He is giving the Angels quality starts in bulk, and should be headed for another against a St. Louis Cardinals team that sits 27th in wOBA vs. righties over the past month.
Cardinals vs Angels Over/Under pick: Under 9.0 (-105)
I don't get this total.
Urena is sporting a 2.83 ERA and has allowed 0.63 homers per nine innings over five matchups with Bottom-10 teams in OPS vs. righties. The Cardinals not only fit the criteria but have also hit only .218 against right-handed pitching over the past 30 days.
While the Angels have strung together hits against southpaws, they sit 22nd in OPS and 29th in FB% in July.
It’ll be tough to generate homers, and I don’t see 10+ runs being scored without plenty of aid from power.
I like the Under to -125.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 61-49, +1.60 units
Over/Under bets: 60-45-5, +7.34 units
Cardinals vs Angels weather
Cardinals vs Angels odds
Moneyline: Cardinals -115 | Angels -105
Run line: Cardinals -1.5 (+145) | Angels +1.5 (-170)
Over/Under: Over 9.0 (-115) | Under 9.0 (-105)
Cardinals vs Angels trend
Los Angeles has cashed the game total Under in 21 of its last 35 games (+6.95 units, 18% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cardinals vs. Angels.
How to watch Cardinals vs Angels and game info
Location
Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
Date
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
First pitch
9:38 p.m. ET
TV
Cardinals.TV, ABTV
Cardinals starting pitcher
Matthew Liberatore (5-6, 5.00 ERA)
Angels starting pitcher
Walbert Urena (5-7, 2.88 ERA)
Cardinals vs Angels 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.
When 2026 Topps Chrome Baseball officially drops on July 22, collectors across the hobby will be chasing a white whale that could shatter secondary market records.
Officially listed on the checklist as the “Back to Back Dual Gold Logoman Autograph Relics,” the flagship chase set highlights an elite tier of superstars who accomplished one of the hardest feats in modern sports: winning major awards in back-to-back seasons. The 1-of-1 redemption cards feature Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Tarik Skubal.
While all three will drive massive heat, it’s the 1/1 Shohei Ohtani that stands to become the single most coveted modern trading card on the planet.
The ultimate modern grail, this Back to Back Dual Gold Logoman Autograph Relics Shohei Ohtani 1/1 can be found in 2026 Topps Chrome July 22, 2026.
The Power of the Kanji Ink
What elevates this specific Ohtani piece into ultra-grail territory comes down to the ink. Ohtani signed his name twice on the card: a standard English signature across the top, paired with his rare, highly coveted Kanji signature across the bottom.
Ohtani’s Kanji autographs are notoriously scarce, rarely appearing on official releases and consistently fetching astronomical premiums when they hit auction blocks. Combined with two game-worn Gold MLB Logoman patches, one from his 2024 MVP campaign and one from his 2025 repeat, the card represents the absolute apex of modern sports memorabilia.
The secondary market precedent is already staggering:
December 2025: Ohtani’s 2025 Topps Chrome Baseball Gold MLB Logoman Autograph 1/1 sold for $3 million via Fanatics Collect.
March 2026: A 2025 Topps Chrome Dual MLB Gold Logoman Autograph 1/1 featuring both Ohtani and Aaron Judge commanded $2.16 million.
With dual game-worn patches and dual English/Kanji signatures, this 2026 masterpiece has all the ingredients to blow past those benchmarks. Experts I spoke with believe this card this card will be Ohtani’s most expensive card ever, when, or if, it ever hits the market.
A New Level of Iconic
For Fanatics Collectibles CEO Mike Mahan, creating multi-year, game-worn relics is about shifting the hobby’s paradigm to capture a player’s absolute peak.
“If you look at the trading card industry for most of the last 75 years, it’s primarily been about rookie cards,” Mahan explained. “But we saw an opportunity to get more closely aligned with established stars, particularly in their biggest moments. When you have a back-to-back MVP or a back-to-back Cy Young, those achievements are extraordinary. How do we celebrate that with a card that’s even more extraordinary? We’re just trying to really meet the moment.”
Unlike rookie cards, which rely on a player’s future potential to build long-term value, Mahan noted that these back-to-back relics carry immediate, undeniable historical weight.
“With a rookie card, you’re hoping it becomes legendary over time based on how that player performs,” Mahan said. “But with the Dual Gold Logoman, those pieces are already cemented in history. Are you still hoping that Shohei goes off and does great things? Yes, but even if he never played another inning, you’re talking about a surefire Hall of Famer and an iconic baseball card.”
Capturing History
Beyond the sheer financial gravity of these 1-of-1s, Topps’ push into multi-year relics represents a deliberate shift toward capturing historic athletic milestones in real time, a lineage that includes dedicated releases like their Black Dynasty line celebrating Shohei Ohtani’s 50/50 season or Clayton Kershaw’s 3,000th strikeout.
“When we get that right, I think the card naturally has appeal,” Mahan noted. “What you’re seeing, I believe, is collectors responding to a card that represents the extraordinary achievements of Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Tarik Skubal at their highest moments.”
Naturally, when dealing with a player like Ohtani who routinely shatters modern baseball expectations, it begs the question: if Ohtani pulls off a third consecutive award-winning campaign, could collectors eventually see a triple Gold Logoman booklet?
“Officially on the record, the answer is stay tuned,” Mahan joked when asked about the possibility of a three-patch booklet. “I have to figure out the real estate of it all, right? It’s a 2.5-by-3.5 piece of cardboard, so that’s the challenge. Where does it end with Shohei?”
What Else to Expect in 2026 Topps Chrome Baseball
While the Back to Back Dual Gold Logoman Relics headline the high-end hunt, the full 2026 Topps Chrome Baseball release delivers a stacked line-up for collectors at every level:
Cover Athlete: New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge graces the box cover for the 2026 product.
The Return of the MVP Buyback: Participating local hobby shops will once again offer collectors store credit in exchange for 2026 Topps Chrome cards featuring the eventual 2026 AL and NL MVPs.
Diamond Moments: A brand-new insert set celebrating the 75 greatest moments across the 75-year history of Topps Baseball.
Star-Studded Inserts: Highly anticipated chases including Minions (featuring Paul Skenes, Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, and Anthony Volpe), Ultraviolet, and Chrome Rookie Autos.
Deep Checklist Hits: Look out for returning and new inserts including Numbers Live Forever, Cooperstown Calls, Helix, At Night, Radiating Rookies, Shadow Etch, and Future Stars.
