). There’s a chance the Penguins sign additional drafted players, though they would toll and start after 2026-27 and not be a consideration for taking one of the 50 contracts for this upcoming year.
Add that up and we see seven forwards, four defensemen and one goalie added to the organization’s 50 contracts so far as of the morning of July 2nd.
—
To split things out from the NHL perspective, the Penguins lost three roster forwards from the end of the season (Acciari, Mantha, K. Hayes) and have added three NHL-caliber forwards to the organization in their places already (Kuzmenko, Robertson, Lapierre).
Pittsburgh waved goodbye to three NHL defensemen (Wotherspoon, Shea, Clifton) and replaced them in numbers with three incoming options (van Riemsdyk, Korczak, Carlile).
The goaltending position shows the results of a youth movement, losing an NHLer (Skinner) and adding a younger minor leaguer to help backfill the organization in a period of transition as an AHL goalie from 2025-26 moves up the ladder to the NHL for 2026-27.
Overall for the organization, compared to last year it might appear running a little heavy on forwards compared to the split of defensemen — a result of exchanging two depth defensemen (St. Ivany and Pieniniemi) for depth forwards (Gustafsson and Okuliar). While that seems like an imbalance, that’s likely insignificant for the future in the org’s balance/depth that exists.
Add in the likes of Ryan Graves, Caleb Jones and Ilya Solovyov and Pittsburgh has more swing NHL/AHL options than they can fit on the NHL roster. The core of the AHL is already stocked with developing prospects like Brunicke, Livanavage, Owen Pickering, Finn Harding and Chase Pietila next season. (And we haven’t even gotten to WBS captain Phil Kemp, Daniel Laatsch and the players on AHL contracts that will serve as further depth for Wilkes). That accounting of bodies shows the recent movement has been a course correction to balance out a blueline that was overstocked on the organizational level more than a current need for further organizational depth.
As it stands today, Pittsburgh sits at 39 contracts per PuckPedia, though it’s worth noting the true number could be considered 42 at the moment. We come to that figure by subtracting Kettles, who will likely slide and not count this year, while adding in RFA’s Lapierre, Robertson, Egor Chinakhov and Arturs Silovs, that will eventually be taking a spot in the 50. For future flexibility a team usually likes to carry in the 46-49 range when possible, so based on that the Penguins still have the ability to add a few more players via trades or free agency. Grabbing another AHLer or two could well be in the cards to stack WBS up again.
One can always bicker about the particular if the specific moves made in the past few days and weeks will end up being helpful, improvements or how they will fit together in the bigger picture, but this outlook gives a general scope of the players coming and going. The Pens haven’t overloaded on bodies during this very active time, more or less they look balanced fairly similar to how they stacked up last year, just in different ways. That’s always subject to change if a massive transaction gets made to greatly shake the picture up and the season is still a long ways away.
Who will win Reds vs Brewers today: Brewers -1.5 (+119)
Cincinnati Reds ace Chase Burns has pitched better than his recent results suggest, posting a 2.98 xERA over his last two starts despite a 4.91 ERA.
However, he's still allowed 1.64 home runs per nine innings during that span, and the Milwaukee Brewers' recent power surge makes this a tough matchup. They've posted a .208 ISO over their last seven games.
The righty owns a mind-boggling 1.82 FIP over the last month, giving up just 0.32 HR/9 and holding opponents to a mere 1.8% barrel rate. The Brewers have frequently backed Misiorowski with plenty of offense this season.
I don't expect Burns to get lit up, but there's an opportunity for the Brewers to muster up some offense against him and a dreadful Reds bullpen, while Misiorowski is in line for another gem.
I wouldn't usually be looking at the Over with these two on the hill, but a 6.5 total is incredibly low.
It's also important to note that Cincinnati's bullpen has an FIP over 8.00 across the last week while allowing 2.75 HR/9. Even if Burns holds his own, this profiles to be a game where the Brew Crew's power does damage.
The Brewers' relief corps has been better, compiling a 4.22 FIP across the last week. But Milwaukee's ability to score runs means Cincinnati won't be required to score much to help cash the Over here, and the Brewers' pen hasn't been completely dominant.
I'll play this pick up to -130.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 32-29, +1.96 units
Over/Under bets: 34-27, +2.40 units
Reds vs Brewers weather
Conditions at American Family Field should provide a slight boost to offense this afternoon. Temperatures are expected to sit around 91-92°F for much of the game, with steady 13-14 mph winds and only a small chance of rain. The warm air could help well-hit balls carry a bit farther, creating a mildly hitter-friendly environment, though the starting pitching will still be the biggest factor in determining the outcome.
Reds vs Brewers odds
Moneyline: Reds +186 | Brewers -194
Run line: Reds +1.5 (-133) | Brewers -1.5 (+127)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-108) | Under 6.5 (+104)
Reds vs Brewers trend
The Brewers have covered the Run Line in 30 of their last 50 games at home (+15.40 Units / 27% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Reds vs. Brewers.
