HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 02: Ben Peoples #70 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on August 02, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Texas Rangers have activated pitcher MacKenzie Gore from the paternity list, the team announced today. To make room for Gore on the active roster, the Rangers have optioned relief pitcher Ben Peoples to AAA Round Rock.
Today was the deadline for Gore to be reinstated from the paternity list, so the only question was in regards to who would be bumped to make room for him. Peoples ends up the odd man out, due in large part, I imagine, to the fact he can be optioned.
Peoples has appeared in 12 games since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for A ball catcher Ben Hartl. In 12.1 innings he’s put up an impressive 2.19 ERA, though with a 6.25 FIP and 3.82 xERA. He has done a very good job avoiding walks, but he has just 6 Ks on the year, resulting in a 12.2% K rate, which is way below average. He’s also allowed three home runs this season.
I am sure that there will be complaints that the Rangers should have designated Cole Winn, who is out of options, for assignment. However, sending Peoples down allows the Rangers to keep both players in the organization for the time being, which is not insignificant, given the depth issues the Rangers have been dealing with in regards to their pitching staff.
On Friday, the Mascots Hall of Fame unveiled its class of 2026. Only five of the 11 finalists made the cut: the University of South Carolina’s Cocky, the Denver Broncos’ Miles, the University of Minnesota’s Goldy Gopher, the New York Mets’ Mrs. Mets, and Brigham Young University’s Cosmo. Which means that the Vancouver Canucks’ Fin was denied entry after a worldwide fan vote.
This means that the NHL still has only three mascots who have been inducted: the Chicago Blackhawks’ Tommy Hawk, part of the 2017 class; the Montreal Canadiens’ Youppi!, inducted in 2019; and the San Jose Sharks’ S.J. Sharky, inducted last year.
The fact that Youppi! is one of the three NHL members who got in is hardly surprising. The Mascott has been with the Canadiens since 2005, but it served as the Montreal Expos’ mascot from 1979 to 2004. To this day, it remains the only mascot to have transferred from one professional league to another, and it was also the first one to be ejected from an MLB game. During a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1989, manager Tommy Lasorda complained about the noise the mascot was making in the visitors’ dugout, which resulted in Youppi!’s ejection.
Ever since he joined the Canadiens in 2005, Youppi! has been very popular with the young fans and poses for numerous photos at every game. This past season, Youppi! was an integral part of the Habs' tribute to Rodger Brulotte, the Expos' play-by-play man who also helped bring the mascot to life, after his passing.
Back in 2022, the Canadiens introduced a second mascot, named Metal! He was part of the marketing campaign for the second edition of the Retro Reverse NHL jersey. In October 2023, the Habs announced that Metal! was retiring, but that turned out not to be true, since the power blue mascot is still used on occasion and was part of the Canadiens’ pre-game ceremonies in the playoffs last season.
Luis Aparicio managed a teen-aged Ozzie Guillén; today Ozzie’s No. 13 will be retired by the White Sox, alongside Luis’ No. 11. | (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Perhaps it’s appropriate that such a fiery and tumultuous personality as Ozzie Guillén will have his No. 13 jersey retired by the White Sox on the heels of Chicago’s first four-game losing streak of the season.
You almost have to wonder whether Ozzie will ask to speak to the team before he hits the field for his honor, because he’s not being immortalized by the White Sox today for his hitting or even his stellar defense, but his leadership and inspiration.
Because tonight is a Fox national broadcast, CHSN is throwing its full weight into honoring its pre- and postgame analyst. Kicking off at 3:30 p.m. CT is Honoring Ozzie, followed by Ozzie the Legend at 4:30 p.m and the retirement ceremony at 5:30 p.m.
Ashley Sanders will be writing up tonight’s game, but also providing coverage of Ozzie’s big day.
As someone who followed Ozzie as a player and covered him as a beat writer, allow me to share some memories. (All of you are encouraged to do the same, in the comments below.)
When Ozzie was acquired by the White Sox prior to the 1985 season, those of you who were around recall it was quite the controversial trade: Giving up a pitcher one year removed from the Cy Young, and a workhorse at that, for a scrawny, unknown shortstop who’d yet to sniff the bigs. But my enduring memory, as a young baseball player just entering his high school career, was my father highlighting a Tribune feature about Ozzie before he ever set foot on the field for the White Sox. The original may be lost, but here’s a microfilm version:
My dad became a White Sox fan because he chose Chico Carrasquel as his first baseball hero. (Carrasquel, of course, would become the first of a “Venezuelan connection” of shortstops on the South Side.) So perhaps seeing this young shortstop from the same country as Chico and Luis Aparicio stirred something in him, because he highlighted all of Ozzie’s quotes about the passion he has for the game. The effort my dad made, and Ozzie’s own words in the story, did inspire me, and I think I was a better player as a result.
