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José Caballero, the Yankees shortstop/utility man acquired from the Rays at the trade deadline last season, takes a swing at some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.

Q: What did your 100th career stolen base last year mean to you?

A: It means a lot because growing up and trying to become professional, I had a big injury on my leg, and they were doubting me if I could run again. So that’s why running means a lot to me because I wanted to show the doubters that I could do it.

Q: What was the injury?

A: I broke my tibia and fibula when I was 16. I tried to catch a fly ball and one of my teammates at the time slid into me.

Q: Was that scary for you in terms of your future?

A: It was, for sure. In Latin America, that’s when you sign professional, at least that’s when they’re looking for you. It was a really tough time for a kid like I was. I just turned 16 like a week before it happened. In the process of coming back on the rehab and things, scouts and people that know about baseball were doubting about my running skill just because they didn’t know how I would come back. It was a big surgery as well — actually it was three surgeries on it, so people were concerned about it. … So it means a lot to become a big leaguer that is known by his speed.

Q: How long were you sidelined for?

A: A year.

Q: That must have been torture for you.

A It was. I would go to the field and see all the scouts and all the people trying to recruit my teammates, and I was just on the sideline. It was pretty tough.

Q: What drives you?

A: Doubts.

Q: Why are there still doubters?

A: Because haters will alway hate. Doubters will alway doubt, let’s say it that way.

Q: If I were on another team, would I not like you?

A: I can see why you wouldn’t like me, but if you’re just playing the game and understand that I’m just trying to win a game … everyone has their way. Just because he’s different doesn’t mean he’s a bad guy.

Q: What do you think opposing teams think of you?

A: That I’m annoying. And that’s OK (laugh). I’m not trying to annoy anyone, but if that gives me an advantage like I always say, I will continue to do that.

Q: What do you think you do that makes them annoyed?

A: I always play the game different. … I look for the smallest details, I guess, to irritate others. But if you don’t pay attention to it you wouldn’t get irritated. But if you are irritated I’m winning and trying to take advantage of the minimum of the game, because it’s a hard game, it’s a mental game, so I try to play the mental game a lot.

Q: Aaron Boone said about you: “He thinks he’s the best player on the field.”

A: That’s who I am, man. I think if you don’t believe in yourself no one will believe in you. It starts from your head. If you believe so, you become so, you know?

Q: Describe your on-field mentality.

A: A winning mentally. … Every time I’m on the field I want to win everything. Having an at-bat, that’s a war for me, like I’m trying to win that battle. It doesn’t matter how, I’m trying to find a way to win that battle.

Q: Do you like to get into the pitcher’s head?

A: I mean, if that’s gonna distract and that’s gonna give me a little advantage, I’ll take that for sure (smile).

Q: Do you have a favorite position?

A: Not really … to be in the lineup, that’s my favorite position.

Q: What do you think your best position is?

A: To be honest with you, I think I’m a better second baseman than every other position. But I have more fun playing short than second. … I don’t know [why]. I think you are more involved in the game.

Q: When you were at Tampa Bay, was Gerrit Cole wagging his finger at you one night?

A: I don’t think it was at me, I think it was more for my manager at the time, because he threw a ball way over my head that it hit the backstop. Kevin Cash was the manager at that time, and he went out to the field and he kind of like waved his finger at Gerrit saying like, “Don’t do that,” or so. So right after he struck me out, he waved his fingers at the dugout. I’m guessing it was to my manager.

Q: You never asked Gerrit about it?

A: No, not really. I didn’t feel the need (laugh).

Q: From your Instagram: “Dreams without goals are just dreams.”

A: That’s right. For me it was a dream to become a Yankee, to be here in the big leagues, and if I don’t try to be here, I don’t try to be a big-leaguer, if I don’t want to go through all those ups and downs, it comes with the dream. I wouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t be making my dream. So it would have been just a kid’s dream. And now it’s reality.

Q: “If you have faith as a mustard seed you will say to this mountain: Move from here to there and it will pass and nothing will be impossible to you.”

A: That’s the definition of faith. Without the faith in God I wouldn’t be here. Faith in God and faith in what I’m doing and what I’m gonna become is what got me here, and it is what I have become.

Q: “If you stumble stand up, don’t stop your fight, that’s the only way you will have what you want so much.”

