Jun 4, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington looks on during batting practice before the game against the Houston Astros at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
With the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline just a week away, questions abound about whether or not the Pittsburgh Pirates will be buyers or sellers. The Bucs currently sit at 54-52 and are just a single game out of the Wild Card spot.
There have been rumors that Oneil Cruz is on the market, making the Bucs sellers, but a Ben Cherington quote from Sunday actually leads one to believe that the Bucs are buying. Here’s what BCGM had to say:
“We’re at a point in the season now where it’s a pretty good foundation. We know a lot about the team. It’s hard to imagine that much would happen in the next week to eight days that would really shift it in one way or another,”
“I think we’re pretty well into it by now. So, I think it’s pretty clear what we’re going to try to do, and I don’t expect that an outcome day to day between now and then is going to change it much.”
“We have the resources to win games and be playing baseball in October. We have to go do our jobs, and I don’t think anything’s changed. We believe this team is capable of doing that. We gotta continue to do the work to actually make that a reality.”
So from the sounds of that, it seems like Cherington is ready to buy for the Bucs playoff chances as we head into this last week before the deadline. The Bucs could certainly use more bullpen help. Another bat could make a difference with all of the injuries the Bucs have had, but the most important piece heading down the stretch is another arm.
So what do you think about Cherington’s comments, BD? Are the Pirates going to be buyers in this last week? Or is that simply lip service by the Bucs GM? Has he painted himself in a corner here? What happens now if the Bucs don’t make major moves?
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 19: Sons of Dell Curry, Stephen and Seth Curry watch the jersey retirement celebration with family during halftime of a basketball game between the Charlotte Hornets and the Orlando Magic at Spectrum Center on March 19, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors are in flux for the first time in over a decade after their failed attempt to land LeBron James. It effectively means the team is running back the same trio of Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green — while hoping that rookie Yaxel Landeborg, and the return of Moses Moody can be enough of an addition to do something for them. Butler is currently out with a torn ACL, but he should be ready to go before the playoffs. Now the team that seemingly always has the answers is left without one, left simply hoping that their biggest competition around the back-end of the playoff cut managed to get worse this offseason.
As a result, the Warriors are little more than a middling team in a Western Conference that boasts the Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets, and Timberwolves. That’s before we even talk about the juggernauts the East is building in Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Miami. Golden State ranked No. 23 out of 30 teams in our way-too-early NBA power rankings following LeBron to the Sixers. As a result, there’s speculation on whether Golden State could actually look to part ways with Steph Curry, accepting that they might not be in the position to assemble a real contender around Curry — while also understanding that if they want to rebuild into a contender, it will take assets they currently don’t possess.
Enter the Charlotte Hornets, who are in a bizarre, unique circumstance to make the sentimental value play for Curry, a Charlotte native who has pounded the drum at Panthers games, was in attendance for his dad’s jersey retirement, and fondly remembers hanging out with Muggsy Bogues in the Hornets locker room at their peak. The refrain of “Bring Steph Home” has been a yearly meme for Hornets fans, more or less ever since Charlotte missed out on drafting Curry in 2009 as the Bobcats — always said tongue-in-cheek, as if Steph would ever want to leave the Warriors to come back to North Carolina.
Maybe now that is becoming a real possibility. Not only is there talk about the Warriors potentially facing a Steph reckoning, but the Hornets represent one of the few teams that have the assets, and might be foolish enough to give them to add a 38-year-old star to a young, building roster. Couple all this with the fact that Steph has mentioned Charlotte off-hand as a potential landing spot for him other than Golden State over the years, and it’s stoked the flames of the rumor mill.
The question now is how much sense this really makes for anyone involved.
Why it makes sense for the Warriors to trade Steph
It never, ever works to be the team left holding the bag. Ideally you’d want to keep Curry, form another championship run, and have him sail off into the sunset as a winner, but that doesn’t feel like it’s in the cards right now. They made their play for LeBron, it didn’t work, so they’re left on a bit of an island right now.
The Warriors could still be really good if Jimmy Butler can get healthy in time for the playoffs this year, but they’re still a significant step behind the competition in the West. As painful as it might be, this could be a really great opportunity to bid Curry farewell, get some draft picks back, and not take on any bad salary with Charlotte still holding a mammoth trade exception they can use to absorb Curry’s contract.
Why it doesn’t make sense for the Warriors to trade Steph
At what point is it all worth it? Trading Curry and blowing up the roster is a PR nightmare, and fans don’t often want to hear about the draft capital they’d get in the future. Would two firsts and several second-round picks get it done? Would the Warriors need three firsts to entice them enough? The return would need to warrant the marketing hit the team would take, and at some point future capital just isn’t worth it, especially if you’re concerned that Charlotte is on the upswing and those picks won’t be lottery protected.
Truthfully, Charlotte won’t trade either Brandon Miller or Kon Knueppel to get this deal done. There is no planet in which the franchise parts ways with either of its two remaining star players, even to get Steph Curry. They will be playing the draft pick game, and that’s a hard sell when it means losing a Hall of Fame player like Steph.
Why it makes sense for the Hornets to trade for Steph
Curry is an ideal schematic fit for what Charles Lee and the Hornets are trying to do. This team wants to shoot threes, grab rebounds, and basically do nothing else. The potential lineup the Hornets could bring with Steph is simply comical when it comes to their potential from beyond the arc.
Steph Curry / Kon Knueppel/ Brandon Miller/ Naz Reid/ Hannes Steinbach
That’s FOUR starters who can all shoot, with Reid being a glue guy in the paint. Then you factor in the bench with Coby White and Christian Anderson Jr. being three-point specialists, with Ryan Kalkbrenner and Moussa Diabate as the requisite rebounders.
