LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 02: Jake Bennett #64 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, August 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
What’s the opposite of “when it rains, it pours”? When the sky is clear, it gets even clearer? I don’t think that really makes sense, because a well-timed cloud is always a nice treat. When humidity dissipates, it dissipates to an even greater degree? That makes some sense, because who likes humidity? I don’t know if anyone actively notices humidity declining, though. Reverse-engineered idioms aside, things are going really well for the Boston Red Sox.
I mean, they just beat the Dodgers, 8-4, to complete a three-game sweep. The same Dodgers who are ruining baseball because they’re so much better than everyone else, or whatever. It started in the very first inning, when a flurry of walks and singles gave the Red Sox a 2-0 lead. There was a blip in the bottom of the second, when the Dodgers scored three runs after several singles. Fortunately, there’s something in the Red Sox’s clubhouse water these days. Whenever they get punched, there’s a counterpunch. This time, it came when Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, and Masataka Yoshida hit three solo home runs on seven pitches to regain the lead.
From there, it was fairly smooth sailing. Jake Bennett retired ten in a row after the second inning barrage, going 5.2 innings and limiting the Dodgers to just three runs. Jarren Duran tacked on another run via the long ball in the sixth, and the Red Sox grabbed two more in the eighth.
After Bennett, the bullpen was excellent. Justin Slaten finished the sixth inning, and then Tyron Guerrero, Jovani Moran, Greg Weissert, and Garrett Whitlock combined to allow one run. Despite the success, I can’t help but feel like the bullpen is a man short. Going to Whitlock, who is reportedly banged up, in a four-run game feels excessive. If Ryan Watson can’t be trusted with a four-run lead, maybe he isn’t the best use of a roster spot. An off day tomorrow likely gave Chad Tracy the ability to have a shorter leash on some of his arms, but I’d like to see one more arm come in to take some of the load off the top arms.
That’s the last West Coast game of the regular season. We can all go to bed at a reasonable hour going forward. Tomorrow is a day off on the field, but the trade deadline looms at 6 p.m. EST. Go get these fellas some well-deserved help, Craig.
Three Studs
Jake Bennett
I’ll admit, I was skeptical of how Bennett would perform against an offense like the Dodgers’. I thought his strike-throwing might get punished by a real long lineup. It wasn’t the most dominant outing — a 9% swinging strike rate is well below average — but he got the job done. He continues to miss barrels, particularly against lefties, and his changeup gives him a pitch to help neutralize righties. He leaned into his cutter and sweeper more today; neither was great, but improvements to either pitch would help his ceiling rise. Innings is an area to watch, but Bennett has been a stablizing force in the Red Sox rotation.
Nick Sogard
Sogard made at least two, maybe three diving plays in the infield. He reached base twice as well, although he didn’t score. Still, the defense was excellent and helped the pitching staff out of some innings.
Rafaela has been excellent all season, but he’s been particularly good over the last week. He hit his fourth home run in the series in the third inning to tie the game, while also scoring the first run of the game. He has the Jackie Bradley Jr trait of getting insanely hot each of the last two seasons, while playing top-tier defense in center.
Three Duds
Willson Contreras (0-4)
Andruw Monasterio (1-3, HBP, one weird defensive play that incited a Dodgers rally)
Me (Forgot I had laundry in the dryer for like, 2 hours. Now I have to fold it at 11 pm like a chump)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ceddanne Rafaela homered for the third straight game and the Boston Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-4 on Sunday night to sweep the three-game series.
Masataka Yoshida homered and drove in two runs, and Jake Bennett (7-4) allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings to help the Red Sox win their fifth straight game. Boston is 23-3 since July 3.
Emmet Sheehan (4-8) was pulled after allowing five runs in 2 2/3 innings, with the Red Sox pushing across two runs in a 30-pitch first inning.
Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu then clocked Sheehan for back-to-back homers to start the third inning, followed by Yoshida’s solo shot for a 5-3 lead two batters later.
Rafaela went 7 for 14 with four homers and five RBIs in the series. He has an eight-game hitting streak with four straight multi-hit outings.
Jarren Duran picked up Boston’s fourth solo homer in the sixth inning off reliever Kyle Hurt.
The Red Sox added two more runs in the eighth inning on a wild pitch and passed ball.
Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing was pulled out of the lineup shortly before the game started because of right arm irritation, with Eliezer Alfonzo taking over behind the plate.
Up next
Red Sox: LHP Patrick Sandoval (0-0, 3.32 ERA) was set to start the opener of a three-game series at home against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.
Dodgers: LHP Justin Wrobleski (11-2, 2.88 ERA) could get the call in the first of three games at the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.
Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan reacts on the mound during the third inning of an 8-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium on Sunday. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
The Dodgers were swept for just the second time this season after the red-hot Boston Red Sox hit four home runs, including three off embattled starter Emmet Sheehan, to take an 8-4 win on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium.
Boston hit three home runs in four at-bats in the third inning, with Sheehan giving up blasts to Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and Masataka Yoshida as the Dodgers suffered their second three-game sweep at home in less than a month.
“It was bad execution,” Sheehan said. “I just missed my spots.”
Boston got to Sheehan early with a pair of RBI singles from Yoshida and Caleb Durbin in the first inning.
The Dodgers (69-43) responded with three runs in the second as Eliézer Alfonzo collected an RBI with a groundout against Red Sox starter Jake Bennett. Andy Pages then drove in two more runs on a single to right. He also hit an RBI double in the seventh for the Dodgers’ final run.
