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Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (38-37/9-11)

BUFFALO 7, SYRACUSE 3 (BOX)

The Syracuse Mets slipped back to .500 in the second half, falling short in a sloppy slobbernocker that saw both teams log 9 hits and slug 2 home runs apiece. Coming into the ninth, Syracuse was still losing, but the score was a much more palatable 4-3. In the ninth, Ben Simon and Guillo Zuniga combined to allow 4 runs on 3 hits and a pair of walks. Not what you want to see, especially in the ninth.

·  LF Ji Hwan Bae: 0-5

·  DH Nick Morabito: 1-4, RBI, 2 K, HBP

·  SS Ronny Mauricio: 1-4, E (5)

·  RF MJ Melendez: 1-4, K

·  1B Christopher Morel: 2-4, R, 2 K

·  3B Christian Arroyo: 1-4, R, HR (7), 2 RBI

·  2B Yonny Hernández: 1-4, R, 3 K

·  CF Cristian Pache: 0-2, 2 BB, CS (2)

·  C Hayden Senger: 2-4, 2 K

·  RHP Robert Stock: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HBP

·  RHP Tobias Myers: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HBP

·  REHAB ALERT RHP Dedniel Núñez: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

·  LHP Joe Jacques: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HBP

·  RHP Ben Simon: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, L (2-3)

·  RHP Guillo Zuñiga: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

ROSTER ALERT: New York Mets sent SS Zack Short outright to Syracuse Mets.

ROSTER ALERT: New York Mets sent RHP Dedniel Núñez on a rehab assignment to Syracuse Mets.

ROSTER ALERT: Syracuse Mets activated RHP Robert Stock from the 60-day injured list.

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (27-42/6-15)

AKRON 7, BINGHAMTON 3 (BOX)

Jonathan Santucci pitched a lot better than his final line suggests. He gave up 6 hits and a pair of walks over 5.2 innings, allowing just one extra base hit, but every hit seemed to come at a bad time, hence the four earned runs. On the bright side, the left-hander struck out a career-high 13 batters, the second time in three July starts that he reached double-digit strikeouts (he struck out 10 Baysox batters on July 5th). Nick Lorusso added two more hits to a very quiet solid season and Jose Ramos hit a double, but the Binghamton offense continues to not get it done.

·  C Chris Suero: 0-3, R, BB, 2 K, E (10)

·  CF Jose Ramos: 1-4, 2B, 2 K, E (7)

·  3B Nick Lorusso: 2-4, R

·  1B JT Schwartz: 0-2, R, BB, 2 K, HBP

·  LF Matt Rudick: 0-3, RBI, BB, K

·  DH Vincent Perozo: 0-3, RBI, K

·  SS Kevin Villavicencio: 1-4, RBI, K, E (3)

·  RF Jaylen Palmer: 0-4, 3 K

·  2B Nick Roselli: 0-3, K

·  LHP Jonathan Santucci: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 13 K, WP, L (2-7)

·  RHP Carlos Guzman: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

·  RHP Douglas Orellana: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

·  RHP Zach Peek: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, WP

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (25-40/12-11)

GAME ONE

HUDSON VALLEY 14, BROOKLYN 2 / 7 (BOX)

Early on, things didn’t look too bleak for Brooklyn. Frank Camarillo had allowed three runs over three innings, yes, but the offense had kept pace, with Daiverson Gutierrez driving a run in with an RBI double in the second and Corey Collins doing the same with a single in the third. Calvin Ziegler came in to pitch the fourth, and all hell broke loose from thereon in. His inning began with a runner reaching base via catcher’s interference and that really set the tone for things. The former top prospect then walked a batter, threw a wild pitch, walked another batter, threw another wild pitch, walked the next two batters, and then allowed a triple, allowing four runs to score all without recording a single out. By and large, the relievers following him weren’t any better, with Tanner Witt and his 1.1 innings of scoreless relief being the only stretch of success for the Brooklyn bullpen.

·  SS Mitch Voit: 0-3

·  3B Yonatan Henriquez: 0-3, K

·  CF John Bay: 2-3, R, 2 2B

·  1B Corey Collins: 1-3, RBI, 2 K

·  C Ronald Hernandez: 1-3, R, K, SB, E (10)

·  DH Daiverson Gutierrez: 1-3, 2B, RBI, K

·  RF Yohairo Cuevas: 0-3, 2 K

·  2B Jamari Baylor: 0-3, K

·  LF Sam Biller: 0-3, 2 K

·  RHP Frank Camarillo: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, L (2-1)

·  RHP Calvin Ziegler: 0.0 IP, 0 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 2 WP

·  RHP Bryce Jenkins: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

·  RHP Josh Blum: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

·  RHP Hunter Hodges: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 1 K

·  RHP Tanner Witt: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

GAME TWO

HUDSON VALLEY 5, BROOKLYN 2 / 7 (BOX)

At least Brooklyn was a little more competitive in this one. Scoring two runs per game is generally not conducive to winning

·  SS Mitch Voit: 0-4, RBI, K

·  CF Yonatan Henriquez: 0-4

·  RF John Bay: 0-3, BB, 2 K, SB

·  DH Ronald Hernandez: 0-4, K

·  LF JT Benson: 1-1, R, 2B, 2 BB, SB

·  C Daiverson Gutierrez: 0-3, K

·  2B Jamari Baylor: 0-1, 2 BB, SB

·  3B Colin Houck: 1-2, R, 3B, BB, K

·  1B Trace Willhoite: 0-2, RBI, BB, K

·  RHP Jose Chirinos: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, L (1-5)

·  REHAB ALERT RHP Kevin Herget: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

·  RHP Rafi Vazquez: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

ROSTER ALERT: Syracuse Mets sent RHP Kevin Herget on a rehab assignment to Brooklyn Cyclones.

