What Mets stars — old and new — are still playing for down the stretch of lost season

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Francisco Lindor is all smiles as he celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home in the eighth inning of the Mets' blowout win over the Braves on July 27, 2026 at Citi Field, Image 2 shows Zach Thornton, who has pitched well of late, picked up the win in the Mets' blowout victory over the Braves on July 27

Their season is finished in late July, which does not mean the Mets are playing out the string for nothing.

An uptick from Tyrone Taylor and continued strong work from Huascar Brazobán, both of which were on display Monday, might translate to stronger trade returns by Monday’s trade deadline, which helps. But there also are longer-term ramifications from how the club performs over the final two-plus months of the season.

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And with all the caveats that are attached to the existence of the 2027 season, Monday was an encouraging night for next year’s Mets.

Francisco Lindor looked like a superstar shortstop still worth building around.

Marcus Semien provided a bit more hope he is not the dead weight he looked like for much of the campaign’s first three months.

Zac Thornton looked like he belongs alongside Nolan McLean, Christian Scott and probably Sean Manaea in next year’s rotation.

“It sucks the position that we’re in,” Lindor said after the 14-3 blowout of the Braves and before Tuesday’s game was postponed, “but we enjoyed today.”

Francisco Lindor is all smiles as he celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home in the eighth inning of the Mets’ blowout win over the Braves on July 27, 2026 at Citi Field. Robert Sabo for New York Post

There might not be a more important Mets player in August and September — provided, of course, that he remains a Mets player after Monday, which is likely but not guaranteed — than Lindor, who is owed $160 million over the final five years of his contract.

His age-32 season has been the worst of his career, consisting so far of injury, underperformance and injury, in that order. Is this a continuation of a natural downward slope for a fading star in his 30s, whose OPS has dropped each of the past three seasons? Or is this the kind of aberrational, injury-filled year that so many encounter?

Lindor’s final few months can begin to answer that question — and the Mets hope his past two weeks have been revealing, too. Lindor entered play July 12 hitting .208 with a .636 OPS. Eleven games, four homers, three doubles and a triple later, his average has bumped to .233 and his OPS to .743.

Zach Thornton, who has pitched well of late, picked up the win in the Mets’ blowout victory over the Braves on July 27. Corey Sipkin for New York Post

It is too late for such a streak to make a difference for a no-doubt seller, but Lindor has begun making a case that on the other side of hamate surgery and a calf strain, he still is an All-Star shortstop who can pair with Juan Soto to get the Mets back on track. If Lindor avoids the injuries that have sprung up too often recently and ages gracefully, the future of the Mets would be far brighter.

“He’s just one of the best players in baseball,” said interim manager Andy Green, “and it’s a matter of time before one of the best players in baseball gets hot.”

There was a time when Semien was one of the best players in baseball, three times finishing third in MVP voting and a World Series champion with the 2023 Rangers. That time is over.

Last year he posted the 10th-worst OPS (.669) among qualified hitters in the sport, which led to the fascinating, bad-contract exchange with Brandon Nimmo. This year his OPS has further tumbled (.629), entering play Tuesday as the sixth worst in the game.

The concern level should be high for a second baseman who is owed $46 million in 2027 and 2028, so any reason to believe would be welcome. Maybe a second-half rebound can convince the club that Semien had been compromised for much of the first half, when he battled a bothersome hip that grew in intensity until he hit the injured list June 25.

Fresh off the IL, the 35-year-old has begun to hit again, spiking his numbers over the past five games and breaking out Monday, when he reached base four times, homered and scored three runs.

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The Mets need to see more, but it is a start.

“Everybody’s starting to get healthy,” said Semien, referencing Lindor, Luis Robert Jr. and a Juan Soto whom the Mets are waiting for. “It’s a good sign.”

Thornton’s emergence has been more obvious, a young lefty who is pitching as if he is replacing David Peterson — using stuff that does not look overwhelming to silence offenses, now with a 2.43 ERA in his first five starts.

The 2027 Mets still probably need a front-line starter who isn’t Freddy Peralta, but they might not need another back-end starter if Thornton (who turned in another quality start against Atlanta) continues to outpitch his stuff.

Such a development would be significant for obvious and subtler reasons, including the fact that there have not been enough development victories this season in the organization’s minor league pipeline.

McLean, Scott and Thornton composing three-fifths of their rotation next year would counter that narrative.

