A sign that reads "Welcome to Flagstaff" (Photo by: Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Today’s Lineups
ATHLETICS
DIAMONDBACKS
Jacob Wilson – SS
Ketel Marte – DH
Tyler Soderstrom – LF
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Shea Langeliers – C
Corbin Carroll – RF
Jonah Heim – 1B
Gabriel Moreno – C
Tommy White – 3B
Max Kepler – LF
Max Muncy – DH
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Henry Bolte – CF
Tim Tawa – 1B
Lawrence Butler – RF
Ildemaro Vargas – 2B
Alika Williams – 2B
Jorge Barrosa – CF
Jack Perkins – RHP
Kohl Drake – LHP
Roster moves
The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ 40-man roster is at 40.
Recalled from Triple-A Reno: LHP Kohl Drake (No. 58)
Recalled from Triple-A Reno: RHP Gerardo Carrillo (No. 68)
Optioned to Triple-A Reno following last night’s game: RHP Juan Burgos
Placed on the 15-day injured list: RHP Drey Jameson (right hip inflammation, retro to July 20)
Another debutant on the 2026 Diamondbacks! That’s seven all told, so we’ve already crushed the line for that in Place Your Bets, which was originally set at a mere 4.5. Drake becomes the third starting pitcher to reach the majors this year for Arizona, following Jose Cabrera and Mitch Bratt. There have also been four position players: Jose Fernandez, Ryan Waldschmidt, Tommy Try and LuJames Groover. Drake was originally drafted by the Rangers, in the 11th round of the 2022 draft, but came over to the D-backs in the trade for Merrill Kelly – the same deal also gave us Bratt, and David Hagaman, who has a 3.19 ERA in High-A ball this year. Not a bad little haul.
To be fair, Drake has struggled a bit in Reno – though who doesn’t? His ERA with the Aces across 16 starts and one relief appearance is a meaty 6.92, with a K:BB of 60:31 across 66.2 innings in Triple A. But it’s perhaps significant that at home, he has a batting average against of .321, more than ninety points higher than Drake has posted away from Reno. He had a particularly good outing his last road game, tossing five shutout innings of one-hit ball in Tacoma, with no walks and six strikeouts. So there’s quality there. He just needs to tap into it more consistently. He turned 26 on Friday, so should be entering his prime.
Also, just before going to press, Drey Jameson was put on the IL with a hip issue, and Gerardo Carillo will consequently have a shot to become debutant #8! Finally, I’ll just leave this here:
From the A’s : Kuroda-Grauer was injured last night after fouling off a pitch in the fifth inning. He underwent emergency surgery to repair a ruptured testicle last night at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix and is resting comfortably.
Stephen Curry is in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
His official induction is unquestionably coming but more than half a decade away, four years after he retires. However, he is about to become the first active player with an exhibit in the Hall, the institution announced.
"Stephen Curry: Beyond the Arc" will open July 24, and is a celebration of Curry, the four-time NBA champion, two-time MVP, 12-time NBA All-Star, Olympic gold medalist and the NBA's career leader in 3-pointers made.
"Being part of the Basketball Hall of Fame in this way is hard to put into words," Curry said in a statement announcing the exhibit. "When I think about my journey, I think about the people who believed in me, the work that happened when nobody was watching and the moments that shaped me on and off the court. To have that story told while I'm still playing is something I don't take lightly. My hope is that fans walk through this experience and feel the joy, the purpose and the gratitude that basketball has given me, and maybe see a little bit of their own journey in it too."
The exhibit focuses on Curry's story: a player who was overlooked, had one D-1 offer going into college and became an All-Star, MVP and champion. It features rarely seen video footage, memorabilia, some first-hand storytelling and more.
"We are thrilled to partner with Stephen and the Thirty Ink team to bring this unprecedented exhibit to life," said John Doleva, President & CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, in a statement. "Stephen has not only redefined how the game of basketball is played, but he has also set a blueprint for what it means to be an exemplary role model. We appreciate his personal involvement in helping bring his story forward to 'The Vault' while he is still actively building his legacy. This is truly a historic moment for us and for basketball fans worldwide."
