NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 27: A tarp covers the infield as a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets has been postponed due to incoming storms at Citi Field on May 27, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, tomorrow’s going to be a busy one! The Braves and Mets played through a little bit of rain during Monday night’s debacle and even though tonight has already been declared a washout, there’s a chance that they may have to dodge some more raindrops tomorrow as well. The weather is looking really bleak either way, so hopefully they’ll be able to complete the doubleheader just so that won’t cost Atlanta another off day down the stretch.
For now, we’ve got a rain-induced off night so what are y’all getting into? If you’re planning on watching baseball (outside of the hate-watch down in Miami) then I’d suggest tuning in to see the Yankees and White Sox since that seems like an intriguing series going on at the moment.
If you aren’t going to watch baseball and you have Apple TV then I suggest that you actually put it to use for something other than watching the Atlanta Braves. I’ve really enjoyed the Cape Fear miniseries, even if it was a head-scratcher as to why we needed a remake (2026) of a remake (1991) of a movie that originally came out in 1962. Still, it’s been pretty fun and if you enjoy extremely-messed up stories then it’s worth a watch. The finale is in a few days so you’ll be getting in at the best part.
Also, here’s a Feed post to get into as well if you want to just hang out here on Battery Power with your ol’ internet pals. We’ve got a lot going on here. Anyways, the floor is now yours!
Knowing the Los Angeles Dodgers and their free-spending ways, it’s inevitable they’ll acquire pitcher Tarik Skubal or another high-priced player before the Aug. 3 trade deadline and maximize their chances to win a third straight World Series title.
Their willingness to pay top dollar for free agents is indisputable. Start with Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year contract. Or the $240 million, four-year deal Kyle Tucker got before this season. Six other players on the roster signed deals worth more than $100 million.
But do the Dodgers go all out at the trade deadline?
Of the eight highest paid players on the current roster, none were acquired at the MLB trade deadline. In fact, their past two were awfully quiet: yet Los Angeles still won the World Series in 2024 and 2025.
2024: Edman ends up playoff hero
For the Dodgers in 2024, there was no obvious splash at the trade deadline.
Los Angeles added pitchers Jack Flaherty and Michael Kopech, along with utility player Tommy Edman and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier.
The Dodgers were 63-46 (.578) before the trade deadline and 35-18 (.660) after the deadline. Flaherty and Kopech strengthened the Dodgers’ pitching in the regular season, going a combined 10-2, with Kopech taking on a high-leverage role in relief.
But Edman wound up the postseason hero. He won the National League Championship Series MVP, batting .407 with 11 hits, one home run, 11 RBIs, and five runs in six games against the New York Mets and the Dodgers won the series four games to two.
In the World Series, the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in five games. Kopech made 12 postseason appearances and Flaherty started five games in the playoff run.
2025: Depth at the deadline
For the Dodgers in 2025, the club generated even less buzz at the trade deadline.
Los Angeles picked up three minor leaguers (pitcher Adam Serwinowski along with outfielders Zach Ehrhard and James Tibbs III), outfielder Alex Call, pitchers Paul Gervase and Brock Stewart and catcher Ben Rortvedt.
The Dodgers went 63-46 (.578) before the deadline and 30-23 (.566) after the deadline.
There was no Tommy Edman among this group. But the depth proved vital for the Dodgers with Rortvedt starting four playoff games as Smith dealt with injury, while Call made three starts in the outfield.
The Dodgers went on to win the World Series, prevailing over the Toronto Blue Jays with a heart-stopping fashion, extra-inning victory in Game 7.
How Dodgers do business
The Dodgers have made significant upgrades with the trade deadline over the past decade. The acquisitions included pitcher Yu Darvish in 2017, when he was a four-time All-Star; shortstop Manny Machado in 2018, when he was a four-time All-Star; pitcher Max Sherzer in 2021, when he a seven-time All-Star; and shortstop Trea Turner in 2021, who won the NL batting title that year.