A: I’m pretty sure that was when I was going through all these bad things. It’s just about life, man. Everyone’s gonna hit some bumps, and the only way to get through it is just stand up and keep going the direction you wanted to go and don’t stop. It doesn’t matter how big the obstacles are, you have to have conviction what you want.

Q: “The only thing impossible in this life is what you don’t try.”

A: That’s right. I think it says it all. I’ve seen so many good players that sometimes they don’t have that much conviction, and I know how talented they were and they just didn’t push hard enough to become what they really wanted. It’s just how good you are to be back and show that you are better than the struggles.

Q: “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”

A: Says it all. You have to fail. Everyone has to fail. If you go back to whoever made light one day, how many times he missed. You’re gonna miss. You’re gonna fail. It’s part of the process. It’s about how you overcome those fails, and how you take those fails. People say sometimes it’s not failure, it’s knowing a way not to do it. Every time I don’t get what I want to do, at least I know I learned that’s not the way to do it. Maybe next time I try a different way because I already know that that way doesn’t work.

Q: You said something about light?

A: Whoever made light for the first time, how many times he failed? It’s just part of the process.

Q: “You are NEVER a finished product.”

A: Never. You could always get better. You could always achieve something new. You can always chase something bigger.

Q: You had to overcome a lot of adversity through your career.

A:. I remember ’19 to all the way to ’22, I pretty much only played for one month straight. I would start playing and then two weeks later I would hurt myself, and then I would get back and two months later … I would hurt myself again and then the season will be over, and the next year starting the season I started on the IL again and then I came back and I played for like two, three weeks and I got hurt again. And then COVID hit so it’s another full year that I didn’t get to play baseball. Then after that, got a big injury [right knee ACL] that stopped me from playing five months. ’19 was two hand injuries, and ’20 was COVID and 2021 was the ACL then 2022 was two hand injuries as well. … I’m glad I’m way past that.

Q: The ABS challenge — you were the first one.

A: I love it. We need it in baseball, because we need to hold everyone accountable — umpires, pitchers, hitters — everyone needs to be engaged with the game. Me as a hitter or a defender, I want to have the chance to let you know that you miss a call, and if not, you can tell me, “Hey, you know what? You weren’t right, I was right.” It’s a good part of the game that I think it was missing, and I’m really happy that we have it now.

Q: Your helmet went to the Hall of Fame.

A: That’s right, that’s right!

Q: What was it like playing for your native Panama in the WBC?

A: It means a lot because I’m really proud of where I come from and represent all my family, all my friends, all my culture, all my teammates back in the days. And representing the whole country in the biggest stage for baseball is really amazing, because we know how hard it is for us to make it where we are, and to fly out of the country to have a better life or to have a better future. I know they were paying attention. It was a great moment.

Q: What did you think when you watched Mariano Rivera pitch?

A: That I wanted to be on the same field as him. And here I am.

Q: You were a Derek Jeter fan too though, right?

A: Yeah, but whoever got me to watching baseball it was Mariano, knowing that he was a Panamanian. In my head it was like seeing Mariano in the biggest stage and being the guy that he was, for me it was like, “Hey, it’s not impossible.” He was in some rough situations before getting out of Panama as well, so like, “It’s not impossible, you can do it too.”

Q: So he was an inspiration to you.

A: For sure. That’s the guy who got me watching baseball, big league games. That’s the guy who got me rooting for the Yankees. I play infield so I would look up to Jeter.

Q: Have you given Mariano your autograph yet?

A: No (smile), he has given me his though. In the first WBC that I was part of back in 2023. He was there, he threw the first pitch that day and I got a signed ball.

Q: When did the eye block start?

A: I’ve been using eye black for my whole career, minor leagues and even before that. The big leagues I choose one style to use, the two kind of like stripes around my face, that’s the way I go, but before it was just I needed eye black on my face.

Q: Why two stripes now?

A: One day I look in the mirror and I thought it was cool, so I stick with it (smile).

Q: Describe your wife Ana.

A: Good person to have beside me for sure. Has been with me in the toughest moments and in the best moments as well. I know I can rely on her whenever things are not going my way, and I know she’s gonna support me for sure.

Q: Your 5-year-old daughter Analia.

A: She’s wild — just like me, though (smile). She’s very electric. She loves competing as well. She likes to win in everything that we try to do. I’m trying to make her understand that sometimes [you] win, sometimes you lose — she doesn’t like losing though (smile). I have not much answer for that because I don’t like losing either.