“It’s not the traditional way that star pitchers get people out right now,” Green said of a pitcher who lives in the low 90s and leads with a high-80s cutter, “but it’s real.”

Dodgers get positive Will Smith update that could lessen one trade deadline need

The Dodgers’ need for a catcher at the trade deadline might be decreasing.

On Tuesday, manager Dave Roberts announced that All-Star backstop Will Smith has begun baseball activities again, saying the catcher is finally “pain-free” from a neck injury that has sidelined him since early June.

Smith will now begin a throwing and hitting program, in addition to increased work in the weight room.

The news came as an encouraging development for the Dodgers, who had been closely monitoring the 31-year-old’s progress while evaluating the need to potentially add another catcher before next Monday’s trade deadline.

All-Star backstop Will Smith has begun baseball activities again IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“I’m excited to hear that he is starting some baseball activities,” Roberts said.

Last week, sources told the California Post that the Dodgers hadn’t ramped up their efforts to add another catcher amid Smith’s ongoing absence. The team wasn’t believed to be looking for a bigger name at the position, either, instead weighing the possibility of bolstering their catching depth behind second-year backup Dalton Rushing.

Still, any further setbacks or delays in Smith’s recovery might have altered their approach.

As Roberts noted over the weekend, it was going to be “helpful” to have more clarity on Smith’s status before deadline decisions had to be made.

Now, finally, a tangible update has arrived –– reinforcing the Dodgers’ optimism in having Smith back at full health for the stretch run of the season and the start of the playoffs.

Still, any further setbacks or delays in Smith’s recovery might have altered their approach. Wally Skalij for CA Post

Smith has not played since June 5, when he first developed what was initially described as minor stiffness in his neck. However, the pain continued to linger, leading to a doctor’s visit in which Smith was diagnosed with an inflamed disc in his neck. His previous attempts to ramp up activity were scuttled by recurring pain, ultimately prompting the team to shut him down for a week during the All-Star break.

Since then, though, Smith has seemingly turned a corner.

And while his timeline to return is unclear, the team’s confidence in eventually getting him back should only lessen their urgency to make a notable acquisition behind the plate in the coming days.


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The Dodgers could still use more catching depth, with rookie Eliezer Alfonzo currently serving in a backup role behind Rushing –– who himself has had an up-and-down second season in the big leagues.

Last year, the club added Ben Rortvedt at the deadline, and wound up turning to him to start their first four playoff games while Smith recovered from a broken hand.

Someone like Rortvedt, who is now in triple-A with the Mets, could make sense as another deadline addition this year.

But ideally, the Dodgers won’t need any extra catching help come October, with Smith finally back on the road to recovery almost two months into his IL stint.

But ideally, the Dodgers won’t need any extra catching help come October, with Smith finally back on the road to recovery almost two months into his IL stint. Wally Skalij for CA Post

Snell, Glasnow progressing too

In other positive injury news on Tuesday, Roberts expressed confidence in the status of both Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, as they continue to take steps toward returning to the active roster.

On Wednesday, Snell is scheduled to throw four innings in a minor-league rehab game with single-A Ontario, while Glasnow will face hitters in a live batting practice session at Dodger Stadium for the second time in the last couple weeks.

Snell could be ready to rejoin the Dodgers after his outing, while Glasnow could be ready to begin his own minor-league rehab assignment after his.

Both pitchers have been out since early May, when Glasnow went down with back spasms and Snell underwent a procedure to remove loose bodies from his elbow.

“I feel very confident [about the state of our rotation],” Roberts said, even though Shohei Ohtani’s next steps as a pitcher remain undecided as he continues to nurse a knee injury. “I feel very good for the rest of the season with all three of these guys.”

Game Discussion: Milwaukee Brewers (66-40) @ San Francisco Giants (45-61)

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 22: Logan Henderson #43 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches against the New York Mets in the first inning at American Family Field on July 22, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Brewers’ offense came crashing back to Earth in last night’s series opener against the San Francisco Giants, managing just three hits in a shutout loss. While it wasn’t an ideal start to the series, Milwaukee was ultimately able to bounce back from a similarly rough offensive performance against the Rockies last weekend, scoring 19 runs over the next two games.

On the mound for Milwaukee is Logan Henderson, who at this point has thrown enough innings to move beyond the “small sample size” caveat. Through eight starts, he owns a 3.05 ERA — which has nevertheless raised his career ERA to 2.54 — and his 0.94 WHIP is lower than it was last season. In his last outing, Henderson tossed five innings against the Mets, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out nine.