What part of Topps Chrome are you most excited for? Let us know on Mantel.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 12: Kendry Chourio #34 of the Kansas City Royals on the American League Team pitches during the 2026 MLB Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This Week in the Minors is our weekly look at notable performances from all over the system, from big-name prospects and less-heralded guys alike. The mission is to answer this simple question: “Who had a good week?”
Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers (43-52, 13.5 games back)
The Storm Chasers swept their three game series against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. At the plate, Kameron Misner went 5 for 12 with a double, triple and homer, driving in three runs. Andrew Velazquez was 4 for 10 with a double and two runs batted in. Matthew Lugo was 3 for 12 with a double and a triple.
On the mound, Stephen Kolek went 2.2 innings, allowing 6 hits, 2 runs, striking out 3 before leaving with a right flexor strain. Mason Black went 5.1 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 run, striking out 7 in his lone start of the weekend. Justin Topa threw 2 more scoreless innings in relief as well.
— Omaha Storm Chasers (@OMAStormChasers) July 18, 2026
The Storm Chasers, winners of 4 straight, hit the road this week, taking on the Salt Lake Bees. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (38-50, 19 games back)
The Naturals took two of three from the Midland RockHounds this weekend. On the mound, Drew Beam did it again, going 6 innings, allowing 6 hits, 2 runs, walking 2 and striking out 4. Beam is on track to push for a promotion by the end of the year at this rate. And if you aren’t sure, look at who the Royals have in AAA. Dennis Colleran threw two scoreless innings in relief, Chase Jessee threw 3 scoreless innings, striking out 5. Jessee is a 27-year-old lefty who the Royals signed to a minor league deal last November from the Mexican Pacific League.
At the plate, Omar Hernandez went 5 for 10, with a double and homer, with that homer being a walk-off. Hernandez is a 24-year-old catcher from Cuba. Carson Roccaforte went 4 for 14 with a walk off hit, and two homers.
🚨WALK-OFF 💥🚨
Omar Hernandez goes deep in the 11th to win the game and series!
— Northwest Arkansas Naturals (@nwanaturals) July 19, 2026
The Naturals stay home to take on the Springfield Cardinals; the series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Quad Cities River Bandits (44-42, 7 games back)
The River Bandits swept the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, and are now winners of 11 of their last 13. On Sunday, they threw a combined no-hitter! Kendry Chourio went 5 innings, allowing 2 walks, but struck out 10 hitters. Emmanuel Reyes threw the last 4 innings, striking out 3. Congrats to those two! A lot of the excitement in Quad Cities currently goes to Chourio and David Shields and rightfully so, but Reyes is having a good season as well. The 22-year-old right hander from the Dominican Republic has pitched 82.2 innings, 16 starts, (Sunday was his first non-start of the season), with a 3.70 ERA and 69 strikeouts. Shields in his start on Saturday went 5 innings, allowing 2 hits, no runs, striking out 4.
At the plate, Blake Mitchell went 5 for 10, with two doubles and a homer. Derlin Figueroa went 4 for 13, with a triple and homer. Luke Pelzer went 5 for 13, with a double and triple.
— Quad Cities River Bandits (@QCRiverBandits) July 19, 2026
The River Bandits stay on the road to take on the Beloit Sky Carp, the series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Columbia Fireflies (45-45, 7.5 games back)
The Fireflies took two of three from the Charleston RiverDogs. At the plate, Josh Hammond put together a solid series, going 10 for 14, with a 5 for 5 game as well. Of those 10 hits, Hammond had 4 doubles. Yandel Ricardo went 7 for 11, with a triple and homer. Sean Gamble went 4 for 10.
On the mound, Henson Leal threw two scoreless innings in relief, striking out a pair. Leal is a 22-year-old right hander from Venezuela. Darwin Rodriguez went 6 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 run, striking out 5. Shane Van Dam threw 4 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, striking out 4. Van Dam is a 22-year-old right hander out of North Carolina State. The Royals took him in the 9th round of the 2025 draft.
5-for-5 night for Josh Hammond 😤
The @KCRoyalsPD No. 2 prospect ripped two doubles + three singles at Low-A.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 09: General manager A.J. Preller of the San Diego Padres looks on before the game against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park on April 09, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are 62 games left in the 2026 MLB season for the San Diego Padres. They are one game under .500 and 2.5 games back of the last wild-card spot. The schedule features a road series with the Eastern division-leading Atlanta Braves followed by the Miami Marlins. The Marlins are in the race for the last wild-card spot but are currently tied for the third slot.
Following those two teams, the Padres are playing the Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants at home.
The trade deadline, Aug. 3, is two weeks away. Over these next two weeks, the fate of the 2026 season will be decided. If the Friars don’t put up enough wins to keep them in the hunt for a playoff spot, it will be up to Padres’ front office personnel to decide the future of the rest of the season.
If they win enough to get a few games above .500, the chances are good that president of baseball operations A.J. Preller and his lieutenants will keep the team intact and try to add some help to the roster.
The point is well-taken that what he has to deal with is questionable. The Padres’ prospects haven’t exactly outdone themselves to increase their value this season. Except for catcher Ethan Salas and LHP Kash Mayfield, it is fair to state that most have underperformed.
If the team plays around the same for the next couple of weeks, the chances are 50/50 that guys will leave for other organizations in an attempt to improve this team for next season. There is also a chance that Preller will decide to keep his roster mostly intact and build around it for next year
Labor strife notwithstanding
It is highly unlikely that the labor environment will influence anything at the trade deadline. No team can afford to gamble on what happens in that arena. The assumption that next year will go on as scheduled is most likely the approach all dealmakers will take. Baseball would be foolish to risk their current popularity and momentum. That is most likely the mindset for those not directly involved.
Buy or sell
That is the key question. A big run of good baseball would tip the scales toward buying, but the reality is that the pitching staff is a mess. It is difficult to imagine this group can get the team to where they want to go. Michael King provides the semblance of a dependable MLB pitcher but that’s about as far as it goes.
The series against the Kansas City Royals might have provided a glimpse into the thinking of Padres coaches and front office. Start whichever pitcher makes sense for that particular day and then pull them after three innings or two times through the batting order, at most. Then a long reliever, who could also be a former starter, comes in for as long as he is effective. Patch together nine innings with a piggyback plus bullpen approach.
I don’t recall seeing that before, but it might be the only option available to a team that has no real starting pitchers beyond King. The rest have shown that they are really long relievers, at best.
If this approach can miraculously produce some wins, then Preller can attempt to acquire some pitching to shore the group up for a playoff run. Of course, that assumes the Padres possess any players that other teams are interested in acquiring. Salas and Mayfield are likely candidates and could be his only really valuable pieces for trade.
