Jul 9, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Jim Jarvis (74) circles the bases on a two run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Happy Friday, everyone. We’ll start off today with a bit of baseball talk. The MLB Draft starts tomorrow, and SS Justin Lebron looks to become Alabama’s first top 15 selection in 35 years. Keith Law has Justin mocked to the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 15th pick, while ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel thinks the Angels will snag him at 12.
Lebron’s predecessor is in the majors, and he had a whale of a game yesterday.
Jarvis went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and a double in Thursday’s 10-5 win over the Pirates
Jarvis extended Atlanta’s lead to 5-2 in the fourth inning with his two-run, 397-foot blast off Cam Sanders, the first homer of his big-league career. Jarvis has seen regular playing time at shortstop since he was recalled from Triple-A in early July. He’s gone 6-for-19 across five games after slashing .313/.406/.461 with six homers across 348 plate appearances in the minors this year.
Jarvis didn’t just get it done at the plate, either.
The question on Jim has been whether he could be a serviceable hitter at the big league level. His glove and athleticism are elite, and he has earned himself a chance to prove that he can stick in the lineup.
Moving on to football, Katie Windham notes that year three has been good to Alabama head coaches.
Dating back to Billy Curry in 1989, every Crimson Tide head coach has reached double-digit wins during his third season. Sometimes those seasons with at least 10 wins led to national championships that season or the next, and sometimes it created expectations that the coach could not live up to the following year.
Winning at least 10 games this year is a minimum expectation for DeBoer in 2026. How far past that can he get? Will he be like Saban and Gene Stallings and win a national title in Year 3? Will he be like Ray Perkins or Mike DuBose with a strong third season that just creates even higher expectations for Year 4?
Ten wins doesn’t mean what it did for most of those, but may the trend continue.
Dre Kirkpatrick is the latest in the “50 players” series.
Kirkpatrick remained suspended for the rest of the season but has since rejoined the team. The exact legal resolution is unknown, but his case and charges are no longer listed in the online court system.
Kirkpatrick was back practicing with Alabama this spring and now moves toward his junior season where he will be part of one of, if not the best, secondaries in the country.
“Yeah, he had consequences for what he did and the things he’s gone through,” Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer said after Alabama’s second spring practice. “There’s still pieces to that that he’s taking care of when it comes to those consequences with the team.
“He met those requirements and has a great attitude about him. He loves ball. He’s got to build the trust up with his teammates out there every day. He’ll do the things not just on the field, but off it as well to meet the standard our program expects.”
Dre probably won’t have a huge role on this year’s team, but it’s good to see him getting his life together.
“I think the thing that stood out the most was the consistency from day one,” Diaz’s father said. “There were times where I would get a phone call that (Alabama) was at Overtime Elite just to check on him. I thought that was really cool. Every time they rolled through Atlanta and had time, they would go see him for a practice. They stood really consistent with him from the beginning. They made him a priority.”
Diaz’s father shared a story during the recruitment when Diaz went through a little bit of a slump while competing out in Memphis (TN) during the contact period. (Nate) Oats and assistant Preston Murphy gave him a call after one of the games.
“It wasn’t like ‘he did this and he did that’,” he explained. “It was more of ‘we can fix that, he just needs to do this and do that’ and that fits him to me.”
Jul 9, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers designated hitter Wyatt Langford (36) and pinch hitter Nicky Lopez (33) celebrate after Langford hits a game winning walk-off single against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Good morning, LSB.
The Rangers walked it off against the Angels last night.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 07: (L-R) Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Los Angeles Dodgers Owner and Chairman Mark Walter pose with a jersey presented to Trump as he hosts the 2024 World Series champions in the East Room of the White House on April 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees with a 7-6 victory in Game 5. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There is a precedent among North American professional sports for the reigning champions to visit the White House. It is believed to have taken precedence when the Washington Senators visited President Calvin Coolidge in 1925, and it has become commonplace among the four major sports.
The Dodgers are certainly no stranger to visiting the White House over the course of the two most recent administrations, and the team is now scheduled to visit President Donald Trump at the Oval Office for a second time. Edward Lewis of the California Post reported Thursday that the Dodgers will arrive at the White House on July 23, wedged between trips to both Philadelphia and New York.
“President Trump is excited to welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers BACK to the White House to celebrate their World Series championship!” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a statement.
“As was the case one year ago, the Dodgers’ upcoming visits to the White House and Capitol Hill follow the longtime tradition of visits by other World Series champions. We appreciate these tributes in recognition of our back-to-back championships,” the Dodgers said in a statement to The Post.
Roki Sasaki had a decent ending to his first full half season at the big league level, going six innings while allowing three earned runs in a no-decision against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.
It was the first time Sasaki had a quality start since his 10-strikeout performance against the Angels on June 5, and his first half has been defined by flashes of brilliance overshadowed by wild inconsistencies. When asked about how he assessed his season so far, he recognized his ability to remain in the rotation and improve on his fastball, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
“When you look at the numbers, I’m not satisfied with that,” Sasaki said through interpreter Kensuke Okubo. “But I was able to [stay in] the rotation and the velo’s kind of gotten a little bit up. So I’m kind of happy with it.”
The Dodgers bullpen will be patiently waiting for the return of Edwin Díaz, and following Evan Phillips’s activation, there will be another tough decision for Dave Roberts to make. One of those names in the “trust tree” right now is right-hander Edgardo Henriquez, as Roberts briefly mentioned during his post-game press conference on Wednesday.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 09: Michael Wacha #52 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 09, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Those of us that are hoping that the Kansas City Royals will make big trades during the MLB trade deadline at the end of July need to start bracing ourselves for the possibility of a quieter trading season. Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of the Athletic are reporting that the Royals are maintaining high asking prices on veteran pitchers Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo, and that they don’t expect teams to meet the Royals asking price:
The Royals, according to people briefed on their plans, are telling clubs they will listen on Lugo and Wacha, but their asks will be massive.
