The New York Yankees are -120 favorites against the Pittsburgh Pirates in tonight's series opener at Yankee Stadium.
My Pirates vs. Yankees predictions and MLB picks expect the road team to take advantage of Ryan Weathers and his struggles limiting power on Monday, July 20.
Who will win Pirates vs Yankees today: Pirates (+100)
The Pittsburgh Pirates hammer baseballs. That’s what they’re built to do.
The New York Yankees have power but struggle with discipline, owning the fifth-highest K% vs. righties in July. Braxton Ashcraft’s 96th percentile chase rate should play well.
Pittsburgh shouldn’t be even money. Bet to -115.
COVERS INTEL: The Pirates have hit homers on 17.1% of their fly balls over the last month, ranking second in the majors.
The long balls should help push this game Over. Bet to -115.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 60-48, +1.60 units
Over/Under bets: 59-44-5, +7.49 units
Pirates vs Yankees weather
Temperatures in the low 80s are expected. The warm weather should allow for balls to carry a little further in what is already a hitter-friendly ballpark.
Pirates vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Pittsburgh +100 | New York -120
Run line: Pittsburgh -1.5 (+165) | New York +1.5 (-200)
Over/Under: Over 8.0 (+100) | Under 8.0 (-120)
Pirates vs Yankees trend
Pittsburgh has hit the Game Total Over in 30 of the last 45 games (+14.95 units, 30% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Pirates vs. Yankees.
How to watch Pirates vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Monday, July 20, 2026
First pitch
7:05 p.m. ET
TV
SNP, YES
Pirates starting pitcher
Braxton Ashcraft (9-3, 3.49 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Ryan Weathers (3-7, 4.15 ERA)
Pirates vs Yankees 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.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 23: Manager Stephen Vogt of the Cleveland Guardians looks on against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on June 23, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians dropped the series finale in pathetic fashion to the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-1. I would estimate they made at least six obvious baserunning errors.
Stephen Vogt took responsibilty for this, placing the blame on the coaching staff:
"We made some big mistakes… Part of playing in the big leagues is understanding what the situation of the game is, and that's our job as coaches to teach. We need to step up and be better."#Guardians Stephen Vogt on the several instances of "miscommunications" in their loss… https://t.co/yX0o0tEsVPpic.twitter.com/2gKS8Ee0PU
Gabriel Arias was asked about his TOOTBLAN. He mumbled and so, apparently, his translator decided to do the same, because I can’t quite make out what either said. Maybe you can?
Things are especially dire for Kyle Manzardo right now. Overall, he has an 86 wRC+… which is bad enough. He has had one good month if we look deeper into things; from Opening Day to May 1st, he put up a 46 wRC+, from May 2nd to June 14th, he put up a 162 wRC+, and from June 16th to today, he has put up a 43 wRC+. Is that 162 wRC+ still in there? Or, is he more of this unplayable hitter? Are back issues having a big effect on his swing and his power disappearing? These are all questions to which we will never hear an answer, but the team desparately needs better production.
When Jose Ramirez returns… perhaps today… I will be very curious to see whom he replaces on the roster. I am ready for a Gabriel Arias DFA, but I think a Daniel Schneemann demotion is more likely. When Angel Martinez (who hit two doubles in Columbus yesterday) returns, I’d like to see him replace Petey Halpin and continue to allow Kahlil Watson try to work things out. But, either way on that is fine. I’d also like to see the team consider how best to promote Angel Genao. Is that to get him some outfield reps in Columbus? Is that to move Travis Bazzana to a more DH-only role while having him start to work on left field (Kwan to center) or even first base and getting Genao up to play second? I cannot tell you. But, I think Genao is starting to knock the door down.
Joe Ryan comes to town tonight for the Twins as the two teams begin a crucial four-game series! So, that’s fun. I’m sure the team that couldn’t hit Khristian Curtis will be able to hit Ryan.
AROUND MLB: White Sox won, Twins and Tigers lost, and Red Sox won their 13th in a row.
San Diego Padres manager Craig Stammen (Photo by Reed Hoffmann/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It is no secret that Craig Stammen has suffered through a rough first season as San Diego Padres manager. Yes, some of the obstacles associated with the job were expected.
However, transitioning from the front office to the dugout without any minor or major league managerial experience has been an insurmountable leap. The hiring felt like a cost-saving move for the organization. The experiment with a novice field boss needs to end; the Padres have no other choice but to let Stammen go.
More head-scratching decisions
Entering the first game of the second half against the Kansas City Royals, the Friars had 48 wins on the season, nine more than their opponents.
But the Royals showed more passion after giving up three runs in the top of the 10th inning. In a nightmarish half-inning, the Royals went on to score four runs off Kyle Hart for an improbable victory.
Why was your long man closing out the first game of the second half? The Padres were desperate to get back into the wild-card chase. In hindsight, the move made no sense. Stammen had set up relievers who were more familiar with closing out games if he did not want to use Mason Miller for two innings. Another wasted opportunity to gain ground on the leaderboard.
Padres lack energy and urgency
Baseball is an energy sport. Sometimes, a manager’s poor in-game decisions can sap all the energy from a team. No sense of urgency has plagued the Padres all season. Yes, you need talent to win, but if energy is missing in the clubhouse, then it will be tough to rally the team from a crushing defeat.
No question, team morale is low. Granted, the Friars exploded for 19 runs to salvage the final game of a weekend set against a team well below the .500 mark and sitting 13 games back in the AL Central. Stammen can be happy with Sunday’s results, but he cannot continue sabotaging his team’s momentum with baffling moves.
Stammen is a company man
Another troubling aspect is Stammen’s relationship with the media. He resorts to the “company line” when responding to questions. At times, Stammen robotically recites the front office’s talking points when discussing what took place in the game. Usually, he offers very little information for the fans to digest.
Stammen rarely shares his feelings on what plagues the 2026 Padres. However, he needs to stop trying to convince the Friar Faithful that the lineup is not broken. Stammen’s coaching staff has failed to solve the puzzle of a stagnant offense, as the pieces lie everywhere.
Currently, the Padres are ranked 29th in the majors, scoring 3.97 runs per game. The lineup has underperformed, but the talent gap is not that far from other major league clubs.