The exhibit opens July 24 at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Jason Robertson and the Dallas Stars will avoid a salary arbitration hearing after the high-scoring forward signed a $12 million contract for next season.
The Stars announced the deal Tuesday night, a day before Robertson's 27th birthday and 2 1/2 weeks after he had filed for arbitration.
“Jason has been a cornerstone of our franchise since he was drafted in 2017,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said. “A dynamic and skilled player, he has been one of the league’s top offensive threats since making his NHL debut."
Robertson, who has 490 points (213 goals and 277 assists) in his 456 regular-season career games with the Stars, could become an unrestricted free agent for the first time next summer.
His $12 million salary for 2026-27 matches forward Mikko Rantanen for the highest on the Stars. Rantanen just completed the first season of the $96 million, eight-year extension he signed to facilitate the deadline trade that brought him to Dallas from Carolina in March 2025.
Nill had acknowledged at the conclusion of the NHL draft that the Stars had a sign-and-trade deal in place to send Robertson to Seattle for the seventh overall pick. While Robertson couldn’t veto that trade, he wouldn’t agree to a long-term deal with the Kraken — a reported $120 million over eight years ($15 million a season).
Robertson had a team-high 96 points (45 goals, 51 assists) this past season. It was his third 40-goal season, and completed a $31 million, four-year deal he got in 2022.
The Stars drafted Robertson 39th overall in the second round of the 2017 draft. He has played all 328 of their regular-season games the past four seasons, scoring 365 points (155 goals and 210 assists) in that span.
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 25: Zaccharie Risacher #10 of the Atlanta Hawks dunks the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on November 25, 2024 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Mavs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Considering the lack of future draft picks, the Dallas Mavericks have had an ACTIVE off-season. The made a trade for Marcus Sasser, a local guy, to absord some of the point guard minutes. Then they made what felt like a big trade to get Santi Aldama and the rights to Tarik Biberovic (who they would later sign to an incredible deal). Then earlier this week they made a trade for former number one over all pick in the 2024 draft, Zaccharie Risacher.
So now we have questions. Which is your favorite? I forogt to include the Sasser one in the poll but if that’s the one you rock with, I get it. Note that you have to be signed in to actually take the poll. Signing up for an account is something that actually really helps all of us here at MMB but also helps you. You should get less ads and a better experience. We want you here!
We’ll have results up for this one later in the week!
Jason Robertson's contract drama with the Dallas Stars is over. For now, anyways.
Robertson, the high-scoring 26-year-old forward, has signed a one-year, $12 million contract with the Stars, the team announced on July 21.
The deal helps player and team avoid arbitration, which the restricted free agent had filed for amid a contract standoff. It also sets Robertson up to be an unrestricted free agent upon conclusion of the 2026-27 season.
If Robertson remains in the fold, Dallas figures to be dangerous again. A second-round pick in the 2017 draft, Robertson scored 45 goals and led the Stars with 96 points in 2025-26.
He has three other 80-point seasons under his belt, including a career-best 109 points recorded in 2022-23.
Jason Robertson contract details
The one-year, $12 million contract means Robertson doesn't move past Mikko Rantanen to become the Stars' highest-paid player. Instead, they are tied. Rantanen had signed an eight-year, $96 million extension with the Stars after they acquired him from the Hurricanes in March 2025.
According to puckpedia.com, the Stars are $1.36 million over the cap, but they have until the start of the season to get that remedied.
Athletics starting pitcher Jack Perkins will take the mound tonight at Chase Field in Arizona. | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Game two of the three-game series between the Athletics and the Arizona Diamondbacks will take place tonight at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. The A’s took the opener last night 5-2 behind Joshua Kuroda-Grauer’s first MLB homer and a 4-5 night by Tommy White.
Taking the mound tonight for the Athletics is 26-year-old righty Jack Perkins. Perkins is 2-5 with a 6.87 ERA this season with seventy-two strikeouts in 57.2 innings. He’ll go up against 26-year-old righthanded rookie Kohl Drake who is making his major league debut tonight. He was called up today from the D-backs AAA affiliate Reno Aces.