Q: What do you think of the U.S. men’s soccer team?

A: They’re playing their game. It’s not like they are adjusting to the other team’s game. They have a plan to go into the game and they’re executing that.

Q: How good at soccer were you?

A: I was decent (smile). I was decent.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Jesus, [Lionel] Messi, Abraham from the Bible.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Fast and Furious.”

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Paul Walker.

Q: Favorite entertainer?

A: Kevin Hart.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Arroz con pollo [chicken and rice].

Q: Goals?

A: World Series. Win the World Series.

Q: What would you say to Yankees fans who are worried?

A: We’ll make it through. Some bad moments right now, but goals don’t get achieved without the struggles, or without obstacles.

Q: What’s it like being a Yankee?

A: It’s the best (smile). I love it.

Q: Is it different than you thought?

A: I don’t know how to explain this, but my little man is really happy. … My younger me is really happy (smile).

Q: You like to play in front of the New York fans?

A: I love it. … ’Cause they show up and they show love when they have to show love, they show some anger when things are not going the way they want.

Q: What did you think of the way New York embraced the Knicks?

A: That’s what it’s about, winning and giving them what they want, and make people happy is why we play these sports,

Q: Do you dream of New York in October and November cheering your team on to a World Series?

A: I dream of the parade after we win the World Series.

The MLB’s All-Star rosters aren’t officially announced until Saturday night, but it seems the city of Philadelphia may have tipped the league’s hand.

Ahead of the game being played on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park, some decorations have gone up around the city — and they aren’t exactly subtle.

As documented by X user @gerawaycar, a slew of massive banners of players have gone up in the city, with some obvious and less-obvious names featured.

Unsurprisingly, Dodgers reigning NL MVP Shohei Ohtani, Pirates NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes and Mets star Juan Soto are expected to get All-Star nods based on the photos.

Additionally, Angels outfielder Mike Trout seems as though he will be an All-Star for a 12th time despite his .234 batting average.

Yankees ace Cam Schlittler also looks set for his first All-Star nod, while Padres star closer Mason Miller looks primed for his second All-Star appearance.

The aforementioned X user posted an entire thread of her findings online and seemed incredulous that the All-Star Game details were seemingly released ahead of time.

“I think the city of Philadelphia just leaked some of the all stars,” she wrote with four crying emojis.

Either way, the AL and NL teams will be revealed officially at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday.

The Yankees have several All-Star hopefuls in Schlittler, first baseman Ben Rice, outfielder Cody Bellinger and perhaps Aaron Judge, although he will not compete in the game due to his injury.

Soto is the most-deserving candidate among the Mets, although reliever Luke Weaver has made a strong case. It’s usually difficult for setup men to earn spots, though.

Each week, The California Post will power rank MLB’s 30 teams and check in on one intriguing awards race. Here is this week’s edition, identifying which teams should be buy or sell with the Aug. 3 trade deadline less than a month away (records through Saturday morning):

1) Dodgers (58-31)

Buy … and sell? After all, the reigning two-time World Series champions are once again the best team in baseball. Assuming their starting rotation, which remains without Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, gets andstays healthy, they have virtually no needs. That doesn’t mean they won’t look for upgrades.

Like with all available star players, they’re all but certain to check in on Tarik Skubal if the Tigers look to move him. At the same time, the Dodgers have used the deadline in recent years to bolster their highly ranked farm system by selling off excess pieces, as well. That figures to be the playbook again this summer. (Last week: 1st)

2) Brewers (54-32)

Buy. And not out of the bargain bin. Once upon a time, CC Sabathia arrived at the deadline and keyed the Brewers’ magical 2008 second-half run. Maybe Skubal, or another top starter, could do the same for a Milwaukee team that remains on the Dodgers’ heels for the best record in the league. (Last week: 2nd)

3) Phillies (49-39)

Buy. And keep the momentum rolling. Thanks to their star-studded rotation, the Phillies have overcome their disastrous opening month and are on the verge of overtaking the slumping Braves for first place in the NL East. Now, they need to shore up a lineup that is woefully short on depth. (Last week: 5th)

4) Rays (52-33)

