There are similarities between the tournaments – three co-hosts, England challenging and diaspora players – but tickets are cheaper and there are half as many matches
Gianni Infantino said the World Cup was like 104 Super Bowls. The men’s event at the Rugby League World Cup will be more like 18 Super League games. Some matches will attract four-figure crowds while others will be played in front of full houses of 50,000. There will be tens of thousands fans visiting rather than millions, but they will have fewer visa issues.
“I wasn’t blindsided because I know a few people that know a few people,” he said. “And I knew the stuff was in the works. So I wasn’t quite blindsided. However, I didn’t know exactly when the announcement would come. I didn’t know exactly how the announcement would come.”
Green was spotted with James several times leading up to the decision, raising eyebrows across NBA circles as Green’s Warriors were viewed as a finalist to win the LeBron sweepstakes.
Ultimately, it came down to Golden State, Philadelphia, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat.
Green explained why he believes James ruled out the Cavaliers and Heat, stating that since James already won with each team, it wouldn’t be as special to run it back with them. Plus, Green added, it could risk James making his legacy with those organizations worse than when he originally left them should things not go as planned this time around.
As far as the Warriors, Green believes it was the history between James and Golden State, dating back to those intense consecutive NBA Finals matchups from 2015 to 2018 when James was Dub Nation’s biggest villain.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JULY 26: Kyle Leahy #62 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Busch Stadium on July 26, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sunday afternoon, Kyle Leahy pitched yet another great performance, going 6 innings, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits, while striking out a career-high 9 batters and only walking 1. On June 17th, Kyle Leahy entered his start against the San Diego Padres with a 4.64 ERA, and I, among many others, questioned whether or not this experiment of converting Leahy back into a starter at the big league level was plausible and if he was capable of giving the Cardinals a fighting chance on his turn. Since then, Leahy has made 7 starts, pitching to a 1.69 ERA in 37.1 IP. This drops his full-season ERA to 3.55.
During Leahy’s start, I was curious and wondered what his performance numbers looked like over this stretch, and when I looked at his profile on MLB.com, I noticed that Leahy was drafted in the 17th round of the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft. This, to me, is even more unbelievable to witness the results the Cardinals are getting from a late-round draft pick. Surely, this has to be one of the best 17th-round picks in Cardinals history? So, I researched because I’m a deranged baseball fan. I went over to the baseball almanac, which has listed every player drafted by the Cardinals since 1965; here’s what I found:
17th Round Picks since 1965
1965 – Bruce Hinkel 1966 – Dale Reed 1967 – John Carroll 1968 – George Greer 1969 – Andres Frank 1970 – Joe Ford 1971 – John Park 1972 – Gary Hernandez 1973 – Ronald Aront 1974 – Michael Murphy 1975 – Randy Rhodes 1976 – Frank Marsalan 1977 – Richard Murray – Debuted for Giants in 1980, played in 57 Games 1978 – Mark Smith – Debuted for Athletics in 1983, pitched in 8 games 1979 – Tony Hudson 1980 – Paul Cherry 1981 – Keith Gilliam 1982 – Ted Carson 1983 – Chuck McGrath 1984 – Joe Murtagh 1985 – Jim Puzey 1986 – Scott Hamilton 1987 – Kevin Robinson 1988 – David Richardson 1989 – Danny Davis 1990 – Ricky Kimball 1991 – Ron Warner 1992 – Scott Lair 1993 – Travis Welch 1994 – Mark Roettgen 1995 – Britt Reames – Debuted for Cardinals in 2000, pitched 6 seasons for STL, MTL, OAK, PIT. 101 GP 5.28 ERA 1996 – Keith Gallagher 1997 – Tim Davis 1998 – Michael Gargano 1999 – Michael Perkins 2000 – Kaulana Kuhaulua 2001 – Josh Merrigan 2002 – Chad Clark 2003 – Kevin House 2004 – Chris Noonan 2005 – Michael Cooper 2006 – Nathan Southard 2007 – Matt Arburr 2008 – Joshua Hester 2009 – Jonathan Rodriguez 2010 – Corderius Dodd 2011 – Dutch Deol 2012 – Christopher Perry 2013 – Richie Pedroza 2014 – Dustin Beggs 2015 – Chris Chinea 2016 – Matthew Ellis 2017 – Will Latcham 2018 – Kyle Leahy – Debuted for Cardinals in 2023, 117 GP, 3.62 ERA 2019 – Michael YaSenka 2020 – N/A 2021 – Elijah Cabell 2022 – Brody Moore 2023 – Trey Paige 2024 – Brandt Thompson 2025 – Cameron Nickens
Only 4 players in Cardinals history drafted in the 17th round have made an MLB debut. Kyle Leahy is only the 2nd player in Cardinals history to debut for St. Louis from that round, joining pitcher Britt Reames from the 1995 draft (the year I was born).
What Kyle Leahy is doing from a talent standpoint isn’t all that unusual; we’ve seen the arm talent for the last couple of seasons. To get the value of a potential mid-rotation starter out of the 17th round is an incredible coup for the Cardinals, considering that before the 2024 season the Cardinals paid 20+ million dollars for Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson to get this type of production. From how St. Louis was able to bring Leahy into the organization, these are the types of marginal wins that can have long-term payoffs that will be cost-effective and allow the DeWitt ownership group to focus their financial resources on more valuable assets. Another Randy Flores win- who could have seen that coming?
How many 17th-rounders’ names do you recognize? I was at 7. Let me know in the comments!
Jun 19, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) celebrates with right fielder Spencer Jones (78) and designated hitter Jasson Dominguez (24) after defeating the Cincinnati Reds at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Yankees won their fourth game in five tries on Monday as they opened their White Sox series up with a bang, Ali Sánchez collecting his first career home run to put the game out of reach despite some late antics in the ninth making it closer than it should’ve been. Max Fried only lasted three innings, but the Yankee bullpen was largely up to the task of surviving six innings without worsening an early deficit and the team rallied for two big innings to take the game.