The addition of Steph basically just heightens what the Hornets do, but takes it to an entirely new level. Perhaps more importantly, it also solves the biggest problem Charlotte has right now: Public perception. The team took a mammoth hit by trading away LaMelo Ball, appearing to some fans like they don’t care to compete. I’m on the record saying I think it was ultimately a smart move that will be addition by subtraction, but that doesn’t make it inherently easier to swallow the loss of a star like Ball.
Bringing Steph Curry to Charlotte changes all that. You bring such a beloved player to Charlotte, who literally grew up in the Hornets locker room of the early-90s with his dad Dell, the same Dell Curry who now calls games for the Hornets on TV — the narrative writes itself.
Why it doesn’t make sense for the Hornets to trade for Steph
What precisely is this team trying to achieve? Moreover, what can it achieve in the Eastern Conference right now? Sure, adding Curry might be enough to get them over the hump from play-in team to playoff team — but is that really worth mortgaging a future they went through considerable pain to attain?
The biggest arrow in Charlotte’s quiver is the amount of draft capital they have in upcoming years. The 2025 NBA Draft was a home run that landed the Hornets a future cornerstone in Knueppel, but valuable role players in Kalkbrenner and Sion James. If that’s indicative of the team’s scouting potential, then giving up future assets to acquire Curry right now is a mistimed move, rather than waiting for some of these aging stars to wear out in the East, then strike in a few years when teams are rebuilding.
It also raises questions about the leadership structure of this team. One of the main reasons Coby White re-signed with Charlotte was getting a bigger role at the point, and the assumption is that removing Ball’s presence on the roster would allow for Miller and Knueppel to assume leadership roles. That all goes out the window if you bring in Steph, who would immediately make the Hornets his team.
While it might be a great basketball fit, it’s a bad organizational fit at this juncture.
What happens when the dust settles?
It would take something mammoth for the Warriors to actually part ways with Steph Curry. There have been too many years of shared emotions, too much bonding between Curry and Steve Kerr to let all this get washed out because Golden State couldn’t land LeBron James.
The smartest move would be the wait, play out the first part of the season, then see who comes available at the trade deadline who could potentially take the Warriors from a fringe playoff team and push them even further. Someone is going to blow things up once more, and the best position would be to ride Curry/Butler/Green until the wheels really fall off.
There’s always a little wiggle room though, and if there’s one team desperate enough to swing for the fences it’s the Charlotte Hornets. Never say never.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 26: Jo Adell #7 of the Los Angeles Angels trots around the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the fourth inning at Oracle Park on July 26, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Angels are reportedly open for business, so let’s talk about a frequently mentioned potential Guardians’ trade target: Jo Adell.
Adell’s role is clear – he is a strictly platoon hitter put on the earth to mash lefty pitching. This season, despite having a 92 wRC+ overall, the 27 year-old right handed hitter has a 164 wRC+ against lefties. For his career, he has a 118 wRC+ against lefties including a .505 slugging percentage, including a 152 wRC+ against LHP from 2024-2026. He’s a below average fielder in the corner outfield positions, but not unplayable out there.
The Red Sox just traded a promising starting pitching prospect in Connelly Early for a right-handed hitter in Curtis Mead… so the price for lefty mashers is high. Now, Mead is under control through 2031 and Adell is only under control through 2027, so the price to acquire Adell should be significantly lower. The Guardians should be able to get Adell without touching a top five prospect in their system. The system is still deep enough to get the Angels an arm or a bat in prospect capital or even both that would make moving Adell the sensible move. And, under the new GM, the Angels may be willing to be senisble! Immediately, the Guardians could then let go of David Fry and get Adell AB’s in left, right and at DH against LHP.
The news this morning is that the Guardians are pursuing hitters, with some potential interest in a reunion with Lane Thomas who is currently on a heater with the Royals. I would much prefer they get a younger version of Thomas’s lefty mashing in Adell and let Stephen Vogt do his best platooning/pinch-hitting to get Adell the maximum amount of at-bats against the southpaws teams keep leveraging against Cleveland.
Let me know what you think about Adell in the comments below!
The Baltimore Orioles (51-55, 4th in the AL East) open a three-game series tonight at Comerica Park against the Detroit Tigers (50-56, 4th in the AL Central). Both clubs enter the matchup below .500 and in search of a winning streak to help propel them to a postseason berth. Baltimore sits 11.5 games behind Tampa Bay in the AL East, while Detroit trails the White Sox by six games in the AL Central. The O’s are 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot with the Tigers sitting a game further behind.
The Orioles lost their weekend series against the Braves dropping a tough 3-2 decision in 11 innings yesterday. Baltimore's pitching staff was special the last two games of the series, but yesterday that was not enough as the O’s managed a mere six hits. Pete Alonso had two of the six including his 22nd home run of the season. The loss left Baltimore 2-3 over its last five games. Detroit also takes the field tonight looking to bounce back after a loss. Michael Massey’s two-run, two out home run in the top of the eighth was the difference in a 5-4 win for the Kansas City Royals. Kevin McGonigle and Dillon Dingler each has a pair of hits for the Tigers in the losing effort. The Tigers did win two of the three games in the series and are 6-4 in their last ten games.
Baltimore hands the ball tonight to right-hander Kyle Bradish (7-9, 3.49 ERA). His most recent start came on July 22 at Boston, where he led the O’s to a 5-1 victory allowing just one run on four hits over six innings while striking out four. Bradish has had a strong July, posting a 2.21 ERA across three starts while surrendering only five earned runs in 20.1 innings. Detroit counters with right-hander Keider Montero (7-5, 3.14 ERA), who has quietly put together an excellent season. Last Wednesday, Montero allowed but one run on three hits over 5.1 innings as the Tigers took out the Cubs, 5-1. Like Bradish, Montero has had a strong July in which he has posted a 1.96 ERA across 18.1 innings.