Many years later, I wrote a book about Ozzie, after the 2005 title season. He was kind enough to contribute an introduction, although later in the process he asked me to hold it back. Given all the requests that were flooding his desk, he didn’t want to play favorites, certainly not to a relative unknown in the baseball writing world.
But I got to know Ozzie more as a person by covering him as part of the relentless march of the baseball season, where you are together with the players and even more so the manager for upwards of eight months of the year. For a man who was “the show” at all times, the leader of the White Sox despite no longer stepping between the lines, he had depth and caring. His surprising embrace and encouragement at the open of the Winter Meetings after the 2010 season I will never forget. His consideration of the work I was charged with doing on the beat (juggling quite a bit more than mere pregame notebooks and postgame recaps so common among my peers) was obvious. And his departure at the end of 2011, painful and still today a struggle to understand, was capped by an honest embrace, a promise to stay in touch, and an small exchange of gifts.
I have been lucky to engage with hundreds of athletes and coaches across baseball, basketball and hockey, among them a great many of my heroes. It’s fair to say that none of them impacted me professionally and connected with me personally more than Ozzie.
It is wonderful that Ozzie, with a nomadic personality but a heart that is all White Sox, receives this honor today.
As for the main feature tonight, Hagen Smith and Tanner McDougal will be in uniform on the South Side after getting the call from Charlotte late after Friday night’s game, with Noah Schultz and David Sandlin the corresponding demotions. To make room on the 40-player roster (Smith needed to be added), the White Sox designated Triple-A reliever and fourth piece of the Garrett Crochet trade Wikelman González for assignment.
Charged with snapping the season-long four-game losing streak will be Anthony Kay, and he’s got a mother of a matchup facing Cleveland’s Gavin Williams:
Here’s the lineup that the White Sox will roll out against Williams:
Here’s Cleveland, who cares, as a team they suck, they lost three straight at home against the Mets! (And yes, what does that make the White Sox, after the Guards manhandled them, but ease up, it’s Ozzie Day lemme rant.)
It’s a Fox national game tonight, so coverage there begins with a 6 p.m. CT pregame, followed by a first pitch at 6:15. ESPN 1000 AM has the radio broadcast, as usual.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 02: Former Seattle Mariners player Jay Buhner takes the field during the Randy Johnson Number Retirement Ceremony prior to the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on May 02, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This has to be the latest I’ve been at T-Mobile Park in years, if not ever. It’s 11 pm, and I’m in my Yes We Canó t-shirt circa 2015, and people around me are cheering Stefen Romero.
It isn’t heaven, nor is it hell. Baby, it’s the Mariners Alumni Home Run Derby.
The whole thing is a fever dream, fueled by the fact they have yet to close the drink stands and DJ Pleno AKA Julio Rodríguez out in the ‘Pen. Many people, like me, have taken tonight as an opportunity to dig deep into their closets; I spot a Furbush jersey, a rogue Zunino, a DMo, multiple Ichiros and Randy Johnsons and Dave Valle himself, weaving lackadaisically through the concourse in the 4th inning. Between the 2-1 lackluster offense loss to the Rays and all these throwback tributes, it might as well be the early 2010s. Credit to the crowd, though, who seemed to almost universally hang around for the pomp and circumstance of the derby.
And say what you will about the Mariners on-field production, but they’ve always known how to put on a show. No expense was spared on pyrotechnics, with every homer getting the full home run treatment, alongside newly-installed flashing lights attached to all the walkway railings. The crowd roared increasingly loud for each contestant, coach and, of course, the commissioner (because obviously every derby needs a commissioner). My only quibble? No opportunity to stand and holler my head off for Nelson Cruz, one of said coaches. To call the assortment a who’s who of Mariners legends would do some a disservice, but it was definitely Some Guys of Remembering fame – Bucky Jacobsen, Stefen Romero, RyOn Healy, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Austin Nola – alongside legends like Mike Cameron and Ichiro.