It’s certainly possible some team will meet a massive ask by the Royals, or that this attitude will change by the end of the month, but as things sit right now, I’m expecting Wacha and Lugo to be on the team for the remainder of the season.
Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino is hoping to return from the IL Friday. Manager Matt Quatraro talked to MLB.com reporter Bill Ladson about the first baseman:
Pasquantino is expected to play his last rehab game for Omaha on Thursday night.
“He is trying to see pitches and judge his health,” Quatraro said. “He is not making any swing adjustments.”
Pasquantino suffered a hamate bone fracture in his right hand. Those injuries are notorious for sapping power from a hitter even after they return, so temper your expectations on what we can expect from Vinnie when he returns.
Wacha pitched in his final game on Thursday before being one of two Royals representatives at the MLB All-Star game. The starter discussed his outing against the New York Mets with Ladson after the game:
“But there were a lot of long ABs. They were fouling off pitches and they ended up with some walks. The pitch count was getting up there [104 pitches total]. I had a long stressful inning [that] added up there in the fifth. I just have to do a better job right there. I have to limit the damage, limit those big innings and give our guys a chance to win.”
The Royals lost the series finale 7-3.
The MLB draft is on Saturday, but the Royals front office will not be in their draft room in Kansas City this time. General Manager J.J. Picollo explained why to Kansas City Star reporter Pete Grathoff:
“All the days leading up to the draft, there would be days impacted by the World Cup, so we just decided to move it to Arizona, just for simplicity of not having to worry about logistics, dancing around the World Cup,” Picollo said.
If the Royals are disappointed with their draft this year they can blame Lionel Messi.
Kiley McDaniel of ESPN posted his final mock draft, and has the Royals taking pitcher Jared Grindlinger at No. 6:
I think this pick comes down to Grindlinger, (Jackson) Flora and underslot pitching options such as Gio Rojas, Hunter Dietz and Mason Edwards. The choice from that group would depend on the bonus price and who can then be targeted at later picks.
McDaniel has the Royals taking UCLA pitcher Logan Reddeman at pick 30, as well as high school pitcher Jack Slightom at pick 56.
We are starting to get more information on the Royals plan for the new stadium at Crown Center: Kansas City Star writer Neil Nakahodo wrote about some newly released city records that show how the area could be reshaped and what the Royals are thinking about how people are going to get to the stadium:
A traffic study identifies a potential supply of 18,257 parking spaces, including 8,219 spaces at Crown Center and another 10,038 at off-site locations near the stadium.
The study estimates that as many as 67% of attendees would arrive by car, while 15% would use ride-share services such as Uber and 10% would walk or bike.
His article has a number of maps and images you can look at well, if you’re into that sort of thing.
“Every team needs a starter,” one American League executive said. “They’re the easiest players to move at the Deadline and often, [they’re] the ones that bring back the best return.”
The Toronto Rapors and Los Angeles Clippers trade involving Kawhi Leonard is on hold until the investigation into whether Leonard and the Clippers circumvented the salary cap is complete.
Eight men were indicted on attempted murder and terrorism charges for allegedly planning an attack during the UFC Freedom 250 event that was held at the White House in June.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 06: Brayden Burries #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots a three point shot against the Sacramento Kings during the second half of the California Classic at Golden 1 Center on July 06, 2026 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA Summer League is underway in Las Vegas, where six former Arizona men’s basketball players are looking to make positive strides over the next 10 days.
Five members of the 2025-26 Arizona team are competing in Las Vegas, as well as San Antonio Spurs second-year forward Carter Bryant.
Brayden Burries, the No. 10 overall pick to the Milwaukee Bucks, got a head start in summer league action, as he participated with the Bucks at the California Classic Summer League.
Koa Peat, the No. 30 pick to the Phoenix Suns, makes his professional debut on Friday when Phoenix takes on Portland. Burries and Peat have both signed four-year rookie contracts.
Jaden Bradley, who went No. 50 to the Toronto Raptors, also makes his debut on Friday as Toronto faces Boston. Bradley is on a one-year, two-way contract.
Tobe Awaka is on one-year, two-way deal with the Chicago Bulls. Awaka joined the Bulls as an undrafted free agent. Chicago plays Friday against Memphis.
And Anthony Dell’Orso is competing for the Sacramento Kings on a summer league contract. Dell’Orso did not play in the Kings’ first Vegas Summer League game on Thursday night.
Bryant, meanwhile, is getting in some extra reps with the reigning Western Conference champion Spurs. Bryant averaged 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game as a rookie. In Bryant’s first Summer League action Thursday, he struggled from the field, shooting 4 of 13 including 1 of 7 from three-point range.
Here is the schedule of when Arizona players will be taking the court. All times PST. (credit to Arizona Athletics).
Friday, July 10
1:00pm (PRIME) Milwaukee (Burries) vs. Miami
5:00pm (PRIME) Chicago (Awaka) vs. Memphis
6:00pm (ESPN) Toronto (Bradley) vs. Boston
8:00pm (ESPNU) Phoenix (Peat) vs. Portland
Saturday, July 11
3:00pm (ESPN) San Antonio (Bryant) vs. New York
6:30pm (PRIME) Toronto (Bradley) vs. Houston
Sunday, July 12
12:00pm (ESPN2) Phoenix (Peat) vs. New Orleans
5:00pm (PRIME) Sacramento (Dell’Orso) vs. Washington
6:00pm (ESPN) San Antonio (Bryant) vs. Milwaukee (Burries)
Monday, July 13
1:30pm (ESPN2) Toronto (Bradley) vs. Indiana
6:00pm (ESPN) Chicago (Awaka) vs. Utah
7:00pm (PRIME) Milwaukee (Burries) vs. Phoenix (Peat)
Tuesday, July 14
3:00pm (PRIME) Sacramento (Dell’Orso) vs. Brooklyn
5:00pm (PRIME) Chicago (Awaka) vs. Washington
Wednesday, July 15
3:00pm (ESPNU) Phoenix (Peat) vs. Detroit
4:30pm (PRIME) Milwaukee (Burries) vs. Charlotte
5:00pm (ESPN2) Sacramento (Dell’Orso) vs. Boston
6:30pm (PRIME) San Antonio (Bryant) vs. Utah
Thursday, July 16
3:00pm (PRIME) Chicago (Awaka) vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles, CA - March 27: Lakers guard Luka Doncic, #77, winks and points to a player after a play in the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Friday, March 27, 2026. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The NBA offseason still has a long ways to go, but the picture at the top and bottom of the league is already starting to solidify for the 2026-2027 season. The Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and New York Knicks feel like they’re in a class of their own as an elite tier of contenders. Who’s the fourth best in the NBA right now? Your guess is as good as mine.
