ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 11: Kumar Rocker #80 of the Texas Rangers reacts after giving up a grand slam home run against LaMonte Wade Jr. #31 of the Houston Astros in the third inning at Globe Life Field on July 11, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Astros 9, Rangers 3
That was unfun.
Kumar Rocker? Well, I guess he pitched okay, if you ignore the home runs.
The home runs? They kind of put a damper on things.
Allowing Yordan Alvarez to launch one to the moon? Okay, that happens. Pretty much every time Alvarez plays the Rangers, really.
Allowing LaMonte Wade Jr. to hit a grand slam off of you? That’s bad.
Rocker did make it into the sixth at least, which is helpful. MacKenzie Gore will be starting Sunday’s game on short rest, but the Rangers probably aren’t going to want to push him too hard, so not having to ask the pen to handle six innings or something on Saturday was good.
Gavin Collyer and Robby Ahlstrom each acquitted themselves with scoreless outings, which is nice to see. And which has to be particularly rewarding for Ahlstrom, whose last two outings were rather bad.
Chris Martin, pitching on back-to-back nights, allowed a pair of runs on a single, a double, a balk and a sacrifice fly. The single was of the infield variety, and weakly hit, but still…Martin’s ERA is now a nice, round 9.00 on the year.
Much like Friday’s game mirrored the opener of the Angels series, this defeat largely followed the script of the middle game against Anaheim. The starter allowed seven runs in that game as well, and Gavin Collyer and Robby Ahlstrom both pitched. Also, Ranger reliever who pitched the ninth gave up two runs in both games, though in on Wednesday against Anaheim it was Kyle Higashioka who handled the ninth, not Martin.
Collyer and Ahlstrom each gave up two runs in that previous game, so maybe this is a sign of progress.
Oh, and Rangers only scored one run against the Angels in that blowout loss, compared to three in this game.
All the runs for Texas came on Ezequiel Duran homers — a solo shot in the fourth and a two run shot in the ninth. Duran is now slashing .272/.322/.439 on the year.
Evan Carter had a couple of hits, which, you know, that’s good to see. Cam Cauley had a pinch hit single, so way to go Cam.
The Mariners lost, at least, which means that not only are the Rangers still a game and a half up on Seattle in the West, Texas is guaranteed to spend the All Star Break in first place.
Kumar Rocker hit 95.6 mph with his sinker, averaging 93.5 mph. Gavin Collyer’s fastball touched 98.5 mph. Robby Ahlstrom hit 95.7 mph with his sinker. Chris Martin’s fastball touched 95.4 mph.
The only ball in play above 100 mph was Ezequiel Duran’s fourth inning homer, at 100.3 mph.
The Mets (40-56) take on the red-hot Boston Red Sox (45-48) in the final game of the season's first half at 1:40 p.m. on PIX11. Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...
Mets Notes
Zach Thornton will climb the hill for his third career big league start and look to build off his last outing when the left-hander allowed one run on five hits and a walk over six innings with seven strikeouts
The Red Sox are sending out a lefty of their own in Payton Tolle, who carries a 3.14 ERA and 1.071 WHIP into the start over 80.1 innings with 80 strikeouts to 24 walks.
New York was shut out for the ninth time this season in Saturday's defeat. In the series against Boston, the club has gone hitless in 16 at-bats with runners in scoring position after going 21-for-45 with RISP in the previous five games
Today's Lineups
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How can I watch the game online?
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Apr 23, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher JR Ritchie (56) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Though the Atlanta Braves have lost the series, they still have a chance to end the first half of the season on a high note before heading into the All-Star break.
MLB Braves’ beat writer Mark Bowman had announced on Friday that, as Hurston Waldrep would be sent back down to Triple- A, JR Ritchie would be taking his place in today’s matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Ritchie will now start in place of Waldrep on Sunday. It’s been obvious Waldrep wasn’t ready to compete at the big league level. Might be able to shake the rust after a start or two at Triple-A https://t.co/BLDSONA7iN
Ritchie’s rookie season has had its ups and downs. After spending some time in Triple-A when the Braves optioned Carlos Carrasco to the active roster earlier this month (July 5), Ritchie is looking to make an impact to give the Braves a solid start to hold down the Cardinals, who have been getting the best of them on offense throughout the series.
Holding a 4.60 ERA with 10 games under his belt (three as a reliever), Ritchie is still trying to find his footing and what works constantly for him to stick with. If he has the Braves’ offense on his side today, he might have the push he needs to spark a quality outing on the defensive-end for his first matchup against St. Louis.
As for Cardinals starter Dustin May, he’s looking to help St. Louis clinch their first series sweep for the first time since early June. Holding a 4.55 ERA currently, with a 1.25 WHIP, May also hasn’t been the most consistent in his starts, and is 0-2 when facing the Braves in his three starts against them.
In his last matchup against Atlanta on July 2, he gave up five runs off five hits with only one strikeout. This could work to the Braves’ advantage if he finds the same trouble commanding the strike zone. He did, however, get a better showing in his most recent matchup against Milwaukee, allowing four hits, no earned runs and seven strikeouts just this past Monday.
This matchup will honestly be a toss-up on which version of these two pitchers we’re going to get to close out the first half of the regular season. Ritchie is looking to avoid the sweep and May is looking to get one. Both are hoping for a quality outing after suffering some shaky starts; the question is, who wants it more?
