KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 17: Ty France of the San Diego Padres, left, is congratulated by Miguel Andujar #41 of the San Diego Padres after hitting a home run against the Kansas City Royals during the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium on July 17, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Reed Hoffmann/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Diego Padres (48-49) at Kansas City Royals (39-59), July 18, 2026, 1:10 p.m. PST
Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
Remember Gaslamp Ball is basically a non-profanity site
Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our thread
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 11: Braxton Ashcraft #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the first inning of game one of a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park on July 11, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are playing in a Saturday matinee matchup against the Cleveland Guardians in their first series back after the All-Star break.
Braxton Ashcraft is taking the mound in his first start in the second half. Ashcraft finished the first half of the season with a start on July 11 at home against the Milwaukee Brewers. He pitched five innings and gave up five hits and five earned runs, but the Pirates rallied late with four runs in the seventh inning to beat their NL Central rival 7-6.
Ashcraft has arguably been the best starter for the Pirates so far this season. He is 9-3 with a 3.49 ERA. Pittsburgh has won each of Ashcraft’s last five appearances, which sets him up well for today’s game against the Guardians.
Cleveland is handing the ball to a third-year pro, Joey Cantillo, who’s 8-4 with a 3.56 ERA. Cantillo won his last start back on Sunday against the Miami Marlins, pitching five innings, giving up six hits and one run, and earning a 5-2 victory on the road. The Guardians are keeping Cantillo on his normal rest for this start, opting to give other starters more time to recover from the first half of the season.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 11: Commissioner of Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred Jr. announces Taj Marchand as the 33rd overall pick by the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2026 MLB Draft presented by Nippon Express at Pennsylvania Convention Center on Saturday, July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Following an objectively well ranked haul for the Rays — who had the no. 2 overall pick — we asked for your take on a Rays 2026 MLB Draft that was quite young and full of pitchers.
Did you like the haul? Did you agree with the Rays youth strategy?
I’m pleased to see there were no trolling responses of D or F…
The second half is here, and for many betting their way through the season is part of the fun. If that’s you, check out our friends at FanDuel who sponsored this post.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 28: The sneakers worn by Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 17: Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves reacts with Brewer Hicklen #53 and Jim Jarvis #74 following his three-run home run during the fourth inning at Truist Park on July 17, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Join us and discuss tonight’s matchup of two intriguing pitchers in the comments below!
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 15: Sam Hoiberg #48 of the Phoenix Suns drives against Brice Williams #46 of the Detroit Pistons in the first half of the 2026 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Louis Grasse/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Who: Summer Suns (3-1) vs. Summer Spurs (3-1)
When: 7:30 pm Arizona Time
Where: Thomas & Mack Center — Las Vegas, Nevada
Watch: Arizona Family Sports, Prime Video
This will be the Summer League “consolation” finale for the Phoenix Suns after they missed out on the semifinals.
Phoenix saw what they wanted to see from their top prospects in Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koa Peat, as they will be sidelined for this one.
Phoenix has gone 3-1 through four contests, with these three leading the way:
Khaman Maluach: 4 games, 19.5 PPG, 12.8 RPG (2.3 offensive), 1.0 APG, 2.0 BPG, 1.3 SPG on .532/.400/.684 shooting splits, 2.5 TOV in 27.4 minutes per game
Koa Peat: 4 games, 16.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG on .510/.000/.625 shooting splits, 3.0 TOV in 27.2 minutes per game
Rasheer Fleming: 4 games, 12.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG on .474/.421/.500 shooting splits, 1.8 TOV in 26.7 minutes per game
That opens up more opportunities for Koby Brea to showcase his offensive repertoire and allows some of the other young bucks to get more looks with three of their top scorers sidelined.
Probable Starters
In the Summer League, you never know what the lineups might be, so the best we can do is guess, especially with the news of no Man Man, Peat, and Sheer. They’ll likely go with four guards/small wings and a big. Lots of small ball without those three in the mix.
Carter Bryant did not play in the Spurs’ win over the Utah Jazz earlier this week, so we can rule him out for the Spurs.