As fun as the outburst was to see, overall the Yankee offense has been struggling their way through most of their games and the absence of two-thirds of the starting outfield plays no small part in it. Cody Bellinger was the latest to fall victim to an injury scare, straining his hamstring on Saturday night, and Aaron Boone had an update on Monday that wasn’t promising: Bellinger sustained a grade 2 strain and will be out for four-six weeks. That means that the Yankees will be without him and Aaron Judge until the final stretch of the regular season at best, and there’s the real potential that the team will miss them both until the postseason. There’s been a heavy emphasis on upgrading at catcher to help the lineup regain some life, but now the question has to be raised whether they should look for an additional outfielder as well to help bridge the gap left behind by their All-Star bats being on the shelf.
To start, we have to look at the current options for the Yankees. Jasson Domínguez was already slotted in with Judge’s injury as one of their starting outfielders, and he’s had a rough go of it. Domínguez has cut down on his strikeout rate by over eight percent but at the cost of his lowest walk rate of his career, a measly four percent that has brought his on-base percentage down to a terrible .261 mark. Max Schuemann has been the utility man of the outfield, playing the most games he’s ever ventured out of the infield this year with 29 of them compared to the over 200 games he’s spent across the diamond when he was with the A’s. Despite being a light-hitting backup Schuemann has held his own at the plate working walks at a 15.2 percent rate, giving him a 114 wRC+ for the year, but he’s playing out of position and it tends to show. Finally, the team called Spencer Jones back up after Bellinger went down and likely will give him some runtime if all stays the same, the rookie working his fair share of walks while also owning a gaudy 39.3 percent strikeout rate. Jones is the best defender of the three, but that’s not a high bar as he also hasn’t exactly flashed Gold Glove defense.
That’s not an outfield corps that inspires much confidence, and its emphasized by the rumors floating that the organization is willing to include Domínguez and Jones in potential deadline deals this year after holding fast on them in previous conversations. Perhaps that gets dashed now that the team is down another outfielder, but even still bringing in a stopgap solution could be the best play to revitalize the offense and keep the team as close to the top of the standings as possible. Since they only need the reinforcements for another month or two, a rental would be the best option, but with Trent Grisham on the qualifying offer deal he received over the offseason it’s not impossible for the team to consider adding a bat that could carry over into 2027 as a flexible candidate to fill the gap or slide into a fourth outfielder role. Names like Lane Thomas, Jo Adell, and Spencer Steer all carry inexpensive contracts and are playing on dead last teams looking to sell, and could be the types of outfielders the team looks into if they go this route.
The Yankees will look into every avenue available to them over the course of this next week with the deadline approaching fast, but does the outfield now shift to the top of the queue? Is the priority still getting a catcher to support Austin Wells and some bullpen arms to solidify what has quietly turned into one of the team’s strengths? Personally, I think it slots right in the middle in terms of importance, but let us know what you think of the whole situation.
Today on the site, we’ll lead off with Jeff considering a reunion with an old friend in Luke Weaver as a bullpen upgrade. Sam will be up next with the Rivalry Roundup, Jonathan reminisces on the first Yankee to ever take an at-bat in a World Series on Elmer Miller’s birthday, Michael walks us through the last week down in the minor leagues, and then Peter gives Domínguez the At-Bat of the Week treatment.
For most of LeBron James’ career, the Celtics have been waiting for him somewhere.
Sometimes, they were the wall he could not get over. Other times, they forced him to find another way around it. Eventually, they became the opponent he could dismiss on command, no matter which players happened to be wearing green.
The rivalry went quiet when James moved west, but it never disappeared completely. Even without a Finals meeting, he joined the Lakers and helped Los Angeles pull even with Boston at 17 championships. Now, almost two decades after their first playoff series, the rivalry is back in a form no one saw coming.
James is a Philadelphia 76er. So is Jaylen Brown.
The player who spent years tormenting Boston has joined forces with one of the stars who carried the rivalry into its next generation. The Celtics will see James again in the Eastern Conference, only this time, Brown will be standing beside him.
Before we find out how this chapter ends, it’s worth going back to see how they got here.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 22: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second half of their game against the Boston Celtics at Crypto.com Arena on February 22, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luiza Moraes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The wall
LeBron had already reached the NBA Finals by the time he first encountered Boston in the playoffs. He was a scoring champion, a perennial MVP candidate and the Chosen One expected to eventually inherit the league.
The 2008 Celtics did not care.
Boston had won 66 games after bringing Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen together with Paul Pierce. They had the best defense in basketball and the confidence of a team that believed its championship window had opened immediately.
Practically all by his lonesome, James still nearly took them out.
The series went seven games, and the Celtics needed every piece of their newly constructed superteam to survive. James scored 45 points in the finale at TD Garden. Pierce answered with 41, and Boston escaped with a 97-92 win on its way to Banner 17.
Years later, Brian Scalabrine remembered how quickly James challenged the Celtics’ belief that even the league’s best individual players could be swallowed by their defense.
“He could beat you with his brain, he could beat you with physicality, and he could beat you at the rim,” Scalabrine told ESPN.
That series established the first version of the rivalry. Boston was the finished product. LeBron was the singular force still trying to figure out how to defeat one.
The Celtics had Garnett directing the defense, Pierce accepting the scoring duel and a rotation built to make every drive exhausting. James could easily blow past his primary defender, but still look up to find several more bodies waiting for him.
Boston became the standard he had to reach.
The breaking point
Two years later, the Celtics became something more consequential.
Cleveland entered the 2010 postseason with the NBA’s best record and what appeared to be James’ clearest path yet toward a championship. Boston had slipped to fourth in the East, looked old at various points during the regular season and no longer carried the same aura as the defending champions.
Despite it all, the Celtics beat the Cavaliers again.
James struggled badly in Game 5 at home, finishing with 15 points on 3-of-14 shooting as Cleveland was booed off its own floor. The Cavaliers’ season ended two nights later in Boston. James walked off the court in a Cleveland uniform, removed his jersey in the tunnel and entered an offseason that changed the NBA.
— Boston Sports Throwback (@BOSthrowback) May 13, 2026
The Decision is remembered as a response to years of organizational failure in Cleveland, the lure of playing with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and James’ growing desperation to win his first championship.
The Celtics did not make The Decision for him, but they certainly helped turn up the heat.
Boston had eliminated James twice in three years. Its own Big Three had demonstrated the value of stars sacrificing individual control to extend their championship window. The Celtics had also made clear how difficult it would be for James to keep dragging an overmatched Cleveland roster through the East by himself.