San Francisco will counter with Landen Roupp, who has quietly been one of the more consistent mid-rotation starters in baseball over the last three seasons. This year has been no different. Roupp enters tonight with a 3.93 ERA, almost identical to his career mark of 3.81, while his 1.24 WHIP and 2.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio are both career bests.

Before getting to today’s lineup, there’s been plenty of roster news.

— First, Brewer beat writer Adam McCalvy reported this morning that Jake Bauers suffered a broken toe after fouling a ball off his foot last night and is expected to miss some time. Later reports clarified that the injury is actually an “old fracture” he’s been playing through, meaning it’ll be a matter of pain management moving forward. He’s not in today’s lineup, but he also hasn’t been placed on the injured list.

— Sal Frelick and Kyle Harrison are both expected back next month. Harrison’s return is currently targeted for early August, while Frelick is expected back in early to mid-August. Frelick received a cortisone injection in his right shoulder last week, and Harrison is scheduled to make a 75-to-80-pitch rehab start with High-A Wisconsin on Thursday.

— Infielder Braden Shewmake cleared waivers, declined an outright assignment to Triple-A Nashville, and elected free agency.

Now, as for the lineup:

After going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts last night, Christian Yelich slides down to the cleanup spot. Brice Turang, who ranks second on the Brewers in on-base percentage behind Bauers, will lead off, followed by Jackson Chourio and William Contreras. Andrew Vaughn and Luis Lara, batting fifth and sixth while playing first base and right field, respectively, will both start with Bauers out. Rounding out the lineup are Garrett Mitchell, Cooper Pratt, and David Hamilton, who’s getting the start at third base.

Today’s game will be broadcast on Brewers.TV and the Brewers’ Radio Network, with first pitch set for 8:45 p.m.

Astros at Angels Game Discussion: 7/28/2026

CHICAGO, IL - JULY 26: Jeremy Peña #3 of the Houston Astros rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the first inning during the game between the Houston Astros and the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Sunday, July 26, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Kyle Sheridan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (53-55) and Los Angeles Angels (42-65) will play the 2nd game of this 3-game set at Angel Stadium tonight.

RHP Peter Lambert (8-5) will make the start for the Astros as he takes on Angels LHP Reid Detmers (3-7).

Rematch: Lambert and Detmers went toe-to-toe against each other on June 10 at LAA in what ended up as a pitcher’s duel. Lambert allowed 2 R in 6.1 IP while Detmers allowed 1 R in 7.0 IP in an eventual 3-2 Angels win in 10 innings.


THE LAMMA: RHP Peter Lambert has been one of the top starters in the Majors this season, entering tonight’s game with an 8-5 record and a 3.03 ERA in his 17 starts. He has allowed just 72 hits in his 98.0 IP for a .201 opp. avg.

On the Road: Lambert is 3-1 with a 2.78 ERA (10ER/32.1IP) in his 6 road starts with 35 K’s in 32.1 IP.

Since May 24, Lambert is 6-1 in 11 starts with a 2,73 ERA, ranking 2nd in the AL in wins in that span.

RECENT STROS: The Astros have won 6 of their last 7 games. Their recent 5-game win streak (7/20-25) matched their longest win streak of the season (other was 3/28-4/1).


ROAD WARRIORS: Tonight is the 5th game (3-1 thus far) of a 6-game road trip for the Astros. HOU was 2-1 over the weekend at CWS on the first stop of the trip. The Astros are 20-13 (.606) on their last five road trips combined and are 26-19 (.578) on the road since going 1-9 on their first road trip of the season.


ROAD SLUGGING: Among AL clubs, the Astros are 1st in runs scored on the road (265), T-1st in road HR (77) and are 2nd in road OPS (.739) and road SLG (.415).

VS. THE HALOS: The Astros are 4-4 vs. LAA thus far in 2026. Over the years, the Astros have had success vs. the Angels. They are 142-92 all-time against the Halos, including a 68-48 record at Angel Stadium.

Note: The Astros were 2-0 vs. LAA in a 2-game, regular season series in Mexico, May 4-5 of 2019.