Stammen cannot be blamed for all of the team’s struggles. He handled the implosion of the starting rotation as well as anyone could have expected. The lack of consistent pitching from the replacement starters has dragged the Friars into oblivion.
A stagnant offense and inconsistent starting pitching have made for a long summer. Unfortunately, the Friars are riding out the remainder of the season to its miserable end.
A managerial change is needed, just to put everyone in a better frame of mind.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: James Hicks #21 of the Houston Astros throws a pitch during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (47-48) lost 4-3 (BOX SCORE)
Pecko started for Sugar Land and went 4 innings allowing 2 runs while striking out 4. After Sugar Land fell behind 3-0, the offense rallied in the 7th scoring 3 runs on a Diaz solo home run, Biggio RBI triple and a Loperfido RBI single. The game was tied going into the 9th but El Paso walked it off as Sugar Land fell 4-3.
Ethan Pecko, RHP: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
J.P. France, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Sam Carlson, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Christian Roa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Miguel Ullola, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Roddery Munoz, RHP: 0.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (42-48) won 4-3 (BOX SCORE)
The Hooks got on the board in the first inning on an Austin groundout. They picked up another run in the 3rd on a double steal. In the 4th, Encarnacion connected on a 2 run single to extend the lead. Hicks got the start and was solid allowing 2 runs over 6 innings while striking out 7. The pen allowed a run late but was able to hold on as the Hooks won 4-3.
Note: Hicks has 73 K over 80.1 innings this season.
James Hicks, RHP: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K (WIN)
Railin Perez, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Hudson Leach, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Jose Guedez, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (SAVE)
A+: Asheville Tourists (32-57) won 6-3 (BOX SCORE)
Asheville got on the board in the 3rd inning on a Neyens RBI double. They got another run in the 4th inning on a wild pitch. Howard got the start and was solid tossing 4.2 scoreless innings with 3 strikeouts. The offense added 4 runs in the 7th inning on a Batista RBI single, a run on a wild pitch, a Frey RBI single and a Powell RBI double. Apker allowed a few runs in relief but the rest of the pen was solid as they closed out the 6-3 win.
Dylan Howard, RHP: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Michael Cuevas, RHP: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K (WIN)
Garrett Apker, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Bryce Collins, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Jackson Wells, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (SAVE)
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (44-44) lost 7-5 (BOX SCORE)
Smith started for the Woodpeckers but struggled allowing 4 runs over just one inning of work. Rosario allowed 2 runs and then Carrera pitched in relief but was solid allowing 1 run over 5 innings. The Woodpeckers rallied in the 9th scoring on a Vasquez RBI double, Wakefield RBI single, Ramirez RBI double and Alvarez 2 run double. Unfortunately the comeback fell short as the Woodpeckers fell 7-5.
NC State Wolfpack's Luke Hemric (22) pitches as Auburn Tigers take on NC State Wolfpack during the NCAA Regional Baseball tournament at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday, May 30, 2026. Auburn Tigers defeated NC State Wolfpack 17-13. | Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
After taking a sizeable hit by losing seven players to the MLB Draft and another (JR RHP Heath Andrews) to an undrafted free agent deal after the draft, NC State had an open spot on their 34-man limit for the 2027 roster. They filled that spot… with three players. Hey, spring roster limits sound like a 2027 problem to me.
Outfielder Connor Clark will be joining the Wolfpack as a senior after spending his first three years at DII University of Texas at Tyler. A three-year starter for the Patriots with 137 career starts under his belt, Clark helped lead the program to back-to-back DII College World Series appearances in 2025 and 2026. The 5’10, 180 lbs righty was a Lone Star Conference 3rd Team selection 2025 and a 2nd Team selection in 2026.
For his career, Clark his .336/.466/.490, 25 2B, 15 HR, 16.0 BB%, 12.1 K%, 56-69 SB, including a mark this past year of .356/.484/.516, 12 2B, 8 HR, 15.7 BB%, 8.9 K%, 36-43 SB. Interestingly, he had reverse splits in 2026, batting .380/.500/585 with a 15.1 BB% and 8.3 K% against right-handed pitchers while hitting .280/.438/.300 with a 15.4 BB% and 10.8 K% against left-handed pitchers. There’s some pull-side power coupled with an all-fields approach, and the Sherman, TX, native clearly has the eye and bat control which indicates he can successfully move up to the DI level.
Defensively, Clark played exclusively in centerfield over the last two years for the Patriots, while playing mostly left field as a freshman in 2024. In his summer league experiences he’s played almost evenly across all three outfield positions. He profiles more as a left field or center field defender, although the obvious hole in the Wolfpack outfield right now resides in right field. It will be interesting to see how the Wolfpack coaching staff decides to deploy him.
Auburn transfer RHP JusticeDe Jong is a 6’3, 220 lbs Brooklyn, NY, native who will be a sophomore for the Wolfpack in 2027. He appeared in just six games as a freshman for the Tigers in 2026, posting a line of 0-0, 10.12 ERA, 5.1 IP, 4.0 BB%, 20.0 K%. De Jong got rocked from late March to early April over three consecutive appearances against Alabama, Georgia Tech, and Jacksonville State. Obviously that’s a very small sample size against really good competition, but the walk and strikeout numbers are solid which is the best indicator there. Even better for De Jong has been his summer performance in the Cape Cod League where across six outings he’s posted a line of 1-0, 3.38 ERA, 13.1 IP, 6.0 BB%, 32.0 K% for the Chatham Anglers, a roster which also features future NC State teammates Rett Johnson, Collins Black, and Mikey Ragusa.
De Jong is on the younger side and won’t turn 20 until after the 2027 season. Despite that, he was a highly regarded prep player as a two-way prospect as a RHP and corner infielder who originally was committed to Duke before flipping to Auburn. He’s a high-3/4 slot guy with a heater that can run in the mid-90’s, while also throwing a changeup and curveball. It’s the latter pitch that’s his true out pitch. He was a Top 100 national prospect in his high school class and ranked last year by D1 Baseball as the 64th best high schooler to make it to a college campus. There is a lot of upside in De Jong, the most of all State’s incoming transfer arms.