Drake will face off against this lineup for Mark Kotsay’s A’s:
The Chicago Blackhawks community is waiting on the decision made by Patrick Kane. The report is that he is deciding between the Blackhawks, where he became one of the greatest players of all time, and the Buffalo Sabres, his hometown team.
On Tuesday, Chicago General Manager Kyle Davidson went on the show OverDrive, presented by TSN 1050 Radio, and added some fuel to the rumors by chiming in on the situation.
"We'll await his decision....but he knows our door is always open." 👀
"Patrick is someone that our organization, myself, have had a relationship for a long time," Davidson said. "I don't necessarily think it's right for me to comment on the process he's going to be running this offseason. A guy like Kaner has done pretty much everything there is to do in our game. He's inspired every young player playing hockey today with what he's accomplished, and he's earned the right to take his time and make a decision. We see him very often. He trains at our practice facility in the offseason. We'll await his decision, but he knows our door is always open. He's a Blackhawk at heart for life, even if he's not wearing our jersey. We've got a great deal of reverence, respect, and love for Patrick Kane, so we'll leave him to that decision, and we'll see where he ends up when that day comes."
It is all but confirmed now that Kane is actually considering a return to the Chicago Blackhawks. At 37, he isn't coming back to win any scoring titles or Hart Trophies, but he can be an above-average offensive contributor on a young team.
The leadership that Kane could provide, in addition to his overall skill set, would be perfect in a mentorship role. As Davidson said, he has done everything that a player can in the NHL, and now he can cement his legacy by returning to the team that he started it all with, if he so chooses.
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Athletics rookie infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer was placed on the 10-day injured list following surgery for a ruptured testicle, the club announced Tuesday, July 21.
Kuroda-Grauer was hurt in the Athletics' 5-2 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on Monday, July 20. He fouled off a pitch in the fifth inning that took an unfortunate ricochet.
The impact took him out as he laid at the plate for a few moments before rising back up to send a line drive to right-center for a base hit.
Kuroda-Grauer didn't finish the game, as he was replaced defensively at third base by Donovan Walton in the bottom of the seventh inning. He finished the game with a batting line of 2-for-3, which included his first-career home run and pushed his batting average to .417.
Kuroda-Grauer underwent emergency surgery to repair a ruptured testicle Monday night at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix and is resting comfortably, the club said.
Kuroda-Grauer made his major-league debut on June 29 in a 9-4 loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers in which he registered three hits. He was just getting warmed up in the big leagues with eight multiple hit games in 16 games before the injury.
WATCH: Joshua Kuroda-Grauer take impact to testicles, before single
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer has undergone surgery for a ruptured testicle after this moment last night. Somehow he still singled right after.
CINCINNATI, OH - JULY 27: Luis Castillo #58 of the Cincinnati Reds reacts after closing out the seventh inning of the game against the Miami Marlins at Great American Ball Park on July 27, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Miami 5-3. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I am not sure if the Baseball Gods put their heads together and orchestrated tonight’s matchup and lineups between the Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners, but there sure seem to be some stars aligning in making it happen.
Luis Castillo, former ace and All Star for the Reds, will start against the club that traded him to Seattle back in 2022. Noelvi Marte and Edwin Arroyo – the two headliners that returned to Cincinnati on the other half of that deal – are both in the lineup to face him, with Spencer Steer getting a break after a conveniently timed bean-ball to the ribs last night.
Facing Castillo will be the burgeoning new ace of the Reds in Chase Burns, who’s doing everything he can to show the world he’s the next great right-handed fireballer on the club. Burns is fresh off signing a $105 million contract extension with the Reds that (service time qualifiers and time value of money aside) looks akin to the $108 million outlay Castillo scored from Seattle after the Reds found themselves unwilling to commit to that era of slightly more than mediocre baseball from their team’s recent history.