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 11: Commissioner of Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred Jr. speaks onstage 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
After selecting two players on Saturday, the Dodgers conclude their 2026 MLB Draft with 14 picks on Sunday, beginning with the seventh round.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 14: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets plays against the Miami Heat during their game at Spectrum Center on April 14, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Heading into the summer, just about every Timberwolves fan had their own dream offseason mapped out. Some wanted Tim Connelly to swing for the fences one more time and somehow pry Giannis Antetokounmpo loose if Milwaukee finally decided to tear things down. Others talked themselves into buying low on former superstars whose value had cratered. Zion Williamson was one of those names that kept resurfacing. While Ja Morant found his way into plenty of hypothetical trade machines. Personally, I kept coming back to Kyrie Irving. Dallas looked like a franchise pivoting toward Cooper Flagg, and if there was one glaring weakness on Minnesota’s roster after another deep playoff run, it was the absence of a true point guard capable of organizing the offense, taking pressure off Anthony Edwards, and punishing defenses for selling out to stop him. It all seemed logical enough.
Then Tim Connelly went completely off-script.
Instead of chasing the names everyone expected, he started by moving Julius Randle to Brooklyn in what, at first glance, looked almost depressing. Wolves fans had spent months debating which star Minnesota could bring back in exchange for Randle. Instead, Randle was moved for financial flexibility, with the Wolves clearing salary and taking a modest step back in the draft from No. 28 to No. 33.
Just a few days later, Connelly pushed the entire table over. Naz Reid, arguably the most beloved role player this franchise has ever had, was headed to Charlotte along with future draft considerations. Coming back to Minnesota was LaMelo Ball.
Until the rumors began surfacing just a few days earlier, I don’t think many people honestly believed Ball was available. Charlotte had quietly become one of the NBA’s most entertaining young teams during the second half of last season. They made a legitimate push that sent them to the Play-In Tournament, and with Ball finally healthy, it looked as though the Hornets had every reason to continue building around him. Instead, Charlotte apparently decided they were selling at peak value, cashing in on their franchise cornerstone before his market had a chance to cool. Sometimes rebuilding teams zig when everybody expects them to zag, and Minnesota happened to be standing in exactly the right place when it happened.
The result is one of the biggest franchise-altering trades the Timberwolves have made since acquiring Rudy Gobert.
What’s fascinating about this move is how neatly it ties back to one of the most debated draft decisions in franchise history. Remember the months leading into the 2020 Draft? The basketball world couldn’t decide whether Anthony Edwards or LaMelo Ball should go first overall. Every mock draft seemed to alternate between the two. Half the analysts loved Ball’s creativity and passing. The other half believed Edwards possessed the higher ceiling as a franchise scorer. Wolves fans spent weeks arguing about it before Minnesota finally turned in the card with Edwards’ name on it.
Looking back now, it’s impossible to argue they got that decision wrong. Edwards has become exactly what every franchise spends decades searching for, a legitimate top-five caliber player entering his prime. He’s already led Minnesota to two Western Conference Finals appearances. During his tenure, the Timberwolves have won five playoff series. That number almost sounds made up when you remember the franchise had won only two playoff series during the previous thirty-five years combined. Edwards didn’t just become an All-NBA player; he fundamentally changed what people think of Timberwolves basketball.
Now, six years later, Minnesota gets to walk through the sliding doors and discover what life with LaMelo would have been like. LaMelo Ball hasn’t experienced the same team success. Playing in Charlotte rarely provides those opportunities. But talent has never been the question. Ball remains one of the league’s most creative passers, one of its most imaginative offensive players, and perhaps most importantly for this particular roster, exactly the type of point guard the Timberwolves have lacked ever since Mike Conley began slowing down.
For years, Minnesota’s offense has too often relied on Anthony Edwards solving increasingly impossible problems. Teams blitzed him forty feet from the basket because they knew there wasn’t another primary creator waiting behind him. Edwards frequently had to bring the ball up, initiate the offense, beat his first defender, survive the second defender, create for teammates, and somehow still have enough left in the tank to score thirty-five points. That’s simply not sustainable against elite playoff defenses.
Ball changes that equation immediately. His greatest gift isn’t necessarily his scoring. It’s the way he sees the floor two passes ahead. He naturally speeds up teammates simply by finding them earlier and in better positions. Suddenly Jaden McDaniels isn’t creating offense from scratch quite as often. Rudy Gobert gets easier looks diving to the rim. The entire offense becomes less dependent on Edwards playing superhero every single possession.
That’s why I think it’s fair to say Minnesota now possesses the most dynamic young backcourt in the NBA.
Of course, none of that makes saying goodbye to Naz Reid any easier. If Anthony Edwards became the face of modern Timberwolves basketball, Reid somehow became its heartbeat.
Think about how improbable his story really is. An undrafted player who worked his way from developmental prospect into Sixth Man of the Year candidate. A fan favorite whose name became its own meme. A player whose popularity became so ridiculous that fans literally waved beach towels bearing his name and, in some cases, permanently tattooed the “two words” onto their bodies.
That isn’t normal. Role players aren’t supposed to inspire that kind of devotion, but Reid wasn’t just another role player. He represented everything fans love to believe about sports: hard work, development, loyalty, and the idea that someone nobody wanted could become indispensable.
His departure leaves more than an emotional void. It leaves a basketball one.
Minnesota suddenly finds itself remarkably thin at power forward. The Wolves now feature one of the deepest guard rotations in basketball while simultaneously lacking a traditional starting-caliber four. That’s a dramatic philosophical shift from the roster construction we’ve watched over the last three seasons, where overwhelming frontcourt depth became one of Minnesota’s defining characteristics.
Which brings us to the elephant (or perhaps the King) in the room.
If you’ve spent more than five minutes on NBA social media this week, you’ve undoubtedly seen the LeBron James speculation. Maybe it’s fantasy. Maybe it’s wishful thinking. Maybe it never gets beyond message boards and sports talk radio.
But here’s the interesting part: this trade at least makes the conversation plausible.