Coming to Raleigh after two years at UNC-Pembroke, RHP Harrison Holbrook will be a junior next year for the Wolfpack. Holbrook is a Wilkesboro native with a huge 6’7, 245 lbs frame. He’s a project play for pitching coach Clint Chrysler, hoping to coax more from that frame than what he’s shown to date. Holbrook has appeared in 18 career games for the Braves, making 5 starts and posting an overall line of 1-0, 6.49 ERA, 26.1 IP, 15.9 BB%, 14.4 K%. In 2026, he posted a line of 0-0, 3.24 ERA, 16.2 IP, 17.1 BB%, 12.2 K% over 10 appearances (3 starts).
This summer for the Statesville Owls of the Southern Collegiate Baseball League, Holbrook has gone 3-0, 0.59 ERA, 15.1 IP, 8.1 BB%, 48.4 K%. Granted, competition in the SCBL isn’t on par with the ACC, but maybe Chris Hart and Chrysler are on to something here. With a frame that large and a mid-90’s fastball coupled with a mid-80’s breaking ball from a low 3/4 arm slot, Holbrook is a dart throw well worth taking.
MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 05: Los Angeles Dodgers cap and gloves rest on the dugout steps during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at LoanDepot Park, Miami, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Comets and Tower Buzzers emptied the tank with standout offensive displays while the Loons and Drillers found themselves on the losing end of close matchups.
Player of the day
Five hits, a pair of long balls: Easton Shelton was on fire in the Tower Buzzers’ win over the Storm. Shelton’s two long balls carried him to 28 in 2026. To demonstrate how dominant he’s been, Shelton is averaging slightly over one RBI per game with 87 of them in 81 appearances.
— Ontario Tower Buzzers (@towerbuzzers) July 20, 2026
This was only the second time Shelton went yard multiple times in the same game this year, and his 12 total bases represented a career-high mark.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
It doesn’t get much more comprehensive than a shutout win, scoring 10 runs and outhitting your opponent 16 to 4. After not scoring for the first five innings, the Comets offense burst through with a five-run seventh inning in a game in which veterans shined on both sides of the ball. Cole Irvin held the Rainiers scoreless in six innings, while Ryan Fitzgerald secured a team-high five hits, driving in two and scoring another two runs.
The Comets hit three home runs, including Zach Ehrhard’s 15th on the year. The other two came from the bottom of the order in Chuckie Robinson and Austin Gauthier. Every hitter in the starting lineup and even pinch-hitter James Tibbs III recorded at least one hit.
Double-A Tulsa
Everything was going smoothly for the Drillers until the bullpen conceded four runs in the eighth in a 6-4 defeat. All three hitters who reliever Charlie Reubeck faced reached base safely, and Kelvin Ramírez couldn’t fix the mess, blowing his third save this year.
Mike Sirota and Zyhir Hope had good performances, the former recording three hits, but with next to nothing coming from the top of the order in Josue De Paula and Kendall George, the Drillers stopped at four. Recently called up to Double-A, catcher Hayden Gilliland hit his second homer there, one of two long balls in the game, the other belonging to Sebastian Walcott of the RoughRiders.
Four in the first and another four in the second. That was all the scoring the Whitecaps did to beat the Loons 8-6, pouncing on what ended up being Jakob Wright’s shortest outing of the year, recording only four outs thanks to five free passes.
Leadoff hitter Charles Davalan and the Loons bullpen not allowing a run after the second inning did their part to try and give them a fighting chance, but an 8-0 deficit was too big to climb out of. The Loons lacked power as Davalan’s double was their only extra-base hit.
Single-A Ontario
One of two hitters in the Dodgers minor league affiliates with a five-hit performance, first baseman Easton Shelton had his way in a blowout win for the Tower Buzzers over the Storm by a score of 11-5. Shelton went deep twice and recorded three of his team’s four extra-base hits, raising his season OPS to 1.070.
With starter Brady Smith coming one out short of five full innings, the win was left for Edwin Díaz, tossing a scoreless inning in a rehab appearance. Díaz allowed one hit and struck out one, covering the sixth inning.
Shelton might’ve had the most hits on the team, but Joendry Vargas was the one batter not retired at any point, recording three hits and a pair of walks in five plate appearances.
Transactions
The Dodgers called up Kyle Hurt from the Comets, while Cole Irvin was activated to start for Oklahoma City.
Dylan Cease is the hottest strikeout arm in baseball, and a soft number makes his Over my top play.
The Toronto Blue Jays are -155 favorites as they open a four-game set tonight with the Tampa Bay Rays and Nick Martinez. Cease has been overpowering since before the break, and a Rays lineup that hasn’t done much damage against him headlines my card.
Read on for my Rays vs. Blue Jays predictions and MLB picks for this Monday, July 20 matchup.
Rays vs Blue Jays predictions
Rays vs Blue Jays best bet: Dylan Cease Over 7.5 strikeouts
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease remains the AL strikeout king with 148 and a 13.5 K/9. Strikeouts are his game, and he’s rolling, dating back to the eight-inning shutout he tossed before the All-Star break. At the All-Star Game itself, he struck out the side as the starting pitcher.
He’s as hot as any pitcher in baseball, clearing 7.5 strikeouts in four straight starts. I love that we can grab this at plus money, and I’ll take it until +100.
For the same-game parlay, I’m building around Cease and Toronto’s steadiest bats.
I’ll double down on Over 7.5 strikeouts from my best bet, then add the Blue Jays moneyline, backing the home ace against a Tampa Bay Rays club skidding on the road.
Ernie Clement Over 1.5 total bases rounds it out. He’s been Toronto’s most reliable hitter, with a knock in 10 of his 13 games this month.
Rays vs Blue Jays SGP
Dylan Cease Over 7.5 strikeouts
Ernie Clement Over 1.5 total bases
Blue Jays moneyline
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Rays vs Blue Jays home run pick: George Springer (+405)
Offense has been hard to find for Toronto this season, but George Springer has provided a few sparks. The Blue Jays designated hitter homered on Friday and cashed an RBI single on Saturday, and now he draws a great matchup against Rays starter Nick Martinez.