There’s a lot of overlapping history between these two clubs, including each’s own foibles when it comes to actually making pushes deep into the playoffs in the era of cable television. Shit, we’ve already passed the era of cable television into the streaming age, and both are still in search of any sort of relevance in terms of pennants and banners with their current situations still very much not there yet.
The Mariners, of course, are still in a much, much better spot than the Reds, who just gave them last night’s game in epic-fail fashion and are sure sellers at the trade deadline in two weeks. So, I can’t even point to Burns tonight and claim he can help save the season anymore since this season is as dead as Jimmy Hoffa.
Anyway, first pitch is set for 9:40 PM ET if you’re willing to stay up for that. Here’s how both clubs will line up to begin things:
DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 20: Luis García Jr. #2 of the Washington Nationals congratulates Daylen Lile #4 after Lile hit a ninth inning RBI triple against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After getting back over .500 last night, the Nats will look to take another series, this time in Colorado. Just based on the pitching matchup and where this game is being played, this game has the potential to be a shootout. This Nats offense is hungry to get this team back into a playoff spot.
With a righty on the mound, there will be a couple changes. Jose Tena will hit third and DH. Luis Garcia Jr. moves up to his customary 2 spot in the lineup. Dylan Crews gets the day off with Daylen Lile, Jacob Young and James Wood roaming the outfield. Keibert Ruiz is also back behind the plate. Former Rockie Carson Palmquist will open for Miles Mikolas.
The Rockies are bringing in a couple left handed heavy hitters. Mickey Moniak and Troy Johnston will join the lineup after not being in there last night. Those two have been very productive this season. After DH’ing last night, Hunter Goodman will be behind the plate. He will be catching Michael Lorenzen, who infamously no-hit the Nationals back in 2023.
These first two series out of the break are about taking care of business. On paper, these are teams the Nationals should be beating. However, the game is played on the field, and the Rockies have been plucky this season. Hopefully the Nats can secure the series win tonight. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
Rob Pelinka, President of basketball operations and general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, attends the FIBA EuroBasket match between Slovenia and Poland in Katowice, Poland, on August 28, 2025. This is a European Basketball Championship game, group phase, Group D competition at Spodek Arena. (Photo by Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Lakers’ front office set up the roster to maximize optionality this summer, and they certainly took advantage of it.
The majority of last year’s rotation is gone, replaced by new pieces in Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and Sandro Mamukelashvili. The biggest addition, however, is Walker Kessler. He provides the Lakers with a top-tier frontcourt player for the first time during the Luka Dončić era. Also, re-signing Austin Reaves was critical, and LA got a deal done.
So, for our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we ask fans if the moves President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka made this summer changed their opinion of him.
The Lakers roster has had such dramatic changes that no one truly knows how this collection of players will perform.
This time of year is all about educated guesses and a general feeling on how things look before games are played. If you liked the summer the Lakers have had and are surprised they were able to transition from LeBron James so well, then selecting that your viewpoint has improved on Pelinka is the best option for you.
Many Lakers fans were skeptical about this summer, but the Lakers got younger, kept their No.2 option and now have an elite center. They addressed their most important need and are reportedly looking to add another big.
If they can make some more moves, they could improve even more, and they’ve already done a lot this summer.
The neutral selection is an interesting option. Perhaps you are already high on Pelinka and expected this type of offseason. Or, you are low on him and are unmoved by these changes. It’ll be fascinating to see how many people select unchanged in this poll.
If you are down on the offseason moves and see losing LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard and still lacking a starting power forward as bad, then your opinion on Pelinka has likely worsened.
With so many players locked up, getting significantly better will be harder for the Lakers. It will require trades, and with little draft capital left, that’s going to be a challenge.
Pelinka is always a topic of conversation, and it seems that Lakers fans pivot their opinions of him rather drastically.
Now that most of the activity for the summer is over, let us know what you think about Pelinka by voting on the poll above and commenting below.