Lets dive into the game and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Orioles vs. Tigers
Date: Monday, July 27, 2026
Time: 6:40PM EST
Site: Comerica Park
City: Detroit, MI
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, MASN, Tigers.TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Orioles vs. Tigers
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Baltimore Orioles (-101), Detroit Tigers (-120),
Spread: Orioles -1.5 (+161), Tigers +1.5 (-197)
Total: 8.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers and their Stats: Orioles vs. Tigers for July 27
Colton Cowser is 4-5 in his career with 2HRs against Keider Montero
Jackson Holliday has struck out 3 times in 4 ABs against Montero
Gleyber Torres is 4-8 and has walked 3 times in his career against Kyle Bradish
Pete Alonso was 4-13 over the weekend against the Braves
Gunnar Henderson was 1-13 against the Braves
Gleyber Torres is 4-21 (.190) since being activated off the disabled list6 games ago
Riley Greene was 3-15 against the Royals over the weekend
Spencer Torkelson is hitting .157 in July (11-70)
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Orioles vs. Tigers
The Orioles are 54-52 on the Run Line this season
The Tigers are 53-53 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 54 times in Baltimore’s 106 games this season (54-49-3)
The OVER has cashed 43 times in Detroit’s 106 games this season (43-58-5)
Expert picks & predictions: Orioles vs. Tigers
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model for tonight’s game between the Orioles and the Tigers:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Tigers on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 8.5.
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ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 21: Wyatt Langford #36 of the Texas Rangers hits a home run during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field on July 21, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kai Kanzer/Texas Rangers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for July 27, 2026 against the Seattle Mariners: starting pitchers are Kumar Rocker for the Rangers and George Kirby for the Mariners.
The Rangers play the finale of both the series against the Mariners and their seven game homestand in a rare Monday matinee game today. If the Rangers win, they go to 2.5 up on Seattle in the division, and will have won the series and have a winning homestand. If the Rangers lose, they will be just 0.5 up on Seattle in the division, and will have split the series and have a losing homestand.
So let’s try to win this one.
The lineup:
Pederson — DH
Langford — LF
Duran — SS
Nimmo — RF
Carter — CF
Burger — 1B
Lopez — 2B
Smith — 3B
Diaz — C
1:35 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +111 underdogs.
Jul 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Tyrone Taylor (28) is doused with water by left fielder Juan Soto (22) after the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
Welcome back to Monday Stat Party, a weekly series showcasing some of the most curious and nostalgia-inducing statistical developments from the past week of Mets baseball. What unites each entry is the sense of intrigue which they aim to spark, and the unbridled love of the game’s anomalies from which they arise. Without further ado, let the stat party begin.
MONDAY
Freddy Peralta made his 85th start at American Family Field in Milwaukee, marking the third-most all-time at the ballpark behind Ben Sheets (113) and Yovani Gallardo (108).
The homecoming didn’t quite go as planned, as Peralta surrendered five or more earned runs for the fourth time this season. That’s already the most such games Peralta has had in any season of his career.
Jacob Misiorowski fired 26 pitches at 100+ mph against the Mets. That’s the second-most 100+ mph pitches the Mets have seen from a single pitcher in a single game in the Statcast era (since 2015), trailing only Hunter Greene’s 30 in Cincinnati on September 7, 2025.
TUESDAY
Zac Thornton has now thrown 18 consecutive scoreless innings, the most by a Mets rookie since Steven Matz’s 19 from May 20-May 31, 2016, a streak that began against the Brewers. (credit: Jolly Olive)
After returning from the IL on Monday, Luis Robert Jr. wasted no time showing off his talents, crushing a homer with an exit velocity of 112.2 mph and a Statcast-projected distance of 451 feet. That’s the Mets’ hardest-hit homer of the season, and tied for their longest with Brett Baty’s homer off Jake Irvin in Washington on May 18.
The Mets earned just their second regular-season win at American Family Field since September 21, 2022, having gone through a 1-10 stretch at the ballpark. Their other win also came via a shutout started by a left-handed pitcher, when David Peterson went seven scoreless to save the bullpen during Game 160 on September 29, 2024.
WEDNESDAY
Logan Henderson generated nine whiffs against the Mets via his changeup. That’s the most whiffs the Mets have had on an opposing pitcher’s changeup since whiffing nine times facing Cristopher Sánchez’s changeup on September 15, 2024.
FRIDAY
Francisco Alvarez hit his 60th career home run, tying John Milner for the fourth-most by a Met before their 25th birthday behind Darryl Strawberry (108), David Wright (97), and Ed Kranepool (62).
Roki Sasaki racked up 21 whiffs against the Mets. Only three other pitchers have recorded 21+ whiffs in a game against the Mets this season. Two of them are fellow Dodgers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto (23 on April 14) and Shohei Ohtani (22 on April 15), while the other is Logan Gilbert (21 on June 2).
SATURDAY
Nolan McLean posted his fifth consecutive quality start, the most by a Met since David Peterson (5) from July 3-August 1, 2025, and the most by a Met right-hander since Kodai Senga (8) from August 7-September 20, 2023. It was also McLean’s seventh consecutive start in which he completed at least six innings, the longest such streak by a Met since Sean Manaea (8) from August 16-September 21, 2024.
McLean registered eight whiffs via his curveball. No Met right-hander has recorded that many whiffs on pitches classified as curveballs since Noah Syndergaard on August 19, 2015, in Baltimore.
Freddie Freeman seventh-inning single marked his 250th career hit vs. the Mets, ranking ninth all-time behind Pete Rose (396), Lou Brock (289), Jimmy Rollins (281), Chipper Jones (265), Tony Gwynn (263), Willie Davis (256), Andre Dawson (256), and Larry Bowa (254). Freeman would record his 251st and 252nd hits against the Mets on Sunday.
Freeman also recorded his 75th career multi-hit game against the Mets, the sixth-most all-time behind Pete Rose (113), Jimmy Rollins (84), Tony Gwynn (81), Chipper Jones (81), and Lou Brock (78). Freeman would record his 76th multi-hit performance against the Mets the next day.