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (33-33/8-14)

ST. LUCIE 8, PALM BEACH 6 (BOX)

St. Lucie jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the top of the first, and continued adding on. The pitching, meanwhile, was cooking, with Ethan Lanthier, Tyler McLoughlin, and Jonathan Jimenez combining to throw five scoreless innings. The bullpen finally gave in in the later innings, with Luis Alvarez allowing a run in the sixth and him and Ernesto Mercedes combining to allow five more in the seventh, but Mercedes threw a clean eighth and Miguel Mejias locked down the ninth, preventing further damage. Trey Snyder had himself an exceptional game, going 4-5 with a triple and a homer, and may be working himself back into top prospect consideration.  

·  REHAB ALERT SS Marco Vargas: 0-2, R, 2 BB, 2 K, SB (1)

·  PH-3B Taylor Darden: 0-0, BB

·  3B-SS Antonio Jimenez: 2-5, K

·  REHAB ALERT DH Mike Tauchman: 2-5, 2 R, 2B

·  1B Randy Guzman: 1-4, 2 R, RBI, BB, K

·  CF Trey Snyder: 4-5, 2 R, 3B, HR (2), 5 RBI, K, SB (13)

·  2B Branny De Oleo: 2-4, R, HR (7), 2 RBI, BB, K

·  RF Simon Juan: 1-4, BB, 2 K

·  LF Jackson Hauge: 0-5, K

·  C Francisco Toledo: 1-4, K

·  C Julio Zayas: 0-0

·  RHP Ethan Lanthier: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

·  RHP Tyler McLoughlin: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, W (2-2)

·  RHP Jonathan Jimenez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

·  RHP Luis Alvarez: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

·  RHP Ernesto Mercedes: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

·  RHP Miguel Mejias: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HBP, S (3)

ROSTER ALERT: Binghamton Rumble Ponies sent SS Marco Vargas on a rehab assignment to St. Lucie Mets.

Rookie: FCL Mets (23-29)

NO GAME (SCHEDULE)

STAR OF THE NIGHT

Trey Snyder

GOAT OF THE NIGHT

Calvin Ziegler

Free of charge for the discerning reader.

Happy birthday to Matt Szczur, and a mighty host of others.

Today in baseball history, in 1976 – Hank Aaron hits the 755th, and last, home run of his career, connecting off Dick Drago of the California Angels, and other stories as well.

Today in baseball history:

• 1907 – Chicago’s Carl Lundgren and New York’s Christy Mathewson are stingy today with the Cubs twirler allowing just four hits while the Cubs scratch three off Matty as the Giants win, 1-0. Joe Tinker is hitless against Matty, the only time this year that Mathewson shuts down his nemesis.
• 1911 – Frank Schulte hits for the cycle to help the Cubs tip the Phils, 4-3. “Wildfire” will end the year as the first player ever to top the 20 mark in doubles, triples, homers, and stolen bases. Only Willie Mays in 1957 will match him this century; the feat will be matched twice in 2007, by Curtis Granderson and Jimmy Rollins.
• 1916 – NY Giants trade future Baseball HOF pitcher Christy Mathewson to Cincinnati Reds.
• 1922 – At Sportsman’s Park, Rogers Hornsby belts a two-out ninth inning home run with two men on the give the Cards a 7 – 6 win over Boston. It is the Rajah’s 25th home run of the year, breaking Gavvy Cravath‘s National League home run mark (post-1900). In two weeks, Hornsby will break the record of 27 homers set in 1884 by Chicago’s Ned Williamson.
• 1938 – Johnny Mize of the Cardinals has three home runs in a game for the second time this season, in a game against the Giants.
• 1958 – Jim Bunning of the Tigers pitches a 3-0 no-hitter over the Red Sox and fans 12. Only two walks and a hit batsman mar Bunning’s performance as he wins his sixth game in seven decisions.
• 1962 – Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Co. overpower Roberto Clemente‘s Pirates with a devastating aerial assault. Bob Stevens of the San Francisco Chronicle writes: “Chuck Hiller led off with a single. Mays then hit a line drive, 420-foot home run for 2-0. With two down in the third, McCovey belted a memorable shot over the left-field scoreboard. It was one of the few ever ripped into that area by a lefthander in the more than half a century existence of ivy-cloaked Forbes Field. The McCovey smash stood up for the victory. The Bucs started to move in the fourth, when Bill Mazeroski singled home Clemente, who also contributed a dazzling throw from right field to cut down the sliding McCovey at the plate in the sixth.”
• 1969 – San Francisco’s Gaylord Perry connects for his first hit of the year, and his first major league homer, to beat the Dodgers, 7-3. Last year, Alvin Dark had remarked to sportswriter Harry Jupiter about Perry’s hitting, “They’ll put a man on the moon before he hits a home run.” Perry’s homer comes about 20 minutes after the clubhouse receives word that Neil Armstrong has set foot on the moon.
• 2004 – At Wrigley Field, Albert Pujols goes 5 for 5, including three home runs and five RBIs, as the Cardinals beat Central Division rivals the Cubs, 11-8. The Redbird first baseman’s first career three-homer game helps St. Louis to erase a six-run deficit.
• 2012 –  Chipper Jones becomes the all-time leader for RBIs by a player who was primarily a third baseman with a two-run single in the 8th inning; he was tied with George Brett at 1,598; Mike Schmidt continues to hold the record for RBI collected when actually playing at the hot corner.