Suns
Darius Brown II
Koby Brea
Devin Askew
Javonte Cooke
Reed Bailey
Spurs
RJ Davis
Ja’Kobi Gillespie
Miles Kelly
Maliq Brown
Tarris Reed Jr.
Injury Report
Suns
Nothing Reported as of now outside of the “key 3” sitting out
Spurs
Nothing Reported as of now. No Carter Bryant expected on the Spurs end.
What to Watch For
The Koby Brea show?
It’s his time to shine. He has led the Summer Suns in minutes per game thus far, and has had little to show for it outside of drilling 6 threes against the Bucks.
There is some reason for concern if he doesn’t separate himself in this one. I don’t put a ton of stock into Summer League action, but an extended stretch of bad play is certainly not ideal from someone who should look advanced entering year two as a 23-year-old prospect.
Here’s a look at the Summer Suns’ numbers through the opening four games, sorted by minutes per game:
Who steps up?
With the top three scorers all sitting this one out, expect to see Javonte Cooke and Darius Brown Jr. to take on a larger role, along with Brea. Jameer Nelson Jr. and Corey Camper Jr. should also see an uptick in minutes.
They only have two other “bigs” on their roster who have hardly played to this point, so there should be plenty of small ball. Reed Bailey and Jake Stephens… now is your time to shine.
The Spurs will get the bulk of their offense from their dynamic backcourt of RJ Davis and Ja’Kobi Gillespie. We’ll see if 2026 1st round pick Tarris Reed Jr. suits up for the Spurs, though it seems unlikely. They acquired the 26th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft from Denver for three 2nd round picks.
Either way, it figures to be a relatively loose environment with nothing on the line and several key players out on each side. I’m here for a Koby Brea 30-piece.
Prediction
It’s like throwing darts blindfolded.
Let’s go with the Spurs by 10. The shorthanded Summer Suns go down.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 17: Joey Ortiz #3 of the Milwaukee Brewers is congratulated after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at American Family Field on July 17, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers and Miami Marlins are back at it on a Saturday afternoon, and the Crew has a chance to secure a series win right out of the All-Star break.
To do so, they’ll have to get through Max Meyer on the mound for Miami. The Brewers will counter with Shane Drohan. Meyer has been phenomenal this year, pitching to a 2.58 ERA in 19 starts so far, as he was named an NL All-Star. Drohan has a 3.09 ERA on the season and has been very good since re-entering the starting rotation.
The Brewers did make some roster moves prior to this game. Sal Frelick was placed on the IL with a shoulder injury after being removed early in last night’s game. Blake Perkins was recalled from Triple-A to take his roster spot.
Also, Brandon Woodruff made an announcement about his injury, stating that he will indeed have to undergo shoulder surgery for a second time in three years. His 2026 season is over. Woodruff had a 2.98 ERA in nine starts this season, proving he could still be effective, even with diminished stuff.
Late before the game, the Brewers announced that Brice Turang was scratched from the lineup with right foot soreness. Pat Murphy said pregame to “stay tuned” as the issue had flared up on him after fouling a pitch off his foot last night.
That takes one of the big bats out of the Brewers lineup as they face the right-handed Meyer. Jake Bauers moved up into the No. 3 spot in the order. With Frelick on the shelf, Luis Lara gets the start today in right field and batting sixth. Braden Shewmake was inserted into the lineup, playing second base and batting eighth, while Joey Ortiz will man the hot corner and bat ninth.
The Marlins shuffled around their lineup a little. Otto Lopez, Heriberto Hernández, and Kyle Stowers make up the top of the order today. Xavier Edwards, Javier Sanoja, and Liam Hicks form the middle of the order. Leo Jiménez, old friend Esteury Ruiz, and Joe Mack round out the bottom of the Marlins lineup.
First pitch is set for 3:10 p.m. on Brewers TV and the Brewers Radio Network.
