It seems there's mutual interest from Kuminga and his camp, however, the 23-year-old wants to weigh out all of his options in the event there's a better deal on the table, according to ESPN.
The Lakers are offering Kuminga a starting role, playing high minutes alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. ESPN reported that there are many within the Lakers' brass that feel his skill set is a fit with Dončić and head coach JJ Reddick's offensive scheme.
However, Kuminga and his agent Aaron Turner are not yet sold on that idea in belief that there are other routes they can take.
Here are potential landing spots for Jonathan Kuminga:
Jonathan Kuminga potential landing spots
Here are potential teams that Kuminga could end up playing for by the start of the 2026-27 regular season:
Los Angeles Lakers
Kuminga has been in discussion with the Lakers since becoming an unrestricted free agent. His team option worth $24.3 million was declined by the Atlanta Hawks on June 29. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka met with Kuminga in a virtual setting the following day, according to ESPN.
The Lakers added all sorts of assets this summer in Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, Jaden Hardy and Collin Sexton. Kuminga would seemingly be a replacement for Rui Hachimura, who was not brought back and instead signed with the neighboring Clippers.
Atlanta Hawks
There's a chance that Kuminga does, in fact, return to the Hawks but on a friendlier deal than the $24.3 million the team would have owed him if they picked up his option. The deal would be something that makes sense for both sides.
Kuminga was traded to the Hawks on Feb. 5, along with Buddy Hield, in a deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Golden State Warriors. He averaged 12.3 points on 47.6% field goal shooting and 34.6% from 3-point. He pulled in 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.9 steals in 22.1 minutes, appearing in 16 games for Atlanta.
However, "a reunion isn't being actively discussed", ESPN reported.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers also have interest in Kuminga and his talent. There's familiarity with Kuminga in Cleveland, as their head coach Kenny Atkinson coached Kuminga in his first three NBA seasons while serving as an assistant under Steve Kerr with the Golden State Warriors.
It would make for a nice get-together, however the Cavaliers have their eyes set on landing LeBron James.
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings were heavily involved in the Kuminga sweepstakes a year ago. According to ESPN, the team checked back in with Kuminga to gauge his interest. However, it would take some maneuvering financially to make it happen. The likely scenario would be to execute a sign-and-trade. The Kings have been hesitant to discuss those plans, ESPN reports.
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It’s been so long since the White Sox held the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, nearly every one of our readers were not fans when it last happened (1977, Harold Baines) … even a “veteran” fan like Brett, senior to all but one on the SSS staff, had just begun his fandom at that time.
Well, after months of anticipation, and the curious fall of UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky from no-brainer top pick to perhaps as low as No. 3 overall in the draft, Saturday marks the day of reckoning for the White Sox. The draft boasts as many as three apparent generational talents:
Cholowsky, a collegiate superstar and right-handed bat apparently close to plugging directly into the White Sox lineup
Vahn Lackey, a Georgia Tech catcher who the White Sox front office apparently now favors
Grady Emerson, a prep shortstop out of Fort Worth who is three years younger than the two collegians, bats from the left side, is purportedly as MLB-ready as the other two and is said to be the preference of the White Sox scouting corps
There is no clear pick here, which hopefully means there is no way for the White Sox to make a mistake with the choice. But we all know that these three players won’t end up with identical 20-year, 100-WAR careers and Hall of Fame elections. Chicago’s recent high-pick past is no salve for our worries, as the club picked Nick Madrigal No. 4 overall and Andrew Vaughn No. 3 in back-to back drafts.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 07: Kevon Looney #55 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Smoothie King Center on April 07, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Free agent center Kevon Looney has agreed on a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, Life Sports Agency CEO Todd Ramasar tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/fxfdg3yhSV
The contract is a veteran’s minimum and, for those tracking the Lakers’ proximity to the first apron, will only count for $2.4 million toward the cap.
Looney spent last season with the Pelicans, the first campaign of his career not with Golden State. He played just 21 games, averaging 14.7 minutes per contest. He had rather modest stats, scoring 2.8 points and grabbing 5.6 rebounds per game.
With the Warriors, Looney garnered a reputation as an ironman, playing in 82 games in back-to-back seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23. In his last four years in San Francisco, he played at least 74 games.
However, in New Orleans, he dealt with injuries, starting with a left knee injury that ruled him out to open the season. After struggling without him early in the year, the Pelicans signed DeAndre Jordan, who effectively took Looney’s entire role on the roster.