The NBA’s new anti-tanking rules mean there are no more free wins on the schedule this season. Still, some teams are likely to be very bad, starting with the Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, and Chicago Bulls. This year’s draft lottery features a “relegation zone” which lowers the odds at a top pick for the league’s three worst teams, though it also comes with the added benefit of falling no further than the No. 12 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft. Every other team could slide all the way to No. 16.
A second wave of offseason player movement is likely coming after LeBron James finally makes his free agent decision. There’s still hoops to talk about until then, so here’s our way-too-early look at the league power rankings for 2026-2027 in mid-July.
30. Sacramento Kings
No. 7 overall pick Darius Acuff is going to get a long leash to run the show in Sacramento, but he just doesn’t have much help. Will Domantas Sabonis or Zach LaVine still be on this roster come opening night? The Kings have a decent collection of young talent starting to form with Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, Nique Clifford, and Alex Karaban, and the goal of this season should be developing them alongside Acuff.
29. Milwaukee Bucks
The Giannis era is over, and the Bucks are left with a funky roster that will probably be pretty bad. Will Tyler Herro actually play for Milwaukee this season, or get flipped closer to training camp? Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. actually looked pretty good last season, and Kel’el Ware is an exciting young big man coming over from Miami in the big trade. Most of the attention will be on how the Bucks’ two lottery picks Brayden Burries and Nate Ament develop.
28. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are going to be fun, but still project as an Eastern Conference doormat. Chicago’s two first-round rookies Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain should get plenty of reps, and it will be fascinating to see if last year’s lottery pick Noa Essengue can make an impact after a lost rookie season due to injury. A Matas Buzelis leap in year three would be huge for the Bulls’ long-term outlook.
27. Washington Wizards
A.J. Dybantsa is the star of the show after going No. 1 overall, and he’ll have a weird roster around him. Trae Young is on a new max contract for some reason. Anthony Davis is here for now, but maybe not for long. Alex Sarr and Tre Johnson are two former top-10 picks who need to develop around Dybantsa for Washington’s future to look bright.
26. Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers got great value back for Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac, but this season could be ugly. Rookie No. 5 overall pick Keaton Wagler has a lot riding on his shoulders long-term, and it will be interesting to see how he meshes with Darius Garland in the backcourt this year. There are still some solid vets here in Brook Lopez, Brandon Ingram, and Derrick Jones Jr., but I’m interested to see how youngsters Yanic Konan Niederhauser and Isaiah Jackson develop.
25. Brooklyn Nets
I think Brooklyn is going to surprise some people this year, and wouldn’t be surprised if they push for a play-in spot. New addition Julius Randle joins Michael Porter Jr. as the leaders of this team, and it’s possible Egor Demin can take a leap in his second season. Jordi Fernandez is an elite head coach and will get the most of this group.
24. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans haven’t done a single thing this offseason yet. Alright, man. There’s some talent here with Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Derik Queen, and Jeremiah Fears, but new head coach Jamahl Mosley has his work cut out for him to mold this into a functional team.
23. Golden State Warriors
Steph Curry is still elite, but the team around him is lackluster at this point. It’s too bad Jimmy Butler will miss most of this season as he recovers from a torn ACL. Is this the year we start to hear real Curry trade speculation?
22. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are young, but the talent is real. Cameron Boozer is a future superstar, Zach Edey could be awesome if he can ever stay healthy, and Cedric Coward complements the two frontcourt stars well as a long 3-and-D wing. I actually like the guard collection quite a bit too with Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Cam Spencer all poised to make an impact.
21. Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets punted on LaMelo Ball, and in doing so killed their chances for this season. This team should still be pretty decent with Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, and Coby White launching threes around one of the league’s best offensive rebounding teams, but it’s hard to imagine they can make real noise without injuries to several other East teams.
20. Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg, meet Dusty May. Dallas welcomes back Kyrie Irving from a torn ACL this season, and I like the trade for Santi Aldama. Can Dereck Lively II return from injury? I will be interested to see how Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz continue to put their stamp on this team, because it feels like a lot of these players could be flipped around Flagg.
19. Phoenix Suns
The Suns feel like a classic high floor, low ceiling team. Devin Booker has some good role players around him in Collin Gillespie, Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, Mark Williams, and Oso Ighodaro. Miles Bridges is here now too to complete Mat Ishbia’s Michigan State dream. I’m mostly interested in how last year’s No. 10 overall pick Khaman Maluach develops in the middle.
18. Utah Jazz
The Jazz are ready to make a big leap. Darryn Peterson will be an instant impact rookie, and he joins a talented veteran core led by Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Keyonte George. If Will Hardy is as good as a head coach as everyone believes he is, this team should push for the playoffs.
17. Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta gave the Knicks their toughest playoff series in the first-round last season, and they continue to build out their future talent pool. Rookies Kingston Flemings and Zuby Ejiofor could be instant contributors, and picking up Aaron Wiggins from the Thunder for nothing was a nice move, too. Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu and CJ McCollum feels like a high floor, low ceiling group for this season, but the Hawks continue to move in the right direction.
16. Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers are going to be fascinating with the return of Damian Lillard and the trade for Ja Morant. That seems like a poor fit to me, but at least Portland gave up absolutely nothing to get Morant from Memphis. Donovan Clingan and Scoot Henderson are the two most important players on the roster for the future of the franchise, and both could take a leap this season. The defense should be really good, and Deni Avdija will continue to be a battering ram off the bounce, but I don’t know if this team has enough of a ceiling to build on last year.
15. Orlando Magic
Sean Sweeney is the new head coach tasked with getting the most out of a talent Magic roster. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner just haven’t worked as well as expected together, and this might be their last chance with a massive payroll looming. If Sweeney is good and Jalen Suggs can actually stay healthy, I wouldn’t be too surprised if Orlando ends up much better than this.
14. Miami Heat
Pat Riley finally landed his next superstar in Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the supporting cast needs work. The front court should be elite defensively with Giannis joining Bam Adebayo, but the offensive spacing will be a question mark. The backcourt has almost no shot-creation, but Erik Spoelstra is better than anyone at developing diamonds in the rough. He’s going to need to do it again for this team to win a playoff series.
13. Houston Rockets
The Rockets have been strangely quiet this summer, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a big move coming before the season opens. For now, the main thing to get excited about is the return of Fred VanVleet. Houston’s young core of Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr. remains enticing, and it feels like all of them can still go up another level this season.
12. Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers are loaded with top-end talent after the stunning Jaylen Brown trade, but it’s hard to say how it will all fit together. Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe is a great foundation even before you get to Joel Embiid, whose uncertain health hangs over every Sixers season. I’m concerned about the depth and the defense of this team, especially when Embiid inevitably misses half the season.
11. Indiana Pacers
Tyrese Haliburton is back from a torn Achilles, and the entire league will be wondering if he can pick up where he left off from Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. The team around him is mostly pretty similar save for swapping out Myles Turner for Ivica Zubac, which should be a big upgrade. Indiana might be the most interesting team entering the season.
10. Cleveland Cavaliers
I expect LeBron James to sign here, but we can’t bake that in yet. The Cavs are pretty good without him coming off a conference finals appearance. Donovan Mitchell is locked in long-term, and Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen return in the front court. I just can’t count on a James Harden team (he’ll re-sign soon) to break through at this point.
9. Toronto Raptors
I love the Raptors’ playoff ceiling after the Kawhi Leonard trade if he can stay healthy through an entire postseason run. That’s a huge if. Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Leonard should be an elite defensive trio. Getting anything from Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl this year would be a big boost.
8. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons did some tinkering to the rotation, but it still feels like they have a lot of the same problems as last year. Cade Cunningham is awesome, and gives this team a high floor by himself. Jalen Duren should re-sign soon, and he’s better than he showed during the playoffs. Ausar Thompson might be the best wing defender in the league, and Ron Holland could make an impact there too if either of them could improve their outside shooting a little bit. Swapping out Tobias Harris for John Collins is … fine. Detroit could make the NBA Finals, but they have real pressure to at least make the conference finals this year.
7. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets haven’t done anything this summer as they wait out Peyton Watson’s restricted free agency. It definitely feels like they could make cost-cutting moves on the margins before the season starts, but we can’t factor those in yet. Denver looked old and slow last year, but they still have Nikola Jokic, who remains a top-3 player in the world. I can’t see the Nuggets falling too far as long as Jokic is around.
6. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers went for broke to build around Luka Doncic this summer, and it better work. LA paid a ridiculous price for Walker Kessler, but he is exactly the type of defensive-minded center a team led by Doncic and Austin Reaves needs in the middle. My big hangup here is the lack of wing talent. I love Adou Thiero as much as the next draft guy, but it doesn’t feel great that the Lakers are legitimately counting on him to take a leap this year.
5. Boston Celtics
The Celtics are still going to be really good after trading Jaylen Brown. Boston is essentially replacing Brown with a full year of Jayson Tatum while adding Mitchell Robinson and Paul George. I’m buying a Payton Pritchard leap this year. The Celtics are going to launch threes, crash the offensive glass, and try to avoid turnovers, which is usually a great formula for the regular season.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves
The LaMelo Ball trade will define this franchise for the next few years at least. I think Ball is a highly impactful star guard, but his constant injury issues have a chance to derail this entire experience. If Ball can stay healthy, his elite handle, pull-up shooting, and passing vision feels like a perfect fit next to Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, and Jaden McDaniels. This team really needs Gobert to fight off father time. I’d like this group more if they had a bigger player in Ayo Dosunmu’s spot.
Championship favorites
3. New York Knicks
The Knicks only won 53 games in the regular season before finding magic in the playoffs on their way to one of the most dominant championship runs in recent league history. The bulk of this team is back minus Mitchell Robinson, who was a sneaky important piece off the bench. The key for the Knicks is going to be avoiding any decline by Jalen Brunson, and keeping Karl-Anthony Towns locked in to the best version of himself. If that happens, another trip to the NBA Finals could very well happen.
2. San Antonio Spurs
How will Victor Wembanyama respond to his crushing NBA Finals loss? Wemby would be wise to pace himself during the regular season, but it doesn’t seem like it’s in his nature to do it. The De’Aaron Fox question hangs over this franchise, because there’s no doubt Dylan Harper is ready to take over as their lead guard. Harper and Wembanyama will be showtime, and the supporting cast around them is improved. I like adding Tobias Harris at power forward in free agency, and I think Stephon Castle could benefit from transitioning from guard to wing. San Antonio will be very, very good around Wembanyama for the foreseeable future.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder may have gone back-to-back if not for untimely injuries to Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell. Williams essentially lost the entire season with soft tissue strains, and the Thunder desperately need him back playing at his top level given how big his cap hit is now. Oklahoma City did a nice job keeping their core in place even as they trimmed some salary by trading away Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins. Will Lu Dort be on this roster opening night? Can Chet Holmgren shake off his horrific Western Conference Finals and regain his status as one of the league’s best bigs? The Thunder have an oustanding formula with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s shot creation and an elite defense. They remain the team to beat until further notice.