The subpar seasons for some of the other prospects would logically decrease their value to other teams. Preller has stated that other teams value the Padres’ prospects more than MLB and Baseball America evaluators do. If he is correct in that statement, then there could be more value than we know.
Buying could be difficult, so what about selling?
The Padres have Mason Miller.
Other teams covet him and would be willing to part with quality to acquire him. He has three more controllable years left and is inexpensive for what he provides. I doubt Preller would part with him. Someone would have to blow his socks off.
They also have Adrian Morejón, who would be a two-month rental for a contending team. He is a free agent at the end of the year. The same is true for Jason Adam, who is on the injured list. Ty France, who has been one of the most consistent players this season, would also be a short-term rental for a contending team.
Michael King would be a short-term rental if he were to exercise his opt-out at the end of this season.
That is really the list of major leaguers that are tradeable off the roster. All the players making big bucks have no-trade and partial no-trade contracts.
Standing pat
If nothing looks good to Preller on the trade market, he could choose to play out the line and stand pat. Let these guys fight their way to the end of the season, get the new owners in place for the future, and then hit the restart button for next season.
What we don’t know at this point is whether either Joe Musgrove or Nick Pivetta will pitch any innings for the Padres this year. Both are on a throwing program that could put them on a rehab assignment by next month. There is no way for anyone to know what either will be able to contribute.
The worst-case scenario
Going into the season, the starting pitching was always the most unpredictable part of the roster for the Padres. The offense was decidedly better on paper than last year. It feels like the worst-case scenario has played out. The pitching looked tolerable for a short time, then has fallen apart. The bullpen, overused because of the starters, has faltered over the past few weeks. The offense has underperformed at a level that no one would have anticipated.
Preller is in an unenviable position, but it is one he has largely brought upon himself. With a limited budget, he signed a lot of pitchers who were reclamation projects and then hoped to hit the jackpot. That hasn’t happened. His path going forward looks clouded with uncertainty and poor performance. The next two weeks will tell us what he has chosen to do.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 20: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates in the dugout after hitting a grand slam in the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds at T-Mobile Park on July 20, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Ng/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning! A very fun win last night moved the Mariners back into first place in the AL West as they toppled the Cincinnati Reds 8-0. A four-hit night from Victor Robles, six shutout innings from George Kirby, an incredible Cal Raleigh grand slam, and a little chaos ball sprinkled in were all responsible for Monday’s good vibes.
Luis Castillo takes the mound tonight at 6:40 PM against Reds RHP Chase Burns for the second game of the series.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 11: Commissioner of Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred announces Drew Burress as the eighth overall pick by the Athletics during the 2026 MLB Draft presented by Nippon Express at Pennsylvania Convention Center on Saturday, July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Happy Tuesday A’s fans!
The club announced yesterday that the team and its first two picks in this year’s draft, Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress and second round left-hander Mason Edwards, have agreed to their first big league contracts, with both getting above-slot signing bonuses:
The front office isn’t waiting around to get these two guys signed. They’re now ready to officially begin their pro careers, with both likely ticketed for the low minors to start. That said, with both being college guys either or both of them could be fast risers through the system. How aggressive will the organization be with their newest prospects?
Burress, as we all know, was the eighth overall pick in last week’s draft, falling right into the Athletics’ lap and instantly becoming one of the club’s top prospects. The short outfielder (he stands at 5’9”) has plenty of pop for someone his size and has enough speed to swipe an occasional base here and there. Whether he’s able to remain in center field will be a storyline to watch as he ascends the minor league ladder but if he does need to get pushed to a corner he’ll profile as a potential Gold Glover in right field with his solid speed and plus-arm.
Edwards also gets an above-slot bonus to forgo his final college year. The left-hander was a starting pitcher for the USC Trojans over the past couple of years and dominated the Big 10 this past season, posting a 2.07 ERA in 17 starts. The 21-year-old has a true feel for pitching, and he uses that to make his three-pitch repertoire play up. A little bit of deception in his delivery also helps his low to mid-90’s fastball work a lot better than others in that velocity range. Considered to have the best curveball in this year’s draft, Edwards has all the makings of a mid-rotation arm that could make an impact sooner than later.
Those weren’t the only two to sign on the dotted line today however. The team was busy with all of their draftees as they also inked supplemental second round right-handed pitcher Gabe Gaeckle…
Supplemental 2nd-rder Gabe Gaeckle signs w/@Athletics for $1.25 million (slot 73 value = $1,156,400). @RazorbackBSB RHP, electric arm, fastball up to 98 mph & good metrics, tight mid-80s slider, starter upside but stuff has played better out of the bullpen. @MLBDraftpic.twitter.com/rT6zhePWQl
3rd-rder Jacob Dudan signs w/@Athletics for $865k (slot 83 value = $988,700). @NCStateBaseball RHP, generated some 1st-rd buzz before having Tommy John surgery. Fastball up to 99 mph, wipeout upper-80s slider. @MLBDraftpic.twitter.com/f06INw55Fo
The @Athletics signed just about everyone in their @MLBDraft class officially today. @jimcallisMLB had their first several (Burress, Edwards, Gaeckle, Dudan). I'll add 4th-rder Roman Martin from @UCLABaseball for slot value ($704,900). Good raw pop/approach, chance to play SS?
… and fifth-rounder Alex Hernandez, who has been a two-way player in college but will likely focus on hitting in the pro ranks:
5th-rder Alex Hernandez signs w/@Athletics for $516,300 (full slot 143 value). @GTBaseball OF/1B, good swing decisions & exit velocities, up to 93 mph on the mound when he pitched as a freshman. @MLBDraftpic.twitter.com/CJzt0ZIXO8
Nick Kurtz is with the A's on this road trip and has started a hitting progression. Also took ground balls today. If things progress well, there's a chance he could be available this weekend in Minnesota, though Kotsay said that might be a bit of an accelerated timeline.
Framber Valdez has been reliable lately for the Detroit Tigers. The left-hander owns a 3.27 FIP across his last four appearances while holding opponents to a 5.3% barrel rate during that span.
Valdez’s primary offering, the sinker, could also give the Chicago Cubs problems. More than half of the Cubs’ starters have a Run Value of one or lower against the pitch, limiting their matchup appeal against his top weapon.
David Peterson, meanwhile, has collected an alarming 7.99 xERA over his previous three starts. He's also allowed a 46.9% hard-hit rate in those outings.
Valdez keeps Chicago at bay, and Detroit’s improving offense does enough damage off the vulnerable Peterson.
I'll play this pick up to -120.