Sheehan (4-8), who has a 6.39 ERA over his past seven starts, gave up six hits and five runs over just 2⅔ innings.
Reliever Wyatt Mills also struggled, giving up two runs over two innings.
Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan walks off the field during the third inning against the Red Sox on Sunday. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
“I don’t know,” Sheehan said about his rough stretch. “If I knew, I would fix it, but I’m going to keep trying to fix it. ... The only thing I can do is try to get better. There’s no other option.”
Added Dodgers manager Dave Roberts: “I just don’t think [Sheehan] was sharp today at all. ... They took a lot of comfortable swings [and] aggressive swings. There were some strikeouts and some swing-miss. But the end of the day, it’s about limiting runs, and if you can’t keep the ball in the ballpark, then it’s hard to win.”
Bennett (7-4), settled in after his rough second inning and threw 5⅔ innings as Boston won for the 27th time in 32 games after outscoring the Dodgers 20-10 in the three-game series.
Jarren Duran, a Cypress native, added to Boston’s lead with a 420-foot solo homer to center field off reliever Kyle Hurt in the sixth. It was Duran’s first homer since July 5 against the Angels.
Boston (60-51) closed out the scoring in the eighth, with Durbin scoring on a wild pitch from Mills and Andruw Monasterio scoring on a ball that got past Alfonzo.
“I think that if you look at it, unemotionally, they outplayed us,” Roberts said about Boston’s sweep. “They were hungrier. You’ve got a lot of players over there that are under control. They’re fighting a higher seed in the postseason. They’re playing good baseball, and they outplayed us.
“It’s not an excuse. I don’t feel good about it, but that’s kind of what I saw.”
Skubal arrives
Newly acquired Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal greets center fielder Andy Pages in the eighth inning of an 8-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Sunday. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Starting pitcher Tarik Skubal, acquired by the Dodgers in a trade with the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, was in the Dodgers’ dugout during the game, exchanging pleasantries with his new teammates and coaches.
The team also shared a video of Skubal settling in on social media.
“We got better,” said Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz. “That’s the only thing I can say. We got … one of the best pitchers in the league, and now we have him as a teammate. So that’s a really good plus for us.”
Miguel Rojas (ankle) was available off the bench despite exiting Saturday’s game after fouling a ball off his foot.
“I felt better today, able to put some weight on it,” Rojas said, adding that his X-rays were negative. “The good thing is no break. So, I’m fine. If Doc needs me and the situation presents itself ... I need to be available every single day.”
Dalton Rushing was scratched with minor right arm irritation; Alfonzo started in his place.
“Dalton had some arm irritation when he was playing catch before the game, which is very uncommon,” Roberts said, adding that X-rays were negative. “I didn’t want to take a chance and kind of push him anymore, so that’s why I decided to scratch him.
“He got treated today, and my expectation is he’s going to be with us on the plane, and then kind of day to day.”
SAN DIEGO — All was quiet in the visitors’ dugout Sunday afternoon. No commotion to make a mid-inning substitution. Nothing to see for anyone on hug watch.
A few hundred miles up the coast, president of baseball operations Buster Posey and his contingent of Giants executives hunkered down in their offices inside Oracle Park and continued to put in the work that should mean the next 24 hours won’t pass so stealthily with several moves expected.
Giants pitcher Landen Roupp is trying to impress down the stretch, but he struggled Sunday against the host Padres. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
San Francisco made a move after the game, dealing right-handed pitcher Tyler Mahle to the Braves for right-handed pitcher Anthony Molina.
Others in the industry kicked into high gear approaching MLB’s trade deadline — 3 p.m. PT Monday — with starting pitchers Tarik Skubal (to the Dodgers), Freddy Peralta (Rays) and Luis Castillo (White Sox) headlining those already on the move.
The Giants, expected to be one of the league’s most active sellers, possess arguably the best lefty available besides Skubal in Robbie Ray, possibly the best hitter on the market in Luis Arraez and some other interesting pieces. But Posey preferred to let the clock tick, apparently hoping that as pressure grows for contenders so will the price San Francisco is able to extract.
On the field, it was business as usual in the final game before the deadline, even down to the starting lineup. Manager Tony Vitello didn’t take the same precaution as the Angels did with Jose Soriano, scratching the trade candidate from his scheduled start Saturday.
Arraez, held out for cramps in his lower half Saturday, was back atop the Giants’ order. In possibly his final at-bat with the team, he flew out to end its 5-4 loss to the Padres.
“I’m just trying to do my job during the game,” Arraez said afterward. “I just go out there and compete. I don’t want to think about the trade deadline or anything. If San Francisco trades me, I’ll go do my job.”
Ray’s cowboy boots provided a contrast to Arraez’s sequined black high-top sneakers, but the bottom line was that both pairs were still on each player’s lockers by the end of the day.
The Padres’ Jackson Merrill hit a two-run home run Sunday against the Giants. AP Photo/Denis Poroy
Heliot Ramos, whose name has also surfaced in trade rumors despite being under team control for three more seasons, played all nine innings.
Vitello, who doesn’t have the same kind of control over his personnel as he did running the program and everything that came with it at the University of Tennessee, went about his day, too. Although Posey and Co. “keep me in the loop,” he was more focused on the game in front of him.