Jun 14, 2025; Omaha, Neb, USA; UCLA Bruins shortstop Roch Cholowsky (1) bunts in a run against the Murray State Racers during the fourth inning at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images | Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
Next week, the 2026 MLB All-Star Game gets underway at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
But before this generation’s stars take the field, the next generation will take the stage in the City of Brotherly Love.
The 2026 MLB Draft gets underway on Saturday, and over 600 prospects will hear their names called during the 20 rounds that unfold, beginning with the Chicago White Sox at No. 1 overall. To get you ready, we have a mock draft to help set the stage.
For more on how the first round works, we have you covered here with this piece from Thursday. And a note on methodology: This is a “what I think will happen” mock draft, and not a “what I would do” mock draft. Mostly because I would draft Georgia catcher Daniel Jackson with every pick in that scenario. But there is still some “what I would do” sprinkled in …
Here are the picks, with some thoughts after.
Pick
Team
Player
Position
School
1
Chicago White Sox
Roch Cholowsky
SS
UCLA
2
Tampa Bay Rays
Grady Emerson
SS
Fort Worth Christian HS (TX)
3
Minnesota Twins
Vahn Lackey
C
Georgia Tech
4
San Francisco Giants
Drew Burress
OF
Georgia Tech
5
Pittsburgh Pirates
Eric Booth Jr.
OF
Oak Grove HS (MS)
6
Kansas City Royals
Jackson Flora
RHP
UC Santa Barbara
7
Baltimore Orioles
Justin Lebron
SS
Alabama
8
Athletics
Ryder Helfrick
C
Arkansas
9
Atlanta Braves
Jacob Lombard
SS
Gulliver Prep HS (FL)
10
Colorado Rockies
Tyler Bell
SS
Kentucky
11
Washington Nationals
Ace Reese
3B
Mississippi State
12
Los Angeles Angels
Christopher Hacopian
2B
Texas A&M
13
St. Louis Cardinals
Derek Curiel
OF
LSU
14
Miami Marlins
Gio Rojas
LHP
Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)
15
Arizona Diamondbacks
Trevor Condon
OF
Etowah HS (GA)
16
Texas Rangers
Mason Edwards
LHP
USC
17
Houston Astros
Daniel Jackson
C
Georgia
18
Cincinnati Reds
AJ Gracia
OF
Virginia
19
Cleveland Guardians
Jared Grindlinger
OF/LHP
Huntington Beach HS (CA)
20
Boston Red Sox
Cameron Flukey
RHP
Coastal Carolina
21
San Diego Padres
Zion Rose
OF
Louisville
22
Detroit Tigers
Hunter Dietz
LHP
Arkansas
23
Chicago Cubs
Liam Peterson
RHP
Florida
24
Seattle Mariners
Tegan Kuhns
RHP
Tennessee
25
Milwaukee Brewers
Sawyer Strosnider
OF
TCU
26
Atlanta Braves
Carson Bolemon
LHP
Southside Christian HS (SC)
27
New York Mets
Cole Carlon
LHP
Arizona State
28
Houston Astros
Brody Bumila
LHP
Bishop Feehan HS (MA)
29
San Francisco Giants
Cameron Borthwick
RHP
South Walton HS (FL)
30
Kansas City Royals
Aiden Ruiz
SS
The Stony Brook School (NY)
31
Arizona Diamondbacks
Logan Schmidt
LHP
Ganesha HS (CA)
32
St. Louis Cardinals
Bo Lowrance
3B
Christ Church Episcopal HS (SC)
33
Tampa Bay Rays
Aiden Robbins
OF
Texas
34
Pittsburgh Pirates
Cade Townsend
RHP
Mississippi
35
New York Yankees
Logan Reddemann
RHP
UCLA
36
Philadelphia Phillies
Taj Marchand
SS
James Island HS (SC)
37
Colorado Rockies
Jack Radel
RHP
Notre Dame
If you want to get a little deeper into this class, read on.
Thoughts on the top ten
Let’s dive into the top ten selections a bit more.
1. Chicago White Sox: Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA
It is by no means a done deal, but UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky remains the consensus top player in the class. And with the White Sox trying to sign him out of high school, the pairing between player and team fits. But there is a lot to like about Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson, as well as Georgia Tech’s Vahn Lackey, who stand out as the top three players in the class. Chicago likely goes with Cholowsky, who might have the highest floor of the three, but Emerson might have the highest ceiling.
2. Tampa Bay Rays: Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian HS (TX)
If Cholowsky indeed comes off the board first, Tampa Bay runs to the podium for Emerson. The high school shortstop has a silky smooth swing from the left side of the plate, is coming off another monster season where he slashed .532/.648/1.013, and was just the second high school player in the past 48 years to be named a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, joining Bobby Witt Jr. on that short list.
3. Minnesota Twins: Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech
The Minnesota Twins sit in a decent spot, as they would be happy to take Vahn Lackey, who slashed .397/.519/.722 as part of Georgia Tech’s monster offense this season.