COVERS INTEL: Valdez has pitched noticeably better on the road, compiling a 3.78 FIP compared to a 4.46 mark at home.
Tigers vs Cubs Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 runs (-126)
While the series opener was high-scoring, I don't expect that to be the case again. Valdez is pitching well, and the Tigers bullpen has a solid 3.11 xERA over the last two weeks.
Peterson is clearly struggling, but one horrendous outing has inflated his numbers. Plus, the Cubs relief corps is also in respectable form, posting a 3.34 xERA over the last four games.
Both offenses are producing lately, but neither lineup is showing overwhelming power. Chicago has a .183 ISO in the last week, and the Tigers sit at .195 in the last two weeks.
With Valdez in strong form and both bullpens looking steady, the Under has value.
I'll play this pick up to -130.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 35-38, -7.20 units
Over/Under bets: 41-30, +5.01 units
Tigers vs Cubs weather
Tigers vs Cubs odds
Moneyline: Tigers +104 | Cubs -108
Run line: Tigers -1.5 (+178) | Cubs +1.5 (-186)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-100) | Under 8.5 (-104)
Tigers vs Cubs trend
The Detroit Tigers have hit the game total Under in 20 of their last 30 games (+8.85 Units / 27% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Tigers vs. Cubs.
How to watch Tigers vs Cubs and game info
Location
Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
First pitch
8:05 p.m. ET
TV
DSN, Marquee
Tigers starting pitcher
Framber Valdez (5-6, 4.10 ERA)
Cubs starting pitcher
David Peterson (4-7, 6.45 ERA)
Tigers vs Cubs 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.
BOSTON, MA - JULY 20: Caleb Durbin #5 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates at home plate after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Monday, July 20, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joe Sullivan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Thanks to two important home runs from Jazz Chisholm Jr., the Yankees opened up a new week and a new series with a win. While Ryan Weathers didn’t have a great start on the mound, the Yankees offense did enough to pick up an 8-5 win over the Pirates on Monday night.
The Yankees held firm with the win, but did they manage to gain any ground in the standings? Let’s check in on last night’s action in the Rivalry Roundup.
Tampa Bay Rays (57-42) 7, Toronto Blue Jays (46-54) 1
No longer facing the random Red Sox buzzsaw, the Rays got back to winning ways on Monday night, downing the Blue Jays.
Tampa Bay was facing off against Toronto ace and AL All-Star starter (annoyingly) Dylan Cease. They picked up a couple runs off Cease (including some unearned ones), but their effort in this game was a gradual build up before they eventually pulled away.
Including a Victor Mesa Jr. home run, the Rays scored a run each in the second and third innings, before the Blue Jays answered back in the fourth. However, Tampa Bay added three more runs over the fifth and sixth, with Cedric Mullins adding a homer of his own. In the end, Cease allowed five runs — only three earned — over his six innings.
Meanwhile, Nick Martinez was very good opposite Cease. The Rays’ starter allowed just one run in his six innings, as he scattered six hits and a walk. The Rays’ offense tacked on a couple more runs for the road, while their bullpen kept Toronto quiet.
Other Games
Cleveland Guardians (53-48) 13, Minnesota Twins (49-52) 4: The Guardians jumped all over Twins’ ace Joe Ryan, hitting him to the tune of eight runs in four innings on route to a dominant win. Chase DeLauter led the way for Cleveland, going 4-for-5 with three RBI, while Rhys Hoskins and Petey Halpin each had two home run days. The only Minnesota pitcher to not allow a run on the day was Alex Jackson…who is a catcher by trade.
Boston Red Sox (51-48) 6, Baltimore Orioles (49-52) 5: Our long national nightmare continued on Monday, as the Red Sox rallied past the Orioles to extend their win streak to 14. While Boston held a 3-1 lead early, Baltimore struck back and took a 5-4 lead going into the bottom of the seventh. However, the Red Sox tied the game in the seventh and took the lead for good on a Caleb Durbin homer in the eighth.
Chicago White Sox (53-46) 10, Texas Rangers (50-50) 3: While the Rangers scored the first two runs of this one, it was all White Sox after that, as they cracked doubled digits in Arlington. Chicago got on the board in the third and then broke the game open with a four-run fifth inning. Andrew Benintendi’s bases loaded, bases clearing double gave the White Sox a lead they kept and then added onto late to seal the win.
Seattle Mariners (51-50) 8, Cincinnati Reds (45-54) 0: George Kirby was absolutely dominant, as he threw six shutout innings to lead the Mariners to a win over the Reds. Kirby allowed just three hits and a walk over his six frames, as he struck out six batters. Seattle’s offense wasn’t half bad themselves, either. Cal Raleigh showed signs of life as he drove in five runs, including a grand slam in the seventh inning. In less good news for the M’s, Julio Rodríguez left the game after getting hit on the leg by a throw as he was running out a grounder.
Jul 20, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) hits a double and records his 2000th career hit in the fifth inning against the Athletics at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images | Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
The Arizona Diamondbacks entered Monday coming off an exhilarating seven-run comeback to snatch a series win over the St. Louis Cardinals, but that energy and excitement did not carry over into a matchup with the Athletics.
The Diamondbacks scored two total runs off a starter with a 6.08 ERA (Jeffrey Springs) and a bullpen with the highest ERA in MLB (5.51), and a rare lapse from Kevin Ginkel made the difference in a 5-2 Arizona loss.
A challenge of Monday’s game was going to be bridging the gap between starter Mitch Bratt’s outing and the later innings, considering Bratt is on a pitch count and Arizona’s bullpen had a lot of work to do over the weekend. With their injuries, the Diamondbacks have had to piece together a couple spots in the rotation with rookies.
An overturned out call at first base loaded the bases with two outs against Ginkel, and A’s pinch hitter Jeff McNeil delivered a shallow single to center field to score two runs and break a 2-2 tie. The A’s added a third run on a Ginkel wild pitch.
Those were the first earned runs Ginkel (3-3) has allowed since July 5, a span of six consecutive outings.
Earlier, the Diamondbacks (51-49) fought back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game at 2 on Ketel Marte’s two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth. Jorge Barrosa led off with a double, and Marte launched his 18th home run of the season down the left field line.
Arenado became the 297th player in major league history to reach that milestone threshold, spending the majority of his career with the Rockies and Cardinals.
He’s also only the sixth active MLB player to do so. He joins Padres third baseman Manny Machado, Yankees and former D-backs first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, Astros second baseman Jose Altuve and Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman — elite company, without a doubt.