Buy. Like you mean it. In a mediocre American League, the door is open for the small-market Rays to make a deep postseason run. Their pitching staff ranks sixth in ERA. But their lineup lacks power, with the fifth-fewest home runs in MLB this year. The long ball is king in October. Tampa Bay could use more pop. (Last week: 6th)

5) Yankees (49-38)

Buy. And be patient. Priority No. 1, of course, is surviving until Aaron Judge, Max Fried and others come back from injuries — a challenge that was dauntingly underscored by their recent seven-game losing streak. But longer term, they could still use more help, especially at catcher. (Last week: 3rd)

6) Cubs (49-39)

Buy. Some more. The Cubs got an early start on trade season, acquiring David Peterson from the Mets last week. They’re also trending up again, winners of 11 out of 14. Now, they need to keep going, with further improvements to a banged-up rotation continuing to be the best place to look. (Last week: 8th)

7) Braves (51-35)

Buy. Before it’s too late. The good vibes are gone in Atlanta, with the Braves mired in a 6-14 slump over the last month that has sounded alarm bells about the direction of their season. It’ll help to get Ronald Acuña Jr. back from injury. But there are any number of holes — from the rotation to bullpen to lineup depth — that this recent stretch has shown could still need to be filled. (Last week: 4th)

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8) Cardinals (46-39)

Buy. Sort of. For as fun as this season has been in St. Louis, where the Cardinals maintain a wild-card position, this remains a young team just reemerging from a rebuild. One big question will be Dustin May, whose resurgent season has hit a snag in his last two outings (2 ⅔ combined innings, 11 total runs, with a comebacker off his ankle mixed in). He’s on an expiring contract and could fetch something on the trade market. How they handle him will be a barometer for their deadline plans. (Last week: 9th)

9) White Sox (45-42)

Buy. Sort of. Everything we wrote about the Cardinals above also applies to the White Sox, who are also competing ahead of schedule and don’t need to get out over their skis at the deadline. Trust the process. Wait for Munetaka Murakami to get healthy. And be OK with smaller additions where it makes sense. (Last week: 7th)

10) Marlins (47-42)

Buy. Sort of … again. Another team in a similar spot as the White Sox and Cardinals, the Marlins have catapulted themselves back into contention with a 20-6 run through June. Their version of May will be former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, who has been the subject of trade rumors for years but has a team option for next year that might be worth exercising. (Last week: 15th)

11) Guardians (47-42)

Buy. For real. Long known as one of the most difficult teams to swing a trade with, it might be time for Cleveland to do what it takes to make a bigger splash. The AL is wide open. Their weak division has helped them survive José Ramírez’s injury. They can still be a real contender but need another real hitter in their lineup first. (Last week: 12th)

12) Mariners (45-44)

Buy. And hope the offense finally turns things around. The good news in Seattle is that they have a super rotation. Reports are they could use the deadline to build a super bullpen, too. But none of that will matter if their lineup can’t figure things out. An addition there would help. But any real revival will have to start with the stars — especially Cal Raleigh — they already have. (Last week: 10th)

13) Rangers (45-43)

Buy. But carefully. We still aren’t sold on the Rangers being a contender. But in the pitiful AL West, all it took was one six-game winning streak to jump into first place. Thus, Texas should look to add. But anything too drastic might turn out to be a waste. (Last week: 19th)

14) Pirates (44-45)

Buy. And show Paul Skenes you’re serious. Yes, we know Skenes isn’t having his typically dominant season. But what better way to reinforce faith with the reigning Cy Young winner than by giving him something to play for in the second half of this season? Upgrade the lineup. Bolster the bullpen. Don’t give up on a wild-card chase yet. (Last week: 13th)

15) Diamondbacks (43-44)

Sell. But not all the way. The Dbacks’ pitching situation has been a mess all season. Dreams of a stout Corbin Burnes-Merrill Kelly-Zac Gallen rotation have not come to fruition. So, take this year as a reset, stock up on more young talent and hope Burnes can return to health and be an impact arm in 2026. (Last week: 14th)

16) Padres (43-44)

Sell. And wait ‘til next year. We know this is not general manager A.J. Preller’s style. But the Padres’ slow decline in recent years has come into focus during a horrific seven-game losing streak. Thus, this might be the time for them to sell off some non-core pieces and try to at least rebuild prospect capital to position themselves for a return to contention next year, when they shouldn’t be as hamstrung financially now that their ownership situation is settled. (Last week: 11th)