4. San Francisco Giants: Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech
This might be the first departure from consensus, as a bit of “what I would do” works its way into this mock draft. But in addition to Lackey, outfielder Drew Burress was a huge part of the Georgia Tech offense this past season. He slashed .358/.473/.675, while belting 16 home runs to break Jason Varitek’s school record of 57 career home runs, as Burress hit 60 during his time in college. The San Francisco Giants have been linked to several bats in this class, but Burress’ power stands out.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates: Eric Booth Jr., OF, Oak Grove HS (MS)
Mississippi outfielder Eric Booth Jr. is something of a consensus pick for the Pirates, and Pittsburgh dipped into the Mississippi prep waters recently with some success with Konnor Griffin. Eric Booth Jr. is considered the top prep outfielder in the 2026 MLB Draft class, hit .467 as a junior in 2025, and followed that with a .481/.699/.922 slash line this past year:
Eric Booth Jr. is one of the most exciting athletes in the 2026 class.
In his junior year, he hit .467 with six home runs, five triples, 12 doubles and 27 stolen bases.
6. Kansas City Royals: Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
It’s time for the first pitcher to come off the board, and it is UC Santa Barbara right-hander Jackson Flora. Flora set a new school record with 133 strikeouts this season, as he finished with a 12-0 record, an ERA of 1.06, and a WHIP of just 0.853. Flora features high-level velocity — his fastball rests in the upper 90s and hits triple digits regularly — but he can mix in two different sliders, as well as two different changeups.
If Flora is off the board, high school arm Gio Rojas could be a pick for Kansas City here.
7. Baltimore Orioles: Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama
Here is another selection where the college influence creeps into my mind. Consensus is mixed on Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron, who could come off the board anywhere from No. 8 to the late teens.
So I concede I might be higher on him than consensus, but the tools are there and the shortstop was critical to Alabama’s run to Omaha this season. According to multiple reports the Orioles are looking at college bats with this pick, and Lebron makes a great deal of sense.
8. Athletics: Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas
As noted by other outlets, the Athletics are looking at college bats, and Ryder Helfrick sliding to this spot would offer a nice combination of positional value and power at the plate. Helfrick slashed .305/.420/.616 for the Razorbacks in 2025 along with 15 home runs, and followed that with a .283/.417/.562 slash line in 2026 along with 18 big flies.
Plus, there is a track record of success with the wood bat, as he slashed .261/.323/.837 for Brewster on the Cape during the summer of 2024, along with 11 home runs.
9. Atlanta Braves: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep HS (FL)
This might be a bit low for Jacob Lombard, who is coming off boards earlier than this in other industry mock drafts. But with the board falling like this, the Braves would be happy to see Lombard available. The Florida infielder carries some “swing-and-miss” risk, particularly against upper-level velocity, but he offers an intriguing mix of power at the plate and speed on the bases.
10. Colorado Rockies: Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky
The Colorado Rockies are another team linked to college bats in the 2026 MLB Draft, and Kentucky infielder Tyler Bell certainly fits the bill. Bell slashed an impressive .343/.510/.608 for the Wildcats this past season, with nine home runs.
The switch-hitter also has power from both sides of the plate. Here is a home run against West Virginia in the College World Series Regionals:
Sep 18, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Luis Vazquez (52) fields the ball for an out during the second inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 5, Syracuse Mets 4 — F/10
Norfolk let a two-run lead slip away but walked it off in the bottom of the tenth. Josh Walker kept the Mets off the board in the top of the frame, and Luis Vázquez drove in the automatic runner with a single to right field.
José Barrero got the Tides on the board with a solo homer in the second inning, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand launched a three-run shot in the bottom of the third. Norfolk only tallied five hits across the ten innings. Heston Kjerstad went 1-for-4, and Sam Huff singled in four trips.
Christian Herberholz limited Syracuse to two runs (one earned) over five innings. He allowed two hits, walked three, and struck out one. Dietrich Enns allowed a run over two innings, and Yosver Zulueta allowed a run in the eighth.
Chesapeake starter Evan Yates came within one out of a quality start, but he took the loss after allowing three runs over 5.2 innings. Yates allowed five hits, walked two, and struck out four. Micah Ashman allowed a pair of runs and failed to complete an inning of work.
Douglas Hodo III gave the Baysox an early lead with a solo home run in the top of the first. Aron Estrada doubled, walked and scored a run. Frederick Bencosme walked twice, and Thomas Sosa recorded a pinch-hit single in his only at bat.
High-A: Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies) Frederick Keys — PPD
The game was postponed for inclement weather and will be made up on July 11.
Happy Friday, everyone! Can you believe it? We’re already at the last weekend of play before the All-Star break. The season has already passed the halfway mark officially, but the All-Star Break feels like the marker where we really see which teams are going to make a push for the postseason.
The All-Star Game will also see a pitching icon who is currently on the IL get acknowledged with the “Legend” selection, and that’s Tigers’ pitcher Justin Verlander, who has spent most of the 2026 season injured. He has now come out and announced that he has heard his body’s message loud and clear, and the 2026 season will officially be his last. Right after finding out he’d be headed to Philly for the ASG, he took to his social media to announce his decision.
It remains to be seen if Verlander will return to the mound in the latter half of the season, but for him and for Tigers’ fans, it would be nice to see him go out on a high note.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 15: Eduardo Nunez and Miguel Sano of the Minnesota Twins collide in right field going after a ball hit by Yunel Escobar of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during the fourth inning of the game on April 15, 2016 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. All players are wearing number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After the Total System Failure (TM) of May 2016, the Minnesota Twins stabilized a bit in the W/L columns. From June through July, the team went 25-28. Disappointing for most squads–a miracle for this ’16 unit.
Alas, this did not stop further embarrassments from transpiring as the campaign slogged on.
Sano is Right–but also wrong
Desperate for any offense in ’16, the Twins wanted to keep the lumber of both Trevor Plouffe & Miguel Sano in the lineup at all times. The problem? Both were entrenched at 3B. Well, until the fateful (see header image) decision to play Sano in right field for 38 games.