Lineup update: Braden Shewmake will bat 8th & play 2B in place of Brice Turang https://t.co/2l65oJS2tJ
TODAY’S GAME: The Astros will play their 100th game of the season today as they host the Orioles for the middle game of their three-game series at Daikin Park.
RHP Spencer Arrighetti (7-5) will get his first start of the second half today opposite the Orioles and starter LHP Trevor Rogers (6-7).
THE STOPPER: RHP Spencer Arrighetti is making his 16th start of the season today and his ninth following an Astros loss.
In his previous eighth starts after an Astros loss, Arrighetti has gone 5-0 with a 2.38 ERA (12ER/45.1IP).
THE SLOW TURNAROUND: After a slow start to the season, the Astros are 27-21 since May 21, which is the best record in the AL in that span.
On that date, the Astros were 20-31, 11 games under, which is their low water mark for the season.
GET ‘EM EARLY: The Astros rank first in the AL and second in MLB in 1st-inning runs (67).
Overall, the Astros rank fourth in the AL in runs (451) immediately ahead of the Orioles (450).
RACKING UP WINS: Manager Joe Espada has 222 managerial wins as the Astros skipper, which ranks 11th in franchise history.
With two more wins, he will match Terry Collins (224 wins) for 10th on the Astros all-time managerial wins list.
THE LINEUP: The Astros have used 98 different lineups in their 99 games, repeating a lineup just once on the season.
DH Yordan Alvarez has the most starts at any spot in the lineup among Astros, hitting second 86 times.
TODAY’S PROMOTIONS: At today’s game, the Astros will celebrate Christmas in July, presented by Macy’s.
Fans are encouraged to stop by the open- to-the-public festive area located in Union Station, featuring some incredible Light Up the Park displays.
Additionally, 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a Yainer Diaz Catching Bobblehead, presented by Goya.
THIS WEEKEND’S TELECASTS: This entire series will be televised by Space City Home Network with Todd Kalas, Geoff Blum and Lauren Callender on the call.
Sideline reporter Julia Morales will rejoin the broadcast next week.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Astros dropped a close game last night by a score of 3-2 to the Orioles.
RHP Peter Lambert (1ER/6IP) was great in his start, fanning a career-high 10 hitters, while allowing just three hits in his start.
SS Jeremy Peña (2×3, 2BB), DH Yordan Alvarez (2×3, RBI, 2BB) and 3B Isaac Paredes (1×3, RBI, BB) reached base 10 times among the three of them at the top of the order.
RIDING THE LAMBO: Last night’s starter RHP Peter Lambert, who was a minor league free agent signing this offseason, leads the club in wins and among AL pitchers he ranks second in opponent average (.197) and seventh in ERA (3.03) (min. 90IP).
Lambert pitched last year for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the NPB, posting a 3.98 ERA (55ER/124.1IP) with 111 strikeouts in 23 starts.
MVP-CALIBER: DH Yordan Alvarez is a strong MVP candidate, currently leading all of baseball in OPS (1.067), OBP (.431), SLG (.636), and total bases (224).
Additionally, he is the Triple Crown leader in the AL, ranking first in batting average (.321), HR (31), and RBI (71) entering play today.
Alvarez also ranks first in the AL in hits (113), first in XBH (49), tied for second in runs (65), and fourth in walks (65).
ALL-STAR ALVAREZ: DH Yordan Alvarez started and hit second for the AL in this week’s All-Star Game, going 1×2 with a single and a run scored.
This marked the fourth All-Star selection for Alvarez (2022-24, 2026) and the second time that he was voted as a starter (also in 2024)
WHAT A HALF!: DH Yordan Alvarez hit 31 homers prior to the break, which are the most in a first half in club history, topping OF Lance Berkman, who hit 29 homers in the first half of the 2002 season.
Alvarez is on pace to hit 50 homers on the season, which would represent a new franchise record, topping the 47 homers hit by 1B Jeff Bagwell in 2000.
Additionally, he ranks first in the AL in HR (31), first in RBI (70), first in XBH (48), tied for first in hits (111), second in batting average (.318), second in runs (65), and fourth in walks (63).