As a result, Looney played just 10 games from the start of December until the end of the season. The team turned down his option for this season, making him an unrestricted free agent once again.
At just 30 years old, Looney still has plenty left in the tank, even if he’s been in the league since he was 19 years old. He will not provide the Lakers a lob threat as a backup big, but he will certainly give them a great screen setter and another solid rebounder, particularly on the offensive glass.
Even in a disappointing season in New Orleans, Looney had an offensive rebound percentage of 16.6%, well above the marks from Deandre Ayton (11.5%) and Jaxson Haye (10%) last season. It’s clear that, between Looney and Walker Kessler, the Lakers have placed an emphasis on being a better rebounding team next season.
At a veteran’s minimum deal, this will not impact any cap space or any moves the team can or may make to create cap space to go after a wing. Looney will be one of the final players signed in the sequence of events once the Lakers start finalizing moves.
Jul 7, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
The Brewers picked up another win in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader in St. Louis, as Jacob Misiorowski struck out 11 across seven innings and Christian Yelich and Joey Ortiz each came up with three-hit days in a 4-3 victory over the Cardinals.
After Matt Svanson worked around a leadoff ground-rule double by Yelich in the first, the Cardinals immediately came up swinging against Misiorowski. JJ Wetherholt took a hit by pitch on Miz’s second pitch of the day, and he then advanced on a groundout. Two batters later, Jordan Walker crushed a first-pitch cutter from Misiorowski for a two-run homer, putting St. Louis out to a 2-0 lead. Lars Nootbaar followed with a double on a misplay by Jackson Chourio in left, but Miz stranded him there.
Both teams traded 1-2-3 innings in the second before the Brewers broke through against left-hander Bruce Zimmermann in the third. Zimmermann, who made a spot start for Milwaukee against the Padres last September, walked Cooper Pratt before allowing a run-scoring double to Ortiz. Yelich followed with a single to bring Ortiz in, and it was quickly knotted at 2-2, though Chourio followed with a double play and Brice Turang went down swinging.
The 2-2 tie wouldn’t last long, though, as Iván Herrera hit a one-out solo homer in the bottom of the fourth, Miz’s second homer allowed in the game and fourth in his last two starts.
After those few shaky moments from Miz in the first three innings, he settled in nicely. He allowed no more baserunners through the seventh inning, setting down the last 14 in a row after the Herrera homer. He finished the day with seven innings pitched, allowing three runs on three hits and no walks while striking out 11.
In a 3-2 hole, Milwaukee threatened with two more baserunners on a Jake Bauers double and a Garrett Mitchell single in the fourth, but they couldn’t cash either in. They then went down in order in the fifth.
After a pair of outs to begin the sixth, Bauers slugged his second double of the afternoon and then came around to score on Mitchell’s second single. The play at home was close, but the call was confirmed upon review after a St. Louis challenge.
A brand-new ballgame entering the seventh, the Brewers forced a pitching change, with Ryne Stanek taking over for Zimmermann. He allowed a walk and a bunt single before being removed due to a scary injury, as he slid into first in an effort to get Ortiz out on the bunt. Hopefully he’s alright.
JoJo Romero entered in relief of Stanek and promptly gave up a double to Yelich, which gave Milwaukee a 4-3 lead and put runners at second and third with no outs. Looking for some insurance, the Brewers couldn’t cash in, with Chourio grounding out, Turang striking out, William Contreras reaching on an intentional walk, and pinch-hitter Andrew Vaughn grounding out to end the inning.
Justin Bruihl set Milwaukee down in order in the eighth, and Aaron Ashby took the ball from Misiorowski for the bottom of the inning. After recording the first two outs without a problem, he gave up a pair of singles to Wetherholt and Herrera, putting runners at the corners with Alec Burleson at the plate. Burleson mercifully grounded out, keeping Milwaukee’s lead at 4-3 entering the final inning.
The Brewers, still looking for an insurance run, threatened against Bruihl in the ninth, with Ortiz singling and moving up on a passed ball and groundout. Turang also walked and stole second (without a throw), but Contreras grounded out to end the threat.
After Trevor Megill got his 14th save yesterday, it was Abner Uribe out of the bullpen for this one. He retired Walker on a pop-up but then fell behind Nootbaar, ultimately walking the veteran outfielder. Nootbaar was promptly replaced with the fleet-footed Masyn Winn, but Uribe bounced back with a strikeout of Bryan Torres and a groundout by Nathan Church, picking up his sixth save of the year.