MEASURING UP: The Astros are 27-22 vs. teams currently at .500 or better. Additionally, HOU is a combined 20-11 vs. the 6 AL clubs currently holding playoff spots, with a 10-6 record vs. the 3 AL division leaders (2-1 vs. TB, 6-4 vs. TEX, 2-1 vs. CWS) and a 10-5 record vs. the 3 current AL Wild Card teams (5-1 vs. BOS, 4-2 vs. CLE, 1-2 vs. NYY).

9TH-INNING ROAD COMEBACKS: Last night was the 1st time that the Astros won a game in the 9th inning on the road after trailing by 2 or more entering the 9th since a 7-6 win on Aug. 8, 2023 at BAL (trailed 6-3). Earlier this season on June 23, HOU defeated TOR, 9-7, in 11.0 innings after trailing 6-4 entering the 9th. Source: Elias.


WHAT A RELIEF: RHP Cristian Javier
’s 5.0 IP in relief last night were a career high for him and the most by an Astros reliever since Sept. 28, 2025 when LHP Colton Gordon also hurled 5.0 IP at LAA.


SLOW BUT STEADY CLIMB: After a 20-31 start to the season, the Astros are 33-24 (.579) since May 22, which is the 2nd-best record in the AL in that span, just 1/2 game behind BOS.


PLAYER OF THE WEEK!: Jeremy Peña
was named AL Player of the Week yesterday. Peña posted incredible numbers last week, hitting .500 (13×26) in 6 games with 5 HR, 8 RBI and 10 R while posting
a 1.577. This is Peña’s 1st POTW Award.

PEÑA POWER: Jeremy Peña has hit safely in 9 straight games at a sizzling .472 (17×36) clip with 5 HR, 8 RBI and 14 R. He has raised his avg. from .287 to .316. in those 9 games.

MVP-CALIBER: Yordan Alvarez is a strong AL MVP candidate as he enters tonight leading the league in all three Triple Crown categories, ranking 1st in batting average (.323), HR (34), and RBI (78). Additionally, he currently leads all of baseball in OPS (1.074), OBP (.433), SLG (.631) and TB (246), and in the AL, he also ranks 1st in hits (123) and runs (73) and 4th in walks (71).

CLOSE CALLS: The Astros are 32-20 in games decided by 2 runs or less. 23-12 in 2-run games, 9-8 in 1-run games.

TAPPING FOR SUCCESS: Astros hitters have won an MLB-best 73 ABS challenges and lead the Majors in challenge success rate (58%). Jose Altuve’s 15 successful challenges are T-3rd best among hitters. Isaac Paredes has been successful in 11 of 13 challenges (85%).

BRYAN’S BACK: RHP Bryan Abreu has a 1.59 ERA (2ER/11.1IP) in his last 11 apps. with just 7 hits allowed and 13 K’s in that span. Additionally, since May 1, he has a 2.39 ERA (7ER/26.1IP) in 27 apps., and is 5-for-5 in save opp. in that span. Prior to May 1, Abreu had a 12.54 ERA in his 1st 11 apps. of the season.


ON THE DEFENSIVE: The Astros lead the AL in fielding pct. (.988) and have the fewest errors in the AL (44). 1B Christian Walker has led the way, as he has not committed an error in his 100 games played at 1B. Dating back to last season, Walker has not made an error in his last 129 games at 1B (last error was Aug. 23, 2025 at BAL).

TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2006 – Luke Scott becomes the 7th different player in Astros history to hit for the cycle in an 8-7, 11-inning loss to Arizona at Daikin Park. Scott ends up going 4×6 with five RBI on the night. His fourth and final hit was a single in the 11th and final inning. Currently, 9 different Astros players have hit for the cycle 10 times, with César Cedeño doing it twice.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Tuesday, July 27, 8:38 p.m. CT

Location: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA

TV: SCHN

Radio: KTRH 740 AM; KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)

Minor league mascot goes viral after bowling over Alek Thomas on scooter

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Sacramento River Cats mascot runs into Oklahoma City Comets outfielder Alek Thomas on a scooter between innings, Image 2 shows Sacramento River Cats mascot runs into Oklahoma City Comets outfielder Alek Thomas on a scooter between innings

The city of Sacramento recently announced it would be offering free e-bike and scooter safety classes, and it may be wise for the Triple-A baseball team, the Sacramento River Cats, to sign their mascot, Dinger, up for them. 

A video went viral on Tuesday of the mascot riding a scooter on the field in between innings and accidentally running into Oklahoma City Comets outfielder Alek Thomas as he was exiting the dugout during a game on Saturday. 