Cubs Birthdays:Duane Underwood Jr., Matt Szczur*, Jake Fox, Gary Woods. Also notable: Tony Oliva HOF. Heinie Manush HOF.

Today in history:

• 1749 – Earl of Chesterfield says “Idleness is only refuge of weak minds.”
• 1793 – Scottish explorer Alexander Mackenzie completes the first European east-to-west crossing of America north of Mexico.
• 1801 – Elisha Brown Jr presses a 1,235-pound cheese ball at his farm.
• 1921 – Congresswoman Alice Mary Robertson becomes the first woman to preside over the floor of US House of Representatives.
• 1964 – First surfin’ record to go to No.1-Jan & Dean’s “Surf City.”
• 1965 – Columbia records releases the Bob Dylan single “Like a Rolling Stone.”
• 1968 – Iron Butterfly’s “In-a-gadda-da-vida” becomes first heavy metal song to hit charts; it comes in at No. 117.
• 1968 – Judy Garland headlines concert also featuring Count Basie and Jackie Wilson at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; her last US concert
• 1969 – NASA’s Apollo 11 lunar module, carrying Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, lands on the surface of the Moon. Seven hours later, Armstrong becomes the first person to step on the moon at 10:56 pm EDT, and Aldrin joins him shortly after. Michael Collins remains in orbit in the command module.
• 1975 – Bruce Springteen and the E Street Band kick off the Born to Run Tour at the Palace Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island; Steven Van Zandt debuts as a full-fledged member of the group.

*pictured.

Hello and happy Monday, folks. Feels weird to not have a World Cup game ready to go on deck now, doesn’t it?

But you know what we do have on deck? A Red Sox game. They play Baltimore at Fenway tonight, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EST. A win would bring our boys to 14 straight wins, which is tantalizingly close to the longest win streak in the franchise’s history (!!!!!!), dating back to when the 1946 Sox won 15 games in a row.

My question to you, dear reader, is simple: Who the hell are these guys and what have they done with the 2026 Red Sox? I ask that tongue-in-cheek-ly, yes, but seriously! What the hell is happening?! I love it, don’t get me wrong, but this is insane!

What do you chalk this incredible run up to? A matter of the bats simply producing? Is it the manager? The new guys who have stepped up? Something else? A little bit of all of those things? Let me know below.

Be good to each other and go Sox.

At some point during the next couple weeks, the phone is going to ring in Detroit and the Tigers are going to be tempted. They are ultimately going to have to weigh keeping Tarik Skubal over acquiring the wealth of prospects that will be thrown at them.

The two-time Cy Young winner is the biggest name hanging over the 2026 MLB trade deadline, and he is a long way from the only one. Contenders are hunting for pitching. Teams sliding out of the race are fielding calls on their veterans. And a dozen front offices are stuck in the middle and have not decided whether they are buyers or sellers.

The clock officially stops Aug. 3. Until then, the calls and text messages will fly, fans will dream and players will wonder where they will finish up the 2026 season.

Here is when the deadline hits, exactly how it works and which names could be on the move before it does.

MLB TRADE DEADLINE WATCH: These five franchises could hold all the cards

When is 2026 MLB trade deadline?

Monday Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. ET. That is the hard cutoff that teams have for their trades to be finalized.

This is a change from the past. The league now sets the deadline inside a window, anywhere from July 28 to Aug. 3, so it can dodge scheduling headaches year to year. In 2026, it landed on the last possible day.

How does MLB trade deadline work?

Since 2019, there has been one deadline and only one. Before that, teams could keep dealing into August as long as a player first cleared what were called trade waivers. That whole system is gone.

Once the 6 p.m., Aug. 3 deadline passes, no team can make a trade, until after the season ends. The only way a player switches teams after that is through outright waivers, where one club exposes him and another claims him off the wire. It's not a trade, it's a waiver.

A player has to be in an organization by Aug. 31 to be eligible for that team's postseason roster. So even with the trade window shut, a club can still add a waiver claim or call up a prospect and have him ready for October.

Who is buying and selling in 2026?

The buyers are the usual contenders reloading for a run. The Yankees, Rays, Red Sox and Dodgers have all been tied to upgrades in recent reports. Pitching, as always, tops the list.

The sellers are more difficult to figure out with a cluster in the standings. Some are already sorted out like the Giants, Mets, Rockies and Royals.

The muddled middle is where it gets interesting. The .500 teams have to decide in the next two weeks whether this is a year to push or a year to punt. That group is where the deadline usually gets interesting.

What players could get traded?

The dealing has already started. The Astros sent veteran right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. to the Brewers, the move that signaled the 2026 trade-deadline market is open for business.

Skubal is the headliner still on the board. Detroit's ace is a free agent after 2026, which turns every Tigers loss into a referendum on whether they cash in on him now or bet on October. The Tigers went into Sunday's games six games back in the American League Central and 3½ out of the wild card.