Jul 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) heads to the dugout after he hits a solo home run during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (47-52) vs. Chicago Cubs (56-44)
Time/Place: 8:05 p.m., Wrigley Field SB Nation Site:Bleed Cubbie Blue Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: LHP Framber Valdez (5-6, 4.10 ERA) vs. RHP Ethan Roberts (0-2, 4.21 ERA)
An awkward moment was captured on video between Spurs star Victor Wembanyama and a young Knicks fan at Fanatics Fest.
Wembanyama, 22, walked past a group of fans during the weekend event, and one young person called out, “Wemby! Wemby! Sign my jersey! Sign my jersey please!…Wemby…will you sign my jersey?”
It sounds like a normal request, but there was a catch.
The fan was holding out a Jalen Brunson Knicks jersey.
Kid: “Wemby! Wemby! Sign my jersey! Sign my jersey please!…Wemby…will you sign my jersey?”
Victor Wembanyama attends the Men in Blazers panel at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center on July 18, 2026 in New York City. Getty Images for Fanatics
Wembanyama, smiling and laughing, replied, “That’s not…That’s Jalen Brunson,” declining to sign the jersey. The young fan said sorry after the exchange.
Wembanyama was one of many NBA stars present at Fanatics Fest at the Javits Center in New York. In his second outing to the annual festivities, he became the first participant to go 5-for-5 in the 3-point challenge, and he also made a guest appearance on a soccer podcast where he discussed his Paris Saint-Germain fandom and admiration of international stars Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.
His Spurs ultimately fell in five games to the Knicks in their pursuit of the 2026 NBA championship, and local fans at Fanatics Fest clearly didn’t forget.
The New York crowd, which declared Wembanyama one of the newest New York villains during the NBA Finals, playfully booed him.
Victor Wembanyama attends the Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center on July 18, 2026 in New York City. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Fanatics
Wembanyama was a frequent source of stress for Knicks fans during the series, being at the center of calls — and controversial non-calls.
Brunson was also present at Fanatics Fest, alongside several Knicks teammates including Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and Miles McBride.
Alongside many of the championship Knicks, other NBA stars such as Kevin Durant, James Harden and Anthony Edwards made the trip to New York for the popular event.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 05: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees throws a live bullpen session before a game against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium on July 05, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The rainout of Tuesday’s game against the Pirates and subsequent rescheduling to a day-night doubleheader on Wednesday brought forward some earlier-than-expected news. The Yankees have announced that they will activate Max Fried from the IL and that the southpaw starter will start the second game of the twin bill, with Gerrit Cole starting the matinee.
Fried has been sidelined since mid-May with a bone bruise in his left elbow that thankfully did not require surgical intervention. He was forced to depart his May 13th start against the Orioles after just three innings with noticeably lowered velocity on all his pitches, and subsequent imaging revealed the bone bruise. Fried was one of their best starters at the time of his injury, with a 4-3 record in ten starts, 3.21 ERA (132 ERA+), 2.71 FIP, and 50 strikeouts in 61.2 innings.
Fried checked all the boxes in what was an understandably deliberate and cautious rehab process. He made his lone rehab assignment appearance with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders last Friday, allowing two runs on three hits with three strikeouts and no walks on 52 pitches. The initial plan was for Fried to make one more rehab appearance of roughly 60 pitches before rejoining the big league team, but the Yankees scrapped those plans and moved up his activation off the IL with the doubleheader rearranging their rotation schedule.
Fried’s return comes at a crucial time with the team still weathering the absence of Carlos Rodón to left elbow inflammation. It will also be the first time that he and Cole will be active teammates — Cole spending the entirety of 2025 off the 40-man roster during his Tommy John rehab — and it’s an extra bonus that they will be pitching back-to-back on the same day.
Expect Fried to be on a similar pitch count to the 60 they were targeting for the scrapped rehab appearance, or perhaps a bit fewer given the higher-intensity environment of the big leagues. The alternatives were not great, as the Yankees just did an all-bullpen game on Sunday, and the prospect of Triple-A arms Elmer Rodríguez (already starting tonight for the RailRiders) or Brendan Beck against the second-best offense in baseball is not one they relished. So they will roll the dice on Fried with a pitch count. Regardless, it is welcome news for the Yankees to be getting one of their stars back.