Springer is 6-for-17 with two home runs off Martinez, good for a massive 1.156 OPS, which gives me the confidence to fire a quarter-unit home run bet here. I’d make sure I’m getting +400 or longer on this one.
2026 Transparency Record
Best bets: 7-6, +0.63 units
SGPs: 2-12, -1.31 units
HR picks: 3-11, +0.25 units
Rays vs Blue Jays odds
Moneyline: Tampa Bay +135 | Toronto -155
Run line: Tampa Bay +1.5 (-155) | Toronto -1.5 (+135)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+100) | Under 7.5 (-120)
Rays vs Blue Jays trend
The Tampa Bay Rays come in riding a six-game road losing streak, a good spot for the Toronto Blue Jays and their ace at home. Find more MLB betting trends for Rays vs. Blue Jays.
How to watch Rays vs Blue Jays and game info
Location
Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON
Date
Monday, 7-20-2026
First pitch
7:07 p.m. ET
TV
Rays.TV, SportsNet
Rays starting pitcher
Nick Martinez (8-2, 2.65 ERA)
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Dylan Cease (6-4, 2.56 ERA)
Rays vs Blue Jays latest injuries
Rays vs Blue Jays weather
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.
He has made as many starts as Misirowski and pitched more innings.
The statistic that explains the multiple degrees of separation between them in the competition for the National League Cy Young Award is earned-run average: Misiorowski is at 1.67, Yamamoto at 2.78.
But Yamamoto remains within striking distance of Misiorowski, the 24-year-old fireballer of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto could become the first-ever pitcher from Japan to win a Cy Young Award. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
And by the end of the season, he will overtake Misiorowski, who didn’t pitch in the two weeks leading up his scheduled on Monday because of arm fatigue.
Because Yamamoto remains pain-free. Because he has a track record of becoming sharper as the season progresses. And most importantly: Because the Dodgers need him to be a stabilizing force in their rotation.
The Dodgers emerged from their series win at Yankee Stadium not knowing when Shohei Ohtani would pitch next or if catcher Will Smith would even play again this season. In the middle of this uncertainty, they were able to confirm they can rely on at least one player they were counting on to deliver for them in October.
Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto hugging catcher Dalton Rushing after a game. Brad Penner-Imagn Images
They can rely on Yamamoto.
With their scheduled game on Saturday night canceled because of an imaginary thunderstorm, the Dodgers and Yankees played a doubleheader on Sunday.
Original Saturday starter Emmet Sheehan was pushed back to the series-opener in Philadelphia on Monday, as Ohtani was scratched from his scheduled start against the Phillies on Wednesday.
With the Dodgers planning a bullpen game for the second game on Sunday, they asked Yamamoto to take down as many innings as possible in the first.
Did he ever.
Of the pitchers who started games for the Dodgers last postseason, Yamamoto was the only one pitching in the majors. Bill Kostroun/New York Post
The diminutive Japanese right-hander who pitched two complete games in the playoffs last year on the Dodgers’ World Series run pitched his first regular-season complete game in an 8–2 victory over the Yankees.
“That’s why he’s our ace,” manager Dave Roberts said.
As usual, Yamamoto downplayed what he did.
“Generally speaking, I don’t think about it being a doubleheader when I climb on the mound,” Yamamoto said. “I went in as if it was a normal game.”
Which isn’t to say Yamamoto wasn’t aware of the broader picture.
Of the four pitchers who started games for the Dodgers in the postseason last year, Yamamoto was the only one pitching in the major leagues.
Ohtani was shut down.
Yamamoto threw more cutters than usual and registered quick outs. Bill Kostroun/New York Post
Blake Snell had just started a minor-league rehabilitation assignment.
“By focusing on each and every game, I wouldn’t say I can provide cover [for them], but I think provide the team with something that is ultimately beneficial,” Yamamoto said.
Yamamoto threw more cutters than usual and registered quick outs.
He didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning when he gave up a solo homer to Trent Grisham.
“No matter how you look at it, I threw it in a place where it was going to get hit for sure,” he said of the down-the-middle fastball he served up to Grisham.
The Yankees didn’t score again until the bottom of the eighth inning, by which time the Dodgers had already scored eight runs.
“His pitch count was so good the entire game,” Roberts said. “I felt he could get us through the seventh, and then he had a good seventh, and it just felt like he could finish the game.”
Yamamoto completed the game in 102 pitches.
Yamamoto pitched seven scoreless innings in this very ballpark as a first-year player in 2024. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
Roberts guessed that Yamamoto was motivated by his final start before the All-Star break in which he was charged with six runs in six innings of a loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The manager also pointed to how Yamamoto pitched seven scoreless innings in this very ballpark as a first-year player in 2024.
“You know he likes these big games,” Roberts said.
Yamamoto was especially pleased with how his efforts completely spared the bullpen.
“I think pitching nine innings is better than being credited with a win as a pitcher,” he said.
The Dodgers lost the night cap, 2–1, but they were able to stay in the game because of Yamamoto’s contributions. Deploying seven relievers, they were tied until the bottom of the eighth inning when Evan Phillips gave up a game-deciding solo shot to Ryan McMahon.
Roberts said of the game pitched by Yamamoto: “It’s one of those things that, in one game, it’s great. But I think that the exponential effect that it has on everyone else, it’s huge, and it’s hard to really nail down how valuable that is.”
He demonstrated that last October.
He looks ready to demonstrate that again over the remaining 2 ½ months of the regular season, as well as the playoffs.
Along the way, he will make history.
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Any chance to compete is an opportunity the Warriors don’t want to waste, including during the NBA’s summer league.
Development is the top priority every year during summer league. Teams aren’t dictating their future based on the production of their top picks. But good play jumps off the page just as much as bad. Seeing the growth of second-year players as roster competitions come together is as big of a win as any numbers on the scoreboard.
Just don’t tell that to the players and coaches.
Warriors assistant Khalid Robinson, who served as the team’s summer league head coach, made it clear before any games were played what his top goals were for these few weeks.