SUNDAY
Tyrone Taylor hit a three-run homer in the sixth, while Marcus Semien hit a three-run homer in the seventh. It’s the first time the Mets hit multiple three-run homers or grand slams in the same game since August 29, 2025, when Brandon Nimmo and Luis Torrens each hit three-run shots in a 19-9 rout over the Marlins at Citi Field. It was the first time the Mets hit a three-run homer or grand slam in back-to-back innings since April 28, 2025 in Washington, when Brandon Nimmo hit a three-run homer in the sixth and a grand slam in the seventh.
Only two Mets have hit multiple three-run homers this season. One is Juan Soto, who has two three-run shots out of 21 homers overall. The other is Tyrone Taylor, who has three three-run shots out of just eight homers overall.
Miscellaneous Mets stat of the week:
Zac Thornton ranks second on the Mets’ all-time strikeout leaderboard among pitchers with his homophonic first name:
Jul 24, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (11) waits for a pitching change in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The MLB 2026 trade deadline of Monday, August 3 at 4:00 p.m. MDT is fast approaching.
Rumors suggest that in addition to trading Seth Halvorsen to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Colorado Rockies plan to be very active this year. Here’s what Bob Nightengale wrote yesterday:
The Colorado Rockies will be popular at the trade deadline. They are letting teams know that pitchers Antonio Senzatela, Kyle Freeland, Michael Lorenzen and Tomoyuki Sugano are available, as well as position players Mickey Moniak, Jake McCarthy and Willi Castro.
Historically, we’ve limited trade-deadline discussion threads to just prior to the deadline, but this is a new front office that appears to be in the mood to deal, so we thought we’d try a daily thread this year in the week leading up to the deadline.
As the day progresses, we’ll keep this tracker updated with the most pertinent rumors and the biggest deals that come to fruition. We’ll also post a new thread daily through Monday.
The Colorado Rockies have an off-day, but there will (hopefully!) be plenty of action off the field.
Robbie Ray pitches against the Angels on Saturday | | Getty Images
As many of you know, my dad lives in San Francisco and I visit him often.
Thus I was in San Francisco this past weekend while the Cubs were in Pittsburgh, and I took the opportunity to go to the Giants/Angels game Saturday at Oracle Park. Mainly just because I love baseball — and I must love it a lot to go see two of the worst teams in baseball play — but also to check out Robbie Ray, who started for the Giants on Saturday and who is almost certainly on the trade market.
Ray is 34 and has had an up-and-down career. He threw pretty well for the Diamondbacks for a number of years, then was traded to the Blue Jays during the pandemic season in 2020. Staying in Toronto in 2021, he had a breakout season and won the AL Cy Young Award.
That got him a multi-year deal with the Mariners, where he had one decent year and then got hurt. He had Tommy John surgery and made only one start in 2023, then was traded to the Giants where he made just seven starts in 2024.
Returned to health, Ray had a good year in 2025 and is doing that again this year. And he’s been really good over his last six starts: 1.06 ERA, 1.177 WHIP, only one home run in 43.1 innings.
Ray threw six shutout innings against the Angels Saturday and it looked effortless. Okay, so Angels, they’re not very good. Mike Trout was the only Angel who did anything much against Ray, two singles and a walk.
Ray’s ERA away from Oracle Park is 4.35, which is a bit scary until you notice that it’s skewed by one really bad start at Chase Field (nine earned runs in 4.1 innings). In his nine other road starts he has a 3.07 ERA, so I think he’d be just fine pitching for the Cubs.
Ray is a pending free agent who is making $25 million this year. That would leave somewhere around $8 million or so remaining on his deal. The Cubs can afford to take that on, and if they did they’d likely not have to send much of a prospect to the Giants in return.
I asked Josh to help me out here because I have no idea what the Giants would ask for, or could get, for two months of Robbie Ray. He suggested Will Sanders and Angel Cepeda, and sure, I’d do that.
Should the Detroit Tigers decide to keep Tarik Skubal through the August 3 trade deadline without signing him to a contract extension, they will still face one of the most complicated roster decisions of the Scott Harris era. As discussed previously, should Skubal decline a qualifying offer and sign elsewhere this winter, the Tigers would receive very different compensation depending upon one critical factor: whether they finish the 2026 season above or below the first Competitive Balance Tax threshold.
For a revenue-sharing recipient like Detroit, remaining below the threshold means receiving a supplemental first-round draft pick. Finishing above it drops that compensation all the way to a pick after the fourth round. That makes every dollar matter.
Based on the best publicly available payroll tracking, the Tigers currently project to finish the season with a Competitive Balance Tax payroll between approximately $245.6 million and $246 million. That puts them roughly $2 million above the $244 million threshold. This is according to Cot’s contracts, and MLBR’s payroll tracker. (Note: Roster Resource and Spotrac do not exactly track each roster move during the season).
The luxury tax itself is almost insignificant. The Tigers would owe only about $300,000.
The real penalty is losing one of the most valuable draft picks available under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.
With only 58 days remaining in the regular season, Detroit doesn’t need to eliminate $2 million in annual salary. It needs to remove approximately $6.3 million in annual salary from its books for the remainder of the season to net the prorated salary of $2 million. Any salary acquired before the deadline increases that number.
That’s where the problem begins.
Only eight players besides Skubal earn enough this season to accomplish the task by themselves:
Javier Baez
Gleyber Torres
Framber Valdez
Jack Flaherty
Kenley Jansen
Kyle Finnegan
Justin Verlander
Drew Anderson
Even trading Casey Mize would fall just short, despite his $6.15 million salary, because they’d only be clearing his salary over the final 54 days of the season. Trading Anderson who receives $7 million for the season, would clear enough salary, as long as they don’t add any salary back for the rest of the season. As erratic as he’s been, the Tigers do not have any notable relief options in Toledo other than possibly Beau Brieske if he can get it going.