That didn’t lead to many satisfying responses to the text messages lighting up his iPhone.
“Players I know from competing or recruiting or coaching text me. They think I have control over the trades,” Vitello said. “Our guys don’t have complete control over it [either].”
Like everything else, the trade deadline is a new experience for Vitello. Comparing it to the college transfer portal, he said “that’s a lot more emotional, and it’s a lot more chaotic.”
In the big leagues, he said, “the lines are thicker … it’s just a little more organized.”
Part of that means it’s on Posey and his lieutenants to find the best possible deals, rather than Vitello attempting to convince an 18- to-22-year-old with NIL money and playing time.
But the deadline shares something in common with college recruiting: It takes two to tango, and both sides have to be satisfied in order to sign off on a deal.
“It’s like anything with a match. What someone’s looking for has got to meet what someone’s willing to offer and what the other team’s looking for, too,” Vitello said. “So we’ll see how it all goes down. I’m sure it’ll be busy for everybody.”
The Giants dealt veteran right-hand pitcher Tyler Mahle to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for another right-hand pitcher Anthony Molina. The trade was first reported by Fansided MLB insider Robert Murray.
Molina will continue to develop as he was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento, the Giants said.
The trade comes less than 24 hours until the MLB trade deadline as the cutoff point is Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT).
Mahle, 31, leaves the Bay for the A, joining a first-place Braves squad. Overall, Atlanta (67-45) has the third-best record in the National League, sitting 2.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers.
Tyler Mahle contract and stats
Mahle signed a one-year, $10 million deal with San Francisco in the offseason, with hopes of bolstering their bullpen. As the Giants' season took loss after loss, the 10-year veteran pitcher put up a 3-9 record with a 5.13 earned run average, 89 strikeouts and a 1.39 WHIP.
His expiring contract made him an asset in trade talks, where he was linked to the Chicago Cubs, but it's the Braves who ultimately acquired Mahle.
Anthony Molina contract and stats
In return, the Giants received Molina, a 24-year-old pitcher who has limited MLB experience. He is in his third MLB season, having spent his first two with the Colorado Rockies. He's appeared in three games in 2026 with the Braves, including two he finished.
In five innings pitched, Molina delivered two strikeouts and has a 5.40 ERA. Molina joins a Giants team that is in need of bullpen rebuild. Overall, San Francisco has the third-worst record in the NL and the second-worst in the NL West.
The move appears to save the Giants some money as they now take on Molina's expiring contract worth $780,000.
San Francisco Giants trade grade: C+
The trade for the Giants is clearly a move that looks ahead to the future. It appears the team's front office is opting to focus on 2027, or 2028 in case there's a lockout year.
Moving off of Mahle's $10 million contract in exchange for $780,000 could save them money in the long run, setting up a contract for ready-now players with an ability to contribute immediately. Plus, Molina will be in the Giants' farm system as he was sent down to the Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats.
The Giants haven't been good all year. Ideally, trading for better players would seem more favorable, but with the postseason just about out of reach, looking ahead to the future should at the forefront of San Francisco's minds, the fans, too. The season is a wash.
Atlanta Braves trade grade: B-
This take could age horribly. And that's ok. But Mahle didn't do much damage in San Francisco. The Braves spending more money on someone with his stat line is risky. But you have to take risks to be successful and maybe a change of scenery to a winning team could spark something in the veteran pitcher.
That's the reason for the grade being as high, despite not loving this move from the Braves. How Mahle fits in with the Braves will be something to monitor in the final months of baseball.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 02: Willson Contreras #40 and Wilyer Abreu #52 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate a solo homer against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning at Dodger Stadium on August 02, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The hottest team in baseball stays sizzling, as the Boston Red Sox crushed four home runs against the Dodgers on Sunday, winning 8-4 and completing the sweep.
It was another rough first inning for Emmet Sheehan, as he allowed a leadoff walk to Nick Sogard to begin the game. After getting Ceddanne Rafeala to ground into a fielder’s choice, Wilyer Abreu singled up the middle. One pitch was all Sheehan needed to get Willson Contreras to line out to left, but the Red Sox broke through with a pair of two-out, RBI singles from Masataka Yoshida and Caleb Durbin. Sheehan finished his first inning with a strikeout, limiting Boston to the two runs, albeit on 30 pitches.
Sheehan would bounce back in the second inning, as he faced the minimum while striking out the side in order.
The Dodgers strung across a one-out rally in the bottom of the second inning against rookie Jake Bennett, as Kyle Tucker, Teoscar Hernández and Max Muncy singled to load the bases for Eliézer Alfonzo. Alfonzo drove home Tucker one a groundout to put the Dodgers on the board, and after an intentional walk to Shohei Ohtani, Andy Pages gave the Dodgers the lead with an opposite field, two-strike, two-run single.
Boston would waste little time getting those runs back, as Rafaela crushed his fourth home run of the weekend to tie things up at 3 in the top of the third inning. Rafaela is the first player to hit at least four home runs in a series against the Dodgers since Kyle Schwarber in 2024. On the very next pitch, Abreu put Boston back in front as he went back-to-back with Rafaela, while Yoshida would add the third home run against Sheehan of the inning, making it a 5-3 Red Sox lead.
Sheehan managed to get two outs in the inning before plunking Andruw Monasterio. Sheehan lasted just 2 2/3 innings while allowing the three home runs, with his pitch count at 58 on the game. It’s been a trying season for Sheehan, as the right-hander now has a 5.29 ERA on the season while the three home runs from Boston were the most he’s allowed in any start this year.