KEYSTONE FLIGHTS: 2B Jose Altuve has 246 career homers as a second baseman and per Elias that ties him with 2B Joe Gordon and 2B Ian Kinsler for eighth all-time in homers by a second baseman in MLB history.
On that all-time list, the trio immediately trails 2B Bret Boone (251), who happens to be the father-in-law of IF Nick Allen.
TAP FOR SUCCESS: Astros hitters have won an MLB-best 70 ABS challenges and lead the Majors in challenge success rate (61%).
2B Jose Altuve has been successful on 15-of-21 challenges (71%), ranking second in the Majors in challenges won.
3B Isaac Paredes (11-for-12) has been the most efficient regular challenger for the team and was successful in his first 11 challenges on the season.
WHAT A RELIEF: LHP Josh Hader is 3-1 with 10 saves (in 10 chances), has a 1.17 ERA (2ER/15.1IP), 25 strikeouts in 15.1 innings, a .115 (6×52) opponent average, and a 0.91 WHIP in 17 appearances.
He has not allowed a hit in 13 of his 17 appearances.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: The Astros rank second in the AL in fielding pct. (.988) and their 42 errors are the second-fewest in the AL.
1B Christian Walker has led the way, as he has not committed an error in his 95 games played at 1B.
Dating back to last season, Walker has not made an error in his last 123 games at 1B (last error was Aug. 23, 2025 at BAL).
ON THE MEND: RHP Hayden Wesneski (right elbow surgery) pitched for Triple A Sugar Land last night at El Paso, tossing 4.0 innings and 64 pitches, while allowing three runs on six hits.
He’s now made four rehab appearances, posting a 2.87 ERA (5ER/15.2IP) with 14 strikeouts in those contests.
MINOR LEAGUE PROMOTIONS: The Astros promoted several prospects throughout the minor league system over the All-Star break, notably moving RHP Jackson Nezuh up to Triple A Sugar Land, OF Chase Call up to Double A Corpus Christi, and IF Xavier Neyens up to Class A Asheville.
Neyens, who was the Astros first-round pick last season and currently ranks among the top 100 prospects in baseball, made his Tourists debut last night, going 1×4 with a double.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, July 18, 3:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 25: Former Toronto Blue Jays player Joe Carter throws out the first pitch prior to game two of the 2025 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Rogers Center on October 25, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A win would be nice, or at least score a bunch of runs.
The Jays are honoring the players from our World Series wins today. And the Joe Carter statue is being unveiled.
Being honest, I don’t see us having enough pitching to go on a sort of run needed to make the playoff. They haven’t shown the offense either, but we seem to be blowout ever 3rd or 4th game.
The Knicks are on the verge of adding to their center depth, agreeing to a two-year deal with Moussa Cisse on Saturday.
According to SNY's Ian Begley, the offer sheet to Cisse, who spent last season with the Mavericks, starts at the veteran's minimum of $2.5 million. But since Cisse is a restricted free agent, the Mavericks have 48 hours to match. If Dallas doesn't match, the Knicks would lose the ability to sign their draft picks to contracts via the second-round minimum while also staying under the second apron.
In short, if Summer League standouts Tyler Nickel or Jack Ayil are to play with the Knicks this upcoming season, they'll need to agree to two-way deals.
ESPN's Shams Charania reports that the offer sheet is half guaranteed in the first year, with the 2027-28 season being non-guaranteed.
Cisse, a Memphis product who went undrafted, played 38 games for the Mavericks in his rookie season. He averaged 19 minutes a game while posting 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
The 23-year-old Cisse could provide the Knicks with much-needed depth at the center position. With the departure of Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti, the Knicks entered the offseason with just Karl-Anthony Towns on the roster who could play the position. New York went ahead and added veteran center Andre Drummond in early July.
New York targeted Jonas Valanciunas to bolster the position further, but the veteran center signed with the EuroLeague.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 28: Brandon Woodruff #53 of the Milwaukee Brewers walks back to the dugout in the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs at American Family Field on June 28, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s not the end just yet for Brandon Woodruff. But his 2026 season is over.