Saturday was Christmas in July Day at Sutter Health Park, which also serves as the temporary home of Major League Baseball’s Athletics, and Dinger was wearing a Santa hat and coat while riding on the scooter along the first base side of the field. 

As neared the dugout, Thomas, a prospect for the Dodgers, started to jog out to the outfield and the two collided, hitting one another square in the center mass and sending both to the ground. 

A stadium worker and someone from the Comets dugout could be seen running to check on them before the clip cuts off. 

Thomas did not appear to come out of the game at any point on Saturday following the collision, and he was in the lineup on Tuesday when the Comets faced the Las Vegas Aviators.

The video was first posted to Reddit before it was posted on X and Instagram, where it quickly went viral.

Curtis Mead has a broken wrist, will be going on the IL, might be done for the year

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 27: Curtis Mead #25 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after being hit by a pitch from pitcher Jack Perkins #50 of the Athletics in the top of the fourth inning at Sutter Health Park on July 27, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Have you ever gotten a Christmas present that was already broken when you opened the package? Well, this is the baseball equivalent of that.

Despite the Red Sox claiming they “dodged a bullet” last night after Curtis Mead was hit in the wrist by a pitch in just his second plate appearance in a Boston uniform, the actual diagnosis is much worse. Mead has a broken wrist and might need surgery.

The real signs of trouble started late this afternoon when Tommy Cassell noted Nick Sogard wasn’t in Worcester. That’s because he was flying to California to join the Red Sox and take Mead’s place on the roster.

Shortly after that, Alex Speier confirmed the disastrous news:

Everything about this sucks! The Sox lose the hitter they just acquired, possibly for the year. They no longer have Connelly Early to use in another deal that will now be needed to replace Mead’s production. Oh, and even if Mead returns this year, there’s a decent chance he doesn’t have nearly as much when he comes back. Why? Because wrist injuries suck! (Just ask Roman Anthony.)

Speaking Roman Anthony and the way the Red Sox have handled his injury, remember when he stayed in the game back in May, and then was initially listed as day-to-day with right wrist discomfort? Well, last night, Mead stayed in the game, and then was initially diagnosed with a right wrist contusion with negative x-rays. Given Anthony is still not swinging a bat three months later, I’m having nightmarish flashbacks!

Mikewichter over on Twitter also noted some other concerning factors with the Red Sox inability to diagnose the severity of the injury quickly:

So yeah, this totally sucks, and the Red Sox now have six days to do something about it before the deadline. Either way, the options aren’t great. Did I mention this sucks?

Brewers’ slugger Jake Bauers to miss time with broken toe

SAN FRANCISCO — Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers has a broken big toe on his right foot and was not in the lineup for Tuesday’s game against the San Francisco Giants.

Bauers was injured when he fouled a ball off his foot during Monday’s 3-0 loss to the Giants. The Brewers’ home run leader with 18 later walked gingerly off the field and left the game.

An X-ray initially revealed a fracture line in Bauers’ toe before additional testing Tuesday revealed the extent of the injury.

“At the time they weren’t sure if it was old or new,” Bauers said Tuesday. “Got an MRI and CT scan this morning. Doctors came back and said it was probably old and was already there. Right now it’s just swelling and a little bit of pain. Gonna be fine.”

The 30-year-old left-hander was relieved to learn he didn’t suffer a new injury.

The Brewers have not set a timetable for his return.

“If it was new it was just going to be pain management,” he said. “The fact that it’s old is probably better of the two options. It’s going to be fine. Just got to get the swelling down.”

NBA Offseason Trade/Free Agent Rumors 2026: Johni Broome traded to Clippers, Dereck Lively extension

With LeBron James' decision made, the rest of the business of the NBA is getting done: Draymond Green is headed back to Golden State (as expected), and we have a Johni Broome trade. Here is all the latest (if you want more on the biggest-name free agents, follow this link to a look at the seven biggest-name free agents still on the market).

We have a trade: Johni Broome to Clippers

This is essentially a salary dump for Philadelphia as it clears out roster space so that Kentavious Caldwell Pope can sign with them (expect that to become official in the next 24 hours), and it costs them a second-round pick.

Philadelphia is trading forward Johni Broome to the LA Clippers, along with a second-round pick (the most favorable of Philly's three 2027 second-rounders) to the LA Clippers, a trade broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and since confirmed by the teams. The 76ers also get $1 million in cash in the deal.