By creating an obvious opening at power forward, whether intentional or coincidental, Minnesota now has a roster that makes considerably more basketball sense for LeBron than it did in June. Whether that actually leads anywhere is another discussion entirely, but the possibility alone illustrates that Connelly probably isn’t finished reshaping this roster.
The final chapter of this offseason hasn’t been written yet. Even if another move never materializes, pairing Anthony Edwards with LaMelo Ball better aligns the franchise with Edwards’ timeline than building around Randle ever could have. Ball is entering his prime alongside Ant rather than aging out of it. Their strengths complement one another naturally. One is an explosive scorer capable of taking over games. The other is a gifted facilitator who thrives creating opportunities for everyone around him.
It’s a pairing built for the next five years, not merely the next one.
That explains why the latest SB Nation Reacts poll showed 83 percent of Wolves fans approving of the trade despite the emotional cost attached to it. Nobody wanted to lose Naz Reid. That’s simply the reality. But most fans also recognize that championships require difficult decisions, and sometimes the move that hurts the most is also the one that gives your franchise its best chance to reach another level.
We’ll miss Big Jelly.
Hopefully he’ll find success in Charlotte. Hopefully Wolves fans will give him the standing ovation he deserves whenever he eventually returns to Target Center. And who knows? The NBA has a funny way of bringing people back together. Maybe someday Reid finds his way home again.
If that day comes, the beach towels will be waiting.
And judging by the number of “Naz Reid” tattoos walking around Target Center these days, so will a few thousand permanent reminders of just how much he meant to this franchise.
The Minnesota Timberwolves currently sit at +2200 odds to win the NBA title at FanDuel Sportsbook. Thats a 500 point improvement from last week’s +2700. Does somebody know something?…
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 11: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during the 2026 MLB Draft at Pennsylvania Convention Center on July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Following what everyone would consider a failure of a year, Jay Johnson has been hard at work on returning LSU Baseball to the mountaintop as he’s done twice in his first five years. Helping him to that mountaintop were a few of the players that heard their name called on day 1 of the MLB Draft yesterday. While it’s been fairly clear which Tigers may be destined to advance their career to professional baseball, when they would be drafted was the big question. We got answers for three of those players, as Derek Curiel, Jake Brown, and Deven Sheerin each were drafted in the first four rounds.
While the additions from the transfer portal have been phenomenal, the core of the program is built through homegrown talent with recruiting classes. Classes that include players like Curiel and Brown. Unfortunately for those involved with building college baseball programs, the MLB Draft and it’s process can lead to a lot volatility. While coaches generally have an idea of who may or may not make it to campus, things can change quickly and that leads to ongoing questions about who will actually put on an LSU uniform.
Last year, Jay Johnson lost eight members of his recruiting class to the MLB Draft, including each of the top-6. Seven of those were gone by the end of the 4th round, which made for a really tough result for the Tigers and their crop of incoming freshman. Although a few guys like Omar Serna and Mason Braun burst on to the scene, hindsight makes you wonder what could have been.
So far in the 2026 Draft, things are looking far more promising for Johnson and co. Only three members of this year’s class were selected on day 1, which consists of the first four rounds. Shockingly, there are quite a few names still on the board that most expected to be gone by this point. Will they all make it to campus, absolutely not. But, if LSU is able to land one or two of the otherwise considered “longshots”, the future continues to look special for the program.
Current LSU players drafted
#5 – Derek Curiel by Pittsburgh Pirates (1st round, slot value $8,336,500)
After being one of the big surprises to pass on the draft and head to LSU in 2024, Curiel stepped on to campus and immediately became an impact player. He helped lead the Tigers to their 8th title as a freshman, then followed it up with another fantastic year after shifting from left to centerfield. In two seasons in Baton Rouge, Curiel hit .349 with a .452 on-base %. He drove in 101 RBIs and scored 131 runs. Pittsburgh is getting a super-athletic fielder and an elite bat-to-ball hitter. He struck out just 99 times in nearly 500 at-bats and also has incredible plate vision, drawing 87 walks.
#65 – Jake Brown by Seattle Mariners (2nd round, slot value $1,382,600)
Although his LSU career ended with a hamate injury in the back half of 2026, Jake Brown had a fantastic career as a Tiger. From forcing his way in to the starting lineup as a freshman in 2024, to becoming a top power bat in the SEC this past season, the junior became a fan-favorite. There was word that he was strongly considering a return to LSU for his senior season like Steven Milam, but when he showed up to the MLB Combine and scouts saw that he was one of the most athletic outfielders in the draft, the odds of 30 teams letting him slip back to campus were low. In his three season, Brown hit .304 with 28 homeruns and 110 RBIs. He was easily on pace to surpass 20 bombs in 2026, already having 16 when his season ended with 4 weeks left in the regular season. Seattle is getting an incredibly dynamic athlete that will be one of the fastest players on whatever team he’s on. He has a cannon for an arm, which is what got him drafted in the 19th round out of high school as a LHP. Brown will look to reunite with a former teammate and fellow member of LSU’s 2024 freshman class, Kade Anderson.
128 – Deven Sheerin by Philadelphia Phillies (4th round, slot $597,400)
Although Sheerin was a Tiger for two years, he only played in one season this past year. He bounced back from missing all of 2025 by being LSU’s most consistent pitcher this past season. He finished with a 4.78 ERA in 37.2 innings of work, striking out 58 along the way. Philadelphia is getting a massive, attitude driven competitor that looks like he’s trying to throw the baseball through his catcher. As a nightmare matchup against righties, he could become one of the top bullpen arms at the very least. With only 107.2 innings on his arm over the past three years, Sheerin is fresh and has even more projectability in his arsenal.