But none of those additions led to World Series rings, and the Dodgers have assembled their most fruitful rosters through other methods.
The Dodgers used free agency to sign first baseman Freddie Freeman, pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, pitcher Blake Snell, Ohtani (designated hitter/pitcher) and Tucker, the outfielder.
Though winter trades, the Dodgers acquired shortstop Mookie Betts and pitcher Tyler Glasnow.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 28: Sal Stewart #27 of the Cincinnati Reds hits a home run in the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians during game one of a doubleheader at Great American Ball Park on July 28, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds dropped an up and down Game 1 of Tuesday’s doubleheader, a game rife with twists and turns that ultimately didn’t go their way. A grand slam off Chase Burns in the Top of the 1st (after an Edwin Arroyo error on a would-be inning-ending double play) set them back 4-0, but they roared back to take a 5-4 lead thanks the heroics of rookie Sal Stewart.
Not deterred, the Cleveland Guardians stole the lead right back thanks to future Hall of Famer Jose Ramirez, and Cincinnati’s bats simply couldn’t claw their way back again in an eventual 6-5 loss.
That sunk the Reds back to 7 games under .500 on a day that began with their hopes that they could climb as close to as just 4 games under. Such is life when you’re on the bubble in trade season and playing twice in the same day.
Caleb Ferguson will be the opener for the Reds in Game 2, which will start at 7:10 PM ET. Jose Franco was called up to be the 27th man on this doubleheader day, and the expectation is that he’ll end up getting the bulk of the work at some point mid-game.
Here’s how the Reds will line up for the second game of the day, with the bottom half of the lineup looking about as gross as it possibly could be:
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The Chicago Blackhawks hit their fans with a hint of nostalgia over the last week as they have signed Patrick Kane to a two-year contract. He is coming back to contribute to winning and the future of the team, more than it being some "ride off into the sunset" moment, but it will surely bring back great memories for him and the fanbase.
It wasn't just Kane who contributed to three Stanley Cups in six years, the greatest in the history of the franchise. Many were a big part, and none were bigger than former captain Jonathan Toews.
Toews was away from the game for a few years after his final season with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2022-23. In 2025-26, he came back to the NHL and played one year with his hometown Winnipeg Jets.
Following the conclusion of that campaign, Toews announced his retirement from the National Hockey League. The Winnipeg Jets held a presser for him to do so on his own terms.
Now, it is time for the Blackhawks to give him the proper send-off that he deserves. Eventually, he will have his number retired, be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and possibly get a statue, but a ceremony should be a must for the 2026-27 season.
In the past, the Blackhawks have brought back former players for "one last shift". A moment like that for Toews would be unlike any other that came before him, as he was so beloved as the captain of the team.
"Nothing is set in stone or anything, but I think it's likely we'll go down [that path]," Davidson said when asked about the possibility of Toews getting a moment like that during the upcoming season. He all but confirmed that it's in the works.
"Having him back and having him back with [Kane] back in a Blackhawks sweater would be a pretty exciting thing, too. But, again, much like I’ve said in the past with Patrick, Jonathan, he’s a Blackhawk for life.”
Is it possible that Toews comes back as an employee someday? He hasn't confirmed or denied being interested in coaching or a front office role in the NHL since retiring, but the way he played the game makes it clear that he might have the wisdom to consider a job like that.
Scouting or player evaluation could be in his future as well, if he chose to do so. For now, he deserves a proper send off as a player, and he's going to get it.
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As we rapidly approach the end of July, it's reaching a point in the summer where action lulls and rosters are mostly set for the 2026-27 season. With that being said, when training camp approaches this September, there will be a number of players fighting for a job on the San Jose Sharks.
There are three categories of player on each team at this point in the summer: the locks, the bubble players, and the long shots. Over the next three days, we'll take a look at where each player falls and get a rough idea of what the San Jose Sharks should look like on Opening Night. Today, kick things off with the forwards.