While the Brewers finished with 10 hits, they came from just four players, as Yelich, Ortiz, Bauers, and Mitchell each had multi-hit days — Yelich had two doubles and a single, Ortiz had a double and two singles, Bauers had a pair of doubles, and Mitchell had two singles. Yelich added two RBIs, while Mitchell and Ortiz had one each. As a team, the Brewers went 4-for-16 with runners in scoring position, which was just enough to get the win.
The Brewers are back at it this evening for the second half of their doubleheader, with both team’s 27th man getting the start — Robert Gasser for Milwaukee and Hunter Dobbins for St. Louis. First pitch for that one is set for 6:45 p.m. See you then.
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Claude Giroux is returning to the Ottawa Senators after agreeing to terms Tuesday on a contract for next season with a $2 million salary that can be worth up to $5 million in bonuses.
“Claude took his time to evaluate his options, and his decision to re-sign with us shows his belief and commitment to our group,” Ottawa general manager Steve Staios said. “He is the consummate professional and brings veteran experience to our core on an off the ice.”
Giroux, 38, was linked in free agency to the Philadelphia Flyers this summer, but a reunion did not materialize. He spent his first 15-plus NHL seasons with them from 2008-22 before getting traded at the deadline to Florida.
The Hearst, Ontario, native played the past four seasons with the Senators. Going back to Ottawa makes Giroux a candidate to succeed Brady Tkachuk as captain, following his trade last month to the Panthers to play with his brother, Matthew.
“I chose to come back because I want to be here," Giroux said. "Being around those guys for four years, we got really close. This team feels like a family. I just care for those players.”
Giroux's 1,165 regular-season points rank 60th in league history and are the eighth-most among active players.
Jul 7, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker (18) runs the bases after hitting a two run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
On paper, the St. Louis Cardinals were overmatched in game 1 of a day/night doubleheader at Busch Stadium Tuesday. However, baseball games are played on fields and Jordan Walker proved that the unbeatable are really not invincible as he homered against Jacob Misiorowski giving the Cardinals an early lead over the Brewers in game 1 Tuesday afternoon. The problem would be the Brewers would still overtake the Cardinals in the late innings.
The Cardinals didn’t delay to jump on likely All-Star game starter Jacob Misiorowski. After he hit JJ Wetherholt with a pitch in the bottom of the 1st inning, two batters later Jordan Walker strolled to the plate and immediately destroyed a 95 mph cutter sending it 386 feet into the left field stands giving the Cardinals an unexpected 2-0 lead.
The St. Louis Cardinals start by committee worked fine – for 2 innings – as Matt Svanson covered the top of the 1st inning and new call-up from Memphis Bruce Zimmermann handled the middle innings. His second inning in relief would not go well as he walked Cooper Pratt to start the inning who then scored on a double by Ortiz. He scored next when Christian Yelich singled to center evening the game at 2-2. To his credit, that was Zimmermann’s only inning where he ran into trouble…until the 6th inning. More on that later.
The relentless Cardinals offense lived up to its reputation in the bottom of the 3rd inning as they again proved Jacob Misiorowski is at least partially human as Iván Herrera connected with a 102 mph four-seam fastball from the wonder kid and launched it 378 feet giving the Cardinals their lead back at 3-2.
Bruce Zimmermann faced a Milwaukee Brewers rally in the top of the 6th inning. Jake Bauers cracked a 2-out double followed by a single by Mitchell which scored Bauers at home on a close play that was held up by review tying the game at 3-3.
Ryne Stanek was given the reins for the top of the 7th inning with the task of keeping the Milwaukee Brewers right where they were. He did the thing that Bruce Zimmermann did in the top of the 3rd inning that got him into trouble as he walked Cooper Pratt to start the inning. Joey Ortiz then laid down a sacrifice bunt that led to 3 players lying on the field. Stanek hurt his right ankle and Pratt and Bryan Torres collided at first base as Pratt was called safe on the play. Fortunately, Pratt and Torres ended up being uninjured and able to continue. Stanek, on the other hand, had to leave the game complicating an already difficult Cardinals bullpen situation. JoJo Romero was tasked with tossing buckets of water on the 7th inning dumpster fire as he faced Christian Yelich who was 1-7 against JoJo Romero in the past. Unfortunately, he became 2-8 with his RBI double scoring Pratt giving the Brewers their first lead Tuesday at 4-3 with Milwaukee still having runners at 2nd and 3rd with nobody out. After JoJo struck out Turang, he intentionally walked William Contreras. The Brewers pinch-hit for Jake Bauers with Andrew Vaughan. Romero got him out on a nice play by JJ Wetherholt who was playing short in place of Masyn Winn for game 1 as he wanted to throw to third for the force out, but it was uncovered by Fermin so he made a throw across the diamond to get Vaughan out at first to end the top of the 7th.