Miami’s new superteam was built with Boston in mind.
The Celtics understood that too, and they enjoyed it. Doc Rivers later recalled Garnett refusing to recognize Miami as a legitimate Big Three because, in Garnett’s mind, that title still belonged to Boston. The Heat may have assembled the league’s most hated team, but the Celtics saw them as challengers who still needed to take the conference away.
Boston won James’ first game with Miami, an ugly season opener at TD Garden that briefly made the league’s grand new experiment look vulnerable.
The Heat eventually found their footing. More importantly, James finally found his way through Boston.
Miami eliminated the Celtics in five games during the 2011 conference semifinals. When the series ended, James dropped to his knees near midcourt. Beating Boston did not bring him a championship that year, but it removed an opponent that had come to represent every doubt surrounding him.
He had cleared the wall, but would soon need to do it again.
The stare
The Celtics arrived at Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals with a 3-2 series lead and a chance to end the Heat’s season in Boston.
It was the kind of night TD Garden had been built for. The veteran Celtics were nearing the end of their run together, but they had one more chance to break the team created to replace them. Miami faced an offseason of impossible questions if it lost. Erik Spoelstra’s future would have been uncertain. The Heat’s Big Three might not have remained intact.
James entered the building looking as if he had already considered every possibility.
The expression from that night has become one of the defining images of his career. Eyes forward, jaw set, locked in beyond measure. We all know the picture.
Then, the game started.
James scored 30 points in the first half and finished with 45 points, 15 rebounds and five assists. He made 19 of his 26 shots. Jumpers that Boston’s defense had once invited became automatic. Every time the Celtics threatened to pull the crowd back into the game, James answered.
Scalabrine later called it “the most dominant performance” he had ever seen. Rivers believed Boston would have won the series without James producing that kind of game and admitted that the result might have broken Miami apart.
Instead, the Heat won Game 6, returned home to finish the series and captured James’ first championship two weeks later.
Boston had initially shown James what he lacked. Four years later, it provided the stage where he showed everyone what he had become. The Celtics had helped push him toward Miami. Now, they had helped summon the version of James they spent years trying to prevent.
The gatekeeper
At first, Boston was LeBron’s wall. Eventually, he became theirs.
The Pierce-Garnett era ended in 2013, but James’ relationship with the Celtics continued. The uniforms stayed the same. Nearly everything else changed.
He eliminated an overmatched Celtics team in 2015 after returning to Cleveland. He swept Boston again in the 2017 conference finals, although Avery Bradley’s Game 3 winner at least spared them the indignity of going quietly.
OTD in 2017: Avery Bradley's last-second 3-pointer in Cleveland caps stunning 21-point comeback for the scrappy 2017 Boston Celtics 😤 pic.twitter.com/qDEOMj8bRV
By then, the rivalry had become lopsided. Boston kept finding its way back into the postseason while Danny Ainge rebuilt the roster, and like clockwork, James kept sending the Celtics home.
He beat them five straight times after losing the 2008 and 2010 series, winning matchups in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2018. The power had shifted so completely that James became the expiration date stamped on nearly every promising Celtics season.
The characters in green kept changing. Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett gave way to Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford. Brad Stevens replaced Doc Rivers. Boston moved from squeezing one last run out of its veterans to building around draft picks who had grown up watching James dominate the league.
The Celtics changed, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse. LeBron just kept getting better.
The kids
The 2018 Eastern Conference finals should have been a transition year for Boston.
Gordon Hayward had been lost five minutes into the season. Kyrie Irving underwent knee surgery before the playoffs. Jayson Tatum was 20 years old. Jaylen Brown was 21.
Somehow, the Celtics reached Game 7 against James anyway.
That series produced the image Boston fans remember most: Tatum driving the lane, throwing down a dunk over James and bumping him afterward as TD Garden erupted.
Then-rookie Jayson Tatum threw down a MONSTER poster dunk on LeBron James in Game 7 of the ECF on this day in 2018 👀pic.twitter.com/CjkXqdzl7P
For a moment, it felt like the future had arrived early.
But as he so often did during that decade, James won.
He played all 48 minutes in Game 7, finishing with 35 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. Cleveland survived 87-79, and James reached his eighth consecutive Finals.
The young Celtics had their chances. They led the series 2-0 and 3-2. They held a fourth-quarter lead in the deciding game. Marcus Smart blocked a James dunk attempt in Game 6. Tatum put him on a poster in Game 7.
None of it was enough.
“We were right there,” Smart later told ESPN. “But LeBron turned into LeBron on us. There was nothing we could really do that day.”
Smart also believed the experience accelerated Boston’s young core. Tatum said being placed in those high-pressure moments as a rookie helped prepare him for everything that followed. Brown later described those early playoff runs as the place where the Celtics learned the maturity required to win.
The 2018 series was different from the battles with Pierce and Garnett. Those Celtics were established champions trying to hold off a still young but dominant James. Tatum and Brown were only beginning to understand what they might become.
James was no longer trying to prove he belonged in that setting. He had become the test that Boston’s next generation needed to pass.
They came close. He left the conference before they had another chance.
The distance
James’ move to Los Angeles placed the rivalry into something resembling hibernation.
The Celtics and Lakers remained the NBA’s foundational enemies, and James added his own history to that tension. His 2020 championship in the bubble brought the Lakers level with Boston at 17 titles, giving Los Angeles something it had spent years chasing.
Still, Boston and James never met in the Finals.
Their regular-season games produced occasional drama. There was Tatum’s late scoring duel with James in 2020. There was the chaotic overtime game in Boston in 2023, when James erupted over a missed foul call at the end of regulation and Patrick Beverly tried his hand at photography. There were the usual split crowds, national broadcasts and debates about how much hatred Celtics fans should direct toward James compared to the uniform he now wore.
It never carried the same weight.
The Celtics were building toward a championship with Tatum and Brown. James was trying to extend his career on the other side of the country. For the first time since Boston assembled its Big Three, their seasons no longer seemed destined to collide.
The rivalry had started to look like history, something to revisit through grainy highlights and increasingly dramatic anniversary posts. But the 2026 offseason pulled off a twist even the most deranged NBA trade machine user probably would have rejected: LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, together in Philadelphia.