Locks: Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Mason Marchment, Kiefer Sherwood, Tyler Toffoli, Alexander Wennberg, Michael Misa, Zack Ostapchuk, Barclay Goodrow
Of the 12 forwards that will take the ice on October 1, nine fall directly into the "lock" category. The reasoning behind some are obvious, Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and Michael Misa are the long-term stars of the Sharks and should be expected to play a big role in the long run.
Others, like Mason Marchment, Kiefer Sherwood, Alex Wennberg, and Zack Ostapchuk, are in the first year of big-money contracts and it would make zero sense for the Sharks to sign the deals if they weren't going to use them on their everyday roster.
That accounts for seven of the nine players in the lock category, but what about Tyler Toffoli and Barclay Goodrow?
Toffoli is one of the most well-liked figures in the Sharks' locker room. Although his play did regress a bit last season, the Sharks are hoping he'll be able to bounce back this fall. With that being said, even if he doesn't, there's not much they can do since he has a full no-trade clause. They could, of course, do what the New York Rangers did to Goodrow and place Toffoli on waivers for someone else to claim, but it's hard to imagine that would go over well in the locker room. As a result, he seems to be here to stay for at least one more season.
Goodrow, on the other hand, is seemingly a favorite of both Mike Grier and Ryan Warsofsky. He was one of only four players to appear in all 82 games, despite Warsofsky constantly rotating players in and out of the bottom-six forward group. While many fans likely don't feel that Goodrow should be guaranteed a roster spot this season, and there is some merit to that with his on-ice performance, it seems very unlikely that he'd be taken off of the Opening Night roster.
On the Bubble: Collin Graf, Ivar Stenberg, Igor Chernyshov, Ty Dellandrea, Adam Gaudette
If Collin Graf's contract were done and we had an idea of what term he's going to be signed to, he'd easily be a lock for the Opening Night roster. He finished third on the Sharks in goals last season and played very well alongside Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. While he does have the versatility to play a bottom-six role, at this stage, it seems like a waste of his talent.
As someone who has overcome the odds numerous times to even reach this point in his career though, Graf will find a way to make it work regardless of what happens.
The re-signing of Kiefer Sherwood followed by additions of Mason Marchment and Ivar Stenberg have made it tough to find a spot for Graf in the top-six, or even the top-nine for that matter. While Graf should undoubtedly be on the ice when the Florida Panthers come to town on October 1, it's hard to tell what the Sharks are planning on doing with him at this point and as a result, he fell to the top of the bubble.
Speaking of Stenberg, while many will likely pencil him in as a lock on the Opening Night roster, the Sharks are at a point where there's no need to rush him. While he was incredible in the Swedish Hockey League last season, some players struggle to adapt to the tighter confines of a North American rink which could hinder his performance in training camp and during the preseason.
Since he's coming out of Europe, Stenberg would be eligible to report to the American Hockey League right out of the gate if he were to struggle early on. It seems more likely than not that he'll take the ice on October 1, but it doesn't seem guaranteed just yet.
Igor Chernyshov is another player who has been hampered by the Sharks' additions over the summer. He seemed like a strong contender to earn his first full-time NHL role this season, but now there's even less room for him. If he's not going to be on the ice regularly, sending Chernyshov back to the AHL would be the right call, but it could lead to some frustration in the long run.
Lastly, Adam Gaudette and Ty Dellandrea are in an odd spot. On paper, they'd likely slot in as the Sharks' 12th and 13th forwards. However, it seems more likely that they're competing strictly for the 13th forward role. Whoever wins out the battle will likely play very little in the coming season, while the other could be placed on waivers, and likely claimed, when the time comes.
The Longshots: Quentin Musty, Filip Bystedt, Ethan Cardwell, Patrick Giles
Of these four, Quentin Musty has the highest NHL upside at this point in time, which ironically makes him the least likely to earn a spot with the Sharks this season as he'd be better suited to playing top-six minutes at the AHL level.