How to watch Reds vs Brewers and game info
Location
American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Thursday, July 2, 2026
First pitch
2:10 p.m. ET
TV
Reds.TV, Brewers.TV
Reds starting pitcher
Chase Burns (9-1, 2.36 ERA)
Brewers starting pitcher
Jacob Misiorowski (9-3, 1.46 ERA)
Reds vs Brewers latest injuries
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.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a player who’s returned to the Vancouver Canucks organization on two separate occasions.
Somehow, that’s exactly what the Canucks got on July 1 when they signed defenceman Luke Schenn to a one-year contract in free agency.
Schenn, of course, is notably joining the Canucks for the third time throughout his long-tenured NHL career. The organization has found itself in vastly different positions through each of the defenceman’s stints with Vancouver.
In 2018–19, when he was traded to Vancouver for Michael Del Zotto, the Canucks looked to be a team on the rise, gunning for trips to the playoffs in the following seasons.
When he signed with the Canucks in free-agency in 2021, after winning two consecutive Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver wound up in an in-betweener role — still playoff-hopeful but clearly in need of a piece or two before they could fully contend.
Now, as Schenn prepares to make his third stop in Vancouver, the Canucks have clearly dropped off compared to the past. Officially in rebuild-mode, it’s going to take some time before Vancouver becomes a true playoff-contender.
Contributing to the organization’s eventual greatness is something Schenn doesn’t take lightly.
“Vancouver, to me, isn’t just a place where you’re going to just put another year in worth in the NHL,” he told reporters shortly after signing his one-year deal with the team. “Obviously, you know what they’re doing right now in terms of the rebuild and where they’re going, and I want to be a part of that. And I’m looking forward to it, obviously. I know where they’re at in terms of where they are in the organization and what the plan is. But, like I said, I care, and want to make things better and help out in the room, and on the ice, and help be a part of it, so I’m excited.”
This time around, however, Schenn knows his role will be different. The number of minutes he plays or stats he puts up won’t be the big thing discussed — it’ll be the kind of experience he can impart on the team.
“I think that actually excites me to pass on some of my experience, and I think there’s not much in my NHL career that I haven’t really gone through, whether it’s being a high draft pick, like some of the kids are on the team — or guys, I should say — are on the team. I’ve been traded, I’ve been in the American League, I’ve been in the press box, I’ve won the cup, and I’ve been on winning teams, and I’ve been on rebuilding teams. I think there’s a lot that I can share and experience.”
Schenn adds to the hint of familiarity embedded in a Canucks locker room that has undergone massive turnover since the start of the 2025–26 season, never mind the changes that have occurred throughout the years prior. Many of Vancouver’s new management and coaching staff were still within the organization during both of Schenn’s two other tenures with the Canucks.
One specific connection representing a near full-circle movement is Schenn’s link to new-Canucks General Manager Ryan Johnson, who the defenceman credits with helping him ‘revive’ his NHL career.
“RJ was a huge part of why I’m even maybe back in the NHL, when I got traded from Anaheim and had to start in Utica,” he said. “RJ was incredible. He was in my corner, trying to help get me back and push to get me back into the NHL and communicate with me.”
Nov 27, 2022; San Jose, California, USA; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Luke Schenn (2) before the start of the second period against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Returning to Vancouver means a reunion with not just familiar people on staff, but also with former teammates in Thatcher Demko, Brock Boeser, and Elias Pettersson. The bulk of Schenn’s new teammates will, however, be new — especially on the team’s young blueline.
In 2018–19, Schenn was the first NHL defenceman that Quinn Hughes was partnered with when the ex-Canucks captain made his debut back on March 28. Now, seven years later, Schenn may be tasked with a similar situation with budding young defenceman Zeev Buium on the rise. Having heard things about Buium from ex-Tampa Bay teammate Zach Bogosian, who played with Buium on the Minnesota Wild, Schenn’s done the pre-scout on the young defenceman and knows what could be expected of him.
“Obviously said he’s a great personality, great character, and obviously a super high upside too. Maybe it’s similar for me when I played with Quinn, in terms of a guy who’s young and can skate and move the puck, and you’ve gotta just help him out along the way.”
Additions to the team like Schenn and Brendan Gallagher are big for a Canucks locker room that has specified time and time again that they’re looking to improve their culture. Both players have expressed how excited they are about that prospect, both in public as well as amongst themselves.
“He’s already been texting me here since the news came out, and we’re both really excited to come and join the Canucks,” Schenn said of newly-acquired forward Gallagher, who Vancouver traded for on Monday. “Obviously we’re experienced guys, and feel like we can definitely help out in different areas, but obviously the big word is, with culture, that’s obviously what we really would like to help out [with], and any which way we can with that, and obviously on the ice, and work, and compete, and all those little things.”
Culture is the big task the Canucks are looking to tackle. Over seven years after he first joined the organization, Schenn will be one of the guys to help them get there.
“It’s not one thing, it’s different. It starts with probably the little habits, which are big habits [...] practice habits, like every day, simple things, doing it correctly, putting the pass on the tape, battling in practice, not taking shortcuts off the ice in the gym, in a game, doing the correct thing shift after shift, no matter what the circumstances, and continuing to work towards whatever you’re trying to achieve.”
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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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.
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?
CIN vs 
MIL
CHW vs 
CLE
DET vs 
TEX
COVERS INTEL: The Reds' offense has a poor 