He’s also the third Diamondbacks hitter to reach that marker while with Arizona, joining a pair of World Series-winning outfielders in Luis Gonzalez and Steve Finley.
Arizona went into the draft with a bonus pool of $13,603,100, and each pick in the first 10 rounds comes with an assigned slot value. By saving money in the top 10 rounds, teams can spend more on players they select later, such as high schoolers deciding whether to go pro or to college.
Arizona took three players right out of high school, including infielder Cody Boshell in the 11th round, who signed a $750,000 deal, according to AZCentral.com’s Nick Piecoro.
The lone draftee the Diamondbacks have not announced the signing of is 17th-rounder Rylan Alaniz, an infielder out of Trinity High School (Texas).
Pfaadt is attacking hitters early and working to keep the ball in the ballpark, something he struggled to do at the start of the season. Improved fastball command and a better mix of his secondary pitches have helped keep opponents from stringing together big innings, giving Arizona another reliable option every fifth day.
The sample size remains relatively small, and it’s still too early to say the turnaround is permanent. Before returning to the major leagues, the 27-year-old was enduring one of the toughest stretches of his career, posting a 5.94 ERA in his first three starts and a 5.91 ERA after moving to the bullpen.
However, if Pfaadt can prove he can consistently give the D-Backs quality starts, it could signal that the pitcher once expected to become a stabilizing force in the franchise’s rotation is back on track. His contributions since being recalled have helped Arizona remain in the playoff conversation while several key arms have been sidelined.
Michael Soroka was relaxing in the clubhouse practicing his putting stroke on the putt return ramp that has been in the starting pitchers’ corner of the clubhouse for years. One after another, he dialed in until he figured out the slope that was causing putts to move right. Once he got it, he sank several in a row, then one after another.
He is exercising the same level of precision and patience as he works his way back from a left glute strain that put him on the injured list back on June 20. Soroka is no stranger to the injured list. This is the tenth time in his career he has had to take time down to heal. He acknowledged some frustration.
Boston’s latest victory — played in front of a revved-up, packed house of 37,659 — snapped a seven-game winning streak for the Orioles.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this was the fifth time in the Expansion Era (since 1961) that two teams faced off while each sported at least a seven-game winning streak.
THERE ARE TIMES, on calls with the Major League Baseball Players Association, when Pablo López doesn’t understand what’s being said.
When that happens, the Minnesota Twins right-hander will jot down the word or phrase he didn’t fully grasp. Sometimes he’ll translate it to Spanish later, or he’ll wait until the MLBPA releases a Spanish-language press release.
López, who was born and raised in Venezuela, is fluent in English, able to communicate with teammates with ease. He conducts interviews without the slightest hiccup. But he knows his crucial duty as the Twins’ MLBPA player representative during labor negotiations is to not only absorb the information he collects from union officials, but to correctly communicate a detailed summary to his teammates. And the language used in those meetings, technical and full of legal jargon, can admittedly prove challenging.
“I didn’t know what the word ‘accrued’ was,” López said. “I’m like, ‘Accrued? What is that?'”
After he raked at a 147 wRC+ clip in 87 plate appearances in late 2024, Adrian Del Castillo placed 30th on our preseason Top 100 Prospects list in ’25 as a 50-FV catcher, with Eric Longenhagen describing him as “a lefty-hitting Ryan Jeffers” capable of providing enough offense to offset concerns about his defense and to justify additional playing time at DH. Yet Castillo hit for just an 87 wRC+ in 131 plate appearances last year, and struggled to an even greater degree through the first two months of this season while serving as a third catcher and platoon DH against righties. Instead of getting sent to Triple-A Reno to regroup, he took just 33 plate appearances in June and early July before finally being optioned, then returned 12 days later. Overall, he’s hit just .195/.256/.325 (59 wRC+), including a 62 wRC+ in 98 plate appearances at DH. For as bad as that is, only two of the five other Diamondbacks with more than 16 plate appearances at DH have topped that wRC+, namely lineup regulars Gabriel Moreno and Ketel Marte. Of the other three, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who contributed to the team’s making my left fielders list, just landed on the injured list due to an adductor strain, while Jose Fernandez and Pavin Smith are both at Reno. Fernandez hit just .255/.289/.352 (75 wRC+) in a utility role, while Smith was outrighted off the 40-man roster after hitting an anemic .141/.236/.192 (23 wRC+).
This is a team that could use a real DH. The Reds’ JJ Bleday, the Rockies’ Mickey Moniak, and the Orioles’ Taylor Ward — if Baltimore is selling — are among those who could help while additionally contributing in left field. The Giants’ Luis Arraez has played his way back to respectability as a second baseman, but with Marte a staple at the keystone, Arraez could contribute at DH or first base — another position of need for Arizona, who also landed on my Killers list there.
Infielder Luis Arraez is a logical trade candidate but recently expressed an openness to staying in San Francisco with an extension instead. There hasn’t been any indication the Giants are looking to extend Arraez and Justice delos Santos of The Mercury News reports that there have been no formal extension talks between Arraez and the club.
A trade has always seemed the most likely outcome and this report adds to that framing. Arraez is an impending free agent, as he was signed to a one-year deal with a $12MM guarantee. He’s having arguably the best campaign of his life. His batting average has returned to a very strong .326 mark this year. He had dipped to .292 last year, still a strong figure but low for him personally.
LAS VEGAS – Yaxel Lendeborg’s introduction to Dub Nation was more in line with a No. 30 on the back of a Warriors jersey than a rookie rocking No. 1. He couldn’t miss. At all.
The Warriors’ top draft pick this year, taken No. 11 overall, was a perfect 6 of 6 from the field and 4 of 4 on threes in his first NBA Summer League game at the California Classic. Lendeborg wasn’t known as a shooter in college, but it was impossible to ignore this summer.
Between the Cali Classic and Las Vegas, Lendeborg shot 48.4 percent from the field (44 of 91) and 45.9 percent from 3-point range (17 of 37) while averaging 14.9 points per game. Lendeborg scored off catch-and-shoot threes and off the dribble. He bullied opponents with his massive 6-foot-9 and 240-pound frame, and showed great body control in the air thanks to a 7-3 wingspan. In transition, he’s a wrecking ball that throws defenders out of his way.
It’s easy to forget that Lendeborg is the height of LeBron James, the weight of Al Horford and has the wingspan of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Nobody is perfect. Not even an NBA Summer League MVP. As Lendeborg continued to shine throughout summer league, questions about his defense were impossible to ignore.
Lendeborg in his college career was known first for his defense than his offense, which is the side of the ball that was expected to stand out first this summer and early into his pro career. He was a back-to-back America Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year at UAB and then was named to the Big Ten All-Defense team his one year at Michigan. Those kinds of accolades didn’t show up early this summer.