17) Nationals (46-43)

Sell. And don’t mess up the bullpen again next year. As enticing as a push for the playoffs might seem, especially after winning five out of six, it feels like the other shoe is always waiting to drop in the bullpen. Maybe a couple more strong weeks will change our mind. But for now, keep the focus on the future. (Last week: 20th)

18) Blue Jays (42-46)

Buy. And bank on that October DNA still being there. The Blue Jays, after all, have shown they can make noise once they reach the playoffs. The deadline should give them a chance to fix their roster, from the rotation to the lineup, and provide some support while they wait for some of last year’s postseason heroes — first and foremost, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — to turn things around. (Last week: 16th)

19) Astros (43-47)

Buy. Because you don’t have much other choice. The Astros’ window might be closing. But they still have a championship core that, given the state of their division and league, is worth giving one more shot at an October run. Yordan Alvarez has been keeping the team afloat, at least by AL West standards. Add an arm and a bat and see where it gets you. (Last week: 18th)

20) Red Sox (38-48)

Buy. Because what other choice does Craig Breslow have? The Red Sox finally showed some fight by sweeping the Yankees last week. But even if they didn’t, trying to salvage this season might have still been the best way for their embattled GM to save his job. (Last week: 26th)

21) Twins (42-47)

Sell. Like you were always going to do. The Twins are within reach of the playoffs. But they still seem miles away from being a real contender and have one of the most intriguing trade pieces in Joe Ryan. (Last week: 21st)

22) Orioles (41-48)

Buy. And pray for late-season magic. The Orioles already went through their rebuild. And while this season has been a nightmare, there’s still enough talent on the roster to make it worth giving yourself a chance. (Last week: 22nd)

23) Athletics (41-47)

Sell. And keep building for the future. The young star talent is emerging. But the A’s rebuild is still moving as slowly as their stadium construction in Las Vegas. (Last week: 17th)

24) Tigers (38-50)

Sell. Begrudgingly. The most pivotal trade deadline team, thanks to Skubal, the Tigers still have the third-worst record in the AL. Cut your losses. Create a Skubal sweepstakes. And hope you didn’t cost yourself too big of a return by not moving him this winter. (Last week: 23rd)

25) Reds (40-47)

Sell. Whatever you can. The Reds don’t have much to dangle, but they aren’t going anywhere, either. So get what you can and see how the young core develops in 2027. (Last week: 24th)

26) Royals (35-53)

Sell. And save Bobby Witt Jr.’s prime. Even with the superstar shortstop vying for an MVP, it’s another lost season in Kansas City. They need to use this deadline to try to make sure that doesn’t happen again. (Last week: 25th)

27) Mets (36-52)

Sell. And hope David Stearns hasn’t lost it. Owner Steve Cohen told the New York Post that his once-wunderkind of an executive isn’t going anywhere. So see if Stearns can find value on the trade market and restructure the roster to bounce back next year. (Last week: 27th)

28) Giants (36-51)

Sell. And hope Buster Posey knows what he’s doing. Moving the big contracts of Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers or Willy Adames will be tough. But that’s the position Posey put himself in. He’ll have to show better feel at the deadline to try to fix this dumpster fire of a mess. (Last week: 28th)

29) Angels (36-53)

Sell. For real this time. Bringing in John Mozeliak was a good first step. Now, let him do what none of his predecessors under Arte Moreno were allowed to and initiate a true rebuild that has been long overdue. (Last week: 29th)

30) Rockies (36-53)

Sell. Whatever that means. The Rockies have been so bad, for so long, that they’ve rarely had big pieces to move at the deadline. That’s again the case this year. Their rebuild remains focused on internal development. But might as well look around and see what you can get. (Last week: 30th)

Award Tracker: National League Rookie of the Year

1) JJ Wetherholt, Cardinals (.261 average, 12 home runs, 35 RBIs, .758 OPS)

The Cardinals have found a franchise centerpiece in the 23-year-old Wetherholt. A well-rounded player who works counts and draws walks, Wetherholt is also a plus defender who has emerged as a Gold Glove candidate.

2) Sal Stewart, Reds (.257, 17 home runs, 60 RBIs, .813 OPS)

Stewart is only the third rookie ever to reach the 60-RBI mark before the All-Star break. The others: Albert Pujols (2001) and Pete Alonso (2019).