The past few weeks have been a rollercoaster for Schmidt’s projection. A month ago, he was considered a lock to be selected early in the draft. Then, after some poor interviews at the combine, he suddenly changed agents just a few weeks before the draft, which is never a good thing. Seemingly requesting a high number for his signing bonus, it will be interesting to see what the Guardians ended up giving him to convince him not to go to LSU.
#84 – RHP Jensen Hirschkorn by Atlanta Braves (3rd round, slot $973,700)
Hirschkorn, too, had his projection in question leading in to the draft. He had always been considered a lock to be drafted and sign, doubts about his signability started to spread over the past week. His number was said to be up as high as $4 million, but as you can see with the slot value above, it’s likely that the Braves were able to negotiate his price down. Scouts believe that he would become a 1st rounder after a few seasons in college had he chosen that route, so Atlanta most-certainly had to still pay up to convince him to sign.
#115 – OF Wessley Roberson by Miami Marlins (4th round, Marlins: $677,500)
Never really expected to make it college, Roberson was the first position player of the class to be selected. He’s lefty with good contact and was ranked #175 by ESPN.
Stayed tuned in with us at ATVS more nonstop coverage of day 2 with rounds 5-20!
Jul 5, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (40) runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Heartbeat of Fenway
In a grueling 162-game season, conventional wisdom says players should keep an even keel and remember it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Willson Contreras defies that rule every single day, playing at a full, unapologetic boil. Since arriving in Boston via trade from the St. Louis Cardinals, he has been exactly what this franchise desperately needed: not only a right-handed power bat, but also the nexus where skills, passion, and elite production meet. He has been the undeniable heartbeat of the 2026 Boston Red Sox.
Anchoring the Offense and Defense
Contreras has stabilized the middle of the order and the infield all year. He has solidified first base, a position that was a black hole last season after Triston Casas got injured. Offensively, he has anchored the lineup as an elite run producer. When the rest of the lineup struggled throughout most of the early season, he kept the lights on. He’s having what will likely be a career year, and will almost certainly far surpass his previous high for home runs (24).
Batting Average: .285
Home Runs: 20
Runs Batted In: 61
OPS: An elite .921, ranking 10th in MLB
Playing for a Purpose
Contreras has not only shouldered the Red Sox offense, he has hefted up an entire country and carried it with him following the tragic, devastating earthquakes in his native Venezuela. Since that time, he has used his platform to advocate for his country. He’s channeled his raw grief into his game, hitting an emotional three-run homer then pounding his chest and helmet and shouting “Venezuela!” as he circled the bases. He’s personally collected relief contributions from fans outside Fenway Park and drawn the media spotlight to Venezuela again and again. And he wasn’t afraid to let us see him crying.
“I play to win, I don’t play to mess around, I don’t play to make friends on other teams.”
Tell it like it is, Willson. We saw that fire boil over in the recent bench-clearing incident against the Nationals, resulting in a seven-game suspension that was ultimately reduced to five games. (Personally, I was disappointed that Cade Cavalli’s suspension was equally reduced.) While Willson apologized, saying that he could have “handled [it] better,” and lumping it together with a benches-clearing against the Yankees earlier in the week, that intensity is the exact same fuel that powers his 440-foot home runs. You cannot decouple his high-leverage heroics from the emotion that drives them. He plays with his heart on his sleeve, and the team is better for it.
All-Star Bound and Home Run Derby Ready
Justice was finally served this week when Contreras was named to the All-Star team as a well-deserved replacement. Even better, he has accepted an invitation to the Home Run Derby. He will be the first Red Sox player to participate in fifteen years, looking to join David Ortiz as the only champions in franchise history. And he’s already dedicated all his upcoming home runs this season to Venezuela, so he’s really got something to swing for.
Though the recent contusion on his foot has him temporarily sidelined (alongside his suspension), he has said he’s not concerned about it. So expect him to be ready to mash at Citizens Bank Park.
Willson Contreras has given everything he’s got to Boston this season. I wanted to take a moment to put my own heart on my sleeve and show him that same love right back.
Let’s take this time to keep Venezuela in our hearts too. Even as life moves on, the recovery efforts still need help. If you can, please donate through the Red Sox Foundation. Do it for Willson.
OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 21: Gavin Gallaher #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during the ninth inning against the Oklahoma Sooners in Game 2 of the NCAA College World Series baseball finals at Charles Schwab Field on June 21, 2026 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Saturday saw the beginning of the 2026 MLB Draft. After a season that saw them get a win away from a national championship, the North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team are likely to see several players picked in this year’s edition. For example, Owen Hull (#67), Jake Schaffner (#75), Ryan Lynch (#98), Jason DeCaro (#133), and Gavin Gallaher (#200) are all listed in MLB Pipeline’s top 250 ranked players eligible for the 2026 draft.
The MLB Draft can be a little harder to project than in other sports. In one way that’s true is in the players’ futures. Sure, other sports all have busts too, but in baseball even the best players need more seasoning in the minor leagues before making it to MLB. Some players won’t even make it to the majors at all. Figuring out what will happen in the couple years between when you draft a player and how they develop can be a bit of a different skill than in the NFL or NBA Drafts.
It can also be a little harder to predict just where the players go. With the MLB Draft rules and teams having only a certain amount of money to dole out among all their draftees, some teams go in with specific strategies that might lead to an unexpected selection. Plus, with so many players from high school and college, it can also just take one team having a differing opinion from the collective wisdom for a player to shoot up the board.
Recognizing all that, I still have to ask, what Tar Heel eligible for this year’s draft do you think will go on to the best MLB career?
Going by the aforementioned rankings, the Super Regional hero Hull is some people’s best bet. He hit .393 with a 1.115 OPS last season, so he certainly has the ability to hit, and that could translate to the professional level. I personally have a sneaky suspicion about Gallaher, though. With 12 home runs last season, he has a decent amount of power for a second baseman. While he’s not a blazing fast runner, he was successful on eight of nine stole base attempts last year too. I’m not sure if there’s ever going to be one particular thing that makes him standout, but I could see him turning into a perfectly good all-around MLB level player.