After the Cardinals failed to do anything to Jacob Misiorowski’s pitches in the bottom of the 7th inning, it was Justin Bruihl’s turn in the top of the 8th inning as the St. Louis bullpen merry-go-round continued to spin. It was a bit of a surprise to see Justin in the game after he rolled his ankle during Monday night’s game. He was able to set down the Brewers 1-2-3 without issue to keep the Cardinals within striking distance.
Despite the two Cardinals home runs, Jacob Misiorowski proved why he is one of the elite National League arms. He gave the Brewers 7 full innings only allowing 3 hits while striking out 11 and walking nobody. It was a relief to see the Brewers bring in Aaron Ashby in the bottom of the 8th inning. JJ Wetherholt was able to beat out an infield single with two outs and then advanced to third on a single by Iván Herrera giving St. Louis runners at first and third. That brought up Alec Burleson with a chance to tie the game or more. Unfortunately, he grounded out to end the bottom of the 8th with the Cardinals still trailing 4-3.
Justin Bruihl would remain in the game to keep the Cardinals deficit at just 1. He would give up a leadoff single to Ortiz who advanced to second on a passed ball charged to Pedro Pagés. Bruihl was able to get Yelich to fly out to left and Chourio to ground out to Wetherholt at short which advanced Ortiz to third. After Turang walked, Bruihl was able to get out of the jam as Contreras grounded out to end the top of the 9th.
The Cardinals would face Brewers reliever Abner Uribe in the bottom of the 9th. Jordan Walker was first up in the Cardinals 9th. All Jordan could manage was a popup to third for the first out. Lars Nootbaar was next up and ran the count full before drawing a walk. Masyn Winn pinch-ran for Nootbaar as the potential tying run while the potential winning run came to the plate in the form of Bryan Torres. He struck out looking which left Nathan Church as the Cardinals last hope. He grounded out to end the game and give the Brewers the first game of the doubleheader.
The St. Louis Cardinals will play game 2 of their day/night doubleheader Tuesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers with Hunter Dobbins getting the start for the birds. The Brew Crew will assign night pitching duties to Robert Gasser who’s 1-3 with a 4.54 ERA. First pitch scheduled for 6:45pm central time with the game broadcast available again on Cardinals.tv.
The team has agreed to terms with Kevon Looney on a one-year deal for a veteran minimum’s salary of $3.9 million, his agent Life Sports Agency CEO Todd Ramasar confirmed to the California Post on Tuesday.
ESPN first reported the deal.
The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million contract with three time champion Kevon Looney in NBA free agency. Getty Images
Looney will join the Lakers with the opportunity to be the primary backup center behind Kessler, who the Lakers will sign to a four-year, $130 million deal after acquiring Kessler from the Jazz in a sign and trade.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, who agreed to join the Lakers on a four-year, $52 million contract, is also expected to factor into the Lakers’ big man rotation.
An 11-year veteran, Looney got his start in the league when the Warriors drafted him out of UCLA with the 30th overall pick in 2015.
After playing sparingly as a rookie, Looney saw his minutes increase beginning his second year when he became a valuable member of Steve Kerr’s rotation as a backup big man who started occasionally.
He became a full-time starter for the Warriors in his seventh season, averaging a then career-high 21.1 minutes in 82 games (80 starts). Looney recorded 6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2 assists per game during the Warriors’ 2021-22 championship season.
Looney remained a full-time starter during the 2022-23 season, averaging career-highs of 7 points, 9.3 rebounds (3.3 offensive boards) 2.5 assists and 23.9 minutes in 82 games (70 starts), before moving into a backup role for his final two seasons with the Warriors.
After 10 seasons with the Warriors, Looney played for a team based outside of The Golden State for the first time since high school when he joined the Pelicans on a two-year, $16 million deal that had a team option on the second season.
Looney sparingly played for the Pelicans, who had young big men Derik Queen and Yves Missi on the roster in addition to veteran center DeAndre Jordan, appearing in just 21 regular season games (14.7 minutes).
Even at a more advanced stage of his career entering his 12th NBA season, Looney remains a positive contributor with defensive rebounding, offensive rebounding, rim protection and screening.