The finale
James will return to the Eastern Conference with Philadelphia, joining Joel Embiid and the former Celtic who helped shape the last chapter of this rivalry.
Their history has not always been seamless. Cameras caught Brown questioning whether Bronny James belonged in the NBA during the 2024 Summer League. James referenced the incident after playing Boston last season, though he also praised Brown’s leap and questioned why he was not receiving more MVP consideration.
“We’ll be all right,” James said of their relationship.
Now, they have to be.
The visual will take some getting used to. James and Brown sharing the floor as teammates. Brown returning to TD Garden in a Philadelphia uniform. The two of them trying to end the Celtics season.
For Boston, James will once again be attached to a defining emotional question. The first version asked whether the Celtics could contain the league’s rising force. The next asked whether their aging champions could hold him off one more time. In 2018, Tatum and Brown had to prove they were ready to occupy the stage he had controlled for years.
In 2026, the Celtics may need to confront James alongside a player who helped deliver Banner 18 and once appeared certain to spend the rest of his prime beside Tatum.
That is what has allowed this rivalry to survive several different Celtics teams, four LeBron uniforms and enough roster turnover to make the original cast nearly unrecognizable. Boston has been his obstacle, inspiration, victim and measuring stick.
Now, he will battle the Celtics with Jaylen Brown at his side.
Maybe this final chapter ends quietly. James is deep into a career that has already lasted longer than the entire Celtics tenures of most players who opposed him. Philadelphia’s collection of stars brings obvious questions about age, health and fit.
History suggests Celtics fans should expect something more complicated.
For nearly 20 years, whenever the Celtics and LeBron James have appeared to be finished with each other, another chapter of the rivalry has emerged.
This is almost certainly the last one. After everything that came before it, good luck predicting the ending.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 24: Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees prior to the game against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 24, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: By now, we’ve all heard the gut-punch news that Cody Bellinger will head to the IL for some time. While initially optimistic that the hamstring suffered while legging out an eighth inning double in Saturday night’s win over the Phillies wasn’t too serious, an MRI scan on Monday revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain that will keep Bellinger out of action for 4-to-6 weeks. Despite hitting a bit of a slump to open the second half, Bellinger has been one of the Yankees’ most valuable contributors on both sides of the ball, and his absence robs another impact bat from a shaky offense already suffering from Aaron Judge’s extended absence. Spencer Jones was called up to replace Bellinger on the active roster, and the performance of what has now become a ragtag team of assembled bats will likely make or break the Yankees season over the next month-plus.
The Athletic | Brendan Kuty ($): Despite the Yankees facing the weakest remaining strength of schedule of any AL East team, it’s hard not to feel there is rough water ahead as they weather the absences of Judge and Bellinger. There is a very real scenario where neither player returns for the remainder of the regular season, meaning the Yankees need serious reinforcements on offense if they are serious about keeping their division hopes alive. The biggest name that has surfaced in recent rumors linked to the Yankees is the Nationals’ two-time All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams. However, Abrams is in the midst of a career year, leading all shortstops with 27 home runs while also leading all of MLB with 82 RBI and placing in the top-eight in wRC+ (153) and fWAR (3.9), and would therefore cost a king’s ransom to pry from Washington, any prospective conversation guaranteed to start with Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr.
MLB.com: Abrams is not the only position player the Yankees have been linked to in the wake of Bellinger’s injury. With the MLB Trade Deadline just a week away, the front office has called multiple teams to enquire on the availability of several right-handed hitting outfielders. Lane Thomas is the name that has popped up the most, the Royals outfielder on an expiring contract and posting a .799 OPS against lefties. Jo Adell, Taylor Ward, and Heliot Ramos have also been floated as potential targets. Among the players the Yankees are less likely to pursue are Luis Robert Jr. (injury) and George Springer and Jorge Soler (full-time DHs), while Spencer Steer might have been an option before landing on the IL with a right wrist sprain.
The Athletic | Chris Kirschner ($): The one name the Yankees have been most concretely linked to all summer is Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers, recently returned from a broken hamate and picking up right where he left off at the time of his injury. He is one of the best hitting catchers in the league this year with a 160 wRC+ in 185 plate appearances and is familiar with Yankees catching coordinator Tanner Swanson after the latter was instrumental in the Twins drafting Jeffers in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft. However, messaging from the front office and Aaron Boone suggests that the Yankees still have faith in Austin Wells turning his season around and prize his framing and game-calling abilities above all else, which is steering them toward the pursuit of a platoon partner to split reps with Wells rather than take over primary catching duties. To that end, the Yankees may be more in the market for established backups including Tyler Stephenson and Luis Torrens, both of whom hit lefties better than the 11 wRC+ Wells currently sports against southpaws.
As the paddock disperses for its traditional mid-season three-week break, the race is on to catch Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes came into the season as favourites and have lived up to the billing. Their car has been dominant with eight wins from 11 meetings, a strike rate greater perhaps even than the team had expected. Despite the rather skewed conclusions of the Aduo engine assessment, which declared the Red Bull the cream of the crop (on the basis of internal combustion output rather than overall capacity) the Mercedes power unit as a whole, including the hybrid electrical element which is now so vital, is without doubt the class of the field.
Danny Serretti on a night when he reached base all five times without recording an out for the AAA Reno Aces
2025 Rule 5 draft, AAA Phase
All the way back in December during the AAA phase of the Rule 5 draft, the Diamondbacks made three picks, RHP Antonio Menendez from Tampa Bay, RHP Sean Harney from St. Louis, and finally, infielder Danny Serretti from the Detroit Tigers.
To briefly discuss what the two pitchers have done: Sean Harney actually hasn’t pitched an inning with his new organization yet, as he’s had some kind of undisclosed injury that has him missing the entire 2026 season. Antonio Menendez was excellent in Amarillo (2.60 ERA, 4.19 xFIP), but has been hit extremely hard (12.74 ERA, 8.22 xFIP) after being promoted to Reno. That leaves us with the subject of this article, Danny Serretti, who has been outstanding in 2026, and deserve a closer look.