The barrage of scoring came to a close after the third inning, as Jack Dreyer and Evan Phillips combined to toss 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Sheehan, while Bennett retired 10 consecutive hitters after the two-run single from Pages. That all changed in the top of the sixth inning, as Jarren Duran ambushed Kyle Hurt for the fourth home run by Boston on the game, stretching the lead to three.
Freddie Freeman extended his hitting streak to 12 games, as he led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a leadoff infield single against Bennet to give the Dodgers their first baserunner since the second inning. His trip on the base paths was brief, as Mookie Betts grounded into a 5-4-3 double play. A four-pitch walk to Tucker kept the inning alive, and Bennet exited one out shy of a quality start. The Dodgers couldn’t pile on against Justin Slaten, as a diving snag by Sogard got Boston out of the inning unscathed.
The Dodgers put the leadoff man on again in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Max Muncy singled against Tayron Guerrero. Guerrero was one out away from keeping the Dodgers scoreless, but Pages came through again with two outs, slicing an RBI double to plate Muncy and cut the deficit to two runs. Pages finished Sunday with three RBI against Boston, marking the first time he drove in three since doing so on June 9 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Wyatt Mills was the next man out of the Dodgers bullpen, and he began his evening by plunking Caleb Durbin and allowing an infield single to Andruw Monasterio. After a sacrifice bunt from Duran moved both men into scoring position, a wild pitch brought home Durbin and a passed ball plated Monasterio, giving Boston a four-run lead. Mills managed to work a scoreless ninth inning, but he ended his night having tossed 53 pitches.
The Red Sox continue to stun the league with Chad Tracy under the helm, as they improve their overall record to 60-51 having won 28 of their last 33 games. It is the first time the Red Sox swept the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, and it’s the first time they’ve done so in general against the Dodgers since 2010. With the Dodgers losing three games in a row and finishing the homestand 2-4, they still trail the Milwaukee Brewers by half a game for the best record in baseball.
Enter Skubal
During Sunday’s game, the Dodgers’ shiny new addition Tarik Skubal got himself acclimated with his new teammates. He is set to make his Dodger debut on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
The Dodgers are on the road again as they fly out to Chicago for a three-game set against the Cubs beginning Monday (5:05 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Matthew Boyd goes for Chicago, while the Dodgers have yet to announce Monday’s starter.
The San Diego Padres rejected the Yankees' trade offer of right-handed starting pitcher Will Warren for left-handed reliever Adrian Morejon, according to a report Sunday evening by MLB.com's Bob Nightengale.
Warren, 27, is under team control through the 2030 season. He is 8-5 with a 4.14 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 108.2 IP over 22 games (21 starts) this season. His latest outing saw him allow four hits and stuck out seven batters in 6.2 scoreless IP of Friday's 2-0 win at the Chicago Cubs.
"He was awesome," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Warren after Friday's game. "... He was just super efficient, and that right there is what he's capable of when he's on his game."
The 27-year-old Morejon, meanwhile, is a free agent after the 2026 season. In 60 frames through 52 games this season, the Padres' setup man has a 1.07 WHIP.
"At the end of the day, control what you can control," Warren said after Friday's game when asked about trade noise. "Like I said, whatever's going to happen is going to happen. So, that's never really been on my mind.
"I feel like, ever since I've been with the Yankees, that's been a thing, so I'm kind of used to it by now. But just taking it day by day and, again, whatever happens is going to happen."
Believe it or not, it's been a little over four years since former Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ron Hextall acquired Rickard Rakell at the 2022 NHL trade deadline.
He was exactly what the Penguins needed and has been a stalwart in the top six ever since. He's had to go through multiple offseasons of trade rumors, including this one, but he's still with the Penguins and has two seasons left on his contract.
Rakell had a career season in 2024-25, finishing with 35 goals and 70 points in 81 games. His 35 goals and 70 points were career highs.
He followed that season up with 24 goals and 48 points in 60 games this past season and would've been close to his numbers from the 2024-25 season if he hadn't missed a month and a half in the first half of the season with a broken left hand.
Rakell spent a good chunk of the season as one of Sidney Crosby's wingers, but also spent time at center, a position he wasn't familiar with before this season. It was a major adjustment for him since he had to become more comfortable taking draws, becoming even more of a 200-foot player, and killing penalties.
He had barely spent any time on the penalty kill over the last five seasons before playing 34:57 on that unit this past season. It was Rakell's most time on the PK since the 2019-20 season, when he spent 45:04 on the Anaheim Ducks' penalty kill.
While Rakell did improve at center as the season went on, he's still a natural winger, and I expect him to start the 2026-27 season next to Crosby and Bryan Rust. Rakell is super comfortable with Crosby and does a great job reading off him while he's on the ice. If injuries do come up for some of the Penguins centers, Rakell can still shift to that position for a handful of games.
Some of the deployment on the top power play unit might be different for the 2026-27 season, but I'd still have Rakell up there. He's great in the slot area and has one of the top shots on the team. He also has the ability to move around and keep the opposing penalty killers honest.
Rakell might be another year older heading into this season (33), but I still expect him to score between 20 and 30 goals and finish with 50 and 60 points. He's been at or above that level in three of the last four seasons, and I don't see it changing right now. I'd be fairly surprised if he had a season similar to his 2023-24 year when he only shot 9.1% and finished with only 15 goals and 37 points.