Filip Bystedt's odds of ever getting an opportunity with the team in teal seem slim at this stage, as I discussed in detail earlier this week.
Meanwhile Ethan Cardwell and Patrick Giles are slightly different. They're never going to be counted on as top-nine forwards at the NHL level at this stage, but they could fill a depth role if the Sharks opted to move any of their bottom-six wingers like Gaudette and Dellandrea for example. It's very unlikely to happen, but if both players were moved, Cardwell or Giles could sneak into the 13th forward role with a strong performance at training camp.
There's certainly a lot to consider for Mike Grier and Ryan Warsofsky when training camp gets underway this fall. One thing is for sure though; they'll have to make at least a couple of difficult decision.
ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 27: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the third inning during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Monday, July 27, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kelcee Skoug/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
DENVER, CO - JUNE 19: Bubba Chandler #36 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Friday, June 19, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, July 28, 2026, 6:40 p.m. ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates are in the second matchup of a three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park.
The Pirates will have Bubba Chandler in the spotlight tonight as he makes his 21st start of the season for the team. His record is 3-8, but he is coming off a strong showing in his last appearance against the New York Yankees on the road. Chandler pitched 6.1 innings, giving up two hits and no earned runs. The Yanks scored a pair of runs in the seventh inning off of reliever Brandon Eisert, resulting in a 2-0 loss.
The Diamondbacks are handing the ball to Brandon Pfaadt, who has won each of his last five starts after going winless for his first 13 appearances of the season. In the second half of the season, Pfaadt has only made two starts, both of which were against the St. Louis Cardinals. In his last start on July 23, he pitched six innings, giving up seven hits and two runs in a 10-6 victory at Busch Stadium.
With the calendar slowly moving from July to August, the Pirates are moving into the final stretch of the season, so they need to make the most of each game, especially at home.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 26: Sung-Mun Song #24 of the San Diego Padres throws the ball to first base against the Miami Marlins in the ninth inning of the game at loanDepot park on July 26, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres have won three games in a row and will look to make that four games with a win against the Colorado Rockies who have a 2-4 record coming into the two-game series at Petco Park.
As is the case seemingly every season, the Rockies players are essentially auditioning for other teams around the league. It is understandable that the Colorado roster wants to play well.
The Padres are stuck in limbo of will they or won’t they as the trade deadline approaches. The San Diego players have made no secret that they are aware of how important the next six games are to the team and the season. The Padres have built momentum despite a 5-5 road trip and will need a win today to keep the good vibes going.
Taking the mound
Michael King (SD) v. Michael Lorenzen (COL)
Michael King came into the season as a co-ace with Nick Pivetta. He quickly became the sole ace when Pivetta went down with injury. King has not had a dominant season, but he has looked better over the last couple of outings. He is he lone pitcher in the San Diego rotation that is a threat to throw a complete game and time out.
Michael Lorenzen has had a down year, but that does not automatically mean the San Diego offense will have success against the Colorado right-hander. Lorenzen sits at 3-9 on the year and carries a 6.53 ERA. The Padres will have to jump on Lorenzen early and often to give King a chance to pitch with a lead.
Batter up!
The San Diego offense has been clicking and there is no reason to make massive changes to the order. The top five had a productive road trip and despite an 0-for-5 from Fernando Tatis Jr. on Sunday, they keep collecting hits. As the saying goes, ride the hot hand. Bogaerts has fallen into one of those cold spells we have come to know in San Diego, but he did hit the ball hard out of the eighth spot in the lineup. He should remain in that spot to give the lineup some length and limit the number of opportunities he has to roll into a double play. Rengifo has been too good to sit and Sheets showed signs of getting back on track. Campy should start for his offense but his defensive blunder on Sunday could mean he sits in place of Freddy Fermin and is used later in the game as a pinch-hit threat off the bench.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Manny Machado, 3B
Ty France, 1B
Jackson Merrill, CF
Luis Rengifo, LF
Gavin Sheets DH, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Luis Campusano, C
Cronenworth has been much better since returning from the IL and Sunday may have been his best game at the plate this season. If he can continue to set the table for Machado, France and Merrill he could help to extend the San Diego win streak with a win over the Rockies.