The Derby itself was well-structured. Jacobsen was one of three pentagenarian participants, whose pro career was derailed by injury two decades ago. The one-time Banner Bank advertiser made good, scraping past the left field wall twice. It set the tone in the crowd and on the field, a combination of anxiety and relief coursing through the light-hearted nature. The fear of seeing true embarrassment from any of the participants was quelled one-by-one, with different standards for each hitter. For Jacobsen, a homer was enough, but he managed three big flies including an additional in the “Jackpot Round” where each homer was worth double.
For Nola, Healy, and Romero there were actual expectations. Nola was a big leaguer a season ago, and opted to coach the M’s bullpen instead of taking a minor league deal this spring. His swing looked much the same as it did nearly a decade ago in Seattle, lashing tasteful line drives over the fence with just enough pop to advance to the final round. Healy played in Korea in 2021 and was the youngest participant at 34, but was undermined in one of the night’s great surprises. Seeking an edge against a southpaw, the crowd erupted in delight as James Paxton trotted in to throw BP for what was quite clearly the first time in his life. Dealing in jeans, The Big Maple managed to generate a full whiff from Healy to the good-natured Oregonian’s chagrin. For his part, Romero was still a good hitter in the Mexican League in 2023, and is younger than current Triple-A Tacoma starter Casey Lawrence. As DJ Pleno grooved in The Pen, an increasingly giddy crowd delighted in big flies from the less-star-studded swingers. Sprinkled in was Crocodile Hunter cosplayer Ryan Rowland-Smith, who hammed it up to the extreme, tackling a stuffed crocodile on his way out and bat flipping two buzzer-beating homers to the glee of all attendees and his fellow broadcasters. He echoed the refrain so many of the contestants light-heartedly echoed: the joy of being able to do this in front of their families, including for many their children who’d been too young to see their playing careers. Mike Cameron has quite a different experience, having been able to watch his own son Daz reach MLB himself, but the 53 year old good-naturedly came up short.
The stage was set for the man everyone had stuck around to see, and Ichiro did not disappoint. Clubbing homers into the right field seats with the crowd willing every ball deeper, Ichiro came up just a single point short of advancing. And yet, even as many streamed to the exits while the final fly ball fell short, most stayed. The moment had earned itself. So often, Seattle has been denigrated rightly for drawing on nostalgia to a cloying, cynical degree. Empty rehashings of the magic of 1995 until the sweetness wears off like a cheap stick of gum. But silly as it felt, disappointing even, with a final between two role players from eras not likely to make many highlight reels, this event exceeded expectations. Bread and circuses get a bad rap, but this was at least bread, and folks, you can eat bread. With his back against the wall at a barrage of big flies by Nola, Stefen Romero ripped off homer after homer, building a crescendo of joy at something new from something old. No time taken, no bonus round needed, the former Oregon State Beaver elated his Portland-area youth team as they blasted through their bed-times to watch their coach take home the title.
As they presented Romero with his trophy, even I, who had held a grudge due to once being chastised by him on Twitter for saying he was bad, couldn’t help but cheer. It was a perfect distillation of what has always drawn me to the ballpark, regardless of the team’s record; the camaraderie and community of baseball.
Was it a perfect Home Run Derby? No, but it was a perfect(ly) Mariners night.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 27: Jake Bennett #64 of the Boston Red Sox throws in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on June 27, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 Red Sox are now just the tenth team in MLB history to win 27 out of 30 games, and the first team in MLB history to have done so after being 10 or more games under .500 at the start of that 30-game stretch. This is unprecedented, unbelievable and… unterrible.
Can they keep it going tonight? The seemingly unstoppable Jake Bennett takes the mound against Gage Jump, whose name is much better than his stat line: 4.59 ERA, 66.2 IP, 73 K, 31 BB, 7 HR. Unfortunately, he got the better out of the Sox out on the West Coast, throwing six shutout innings in the only game the A’s would take from the Sox. Jarren Duran and Masatka Yoshida both take the bench against the lefty, with Jahmai Jones leading off at DH and Eli White making his first Red Sox start.
Former All-Star pitcher Tommy John, whose innovative elbow surgery from more than 50 years ago has helped thousands of pitchers prolong their careers, sent an emotional message to the New York Yankees on Old-Timers' Day on Saturday, thanking the organization and the fans while acknowledging his failing health.