Unfortunately for Scott Harris, identifying contracts isn’t the difficult part.
Finding one he can move without damaging the team and taking them completely out of the wild card and divisional hunts is the problem.
No one is trading for Justin Verlander and he’s currently still injured. Javier Baez is not worth his contract much less any surplus value. Jack Flaherty is really the ideal candidate for a move like this and trading him could both clear enough payroll and return a decent prospect as well. Unfortunately, he too is currently on the injured list. Kenley Jansen and Kyle Finnegan have both experienced uneven stretches this season, but the Tigers also need reliable late-inning relief if they hope to make a deep October run.
That leaves Gleyber Torres.
From a payroll standpoint, Torres is the cleanest solution. His $6.8 million salary would move Detroit comfortably below the CBT threshold, assuming little salary comes back in return. As an impending free agent, he also represents one of the club’s few veterans with meaningful trade value.
The baseball decision is much more difficult.
Torres has been one of Detroit’s best hitters this season, posting a 128 wRC+, one of only four Tigers above league average offensively. The Tigers could replace him internally with a combination of Javier Baez, Colt Keith and Zack McKinstry, but the numbers suggest that would be a downgrade in the lineup during a pennant race.
That’s the Catch-22.
If the Tigers keep Tarik Skubal, they are signaling that 2026 is about winning a championship, not maximizing long-term assets. Yet preserving the supplemental first-round compensation pick for a potential Skubal departure may require subtracting from the very roster they believe can win that championship.
The irony is that Scott Harris may have to act as both buyer and seller.
The ideal trade wouldn’t simply reduce payroll. It would reduce payroll while returning a player capable of helping Detroit win now. Every dollar of salary taken back, however, chips away at the payroll savings, making the balancing act even more difficult.
A supplemental first-round draft pick is hardly insignificant. Kevin McGonigle and Nick Castellanos both entered the organization through compensation selections. If both Skubal and Casey Mize ultimately declined qualifying offers and signed contracts exceeding $50 million elsewhere, Detroit could receive two supplemental first-round picks—but only if it finishes below the CBT threshold.
Payroll calculations themselves remain an inexact science. Cot’s Contracts attempts to track individual player obligations throughout the season and currently places Detroit around $246 million. MLB Trade Rumors maintains a tracker that estimates approximately $245.6 million. Major League Baseball’s official CBT accounting won’t be finalized until after the season and includes estimates for player benefits, bonuses, and other adjustments that aren’t publicly available. That uncertainty alone gives Detroit every reason to create a cushion rather than trying to finish a few thousand dollars below the line.
Payroll for CBT purposes differs from current MLB payroll in three main respects:
CBT payroll uses average annual value of multi year contracts, as well as all the salaries of players on the 40 man roster and those who were on the roster but have since been removed, and the calculation includes an estimated $18 million for the club’s share of player benefits plus their $1.6 million share of the pre arbitration bonus pool.
In case you’re wondering about the impact of the pending lockout of the players as MLB owners or sue a salary cap, don’t expect any changes to this year’s free agent class in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Even the proposals that both sides have made thus far would leave the current system in place for this winter.
For that reason, don’t be surprised if the Tigers make a move that seems puzzling at first glance. A trade motivated in part by payroll management may not bring back a headline prospect or even equal on-field value. The goal may simply be to thread the needle: stay below the Competitive Balance Tax threshold, preserve a supplemental first-round draft pick, and still field the strongest possible team for what they hope will be a long October. Or, they could make the obvious move and trade Tarik Skubal for pitching help, opening enough payroll space in order to make a trade to fill other needs and try to sneak into the playoffs anyway without their ace.
The Atlanta Braves' grip on the National League East loosened as they weathered the absence of Ronald Acuña Jr. Now, the former NL MVP is back, just as they started to flourish without him.
The Braves activated Acuña from the injured list ahead of their Monday, July 27 game at the New York Mets, ending his 38-game absence from the lineup while he recovered from a left hamstring strain.
Acuña was hurt June 9, and the Braves held a nine-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the East. The Braves dropped 12 of their first 16 games without their leadoff hitter, and the Phillies cut the lead down to two games on multiple occasions.
But Atlanta has won 13 of its past 22 and steadily built its East margin back up to 5 1/2 games. The club is expected to pursue pitching upgrades and perhaps explore shortstop options as the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaches.
Acuña, 28, is batting .251 with seven homers and a .793 OPS in 53 games. The club can juggle personnel in several manners with Acuña's return, running Mike Yastrzemski, Eli White, Mauricio Dubón and Dominic Smith through left field, shortstop and DH duties. Acuña also figures to get at-bats at DH as he ramps back up.
Sep 4, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Colby Rasmus (28) is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after he hit the game winning solo home run during the tenth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-Imagn Images
Twelve years ago today:
The Blue Jays acquired Colby Rasmus in a multi-player deal.
The transaction unfolded in two distinct acts.
Act One:
Toronto sent veteran reliever Jason Frasor and prospect Zach Stewart to the White Sox in exchange for pitcher Edwin Jackson and Mark Teahen—who was nearly Canadian, given his father’s Ontario roots and his stint with Team Canada in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Teahen finished the season with the Blue Jays, posting a .190/.261/.286 line over 27 games, which marked the end of his MLB career.
Frasor returned to Toronto for the 2012 season, then played for the Rangers, Royals, and Braves before retiring after 2015. He still holds the franchise record for most games pitched, with 505 appearances—a mark unlikely to be challenged soon (Yimi Garcia is our active leader at 185 game).
Stewart struggled in the majors, pitching 103 innings with a 6.82 ERA.
Act Two:
A few hours later, Jackson, Octavio Dotel, Corey Patterson, and Marc Rzepczynski were traded to St. Louis in exchange for Colby Rasmus, Trever Miller,Brian Tallet, and P.J. Walters.