Beyond Skubal, the reported names are impressive. Starters Freddy Peralta, Sonny Gray, Sandy Alcantara and Kevin Gausman have surfaced in rumors. So have relievers such as Mason Miller, Aroldis Chapman and Ryan Helsley. On the position side, Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, Luis Arraez and Ketel Marte have been rumored to be on the trading block.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is 2026 MLB trade deadline? Date, time, rules explained

The problem with this year's MLB trade deadline is that almost nobody wants to sell.

Twenty-three of the 30 teams came out of the All-Star break within four games of a playoff spot, which means most of the league still believes it has a reason to buy. That also leaves a short list of sellers. Those teams that are willing to deal now will set the price for everyone else as we barrel toward the 6 p.m. ET trade deadline on Aug. 3.

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal sits atop every contender's wish list, with pitching nearly always the top need of those who are looking to make a long run in October. Still, the Tigers have said they aren't sure if they will trade him.

The long stare down to the deadline is already beginning.

Here is where the 30 teams stand as the deals start to come, who is buying, who is finally selling and who is stuck in the middle:

Why there are barely any sellers right now

The standing are a cluster. With three wild cards in each league and almost two dozen teams still alive, the clubs that would normally be dumping veterans by late July are instead telling themselves they can make a run.

That scarcity flips the leverage. The few teams that are ready to sell get to name their price, and contenders desperate for pitching may have to overpay in prospects to land a starter or high-leverage reliever. It's a seller's market with almost no sellers.

The clear buyers

Seven contenders are already out there shopping and not hiding it.

Los Angeles Dodgers: They want another arm at the top of the rotation.

Atlanta Braves: Chasing a starter and a bat.

Philadelphia Phillies: They need a right-handed outfielder and bullpen help. They also could use a starter.

Chicago Cubs:They are hunting pitching; they need both starters and relievers.

Milwaukee Brewers: Already landed Lance McCullers Jr. from Houston but still need more rotation depth.

New York Yankees: They are after a catcher and a late-inning reliever with Mason Miller atop their wish list.

Tampa Bay Rays: Yes, the Rays are hunting. They are looking for bats, catching and have been named as one of the teams pushing for Skubal.

The clear sellers

It's a short list, and one name on it would have been a shock in March.

New York Mets: They collapsed early and are ready to shed some of the $328 million payroll. Freddy Peralta, bullpen arms and some position players are up for discussion.

Colorado Rockies: They are usually here in July, and they still have very little to offer beyond a piece like Hunter Goodman.

Los Angeles Angels: With the worst record in baseball, they are ready to do business. Reid Detmers, Jose Soriano and Kirby Yates could all be headed for contenders.

Athletics: Moving veterans like catcher Jonah Heim while keeping their young core is their smart move.

Washington Nationals: A first-year front office is building for another season. They will move their veterans if they can.

San Francisco Giants: They are probably selling. Or they should be. Luis Arraez and Robbie Ray have been floated out there, if Buster Posey follows through.

The teams still deciding

Hovering around .500 and genuinely undecided, these teams are one bad week away from punting and one hot week from going all in.

Arizona Diamondbacks: They are leaning toward buying if Corbin Burnes' rehab stays on track.

St. Louis Cardinals: They are leaning toward buying if they can add pitching without gutting the farm system.

Seattle Mariners: They are also leaning toward buying, adding rotation and bullpen depth.

Texas Rangers: They are leaning toward buying. They need a rotation spot after injuries.

Boston Red Sox: Currently riding an improbable 13-game winning streak, Boston is leaning towards buying after getting hot this summer. They need middle infield help.

Houston Astros: They are leaning toward buying. They are a hot team and looking to add rotation and bullpen depth.

Miami Marlins: They are leaning toward buying. They are a hot team right now and could add pitching and bullpen depth.

Pittsburgh Pirates: They are kind of buying? Riding one of the best offenses in baseball at the break, they will add if it doesn't increase payroll.

San Diego Padres: This is a tossup. A.J. Preller is unpredictable and short on trade chips.

Toronto Blue Jays: Another tossup with Toronto still at the bottom of the American League East.

Cleveland Guardians: A tossup as well. They need offense but are unlikely to add any payroll.

Kansas City Royals: They still haven't decided but have to be close to selling. Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo or Lane Thomas could bring them back some prospects.

Cincinnati Reds: They are a tossup but have a win-now core of rentals they can flip quickly if they slip.

Minnesota Twins: They are leaning toward selling. They have historically been passive and they are sliding.

Baltimore Orioles: They are leaning toward selling. They are under .500 and have a brutal schedule ahead.

Chicago White Sox: This team is young and likelier to hold than make a splash.

And then there are the Tigers and Tarik Skubal

Everyone has been waiting for this decision since the 2025 deadline. They will dictate the market. The Tigers own the arm everyone wants in Skubal, the two-time reigning Cy Young winner and a free agent after the 2026 season, and they are sitting at under 20 percent playoff odds.

That leaves Scott Harris with the call of the summer. Cash in the best starter in baseball now, or keep him for a long-shot run and risk losing him for nothing in the winter. The Brewers, Rays, Braves and Orioles are already lining up to try and get him.