John, 83, who has battled bladder cancer and other ailments in recent years, reached out and expressed his gratitude to late Dr. Frank Jobe, late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and Yankees fans.
"I want to thank the Yankees organization & the Steinbrenner family for giving me this opportunity to say goodbye to everyone, along with all the friends & fans who followed me throughout my 26-year career."
He concluded the message saying, "The day I left for my first job as a pitcher, my father looked at me & said, 'Good luck, Tommy. Just remember one thing: whether you make it big in the big leagues or you don’t, you’ll always just be Tommy John from Terre Haute, Indiana.
"I’ve never forgotten those words. Thank you & God Bless."
On this 78th Old-Timers’ Day, Tommy John shares a message to his fans, former teammates, and the Yankees organization as he battles health issues from his home in Bradenton, Florida. pic.twitter.com/3lKUWHoaw0
John, a 288-game winner over a 26-year career, became synonymous with baseball elbow injuries when he underwent surgery performed by Dr. Jobe on Sept. 25, 1974, removing a tendon from John’s wrist, drilling four holes in the ulna and humerus bones of his left elbow, grafting the tendons together, and holding them in place with anchors.
It became one of the most innovative and influential surgeries in the history of sports medicine, performed on more than 3,000 pitchers.
It is now referred to simply as "Tommy John surgery."
"It’s amazing how many careers that surgery has saved," John told USA TODAY Sports two years ago. "It was just an experimental surgery. I would have tried many things to come back and pitch. I told Dr. Jobe, do whatever you can to fix it. If it works, it works. If it doesn’t, hey, we gave it our best.
"Thank God it worked. It was such a blessing. The only thing I hate is that 50 years later, it’s needed more than ever, and that’s sad. You would think with modern training and techniques, pitchers wouldn’t need that surgery as much."
John went on to pitch for another 14 years while winning 164 more games.
He has frequently been asked why the surgery was named after him and not Dr. Jobe himself.
"I asked Frank about that," John said. "He was such a humble guy, but he told me that he was tired of saying 'ulnar collateral ligament replacement surgery with the palmaris longus tendon.' It was easier for him to say, 'Oh, the surgery I performed on Tommy John.'
"It quickly just became, 'Tommy John surgery.'"
It soon became the surgery heard ‘round the baseball world.
Old-Timers’ Day in The Bronx took on an unexpected somber tone when Tommy John released a statement through the Yankees in which he said “goodbye to everyone” as he battles health issues.
“I want to thank the Yankees organization [and] the Steinbrenner family for giving me this opportunity to say goodbye to everyone, along with all the friends [and] fans who followed me throughout my 26-year career.”
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The former Yankee — best known for being the first to undergo the elbow surgery that now bears his name — was remembered fondly by his former teammates Saturday at the Stadium.
“He had almost 300 wins, on top of everything else he did,’’ Ron Guidry said. “It was great having him on the team. He was so knowledgeable. When we were together, we were pretty much 1-2 on the staff and having him around gave me great comfort. He could talk and it was nice to have him around because he would answer any question you had and he did so much in the game.”
John had been an All-Star with the White Sox and was a standout with the Dodgers by the time he injured his UCL in 1974.
At the time, that was seen as a likely career-ending injury, but Dodgers team physician Dr. Frank Jobe performed the procedure on John, then 31, in which the lefty’s elbow ligament was replaced.
Tommy John of the New York Yankees pitches in a Major League Baseball game against the Oakland Athletics played on May 18, 1989 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. Getty Images
John missed the entire 1975 season, but returned a year later and pitched 14 seasons with the reconstructed elbow.
In his statement, John also credited Jobe, who “saved my arm [and] made it possible for me to continue pitching. That surgery has gone on to save the careers of countless pitchers, including many of the very best in the game today.”
Of John’s 288 career victories — the highest total of anyone not in the Hall of Fame aside from scandal-scarred Roger Clemens — 164 came after his surgery.
He signed with the Yankees for the first time prior to the 1979 season and was there until he was traded to the Angels midway through the 1982 season.
John won more than 20 games in each of his first two years in The Bronx and returned in 1986. He remained with the Yankees through the rest of his major league career, which ended in 1989.
John started 700 games in his career, the eighth most of all time, and his 4,710 ¹/₃ innings pitched are 19th on the all-time list.
Tommy John of the Yankees pitches during an MLB game circa 1980. Getty Images
Rick Cerone played with — and caught — John and called him “a great competitor.’’