3) TJ Rumfield, Rockies (.293, 12 home runs, 46 RBIs, .860 OPS)

Rumfield was the NL Rookie of the Month in May and June. Acquired from the Yankees over the winter, the first baseman represents a major victory for Rockies baseball operations president Paul DePodesta.

Diamondbacks News

Diamondbacks Go Toe-to-Toe with Brewers, Fall in 11th
Jose Cabrera simply did not have his good stuff last night. Neither did the offense, who made a great comeback from being three down. But then they simply could not push the winning run across and the bullpen finally stumbled when the 11th rolled around.

Can Arizona Avoid Pre-All-Star Swoon this Year?
In the past few years, Arizona has struggled going into the all-star break. Can they avoid that this year?

Diamondbacks Airing OTA Today
Those who subscribe to Dbacks-TV will still be able to see it there as well. But for thse that do not subscribe, the game will be available for free, over-the-air, on local TV 12.

ESPN, Others Feel Arizona Should Target Detmers
Arizona acquiring Reid Detmers makes entirely too much sense for it to actually happen.

Other Baseball News

Just Baseball’s July Power Rankings
After a rough spell since their series against the Rockies, the Diamondbacks have dropped from #7 to #20. Oops.

Ranking Aroldis Chapman Among MLB’s All-time Great Closers
Having set the strikeout record for relievers this week, Aroldis Chapman continues to build his resume in preparation for consideration for Cooperstown. He’s still never sniffing the top slot on this list though, not even if he goes this strong for five more years.

Jake McCarthy Makes History with Rockies
Old friend alert. Jake McCarthy became the first player ever to hit a leadoff home run, a grand slam, and steal a base in the same game.

Mike Trout Eyeing Return to Angels
Mike Trout believes he can return from a hamstring injury for the Los Angeles Angels next week, giving him enough time to be ready for the All-Star Game in Philadelphia this month.

The fever breaks!

The Yankees won a baseball game last night, something we haven’t been able to say in more than a week. They now have a golden opportunity to win two games in a row, which isn’t quite a winning streak by my definition but it’s almost a winning streak.

Rookie Brendan Beck gets the call in a spot start, the first of his MLB career. He had one appearance as a bulk man back in May that didn’t go great, but his numbers at Triple-A Scranton are pretty solid. In 88.1 innings this year he’s struck out 26 percent of batters faced, and his FIP is close enough to the ERA that I’m not terrified by the idea of the former second-round pick getting a start. Still, he is not ready for full-time work as a 26-man starter, so hopefully the Yankees can keep some semblance of offense going.

The Twins send Zebby Matthews to the hill in response. Zebby’s had an interesting 2026, with a career low walk rate matched with a career low strikeout rate. He’s rode the MSP METRO several times between the majors and the famous St. Paul Saints for most of his time in the bigs, and the big key for him sticking with the MLB squad is keeping the ball in the yard. He is top, or rather bottom, 20 in baseball in home run rate, so while he’s lucky he’s missing Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, there are still guys in this lineup that can go deep.

The Yankees return most of the starting lineup from yesterday, although Anthony Volpe batting fifth makes me rather nervous. Max Schuemann is in center after Spencer Jones’ demotion as the Yanks play it safe with Trent Grisham at DH, and Ali Sánchez catches and bats ninth.

How to watch

Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

First pitch: 1:35 pm ET

TV broadcast: YES, TwinsTV

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | TIBN, WCCO 830, The Wolf 102.9 FM (MIN)

Streaming: Gotham Sports App, MLB.TV (out-of-market only)

For updates, follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, players representing the city where much of it began will arrive in Kansas City to play a three-game set. Of note to many fans will be the fact that the Phillies started the season 9-19. At that point, they fired their manager, Rob Thomson. They then hired the GM’s dad, Don Mattingly, and the Phillies have gone 40-20 since and are now firmly in the playoff picture in the National League. I, and many others, would argue that firing their manager probably had little to nothing to do with the turnaround of a very talented team. But its impossible to prove that, so it will probably dominate a lot of the thinking this weekend.

Since the league introduced the balanced schedules prior to the 2023 season, the Phillies have taken two out of three in every series the teams have played.