That’s my answer, but what about you? Put on your projection hat and guess which Tar Heel will have the best MLB career?
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 11: Commissioner of Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred Jr. announces Hunter Dietz as the 35th overall pick by the New York Yankees 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
The 2026 edition of the Major League Baseball Draft is well underway! The action got started early on Saturday afternoon with the Chicago White Sox making UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky the No. 1 overall selection, and though the New York Yankees had to wait 34 more picks to get their first in, they seemingly got a good one to set the tone.
MLB set up Day 1 of the draft to include the first four rounds, and since the Yankees didn’t lose any due to free agent-signing qualifying offer compensation, they subsequently had four picks. Arkansas lefty Hunter Dietz, British Columbia prep southpaw Sean Duncan, Oklahoma catcher Brendan Brock, and Cal State Fullerton outfielder Paul Gutierrez-Contreras II are the newest Baby Bombers, pending their signings. Jonathan wrote up a full analysis of the Day 1 activity in Yankeeland.
A total of 16 more draft picks await us today! MLB will begin Round 5 at 11:30am ET today in a less formal capacity than yesterday (primarily via webcast/conference call on MLB.com), and the pace will be quick as they march toward the 20th and final round. We’ll have you covered with gradually updated articles on Rounds 5-10, 11-15, and 16-20, separately.
To help conveniently track all of the Yankees’ picks — from the selection process to any known eventual signing news — I’ve assembled this tracker that will also be regularly updated throughout July. The players’ names are linked to the Pinstripe Alley stories about their draft selections. If available, I’ve also included their Instagram handles if you have any interest in following them.
Draft pick signing news can be a slow process and team assignments might be even fuzzier, but we’ll do our best to keep you posted. Players have until 5:00 PM ET on July 27th to sign unless they’re college seniors who have already used up their years of eligibility. As always, give us a shout in the comments section of this post if you see any news that needs to be added.
Note: Teams are allotted $150,000 per pick for each selection from Rounds 11-20. This doesn’t count toward their total bonus pool, though they are permitted to use any leftover bonus funds to increase their offers beyond $150,000 to these players.
Jul 2, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Lars Nootbaar (21) celebrates after an RBI double against the Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Another weekend of travel, this time to St. Louis for the Braves series, means an earlier than usual Sunday story. Before continuing, I wanted to shout out the fans who keep making it out. I’ve been here two days and both nights were fun, including last night in the Tarps Off section! Everyone feels welcomed (unless you are wearing the other team’s apparel) and the shtick isn’t overdone on me. Final shout to Jordan Walker for the nice toss!
The Cardinals have given us plenty to be annoyed at over the past week or so, but Wednesday’s team win at least paused those feelings for another 24 hours. Besides a winning result, Oli Marmol continued some lineup tweaks and moved Lars Nootbaar to center field for the fourth time since being activated from the injured list.
Grading as an above-average fielder in every season except for the last two, it is possible we have been selling Nootbaar’s defense in the outfield short thanks to his faulty heels. Since the surgery, Noot has been running faster and providing more value with the glove, doing so while also lengthening the lineup with his solid lefty bat. All told, Noot’s return was what the team needed, both on the field and in the clubhouse.
Lars Nootbaar and Joshua Baez can co-exist on this St. Louis Cardinals team
Since the start of last season, it appeared that Victor Scott II was the only sure outfielder to get everyday run, with Nootbaar continuously fighting injuries and Jordan Walker measuring as one of the worst players in all of baseball. While Noot was still on the shelf, Scott saw his leash run out quickly while Walker upped his game to All-Star caliber. Nathan Church stole the job from VSII and the Cardinals ran through a smattering of Jose Fermin, Thomas Saggese, and Bryan Torres in left field until Noot returned to full strength.
As Church’s bat settled into league-average territory, Oli Marmol saw this as an opportunity to try out a new setup in the outfield. Power bat Nelson Velazquez was promoted and when he played left field, Nootbaar swung over to center. On the surface, that outfield alignment would give Cardinals pitchers a heart attack whenever a ball is hit in the air, but new-heel Noot has been just fine up the middle until late-game defensive replacements allow him to shift back to the corner.
While it has only happened four times in his 28 games since returning, Noot has made every play hit his way in center field. He of course will not have the same range as defensive wizards Scott and Church, but making the routine play goes a long way. With Church and Noot both being lefty hitters, any flexibility in Noot’s game could give him the opportunity for more run as a better producing bat. “But Scott, why does it have to be Noot OR Church? ¿Por que no los dos?”
The payoff. Nootbaar’s ability to play center, even if it is just at the bare minimum level, makes him less likely to be traded but could still open a spot for a promotion of Joshua Baez. With this season that is not supposed to end in a postseason run, average defense will be just fine to get the team through 162 without having to go through a massive roster churn. I have been tying Baez and Nootbaar together for some time, but with Baez proving to be ready for a promotion and Noot keeping the team involved, there is no use of tearing it apart right now.
Holding onto Noot and using an option on Bryan Torres or testing the DFA wire with Velazquez or Fermin keeps Nathan Church on the active roster as a platoon option or defensive specialist. Church’s calling card has never been his power bat and even though he has left the yard eight times this year, a part-time role might help him maintain his effectiveness. A Baez promotion should only happen with everyday playing time and worst case scenario, Church and Baez could form a platoon to keep both youngsters involved.
Nootbaar would not have to play center field everyday and likely still just once a week in this scenario. Baez has been seeing semi-regular time up the middle so he is capable of handling innings in the grass. With Ivan Herrera sticking as a DH and catcher, there are only so many bat-only opportunities available and Marmol may opt to use that for a Nootbaar or other veteran rest day.