“He got better with age,’’ Cerone said. “That ball kept sinking and sinking.”
Cerone also recalled John’s managing days, as John managed the Staten Island Yankees in 2004, as well as two seasons in the independent Atlantic League with Bridgeport. John also spent time as a broadcaster with the Yankees.
“Tommy was tough to compete against and a terrific teammate,’’ Willie Randolph said. “We were just talking about him today. It’s shocking to hear he’s struggling and I’m praying for him.”
The native of Terre Haute, Ind., also pitched for Cleveland, the Angels and A’s and finished second in the National League Cy Young vote in 1977 with the Dodgers, behind Philadelphia’s Steve Carlton, and in 1979 with the Yankees, trailing only Baltimore’s Mike Flanagan.
John, in 2024, revealed he had bladder cancer, but it’s unclear if that is what he is dealing with now.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 02: Gage Jump #61 of the Athletics prepares to pitch during the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Sutter Health Park on August 02, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Athletics have lost nine straight after getting blown out 13-1 by the Boston Red Sox in last night’s series opener. At 45-71, the A’s are tied for the worst record in the league. It wasn’t long ago that the team was sitting at .500, highlighting just how swift and extreme this collapse has been.
This afternoon, the A’s will look to stop the bleeding and avoid dropping their 10th in a row. Left-hander Gage Jump will get the start for the Green and Gold. The 23-year-old enters his 14th start of the season with a 4-7 record, a 4.59 ERA, a 1.47 WHIP and 73 strikeouts across 66 2/3 innings pitched.
The club’s top pitching prospect got off to a strong start, showcasing his tantalizing stuff during a dominant stretch to begin his major league career. However, Jump has struggled recently, perhaps running into a rookie wall as opposing teams have figured out how to attack the southpaw.
In Jump’s last outing against the Detroit Tigers, he took the loss after allowing six runs on four hits and six walks over just 3 2/3 innings. The start before that, he dominated these Red Sox hitters in Sacramento, striking out seven over six scoreless innings.
If the Athletics want to win a baseball game, they will need Jump to replicate that performance at Fenway Park, although the Red Sox will have a better idea of what to expect from the left-hander. A quality start would go a long way, especially after right-hander Jack Perkins’ short and poor start yesterday forced the team to ask more out of its struggling bullpen.
Speaking of the bullpen, the A’s shook things up down there.
Hayden Juenger returns to Triple-A after allowing four runs on five hits in the fourth inning of the series opener. Fellow right-handed reliever Yunior Tur takes his spot in the bullpen, looking to make the most of his second chance in the big leagues. It can only go up from here for Tur, who allowed 14 runs in his first two major league appearances a couple of weeks ago.
The Athletics will need more offense today, as keeping the Red Sox off the scoreboard will be a tall task for the pitching staff. For the third consecutive day, both of the team’s catchers are in the lineup, with Brian Serven taking over behind the plate.
Center fielder Henry Bolte’s speed and shortstop Jacob Wilson’s contact ability give the A’s a dynamic duo atop the lineup, but they have to actually get on base to make an impact. Meanwhile, will Lawrence Butler and Max Muncy continue being automatic outs, or will the two hitters finally make a positive impact for the team?
For the second straight day, A’s hitters will face a talented, young Red Sox left-hander whose stellar performance has been a significant factor in the team’s success. Jake Bennett enters his 13th start of the season with a 7-4 record, a 2.90 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP and 50 strikeouts over 71 1/3 innings pitched.
Bennett opposed Jump when these two teams squared off at the A’s home ballpark. In that game, the lone A’s win of the four-game series, the Red Sox left-hander took the loss after allowing three runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings. This afternoon, Bennett will look to replicate the performance of his teammate Payton Tolle, who struck out 14 over six innings last night, while the A’s will look to beat him once again.
And Boston’s starting nine:
UPDATED: Jones DH Rafaela CF Durbin 3B Contreras 1B Monasterio SS White RF Sogard 2B Duran LF Wong C Bennett P
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 28: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees reacts after catching a fly ball during the second inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on July 28, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Set the clock back seven or eight years and this is the premier game of the weekend. Neither Gerrit Cole nor Chris Sale are fully the Cy Youngs they used to be, and yet they’re both still quite good in 2026. After a nailbiter of a win yesterday, Cole will look to give the Yankees another victory today, albeit one that doesn’t raise our collective blood pressure in the same way.