And after a decade of being a complementary piece who made the game easier for perimeter stars such as Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, Looney will have the opportunity to do similar playing alongside Lakers stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
For the first time since April 14, Jorge Polanco is back with the Mets.
The team made a number of roster moves on Tuesday prior to its series opening game against the Kansas City Royals, including returning Polanco from his rehab assignment and reinstating him from the 60-day injured list.
Polanco has been sidelined for most of the season due to left Achilles bursitis and a wrist contusion, but has been working his way back to the majors since the end of May. He played in 11 minor league games during his rehab assignment over the past month-plus with Double-A Binghamton (three games) and Triple-A Syracuse (eight games), hitting .148 with three home runs over 27 at-bats across both levels.
The team has said throughout Polanco's rehab that he will likely return in a DH role, something he played in 12 of the 14 games he was active for at the beginning of the season. He owned a .179 batting average with one home run and two RBI in 56 at-bats prior to his injury.
In corresponding moves, New York optioned infielder Ronny Mauricio to Triple-A, selected RHP Matt Seelinger to the major league roster, and designated both RHP Guillermo Zuniga and RHP Alex Carrillo for assignment.
Mauricio got the start at shortstop and went 1-for-4 in Monday's win over the Braves, but is just 9-for-50 (.180) in 17 games this season.
Seelinger, 31, was acquired from the Detroit Tigers on Monday in exchange for cash considerations. The right-hander is a career minor leaguer with a 3.89 ERA at Triple-A in 2026.
The Los Angeles Dodgers won a thriller over the Colorado Rockies last night and now look to secure the series on Tuesday.
My Rockies vs. Dodgers predictions and MLB picks back the home side to keep rolling, with Los Angeles covering the run line behind a favorable matchup against struggling right-hander Michael Lorenzen.
Who will win Rockies vs Dodgers today: Dodgers -1.5 (-137)
That's because Lorenzen is getting tagged hard by left-handed hitters. On the season, lefties are slashing .365/.423/.640 against him while posting a 1.94 HR/9 rate.
Lorenzen owns a 5.07 xFIP versus left-handed hitters over the past month, but that number could be even worse. He's surrendered a HR/FB rate of only 4.8% despite allowing a 37.5% fly-ball rate.
The Dodgers' left-handed bats should do plenty of damage as Los Angeles covers the run line.
I'm betting this to -150 as my best bet.
COVERS INTEL: Lorenzen's hard-hit rate of 51.8% vs. left-handed hitters over the past month is the second-highest mark among starting pitchers who have faced at least 30 left-handed batters.
Rockies vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (-103)
Lorenzen will get us close to the total, but two overworked bullpens should carry this game Over.
Last night's 11-inning contest further taxed a Colorado Rockies bullpen that's thrown the fifth-most innings (32 2/3) of any club over the past week.
During that stretch, the Rockies own the lowest strikeout rate (14.4%) in baseball. An inability to miss bats against the Dodgers is never a recipe for success.
Colorado's .566 slugging percentage leads the majors over the past month, and the Rockies should tack on a few runs after Justin Wrobleski exits against a Dodgers bullpen that has logged the same number of innings over the past week as Colorado.
I'm playing this to -115.
Jason Ence's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 10-14, -4.90 units
Over/Under bets: 14-10, +3.28 units
Rockies vs Dodgers weather
Expect ideal hitting conditions at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night. Clear skies, temperatures in the low-to-mid 70s at first pitch, and little to no wind mean weather should have virtually no impact on the game.
Rockies vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Rockies +261 | Dodgers -266
Run line: Rockies +1.5 (+127) | Dodgers -1.5 (-138)
Over/Under: Over 9.5 (+100) | Under 9.5 (-104)
Rockies vs Dodgers trend
The Colorado Rockies have hit the game total Over in eight of their last 12 games (+4.70 units, 35% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rockies vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Rockies vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
First pitch
10:10 p.m. ET
TV
Rockies.TV, SNLA
Rockies starting pitcher
Michael Lorenzen (3-9, 6.91 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Justin Wrobleski (10-2, 2.80 ERA)
Rockies vs Dodgers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
STREAKING THE WRONG WAY: Surprise! The Cubs are mired in another 10-game losing streak. They have lost the first game of each of their last 10 series. The Cubs started the season by winning the opener of their first 11 series. Then they lost six in a row and won two, May 4 at New York vs. the Mets and May 8 at home vs. the Padres, before beginning their current double-digit streak on June 12 at Pittsburgh. They Cubs are 13-16 in all first games. They are 15-14 in second games, 18-10 in third games and 4-0 in fourth games. They are 13-14-2 in winning, losing and splitting series. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
AGAINST SUB-.500 TEAMS: The Cubs are 26-19 against teams that had a losing record on the day of games they played them. They are 24-21 vs. teams that were at .500 or had winning records. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
POWER OUTAGE: Last Wednesday, the Cubs hit eight home runs at home against the Padres, tying their team record, in a span of 45 plate appearances. They have hit none in their last 109. Three straight games without a homer is their second-longest streak of the season, after four in a row, March 31-April 5. They have had back-to-back homerless games five other times. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: The Cubs trail the Nationals 8-0 at Washington entering the sixth inning. They score 10 runs over the next four innings, including home runs by Blake DeWitt and Carlos Pena, and win 10-9. It happened 15 years ago today, Thursday, July 7, 2011.