Struggles in Detroit’s Farm System
The Detroit Tigers selected Danny Serretti in the 6th round of the 2022 draft with the 177th overall pick. A switch hitting shortstop out of the University of North Carolina, Serretti would jump from A ball to AA in the span of just 27 games the same year in 2022. Across the three levels, he hit .315/.474/.472, a .442 wOBA and a 177 wRC+.
In 2023, the Tigers decided to put him in High A to begin the season. In 53 games he’d hit .284/.367/.441 with a .370 wOBA and 134 wRC+. This earned him a promotion to AA, and in 49 games he’d hit 205/.314/.269 .281 wOBA and a 70 wRC+. The next season, the Tigers had Serretti return to high A, where the struggles continued. In 87 games, he hit just .190/.287/.293, a .279 wOBA, and a 78 wRC+. Serretti would spend the last 12 games in AA, where he’d hit .206/.372/.206 with a 91 wRC+. 2025 wouldn’t go much better for Serretti, as he hit just .209/.313/.311 in 62 games.
Considering the struggles in AA, it’s no surprise that the Tigers would leave Serretti unprotected before the 2025 Rule 5 draft. It is somewhat surprising that Arizona took Serretti considering those same struggles, but it appears that move has paid off.
New Organization, New Hitter?
In 53 games in AA Amarillo, .283/.447/.553 with a .443wOBA and a 144 wrc+. In 21 games in AAA Reno he’s hitting .352/.465/.563 with a .461 wOBA, an expected wOBA(xwOBA) of .413, and a 153 wRC+. Looking at his minor league splits across both levels, Serretti is absolutely destroying left handed pitching as a right handed batter. In 102 plate appearances as a right handed batter, he’s hitting .345/.461/.679, compared to the .285/.453/.493 in 191 plate appearances against right handed pitching as a left handed batter.
One could write off Serretti’s success in Arizona’s farm system as a result of the extremely hitter friendly environments in the Texas League and Pacific Coast league, but I think there’s a few statistics that show that’s not the only reason for the turn around in 2026.
Firstly, as indicated by the wRC+ stats, he was 43% better than the average hitter in the Texas League, and 53% better than average PCL batter. Secondly, he’s dramatically increased his BB% from his previous high of 14% in AA up to 20.2% in AA and 17.2% in AAA with Arizona, while drastically cutting down on his strikeouts to a more reasonable rate of 21.6%(AA) and 20.7% in 2026. (Although this after getting his SO% down to 19.6% in 2025 from 25.6% in 2024)
Serretti has drastically count down on the frequency of pop ups, going from as high as 41.7% in AA back in 2024, down to 13.3% (AA) and 7.7% (AAA) this season. Finally, looking at the breakdown of his hit distribution, Serretti pulled the ball 46.1% in Amarillo compared to just 37.9% of the time in Erie the year before. While we don’t have any statcast data for Amarillo, we do for Reno, but it’s such a small sample that’s not worth going into too much depth.
Defensive Versatility
While in Detroit’s farm system, Serretti played all four infield positions, as well as designated hitter. Since coming over to Arizona he has played only one game at first base and none at shortstop at all. He’s recieved the majority of his playing time at second and third, with some occasional starts at designated hitter.
Serretti is a solid, reliable fielder, who’s only defensive limitation is an underwhelming throwing arm. There were questions on draft day if that would keep him from sticking at shortstop, which appears to have been quite prescient.
Future Outlook
I would not expect Serretti to put up anywhere close to the SLG% he’s put up in Arizona’s farm system, and his is expected slugging percentage of .477 vs his actual slugging of .563 in Reno backs that up. I do think he’s capable of being a lefty mashing utility infielder, as his swing in general looks better to me from the right side. His left handed swing isn’t bad enough to ditch entirely, but might be something to be considered in the future.
Serretti will have to be protected and placed on the 40 man roster at the end of the season if the Diamondbacks don’t want to leave him exposed in this year’s Rule 5 draft. If he is added at the end of the season, I think that will tell us a lot about how the front office views Serretti’s future outlook.
In this week’s Injury Report, Shea Langeliers will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Juan Soto’s calf issue resurfaces. Cody Bellinger isn’t expected back for 4-6 weeks with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. And Kyle Harrison is set to make what should be his only minor league rehab start this week before rejoining the Brewers’ rotation. All that and more as we cover all of the most relevant injury updates around baseball.
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Shea Langeliers (knee)
In devastating news for both the A’s and fantasy managers, Langeliers was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his right knee, an injury he apparently suffered while running the bases on Friday against the Twins. He was placed on the 10-day injured list, but his season is effectively over as he opted for surgery to repair the tear. The 28-year-old backstop has been one of the game’s premier catchers, hitting .263/.332/.497 with 23 homers, 55 runs scored, and 51 RBI across 416 plate appearances. There is simply no replacing that production at this stage in the season.
A look at the playoff landscape with the MLB Trade Deadline one week away.
D.J. Short
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Juan Soto (calf)
Soto was removed from Friday’s game against the Dodgers with left calf soreness, an issue that forced him to miss time earlier this season. He’ll be sidelined once again as the team placed him on the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain. The 27-year-old star outfielder was diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain and is expected to be out for at least three weeks. Fantasy managers probably shouldn’t expect him back until late August or early September.
Shohei Ohtani (knee)
Despite remaining in the lineup as the everyday leadoff man and designated hitter, Ohtani hasn’t been able to make a start on the mound since July 3 as he tends to his ailing left knee. He threw a 31-pitch bullpen session last Wednesday, but didn’t come out of it feeling 100 percent and was held back from his next session, which was supposed to happen on Saturday. Manager Dave Roberts expressed optimism that the 32-year-old star would pitch again this season, but there’s really no reason for the Dodgers to push him until the playoffs. While nothing is ruled out, fantasy managers shouldn’t count on much pitching production from Ohtani over the final two months.
Spencer Steer (hand)
Steer came out of the game on Sunday in the fifth inning against the Cardinals after fouling off a pitch. He shook his right hand, prompting a visit from trainers, then departed in the middle of the at-bat. On Monday, it was reported by ESPN’s Buster Olney that Steer was dealing with a wrist injury and was heading to the injured list, set to miss “significant time”.