I’ve always found this clip to be an accurate representation of the Miguel Sano RF Experience (TM)…
Byung-Ho goes bye bye
In 62 contests, the much-ballyhooed Korean Baseball Organization prospect put up this line: -0.2 WAR, 244 PA, 12 HR, .191 BA, .684 OPS. His last game occurred June 28, after which he was demoted due to a wrist injury (very possibly a “wrist injury”) and never heard from in Twins Territory–or anywhere else stateside–again.
After posting a .723 OPS in 111 AAA Rochester games in 2017, Park returned to the KBO in ’18–where he immediately punished 43 Park Bangs to the tune of a 1.174 OPS. Like Tsuyoshi Nishioka before him, Park just could not make the jump from Far East to Midwest.
Terry Ryan re-gone
From 1994-2007, Terry Ryan was the Twins’ General Manager before stepping away from the role. After 4 tumultuous years of Bill Smith’s GM reign, Ryan was re-hired in 2012. What looked–in 2015–to be a promising rebuild, however, came crashing down in 2016.
On July 18, Ryan was–perhaps mercifully–let go, with Rob Antony stepping in under an interim GM tag. Though a better “baseball person” than Ryan likely does not exist, it was clear by mid-’16 that he had “lost his fastball” in terms of adapting to the modern game of roster churn, analytics, and pitching usage.
The Mets defeated the hapless Royals in their series finale yesterday afternoon in Queens, taking the series and winning their fourth game in their last five. It’s too little, too late for these 2026 Mets, but it’s always preferable to see them win.
The Marlins remain scorching hot, as they defeated the Mariners to complete a sweep of Seattle. Miami is now even with the Phillies for second place in the division, and both teams are three games back of the first-place Braves.
The Nationals had the day off, but Federal Baseball looks at Foster Griffin’s intriguing situation with the trade deadline looming. Washington is 48-46 on the season and four games back of the third Wild Card spot at the moment.
Catch up on all of the scores from yesterday’s slate of MLB games here.
This Date in Mets History
July 10 has been a busy day in Mets history, as Matt Franco had a big hit against the Yankees on this date in 1999, the team sent David Wright, Jose Reyes, and Carlos Beltrán to the All-Star Game in 2007, and they traded for Jeff Francoeur in 2009.
DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 05: Kyle Karros #12 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates with Braxton Fulford #37, TJ Rumfield #7, and Brett Sullivan #26 after his go-ahead three-run home run in the eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field on July 5, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the calendar turned the page from May to June, something happened to the Colorado Rockies.
As the weather got hotter and summer really turned on, so did the Rockies offense.
In the 60 games from the season opener on March 27 to May 31, the Rockies production at the plate ranked No. 22 in MLB in OBP (.313) and home runs (54), No. 18 in runs scored (251) and SLG (.384) and tied for ninth with a .245 average. Colorado was tied for the third-highest strikeout rate at 24% with the Chicago White Sox and owned a 7.7% walk rate, which was second-worst in the league.
The team’s combined WAR was 0.0 — the worst in MLB, trailing the Dodgers 12.8. The result was a 22-38 record.
Since June 1, the Rockies have been drastically different.
Time Frame
G
PA
HR
R
RBI
SB
BB%
K%
BABIP
AVG
OBP
SLG
wOBA
xwOBA
wRC+
Off
WAR
March 27-May 31
60
2252
54
251
239
49
7.70%
24.0%
.307
.245
.313
.384
.308
.303
79
-56.5
0
June 1-July 8
34
1321
53
206
198
16
9.30%
21.0%
.319
.278
.354
.494
.365
.319
117
24.8
6.3
Total
94
3590
107
457
437
65
8.30%
22.9%
.311
.257
.328
.424
.329
.309
93
-32.4
6.3
The first big improvement is in their approach and eye at the plate. In the 34 games since June 1 through Wednesday’s 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Rockies have improved their strikeout rate to 21% (ranked No. 21), which is down 3%. In addition, the walk rate has increased 1.6% to 9.3%, which is No. 7.
Outside of increased walks and fewer strikeouts, the results are evident in the stats. The Rockies .278 batting average, .354 on-base percentage and .494 slugging percentage are all the best in baseball since June 1. Their 206 runs and 198 RBIs are also tops. It’s shifted Colorado’s runs per game from 5.57 before June to 6.06 since.
In their first 60 games, the Rockies hit 54 homers. In their last 34, they’ve hit 53. The total is nearly the same in half the games. In that time frame, the 53 homers are also tied for third-most in MLB with the Twins and trailing the Washington Nationals and Detroit Tigers.
The team’s combined WAR has bumped up to 6.3, which is tied for the ninth-best since June 1. The result is a 16-18 record, a .471 winning percentage compared to .367.
Along the way, the Rockies have played in more close games. They were 6-9 in one-run games before June and are 6-4 in them since. They have rallied back in the eighth and ninth innings more often to rediscover the “LoDo Magic.” Entering Thursday’s series against the Giants, the Rockies have scored more runs in the eighth inning or later — 129 — in the big leagues. The next-best is Atlanta’s 116.
One of the biggest reasons for this success is that it isn’t just because of one player. It’s been a true team effort.
Five Rockies have hit over .300 since June 1 with Kyle Karros at the top of the list. Karros has hit .343 with a .440 OBP and 24 runs scored. Jake McCarthy has driven in 27 runs while hitting .325. Cole Carrigg is hitting .307 with 23 runs scored and 21 RBI. All-Star Hunter Goodman has hit 14 homers, driven in 28 runs and scored 24. TJ Rumfield and Troy Johnston have hit .317 and .302, respectively. The surge hasn’t even included Mickey Moniak, who was sidelined with an ankle injury from May 22 to June 22.
So what’s the reason for the surge?
Talented young players like Carrigg, Rumfield and Karros help, continued production from back-to-back All-Star Goodman and the surprising addition of McCarthy adding a spark to the offense are all paying off. It’s a good sign for the new coaching staff and front office that the moves they are making are starting to pay off. Time will tell if it’s sustainable, especially with the Draft and tradeline coming up.