In two starts since returning from the injured list, Matthew Boyd has allowed 12 hits and three runs in 9.2 innings, with four walks and six strikeouts.
If you squint you can see the form of last year’s Boyd struggling to get out. Hopefully he finds it in Baltimore.
Boyd hasn’t faced the Orioles since 2023 so many of the current O’s weren’t on the team then. Current Orioles are a small sample size 7-for-33 (.212) against Boyd with no home runs and 13 strikeouts.
Shane Baz was supposed to be the Orioles’ big starting pitcher acquisition this year and he’s been decidedly average, posting 0.8 bWAR with a 4.19 ERA.
He was a first-round pick (12th overall) in 2017 out of high school in Texas by the Pirates, who traded him to the Rays in the Chris Archer deal in 2018 (now there’s a blast from the past!).
Baz started against the Cubs for the Rays Sept. 12, 2025 at Wrigley Field and they hit him hard — six hits and five runs in 2.1 innings. Alex Bregman is 5-for-9 lifetime against Baz with a home run.
As you can see below, Baz throws hard, but his K rate is down from last year.
Please visit our SB Nation Orioles site Camden Chat. If you do go there to interact with Orioles fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 30: Derek Hill #49 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
One of the bigger questions looming on the trade deadline horizon for the Phillies whether or not they can get another bat. They have been riding out a platoon of Gabriel Rincones, Jr. and Derek Hill, with Hill filling in at time for Justin Crawford and Edmundo Sosa taking some reps in left field against left handed pitching, options that are probably more appealing in theory than they are in practicality. The more urgent need, if there was one, was finding a more permanent solution to the right field platoon. Rincones has had a decent few games lately, but has generally looked as though more seasoning in the minor leagues was in order rather getting regular time in the majors. Hill is fine as a fourth/fifth outfielder or platoon option, but for a team that is looking to win a World Series, an upgrade is probably best for all.
As we know though, it takes two to tango on the trade front and finding acceptable solutions is going to be tricky. Getting that player on the Phillies will require them to make a deal for someone that is an upgrade over what they currently have, something they may not have the trade capital to do. If not, then the platoon will remain.
In that case:
Who knows what will happen, but we do know the fallback is the current iteration of the roster as is.
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MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 3: The sneakers worn by Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 3, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 05: Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (6) makes diving backhand catch on a hit behind third base during the Pittsburgh Pirates versus Washington Nationals Major League Baseball (MLB) game on June 5, 2026 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
What began as a promising rookie season for baseball’s No. 1 prospect has taken another turn for the worse.
Pirates star shortstop Konnor Griffin is going to be out for likely the next two months with a torn tendon in his left ring finger, according to multiple reports.
Pirates Director of Sports Medicine Tom Tomczyk told the media that Griffin’s finger will be in a splint for six weeks.
Griffin’s estimated return is in 8-10 weeks, lining him up to miss considerable time in the Pirates’ race to the playoffs.
Griffin suffered the injury against the Washington Nationals on Sunday in our nation’s capital. Griffin made two diving catches into shallow left field for highlight-reel plays, but appeared to injure his left hand on one of the plays.
Here’s the diving catch and Griffin’s reaction after
He was seen in the dugout getting his fingers checked out by the training staff. Griffin also appeared to be stepped on by Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams while stealing second base in the fourth inning and could be a contributing reason for the injury, which feels like a snowball effect of multiple causes.
It’s a crushing blow for the 20-year-old face-of-the-franchise, who just returned from an elbow injury that kept him out a month.