Whatever the Tigers decide will set the market for everyone behind them and we are all waiting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is buying, selling at MLB trade deadline? Where all 30 teams stand

Typically, there’s no such thing as a big head-to-head series over a 162-game schedule until the very end.

But this is Major League Baseball, 2026-style, where a landmass of mediocrity has made it remarkably challenging to separate contenders from those planning for better times in a future year.

Yet we may have finally reached shakedown week.

With two weeks remaining until the trade deadline, several matchups should elevate fringe contenders into the true believers, while knocking some fence-sitters into sell mode as Aug. 3 approaches.

USA TODAY Sports examines five series with significant deadline ramifications this week:

Orioles (49-51) at Red Sox (50-48)

Monday-Wednesday

Standing: Red Sox lead Orioles by two games for final AL wild-card berth

Outlook: Something has to give – the Red Sox have won 13 games in a row to salvage a disastrous season, while the Orioles finally pieced together a four-game win streak, then decided to stretch it to seven, for good measure.

Baltimore has already captured a key series this week, sweeping the Houston Astros in a battle of wannabe contenders. Now, the Orioles can, at least right now, be firmly in the buying column.

Big picture: Can either team catch the Rays? Boston just took four in a row off Tampa Bay yet still trails the division leaders by six games, with the Orioles eight back.

Pirates (52-48) at Yankees (55-44)

Monday-Wednesday

Standing: Yankees trail Rays by 1 ½ games in the AL East and hold top wild card spot; Pirates in virtual three-way tie for final NL wild-card spot and trail Milwaukee by 10 ½ in Central.

Outlook: It’s been a stealthy rise into solid contention for the Pirates, but things are about to get much brighter in New York. Taking a series off the Yankees will only put more pressure on the moribund franchise to add at the deadline. This is a good thing. The Yankees, of course, are buying. But just how much should they sink into this flagging offense badly missing Aaron Judge? How confident are they Judge will return before September? Either way, they’ve been held to two or fewer runs in six of 12 games this month.

Big picture: You could call this the Bednar Bowl (the closer has flourished since a trade from Pittsburgh to New York) or the Skenes Sweepstakes (mercifully, the 2029 free agent won’t pitch in this series, perhaps quieting the Inevitable Yankee whispers for a minute).

Marlins (52-48) at Astros (47-54)

Monday-Wednesday

Standing: Marlins are in a virtual three-way tie for the final NL wild card, six games behind Atlanta in the East; Astros are 4 ½ games out of the final AL wild card and in third place, four games behind Texas in the West.

Outlook: The Astros are playing like a team that needs to be put out of its misery, losers of four straight even as GM Dana Brown seeks rotation and outfield help. But the incredibly mediocre AL West is the ultimate lifeline, and it would take a lot for Houston to turn tail. But getting swept by Baltimore and losing a series to Miami might send a not-so-subtle hint.

The Marlins were baseball’s hottest team since June 1 but got slowed a bit by Milwaukee out of the second-half gate, and now All-Star shortstop Otto Lopez has a finger issue.

Big picture: The Marlins have shown they’re a legitimately good team, something the Astros have yet to prove. Is it worth complementing the lineup around first half MVP Yordan Alvarez, or would that merely be sunken cost fallacy?

Diamondbacks (51-48) at Nationals (50-50)

Friday-Sunday

Standing: Diamondbacks are 11 ½ games behind the Dodgers in NL West and a half-game out of the final NL wild card. Nationals are eight games behind Atlanta in the East and two games out of the final wild card.

Outlook: A key week for Arizona, which needs to clean up against the visiting Athletics before heading to St. Louis for a makeup game, and then on to D.C., where both clubs face a less-than-rosy playoff outlook. The D-backs won’t win the West, while the Nationals would have to vault the Marlins, Phillies and Braves to win the East. And while Washington is in wild-card striking distance, they’d need to pass four teams – including Arizona – to get in playoff position.

Big picture: The Nationals keep winning just enough to keep their bold venture alive, though they probably need to get on a real heater to keep them off the sell side come August. And it’s a very typical D-backs season, which is to say they dance around the .500 mark. A sweep from either team would likely give the loser significant misgivings about their viability.

Blue Jays (46-53) at Red Sox (50-48)

Friday-Sunday

Standing: Blue Jays are 10 ½ games behind Tampa Bay in AL East, 4 ½ behind Boston for final AL wild card.

Outlook: Will it ever be go time for these Blue Jays? They haven’t been above .500 since April 4 and this week face two huge acid tests: Four games with Tampa Bay and then three with Boston. There’s been very little talk of Toronto selling and perhaps there shouldn’t be: They are defending AL champions and sell out Rogers Centre every night. Their fans deserve a team that’s trying. Yet will another ugly week against division rivals foment thoughts of reassessing?

Big picture: It’s really quite an AL East shootout this week, with the Blue Jays and Red Sox and Rays and Orioles each getting a shot at one or more of the other. Alas, if this year’s been any indication, we won’t know anymore come next Sunday than we do now.  

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Five matchups that may separate MLB trade deadline buyers from sellers

The MLB trade deadline is just a little more than two weeks away, but the biggest questions still have an abundance of uncertainty.

Several teams remain caught between buying and selling, a number of contenders are hunting for impact upgrades, and front offices are eagerly waiting to see which clubs finally signal their intentions. Until then, speculation continues to swirl around who will be available.