Let’s start with Sale, who is 37 with a 2.08 ERA and has been worth four wins already this season. The 15-year vet should be familiar to Yankee fans after stints with the White Sox and Red Sox, and indeed that back-foot slider to right-handed hitters is as good as it ever was. This is a tough assignment for MLB teams at the best of times, and the Yankee lineup isn’t much to brag about now. Scratching a run or two across against Sale is particularly important today.
Cole, meanwhile, has bounced back nicely after a few shaky starts in June. His last three outings, against the Pirates and both Chicago teams, have seen him post a 1.93 ERA and 2.82 FIP, and while we can’t necessarily expect that kind of pitching full time from the veteran, one more start along those lines would certainly be appreciated. A big part of Cole’s game was always controlling home runs — he fills the zone with so many pitches that fly balls are inevitable, but keeping those fly balls in play largely determines how his start will go. If he can avoid some of the thump in Atlanta’s lineup, he should be a good match against someone like Sale.
I was a little surprised to see Ben Rice in the lineup; I thought today would be a great excuse to give him what seems to be a much needed day off. Instead, he’s at DH, with the club rolling out their lefty specialist lineup of Paul Goldschmidt at first, Amed Rosario at third, and rookie George Lombard Jr. all the way up to sixth in the order.
It’s Old-Timers’ Day and the festivities are in full swing, coverage is on YES.
How to watch
Location: Yankee Stadium—Bronx, NY
First pitch: 3:05pm Eastern
TV broadcast: YES, BravesVision
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280, 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
Since Marcelo Mayer was traded by the Boston Red Sox to the San Francisco Giants during the MLB trade deadline, he’s been anxiously awaiting a new beginning.
Mayer’s girlfriend Camryn Bergman posted a video on her TikTok page, showing her and Mayer making their way back to his home state of California while soaking in the Bay Area.
Camryn Bergman and Marcelo Mayer are eager to start their next chapter in the Bay Area. Instagram/@cam.bergmanCamryn Bergman and Marcelo Mayer are eager to start their next chapter in the Bay Area. TikTok/@cam.bergmanMarcelo Mayer and his girlfriend Camyrn Bergman ready to usher in new chapter with the Giants.
Bergman’s video opened up with the caption “pov: your boyfriend got traded” which was followed up by a series of clips showing the two flying across the country from Boston to California.
When the two arrived in San Francisco, Mayer was seen taking his luggage to Oracle Park, which was then followed by clips of them exploring the Bay Area.
The two walked down the boardwalk and headed over to Pier 39, looking at a view of the water, with the famous Alcatraz prison staring directly back at them.
Their journey exploring the Bay continued with them eating at In-N-Out, then sitting near the Golden Gate Bridge.
The video ended with the couple entering an Uber and then receiving some gear from the Giants, where Bergman closed the video with herself working out in the gym, while wearing a white San Francisco hat.
Mayer was selected 4th overall by the Boston Red Sox in the 2021 MLB Draft, and quickly rose to the top of their farm system as Baseball America had him ranked as the No.10 overall prospect in 2024.
In May 2025, the Red Sox brought him up to their MLB roster, with hopes he would become their franchise shortstop of the future.
Through his two seasons in the big leagues, Mayer has struggled to stay healthy, as he’s been injured in both seasons, including last year when his season ended due to a right wrist sprain.
Right now, Mayer is working his way back from a bone stress reaction to his left ulna, but is expected to make a return this season.
As of Saturday, the Giants are in fourth place in the National League West with a 49-67 record, and the playoffs are likely looking like another miss for the fifth consecutive season.
With the team already eager to turn the page to next season, they’re hoping Mayer will turn into the big leaguer he was projected to be so that they can make a deep run next year.
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The rumor mill is continuing to swirl as we reach the slowest part of the offseason. Former San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane is currently a name popping up consistently, as he's now been linked to a move to Russia for the second time in his career.
According to Russian news outlet Sport-Express, Ak Bars Kazan is "considering signing" Kane. Beyond that, they didn't add many additional details.
A controversial figure throughout his career, Kane hit the free agent market this summer after a single season with the Vancouver Canucks. Given his agent Daniel Milstein's close ties to Russia's hockey system and players, it's certainly not overly surprising that there would be at least discussions with the Kontinental Hockey League regarding his services.