Griffin hit .306 in eight starts back off the IL with four multi-hit games and the game-winning hit on Sunday.
In 59 games during his rookie year, Griffin is slashing .276/.332/.404 with 10 doubles, two triples, five home runs, and 25 RBIs. Griffin homered in his first at-bat against the Reds on June 26.
Already missing center fielder Oneil Cruz and first baseman Spencer Horwitz until after the All-Star break, the Pirates will need to survive another injury to an impactful player for their offense and defense.
Pittsburgh hosts the Braves and Brewers to close the unofficial first half of the season. The Pirates are 46-45 and three games back of the Marlins for the final wild card spot. Buckle up, everyone.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JUNE 30: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on June 30, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for July 7, 2026 against the Anaheim Angels: starting pitchers are Jacob deGrom for the Rangers and Jose Soriano for the Angels.
Texas looks to rebound after losing the home series against the Tigers. Hopefully they are more Dennis Rodman than Doug Smith. Josh Jung, dealing with a sore knee, is sitting again.
The lineup:
Pederson — DH
Smith — 2B
Burger — 1B
Nimmo — RF
Duran — 3B
Carter — CF
Osuna — LF
Diaz — C
Lopez — SS
7:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -164 favorites.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 13: Major League Baseball commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. announces Kade Anderson as the third overall pick, by the Seattle Mariners, in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft at Coca-Cola Roxy on July 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the MLB draft quickly approaching, we at LL conclude our draft profiles with a culmination of “everybody else”. Many of these players will be drafted before the Mariners pick, many will be drafted after, and hopefully one of them will wind up putting pen to paper with M’s by the end of next week. In case you missed our prior coverage, check out our other writeups here.
Mason Edwards – LHP, USC
The strikeout king of college baseball this past season (by a wide margin), Edwards brings some incredibly loud stuff on the mound despite rather mundane velocity. The lefthander uses a very high arm slot to get massive ride on his fastball, and both his breaker and changeup each possess some unique shapes that have gotten a ton of whiff throughout his college career. The walks ticked up slightly this season, but he is undoubtedly one of the best pitchers in this class.
A high-contact corner outfielder at present, Rose was actually a catcher in high school despite possessing plus speed and an average arm. Rose has shown a propensity to barrel the ball and rarely strikes out, though some evaluators have questioned whether his top-end power will be enough to play in a corner spot as it’s closer to average than plus. His speed on the bases absolutely plays and he’ll be a stolen base threat that lashes line drives at the professional level, but elevating the ball with authority (which could come through a change in approach) should be an emphasis for him early in his career. It’s not terribly dissimilar from a young version of Michael Arroyo, though Arroyo was just promoted to Triple-A at the same age that Rose will be drafted.
Daniel Jackson – C, Georgia
A highly athletic catcher that burst on to the scene in 2026, Jackson is a Golden Spikes finalist and is a popular name in the back half of the first round. Posting 32 homers and 26 stolen bases, Jackson’s power-speed combination made him the first SEC player to post a 30-25 season and the first ever catcher to do so at the DI level. There’s legitimate whiff concerns, but the M’s just took a big-school catcher with essentially the same exact offensive profile last season in Luke Stevenson, potentially making him an attractive option based on their internal evaluations.
— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) June 7, 2026
Sawyer Strosnider – CF, TCU
Strosnider tests extremely well athletically and possesses perhaps the best power-speed combination in this class. A twitchy left-handed swing produces tremendous raw exit velocities, but Strosnider’s zone judgement is subpar at present and he’s prone to swing and miss. It’s a clean swing that produced in each of his college seasons, and in all honesty, he’d need to slide quite a bit in order to get to the M’s first pick at 24. He’s been a buzzy name for a while now and could potentially sneak his way into the top ten, but if he gets to the Mariners, he’d be a very fun player to dream on.
AJ Gracia – CF, Virginia
Probably the bat the M’s want to fall to them most and subsequently the least likely of anyone on today’s list to actually be available, Gracia was a candidate for the 1.1 preseason, but a minor injury sidelined him for a few weeks and his numbers didn’t pop quite as much as evaluators were hoping for. Arguably the bat with the highest chance to possess both plus contact and plus power, Gracia, a centerfielder at present, is more of a left fielder long term and should be a capable defender in that spot. He doesn’t have the top end speed you like to see from someone playing up the middle and his arm is average at best, but every other facet of his game is so polished it’s likely he’ll be gone by the middle of the first round. A tall, athletic outfielder with as safe of an offensive profile as there is is hard to argue with, and if he somehow found his way to 24, the M’s should absolutely jump at the opportunity to make him a Mariner.