“We want to develop our guys and help them get ready for preseason and next season, but we want to win,” Robinson told NBC Sports Bay Area before the start of summer league. “We want to establish this culture. We’re about winning here, and when these guys come in, we want them to know what we’re about. We’re going into this thing like we want to win. We want to develop and get these guys better on individual skills and team concepts.
“But we want to win games. Building these habits of consistent competition and playing to our identity is part of it.”
On Sunday night, the mission was accomplished in the Warriors’ 94-90 comeback win against the Memphis Grizzlies in the Las Vegas NBA Summer League championship game. The win was the Warriors’ first summer league championship since 2013.
Yaxel Lendeborg, the Warriors’ top draft pick at No. 11 overall, was everything they could have hoped for this summer. His cherry on top was again outplaying Cameron Boozer, the No. 3 overall pick, in the championship game. Lendeborg in 32 minutes put together a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double on 9-of-18 shooting with two assists and two steals. He was a plus-7.
Boozer played 35 minutes and was a minus-1 with 19 points and eight rebounds on 7-of-17 shooting.
The kind of culture and identity Robinson wanted established out of his team for the biggest moments came to light in the fourth quarter when the Warriors faced a 12-point deficit against the Grizzlies after the first possession of the final frame. Their first lead in the fourth quarter didn’t come until there were two minutes left and Lendeborg hit a step-back three. He made a driving floater to give them a one-point lead, a three to give them a two-point lead, and then a pull-up jumper to give them a four-point lead before two huge rebounds in the final minute.
For Lendeborg, the fourth quarter truly was winning time three and a half months after winning the national championship at Michigan. He and Will Richard were the only two Warriors to play the entire fourth quarter. Richard scored eight points and was a plus-14. Ledeborg scored nine points and also was a plus-14, also adding seven rebounds – three offensive and four defensive – two assists and one steal.
Lendeborg following the win was named the Las Vegas NBA Summer League MVP. He played all six games in Las Vegas and averaged 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists with 45.9/35.7/80.0 shooting splits. This came after Lendeborg in two California Classic games averaged 15.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists while going 7 of 9 from 3-point range.
Off the court, Lendeborg was non-stop fun as a walking quote machine. On the court, he made his case as a seamless fit in Steve Kerr’s system who should make an immediate impact on the Warriors. But the Warriors’ summer league success wasn’t about only their biggest star.
Down the stretch, it was Lendeborg and Richard who the Warriors leaned on to lead them to a championship. Richard in the fourth quarter of the championship game made three shots, drained two threes and blocked a shot. He was the Warriors’ unquestioned leader of the summer. He also was noticeably stronger and has a quicker shot, resulting in going 9 of 19 from 3-point range (47.4 percent) in Las Vegas.
It was LJ Cryer, not Lendeborg, who was the Warriors’ top scorer this summer. Lendeborg totaled 89 points in Las Vegas and Cryer put up 90. Cryer in six Vegas games took 51 threes. The next most on the Warriors was Lendeborg’s 28 attempts. Cryer wasn’t chucking threes, he was making them to the tune of a 41.2 3-point percentage (21 of 51).
In the very least, Cryer will be back on a two-way contract with the chance to compete for a spot on the 15-man roster. Malevy Leons should also occupy another one of the Warriors’ three two-way contracts and continued to show why. As Leons still needs to improve as a shooter, at 6-foot-9 and 210 pounds, he had a non-stop motor all season and displayed the small details that can go a long way to earn minutes on a veteran team.
The Warriors haven’t decided where second-round pick LaJae Jones will fall on the roster. Jones didn’t show a lot of scoring ability in the summer and is best served to spend a lot of time in Santa Cruz. That could leave forward/center Graham Ike as a prime candidate for the third two-way contract after averaging 10.5 points per game in Las Vegas with a team-high 8.0 rebounds per game and five blocked shots.
Bay Area native Chance McMillian showcased his scoring ability and shot 54.5 percent from three (12 of 22) in Las Vegas. Lance Olbrich is an interesting name to follow as well after playing professionally in Australia, being taken in the second round of last year’s NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls and showing flashes as a clear Warriors fit this summer.
“I live for this moment right here,” Lendeborg said after the Warriors’ summer league championship. “Do whatever we gotta do to win this. We’re the Warriors, we win. We’re gonna get another one next season. Go Dubs.”
The back of Lendeborg’s statement still is in wait-and-see mode, like the rest of the Warriors’ offseason.
Starting with their top pick, though, summer league was nothing short of a smashing success for the Warriors.
DeChambeau given two-stroke penalty after his second round
Golfer alleged to have used US president’s name during row
Bryson DeChambeau has been accused of threatening to call Donald Trump during a row with senior R&A officials on Friday after the American golfer was handed a two-shot penalty at the Open.
DeChambeau’s alleged use of the US president’s name as he argued his case marks the latest bizarre turn in what was already the dominant story of the 2026 Open. DeChambeau was handed a two-stroke penalty for improving the line of his swing by standing on long grass behind his ball on Royal Birkdale’s fifth hole during round two. The 32-year-old argued his case furiously, including insisting upon returning to the scene of the incident with the R&A’s head of governance and a senior referee.