Benny with the jets! Last night he had a bases clearing double in the fifth. | (Raymond Carlin III/Imagn Images)
The Chicago offense exploded in its 10-3 series-opening win on Monday, knocking veteran Jacob deGrom around for five runs in the process. Which means the White Sox pitching needs to be extra good today, since their bats will probably only scrape up a couple runs on somewhere between three and six hits, as that seems to be the trend in games following a double-digit beatdown like that. I’d prefer it if they proved me wrong, however, so that southpaw Noah Schultz can get some run support.
While the Good Guys still hold a one-game lead in the AL Central, last night’s game caused a scare after both Kyle Teel and Colson Montgomery exited the game early with an injury. Colson fouled a ball off his shin late in the game, but finished the plate appearance before Luisangel Acuña took over at shortstop. Colson’s injury didn’t appear to be serious, and he expressed to the media that he would likely be back in the lineup this week. Unfortunately for Kyle, however, as MLB’s Scott Merkin noted: “Teel was on crutches postgame and will almost certainly be moved to the injured list.” Sure enough, the Sox placed Teel on the IL today and called Edgar Quero back up from Triple-A Charlotte as a corresponding move.
Prior to tonight’s game at the Texas Rangers, the Chicago White Sox placed catcher Kyle Teel on the 10-day injured list with a left ankle sprain and recalled catcher Edgar Quero from Class AAA Charlotte.
In 15 games (61 at-bats) with the Knights, Quero is slashing .230/.299/.295 with a double, a homer, six RBIs, four walks, and 11 strikeouts. Edgar struggled for the first half with the South Siders, posting a .486 OPS and .187 batting average while also ranking as a poor defensive catcher with a 46% ABS challenge win percentage. He will still forever be the hero of the 2026 home series in the Crosstown Classic. With the trade deadline on the horizon, it’s clear that the Good Guys need some assistance with pitching if they are going to try to contend this season, but it’s possible we have a new need: a solid catcher that can (ideally) hit for power.
Noah Schultz is making his 12th start of the season and has posted a 5.60 ERA in 53 innings with a 1.358 WHIP. He’s shown flashes of frontline potential, but there have also been outings where his control issues have been more evident. Schultz’s 12.6% walk rate is in the bottom 11% among MLB pitchers, and though he has 47 Ks on the season, he’s not getting batters to chase or whiff much at his pitches. He is also only 22 years old in his rookie season, and while it would be incredible for him to be an elite pitcher right out of the gate, he’s also learning and adapting as he continues to face MLB hitters.
Outside of Colson Montgomery sitting out, we have a fairly typical lineup tonight with Sam Antonacci, Munetaka Murakami, and Miguel Vargas leading off at the top of the order. The Montgomerys are swapping in the lineup, as Braden moves into the cleanup spot, and with Teel out, Drew Romo will remain behind the plate tonight.
The South Siders will face righthander Kumar Rocker, looking to tee off and help Schultz early on. Rocker is making his 17th start of the season, and in 90 innings, he’s posted a 2-8 record with a 4.40 ERA and 1.367 WHIP. The righty can force a decent amount of ground balls to his advantage (45.1% GB%) and has great extension, but opponents own a .295 BABIP with a .430 slugging percentage, and it would be great if the Good Guys could take advantage of some of those weaknesses.
The top of Texas’ order has been productive all season, with each of the first three hitters carrying an OPS above .800, with second baseman Justin Foscue leading the team with an .871 OPS. Our forever White Sox friend, Jake Burger, is batting fifth and has the most home runs this season among the Rangers starters tonight with 17, and while we’ll always root for him, I’d rather him not hit his 18th tonight (sorry, Jake).
Tune into CHSN at 7:05 p.m. CDT as the South Siders look to jump on Texas early. You can also listen in on ESPN Chicago AM 1000. The Sox have a chance to lock up the series and make it three straight victories.
: milaxnyc) 