The Cardinals wanted to strengthen their bullpen, and manager Tony La Russa had grown weary of Rasmus. Colby was, for lack of a better word, unique. His personality couldn’t have been more different from La Russa’s. La Russa was outspoken about Colby, and Colby wasn’t one to ignore criticism.
For GM Alex Anthopoulos, the trade was an opportunity to buy low on a talented player.
Jackson went 5-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 12 starts for the Cardinals post-trade. In the playoffs, he started four games, posting a 1-1 record and a 5.60 ERA over 17.2 innings. After the season, Edwin signed with the Nationals as a free agent and went on to pitch for numerous teams—including the Cubs, Braves, Marlins, Padres, Orioles, Nationals (again), Blue Jays (briefly), and Tigers—before concluding his 17-year MLB career.
Dotel posted a 3.28 ERA in 29 games with the Cardinals. He signed with the Tigers for 2012, had a strong season, but was out of baseball after struggling early in 2013.
Rzepczynski—or ‘Scrabble’—had a 3.97 ERA in 28 appearances for the Cardinals in 2011. He stayed with them through 2012 but was traded to Cleveland after a rocky start in 2013. Marc later pitched for the Padres, A’s, Nationals, Mariners, and returned to Cleveland, last appearing in the majors in 2018.
Patterson wasn’t among my favourite Blue Jays. He struggled offensively (.287 OBP at the time), had questionable defense in left field, and wasn’t a strong base runner (13 steals, caught 8 times). He often swung at pitches over his head—occasionally connecting—but, surprisingly, many preferred him to Edwin Encarnacion at the time. After the trade, Corey hit .157/.189/.235 in 44 games for the Cardinals, marking the end of his MLB career.
As for Colby, he never became a star, but he was a solid contributor. Over four seasons, he played 408 games for Toronto, hitting .234/.295/.433 with 66 home runs. His best year came in 2013, when he hit .276/.338/.501 with 22 homers.
I was a fan, perhaps because I appreciate players who don’t quite fit the mold. I’ll always have a soft spot for him. He sometimes struggled with the pressures and relentless criticism of MLB life, but he was a good person.
Your COLBY RASMUS comes equipped with HOME RUN ACTION, INTERMITTENTLY IMPRESSIVE DEFENSE ACTION, and DEBATABLY USEFUL SPEED ACTION. Please do not expose your COLBY RASMUS to direct sunlight, fans of MAKING THINGS HAPPEN on offense or TONY LA RUSSA.
Over time, we got small glimpses into his personality, which I found entertaining. His changing hairstyles, however, I enjoyed less.
After leaving Toronto following the 2014 season, Colby spent two years with the Astros, started 2017 with the Rays but left mid-season, then began 2018 with the Orioles before retiring in July. This retirement appears final, and I hope he’s happy now.
He finished his career with a .241/.310/.436 slash line, 166 home runs, and a 20.2 bWAR across 1,092 games.
It is also Max Scherzer’s 42 birthday.
And he’s also starting tonight. Generally I say, if you are a gambler, bet on the team with a pitcher having a birthday. But, Scherzer has had a rough time of it, and he’s just back from the IL. Add in that he’s 42, and I don’t think he’d be a great bet.
He is also Shea Hillenbrand’s birthday. He’s 51.
He’s mostly famous for writing ‘sinking ship’ on the clubhouse chalk board and getting in a fight with John Gibbons. As a Jay he hit .294/.342/.460 with 30 home runs in 233 games. Not bad, not good enough for the headache he was for each organization that he played for.
Career he played in 943 games, hit .284/.321/.440 with 108 home runs across six teams.
Two years ago:
The Jays traded Nate Pearson to the Cubs for Josh Rivera and Yohendrick Piñango. Piñango, you know about. Rivera is playing in Buffalo this year, hitting .216/.289/.385 as an utility infielder.
Pearson has bounced from team to team, Cubs, Royals, Astros and back to the Royals now. He’s basically the pitcher we traded, throws hard, but walks too many.
And we traded Danny Jansen to the Red Sox for Gilberto Batista, Cutter Coffey and Eddinson Paulino
Batista is a pitcher who is having a rough time in Vancouver (8.22 ERA). Coffey is an infielder who is hitting .223/.307/.335 for the Fisher Cats. Paulino is in the Mets organization now, playing in the low minors.
Jansen? He’s gone from the Red Sox to the Rays, to the Brewers and now he’s with the Rangers. He’s hitting .171/.277/.309 in 41 games for Texas.
What kind of competition will James and the Sixers have in the East? Below is a summer rundown on the 10 teams that made the playoffs or play-in tournament last season. And an honorable mention should go to the Indiana Pacers, who may very well improve dramatically from last year’s 19-win season with Tyrese Haliburton back on the floor.
Pistons
Detroit racked up 60 wins in the 2025-26 season, four more than the No. 2 seed Celtics. They fell to the Cavaliers in the second round of the playoffs.
It’s tough to properly assess the Pistons until the Duren saga ends. They’ll hope the net result of their moves is an upgraded supporting cast around Cade Cunningham and deeper playoff progress.
It wouldn’t be shocking at all if the Celtics stayed near the top of the East standings, but we imagine they’ll need good health for Jayson Tatum and the 36-year-old George. Boston would also benefit plenty from continued growth by young players like Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez.
The team’s thorough dominance of the East playoffs last year should not be overlooked.
After falling behind 2-1 in Round 1 against the Hawks, the Knicks won their next 13 games. They polished off a second-round sweep of the Sixers with a 30-point victory in Philadelphia. The East Finals concluded with the Knicks’ 37-point demolition of the Cavs in Cleveland.
At least for the time being, the Knicks have a leg up on the Sixers in terms of knowing the exact recipe for playoff success with their current roster. They may be more reliant on one star, but Jalen Brunson is fresh off a Finals MVP performance and the Knicks certainly don’t lack talent around him with players like OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges.