Fort Myers, FL - February 11: Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow watches batting practice. The Boston Red Sox held their second day of Spring Training at JetBlue Park on February 11, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
That the Red Sox have climbed out of the Grand Canyon-sized hold they dug themselves over the first three months of the season is remarkable enough, that they’ve done it without any contributions from the most talented hitter on their roster is shocking. Alas, they better hope they can keep it going without Roman Anthony because, somehow, he is still not anywhere close to returning. Anthony, who was sent to Fort Myers recently to continue to rehab, is still unable to swing a bat. “We’re not going to resume hitting if there’s still discomfort in the hand,” said Chad Tracy. “That’s a big piece of our lineup. It would be great to get him back. The whole point is we don’t want our player, that player, to play injured, especially when it comes to swinging the bat.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
Of course, we all know the explanation for how they’ve been able to put this streak together without a bat like Anthony’s in the lineup: starting pitching. “Over the first 11 wins [of the streak], the team allowed just 17 runs — the fewest its allowed in any 11-game stretch in one season since Babe Ruth was part of the rotation in 1918.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
So it’s arguably been the best run of pitching the Sox have had since Babe Ruth, whose name usually isn’t brought up in a positive way by Sox fans. Neither is the year 1948, which famously did not end well for the Sox, but that’s how long you have to go to match the 13-game win streak. (Steve Buckley, The Athletic)
Of course there have been plenty of contributions from the lineup as well, particularly from guys like Wilyer Abreu, Willson Contreras, and Caleb Durbin. Contreras, in particular is bringing the energy. “I don’t want them to start saying, like shouting, ‘Sell the team!’ I don’t like that,” Contreras said. “I take that personally, but they’re passionate about it. But I’m really proud of the team, of my team. Really proud of the work we’ve done. Really proud because of the way we started, how we are right now. And I know there’s a lot of games ahead, but they make me proud.” (Trevor Hass, Boston.com)
But, believe it nor not, the Red Sox reportedly have not yet decided to buy at the trade deadline: “For now, their plans are fluid. Boston isn’t discounting pursuing help before Aug. 3. The Red Sox also know that, for an entire half of the season, they personified mediocrity and that 15 games does not a season make. So, like many others, they’re weighing their options, knowing that if they stumble, they can pivot into dump mode and make a killing…” (Jeff Passan, ESPN)
Welcome to the 2025–26 installment ofThe Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks’ Player Report Card Series. Throughout the off-season, THN will conduct a deep dive into how each member of the Canucks performed throughout the 2025–26 season. Today’s article will focus on goaltender Nikita Tolopilo.
Tolopilo's 2025–26 Season Review
Nikita
Tolopilo's season started with the Abbotsford Canucks as he took over the starting role after
Artūrs Šilovs was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins last July. Tolopilo started
one game for Vancouver during the 2024–25 season, making his NHL debut in a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. He also came on in relief for Kevin Lankinen
in the Canucks' season finale against the Vegas Golden Knights, but those
appearances were his only NHL experience up until this season.
With
Thatcher Demko going down with a lower-body injury in the middle of November,
Tolopilo was called up to the big club with an opportunity to establish himself
as a NHL goaltender. His first NHL action of the season came in a chaotic 5–4 win
over the Anaheim Ducks, in which he made 37 saves on 41 shots. He made three
starts during Demko's fall absence, going 2–1 with a .911 SV% and a 3.00
GAA.
When
Demko later suffered a hip injury that required surgery and caused him to miss
the rest of the season, the Belarusian netminder was called up once again and
was finally given a chance to show what he could do with a full NHL workload.
It
ended up being a tale of two halves for Tolopilo. Heading into the Olympic
break, he posted a 3–3–1 record with a .910 SV%, a 3.12
GAA, and one shutout. The highlights of the first half of his
season included his first career shutout against the Ducks, a
highlight-reel stick save on Oliver Kapanen in the first period against the
Montréal Canadiens, and a penalty-shot save in overtime against Auston
Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
(Note:
Tolopilo's shutout against the Ducks is not officially recorded as a shutout
because it was a split shutout. Lankinen made one save after Tolopilo had
to leave the game for three minutes due to concussion protocol.)
During
the Olympic break, Tolopilo was sent down to Abbotsford to stay sharp until the
NHL resumed play. He started off playing well, but it all came crumbling down
in a Saturday night tilt against the Seattle Kraken. With the game tied 1–1 and
the first period winding down, the Kraken were on the power play when Bobby
McMann came down the left wing and harmlessly threw the puck on net. It caught
Tolopilo off guard, trickled through his legs, and went in for an ugly goal.
After
that, the wheels fell off Tolopilo's season. Much of the confidence he had
built throughout the year, and the trust the coaching staff had begun to have
in him, appeared to disappear. He
finished that game by allowing three more goals and even took a
delay-of-game penalty. As a result, he lost the net to Lankinen.
Tolopilo
wouldn't start another game for exactly two weeks. In his return against the
Calgary Flames, after spending that time on the bench, he allowed four goals on
11 shots before being pulled early in the second period. He would make five
more starts, going 1–4, with his lone victory coming against Anaheim,
a team he finished 3–0 against during the season. After the Olympic break,
Tolopilo posted a 3–8–1 record with an .856 save percentage and a 3.66
goals-against average.
Tolopilo
finished the season with a 6–11–2 record, an .881 save percentage, a 3.61
goals-against average, a goals saved above expected of -7.5, and one shutout.
Mar 28, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goaltender Nikita Tolopilo (60) guards his net against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
The
numbers don't tell the whole story of Tolopilo's season. The netminder for the
last-place team in the NHL isn't exactly going to post stellar numbers. It also
didn't help that the Canucks allowed 191.8 expected goals against, which ranked
31st in the NHL, ahead of only the Chicago Blackhawks. There were nights when
the Canucks lost handedly, such as on
March 2 against the Dallas Stars, when he surrendered six goals on 37 shots but was arguably Vancouver's best player that night and on many other nights
similar.
The
Canucks also allowed the fourth-most shots in the league with 2,445, which
isn't going to be kind to any goaltender. Tolopilo is a big goalie at 6-foot-6
and 229 pounds, and he relies heavily on his athleticism and lateral movement
to make saves, such as his stop on Matty Beniers in mid-March and another
outstanding save on Vladimir Tarasenko against the Minnesota Wild on April 2.
However,
Tolopilo’s biggest weakness was dealing with clean straight-on shots. A lot of
the goals he’s given this season are on shots that beat him clean which isn’t
something that should happen if you want to be an everyday NHL goalie. He has also struggled with rebound control at
times throughout the season.
Tolopilo's 2025–26 Letter Grade
The
tools are there for Tolopilo. The size, and athleticism, two facets NHL goalies
need. But improving his consistency,
ability to stop straight-on shots and his rebound control are some things
hindering him becoming an NHL backup. With all of that considered, Tolopilo
earns a C grade for his season.
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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Jul 19, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker (55) on the field to make a pitching change against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Good morning.
Evan Grant writes that the Texas Rangers suffered through mental mistakes that led to a series loss in Atlanta yesterday.
Kennedi Landry has some takeaways from Texas’ series finale defeat, which in addition to defensive miscues, included pitching miscues and batting miscues.