He'll be a key component for a Penguins team that's trying to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a second season in a row.
SEATTLE, WA - MAY 27: Starter Luis Castillo #58 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates after a striking out Carlos Santana #41 of the Pittsburgh Pirates to end the top half of the sixth inning of a game at T-Mobile Park on May 27, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When Castillo was brought in at the 2022 trade deadline, my whole perspective on this franchise shifted. Riding a 14-game winning streak, the Mariners found themselves in a playoff spot at the deadline. It was time. A top-10 prospect and a top-50 prospect plus two depth pieces was a high price, but I was sure Castillo was worth it. And for as good as Castillo was, it’s hard to overstate how much that trade meant. It was a signal about who the Mariners were as a franchise. They were in it for real.
And as for the man himself, I was smitten right away. Meeting up with the team in New York, Castillo dyed the end of his hair teal and blue to replace the Cincinnati Red. He was all in. He struck out 8 Yankees over 6.2 innings, picking up the first of his 43 wins in a Mariners uniform. The fact that the Mariners had outbid the Yankees to get Castillo only sweetened the moment, underlining Castillo’s meaning. He followed that up in his first home start at T-Mobile by facing the Yankees again, pitching eight shutout innings in the best game I’ve ever seen. Those were the first two of 11 starts he ripped off to close out 2022 with a 3.17 ERA and a strikeout rate of 28.9%.
On a team that had been lacking a frontline starter, he was the obvious choice to start Game 1 of the Wild Card Round. The only swear word in the Sun Hat Award record book refers to why he won the award that day: “for kicking the shit out of the Blue Jays in Seattle’s first postseason game in 21 years.” His final line that day? 7.1 IP, 0 R, 6 H, 5 K, 0 BB, 19 whiffs. He averaged—averaged—100 mph on both his four-seamer and his two-seamer. Luis Castillo was the proof. The Mariners had arrived.
He followed that up with an All-Star 2023. His final numbers belie how elite that season was. He pitched at least five innings in 32 of his 33 starts, living up to his La Piedra nickname. His 3.01 ERA and K-BB% of 21.8% through August had him entering the season’s final month in the pole position for the Cy Young Award.
Along the way, he was always the showman, even helping keep things light through the team’s struggles, using his signature flex to joke around with Shohei Ohtani. And he fought to keep the team in the running, collecting 22 whiffs in the game that saw his 1,000th career strikeout. It was a season that saw the MLB debuts of Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo, and Emerson Hancock. Certainly each of them was impressive as a rookie, but it’s easy to forget in retrospect how much they struggled and how much it mattered that Castillo was there to keep the ship steady.
As the team scuffled through 2024, Castillo was a shining beacon of competence. He was a key part of the rotation’s stretch of 21 consecutive games allowing 2 runs or fewer. One of those starts was his nine-strikeout dismantling of the Rockies as the snow fell in the Denver night, smacking down all the talk about how he’s a hot-weather pitcher.
It was the first year of his decline, but he was making adjustments to keep making it work, including a mid-game adjustment in a game against Anaheim to complete a sweep. That was one of several games when his fastest pitch of the night was his last one. Emptying the tank at the end is just one of many stratagems he shared with his rotationmates that helped them ascend to their own stardom.
Castillo’s arrival really signaled something about the franchise. And if all he did was anchor the 2022 stretch run, that would have been enough. But as the years passed by, his legacy came into clearer focus. From the time Bryan Woo replaced Marco Gonzales in June 2023, this rotation belonged to Castillo. Yesterday, Logan Gilbert told Angie Mentink, “Luis [always] told me after a bad outing, don’t change anything. You don’t need to change anything.” La Piedra was such a steady, level-headed presence that he could even get that message through to his most neurotic teammate. Gilbert reports that after one particularly bad bullpen outing, “He told me, ‘Don’t think too much, don’t change too much, don’t try too hard.’ . . . He knew the right words to say at the right time. He was always that way.”
Last year, the Mariners entered the season with the rotation as the unquestioned strength of the team, practically its whole identity. But while it was a strength, the starters struggled to stay on the field. Castillo was the only pitcher to make each and every one of his scheduled starts. Though he was no longer the front man of the rotation, he remained the rock. In that way, he was the man who led this franchise to its first division title in a quarter century. It’s no wonder he was on the mound the night they clinched that title, striking out 10 over 7.1 innings of one-hit ball.
Age comes for us all, and rosters turn over. Luis Castillo was the veteran who steadied the young team, and now the time has come for him to help shepherd another young team. The Mariners rotation is five home-grown grown-ups now. But they grew up under Luis Castillo, and that’s a mark that won’t be forgotten. When the Mariners celebrate their 100th season, he’ll be in the video highlights.
Before today’s game, Andrés Muñoz said, “Today is a sad day.” I couldn’t agree more. Castillo was a giant, and he gets a rare off-recap Sun Hat Award, his fifth and final one, in honor of his four years of exceptional service to the franchise, to the fan base, and to me. Gracias, La Piedra. La Piedra Para Siempre.