There weren’t multiple instances of Lendeborg getting beat off the dribble. It’s not that players were blowing past him or muscling through him. It’s that his level of awareness defensively was lacking to the point where Lendeborg was out of position or looked uninterested.
“I think with Yax, it’s just an overall level of awareness you have to have defensively at all times,” Warriors summer league head coach Khalid Robinson said after practice on July 13. “You can’t really switch off. The very good defenders in the league have that constant level of awareness, knowing that when they can go put out a fire and be proactive.
“We tell these guys we don’t want you to be reactive, we want you to be proactive. It’s something that all these guys have to continue to grow at.”
The practice where Robinson was asked heavily about Lendeborg’s defense came after his second summer league in Las Vegas, having already played two at Chase Center in the Cali Classic. He beat former Michigan teammates Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara in his first two Las Vegas games, and even admitted after that it was hard for him to lock in against his friends with the Warriors having large leads in more of a relaxed environment.
Robinson says the foundation to a young player learning more defensively begins with a lot of fundamental technique. It’s a mix of group work and 1-on-1 individual workouts with coaches where players can really hone in their technique on the ball and off the ball. Then comes film, reiterating decision points and highlighting the film when someone is making a mistake or when they’re doing well. Robinson, a respected assistant on the Warriors’ staff, is keen on being able to build a person up and not just crush someone.
“You want to correct and you want to teach,” he said.
Has Lendeborg been open to that kind of coaching?
“From the day I met him right after the draft, up until now, he has been very open to coaching and wanting to be coached and wanting to know how he can get better on both ends of the ball,” Robinson said. “He is a very coachable guy. When you sit down and watch film with him, he is very attentive. He asks questions, so it’s exactly what you want from a young player that’s trying to grow this week.”
Any funny business was put to the side the next day. Lendeborg was done playing against his friends and finally was going to battle with a growing rival. The Warriors’ third game in Las Vegas was vs. Cameron Boozer and the Memphis Grizzlies. Like their one game against each other in college, Lendeborg was on the losing end.
He again outscored Boozer, this time 15 to 12. Lendeborg had more rebounds than him too, nine to seven. A new level of competitiveness was apparent watching Lendeborg play Boozer’s Grizzlies in a game that also was Steve Kerr’s first appearance of the summer. And it was the most 1-on-1 opportunities defensively Lendeborg had through five games.
Following the loss, I asked Lendeborg how he would evaluate his defense up to that point.
“My defense has not been what it’s been before,” Lendeborg said. “I would probably evaluate myself as like a C. I’ve been missing a lot of off-ball assignments. I haven’t really had the opportunity to guard too many people on-ball, so I haven’t really been able to showcase that as much as I could.
“When the regular season starts, if I’m able to play with the big squad, I’m going to try to prove that I am a willing defender, a pretty good defender, and hopefully everything starts going upwards.”
The next game was Lendeborg’s worst from a scoring and shooting standpoint. He scored just three points on 1-of-9 shooting and was 1 of 6 on threes, yet that didn’t stop him from having his best defensive game of the summer. Lendeborg was a plus-12 in a 10-point win over the New York Knicks with one steal and two blocked shots.
His defensive activity in the win was much more reminiscent of who we saw in college. Lendeborg disrupted passing lanes and his motor didn’t turn off. His one steal came in the fourth quarter, as did one of Lendeborg’s two blocked shots.
Lendeborg then had another game of one steal and two blocked shots in the semifinals to send the Warriors to the summer league championship. Unsurprisingly, his second blocked shot came in the clutch with a little more than a minute remaining and the Warriors ahead by three points.
Though Lendeborg wasn’t credited with a blocked shot in the championship game, he did have another two steals. He also had six defensive rebounds, including two huge ones in the last 37 seconds of the win.
With 48.5 seconds left, the Grizzlies had the ball under their basket and trailed by one point. They got it to Boozer at the top of the arc, and Lendeborg immediately picked him up. Lendeborg fought through a screen and stayed in front of Boozer until he found just enough space to attempt a go-ahead layup, but Lendeborg deterred the shot with his left hand and then grabbed the rebound.
“I keep hearing that my hips are stiff, so I got to figure out how to loosen up my hips,” Lendeborg said after the Warriors’ championship win. “A lot of what I’ve been hearing too is like a point-of-attack defender. … So I want to try to work on those two things, just the little things to fix that up.”
The one question Lendeborg has asked Steph Curry about is how he got his stamina up to becoming the most conditioned player in NBA history. Lendeborg has acknowledged he needs to get his conditioning to a better point after taking time off his feet from playing through two different leg injuries in Michigan’s national title run.
Don’t be discouraged from a few summer league blips in Lendeborg’s defense. Be encouraged by his coachability and honest self evaluations as his competitiveness and defensive pride found a new level in the biggest moments.
Over the past few days, several players from the Brooklyn Nets’ 2025-26 squad have found new homes, specifically forwards Jalen Wilson, Ziaire Williams, two-way guard Tyson Etienne, and Trevon Scott, a forward who had two 10-day contracts with the team to close out the year.
It is of course not unusual for a team in the rebuild phase following a season where the team won 20 games and had an overhaul that included three new draft picks, a big trade and a couple of free agent signings.
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Wilson is the latest. He is signing a two-way contract with the Atlanta Hawks for the 2026-27 season after his team option was declined by Brooklyn earlier this offseason.
The Atlanta Hawks and Jalen Wilson have agreed to a two-way deal, league sources told @hoopshype. Wilson averaged 7.4 points per game in three seasons with the Brooklyn Nets. pic.twitter.com/2VHOBcMhRQ
Wilson, 25, was selected by the Nets with the 51st overall selection in the 2023 NBA draft, after Dariq Whitehead and Noah Clowney were selected with back-to-back picks (Nos. 21 and 22 overall).
Throughout his three seasons with the Nets, he played a significant amount of minutes in the NBA for a second-round selection and even led the team in minutes during the 2024-25 season.
Overall, he appeared in 176 NBA games for Brooklyn (27 starts) while averaging 7.4 points, 1.4 assists and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 40.1% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc.
His primary limitation is his lack of athleticism. Standing at 6’6”, he has not logged a single dunk in his NBA career. For someone his size, that’s unacceptable.
Ultimately, the Kansas product gets another NBA opportunity on a two-way contract with Atlanta.