Philadelphia waived Dalen Terry (a non-guaranteed contract) and now traded Broome to create the roster space to sign LeBron James and KCP while staying under their first apron hard cap.

Broome, a 6'10" forward who was the No. 35 pick out of Auburn a year ago, played in 11 games for a total of 55 minutes in Philadelphia last season. Broome showed some potential at NBA Summer League, posting 19 points and 13 rebounds against Detroit, then following it up with 23 points and 11 boards against Indiana.

Broome is on a fully guaranteed $2.5 million contract this year, and the Clippers can take a look at him in training camp then decide what, if any, role he will have on the team.

Mavericks, Dereck Lively talk extension

New Dallas team president Masai Ujiri understands what he has in Cooper Flagg and what that means for roster building, something he talked about at his introductory press conference: "Every decision we are going to make here is going to be future-based. We have a 19-year-old generational player on our roster. We have to think that way."

Center Dereck Lively can be part of that future, and he and the Mavericks have started to talk contract extension, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line. He added that the talks have just begun, the deadline to get a deal done is the start of the season in October.

Following a promising 55-game campaign as a rookie the year the Mavericks reached the NBA Finals behind Luka Doncic, Lively has struggled with foot issues that have led to two surgeries on his right foot. He played in just seven games last season. That will lead to an interesting negotiation about just what Lively expects and how much the Mavericks are willing to bet on his health. That said, the bouncy 22-year-old center fits the Flagg timeline.

Other NBA rumors

• Christian Koloko has signed a non-guaranteed contract with the New Orleans Pelicans and will head to camp to compete with Kobe Bufkin (and potentially others) for a roster spot, reports Michael Scotto of Hoopshype. The Pelicans currently have 14 guaranteed spots filled on the roster and are a little more than $8 million below the tax line, according to Spotac.

• Dwight Powell has been on the Mavericks bench — and a mainstay of the team's culture — for the past 12 years, but may be squeezed out of the roster as it moves towards youth. He and his representatives are staying in touch with the team and hoping something opens up, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

• DeMar DeRozan — already known to be talking to Miami, Cleveland and Denver — has also had conversations with the Washington Wizards, reports ESPN’s Charania.

New Red Sox infielder Curtis Mead to miss time with left wrist injury

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Curtis Mead will miss an undetermined amount of time with a left wrist injury suffered in his first game with the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox acquired Mead on Saturday in a trade that sent left-hander Connelly Early to Washington. Mead was injured in his second at-bat with Boston on Monday when he was hit on the wrist by Athletics starter Jack Perkins.

Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said on Monday that X-rays were negative, but further tests on Tuesday showed an injury that will knock Mead out of the lineup.

“Super disappointing. It doesn’t feel real happening in first game,” Mead told reporters before the Red Sox faced the A’s on Tuesday. “There will be a break in between the next one.”

Mead is hitting .253 with 17 home runs and 48 RBIs this season.

The Red Sox recalled infielder Nick Sogard from Triple-A Worcester to fill Mead’s roster spot.

Colorado Rockies vs San Diego Padres game discussion: Michael Lorenzen vs Michael King

Jul 12, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen (24) throws a pitch San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It’s been a weird week of travel for the Colorado Rockies. They had a Thursday off in the first week of the second half, played a three game set in The Good Land against the Brew Crew, and after having yesterday off it’s time for a bizarre two-game series against the San Diego Padres.

The Rockies are visiting the Swingin’ Friars in an awkward spot. The Rockies are right where they were expected to be: comfortably in the basement of the National League West but instrumentally improved compared to last season. the Padres, however, are under-performing against expectations. Sitting at .500 coming into this evening, San Diego would not be in the playoffs should the season suddenly end. They’re a full 14 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the division.

Tonight’s pitching matchup is a battle of the Michaels. On the mound for the Rockies is Michael Lorenzen, who’s name has recently popped up in trade speculation. After a very disappointing start to the season, the right-handed journeyman pitcher has leveled out over the last few weeks. Lorenzen has gone at least five innings and given up two or fewer earned runs in six of his last eight starts. However, his last time out was a rough one. Against the high-powered bats of the Washington Nationals, Lorenzen lasted just 3.2 innings and gave up six earned runs on seven hits—two of which were home runs—despite striking out five batters. He has tallied at least five strikeouts in ten of his 22 starts this season.