Jonathan Cannon 3.27 ERA, 22 IP, 5 BB, 20 K Mason Adams 2.08 ERA, 17 1/3 IP, 10 BB, 15 K Shane Murphy 7.79 ERA, 17 1/3 IP, 7 BB, 12 K Shane Smith 5.17 ERA, 15 2/3 IP, 10 BB, 18 K David Sandlin 2.92 ERA, 12 1/3 IP, 10 BB, 8 K Tanner McDougal 2.79 ERA, 9 2/3 IP, 6 BB, 11 K Hagen Smith 1.80 ERA, 5 IP, 3 BB, 8 K
The Knights had another strong month, going 14-10, and they are 10 games above .500 as of the end of July. Their overall record puts them in third out of 10 teams in the International League East this season.
With Jacob Gonzalez out of Charlotte (and the organization due to a trade with Pittsburgh), first baseman Ryan Galanie, 26, has been stepping up in a big way for the Knights. After Gonzalez won the first two Knight of the Month awards, Galanie has accomplished the same feat. In July, Galanie went 28-for-85 with six homers, four doubles, 21 RBIs, and his four stolen base attempts were all successful. The White Sox selected Galanie in the 13th round of the 2023 draft, and he has been more successful in his climb toward the majors than most anticipated. Galanie was promoted from Birmingham to Charlotte on April 17, and since then, in 73 games, he has been a consistent threat at the plate, slashing .294/.348/.580.
2026 Charlotte Knights Players of the Month Jacob Gonzalez (March-April) Jacob Gonzalez(May) Ryan Galanie (June) Ryan Galanie (July)
Birmingham Barons July record13-11; Second half record 14-17; Overall record 40-60
Barons Player of the Month Boston Smith .306/.479/.667, 72 at-bats (traded to Seattle on August 1)
Lucas Gordon 5.18 ERA, 24 1/3 IP, 10 BB, 23 K Jake Palisch 4.50 ERA, 24 IP, 9 BB, 14 K Dylan Cumming 3.60 ERA, 15 IP, 3 BB, 11 K Jackson Kelley 5.40 ERA, 13 1/3 IP, 6 BB, 15 K Connor McCullough 2.25 ERA, 12 IP, 7 BB, 16 K
Overall, after winning the Southern League Championship in 2024 and 2025, the Barons have not lived up to the hype from recent seasons. However, they put together a solid month, finishing slightly above .500 in July.
Once again, I am writing about Boston Smith winning a monthly award. Smith was the Dash Player of the Month in May and June, so it is no surprise that he was promoted to the Barons on July 1. Since then, Smith has wasted no time making an impact at the higher level. Since the promotion, Smith is 22-for-72 with eight homers, two doubles, 23 walks, and 18 RBIs. Since Smith entered the organization in exchange for Curtis Mead, Smith has exceeded expectations in a huge way. Although Smith’s stock was unremarkable at the beginning of the season, he became the No. 15 White Sox prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. That changed on the evening of Saturday, August 1, when a trade was announced. Smith, along with Seranthony Domínguez and Nolan Jones, is headed to the Mariners in exchange for Luis Castillo. Best of luck to these players as they begin the next chapter of their careers!
2026 Birmingham Barons Players of the Month Braden Montgomery (April) Anthony DePino (May) Anthony DePino (June) Boston Smith (July)
Winston-Salem Dash July record12-12; Second half record 17-17; Overall record 55-45
Dash Player of the Month Ryan Burrowes .329/.417/.658, 8-for-9 stolen bases, 73 at-bats (promoted to Birmingham on July 28)
Grant Umberger 5.40 ERA, 25 IP, 7 BB, 24 K Justin Sinibaldi 2.25 ERA, 20 IP, 11 BB, 15 K Max Banks 1.06 ERA, 17 IP, 4 BB, 8 K Jake Curtis 1.15 ERA, 15 2/3 IP, 2 BB, 10 K Drew McDaniel 4.70 ERA, 15 1/3 IP, 4 BB, 22 K
The Dash broke even in July, winning 12 of 24, and they remain exactly .500 in the second half of the season. At 55-45 overall, they are second out of six teams in the South Division of the South Atlantic League.
Ryan Burrowes, 21, earned a promotion on July 28, and it is easy to see why. Burrowes, who plays second base, third base, and left field, was on fire for the Dash. In July, Burrowes went 24-for-73 with five homers, two triples, five doubles, 10 walks, and eight steals while only getting caught once. In 88 games with the Dash, Burrowes slashed .261/.379/.421 (114 wRC+) while providing solid defense, and he played a sizable role in Winston-Salem’s success. It will be interesting to follow the young utility player as he gets tested by Double-A pitching moving forward.
2026 Winston-Salem Dash Players of the Month Colby Shelton (April) Boston Smith (May) Boston Smith (June) Ryan Burrowes (July)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers July record 13-11; Second half record 17-17; Overall record 50-50
Cannon Ballers Player of the Month Jaden Fauske .282/.446/.366, 13-for-15 stolen bases, 71 at-bats
Alexander Albertus .290/.410/.464, 69 at-bats Stiven Flores .283/.375/.333, 60 at-bats Nick McLain .268/.389/.357, 1-for-1 stolen bases, 56 at-bats Matthew Boughton .194/.325/.299, 6-for-7 stolen bases, 67 at-bats
Gabe Tanner 3.91 ERA, 25 1/3 IP, 13 BB, 11 K Truman Pauley 5.74 ERA, 15 2/3 IP, 8 BB, 14 K Alexander Martinez 4.11 ERA, 15 1/3 IP, 6 BB, 18 K Anthony Patterson 2.25 ERA, 12 IP, 7 BB, 13 K Ryan Schiefer 2.51 ERA, 14 1/3 IP, 10 BB, 14 K
The Cannon Ballers have had a roller coaster of a season. They got off to a dreadful start in April, but they recovered in a big way in May. Since then, Kannapolis has settled into a middle-of-the pack team, and they went 13-11 in July to keep that trend going.