Woodruff last pitched on the 4th of July, when he had to exit the game in the fourth inning due to renewed shoulder discomfort. He had missed six weeks earlier in the season with a shoulder issue that led to dead arm and diminished velocity. This time, though, the injury felt different. Woodruff got imaging done, which revealed a new injury to his anterior shoulder capsule. He then went to get a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister, who performed Woodruff’s first shoulder capsule surgery back in 2023.
The opinion from Dr. Meister confirmed the worst: Woodruff would need surgery again.
“Yesterday with the announcement, it seemed like I was having a funeral or I was announcing retirement or something, and that’s not it at all. I gotta have surgery. It’s unfortunate,” Woodruff said.
Woodruff fully intends to return to the mound and pitch again. It’ll be a long process before he can get there, however. While Woodruff did not reveal an exact timeline, based on his previous shoulder capsule surgery, he won’t return until likely the 2028 season, when he will be 35 years old.
When he has been on the mound this year, Woodruff has still been effective, pitching to a 2.98 ERA across his nine starts, and that’s a point of pride for him.
“I think that’s exciting. I may not have the 98 mph anymore, but I can still pitch at what it was this year, 90-93. There were some 88s and 89s in there, and I know those last couple of batters were like, it was 85-86. But it taught me how you can change speeds and move the ball around, and it’s more about location than stuff per se. So that’s the exciting thing for me… I’ve always prided myself on being a pitcher,” Woodruff said.
“You start thinking about your time with the Brewers and one of your favorite moments — it’s Woody out there throwing 92 like it’s 99. Hard to stomach for our team, what it means for the dugout, what it means for the clubhouse. Yeah, it’s a gut punch, not just from the competitive standpoint, of course, but from the person,” Pat Murphy said.
This injury leaves the Brewers with two of their top three starting pitchers out for the rest of the season. Quinn Priester underwent TOS surgery earlier this year, and now Woodruff, within the next month, will go under the knife as well. Relievers Brian Fitzpatrick and Angel Zerpa are also out for the year with Tommy John surgery.
Woodruff is a free agent at season’s end, so it remains to be seen if he’ll be brought back to rehab once again or if he will have to seek that opportunity elsewhere.
For his career, Brandon Woodruff has a 3.10 ERA, the lowest ERA of any pitcher in Brewers franchise history with a minimum of 500 IP. He has totaled 19.0 bWAR, a 55-30 record, and 151 appearances with 136 starts.
Woodruff is at or near the top of the Brewers franchise leaderboards in several categories, including: bWAR (3rd), Win-Loss % (2nd), ERA (1st), WHIP (1st), H/9 (3rd), BB/9 (7th), K/9 (3rd), Adjusted ERA+ (1st), and FIP (2nd).
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 10: New York Yankees Outfielder Aaron Judge (99), Infielder Ben Rice (22) and Outfielder Cody Bellinger (35) watch the action on the field during the regular season game between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays on April 10, 2026, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across Major League Baseball. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Yankees fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
During the All-Star break, we polled Yankees fans about how they thought the regular season would end for the ol’ Bronx Bombers. The majority didn’t think they would win the AL East, instead having to settle for a Wild Card—though 35 percent at least thought that they would be the home team in a first-round best-of-three.
The immediate follow-up question must be asked though: How would the 2026 Yankees fare in the playoffs? So we of course obliged with our SB Nation Reacts question this week. Would the Yanks win it all and capture No. 28? Would they at least win their second AL pennant in three seasons after missing out last year at the hands (or talons) of the Blue Jays?
Yeah, optimism isn’t terribly high in the Bronx right now, even after a sweep to end the first half — one largely enabled by the lousy Nationals bullpen. Only a quarter of Yankees fans think that they’ll win the World Series. Although it was the most common answer in this poll, 25 percent is hardly a ringing endorsement. I’m sure that I’ve made this comp before, but it’s most similar to the “Ask the Audience” results on classic “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” when contestants would use the lifeline on a high-level question where the vast majority was just guessing.