The biggest downside in holding onto Nootbaar past the trade deadline is that he becomes what JoJo Romero has turned in trade rumors. Last season, Romero seemed like a sought after trade piece after putting together a great late-inning season, but Bloom opted to hang onto the lefty for the beginning of the 2026 campaign. With JoJo ceding the closer role and seeing his overall stats take a step back, the return in a trade surrounding the reliever is much less than it would have been at this time last year.
The trade market for hitters is likely to be calmer than for pitching, creating another pro to seeing this season through with Nootbaar getting another shot to put it all together. We have heard the vibes in the clubhouse being a reason the front office has not wanted to shake up the roster in a major way and keeping Nootbaar would be another example of that. Of course, if the team continues to stick around in the thick of the Wild Card, trading a fan-favorite in Noot while in contention would be met with plenty of negative fanfare.
With under a month until the official trade deadline, I could be swayed either direction in the Lars Nootbaar trade conversations. As of Wednesday evening, I find myself open to the idea of keeping him around for the vibes, the offense, and the thought that more teams would be interested in him during the winter.
As of July 12, what would you do with Nootbaar? Is Joshua Baez directly tied to Noot or can there be some finagling around Nathan Church and others? Convince me either way and I’ll reply to the strongest argument to get a Cardinals card or giveaway of some sort.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 11: Taylor Ward #3 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a home run in the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 11, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
Yesterday was a good one to be an Orioles fan. The team won their third in a row, came within two games of the final wild card spot, and selected several young players that they seem very excited about.
Of course, every team likes their draft picks, or else they wouldn’t have selected them in the first place. But the Orioles did seem to get solid value. They also mixed ages and positions well, which is something they haven’t always done in the draft. They have a bunch more picks to make today, though they may not be as initially exciting as the guys they have already added. But oftentimes it is these later picks that make for a better quality draft overall.
On the field, the Orioles turned in one of their most definitive wins of the season. Kyle Bradish dominated on the mound, even without his best stuff. And the offense launched four home runs, scoring five of their six total runs on long balls.
Despite what has been an up-and-down first half for the Orioles, they still find themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt. And you can make a pretty easy argument that, on the whole, they have underperformed and should have their best baseball ahead of them.
Is that reason enough for Mike Elias and the front office to go all in at the trade deadline and supplement this squad with external talent? Eh, probably not. But the reality is that these guys need to win games. There is pressure on everyone, from the players to the coaches, and especially the decision makers in the warehouse. They only need a minor indication that these guys can make it to October. Getting to four wins in a row today, on the final day of the season’s “first half” would feel like a sign from above.
I can’t really complain if that’s what happens. It would be nice to watch competitive baseball for the next two-and-a-half months. An aggressive trade deadline should make that happen. Let’s see it!
Links
More this, that and the other | Roch Kubatko Roch notes that the Orioles, at this moment, have an 18.1 percent chance to make the playoffs, according to FanGraphs. Considering how poor they have looked for stretches across the last few months, that’s not too bad. It helps that the American League is so mediocre overall.
Orioles closer Ryan Helsley avoids surgery on elbow; Keegan Akin has surgeon appointment | The Baltimore Banner This is very good news for both Helsley and the Orioles. The hard-throwing righty has a player option for 2027. Right now, it seems like he will pick it up. But at least there is a chance he will pitch through it, maybe even teaming up with Félix Bautista at the back of the bullpen. The news is not as good for Akin, who sounds like he is heading for Tommy John.
Orioles Activate Yaramil Hiraldo From 60-Day IL | MLB Trade Rumors The Orioles need some bullpen depth. Hiraldo will provide that down in Norfolk. Orioles fans probably don’t want him in key situations up here anyway, but with both Helsely and Akin out for a while, this is good news.
The late Jack Harshman (b. 1927, d. 2013) was born on this day. He spent parts of two seasons in Baltimore from 1958-59, accumulating a 3.55 ERA over 283.2 innings.
This day in O’s history
1969 – Mike Cuellar tosses a complete game three-hitter to beat the Red Sox 4-0. Red Sox outfielder Tony Conigliaro has all three of their hits. Cuellar becomes the first pitcher in major league history to throw two complete game three-hitters in which one opposing hitter accounts for all of the hits. He achieves this feat in back-to-back starts (Yankees, July 8th).
2022 – The Orioles win their ninth straight game, beating the Cubs 4-2 at Wrigley Field. This win puts the Orioles at .500 for the first time all season.
2024 – Benches clear when Orioles youngster Heston Kjerstad is struck in the head by Yankees closer Clay Holmes. O’s manager Brandon Hyde takes exception to something he hears from the Yankees dugout and has to be restrained by Yankees catcher Austin Wells.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 11: Commissioner of Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred announces Tyler Spangler as the 36th overall pick by the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2026 MLB Draft presented by Nippon Express at Pennsylvania Convention Center on Saturday, July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Phillies had a day to remember yesterday at the MLB draft. Not picking until the 36th pick thanks to their spending money on their major league team, they had to wait a while to make that first pick.
If there was anything this team needed in its farm system, it’s top flight hitters with power and starting pitching depth. Even with spending a large amount of capital on pitching last year, a simple scan up and down their various minor league rosters reinforces the idea that they can still use more. With their first pick in the draft though, they went with Tyler Spangler, a shortstop from a high school in California. Reading this Matt Gelb piece ($), there is some risk that they were willing to take to land a bat like Spangler.