With the market in flux and pressure mounting by the day, every injury, losing streak and team decision could alter the deadline landscape.

Here's a look at the latest trade rumors, buzz and noteworthy developments from around baseball:

MLB TRADE TARGETS: Ranking the top 25 deadline candidates

When is MLB trade deadline?

• Date: Monday, Aug. 3, 2026
• Time: 6 p.m. ET

The MLB trade deadline is at 6 p.m. ET on Aug. 3. While trades will sometimes be revealed after that time, that is when communications for teams to deal players must cease.

Athletics 'open to anything' at trade deadline, per report

With the A's entering Monday having lost 10 of 11 and sitting 14 games under .500, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported in the New York Post that the A’s are "open to anything."

MLB.com asks if that would include moving on from All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers, who entered Monday hitting .260 with 22 home runs and 50 RBIs.

Will Tigers trade Tarik Skubal?

Sure, trading ace Tarik Skubal would fortify Detroit's farm system, but it would also crush the morale in the clubhouse and infuriate their passionate fan base.

At 46-52, the Tigers are just 5½ games out of first place in the American League Central and 3½ games out of a wild card spot. They also have a healthy rotation, which produced a 3.48 ERA, fourth-best in MLB at the All-Star break, while yielding the third-lowest batting average. — Bob Nightengale

Could Brewers reunite with Freddy Peralta?

With the news that right-hander Brandon Woodruff will miss the rest of the season, Milwaukee – which was already looking for starting pitcher help – could look to bring back a familiar face. The Mets are reportedly shopping everyone, including Freddy Peralta, whom Milwaukee traded to New York during the offseason. The Brewers need to bolster their rotation beyond ace Jacob Misiorowski and left-hander Kyle Harrison, who is currently on the IL with minor forearm tightness. Beyond that, Milwaukee is relying on some mix of Logan Henderson, Shane Drohan, Brandon Sproat and Robert Gasser.

Will Mets trade Francisco Lindor?

Speaking of the Mets, rival executives believe shortstop Francisco Lindor will not be traded at the deadline, but instead will be shopped this winter, according to our own Bob Nightengale. Lindor is owed $160 million over the next five years after this season and has a full no-trade clause, complicating a deal by the Aug. 3 deadline.

Nationals getting calls on Luis Garcia

Luis Garcia has put together a career year at the plate, slashing .280/.313/.546 with an .860 OPS in 91 games. Mix in his position versatility (he plays first base, second base and shortstop), and it's easy to see why teams are checking in on him, as reported by The Athletic. Garcia still has one more year of club control before he can become a free agent, which makes him more than a rental. The only problem for those interested is that the Nationals are still technically in the hunt for a playoff berth.

Cubs add pitching depth

Right-hander Aaron Civale is heading to the Cubs after a trade with the Athletics. Civale, who played for the Cubs in the second half of 2025, was designated for assignment by the A's earlier in the week. He's 5-7 this season with a 5.42 ERA and 1.62 WHIP in 16 games (15 starts) this season. Heading to the A's will be Aiden Moffett, a minor league pitcher who has spent most of his season at Single-A Myrtle Beach.

Pirates likely to be active at trade deadline

The Pirates, who entered the All-Star break having scored an MLB-leading 516 runs, plan to be aggressive at the deadline, per Bob Nightengale. Yet, only if they can acquire pieces without increasing payroll. Their biggest need is the bullpen after blowing 17 saves in 36 opportunities with a 4.49 ERA. It’s the worst save percentage in MLB.

The Pirates have the second-longest playoff drought in MLB at 10 years, ahead of only the Los Angeles Angels.

Are Astros buyers or sellers?

According to Bob Nightengale, one high-ranking Astros executive said the team is seeking: "Pitching, pitching and more pitching."

The Astros are about $12.5 million under the luxury tax threshold after saving $2.5 million in the Lance McCullers trade with the Brewers, which would certainly cover the salary of acquiring someone like Tarik Skubal or Robbie Ray. Their rotation posted the third-highest ERA and averaged the eighth-fewest innings per start before the All-Star break.

Houston went into Sunday 47-53, four games back in the American League West and 3½ back in the wild card race.

Reds ready to deal rentals

As Cincinnati wallows in the basement of the National League Central, the club appears open to trading players that are on expiring contracts, per The Athletic. That would include slugger Eugenio Suarez, first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, catcher Tyler Stephenson, starting pitcher Brady Singer and relievers Pierce Johnson, Caleb Ferguson and Brock Burke.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who's getting traded? Latest MLB trade rumors and deadline buzz

Toledo Mud Hens 6, Gwinnett Stripers 5 (box)

Toledo avoided the three-game sweep with a 6-5 win on Sunday thanks to a walk-off homer from Jace Jung.

Jung crushed a sweeper to lead off the bottom of the ninth, wearing the Charlie Brown jersey.

🚨Mud Hens Walk-Off Win🚨

Good grief! Jace Jung gets all of this Joel Payamps sweeper and launches it 380 feet to right for a walk-off home run. It’s his 16th of the season. pic.twitter.com/PY41QThM1A

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 19, 2026

It’s been a decent year for Jung, who passed his 2024 home run total of 14. He’s one off last year’s 17 homers, and there’s still plenty of baseball to play.