Cody Bellinger (hamstring)
Bellinger was hobbled running out a double in the eighth inning against the Phillies on Saturday. He initially waved off trainers and stayed on the bases before he was replaced defensively. Bellinger came out of the game with left hamstring tightness, which he initially downplayed, but was ultimately placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. Word came down on Monday that he’s dealing with a Grade 2 strain and is set to miss 4-6 weeks.
Kyle Harrison (forearm)
Harrison, out since July 11 with forearm tightness, threw a batting practice session on Saturday in which he was aiming for four innings of work. Coming out of that without any issues, he’s now set to make one rehab start with High-A Wisconsin on Thursday. Harrison is aiming to go 5-6 innings and shouldn’t require any additional buildup before returning to the Brewers rotation next week, potentially against the Pirates on Wednesday or Thursday.
Connelly Early (elbow)
Early was involved in a bit of a surprise move as the Red Sox shipped him to the Nationals in exchange for infielder Curtis Mead. The 24-year-old left-hander has been on the injured list since July 1 with left elbow inflammation. In an update by Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Taboni, he announced Early would make his first rehab start in the organization on August 3. Early threw a bullpen session at Nationals Park on Monday and would likely need a few starts to build back up before making his team debut, so we’re looking at a potential mid-to-late August activation, barring any setbacks.
Casey Schmitt (knee)
Schmitt was pulled early from Monday’s contest against the Brewers, leaving in the second inning with a trainer after pulling up awkwardly rounding first on a single. He’s set to undergo an MRI on his left knee on Tuesday, but manager Tony Vitello has already stated that the 27-year-old infielder is set to miss some time. He’ll presumably be placed on the injured list on Tuesday with an update on his imaging results. With Matt Chapman not quite ready to return from an abdominal strain, Christian Koss will likely handle third base duties.
Kerry Carpenter (foot)
Carpenter departed Sunday’s game against the Royals with a right heel injury, the same issue that caused him to sit out last Tuesday’s game against the Cubs. Set to miss Monday’s series opener against the Orioles, the team opted to give him extra time to rest by placing him on the 10-day injured list with left foot plantar fasciitis. Even in a strict platoon, Carpenter hasn’t found much success this season, slashing .208/.276/.416 with 13 homers and 36 RBI across 259 plate appearances.
Daniel Palencia (elbow)
Palencia, out since mid-June with right elbow inflammation, came away from a bullpen session without any issues and feeling great on Saturday. Cubs manager Craig Counsell iterated that the next steps would be an up-and-down session for Palencia, followed by facing live hitters, before embarking on a minor league rehab assignment next week. By the looks of it, barring any setbacks, Palencia could be in line to return to the Cubs’ bullpen in mid-August. The 26-year-old right-hander has been limited to 16 2/3 innings this season, converting three saves with a 2.70 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts.
Maikel Garcia (hamstring)
Garcia has spent the last month on the injured list with a left hand muscle strain. He’s finally ready to return to action as he begins a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Tuesday. It’s an overall lost, down season for the 26-year-old third baseman. He’s hit .261/.320/.373 with only three homers and five steals across 294 plate appearances.
Corey Seager (back)
Seager took batting practice for the second straight day on Monday at Globe Life Field, ramping up the intensity and volume of his session. The 32-year-old slugger has been out since July 1 with lower back inflammation. Coming out of the batting practice feeling good, he could begin a minor league rehab assignment this week and possibly join the Rangers in early August.
Edwin Díaz (elbow)
Blake Snell (elbow)
With Ohtani not ready to return to the mound, the Dodgers are getting some reinforcements back soon. Both Díaz and Snell are coming back from elbow surgery to remove loose bodies. Díaz made his final minor league rehab appearance on Sunday and is set to be activated from the injured list by Wednesday. He’ll likely assume the closer role, or primary share of it. Meanwhile, Snell is aiming to go four innings or 60 pitches on Wednesday in a rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Concluding that start, he’ll be reevaluated and potentially join the Dodgers rotation during their upcoming stretch of 10 games in 10 days that starts on Tuesday and runs through August 6. After that stretch of games, they’ll play 13 straight, so getting Snell back would help keep the team on a six-man rotation.
Jul 27, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Sam Hentges (left) touches first base ahead of Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Luis Lara (18) to record an out during the seventh inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
The road trip for the Brewers started out with the offense mostly silent. They were shut out by the Giants 3-0 on Monday, the fifth time they have been shut out all season. However, it’s also the second time it’s happened in the last six games.
Scoring chances were very limited tonight. The first came in the second inning. Jake Bauers hit a one-out single, then Andrew Vaughn drew a walk following a challenge. It set up an early scoring chance, but Garrett Mitchell grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Meanwhile, Brandon Sproat worked through the first two innings scoreless, but did have to work around a couple situations. In the first, Heliot Ramos hit a fly ball to right, and Bauers appeared to have an easy catch. However, it bounced out of his glove, and Ramos reached second on the error. Ramos would steal third, but Sproat kept him there with a strikeout and groundout.
The Giants got two more baserunners in the second. Casey Schmitt lead off the inning with a single, but had to come out of the game with a leg injury. Pinch-runner Christian Koss stole second and Willy Adames drew a walk, but Grant McCray hit into a double play and Sproat got out of the inning.
Sproat got into more trouble in the third, but this time the Giants broke through. Jesus Rodriguez led off the inning with a double, and Luis Arraez followed it up with a single to drive him in. That gave the Giants a 1-0 lead.
The fourth started with a leadoff walk by Koss, but Sproat erased him with his fifth pickoff of the season. Two batters later, Adames singled to left, and that set up McCray to hit a two-run home run to left, extending their lead to 3-0.
That was all that Sproat allowed, and he got through his remaining couple innings with no other damage. Sproat added his sixth pickoff of the season in the sixth inning. Drew Gilbert singled with one out, but Sproat picked him off with two outs. The initial call was safe, but a challenge overturned it. He’s now tied for the league lead in pickoffs with his two tonight.
The stat line was overall decent for Sproat. He pitched six innings and allowed three runs on six hits and three walks. He also struck out five in the loss. Even though he did allow three runs, he made sure the Brewers would not have to dip much into their bullpen tonight.
As for the offense, they kept spoiling any scoring chances they had. A Vaughn single in the fifth was erased when Mitchell grounded into a double play for the second time tonight. In the next inning, Cooper Pratt drew a leadoff walk but he was erased when Joey Ortiz grounded into the team’s third double play of the night.