The Phillies selected Spangler, a somewhat ironic pick in 2026 because one of their best prospects has been sidelined by a back injury all season. Aidan Miller might not play in a minor-league game this season. But the Phillies believe Spangler will be on the field at some point this summer. (Provided the two sides agree on a signing bonus.) Spangler has been cleared to return to action, said Brian Barber, the team’s amateur scouting director…[s]o, given the inherent risk of picking so late, it might have prompted the Phillies to take a bigger swing. The 36th pick comes with a $2.76 million slot value, and Spangler will command a much higher bonus than that despite not having played a single game during his senior season.
From there, they went with another big bat in Caden Bogenpohl, a powerful outfielder from Missouri State, before focusing in on pitching with their next three picks. Those picks – Ruger Riojas, Deven Sheerin, Jaxon Jelkin – all look as though they can move fast to either reinforce the bullpen in a year or two, or maybe even be some depth for their rotation.
With their first pick (No. 36), they took high school shortstop Tyler Spangler, a teenager with a back injury that kept him from playing all spring. Their second pick was Missouri State outfielder Caden Bogenpohl, who has otherworldly power and is a pretty good athlete but whiffs on pitches in the zone a ton, even fastballs. Their third pick was Texas senior right-hander Ruger Riojas, a solid pick for the spot who’ll move fast if they put him in the bullpen, followed by a future reliever in LSU right-hander Deven Sheerin, fine value for the fourth round. Philly’s last pick (compensation fourth round) was 23 1/2-year-old Kentucky right-hander Jaxon Jelkin, who has injury and makeup questions on his resume.
I love this pick for the Phillies. Coming into the season, Spangler was right behind Grady Emerson in the conversation for being a top two or three high school player in the 2026 class. Spangler didn’t play his senior season, which obviously dinged his stock, but the talent and upside is still commensurate with players who went in the top half of the first round, and the Phillies were able to get him despite not having a pick until 36th overall.
Obviously, there will be many years pass before we can definitively put a grade on this draft for the Phillies. The early returns are that they did well for themselves despite not having one of the top thirty five picks in the draft. Be sure to keep an eye on our draft tracker throughout the day to follow how the Phillies put the finishing touches on this draft.
The Cubs defeated the Reds 5-3 Saturday night on the strength of homers by Carson Kelly and Alex Bregman, the latter a two-run blast. Those helped the team come from behind in the sixth and seventh innings.
But before I get to all of that, can I say that this team needs Daniel Palencia back — bad — or to trade for a shutdown closer, because it took Ryan Rolison and Trent Thornton 18 nerve-wracking pitches in the ninth inning to lock this one down. Yes, all’s well that ends well but yikes, I think I’d like a bit less of that, please.
All right, that said, let’s rewind to the beginning of this one.
Javier Assad and Nick Lodolo matched zeroes for three innings. In the third. Assad allowed a pair of singles to TJ Friedl and Elly De La Cruz that put runners on first and third with nobody out. One out later, Assad picked De La Cruz off first base:
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) July 12, 2026
That’s good work by Assad and Michael Busch. The Cubs had picked De La Cruz off in Chicago back in May on a similar play, with Busch not holding him on, then sneaking in behind him. JJ Bleday followed with an inning-ending fly ball — if he hits that without the pickoff, the Reds score a run and subsequent sequencing is different.
The Cubs didn’t score in the fourth, then Assad got touched up for back-to-back homers by Nathaniel Lowe and Eugenio Suárez. Suárez has, as you know, made a career out of homering off Cubs pitching. That was the 37th time he took a Cubs pitcher deep, the most for any active player.
The Cubs cut the two-run deficit in half in the fifth. With two out and nobody on base, Miguel Amaya singled and Pete Crow-Armstrong walked (one of two walks PCA had on the night, giving him 45 for the year in 95 games played).
Carson Kelly’s game-tying solo homer in the sixth inning was the Cubs’ 14,000th since 1920, first season of the Live Ball Era. It was their 119th this year. They have averaged 130 per year.
The Cubs’ 14,000 homers are the sixth most in the era and second most among National League teams. The Giants began Saturday with 14,643, which were a distant second to the Yankees’ 17,284.
The other teams ahead of the Cubs, in order, were the Tigers, Browns/Orioles and Red Sox.
The Braves trailed the Cubs by just 32 going into the day.
Drew Pomeranz entered the game and Bleday hit his first pitch out of the yard to tie the game. Pomeranz was a reasonable chance to take after the Angels let him go, but so far the results haven’t been good. That’s already two homers allowed in just 4.1 innings with the Cubs for Pomeranz. He did make it out of the sixth without further incident.
For Bregman, it was his second homer in his last 10 games. He’s continued to draw walks (six in those 10 games) and even his outs have been hit harder than before. You can see signs that he might be coming out of his season-long slump. Perhaps the All-Star break will give him a chance to re-set and get going when play resumes on Friday.
More on Bregman’s blast from John:
Alex Bregman’s tie-breaking homer was the Cubs’ sixth of the season in the seventh inning or later. The first five all came between April 5 and May 27. Ian Happ hit the first and last, in the eighth and seventh innings respectively. Seiya Suzuki, in the eighth; Dansby Swanson, in the ninth; and Michael Conforto, in the ninth, hit the others. Conforto’s was a walk-off.
Now Cubs pitchers have to get nine outs without allowing two runs. Friends, with the makeshift bullpen that’s now the Cubs relief corps, you knew this wasn’t going to be easy. Caleb Thielbar, who has been hit hard recently, managed to get out of the seventh scoreless and Jacob Webb — perhaps the closest thing the Cubs have to a “closer” right now — managed a scoreless eighth, though with 23 pitches thrown you knew he wasn’t coming back out for the ninth.