Jung came into this game with a .205 ISO, the highest it’s been since his first full professional season (2023), when he mashed 28 home runs and finished with a .237 ISO. Of course, that was in High-A and Double-A. He’s still not ready to be an everyday big leaguer, but there’s some value in him if the Tigers are buyers at the deadline and want to include him in a package.

The walk-off opportunity wouldn’t have come if not for a four-run seventh inning. The first three batters reached, loading the bases for Max Clark. The Tigers’ top prospect struck out, one of three on the day, but Jung walked to bring in a run and keep the bags juiced.

Max Anderson tied the game up with a bases-clearing double after a pitching change.

Max Anderson ties the game for Toledo with a 3-run double to right center. pic.twitter.com/7zKX60req7

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 19, 2026

Bennett Lee had a three-hit day and drove in the first run of the day for Toledo. It came on a bloop single, but those still count in the box score. Brett Callahan had the other multi-hit day with a pair of singles, one coming off the bat at 107 mph.

On the mound, Sawyer Gipson-Long got the start, giving 3.2 innings of four-run ball. He gave up a pair of bombs, but Gwinnett hit him pretty well overall, notching four hits on the day.

Tyler Mattison was first out of the bullpen, working through the fifth. He dealt with light traffic on the bases — a hit and a walk — and struck out a pair. Andre Granillo loaded the bases before recording an out in the sixth. He managed to escape the jam, allowing just one run on a sac fly.

Yilber Diaz and Tanner Rainey worked a combined three innings without giving up a hit. Diaz walked on over two innings of work, and Rainey got the win since he was the pitcher of record in the ninth.

Clark: 0-4, BB, 3 K

Anderson: 1-4, 2B (14), 3 RBI

Jung: 1-3, HR (16), 2 R,2 RBI, 2 BB

Gipson-Long: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 5 K, 2 HR

Coming Up Next: Toledo is at home next week against the Louisville Bats, starting Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. ET

Erie SeaWolves 10, Richmond Flying Squirrels 5 (box)

Erie took the three-game series against Richmond, 2-1, with a 10-5 victory on Sunday.

Let’s not bury the lede here. Jackson Jobe threw the first three innings for Erie, and he looked pretty darn good. The fastball sat around 98-99 mph, touching 100 three times. Location was there for the most part, except for a hit batter on a curveball. He drew a nice whiff on a slider for one of three strikeouts.

You can see all 44 pitches below, thanks to the guys over at Tigers ML Report.

Jackson Jobe with a 13-pitch first inning in his rehab appearance for Erie tonight. pic.twitter.com/fBtCEzODzJ

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 19, 2026

Jackson Jobe with 14 pitches and an unearned run in his 2nd rehab inning tonight. pic.twitter.com/p5vZmEd2ny

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 19, 2026

Jackson Jobe completes his 3rd and final rehab inning of the night. pic.twitter.com/qu57IKmdEr

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 19, 2026

The lone run that came across against Jobe was unearned, due to an errant throw by E.J. Exposito. He made up for it by being part of a five-run frame in the top of the third, driving in two of those five runs. Garrett Pennington also had an RBI single in the inning, and Peyton Graham kickstarted it all with an RBI ground-rule double.

Although the final score was 10-5, things got pretty interesting in the final few innings. Richmond tacked on a run in the fifth and two in the eighth to make it a 6-4 game. Graham homered in the seventh for the sixth SeaWolves’ run.

Peyton Graham gets a cement mixer and clobbers it to left for his 5th home run of the season. Erie leads 6-2. pic.twitter.com/2mnRsxP3rg

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 19, 2026

There was an hour-long delay in the seventh, too, which can always change the momentum of things. Fortunately, Josue Briceno put things away with a grand slam in the top of the ninth. Richmond patched together a run in the ninth, but they couldn’t get four more to force extra innings.

Josue Briceño crushes a grand slam to right that puts Erie up 10-4. It’s his first in Double-A this year. Left his bat at 111 MPH and went 376 feet. pic.twitter.com/aXzoTYL0h0

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 20, 2026

After Jobe, Erie threw Yoniel Curet for a 1-2-3 fourth. Andrew Sears got the next 2.2 innings, giving up a run on a wild pitch, but otherwise working around four hits. Dariel Fregio took over after the rain delay and was responsible for the two-run eighth. Eric Silva closed things out in the ninth, giving up one unearned run.

Graham: 3-4, 2B (14), HR (5), 3 R, 2 REBI, BB

Briceno: 3-5, GS, R, 4 RBI, 2 K

Exposito: 2-4, 2 RBI, K

Jobe: 3.0 IP, 3 H, R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Coming Up Next: Erie is on the road next week against the Chesapeake Baysox, starting Tuesday at 12:05 p.m. ET

West Michigan Whitecaps 8, Great Lakes Loons 6 (box)

West Michigan scored eight runs in the first two innings and held off a comeback bid from the Great Lakes Loons to win 8-6 and secure the series win.

Most of the offense came early for the Whitecaps. Clayton Campbell opened the scoring in the first with an RBI single, following a pair of walks. Samuel Gil and Stephen Hrustich followed up with back-to-back RBI doubles, scoring runs on three straight hits.