Perhaps more concerning is the fact that the combined 55 percent don’t envision even a return to the Fall Classic. It’s one thing to be extremely worried about the juggernaut Dodgers in a potential World Series matchup. It’s another to not be terribly confident that they’ll win the pennant in an American League that currently looks even more underwhelming than it was in 2024, when the Yankees only had to dispatch the Royals and Guardians—hardly the powerhouse Astros or Red Sox of yesteryear—to secure their first World Series trip since 2009.
Ninety-six percent of fans at least see the Yankees returning to the playoffs. It’s just a matter of where they’ll bow out, though again, a quarter are keeping the faith! I might run this poll again after the Trade Deadline, just to get another pulse check.
Fire and rain impacting Clay Holmes, Luis Robert Jr.
The weather in New York has tossed a bit of a wrench into the plans for some rehab assignments.
Holmes was scheduled to pitch on Saturday night in Brooklyn, but with rain hammering the borough, Green said that, at the time he was speaking, with plans up in the air and “weather dependent,” the plan had now become for the right-hander to “throw a live BP to ensure he gets his pitches in today.”
“He’s completely fine; he’s geared up to throw around 45 pitches either in the game or live BP,” the interim skipper said. “Where we stand right now with where the weather is, it’s most likely going to be a live BP."
(The Cyclones later called off the game due to rain.)
As far as a timeline, speaking even before Holmes had thrown a single inning in his rehab, Green said that once he is built up to around a five-inning mark, the conversation can begin on when he will be set to re-join the big league outfit.
Robert, who had a double and two walks in five times up in his first game with Triple-A Syracuse after the All-Star break, came out of the game “really good,” Green said.
“He’s also in this weird weather world right now; I guess we’re trying to dodge fire and water right now,” the interim manager said. “I think it is just water up there in Syracuse, so for him we’re hoping he plays today, but not sure what that day is gonna be.
“If he doesn’t, we gotta determine if he plays tomorrow or when he does come back to us because he’s looking better and better.”
For a return, Green said that when the Mets head to Milwaukee for a three-game set on Monday, it is possible Robert could be activated. “Hope so, certainly hope he’s back in the mix by then,” he said.
Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing see more LHPs
Both of the Mets' highly-touted rookie left-handed batters were in the lineup against Phillies lefty Jesus Luzardo, which continues a trend of Benge and Ewing getting more chances left-on-left.
“I think they stay in and there’s no fear,” Green said when asked about why they’ve been successful against LHP. “I think you see it, especially with Carson, just whatever the pitch shape is just a comfort in the batter’s box. He’s not rattled by anything.
“A.J. has just such a short, compact swing that I think that plays incredibly well for him.”
Green added that they “both kinda do it a little bit differently,” but there is “reason to believe that they handle left-handed pitching.”
Through his first 95 plate appearances against lefties, Benge has a bit less power than against right-handers, but still posted an impressive .267/.337/.384 slash line for a .721 OPS.
Ewing has a bit less time against southpaws, with a slightly bigger drop in his average, but still a decent .231/.305/.442 slash for a .747 OPS in 60 plate appearances.
Crowded outfield
When Robert does return, what does that mean for all the above?
“All of them are going to play,” Green said. “That’s right for us from a matchup perspective; that’s right from a talent-level perspective. When it comes to the two kids that we feel strongly about, it’s their first full professional season; taking a day off a week as we get into kinda the dog days of July, August, and September isn’t going to hurt them; it will help them.
“We welcome really good baseball players back to the team and we’ll be excited to get [Robert’s] bat back into the lineup, and he’ll get some days off as well.”
Could Robert also get some time at DH? Well, that’s a bit more complicated with Jorge Polanco “getting a lot of those” and Juan Soto also getting some time as a hitter only.
“DH at-bats are tougher to come by than usual,” the skipper said. “But yes, that is a possibility as well.
That could also see Polanco get some time again at first base.