Relief corps
The San Diego bullpen has seen a lot of work this season and saw even more over their 10-game road trip. The Padres have reverted to an 11-man ‘pen, which means there are plenty of arms should Padres manager Craig Stammen need to go to that group early. The hope is that King can give the team some length in his outing, but if he is unable to do so, everyone should be available to cover the remaining innings after the off day on Monday.
MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS: This is the Cubs’ 27th series of at least four games at St. Louis since the National League’s Expansion Era began in 1962. With their win last night, they are 13-14 in first games but 6-4 in the last 10, since 2007. They are 5-4 in second games since then and 11-15 overall. They have won the first two games four times: 1976 (finished 2-2), 1992 (3-1), 2014 (2-2) and 2023 (3-1). The last of those is the only time they won the first three. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
STREAKING, PART 1: The Cubs have hit at least one home run in nine consecutive games, a season high. Their last nine-game streak was in 2024. They had streaks of 10 and 13 games in 2023, and in 2021 they homered in 16 straight, one short of their team-record 17 in 1998. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
STREAKING, PART 2: Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki both have 15-game on-base streaks. Nico Hoerner had a streak end at 15 earlier this year. Suzuki had one of 16; Michael Busch, 19 and 27; Pete Crow-Armstrong, 28; and Happ, 30. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Manny Trillo’s three-run homer in the 11th inning gives the Cubs a 5-2 win over the Phillies in Philadelphia. It happened 50 years ago today, Wednesday, July 28, 1976.
Colin Rea keeps plugging along, eating up five or six innings a start, allowing three or four runs.
That’s okay, but… the Cubs need better. He has not faced the Cardinals this year. Current Cardinals are batting .119 (7-for-59) against him with no home runs and 17 strikeouts.
Keep that up, Colin.
Michael McGreevy has been the Cardinals’ most consistent starter all year. He has allowed two or fewer runs in 13 of his 20 starts.
He doesn’t walk many or strike out many, so the Cubs should look to put the ball in play tonight.
Last year he made three starts against the Cubs and posted a 4.70 ERA in 15.1 innings, with three home runs allowed (one by Seiya Suzuki, two by Michael Busch). He’s allowed 15 home runs this year in 114.1 innings.
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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.
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 28: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers smiles during the game against the Atlanta Hawks during a 2025-26 Emirates Cup game on November 28, 2025 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are officially sprinting to complete their offseason checklist now that LeBron James is off the board. A few things on their to-do list include signing Mario Hezonja, restructuring James Harden’s deal, and trading for Jonathan Kuminga.
The latter will require multiple moves to make possible.
Cleveland isn’t in a position to add Kuminga in a vacuum. They’re strapped for cash and would have to complete a sign-and-trade to acquire him from the Atlanta Hawks — who, according to Marc Stein, are showing interest in Jarrett Allen.
The Cavs, to this point, have refused to play ball in that regard.
“Sources say that the Hawks have indeed made their interest in Jarrett Allen known to Cleveland for some time, but I’m told that Cleveland still has not entertained moving its starting center,” said Stein on his Substack.
It’s unlikely the Cavs would deal Allen in exchange for Kuminga. This doesn’t align with how they’ve valued Allen, whose performances in consecutive Game 7s helped them reach the Eastern Conference Finals last season. The Cavs aren’t moving him for a player who hasn’t proven he can play winning basketball at the NBA level.
Kuminga has promise. His raw potential as an athletic, bruising forward is what is drawing interest from Cleveland. But there’s a reason why the market for Kuminga isn’t scorching hot. The Cavs have enough leverage here to keep Allen out of negotiations.