Outfielder Jaden Fauske, 19, showed off multiple tools during an impressive month. The South Siders drafted Fauske in the second round of the 2025 draft, and like Landon Thome, Fauske went to Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park, Illinois. Fauske, who is primarily a center fielder, posted a .446 OBP in July, and he was a major threat after reaching base, swiping 13 bases in 15 attempts (86.7%). Overall, Fauske is 35-for-42 (83.3%) in stolen base attempts. As MLB Pipeline’s No. 5 White Sox prospect, Fauske is a well-rounded player, receiving 55 grades for his hit and run tools and 50 grades for his others. Given the abilities he has displayed to reach base frequently, cover a lot of ground in center, and steal bases, MLB Pipeline may be selling him a bit short.
2026 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Players of the Month Max Banks (April) Max Banks (May) Blaine Wynk (June) Jaden Fauske (July)
ACL White Sox July record 7-11; Overall record 19-41
Complex Sox Player of the Month Landon Hodge .333/.471/.519, 2-for-2 stolen bases, 27 at-bats
The Complex Sox wrapped up their season in July, and it was not a season to remember. The Complex Sox stumbled to a 19-41 finish, although they finished on a high note, winning five of their last nine.
Catcher Landon Hodge, 19, was a big reason behind the team’s solid finish to the season. In July, Hodge went 9-for-27 with a triple, three doubles, six walks, and both of his stolen base attempts were successful. The White Sox selected Hodge in the fourth round of the 2025 draft. Hodge struggled out of the starting blocks of his first professional season, but he turned it around in a big way down the stretch.
2026 Complex Sox Players of the Month Kendry García(May) Yordani Soto (June) Landon Hodge (July)
DSL White Sox July record 10-8; Overall record 16-24
DSL White Sox Player of the Month Ronald Cardozo .389/.453/.648, 51 at-bats
David Colmenares 2.03 ERA, 13 1/3 IP, 3 BB, 15 K Franchel Crisostomo 6.75 ERA, 12 IP, 17 BB, 13 K Jhoriel De La Rosa 3.18 ERA, 11 1/3 IP, 3 BB, 9 K José Taveras 5.56 ERA, 11 1/3 IP, 8 BB, 14 K Roderic Ramírez 10.45 ERA, 10 1/3 IP, 4 BB, 3 K
Against all odds, the DSL White Sox posted a 10-8 record in July. I did not think they had the potential for a month of .500+ baseball, but they proved me wrong.
Catcher and first baseman Ronald Cardozo, 17, was on a different level in July. Without Cardozo’s excellence at the plate, we would not be discussing the surprisingly strong performance by the DSL White Sox. Cardozo went 21-for-54 with three homers, a triple, three doubles, seven walks, and 21 RBIs. From start to finish, Cardozo was a major threat, and especially given his age and ability to play behind the plate, he has been one of the better stories from the DSL this season.
2026 DSL White Sox Players of the Month Sebastian Romero (June) Ronald Cardozo (July)
DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 22: A detailed look at the jersey of Kyle Karros of the Colorado Rockies during a game against the Washington Nationals at Coors Field on July 22, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images) | Getty Images
July has come to a close and there are just two months left in the 2026 MLB season. The Rockies are 45-67 and on pace for a final record of 65-97.
July featured the All-Star Game, which saw Hunter Goodman participate for the second year in a row. It has also featured the lead-up to the trade deadline, which will take place at 4pm MT tomorrow.
But looking back before the team is potentially broken up, there were plenty of standouts in July:
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs bolstered their rotation on Sunday night, acquiring right-hander Kevin Gausman in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The addition of Gausman is likely only the beginning for Chicago as it looks for pitching ahead of Monday’s trade deadline. The Cubs have weathered injuries to several key pitchers on their way to a 63-49 record and the top spot in the NL wild-card standings.
Gausman worked 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball in Toronto’s 5-1 win over St. Louis on Saturday. He could make his first start for Chicago on Thursday, when the Cubs host the Blue Jays in the makeup of a June 21 rainout.
Chicago also traded Jameson Taillon and cash to Toronto on Sunday for a player to be named or cash. Taillon was designated for assignment by the Cubs last Monday.
The durable Gausman, who is eligible for free agency after this season, is 5-10 with a 4.38 ERA in 23 starts. He pitched at least 174 2/3 innings and made at least 31 starts in each of the previous five years.
Gausman helped Toronto reach the 2025 World Series, going 2-3 with a 2.93 ERA in six postseason starts. The Blue Jays lost in the Fall Classic to the Los Angeles Dodgers, a possible playoff opponent for the Cubs this year.
Toronto began this season with championship aspirations, but it dropped to 52-60 with Sunday’s 5-1 loss to St. Louis. Right-hander Shane Bieber and outfielder Daulton Varsho also could be on the move ahead of the deadline.
The Blue Jays acquired minor leaguers Brett Bateman and Ty Southisene in the deal with the Cubs. Bateman was an eighth-round pick in the 2023 amateur draft, and Southisene was a fourth-round selection in 2024.