Samuel Gil shoots an RBI double into the right corner to make it a 2-0 Whitecaps lead in the 1st. pic.twitter.com/dYNkKR9Px7

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 19, 2026

Make it 4-0 Whitecaps after Stephen Hrustich bounces a 2-run double down the left field line. pic.twitter.com/RqGc83t9lB

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 19, 2026

Almost the same thing happened in the second. Three batters walked to load the bases, and Campbell singled in a pair. Gil couldn’t find a base knock this time around, but Hrustich hit another double to make it 8-0. Oddly enough, Bryce Rainer was the first out in each of the first two frames, which isn’t something you’d expect when the offense is grooving.

Clayton Campbell brings home two more runs for West Michigan with a sharp single to right. pic.twitter.com/ZjAJsR5Cas

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 19, 2026

Stephen Hrustich with his 2nd 2-run double down the line in as many innings, and the Whitecaps lead 8-0. pic.twitter.com/tTVJwkpvJn

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 19, 2026

Things settled down after that. West Michigan only had three more hits on the day, but the Loons walked 10 batters overall, so there was plenty of traffic on the bases all night. The Whitecaps ended the day 6-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

Pitching-wise, things were fairly calm for the first half of the game. Zack Lee threw three shutout innings, allowing just two hits along the way. Ryan Harvey was next and was perfect through two frames.

Juanmi Vasquez ran into the first bit of trouble in the sixth. He got the first two batters just fine, but a two-out single led to a small spiral. A wild pitch, a walk and another single were compounded by a fielding error from Cristian Santana in left, scoring two runs.

Eliseo Mota took over in the seventh and faced similar issues. Two walks, a single and a wild pitch set up a bases-clearing double, and Preston Howey had to come in before the end of the inning. Howey gave up another run (charged to Mota) on a single, but he retired seven of the next eight batters to close out the game.

Rainer: 0-4, BB, 2 K

Campbell: 3-4, 2B (12), 2 R, 3 RBI, BB

Hrustich: 2-4, 2 2B (5), 4 RBI, BB, K

Lee: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Coming Up Next: West Michigan is on the road next week against the Peoria Chiefs, starting Tuesday at 7:35 p.m. ET

Lakeland Flying Tigers 4, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 3 (box)

Lakeland took the series against Fort Myers with a 4-3 win on Sunday.

Zach MacDonald delivered the decisive blow, a two-run homer in the top of the sixth. Carson Rucker also drove in two runs on a single in the first to give the Flying Tigers an early lead.

Zach MacDonald with a 2-run missile off Julian Merryweather to give Lakeland a 5-4 lead. It’s MacDonald’s 15th home run of the year, and it left his bat at 110.9 MPH and went 393 feet. pic.twitter.com/SWafm1Rhr1

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 19, 2026

Despite having eight total hits, the offense was a bit remarkable otherwise. The leadoff man got on in five innings, and Lakeland had a baserunner in all but two, but the runs never came across. MacDonald’s homer was the only extra-base hit of the day.

A 2-for-8 day with runners in scoring position was good enough, thanks to a good day from the bullpen.

Caleb Leys made his second start since coming off a brief stint on the 7-day injured list, and it was a bit of a mixed bag. He gave up a homer to the first batter he faced and left before getting the final out of the second. Let’s assume a 35-pitch limit is the reason, because he was striking out batters at a decent pace with three and no walks.

Donye Evans took over for him and gave up a single. It would have been nice to see Leys work himself out of that earned run. Evans pitched through the third, giving up a solo homer in the process, but that’s where Fort Myers’ scoring stopped.

Joe Miller worked around two hits and a walk over the next two frames, striking out four along the way, and Connor Fenlong came in for the final four innings. Fenlong only gave up one hit and struck out four en route to his first save. It’s his fourth straight outing of four or more innings, and two of those have been shutout performances.

Rucker: 2-3, 2 RBI, BB, K

MacDonald, HR (15), R, 2 RBI, BB, K

Fenlong (S, 1): 4.0 IP, H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K

Coming Up Next: Lakeland is at home next week against the Jupiter Hammerheads, starting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET

Offense was hard to come by again for the Yankees this weekend against the Dodgers, as they scored just five runs in total across the three games. Meanwhile, Los Angeles scored eight yesterday afternoon alone. Thankfully, Johnny Wholestaff came up with a gem on Sunday night to help the mostly-punchless Yanks eke out a win and avoid a sweep. Ryan Yarbrough was the opener and went a little deeper than expected, covering eight outs before departing with two down in the third and two men on. Paul Blackburn got the last out there and then got the next two innings before turning it over to Brent Headrick for two of his own. The 1-0 lead went “poof” under Fernando Cruz, but David Bednar picked him up and got the last five outs himself, becoming the winner when Jazz Chisholm Jr. went yard in the eighth. Good team effort!

Today on the site, Jeff will preview the upcoming three-game series against the Pirates (who thankfully will not be pitching Paul Skenes), Kevin will run through the Rivalry Roundup, and Jonathan will follow with a one-two punch — first on the 149th (!) birthday of a forgotten New York Highlanders catcher and then a trade target post on long-shot Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman, fresh off a big three-homer day to reach 30 in 2026. Later, Madison will have the weekly mailbag prompt.

Today’s Matchup:

New York Yankees vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Time: 7:05 p.m. EST

TV: YES, Sportsnet Pittsburgh

Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

Questions/Prompts:

1. Who was yesterday’s Yankees pitching MVP?

2. What did you think of he World Cup Final? Did you watch it between games of the doubleheader?