Instead, the Cavs are looking to trade Max Strus or Dennis Schroder. Either in a deal with Atlanta, or to another team in a salary dump that would clear enough space for them to sign Kuminga themselves. Both Schroder and Strus are helpful rotational players — but Cleveland has needed to tweak the roster and consolidate some of their talent in the backcourt for years. This could be their best chance to do so without a major shakeup of the roster.
Most fans would prefer to move Schroder over Strus. Though it’s unclear if either player will garner enough interest to make this possible. Cleveland does not have draft capital to use as a sweetener. Whoever takes the salary dump will have to like their coffee bitter.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 28: Catcher Austin Hedges #27 listens to pitching coach Carl Willis and starting pitcher Slade Cecconi #44 of the Cleveland Guardians during the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Progressive Field on July 28, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians have been good at starting pitching in 2026. They should do something to get even better.
In today’s start against the Reds, Slade Cecconi fell apart in the fourth inning, which comes as no surprise to anyone who has been following Cecconi’s travails as a starter for the Guardians. Since he arrived in Cleveland, Cecconi has a 2.62 ERA first-time-through-the-order and a 3.28 FIP. He has a 3.96 ERA/4.52 FIP second-time-through and an 8.39 ERA/7.26 FIP third-time through. These numbers don’t include today’s game against the Reds, which would further inflate these stats. It’s not unusual to see a back-end-of-the-rotation guy struggle second and third time through orders, and Cecconi has improved his numbers from 2025 to 2026 slightly in turn number two (third time is still awful). But, I think it’s time for the Guardians to recalibrate and move Cecconi to the bullpen.
There should be a fair few starting pitchers available at this deadline, somewhat of an unusual occurrence. From the Angels’ Reid Detmers and Jose Soriano, to the Royals’ Seth Lugo or Michael Wacha, the Diamondbacks’ Eduardo Rodriguez or Merrill Kelly, the Mets’ Freddy Peralta or Clay Holmes, the Reds’ Brady Singer, the Giants’ Tyler Mahle or Robbie Ray, the Orioles’ Trevor Rogers, or the Mariners’ Emerson Hancock, the options who should be potentially available are plentiful. Unlike the pursuit of a proven hitter (especially a right-handed one) for the lineup, the saturated market for pitchers can provide the Guardians a reasonable bargain option. Unlike the pursuit of a reliever – everyone wants two and paying for their volatile value is always a huge risk – going after a starter looks to be a realistic quest this deadline.
As usual, I’d like the Guardians to take a big swing and go for Reid Detmers or Jose Soriano. If the Angels are serious about a rebuild for once in their lives, I’d gladly give up a top five prospect to see what the Guardians’ pitch coaching can do with the meat left on the bone in both of those cases by an Angels’ pitching group notorious for not getting the most out of their arms. Detmers has a 4.05 ERA and a 3.28 FIP with a 10.2/3.3 K/BB/9 and Soriano has a 3.29 ERA and a 3.80 FIP with a 9.3/4.2 K/BB/9, with both players under arbitration team control through 2028. I have long been salivating to see either one of them in a Guardians’ uniform, convinced the team could maximize their talent. But, even if Cleveland finds those prices prohibitive, getting a rental option like Clay Holmes or Robbie Ray would make a huge difference in enabling them to add a real weapon to their pen in Cecconi while offering much improved production in his current rotation spot.
Cleveland does one thing especially well and it’s get the most out of pitchers. I think it makes sense given the current situation with Cecconi to leverage their greatest skill to provide Carl Willis the opportunity to make the most out of this trade deadline in terms of improving the major league team. Use the depth of your farm system in hitters to improve the unit that will obviously have to carry you in any playoff run. Make it so!
MIAMI – All over baseball Tuesday night, pitchers who could be on the move before next week’s trade deadline were on the mound, showing their wares for potential suitors.
Shane Bieber pitched for Toronto, Seth Lugo for Kansas City, Luis Castillo for Seattle, Michael King for San Diego and Reid Detmers for the Los Angeles Angels.