Grant notes that the Rangers are still deciding what’s next for their two rehabbing former rotation members with Jordan Montgomery and Cody Bradford still working their way back.
Zach Crizer writes that Chris Young is again in an awkward spot trying to figure out how much to commit at the trade deadline with a flawed team leading a bad division.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 14: (Editors Note: Tonal effects have been applied to this image) Nate Ament #15 of the Milwaukee Bucks poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at UNLV on July 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With Summer League wrapped up, I wanted to discuss Nate Ament and how he moves forward from here. Ament is certainly one of the more difficult prospect evaluations I’ve ever done (not that I’m some expert in this space) because he is a truly unique archetype insofar as he has me thinking “OK, this is certainly a unique skillset, but it doesn’t translate to winning basketball as of yet; how does he get there?” To start, I think the most prudent thing to do is to lay out what I believe are his strengths and weaknesses right now.
Player breakdown
Strengths
Spot-up shooting/attacking hard closeouts
Bodying smaller defenders and shooting over them
Handling the ball in the full-court (context dependant)
Catching lobs
Weaknesses
Consistently beating guys off the dribble in the half court
Finishing around the rim
Being a plus defender (on or off-ball)
Reading the floor well in traffic/limiting turnovers
Which of these weaknesses can be improved upon?
Beating guys off the dribble
I’d bet against Ament ever being able to consistently beat guys off the dribble; he’s just too stiff, and he doesn’t have “shake.” Because of his size and skillset, Ament has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant, but what makes Durant so lethal is his ability to shake defenders out of their shoes with violent crossovers—Ament has never really had that at any level.
Now, what I will say is that Ament does have surprisingly solid dribbling ability and overall coordination at his size—that, at least, is somewhat Durant-like. He really does have the ability to handle the ball and not look out of place. Against legit NBA full-court pressure? No. But he flashed some advanced coordination, and that is one of the main attributes I hope is utilised in practice along with when he inevitably goes down to the G League next season. This is a player who, while he can play off-ball, also needs reps with the ball in hand to maximise his development. Maybe it never becomes a plus NBA skill of his, but the Bucks should absolutely experiment in this space.
Rim finishing
This is an area where I think Ament can certainly improve; it might just take some time. I mean, he just looked so skinny at Summer League that this one might be a slow burn, but I don’t see why he couldn’t become a much better rim finisher as his body develops. Ament’s poor rim numbers at college are also contextualised by him having two teammates crowding the paint at all times; that Tennessee team’s spacing was truly horrid. The one thing that does give me pause is the number of layups that seemed to just roll off the rim in Vegas with pretty minimal pressure; it made no sense how he could have missed some of those shots at point-blank range while being so tall (and thus close to the hoop). One to monitor.
Being a plus defender
Yes, Ament can certainly become a plus defender; he just has to learn technique. He’s got excellent dimensions for it, but has no clue how to use any of his attributes at the moment. His off-ball defence was really poor in Vegas—losing sight of his man, failing to switch onto ball-handlers—and his shot-blocking/altering ability was strangely underwhelming for a player that size as well.
His on-ball defence was somewhat better, but still not where it needs to be to step onto an NBA court. There were lots of what I like to call “fake hustle” possessions, where he got too close to the ball-handler because he was trying to show effort and intent—which I love, don’t get me wrong—but then the defender sped right past him because he reached for the ball and/or allowed his momentum to go too far forward. Giannis, ironically, was a serial offender in this category (and it actually got worse as he got older, funnily enough).
The best defenders can apply pressure to the ball-handler without letting them get past either; there are a bunch of tricks regarding how to do that, but the biggest one is keeping your hands out of the cookie jar and focusing on moving your feet. It’s a skill that needs to be developed over a few years, but Ament has a body type that should allow him to become good at it, whereas there are other body types where it’s near impossible.
Reading the floor in traffic/limiting turnovers
I think there is certainly some room to cut the fat here regarding some of the outright horrendous turnovers, such as when he just threw it to nobody; improved strength will help him avoid being stripped. With all that said, part of the reason I doubt Ament will ever be a primary initiator is that I don’t see him developing advanced passing skills. For example, I don’t see him ever being able to read the low man in a pick-and-roll and distinguish between passing to the roller and the opposite corner shooter; I’m optimistic he can make basic short roll reads, but that’s probably the extent of it. Does that limit his ceiling? Yeah, it does.
The path to NBA minutes as a rookie
To reuse a term, I think the first order of business for Ament in his rookie year will be cutting the fat out of his game. If (and it’s a big “if”) he can demonstrate that he can be passable on defence, there might be a role for him for 8-12 minutes per night just playing as a complementary piece because of his ability to stretch the floor. If I were him, I’d be on the coaches non-stop about the defensive part.
From there, he needs to build his ability to attack closeouts and make simple plays. Also, perfect ancillary skills, like learning to screen and read the on-ball defender. Are they switching? If so, can I slip to the rim and catch them off guard? Are they going over the screen? If so, what’s the best screening angle to get the guard going downhill? Put simply, Ament’s ticket to early NBA minutes will be nailing the basics and playing off others. Once he’s done that, he can build.
Player projections
Given everything I just laid out, the player I think Ament should be modeling his game after is Jabari Smith Jr. Despite having limited on-ball shake, Smith can play 40 minutes in a playoff game because he takes nothing away from his team. He provides spacing on offence, making the stars’ lives easier, but can also body his opponents and get to his (admittedly limited) bag of pull-up jumpers as a Plan B. Crucially, he’s also an excellent defender with elite toughness, size, and instincts. To me, this sounds like a player-type Ament could realistically become one day, though I’m unsure about him ever becoming as strong as Smith.
If you’re looking for someone more in Ament’s weight division—and this is a high-end outcome, to be clear—I see similarities between him and Jaden McDaniels, a secondary creator who works a lot in the mid-range. That said, McDaniels is an elite point-of-attack defender, which Ament most definitely is not right now, but it’s not inconceivable that he gets there. McDaniels was definitely not seen that way coming out of Washington.
Of course—and I hate to mention it—there are also outcomes where Ament becomes Perry Jones. Yes, he is something of a lottery ticket, but one I would take again given 1) the upside of this pick “if it hits,” and 2) me not loving many of the other names on the board for various reasons (small guards, non-shooting wings, undersized and/or injury-prone centres, etc.)