Philadelphia Phillies (49-39) vs. Kansas City Royals (35-53) at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO

Rays: 4.48 runs scored/game (16th in MLB), 4.42 runs allowed/game (13th)

Royals: 4.12 runs scored/game (23rd), 5.07 runs allowed/game (26th)

Kyle Schwarber leads all of baseball with 30 home runs. Bryce Harper recently hit for the cycle and is tied for ninth in MLB in home runs with 20. Brandon Marsh has always been better than you probably realized, but he’s having a career year for the Phillies in 2026. On the other side, aging superstars J.T. Realmuto and Trea Turner have both fallen off quite a bit this year, and while rookie Justin Crawford began the season on fire, he had an abysmal May, slashing .195/.253/.312. He bounced back some in June, but still hasn’t become the star Phillies fans were hoping he could be. The Phillies outbid the Royals for Adolis García last offseason, but he was not good, and he’s now out for the remainder of the season with an injury.

Going purely by the pitching matchups, the Royals are about to get worked this weekend. Jesús Luzardo has been more of the same for Philadelphia after they acquired him from the Marlins last year and gave him a contract extension prior to this season.

Aaron Nola hasn’t been the ace he once was for the Phillies, but he’s still been lightyears better than Luinder Avila, the Royals’ planned starter.

Cristopher Sánchez is one of the frontrunners for the NL Cy Young, along with Jacob Misiorowski. Add in that he’s a left-hander, and I’ll be on perfect game watch that day.

The Phillies have one of the best bullpens in baseball, led by superstar closer Jhoan Duran, who is having a career year in his age-28 season. Their next best reliever will be familiar to many Royals fans; it’s Jonathan Bowlan. Bowlan never could seem to get a foothold in the Royals’ bullpen last year despite consistently pitching quality innings. He has instead flourished in the Phillies’ pen after being dealt for Matt Strahm. Their big offseason acquisition, Brad Keller, hasn’t been as good as they had hoped, but he’s also not sinking them. Lefty José Alvarado has an atrocious 6.10 ERA but a 3.24 FIP that suggests he’s been quite unlucky.

I don’t have particularly high hopes for the Royals in this series, but hopefully Jac Caglianone, Bobby Witt Jr., and Carter Jensen can put on a fireworks show for the Royals faithful during their final home series before the All-Star Break.

After another World Cup-induced Friday off-day, the Phillies will take on the Kansas City Royals in a rare Saturday to Monday series. The Phillies and Royals have some history together, as they squared off in the 1980 World Series. (The Phillies won.) It seems unlikely that there will be a rematch in the 2026 World Series because the Royals are mired in last place with the fewest wins in the American League.

Opposition research: Matt Strahm

The Phillies’ offseason moves haven’t all worked out, but they certainly seemed to have gotten rid of Matt Strahm at the right time. After an All-Star campaign in 2024, Strahm’s effectiveness slipped a bit last year. The Phillies clearly didn’t think he was trending in the correct direction, as they traded him to the Royals in exchange for Jonathan Bowlan.

Bowlan has shown some promise, although there’s still too much inconsistency there. As for Strahm, despite the Phillies being lacking in effective lefthanded relievers, it doesn’t seem like having Strahm around would have made the situation better.

Strahm’s strikeout numbers have plummeted this season, and probably not coincidentally, he’s allowing far more baserunners. He had a streak in June where he gave up runs in six consecutive appearances, with the nadir coming on June 19 when he allowed three runs in 0.2 inning.

Strahm may have stabilized things a bit and he hasn’t given up a run in his last five outings. However, with only two strikeouts across those five innings, it isn’t clear how sustainable that will be. The Phillies will likely be looking to trade for a lefty reliever at the deadline, but my hope is that they look elsewhere.

Hating on the Royals

Three years after winning the 2015 World Series, the Royals were a 104-loss team. Come 2024, it looked like they had successfully rebuilt from that downturn, when they won 86 games and made the playoffs behind an MVP runner-up finish by Bobby Witt, Jr.

Two years later, the rebuild appears to have stalled. Witt is still very good, but the rest of the team is not. Key players have either regressed, gotten hurt, or both. They’ll be lucky to avoid their fourth 100+ loss season in the last ten years. A little over a week ago, they lost by a score of 22-1.

Of course, losing should be a comfortable feeling for Royals fans, since the team has a grand history of not making the playoffs. They had a nice little run with George Brett in the late 70’s and early 80’s, but since winning the 1985 World Series, they’ve made the playoffs just three times.