As has been the case the past few years, it would be great for the Cavs if Evan Mobley took a step or two forward offensively. Mobley’s three-point percentage dipped to 29.7 last season. The Cavs again appear likely to lean heavily on the Donovan Mitchell-James Harden backcourt.
In the event the deal goes through, Leonard is the kind of player who would considerably raise Toronto’s ceiling when healthy. The Raptors were excellent on defense last year, finishing fifth in the league in defensive rating. Toronto drafted forward Allen Graves with the 19th overall pick and signed Kyle Anderson in free agency.
Hawks
Atlanta’s had an intriguing offseason after returning to the playoffs last year. The Hawks might wind up ahead of some teams with flashier names in the standings.
Their moves include drafting Kingston Flemings (No. 8) and Zuby Ejiofor (No. 23) and acquiring Luguentz Dort,Aaron Wiggins and Devin Carter. Can Jalen Johnson keep improving following his first All-Star nod?
Sixers
No other team in the East matches the Sixers’ pure star power. Between James, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers have an absurd 36 All-Star selections (James is responsible for 22 of them, but the other three are all multi-time All-Stars).
The Sixers aren’t flawless. The sheer volume of offensive talent doesn’t guarantee everything will flow smoothly from the jump. Embiid’s health is still highly important and he’s struggled to avoid injuries for a sustained stretch since his 2022-23 MVP season.
However, it’s quite realistic for the Sixers to aspire to win the East. They’ll plan to start by earning home-court advantage for the first time in Nick Nurse’s tenure as head coach and giving themselves an easier path in the playoffs. The Knicks were unquestionably the superior team, but fatigue was a factor for the Sixers in last postseason’s second round after their Round 1 battle with Boston.
Magic
The Magic blew a 3-1 lead in their first-round series against Detroit and then replaced head coach Jamahl Mosley with Sean Sweeney.
Again, it’s very valid to wonder whether Orlando can be an adequate three-point shooting team. The Magic made 34.3 percent of their three-point attempts in the regular season (27th in the NBA) and 32.8 percent in the playoffs.
Hornets
After starting 11-23 last season, the Hornets went 33-15. They had the NBA’s best offensive rating and fourth-best defensive rating over that period.
Charlotte has made major roster changes this summer, shipping out LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges. Naz Reid, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and rookies Hannes Steinbach and Christian Anderson are among the new Hornets.
Heat
Before all the Sixers’ action, the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade was the talk of the NBA offseason. Bobby Portis and Tim Hardaway Jr. are also on board in Miami.
The Sixers and several other East squads seem to be more well-rounded than the Heat, but Antetokounmpo is a bona fide superstar, Bam Adebayo is a three-time All-Star with six All-Defensive Team selections, and Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra habitually extracts the most he possibly can from his team.
The Cincinnati Reds head into tonight's series opener against the Cleveland Guardians as a deserving -150 moneyline favorite behind their ace, Chase Burns.
With Slade Cecconi in poor form, my Guardians vs Reds predictions are eyeing Cincy to grab a victory here.
Who will win Guardians vs Reds today: Reds moneyline (-155)
Slade Cecconi is struggling lately for the Cleveland Guardians. The righty owns a 5.48 xERA across his last four appearances, allowing 1.40 HR/9 and an alarming 47.8% hard-hit rate.
As for Chase Burns, he continues to shove. The Cincinnati Reds stud has a 3.66 FIP over the last month, limiting opponents to a 37.7% hard-hit rate.
Also, more than half of Cleveland's lineuphas a run value of one or fewer against the four-seam fastball, which Burns throws over 57% of the time.
I'll play this pick up to -160.
COVERS INTEL: The Guardians have produced just a 28.7% hard-hit rate over their last seven games, well below their 34.4% season average. That gives Burns a strong path to control contact with his four-seamer-heavy approach.
Guardians vs Reds Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-112)
The Under is the better angle here. While Cecconi is vulnerable, Cincinnati’s offense has not shown enough recent form to suggest they'll explode offensively. The Reds have posted a 59 wRC+ and .131 ISO over the last week.
Cleveland has been better but still not elite, carrying a 96 wRC+ and .169 ISO over its last seven games. Burns also has a strong matchup against a Guardians lineup that has not made much loud contact lately.
The bullpens support a lower-scoring script, too. Cincinnati’s relief corps owns a 3.65 xERA over the last week, while Cleveland’s bullpen has posted a 3.16 FIP during that span.
I'll play this pick up to -130.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 36-46, -14.34 units
Over/Under bets: 45-35, +3.63 units
Guardians vs Reds weather
Conditions should be warm and humid in Cincinnati tonight, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures falling from 89°F at first pitch into the low 80s later in the game. Winds look light around 5–7 mph, and rain chances stay low. Weather should have minimal impact on scoring or ball carry.
Guardians vs Reds odds
Moneyline: Guardians +144 | Reds -150
Run line: Guardians +1.5 (-144) | Reds -1.5 (+133)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-100) | Under 8.5 (-108)
Guardians vs Reds trend
The Under is 7-0 in the last seven meetings in Cincinnati. Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. Reds.
How to watch Guardians vs Reds and game info
Location
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
Date
Monday, July 27, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Guardians starting pitcher
Slade Cecconi (4-7, 4.60 ERA)
Reds starting pitcher
Chase Burns (12-1, 2.42 ERA)
Guardians vs Reds 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.
It's a fairly full MLB slate this Monday, July 27, featuring some of the best teams in baseball.
Before you dig in and make your predictions, be sure to consult our MLB expert picks, featuring the New York Yankees moneyline vs. the Chicago White Sox.
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Jon Metler's expert pick: Yankees moneyline (-138)
Price: 58¢ (-138) at Polymarket
Noah Schultz may be a towering 6-foot-10 left-handed starter for the Chicago White Sox who throws from an uncomfortable three-quarter arm slot, but I think his size and delivery could actually work against him on Monday.