Giants’ starter Tyler Mahle was on point tonight. He pitched six innings and started the seventh, allowing only three hits and two walks. He was pulled for the night after Jackson Chourio hit a leadoff single. Chourio reached second on a wild pitch, but reliever Sam Hentges stranded him there.
The Brewers didn’t have another baserunner in the eighth or ninth. Meanwhile, Garrett Stallings was the only reliever the Brewers needed to use, as he pitched the last two innings and allowed just a walk.
Vaughn was the only Brewer to reach base twice — a hit and a walk. Bauers and Chourio had a hit each, and Pratt had a walk. That was all the offense could do tonight.
The series continues tomorrow night in San Francisco. Logan Henderson will face Landen Roupp in the second game of the series. First pitch is at 9:45 p.m.
Sánchez, 29, hit his first MLB home run through 75 games -- 25 with Aaron Boone's team this season -- since debuting for the Mets in 2020 and subsequently bouncing around the big leagues until returning to New York as a Yankee.
"I mean, that's a moment that I always talk with my teammates about it -- it's just special," Sánchez told YES Network after the Yankees (60-46) earned the 9-5 final against the White Sox (55-50) at Rate Field in Chicago, winning for the 10th time in the past 14 games. "I felt like I was living a dream running the bases -- just a little kid running from Venezuela in a small town, just running the bases."
From Venezuela, Sánchez signed with the Mets as an international free agent in 2013. He spent the following seven years in the organization and made his debut Aug. 10, 2020, before the Mets traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals for cash Feb. 12, 2021.
Sánchez's stops from there included stints in the organizations of the Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox. The 2025 season saw him go from the Blue Jays to Boston, back to the Mets via Triple-A Syracuse, and then back to the Red Sox before signing with the Yankees in December.
Through 25 games with the Yankees this season, Sánchez is slashing .255/.294/.355 and has seven RBI.
"Obviously, it a was a big home run, too," Boone said. "Just one of those games that was just had a back and forth, turned into bullpen kind of thing. Looked like we were going to be able to potentially add on there and they get a couple big outs and then Ali hits a no-doubter to give us some separation, so really cool.
"Everyone's journey's different, obviously, and there's so many tremendous stories to tell about different guys -- and Ali's one of those."
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JULY 19: Cristian Javier #53 of the Houston Astros pitches during the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Daikin Park on July 19, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Wasn’t it 35 years ago when the Red-Hot Chili Peppers sang “Give it away, Give it away now?” That’s exactly what the Angels did on this night. They gave it away; fortunately for Houston. Astros 6. Angels 4.
In the ninth inning, the Astros would do it by a matter of inches. First, Isaac Paredes would be slightly grazed by a pitch with the bases loaded which would tie things up. Moments later LaMonte Wade Jr., by the narrowest of margins, would draw a walk which gave Houston their first lead of the night. A fielding error by Angels reliever Sam Bachman would allow Yordan Alvarez to score an insurance run and that would be your final. It was an improbable comeback, just like Friday night in Chicago.
Even with the jubilation of the end result, much of the night was painted by a sad commentary. The Astros were fortunate to only be down by two runs at the end of the first inning. That was the boat the Astros found themselves in, which actually seemed like more like a sinking ship. The culprit once again was Tatsuya Imai, who allowed four walks and received the quick hook from Manager Joe Espada after tossing just 33 pitches. The issue was 21 of those pitches were balls, which resulted in a disastrous start from Anaheim.
Upon Imai’s departure, AJ Blubaugh would get Angels 3B Denzer Guzman to fly out to end the first frame, stranding three Angels runners. However, in the bottom of the third, Vaughn Grissom would drive in his second run of the night, hitting a solo shot to center field. It was Grissom’s 7th home run of season. Josh Lowe would then reach on a throwing error by Jose Altuve. Moments later, Lowe would come around to score on a double by Jo Adell. By the time the third was in the books, the Angels had increased their lead to 4-0. Blubaugh would work 2 1/3 innings, allowing 2 hits, a run, while registering a strikeout.
In the fourth inning, Taylor Trammell would notch his fifth home run of the year on a two out blast to get the Astros on the board. In the bottom of the fourth, Christian Javier (W, 1-1) would enter in relief. Javier would go five innings, striking out seven while scattering three hits. Javier would strike out the side in the bottom of the 8th, throwing just 70 pitches through his performance. It’s possible that Javier’s outing will ultimately propel him back into the starting rotation next month.
In bottom of the 8th inning, Yordan Alvarez would end a 0-8 slump, driving in Jeremy Pena recording his league leading 78th RBI. Pena reached on a leadoff double. Pena will carry a 9-game hitting streak into tomorrow night. However, with a 0-5 outing, Jose Altuve is now mired in a 0-13 slump. The 9th featured ten Astros batters coming to plate in placing the four spot on the board to complete the comeback.
Josh Hader (S, 13) would make things interesting in the bottom of the ninth walking a pair but would eventually close the door. The Astros have now won 6 of their last 7 games.
Peter Lambert will take the hill tomorrow night. First pitch is set for 8:38pm CDT.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 5: Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz shoots a free throw during the third quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on February 5, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Utah Jazz are coming into the season as maybe the most unpredictable team in either conference. No one is sure what to make of this collection of talent. Will the players achieve a level of cohesion and become better than the sum of their parts? Or will they struggle with the blend of youth and veterans and underwhelm?
That leads us to this week’s Utah Jazz Reacts survey. How will this season end when all is said and done? Will they overachieve, be much better than people think, and be a top-3 seed in the West? Or will they underwhelm, fall apart, and wind up in the lottery once again?
Personally, I find it hard to believe the Jazz won’t, at a minimum, make the play-in. I also think that the Jazz are highly motivated to make additional moves this season. They are now buyers instead of sellers, and I can see them making moves to shore up their weaknesses come trade deadline. But now is your chance to vote in the poll below and let everyone know what you think.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Jazz fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Jul 27, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics left fielder Tyler Soderstrom (21) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images | Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
The A’s got a great pitching performance from their starting pitcher tonight. Unfortunately one swing of the bat was enough for the surging Red Sox to get past the Athletics tonight in the series opener in Sacramento.