You’d think that the expanded playoff field would have made it easier for the Royals, but even letting more teams in hasn’t done much to help the Royals. In that time, the Royals have more than twice as many 100+ loss seasons as they do playoff appearances.

The fans don’t even have the Chiefs to console them this year as the city’s football team missed the playoffs last season.

Trivia

Last week’s answer: When the Phillies crushed the Mets at Citi Field on September 20, 2024, Alec Bohm had four hits and four RBIs. CarterAndCo got it right.

This week’s question: In the decisive game six of the 1980 World Series what Phillie recorded three hits?

Additional thought about the series

Sunday’s game is on Peacock and boy did they get themselves a good pitching matchup with Aaron Nola (6.04 ERA) going against Luinder Avila (5.40 ERA).

As for the rest of the series, the Royals have a mediocre lineup and a bad pitching staff. Their best starter is Michael Wacha, and it feels like a good rule of thumb is: If Michael Wacha is your best pitcher, you’re probably not making the playoffs. Kyle Schwarber will likely be very excited to see him though.

First Pitch: 12:35 pm CDT
TV: Twins.TV
Radio: TIBN / WCCO 830 / The Wolf 102.9 FM / Audacy

It seems the recent playbook of Twins v Yankees has involved some level of delusional, early optimism — Kody Clemens’ first-inning homer last night might have set some sort of alternate-reality stage, where the Twins come out guns-a-blazin’ and show the Yanks what’s what. Instead, they gave the lead right back, and though they stayed competitive throughout, including a nail-biting eighth-inning rally, they enter Saturday’s game down 1-0 in the series.

A late announcement will see Game Two handled for New York by one Brendan Beck, who makes his first big-league start today and only his second MLB appearance, replacing a late-scratch Carlos Rodon, who instead hits the IL with elbow inflammation. Beck went three innings in relief in his only other major-league game, but started last Saturday in the minors and could be asked to give it everything he’s got this afternoon.

Beck features a fastball/slider mix which he pairs with the occasional curve and a couple of other surprises that he might throw a couple times a game.

For Minnesota, it’s Zebby Matthews, who has suddenly become a workhorse, tossing seven innings in three of his last five starts. Outside of a clunker in Detroit, Matthews has been wonderful recently; despite career-low strikeout numbers, he’s pitching to his best overall stats in parts of three major-league seasons, mostly on the back of dramatically improved control and breaking numbers.

Notably, Byron Buxton has returned to the lineup, playing center field.

GO TWINS GO!

Texas Rangers lineup for July 4, 2026 against the Detroit Tigers: starting pitchers are Cal Quantrill for the Rangers and Jack Flaherty for the Tigers:

After the rare Friday scheduled off day, the Rangers return to action this afternoon in game two of their series against the Tigers. Brandon Nimmo is back in the lineup after missing the previous four games with a sprained A/C joint. Jake Burger is getting the day off.

The lineup:

Pederson — DH

Smith — 1B

Jung — 3B

Nimmo — RF

Osuna — LF

Duran — SS

Carter — CF

Diaz — C

Lopez — 2B

3:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +105 underdogs.

Yankees right-handed pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange will not throw for approximately six weeks after suffering a capsular sprain in his throwing shoulder, the team announced on Friday, July 3.

This move comes on the heels of an MRI which had been scheduled for the 23-year-old after he was placed on the seven-day IL by Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, July 4.

Initially, the organization's plan for Lagrange was to convert him from a starter into a reliever, and have the hard-throwing strikeout machine join manager Aaron Boone's big-league roster at some point in 2026.

However, with the Yankees bullpen continuing to struggle - particularly true for right-handers Camilo Doval and Tim Hill - amidst a 13-15 record since the start of June, many were been hoping that Lagrange could offer a boost in that department sooner rather than later.

Now, the anticipated debut for the highly rated prospect, who has struck out 83 batters in 63.1 innings at Triple-A this season, will come after the MLB trade deadline (Monday, August 3 at 6:00 p.m.) at earliest.

It will be interesting to see how Lagrange's long-term injury factors into the plans of Yankees general manager and senior vice president Brian Cashman, who will be doing all he can to build a bullpen which can bring a 28th World Series title back to the Bronx come this fall.