Kane, 35, spent parts of four seasons with the Sharks during the late 2010s and early 2020s. He spent five games with the Sharks' American Hockey League affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda during the 2021-22 season before the Sharks voided his contract due to a breach of contract pertaining to the COVID-19 protocols at the time.
During the 2012 NHL lockout, Kane played 12 games in the KHL with Belarussian club Dynamo Minsk. He scored just a single goal and two points in 12 games.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 06: Lane Thomas #20 of the Atlanta Braves (left), Michael Harris II #23, Jim Jarvis #74, Ronald Acuna Jr. #13, and Mauricio Dubón #14 celebrate after winning a game against the Miami Marlins at Truist Park on August 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Join us and discuss today’s afternoon game in the comments below!
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 4: Colorado Rockies pitcher Nick Frasso pitches in his Major League debut during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Coors Field on August 4, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Gavin Liddell/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The trade deadline has come and gone, and we’ve had some time to reflect on the week. The Rockies made four total moves — three on Monday — and overall, the majority of the community gave the Rockies a passing grade for their moves.
81% of voters gave the Rockies a “good or satisfactory grade” for their performance. 4% gave them an A, which indicates excellent or outstanding work. 13% gave them a D, which indicates “below-average work,” while 2% gave them a failing grade.
Do you agree with the results? Do you still agree with your own vote? Let us know in the comments!
The Chicago Blackhawks have one of the best farm systems in the National Hockey League. When Kyle Davidson took over as the full-time GM in 2022, it was his goal to rebuild the organization through the draft.
Since then, they have made 11 first-round picks and countless selections in the second round or later. Not every one of them is going to pan out, but a certain percentage of them becoming full-time NHL players is what will make the rebuild successful.
As the off-season enters the later stages, meaning free agency is mostly done, there aren't many more trades to go, and things will quiet down for a few weeks before camps start to begin, this is a look at the top-10 prospects in Chicago's system:
1. Anton Frondell, FWD
Anton Frondell played a handful of games for the Chicago Blackhawks down the stretch in 2025-26, but not enough to come off the list as the top prospect in the organization. The former 3rd overall pick is still trying to figure out if he is a center or a wing in the long term, but it's becoming obvious that he has the potential to be a star two-way performer either way. Frondell has a booming shot to complement his playmaking ability, and he never takes a shift off of doing the right thing when it comes to his defensive responsibilities.
2. Roman Kantserov, FWD
Roman Kantserov is going to play in the NHL this season. There is also a high likelihood that leading the KHL in goals last year earned him a spot in the top six right off the bat. Whether it's with Connor Bedard or somewhere else, he is expected to be a high-end rookie goal scorer right away. Chicago hopes that Kantserov and Frondell take Calder Trophy votes away from each other.
3. Nick Lardis, FWD
Nick Lardis, like Frondell, played in the NHL last season. He played more than Frondell, but not enough to graduate off this list just yet. He did score at a 20-goal pace as a rookie, however, which suggests he will be a big part of Chicago's attack. After scoring an OHL-leading 71 goals one year before his rookie pro season, he made a name for himself as a high-end goal-scoring prospect. Now, there is an expectation that he will be a part of the Blackhawks' core.
4. Xavier Villenueve, D
The Chicago Blackhawks selected Xavier Villenueve in the second round of the 2026 NHL Draft. He fell farther than most would have thought, as he entered the event with a first-round grade. The Blackhawks managed to grab him, and now he is one of their top prospects. He may be number one on this list by this time next year, as long as he has a good d+1 year. Villenueve profiles like some of the young small defenseman who are elite playmakers to come before him. Lane Hutson is the obvious comparison, but that is a high bar. For the Blackhawks, they need him to have a big year at Boston University as their number-one point-producing defenseman.
5. Sacha Boisvert, FWD
Sacha Boisvert is a hard prospect to dissect. He was a dominant freshman at the University of North Dakota. Then, he transferred to Boston University because of a coaching change at North Dakota, and injuries/inconsistancies slowed him down. After his season ended, he signed with Chicago and played a handful of games. He scored a goal, made some plays, and had a fight, but it was clear that a lot of work was ahead of him before he would play in the NHL full time. A start in Rockford will be perfect for him. A lot has been made about the weight he's put on this off-season, which should help him elevate his playstyle.