Bateman, a 24-year-old outfielder, hit .312 with three homers, 20 steals and 33 RBIs in 82 games for Triple-A Iowa this season. Southisene, a 21-year-old shortstop, hit .326 in 44 games for High-A South Bend.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Adou Thiero #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors during the Semifinals on July 18, 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 Tom O'Connor/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Well, that was a frantic offseason.
Last time we did one of these, it was before NBA free agency and so many possibilities existed. At the time, LeBron James returning to the Lakers was certainly on the table and few would have predicted the way free agency would go.
But, with the Lakers’ offseason now (mostly) in the rear view and the WNBA trade deadline having come and gone, there’s plenty of questions to be asked. So, fire away with any of them. And if you have any questions about the young WNBA season, send them as well.
The Dodgers were already heavy World Series favorites before executing this trade for one of baseball’s best pitchers. Now, their odds are officially at +145 on FanDuel Sportsbook, with every other team in the league far behind them.
Tarik Skubal celebrates after a pitch during a Detroit Tigers game. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It has been reported that Skubal will make his Dodgers debut on August 4, when Los Angeles takes on the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. But fans don’t need to wait that long to see Skubal’s new threads, as the Dodgers posted a photo of Skubal’s jersey and his locker to their social media accounts on Sunday afternoon.
The post was captioned, “No. 29 for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tarik Skubal.”
As if Dodgers fans needed any reason to get even more excited about this trade, seeing Skubal’s locker and jersey has amplified this excitement, which is shown by many similar responses to this post.
“IT FEELS GOOD TO BE A FAN OF THEE LOS ANGELES DODGERS,” wrote @DodgerBluess.
“Skubal in Dodger blue is going to be a problem,” added @JackHayHomes, along with an edited photo of Skubal pitching while wearing the white Dodgers jersey.
Los Angeles Dodgers fans smile while taking photos. CHRIS TORRES/EPA/Shutterstock
“I’m crying I can’t believe this isn’t AI ,” said @BoltUpDerwin.
Since his first Dodgers game will be on the road, Skubal will be seen wearing the Dodgers’ gray jerseys before donning the whites. But Los Angeles has a seven-game home-stand that starts on August 10, which means Skubal won’t have to wait long before pitching in front of his new home crowd at Dodger Stadium.
August is here. And that means Major League Baseball is that its peak rumor mill season.
The MLB trade deadline is Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT). Roughly each of the 30 clubs are jockeying to ship players out in a full rebuild or add talent amidst a postseason stretch into October.
There are 25 potential trade candidates to keep an eye out for. The San Francisco Giants have two players, Luis Arraez and Robbie Ray, listed in the rundown. However, they are not the only Giants players being considered in trade talks.
The list includes Willy Adames, Rafael Devers, among others. But where do each of the Giants' potential trade candidates rank amongst each other?
USA TODAY Sports ranked the Giants trade prospects, and here are some of the most valuable trade assets that San Francisco possesses:
1. Luis Arraez, 2B
Arraez has put together a 2026 campaign that has elevated his trade stock. He leads the National League with a .328 average and has a highly respectable .810 OPS. That ability to move the baseball takes on significant value in the playoffs. Teams contending with expectation to play late into October could utilize Arraez skillset and services. Arraez is also the No. 1 trade candidate, per USA TODAY Sports.
2. Robbie Ray, SP
Ray is the No. 4 candidate on USA TODAY Sports' top MLB trade candidates list. Ray has a lot left in his throwing arm and a lot of baseball left in his career. He has given up three or fewer runs in 18 of his 21 starts. Maybe he's not your ideal Game 1 playoff starter, but he will be a key as a stretch drive piece who can fold into the back of a playoff rotation.
3. Heliot Ramos, LF
Heliot Ramos is likely gone as San Francisco shifted to looking at dealing him over Jung Hoo Lee, USA TODAY Sports' baseball columnist' Bob Nightengale reported. Ramos is high as a trade candidate due to his easy-to-trade contract. The outfielder is on a one-year, $810,000 deal with the Giants. With his deal expiring at the conclusion of the season, it should make his skillset all the more valuable. Ramos has put up a .262 batting average with 9 home runs, 34 RBI and 75 hits through 73 games.
4. Rafael Devers, 1B
Rafael Devers would be a great asset for any team with championship hopes. He has the power and potential to be a big-time slugger and home run hitter, despite how his 2026 has been going. New York Post baseball columnist Joel Sherman reported that Devers could be drawing interest from the San Diego Padres and manager A.J. Preller. His hitting stats have been .249 average, 22 home runs and 61 RBIs. His batting splits consist of .322 OBP, .475 SLG and .797 OPS.
5. Willy Adames, SS
Willy Adames was one of the many Giants players who have been rumored to be on the move ahead of the MLB trade deadline on Aug. 3. According to New York Post baseball columnist Jon Heyman, the Giants have received calls about Adames. However, it might be difficult to get rid of Adames if it's not an ideal destination that he approves. Adames has a no-trade clause in his contract, not to mention he's one of the highest paid players on San Francisco's payroll. He's in the second year of a seven-year, $182 million contract. He's owed $13 million this year, but from 2027 to 2031 he will be owed $31 million annually. Unless another team is willing to take on that deal, Adames likely will remain in the Bay Area. But anything is possible near the trade deadline.
,” said @BoltUpDerwin.