Williams, who like Wilson, is 24, wasn’t renewed by the Nets at the end of June. He had a $6.3 million team option that the Nets declined to exercise. A native of Southern California and a Stanford produce, the signing with the Lakers is a homecoming.
Free agent forward Ziaire Williams has agreed on a one-year, $3 million deal to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/peHUxlls6d
Williams was acquired by Brooklyn in July 2024, a couple of weeks after they had traded Mikal Bridges to the Knicks for five firsts but also Bojan Bogdanovic and the non-guaranteed contract of Mamadi Diakite. The Nets used that contract in a salary dump that brought them Williams and a future second rounder from the Grizzlies.
The former No. 10 pick had been a disappointment in Memphis but to a large extent rehabilitated his reputation during his two years in Brooklyn, finishing with a career high 10.2 points and 1.4 steals in 22.9 minutes last season. In his two years, Williams played 119 games for the Nets, 58 of that starts. Although he had flashes, particulary on defense, he had issues with inconsistency and early last season it led to him getting a DNP for a game.
Williams is one of a number of short-term signings for Lakers this off-season. After losing LeBron James, they’re currently building around Luka Doncic and newly re-signed Austin Reaves.
Unlike Wilson and Williams, Etienne and Scott are packing their bags and heading overseas.
Etienne, 26, has signed with Paris Basketball in France, his agency first announced, while Scott is going to Germany to play for the Bamberg Baskets as we first reported.
As we reported, the Nets didn’t extend a qualifying offer to Etienne in June, losing his restricted free agency rights at the time.
He has spent the past two years in Brooklyn’s organization, appearing in 31 games while also becoming the Long Island Nets’ all-time leading scorer (their G-League affiliate).
Throughout 24 NBA games last year (two starts), Etienne knocked down 39.8% of his 3-point tries while averaging 7.9 points, 1.7 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 15.8 minutes.
Both Etienne and Wilson had been praised for their leadership and high character, something the Nets’ organization deeply values in its players.
As for Scott, who’s entering his age-30 season, going overseas makes the most sense. It was highly unlikely that he would earn an NBA contract or a two-way this season, and the money overseas is largely better than the sub-$50,000 standard G-League players make per year.
In six games with the Nets last year (four starts), he averaged eight points, 2.0 stocks, 1.7 assists and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 38% from the field and 31.6% from 3-point range.
All three now begin the next chapter of their basketball career, albeit on very different paths.
Previously, E.J. Liddell, who had a short stint as a Nets two-way, had agreed to sign with Aris Thessaloniki of the Greek Basketball League. Of the Nets end-of-season roster, only Malachi Smith, waived earlier this month, and Ochai Agbaji, whose contract was not renewed, have yet to find a home,
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 04: Rich Paul talks with LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on January 04, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Monday morning, Patrick Beverly made (minor) waves across the internet, stating that “rumor has it Bron makes his decision today”. While that raised a few eyebrows, it’s nothing new. We have been told enough over the last three weeks that a LeBron James free agency decision was imminent from someone supposedly in the know, only for it not to come through. Bottom line, we all still don’t know.
On The Ringer’s “Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul” podcast, Paul (LeBron’s agent) took some time to address the decision timeline and highlighted Beverly as an example.
“Pat’s (Beverly) not doing that (breaking news), and neither is anyone else…we do not need other people to perceive what’s going on.” Paul went on to say bluntly, “None of these people know anything, nobody knows nothing. I say this respectfully because we (presumably LeBron and Paul) haven’t made it to where anybody knows anything”.
“I’ll say it again, none of these people know anything. Nobody knows nothing, and I say that respectfully because we haven’t made it to where anyone knows anything,” – Rich Paul on LeBron’s free agency.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the 2016 championship shirt HERE.
Paul went on to send a direct message not only to the media at large making these claims, but also it seemed to fans and their expectations of when to expect a resolution to the LeBron decision 4.0.
“We’re not making this about attention and a spectacle. It is not about a decision or anything like that. He (LeBron) has a choice to make; he has a business choice to make. We’re not going to sit here and decide or allow someone to decide when he makes that decision or that choice. It is a business choice that he is making, and I think as an athlete why is it that an athlete has to rush his choice.”
Paul went on to say that LeBron’s resume entitles him to have this lengthy decision-making window. While it is fair for James to have his allotment of time, contrary to Paul’s claims, this is very much feeling like LeBron is wanting to own the moment. If you read between the tea leaves, all major sporting events have come and gone: World Cup, Summer League, NBA Draft, MLB All-Star Game, etc. There is nothing left to take away from all the eyes on LeBron.
Now, teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and fans alike sit and wonder when LeBron and his camp decide on his presumed final destination. There is nothing left to steal his spotlight, and truthfully, against Paul’s words above, that is probably exactly what LeBron wants when he adds another chapter and presumably the final one to his legacy.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Carter Bryant #11 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on July 9, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After defeating the Phoenix Suns 86-81 on Saturday, the San Antonio Spurs tied a bow on a nice Summer League. After going winless in Sacramento, the Spurs bounced back in Las Vegas, going 4-1, just narrowly missing the playoffs.
Unlike years prior, the Spurs didn’t have a hyped top-10 draftee to carry fans’ attention throughout the Summer League. They did have several players who could factor into San Antonio’s long-term plans. For the most part, they played well. Let’s break down the good, the bad, and the ugly from the 2026 summer Spurs.
The Good
Rotation players
Carter Bryant and Tarris Reed Jr. were the players most Spurs fans were excited to watch this summer. Bryant played a minor role on an NBA Finals team in his rookie season, and Reed was a first-round pick who is likely to factor into next year’s team as a third-string center. The last thing you want is for players who are likely to factor into the regular season rotation looking bad in the Summer League. San Antonio did not have that problem.
Bryant had to shake off some rust in his first game in Vegas, but quickly bounced back, averaging 15.5 points in his two games. The Spurs asked Bryant to play on the ball offensively in his first game, where he struggled (more on that later). In game two, he slotted into an off-ball wing role where he thrived on straight-line drives and catch-and-shoot attempts. Bryant looked strong compared to the competition, and showed a couple of nice mid-range jumpers, clearing space with that strength. Getting those on-ball reps now will pay off come October.
Reed had a more consistent summer experience. He averaged 7.7 points and 8.7 rebounds in 23.1 minutes per game. Summer League is a guard-oriented game, so Reed didn’t get a lot of chances to dominate offensively, which is fine because he likely won’t have that opportunity in the NBA. Instead, Reed showed what will make him a serviceable NBA player in his rookie season. He sets hard, physical screens that open up a lot of space for his teammates. He has great size that allows him to clear out the paint and grab boards on both ends (8.7 rebounds in 23.1 minutes is crazy), and has good touch to score inside. His defensive foot speed could use some work, as he found himself out of place on that end on multiple occasions. He looked like a player who can provide San Antonio with spot minutes, or fill in if Victor Wembanyama or Luke Kornet need to miss games.