This 110 mph double is the hardest-hit ball by AJ Gracia this year. Frozen rope. Top spin kept it in the yard. pic.twitter.com/yEw9pQXNHL
Yet another name that’s gotten a ton of love over the past few weeks, Condon is one of the few prep players that could profile into the range the M’s select at and possesses incredibly loud tools. One of the fastest players in the class that mans centerfield masterfully, Condon’s bat-to-ball approach with sound pitch selection should make him an ideal table-setter atop any lineup. Teams love prep bats in the first round, and this year’s relative lack of them likely gets Condon selected before the M’s will have a chance to, but he’s reportedly a popular option in-house and could easily be the guy if he’s still available.
Hunter Dietz – LHP, Arkansas
A physically imposing lefthander that can pump triple digit heat, Dietz pitched his first full season this year after dealing with injuries in years prior, making him a relatively fresh arm on a total innings basis. The Razorback throws four pitches as of now, though the heater and breakingball have done most of the heavy lifting to this point. Dietz has some effort in his delivery and carries some relief risk because of it, though a high octane lefty with massive strikeout numbers ultimately give him a relatively safe floor if a move to the ‘pen does ultimately happen. He’s typically mocked anywhere from 15-30 and should fit nicely into the Mariners’ draft pocket.
Taylor Rabe – RHP, Ole Miss
A recent riser on draft boards, Taylor Rabe was rotationmates with another potential first rounder covered previously on the site and carries a complete four-pitch mix that’s headlined by a fastball that touches 99 mph. The calling card for Rabe is his command; one of the best strikethrowers in the country, Rabe finished fourth in the nation with a 7.00 K/BB ratio, and his high octane heater to pair with it has scouts bullish on his future. His shapes are rather mundane and his feel for spin isn’t great, but if a pitching lab can unlock some improved results on the secondaries, Rabe could be an incredibly compelling arm.
Chase Brunson – CF, Chase Brunson
One of the most well-rounded bats in this draft, Brunson represents something of a “safe” option in the sense that he does everything well, but fails to separate any one tool as exceptional. A solid centerfield defender that could easily transition to right if need be, Brunson has above average power and average contact ability that should make him a consistent 20-homer threat long term. He’s not the most adjustable at the plate, but the overall athlete and traits should have him selected in the first 30 picks or so. He’s a very talented player.
A popular name up and down the first round right now, nailing down where Ace Reese will wind up being selected is a challenging endeavor for evaluators right now. On one hand, Reese is one of the more polished hitters in college baseball; he’s shown the ability to hit for both contact and power consistently in the past. That said, his contact rates took a hit this season and his overall approach got more passive, drastically spiking his walk rates but presumably playing into his increase in whiff. It’s a fringy defensive profile that lacks a definitive home, but if his bat returns to 2025 levels (a bet that seems rather reasonable), it’s a bat worthy of a pick significantly higher than 24th overall.
Taj Marchand – SS, James Island Highschool
The only other high schooler covered in today’s roundup, Marchand is somewhat of a polarizing player in this year’s class. Having posted some amazing numbers against premium competition for the past calendar year, Marchand’s ultra-aggressive approach and unorthodox swing have left evaluators unsure of how his game will play at the next level. He’s got a lot of moving parts that will likely have to be cleaned up as he goes through the lower ranks of the minors, but should the swing sort itself out, there’s a ton to like in this profile. Great projection, innate power, and good speed at a premium position is tough to find when picking in the back half of the first round, and given how often he’s made contact in the past, the numbers suggest the M’s should be all over this player at this pick. Whether their internal scouts and player development believe in the swing and projection enough is yet to be seen, but should he be the pick, he’d fit right into a loaded crop of young infield talent.
Closing out with a hyper-funky starting pitcher that posted some of the best numbers in the country, Blair throws from an ultra-low slot and has a herky jerky motion on the mound, though he repeats it well and gets deep into starts frequently. There’s inarguably some massive relief risk here as the delivery is atypical for that of a starter, but his results have undeniably been excellent, and his combination of stuff, size, and command is hard to compete with. Just behind Rabe in terms of K/BB ratio, if the M’s think he’ll be a starter at the next level, it’s possible they could cut a deal with Blair and see if they could take a few major swings on prep talent in the ensuing rounds.
COVERS INTEL: Lorenzen's hard-hit rate of 