The Athletics struck first tonight and it didn’t take long. Facing left-hander Jake Bennett for the Red Sox, the second batter of the game for the A’s connected on a solo blast as Tyler Soderstrom inflicted some lefty-on-lefty damage with his 17th of the year:
That also extended his team-leading hitting streak to 10 games, and he now has 4 long balls in his last 15 games.
That gave his starting pitcher some early room to breath. It was right-hander Jack Perkins on the bump tonight making his second start of the second half. After walking the first batter of the game, the young gun locked in. Over the first five frames tonight Perkins issued just two walks (one of which was immediately wiped out on a double play) and a hit by pitch. He looked as good as he had all year and looked confident on the mound doing it. And yes, he had a no-hitter going through five.
Boston got their first hit with a leadoff double in the sixth. A pair of ground balls and Perkins was almost out of it unscathed but a walk prompted a pitching change from the manager. Perkins would depart with a 1-0 lead but responsible for the two runners on base.
Jack Perkins: 5 2/3 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 69 pitches
That’s the type of performance the A’s were hoping to see from their young right-hander. Hindsight is 20/20 but it would have been nice to let him work through the jam, especially considering his relatively low pitch count.
Alas, lefty Jose Suarez came on in relief of Perkins and gave the game away. Another walk loaded the bases and Boston center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela connected on a hanging slider for a go-ahead grand slam. Suddenly it was 4-1 Boston.
The A’s got one of those runs back in the bottom half of the frame though as new starting catcher Jonah Heim connected for his 10th long ball of the year to cut it to 4-2:
Still, the club was down two runs and needed more to catch up. The A’s went down in order in both the seventh and eighth innings before they managed to get the tying run on base in the ninth against Boston closer Aroldis Chapman. Sadly rookies Henry Bolte and Alika Williams struck out to end the late rally and secure the defeat in front of the home crowd.
Another tough loss, which drops the club to 44-62. Perkins was pitching great tonight and probably deserved a win. Alas, it’s hard to win a game when you only collect six hits. Soderstrom and Heim did their jobs at the top of the lineup but the 5-9 hitters went a combined 2-for-16 with two singles. Not a great performance from the offense tonight, even without Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers.
The series continues tomorrow night, same time same place. It’s going to be a battle of left-handers as Gage Jump gets the ball for the Athletics while Boston will turn to Jake Bennett. Jump is set for his third start here in the second half; his first one was solid but he got roughed up for six runs against the Diamondbacks last time out so he’ll be looking for a bounce-back performance. Bennett meanwhile comes into this one on a roll, posting a pristine 1.64 ERA over his previous seven starts. Not an easy assignment for either lineup tomorrow so runs will surely be at a premium.
Jul 27, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman (3) rounds third base after hitting a solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the second inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images | Joe Puetz-Imagn Images
The St. Louis Cardinals entered Monday night’s game against the Chicago Cubs with an urgent need to turn their recent downward spiral around. The Chicago Cubs and specifically their bats seemed determined to not allow that to happen.
Matthew Liberatore started the game for the Cardinals who planned to piggyback his start with Hunter Dobbins for the final half of the game. David Peterson, who the Cardinals hit hard in their last encounter, made that seem like a distant memory as he held St. Louis and their struggling offense to a minimum of opportunities.
The Cubs scored on Matthew Liberatore in each of the first 3 innings. In the top of the 1st inning, Liberatore walked Pete Crow-Armstrong, but then picked him off of first to the delight of the “Tarps Off” crowd in right field. Chicago got the last laugh, though, as Suzuki and Bregman hit back-to-back doubles giving the Cubs a 1-0 lead.
Chicago would score again in the top of the 2nd inning as Nico Hoerner led off with a single. After Ian Happ struck out, Dansby Swanson singled giving Chicago runners at first and second with just one out. Amaya then smacked a single to right doubling the Cubs lead to 2-0.
The Cardinals would get one run back in the bottom of the 2nd inning when José Fermín would become the Fermínator muscling up for a 407 foot shot into Big Mac Land reducing the Cubs lead to 2-1.
The top of the 3rd started with Alex Bregman getting that run right back taking a 94 mph Liberatore sinker the other way into the right field stands for a homer and a 3-1 Cubs lead. It was obvious that Matthew wasn’t fooling anyone Monday night.
Hunter Dobbins entered the game in the top of the 4th inning getting out of a jam created by Matthew Liberatore, but he would surrender two runs of his own in the top of the 5th inning when Nico Hoerner singled to knock in Bregman and Kelly who had reached on singles making it 5-1 Cubs.
The Cardinals offense would finally find some life in the bottom of the 6th inning when Jordan Walker drew a walk to get St. Louis started. Iván Herrera then struck out when umpires ruled he called two timeouts which resulted in an automatic strike which was confusing because it seemed the first timeout was called by the home plate umpire. Go figure. That awkward moment fortunately didn’t kill the Cardinals momentum as Jordan Walker advanced to second on a groundout by Alec Burleson and then scored on a single by Masyn Winn reducing the Cubs lead to 5-2. The Cardinals would get another run when Bryan Torres hit a ground-rule double which scored Winn who had advanced to third on a wild pitch making a game of it with the Cubs still leading 5-3.
The Cardinals had their chances in the late innings. Jordan Walker came SO close to tying the game in the bottom of the 7th. After Blaze Jordan drew a very rare walk, two batters later, Walker caught a 95 mph and flew out to deep left as Ian Happ caught the ball up against the wall. So freaking close, but no cigar. Iván Herrera also led off the bottom of the 8th inning by knocking a ball off of the right field wall, but was thrown out by Ian Happ trying to stretch it to a double.
Nico Hoerner put the game out of reach with 2 outs in the top of the 9th inning when he followed an Alex Bregman double with an 80 mph sweeper that he launched 382 feet into the left field stands giving the Cubs a 7-3 lead. Stuff happens and lately it’s all breaking wrong for the Cardinals.
The St. Louis Cardinals will see what they can accomplish against the Chicago Cubs again Tuesday night at Busch Stadium. The Chicago Cubs have announced Colin Rea as their starter while the Cardinals have yet to announce who’ll start for them. First pitch scheduled for 6:45pm central time with the TV broadcast available through Cardinals.tv.
D.J. Short