And, right there in front of the Phillies’ eyes, Sandy Alcantara got the assignment for the Miami Marlins.
The 2022 National League Cy Young award winner proved to be a handful for the Phils. He pitched seven shutout innings as the Marlins beat the Phillies, 1-0, under the Big Top in Little Havana. It was the Marlins’ second win in as many nights over the Phillies. Miami entered the series having lost 12 in a row.
The Phillies, meanwhile, have lost eight of 11 since coming back from the All-Star break. They have been shut out twice in that span and held to one run four times. They have played four series since the break and now have lost ’em all. They had just four hits Tuesday night.
Pete Fairbanks, another Miami trade candidate, got the save with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations, is looking to make a deal before the trade deadline. The offense’s recent struggles suggest strongly that he needs to acquire a hitter. But the Phils need pitching, as well, as they are just 5-21 in the fifth spot in their rotation. Someone like Alcantara would provide the Phils with a huge lift, but the price will be high for the right-hander, who is eligible for free agency after the season. Whether it’s a top arm like Alcantara or a lesser available talent, the Phils are expected to add a pitcher before the deadline.
Pitching was not the issue Tuesday night as Aaron Nola held the Marlins to just one run over 5 2/3 innings. He allowed a solo homer to Kyle Stowers in the first inning for the game’s only run.
The Phillies’ lineup was not full force. Kyle Schwarber, the NL’s home run leader with 33, was supposed to start at first base with Bryce Harper getting the DH assignment. But Schwarber came down with the stomach bug that has recently plagued the clubhouse and did not play. Catcher J.T. Realmuto, hitting .387 (12 for 31) since the All-Star break, got a night off as Garrett Stubbs came off the IL.
Without Schwarber, Alec Bohm started at first base and Edmundo Sosa at third. Right-handed hitting Bryan De La Cruz got the start in right field over lefty-hitting Gabriel Rincones Jr.
The Phils had a couple of good scoring chances against Alcantara, but both times were thwarted by the veteran pitcher. They had runners at second and third with no outs in the second, but came away empty when Edmundo Sosa struck out, Justin Crawford grounded out and De La Cruz popped out.
In the sixth, Harper and Bohm both singled with two outs before Alcantara struck out Brandon Marsh looking. Marsh was leading the majors in hitting at .338 on June 8. He’s down to .280.
The Phils did hit some balls hard against Alcantara. Harper lined out to the wall in center in the fourth and Sosa hit a scorching liner to third in the seventh.
"To the extent we can add to it, we've shown in the past that we'll be aggressive on that front as well, but it's good going into this last week feeling as good as we do about this group," Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said about his team. (Ethan Swope / Associated Press)
The Dodgers do not have to do anything. They’re in on everything, including Tarik Skubal.
With one week left before baseball’s trade deadline, the Dodgers are doing what the Dodgers always do. When you are flush with money and prospects, you can invite yourself into just about every conversation, from checking in on a star player to sniffing around for a three-way deal in which you trade away major league depth to acquire even more prospects.
“Not having an acute need at this time of year is very helpful,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Tuesday.
It ain’t bragging if you can back it up. The Dodgers boast baseball’s best record, with seven key players expected to return from significant injuries over the next two months. Then comes the quest for a three-peat: the chance to become the first team in National League history to win three consecutive World Series championships.
To me, that should be the most compelling element of the Dodgers’ trade deadline strategy.
Friedman repeatedly has said he would like this era to be remembered as “the golden age of Dodger baseball,” and nothing says legacy like doing something that never has been done.
And, if major league owners get their way, something that might never be done again.
We’re not just talking about the owners of teams tired of getting beaten by the Dodgers. We’re talking about Friedman’s boss, Mark Walter.
The owners are prepared to shut down the sport until they get a salary cap, but even a compromise with the players’ union would almost certainly involve some kind of spending restraints intended to make Friedman’s job tougher.
Act now, even in a way that might make you feel uncomfortable, because this chance might never come again.