The New York Yankees will likely stack the lineup with right-handed bats like Jose Caballero, Anthony Volpe, and Jasson Dominguez, all of whom can create problems on the basepaths. They're also far from the only speed threats in the lineup, as Jazz Chisholm Jr. has already swiped 27 bases this season.
Pitchers who stand 6-foot-10 don't always get the ball to home plate quickly, and I think this version of the Yankees' offense is built to take advantage. If New York can get runners on base early, it has the speed to pressure Schultz, force mistakes, and ignite the running game.
The Yankees are trading as a 58-cent favorite on Polymarket, but I make them closer to a 63-cent favorite in this matchup.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
How to watch: YES, CHSN
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Diamondbacks moneyline (+101)
Price: 49.8¢ (+101) at Polymarket
The Arizona Diamondbacks are in a great spot to open the week with a win as a small underdog in Pittsburgh.
Merrill Kelly has looked like a top-line starter in July, allowing two earned runs or fewer in each of his four starts this month. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates' offense has gone ice-cold, ranking 29th in OPS over the past week.
Arizona's bats are trending in the opposite direction, sitting second in OPS in that same span, and they should capitalize on Mitch Keller, who owns a bloated 5.68 ERA at home.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
How to watch: DBacks.TV, SNP
Jason Wilson's expert pick: Cubs vs Cardinals Over 9.5 (-103)
Price: 50.7¢ (-103) at Polymarket
Despite the St. Louis Cardinals' recent team-wide slump, Chicago Cubs left-hander David Peterson and his 5.97 ERA (5.23 xERA) is the perfect cure for what ails them.
Jordan Walker and Ivan Herrera have both excelled against left-handed pitching all season, and outfielder Nelson Velazquez has shown off his power stroke with four longballs off southpaws in 59 plate appearances.
The Cardinals haven't announced an official starter, but it's Matthew Liberatore's turn in the rotation, and that could go poorly. The lefty has had a disappointing 2026, ranking in the 12th percentile in expected ERA and in the 24th or lower in barrel rate and hard-hit rate. He doesn't miss a lot of bats and is getting walloped when opposing hitters make contact.
The Cubs boast the second-best team wRC+ against lefties (119) this season, with Seiya Suzuki (.321/.416/.571, six home runs) leading the charge, and Pete Crow-Armstrong bucking traditional lefty-lefty splits by hitting .285 with five homers of his own in these matchups.
Double-digit scoring is on tap at Busch Stadium tonight.
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.
Montreal Canadiens fans may be getting somewhat fed up with kicking off the season against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but there’s one thing that never gets old: the rivalry between the two sides. Whether one team is struggling or not, both outfits always know how to raise their game to give fans memorable games filled with animosity.
One of the duels between the two sides was particularly memorable last season, the one that took place on November 22 and ended in a 5-2 Canadiens’ win. It certainly felt like Montreal inflicted some payback on Toronto after losing their first duel of the season 5-2 in Toronto, but it was also Florian Xhekaj’s very first NHL game.
Before the puck dropped, Xhekaj was joined by his brother Arber to pose for a picture as it was also the brothers’ first regular-season game as members of the Montreal Canadiens. They became the 14th set of brothers to line up together in a game for the Habs and the first pair since Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn back in the 2007-08 season. The Habs' number 63 lined up with Jake Evans and Josh Anderson. Throughout the game, cameras kept an eye on the brothers’ mother, Simona Xhekaj, to catch her reaction to every bit of the action.
While the younger Xhekaj behaved himself for most of the game, even registering the first point of his career with an assist on a second-period Anderson goal, he did end up dropping the mitts late in the third frame after picking up a slashing penalty and having to fight Toronto defenseman Dakota Mermis. It was a fast and furious affair which didn’t prompt the same reaction from every member of the family. While Xhekaj’s big brother was beaming with pride on the bench, Mama Xhejaj had a worried look on her face, and the brothers’ sister gave Florian a standing ovation.
The older Xhekaj, no doubt feeling a bit left out of the action, also got a misconduct at the final whistle as tempers brewed over at the final buzzer. Still, the Canadiens went away with a 5-2 win largely due to a great performance by Jakub Dobes, who stopped 24 of the 26 shots he faced. It wasn’t the kind of game coaches like, however, since both teams committed 17 giveaways and failed to play a sound, responsible defensive game.
It was the first of five games the younger Xhekaj ended up playing last season, and he’ll no doubt be hoping to see more action this season. While he can handle himself on the ice, his skating isn’t exactly great and at times, it makes NHL action look a bit too fast for him. In the AHL, he played 64 games, putting up 29 points, including 17 goals, which is by no means a bad output, but he did have 24 goals the year before. He also added two points in five playoff games and 34 penalty minutes.
With both Joe Veleno and Brendan Gallagher not returning, it will be interesting to see if Xhekaj manages to grab a spot in the Canadiens’ lineup. It would be surprising if he did manage to do it out of camp, but it wouldn’t be shocking if he were called up in case of injuries, especially for matchups that promise to be physical.
Duels with the Florida Panthers could be particularly rough this season now that the Cats have added Brady Tkachuk to their lineup. The former Ottawa Senators captain has 31 points in 33 games against the Habs while recording 51 penalty minutes. Tkachuk and the Panthers will visit the Bell Center for a 1:00 PM game on Saturday, December 5; expect that game to be an eventful one.
As for the Leafs, they’ll be hoping to get back in the playoff picture this season after failing to make the Spring dance last year. The new regime in place has made many changes, bringing in some experienced players, including former Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky in net and acquiring Darren Raddysh in a sign-and-trade deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Montreal and Toronto will face each other four times this season, including in the season opener on September 29.
COVERS INTEL: The Guardians have produced just a 