Thus it was up to lefty Ryan Rolison to shut things down. Well, as soon as a lefty’s in the game, you know Terry Francona is going to send up right-handed pinch hitters. The first of those, Tyler Stephenson, singled on Rolison’s first pitch, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A fly to right, the first out, put Stephenson on third. At this point the Cubs would have traded a run for an out, but they didn’t need to as Rolison struck out pinch-hitter Noelvi Marte.
So that left a runner on third and De La Cruz coming to the plate. Craig Counsell stuck with Rolison to turn De La Cruz to the right side, though this year the Reds shortstop has hit lefties well. Rolison walked De La Cruz and Counsell called on Trent Thornton to face a really good young hitter, Sal Stewart.
Well. That’s not exactly an “easy” save but Thornton did nail it down, his third. The Cubs now have three pitchers with at least three saves (Thornton, Palencia and Webb, who has four).
The Cubs got some good news out of Pittsburgh Saturday, where the Pirates did the Cubs a solid by sweeping a doubleheader from the Brewers, winning both games by one run. So the Cubs gained a game and a half on the Brewers in the division race and trail them by six. They remain 2.5 games ahead of the Cardinals, who defeated the Braves Saturday, and lead the Phillies (also winners Saturday) by half a game for the top wild card spot.
One more game remains in this series, and also before MLB breaks for All-Star festivities. Matthew Boyd, who was really good his last time out against the Orioles, will start for the Cubs and Andrew Abbott will go for Cincinnati. Game time Sunday is 12:40 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network. The BCB game preview will post at 10:30 a.m. CT.
Brendon McCullum has been sacked as the England men’s Test coach, with the England and Wales Cricket Board opting for a completely fresh start for the side following the recent retirement of the red-ball captain, Ben Stokes. The decision came one day after McCullum guided England to the top of the T20 rankings, and he will continue to coach the men’s white-ball teams.
McCullum said he was “gutted” after being told his services are no longer required, and he will not be involved in preparations for the three-match series against Pakistan in August and September, by which time the ECB hope to have appointed a replacement.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Washington Wizards during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center 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 Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After years and years of mundane basketball, Jazz fans finally had something to be anticipating. A #1 vs. #2 pick matchup that headlined the NBA. Of course, our own Jazzlings were on the back-end of this event, but this is nothing to hold your head over. Utah is back, and they’re getting the attention they rightfully deserve.
Coming into Las Vegas, Peterson took the world by storm when he played his first two heaters in front of a familiar crowd at Salt Lake City. Even if it was just Summer League, Peterson’s skill set was obviously the most translatable at the NBA level. Not even Cooper Flagg or Wembanyama stepped into the league being this polished offensively. But after a flight to Nevada two nights later, Peterson just didn’t have the same pzazz that he did when Jazz fans were cheering for him back in the Beehive State.
Jamir Watkins had his own fill of Summer League action. Of course, he would have regularly fouled out in the first quarter if this were a standard regular-season game, but Summer League rules allowed Watkins to bypass this and record an additional three fouls his way; one more foul left to spare. The byproduct of this was Darryn Peterson’s own low nine fouls and eight turnovers — Jusuf Nurkic will have a word with pesky guards about that type of defense in October. Wizards stole the crown, as well as the buzzing media that have now deemed Dybantsa a league of his own.
But Peterson’s struggles in his Las Vegas debut were completely blown out of proportion. Social media was filled with settled debates that had already decided Dybantsa was the better prospect. This isn’t to say Peterson should ignore these mistakes; he still needs to improve on his passing angles and looked physically overwhelmed. How much of those struggles are due to the extra physicality that was allowed in Summer League remains up for debate. The fans had already turned off their televisions by the time Peterson started to heat up.
Another aspect that was underestimated was Utah missing their rookie standout Ace Bailey, who had been dealing with back spasms that have now kept him out of multiple games spanning across the hoops in July. The Jazz, without a doubt, missed his elite shot-making and defensive versatility on the floor against Dybantsa. He remains questionable coming into tonight.
The 92-88 loss in Las Vegas has likely already halted Utah’s chances of winning a Summer League Championship, barring a miraculous run, meaning the priority has now shifted to scouting for Exhibit-10 or training camp deals. Darryn Peterson and third-year Cody will likely play a game or two more, then it’s time to hand over the keys to Tamar Bates and Jaxon Kohler.
Never mind the buzz, nor the competition. Darryn Peterson now has a chance to let off some steam against the newly built LA Clippers, currently still employing Kawhi Leonard per NBA policy, after LA circumvented the cap back in 2022 that now prevents him from being traded up North.
He’s not one of the flashy headliners of the draft like AJ, Darryn, Cam or even Caleb Wilson, but babyface Keaton Wagler will have the ball in his hands as much as the Jazz hand it to Peterson. His first game against the Kings was a blunder — he only managed to rack up 7 points, 2 rebounds and an assist on 14.3% from the field. He was offensively outplayed in every aspect by 7th pick Darius Acuff. We dare not speak on anyone’s defense from that Thursday night.
Their 50th pick from last season, Kobe Sanders, had recently re-upped with them on a four-year $11.2M deal. Baba Miller was another name that LA added at 36th overall. Cam Christie is starting to contract Cody-syndrome; his older brother Max has proved to be a reliable perimeter shooter in the NBA, while Cam himself logged few minutes in his first two seasons. Now he’ll likely have a chance to anchor the Clippers’ 3-point spacing. LAC may still be a little too old for anyone’s liking, but they still have something materialised in their youth, moving on (hopefully) from the Kawhi era.
For Utah, they’re ready to let off some heavy hits after a frustrating opener. Can Darryn Peterson bring back the efficient hoops from Salt Lake City? Is Ace Bailey going to make an appearance? Can any of the other players earn themselves a training camp deal with a showout performance? For the love of all that is holy can we stop using Cody Williams as a primary option? All these questions may have an answer this Sunday night.