“We feel this current team is as talented and tight-knit of a group as we’ve had,” Friedman said, “and we’ve been extremely aggressive over the past offseasons to try to put that group together.
“To the extent we can add to it, we’ve shown in the past that we’ll be aggressive on that front as well, but it’s good going into this last week feeling as good as we do about this group.”
Walter: “All I have to say to you is, we’ll be back next year.”
Friedman: “How about we do it again?”
Betts: “Three-peat ain’t never sounded so sweet.”
On the other hand, well, the Dodgers won the World Series last year without trading for the outfielder and closer the world said they needed, then committed $309 million to outfielder Kyle Tucker and closer Edwin Díaz in the winter.
“We don’t really think of the 2026 World Series as a three-peat,” Friedman said Tuesday. “ ‘24 and ‘25 are in the bank. As soon as you get into the offseason and into spring training, it’s all about winning in ‘26.
“That is somewhat semantics, but the context is that it’s no different than in any other year, in the sense of doing everything we can to win the last game of the year. I would think the aggressiveness last offseason would fully demonstrate that.”
On Tuesday, Fangraphs projected the Dodgers had a 25% chance to win the World Series, more than twice as high as any other team. A third catcher would help, and a reliever might too, but neither would lift that percentage in any meaningful way so much as provide insurance should Will Smith’s recovery from his neck injury stall or the bullpen implode.
Skubal might not lift that percentage much, either, in place of Ohtani or Blake Snell or Tyler Glasnow in the starting rotation. The Dodgers project all three to be healthy in October and, if not, they have All-Star Justin Wrobleski.
But Wrobleski already has set a professional high for innings pitched, and Skubal would provide a big lift to the teams most likely to keep the Dodgers from returning to the World Series: the Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs.
And, although the Dodgers pride themselves on running a team whose championship window never closes, they already field the oldest lineup in the majors. In the NHL, owners shut down an entire season to get a salary cap.
Let’s say the 2027 baseball season starts late. By the end of the season, the Dodgers could field a lineup in which every position player besides Andy Pages was at least 30 years old, including Freddie Freeman at 38, Max Muncy at 37, Betts at 34 and Ohtani at 33.
Friedman called it “a fool’s errand” to try to predict the outcome of collective bargaining negotiations and disputed the thought that the Dodgers might miss a window by not maximizing whatever chance they have this year.
“I just think this is a really, really talented team,” he said. “If we had an acute need and it was like, ‘Oh, you didn’t address that,’ then, yeah, we missed an opportunity.
“In this game, there’s just no guarantees of anything. You just make the smartest decisions you can and hope it plays out in a way where you have some good fortune and you win the last game of the year.”
Perhaps “three-peat” should not be the word of the week. Perhaps we should substitute “three-peat-maxxing.”
Earlier today, Rogers Communications and Prime Video announced a 12-year agreement that will see the latter gain rights to Wednesday Night Hockey broadcasts and three playoff series per season in Canada, with the deal beginning in 2026–27. Prime Video was previously home to Monday Night Hockey in Canada since the 2024–25 season, with this deal replacing their previous position.
“Over the past two years, Prime Video has been a valuable addition to the NHL’s media lineup in Canada, joining Rogers in bringing marquee NHL games to Canadian fans,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said of the deal in a press release. “We’re excited that Prime Video and Rogers are deepening their relationship through this long-term agreement, reflecting our shared commitment to serving English and French-language hockey fans across Canada with premium NHL content for years to come.”
While no official schedule has been released, as it stands, the Vancouver Canucks are set to play in eight Wednesday games during the 2026–27 season. Vancouver’s first Wednesday game of the upcoming season takes place on November 25 in Detroit against the Detroit Red Wings, while their first home Wednesday game is on December 30 against the Seattle Kraken.
Here are the eight Canucks games that could potentially be broadcasted on Prime Video in 2026–27.
Apr 14, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Victor Mancini (90) handles the puck in warm up prior to a game against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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