6. Vaclav Nestrasil, FWD
Vaclav Nestrasil had a great year at UMass with his 31 points in 34 games played. It was an unexpected jump for a freshman coming into a much harder league. Where he really raised his stock, however, was at the 2025-26 World Junior Championships. He was the best player on Team Czechia, and that allowed them to capture a Silver Medal. After another crack at the NCAA season and World Juniors this winter, expect him to sign and play with Chicago at the end of the 2026-27 college season.
7. Marek Vanacker, FWD
Marek Vanacker was one of the OHL's leading goal scorers this past season, which was important to see after injuries derailed him one year prior. Now, the Blackhawks see him as one of the top goal scorers in their system. It was once thought that he could be a full-time NHL player in 2026-27, but additions to the team block that path for now. He will start with the Rockford IceHogs, which is actually best for his development. If things go well, he will get minutes in the NHL sooner rather than later. When he does get there, think of him as someone who could be the third forward on a line that snipes lots of goals because of the work done by two other playmakers.
8. Drew Commesso, G
Drew Commesso signed a contract extension this off-season. The first year is a two-way deal, which is Arvid Soderblom's final year on his current contract. If Commesso has a good year, he is in line to become the full-time backup in 2027-28, as that year is a one-way contract. If Soderblom lights the world on fire and Commesso struggles, that will change the plans, but Commesso has proven that becoming a starter in the NHL is a real possibility for him. He just has to work his way up.
9. Mason West, FWD
When the Blackhawks traded up to select Mason West, it was a bit of a risk. He was committed to playing out his senior year of football. He felt that he owed it to his community and teammates to attempt to win the Minnesota State Championship with Edina High School. He did just that. Now, the quarterback and multi-sport state champion is committed to hockey, which he hopes will lead him to the NHL. After finishing the hockey season in the USHL, he is set to play for Michigan State in 2026-27. A good year will skyrocket him up this list.
10. Adam Gajan, G
With Spencer Knight locked in as the starter for a long time ahead, the Blackhawks have Arvid Soderblom and Drew Commesso fighting for the role of permanent backup. Everyone wants to be a starter, but they all have to prove their worth as a backup first. Eventually, if they are great, another organization will make a play to bring them on as a full-timer. Adam Gajan is blocked for now, but his pedigree shows he will be in the mix eventually. He was the third-string for Team Slovakia at the Olympics, which came in the middle of an incredible year he had in college.
Honorable Mentions: AJ Spellacy, Jiri Felcman, John Mustard, Ryan Roobroeck, Julius Sumpf, Nathan Behm, & Gavin Hayes
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PHOENIX, AZ - AUGUST 07: Teoscar Hernández #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers runs to first base during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Friday, August 7, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Brendon Baranov/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Dodgers will turn to Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Saturday in hopes to end their seven-game losing streak, a stretch in which nothing really seems to match up properly.
Yamamoto pitched quite well last Saturday at home, allowing three runs in eight innings to the Boston Red Sox, but that was a game in which the Dodgers offense could only score twice. Much like Friday night in Arizona, Roki Sasaki allowed only two run in six innings and the Dodgers took a lead in the eighth inning, but a bad Edwin Díaz slider turned that into a loss, too.
The loss on Tuesday at Wrigley Field turned lopsided later, but that was another strong start wasted, with Tarik Skubal allowing only two runs in six frames in his Dodgers debut.
Major league teams are 803-358 (.692) when their pitcher provides a quality start this season. The Dodgers lead the majors with 61 quality start this season, 11 more than any other team, and that’s not even including the six hitless, scoreless innings Eric Lauer provided in bulk relief following an opener on June 22.
The Dodgers are 44-17 (.721) when receiving a quality start, but have lost three such games in the last week on this losing streak.
Offense has been a big culprit during the swoon, even dating back to July when the Dodgers were outscored during the month for just the third time in nine years. Through the end of June, the Dodgers averaged 5.36 runs per game, most in the majors, and hit .266/.347/.443 with a 118 wRC+, tops in the majors in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and wRC+.
Since July 1, the Dodgers offense has been entrenched well into the bottom half of the league:
Home runs aren’t the only way to score, of course, and the Dodgers have weirdly done quite well with runners in scoring position during the seven-game losing streak, hitting .273/.333/.500 with a 125 wRC+. But they have just 48 plate appearances with runners in scoring position, fourth-fewest in the majors at just under seven such PA per game. MLB teams as a whole average over 68 PA with runners in scoring position over the last eight days.