“I think so in time,” Green said when asked about that possibility. “Right now we got him back to get his bat back in the mix. So we’ve thought of him primarily as a DH in the short term. As we get into August, if he continues to feel good, I would expect us to start to explore that, get him so more ground balls, get him going again.
“That obviously was the intent when we signed him. Right now we just want his bat viable for us and we’ll cross that bridge when we get there in August.
AI in the dugout
Asked for his opinion on MLB changing what is allowed on iPads in the dugouts, the interim manager said he “cares about that as much as I care about game times changing an hour,” referencing the past two Mets games’ start time moving up one hour.
“I don’t care about it at all,” Green said. “Whatever the rules are, we remain fully compliant. And Major League Baseball makes those determinations. And we go out and play a game.”
After the news of MLB’s change was reported, former Mets reliever Adam Ottavino said the Mets were "the main team" that got cracked down on by MLB for using an AI program on iPads in the dugout that would help them "pick pitches.”
Asked if he or the organization had any reaction to Ottavino’s comments, the interim skipper said, “I certainly don’t.”
“I don’t think it does us any good to talk about what everybody says publicly,” he continued. “From my perspective, what I just said remains true: We remain compliant with everything MLB’s asked us to do, and we’ll continue to do that.”
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 16: Allen Graves #22 of the Toronto Raptors shoots a three point basket during the game against the Miami Heat on July 16, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Despite the Toronto Raptors’ proven track record in the first round of the draft, the selection of Allen Graves at No. 19 in the 2026 NBA Draft was met with confusion, annoyance, and uncertainty.
Several analysts, fans, and personal group chats had already convinced themselves of what ‘type’ of player the Raptors should target. Instead, General Manager and Vice-President Bobby Webster doubled down on his front-office believed translates to a playoff environment.
Graves’ early returns after Summer League are sparkling and have caused a handful of critics to look back on their own scouting reports to unearth what they could’ve missed.
After four Summer League games, the fascinating jumbo-wing is averaging 16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Graves also chipped in 3.3 stocks (steals and blocks) while shooting 50 per cent from three.
With one matchup remaining against the Denver Nuggets on July 19, expect Graves to continue building on his momentum leading into his first pre-season with the organization. Raptors fans can continue to voice their opinions ahead of the upcoming season on FanDuel.
Apr 11, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves city connect hat in the dugout against the Cleveland Guardians in the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
It was a messy day down on the farm as multiple games were rained out in what was supposed to be a day full of action with nine total games slated for play. Still, there was plenty of action to go around, so let’s dive into it.
Mother Nature got in the way of this one, as the Stripers’ matchup against Toledo was postponed due to weather. Unfortunately, this means AJ Smith-Shawver did not make his anticipated start.
It’s a shame this one was suspended in the home half of the first inning due to rain, because through both team’s first trip to the plate, they combined for six runs on seven hits in what looked like it was going to be an offensive explosion.
Newly signed free agent Carson Taylor, Jordan Groshans and Will Verdung each tallied an RBI in the shortened outing, while Taylor also laced a double in the process as well.
— Columbus Clingstones (@GoClingstones) July 17, 2026
The one person who was the happiest the game was rained out was Columbus starter Julio Robaina, who gave up three runs in just 0.2 innings of work before the contest was called.
The Clingstones will resume Friday’s game on Saturday as part of a doubleheader.
While Rome’s game wasn’t rained out, they probably wish it would have been, as there was clearly some break hangover left as the Emperors were shutout in the 4-0 loss.
As the final score might suggest, Rome was limited at the plate to just four hits — all singles — as Tate Southisene, Colby Jones, Mason Guerra and Dallas Macias tallied the lone knocks for the Emperors.
Meanwhile starter Ethan Bagwell didn’t have his best stuff in his first start post-break, but was still somewhat solid for Rome. Across 4.2 innings, Bagwell held Asheville to two runs on six hits while only walking one and striking out three on the night.
The biggest detriment in his outing was the long ball, as Bagwell gave up a pair of homers in those 4.2 innings. The somewhat good news is that both of those home runs were only solo shots.