Second-round fliers
San Antonio also has two second-round picks on two-way contracts. Contenders rarely need their two-way player to contribute much, but if the Spurs do, Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Maliq Brown look up to the task.
Brown shined as a versatile defender with elite hands. He averaged 2.8 steals this summer, swiping the ball away under the basket or using his length to get into the passing lanes. He showed glimpses of being able to play small-ball center with his wingspan and excellent instincts as a help defender. He needs to put on a bit more muscle to play the five in the NBA, but there is potential for him to be an interesting depth piece as a 4/5 man. It’s also worth noting that Brown hit a couple of three-pointers this summer. Developing a shot would take his game to another level.
Gillespie started the summer on an ice-cold shooting stretch, but bounced back, finishing the summer averaging 16 points a game on 40% shooting from the field and 30.8% from three. He always seemed to be moving with and without the ball to get into a position to score or to find a teammate for a good look. The shots didn’t always fall, but he was able to create separation against NBA talent and get to his spots. Despite his smaller stature, Gillespie looked the part defensively, snatching 2 steals per game this summer, applying a lot of pressure on the ball. Gillespie should be solid for the Austin Spurs this season, and could factor in as a break-in-case-of-emergency ball-handler for the NBA team.
Hyunjung Lee
Lee was the surprise player that got Spurs fans talking this summer. He’s a 6-foot-7 wing with a smooth jump shot from three. He’s not an incredible athlete, but he plays hard and can knock down shots. That was no more apparent than when he had 22 points on 4/7 shooting from deep against Darryn Peterson and the Utah Jazz. Lee likely won’t get a two-way contract with the Spurs this summer, but he’s certainly worth keeping in Austin to monitor his development.
The Bad
Carter Bryant on the ball
Bryant did not look good in his on-ball reps. He doesn’t have a sharp handle, and he’s not great at creating separation against even G League defenders right now. That’s the bad news. The good news is the Spurs don’t need him to break guys down off the dribble. They have Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper to do that. Bryant will shine on the defensive end. San Antonio needs him to be an off-ball player who can play aggressively with his athleticism and knock down open jumpers offensively. He should thrive long term as the 4th or 5th option while guarding the toughest wing on the opposing team. Getting these on-ball reps in the Summer League will go a long way to developing his skills so he can step up and create shots in more limited offensive lineups.
Passing to the bigs
One thing that drives me crazy about Summer League ball is how the guards don’t look at the big men inside. There were many occasions this summer where Reed would have a player pinned on a seal after a pick-and-roll and a guard would chuck up a bad shot. The guard-dominant style of the Summer League made it hard to watch and enjoy games this summer. Which brings me to…
The Ugly
Summer League basketball
I have been accustomed to watching a lot of bad basketball in my life. I enjoy watching college and high school basketball to learn about which players will be in the league in the near future. Watching players develop is one of my favorite things about the NBA. So Summer League, in most seasons, is a fun time of year for a fan like me. But I think the 2025-26 Spurs broke me. It’s not like they were the Beautiful Game Spurs from a decade ago, but they moved the ball well and guarded their tails off. Going from that level of basketball to the Summer League this year was STARK. It was hard to watch guys chuck bad shots, turn the ball over, and drive into traffic with no plan. It was some of the ugliest basketball I’ve watched in a while, and I’m glad that the next time we see the Silver and Black play, it will be with mostly the entire NBA team.
A warmup jacket worn by Wilt Chamberlain during the 1972 NBA Finals that was bought by a teenager for $3.07 at an Oregon thrift store sold for $89,600 at auction on Monday.
Quinn Brown had been eyeing a massive bin of clothes at a Goodwill store outside Portland in January when he saw someone toss a Lakers jacket with Chamberlain’s name on it back on the pile. Brown, who resells used clothes online, quickly grabbed it.
The jacket was auctioned by Sotheby’s, which had estimated its value between $150,000 and $250,000 before bidding closed Monday. It received a total of 48 bids, according to the auction house.
Sotheby’s
This Wilt Chamberlain jacket worn by the Lakers star during the 1972 NBA Finals was auctioned off by Sotheby’s.
Described on Sotheby’s website as an “extraordinary piece of memorabilia,” the short-sleeved yellow warmup jacket was worn by Chamberlain during the 1972 NBA Finals, in which the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks.
“I didn’t even think that finding something like this was possible,” Brown said. “I got very, very lucky.”
Chamberlain, an NBA Hall of Famer viewed as one of the all-time greats, played in the league from 1959 to 1973. He won two championship rings — one with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1967, and another with the Lakers in 1972. He holds the record for most points scored by a player in a single game, netting 100 points in a 1962 match.
For the past three years, Brown has been reselling clothes online after finding them in thrift stores. The most expensive item he had sold previously was a T-shirt of Sub Pop Records, the indie label that signed Nirvana in 1989 and released the band’s first album. It went for $250.
After buying the Chamberlain jacket back in January, Brown searched online to see if it was worth something. He found a picture on Google of Chamberlain wearing such a jacket and compared it to the one he had.
In examining the Lakers patch on the front, he noticed certain small stitching details that matched the photo. He also looked up the measurements of a different jersey worn by Chamberlain, a towering figure at 7-foot-1, and discovered that they nearly aligned.
“I really just wanted to make sure, because it was so hard to believe at the time,” he said, adding that he had only ever read about such serendipitous thrift findings.
When he posted a photo of the jacket on social media, Sotheby’s contacted him about consigning the jacket to the auction house. Brown agreed, and an armored van came to pick it up.
Sotheby’s then did its own photo verification and determined that the jacket was worn by Chamberlain during the 1972 Finals, in which he was named the Finals MVP.
“Photomatching a piece of game-worn clothing to a specific Finals series, for a player of this era, is genuinely exceptional,” Sotheby’s website says. “As photomatched items worn by Chamberlain become exceedingly rare, this jacket is a piece of sports history.”
It is not the first Chamberlain item from the 1972 Finals to fetch a hefty sum under the hammer: A game jersey he wore during the series sold for $4.9 million at Sotheby’s in 2023, the fourth most expensive NBA jersey ever sold by the auction house.
As for his thrifted find, Brown said: “That was as good as it gets.”
COVERS INTEL:Urena ranks in the 92nd percentile with a .197 xBA this season.
Sotheby’s