Brew Hoop fam, let me know what you think of my Nate Ament breakdown.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JULY 19: Coby Mayo #16 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with third base coach Buck Britton #46 as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning during a game against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on July 19, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Orioles have saved their season (for the time being) with this current seven-game winning streak. The wins haven’t all been pretty, but they’ve gotten the job done and climbed the team back into the thick of the AL playoff race. It has also set the stage for a massive midweek series in Boston that has the potential to put the O’s back above .500 for the first time since Opening Day and in sole possession of a wild card spot.
Throughout this streak there have been plenty of oddities that small sample baseball is known for. Are they sustainable? Almost certainly not. But they are fun to examine to help explain why the stars may have aligned and allowed this imperfect Orioles squad string together so many wins in a row.
1.80 team ERA
While the offense has been solid during this win streak, it’s the pitching staff that deserves most of the credit for making it happen. They haven’t allowed more than three runs in any one game, and have given up two or fewer runs in six of the seven wins.
Their 1.80 team ERA in that stretch is the third-best in baseball. Only the even hotter Red Sox (1.73 ERA) and the surprising White Sox (1.31 ERA) have been better since July 9. By the way, the Orioles 2.95 FIP is better than both of them, second in the league in that time.
Of course, you can dissect that ERA number a few different ways to find positives and negatives. For example, their 3.42 xERA in that same span is more pedestrian, though still good. Or how the starters seem to be legitimately good (2.38 ERA, 2.69 FIP, 3.12 xFIP), while the relievers are making it work with smoke and mirrors (0.77 ERA, 3.40 FIP, 4.49 xFIP).
But you can’t argue that the outcomes have been exactly what you want, and perhaps the Orioles were due a bit of good luck from the baseball gods after enduring a some undue struggles for much of the year.
Gunnar Henderson’s 61 wRC+
The struggles of the Orioles star this season are nothing new. He’s had a few nice moments here and there, but has failed to sustain any sort of positive momentum. The month of July has been his absolute low point.
Since the calendar flipped, Henderson is hitting .170/.237/.226 with one home run, 14 strikeouts, and three walks. Things haven’t been much better when you trim the timeline down to just the Orioles’ seven-game win streak. In that time he is slashing .207/.258/.310 with the one home run, 10 strikeouts, and zero walks.
It feels like the Orioles are banging their head against the wall with Henderson. Despite his struggles, he continues to occupy a prominent spot in the batting order and be given the MVP-type treatment. It’s understandable given his track record prior to this season. But the results haven’t improved, and it feels like something a bit more drastic could help.
That’s not to say Henderson should ride the bench. He’s played a nice defensive shortstop this season, and is an important base running threat for the team. He also has not been unplayable bad at the plate or anything, but his 91 wRC+ for the season does suggest he has been below average. Hitting a bit lower in the order doesn’t feel unreasonable at this point.
What’s relevant to this blog, however, is that despite their star mightily struggle with the stick, the Orioles are winning games. They’ve scored 34 runs in these seven games, which is just below the five runs per game threshold that good teams are aiming for. If they could get just a bit more from someone that is supposed to be leading them, the ceiling is there for this team to go on an even longer run of winning baseball.
Coby Mayo’s .714 slugging percentage
Maybe the Orioles don’t have a future all-star third baseman on their hands with Coby Mayo, but (for 2026, anyway) they have one of the league’s absolute best hitters against left-handed pitching. That’s something they can work with.
O’s manager Craig Albernaz has leaned more and more into using Mayo almost exclusively against southpaws. It’s working. Mayo’s 204 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers this year is the best mark in baseball. His 10 home runs off of them are second in MLB, behind just Kyle Schwarber, who has nearly double the plate appearances and only two more homers.
Mayo is 4-for-14 during the Orioles win streak with five strikeouts and no walks. Two of his four hits have left the park. His latest round-tripper came on Sunday, when he took the left-handed Bryan King deep for his 13th total homer of the year. The sort of all-or-nothing approach was en vogue a few seasons ago, but it can still work at times, as Mayo is proving.
Ideally, Mayo would be an everyday option that, despite some defensive concerns, you would be confident playing against any pitcher. But that isn’t the reality, at least not right now for the 24-year-old. For much of the season, the Orioles refused to acknowledge that, playing him at third base most days regardless of the matchup. But now, when they need as many wins as possible from the rest of their schedule, they have relented and moved him to a platoon role. The team is better for it.
Four different pitchers have recorded saves
The addition of Ryan Helsley at the back of the Orioles bullpen has not gone as anyone would have hoped. The hard-throwing righty is on his second IL stint of the season for elbow discomfort. That has limited him to just 15.1 innings this season and a 4.11 ERA. For now, the team is unclear on if he will pitch again this season. On Sunday, he was moved to the 60-day IL, which will keep him on the shelf through the end of August at least.
In his absence, it seems as though Albernaz won’t be naming a replacement closer. No one on the current roster really fits the role anyway. Andrew Kittredge is the veteran of the group, but his season has been a bit bumpy. Tyler Wells has closer experience, though it came several years ago. And a few other guys may have “closer stuff,” but it’s always a risk to put that kind of pressure on an unproven arm.
The Orioles have had five save situations during this seven-game win streak. Four different pitchers have been called on in those scenarios. Kittredge has two of them, and then Wells, Grant Wolfram, and Cam Sanders have one each. Sanders was optioned on Sunday anyway. That’s a good illustration of just how improvised the current ninth inning situation really is.
If the Orioles do decide to buy at the deadline, bullpen has to be at the top of their wishlist. What’s working right now probably won’t a few weeks from now. Maybe they don’t have to outbid everyone for the top closer on the market, but they will certainly have to be aggressive. Helsley’s return is no guarantee, and he can’t be relied upon anyway. Maybe Félix Bautista will make it back on a mound by season’s end, but the team would have to be careful with him. Adding an arm with ninth-inning chops will need to be a priority.
COVERS INTEL: The Pirates have hit homers on 17.1% of their fly balls over the last month, ranking second in the majors.