(48-40) Augusta GreenJackets 2, (43-43) Fayetteville Woodpeckers 3
Michael Martinez, LF-RF: 1-4, R
Cooper McMurray, 1B: 1-3, R
Junior Garcia, RF-CF: 0-2, 2 BB
Landon Beidelschies, SP: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
The GreenJackets found themselves in an early hole in this one and were unfortunately unable to climb their way out of it, losing a tight one by a 3-2 final.
On the one hand, Augusta was held to just two hits, a pair of singles courtesy of Michael Martinez and Cooper McMurray — who also happened to score both of the team’s only runs.
However, the GreenJackets did manage to work a solid seven walks on the night as well, but they also went a combined 0-5 with runners in scoring position on the night as well.
Landon Beidelschies got the start in this one and allowed two runs on three hits across 3.2 innings of work. The lefty also walked three and struck out three in the process.
While things didn’t exactly go according to plan for any of the teams in the upper minors on Friday, the FCL came away with at least one win in their doubleheader.
Wuilinyer Tovar got the start in game one for the Braves and tossed 4.2 innings of five-hit, three-run ball while walking a pair.
Offensively, things got off to a solid start as Manuel Campos singled home Caden Merritt in the top of the first to give the Braves an early 1-0 lead. However, the Rays managed to plate three runs of their own in the home half to put the Braves in a 3-1 deficit.
In the top of the fifth, Campos would once again come through, this time with a two-RBI single, to score Juan Espinal and Cardell Thibodeaux to tie things up at 3-3.
The Braves retook the lead in the top of the sixth as Elias Reyno scampered home on a wild pitch to make it a 4-3 game, while Johan Rodriguez singled home Espinal and Merritt later in the inning to tack on and extend the lead to 6-3.
Edward Cedano came on in relief of Tovar in the fifth inning, but proceeded to give up two runs in 2.1 innings of work as the Rays closed the gap in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 6-5. However, Cedano managed to stop the bleeding there and preserve the lead for the Braves.
Game one might have went the Braves’ way, but game two was a much different story as the club ended up splitting their doubleheader following the 7-3 loss in this one.
At the plate, Merritt had yet another strong game by going 2-4 with a triple — his second of the day — and a run scored. Espinal also came through with a solo homer, while Yoelvis Betancourt drove in two of the team’s three runs in the game, going 2-3 in the process.
On the mound, 2025 17th rounder Brody Fowler, who joined the FCL club again after a brief stint at high-A Rome in which he tossed four innings of one-run ball, striking out nine batters in that span. Perhaps it’s just a tune-up for Fowler, as he doesn’t figure to spend much more time with the FCL squad.
On Friday, Fowler got roughed up a bit, allowing five runs (three earned) while also striking out seven in 4.1 innings of work.
In what was easily the most exciting game of the day down on the farm, the DSL Braves won game one of their doubleheader in dramatic fashion by beating the DSL Rays in extra innings.
Serving as the opener, Ernesto Meza tossed one inning, giving up one run. However, a bulk of the pitching workload came courtesy of reliever Charlis Medina, who spun 5.1 innings of scoreless ball, scattering four hits and striking out four in the process.
Medina’s performance is a huge reason why the Braves were able to remain in this game.
At the plate, the Braves jumped out to a dominant early lead, plating five runs in the top of the first.
Yassell Pena got things started with a two-RBI single to plate Edelson Cabral and Sherrintley Da Costa Gomez to give the Braves a 2-0 lead. Durban Arnedo later singled Pena home, before Luis Consoro tripled Arnedo and Osmar Torrealba home to extend the lead to 5-0.
The Rays took a 6-5 lead in the second inning, but the Braves tied things up in the top of the third, courtesy of Cabral RBI-single.
Both team’s respective offenses shut down from that point forward, sending the game into extras.
In the top of the eighth, Consoro came through once again with an extra base hit, this time an RBI-double to score Luis Fortunato to give the Braves a 7-6 lead.
In the home half, Yostin Pinales tossed a scoreless frame to put the Rays down and seal off the win for the Braves.