While Colorado’s record is still suffering from the slow start and sits at 38-56 (.404) after dropping the Dodgers series 2-1, the Rockies are projected by FanGraphs to finish 66-96. That would be a 23-win improvement from their 43-119 2025 season.
Sterlin Thompson hit an RBI single and Vimael Machín hit a sac fly to score Charlie Condon in the first inning to help the Isotopes jump out to an early 2-0 lead. Sugar Land rallied back to take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the first, but Albuquerque reclaimed the lead in the second when Nic Kent hit a two-run homer, which was his 11th of the season. The Space Cowboys bounced back again, tying the game in the bottom of the second. That score stuck until the sixth inning when Adael Amador connected for a two-run double that ended up being the game-winner.
Keegan Thompson started the game and allowed four runs on two hits with four walks and three strikeouts in four innings. Evan Shawver earned the win by striking out six and giving up only two hits in four scoreless innings.
The Rumble Ponies and Yard Goats both recorded 10 hits, but it was Binghamton that pieced together a four-run rally in the sixth on its way to the win on Thursday night. Dyan Jorge went 3-for-3 with a double, two walks and two runs scored, Roc Riggio added three hits and an RBI, GJ Hill chipped in two hits and scored a run, Mike Antico posted an RBI double, and Jack O’Dowd recorded a sac fly. Stu Flesland III had a short, but solid start, giving up one hit and striking out six in four scoreless innings. Fisher Jameson took the loss after allowing seven runs on nine hits with one walk and five strikeouts in the final five innings.
Despite trailing 1-0 after five innings, the Indians pieced together an impressive comeback to win on Thursday night. It started in the sixth inning when Kelvin Hidalgo hit his ninth homer of the season to tie the game. Spokane then took the lead with a three-run eighth inning that started when Tevin Tucker singled. Two outs later, Tucker stole second and then stole third, only to come around to score on a throwing error. Spokane took advantage of the mistake as Roynier Hernandez walked, Ethan Hedges singled, Tanner Thach walked and Robert Calez hit a two-run single. The insurance runs proved to be more than enough with Hunter Mann throwing three scoreless innings with three strikeouts and three hits to close out the game and earn the win. Bryson Hammer put up a quality start for the Indians with six strikeouts and only one run on four hits and two walks.
The Grizzlies were out-hit 13-12 by the Ports, but since four of those 12 hits were homers, Fresno came out on top on Thursday. Cameron Nelson hit a two-run home run in the second to put the Grizzlies up 3-0 and Roldy Brito added a solo shot in the next inning to make it 4-0. Cruzmel Arias increased Fresno’s lead to 5-3 with a solo homer of his own in the sixth and Cam Hassert added another two-run bomb in the sixth to make it 7-3. Nelson also added an RBI single in the eighth and ended the game with four hits. Austin Newton earned the win for Fresno with five solid innings where he gave up three runs on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts in five innings. Bryson Van Sickle earned a four-inning save after only surrendering one run on five hits with five strikeouts.
Parker Gabriel speculates on who the Rockies might select in the MLB Draft, which begins Saturday. The Rockies have the No. 10 pick and five picks in the first four rounds. He believes the Rockies will select hitters who have a good eye at the plate — those who chase less and walk more. Gabriel also recaps several mock drafts.
On Thursday, the fifth and sixth bats joined Monday’s Home Run Derby in Jordan Walker and Philly’s own Bryce Harper. That means there are two spots open and a few days left for MLB to extend an invite to Hunter Goodman. Goodman is tied for the fourth-most homers in MLB — that’s six more than Walker’s 21 and seven more than Harper’s 20 entering Thursday’s games.
Dave Nichols chronicles Gabriel Hughes’ rise to being called up to the Majors, culminating in his first start with the Rockies on Monday. The Rockies first-round draft pick from 2022 put up a quality start in his starting debut, against the Dodgers nonetheless.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 08: A general view of Oracle Park during a fireworks show after the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants on Friday, May 8, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
San Francisco Giants baseball is back at Oracle Park this weekend, so let’s see what’s on deck for fans planning to attend.
Friday is Black Heritage Night at Oracle Park. This is a special event, so fans interested in receiving the Black Heritage Night three-quarter sleeve baseball tee will have to purchase special event tickets. There will be events throughout the ballpark celebrating the Black community and honoring their history and impact on the game. After the game, there will be a fireworks show as well. You know, just in case you haven’t had enough from your neighbors all week.
Saturday will be a Fiesta Gigantes celebration throughout the park, as all home Saturday games are this season. And the first 20,000 fans in attendance will receive a Gigantes Aloha Shirt, which is the perfect addition to any collection. Saturday will also be Dog Days 1, which requires a special event ticket. Special event ticket holders will get to participate in a pre-game field parade with their pups! If you can’t make this one, they will have another event in September.
Sunday is Nickelodeon Day at Oracle Park. The first 20,000 fans in attendance will receive a SpongeBob SquarePants hat giveaway, perfect for the millennial in your life.
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants continue this four-game series against the Colorado Rockies tonight at 7:15 p.m. PT.
Jonah Tong had another mediocre outing in Syracuse, as he continued to strike batters out an impressive rate while issuing too many walks and giving up too many runs. That outing turned an early two-run lead into a deficit, and the Syracuse lineup was able to get those runs back and get to extras but failed to score in the top of the tenth before Norfolk got the free runner run in the bottom of that inning.
A four-run sixth ining was the biggest one of the night for the Rumble Ponies, but things were looking pretty comfortable all along. R.J. Gordon, who had a solid 2025 season before struggling early this season, made a cromulent start.
Mitch Voit had one of his better nights at the plate since the Mets drafted him, and a four-run first inning by the Cyclones set the tone for the game. Their six-run eighth inning made it crystal clear that they were winning this game.