On the bump for the Dads is right-handed veteran Michael King. Now in his third season with the Padres, King is enjoying a very successful season so far. His ERA sits at just 3.24 and he’s worth 3.1 wins above replacement per Baseball Reference over 21 starts with 103 strikeouts. In his last four starts, King has thrown three quality starts and has given up more than one earned run just once.

King has surprisingly little experience against the Rockies. He’s made four appearances—three of which were starts—and pitched 20 innings against them during his career. In those appearances he has a 5.40 ERA with 24 strikeouts and three home runs allowed.

His primary pitch combo is a low-90s sinker paired with a changeup that he uses to induce whiffs. King also throws a sweeper, a slider, and a four-seam fastball.

First Pitch: 7:40 pm MDT

TV: Rockies TV

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)

Padres SB Nation site:Gaslamp Ball

Lineups:


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Colorado Rockies at San Diego Padres

Colorado Rockies (42-65) at San Diego Padres (53-53), July 28, 2026, 6:40 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Petco Park – San Diego, Calif.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan



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Game #107: Red Sox at Athletics Game Thread

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 17: Gage Jump #61 of the Athletics pitches against the Washington Nationals in the top of the first inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on July 17, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

A day after dropping a close series opener to Boston, the A’s get another bite at the apple as they look for the win against the Red Sox here on a warm Tuesday night in Sacramento.

The club has left-hander Gage Jump set for the start, his third of the second half already. His first went quite well but his most recent outing was arguably his worst as a big leaguer as he got tagged for a career-high six earned runs against the Diamondbacks last Wednesday. He’ll look to turn things around and get back on track against a Red Sox lineup that has gotten on a roll in recent weeks.

Here’s the Athletics’ lineup this evening:

The lineup will welcome back first baseman Nick Kurtz after his scheduled off day yesterday. Much needed reinforcements for the squad. He slots into the second spot in the lineup sandwiched between leadoff man Jacob Wilson and Jonah Heim, who is DH’ing tonight. Tyler Soderstrom is batting cleanup and back in his customary left field after a half day yesterday.

Again, the bottom half of the lineup is full of rookies and A’s fans should get used to seeing that the rest of the way. Tommy White is at the hot corner again as he proves his metal in the field. Colby Thomas slides across the outfield to right taking Lawrence Butler’s place. Henry Bolte is in center field again as Mark Kotsay is letting the struggling rookie outfielder work through his struggles with consistent playing time. Alika Williams is Wilson’s double play partner at the keystone and the club welcomes back veteran catcher Brian Serven to the starting lineup.

Boston meanwhile has their own young lefty in Jake Bennett getting the ball for them tonight. A seemingly minor offseason pickup for the Red Sox, Bennett has been a gem for them as the rookie has a 2.58 ERA in his first 10 career starts. He did get touched up for three runs last time out so the hope is that the A’s bats can do some damage against the rookie.

And Boston’s starting nine:

Can we avoid a four-game losing streak? Let’s go A’s!

Follow the Game:
Watch:
Athletics – NBCSCA

Listen:
Athletics – Talk 650 KSTE, KVMX 92.1/105.5, A’s Cast

Shaq has surprising Joel Embiid prediction after 76ers’ offseason overhaul

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Joel Embiid in a white Philadelphia 76ers jersey looking up, Image 2 shows shaq has a surprising joel embiid prediction for the 76ers on stephen a smith show

Perhaps it’s the LeBron James signing. Perhaps it’s just a gut feeling. 

But either way, Shaquille O’Neal is all in on Joel Embiid this season, even with his extensive injury history. 

On “The Stephen A. Smith” show, O’Neal said that it’s time for Embiid to “step up” but also predicted he’d stay healthy for the first time in a while. 

“He better take some Tylenol, take some shots… I’ll tell you what. I’ll call it right now,” O’Neal said. “He’s going to be healthy this year.” 

O’Neal didn’t just predict Embiid to be healthy. He predicted the center’s going to make a statement on a new-look 76ers squad.

“Joel Embiid is going to dominate this year. You heard it here first. Joel Embiid will be touted as the best big man in the league. He’s passing up the Joker [Nikola Jokic] this year. He’s going to work this year.” 

O’Neal predicting Embiid to remain healthy is certainly a bold statement. Embiid has yet to play over 70 games in a season though he’s been in the NBA since 2014. 

Embiid played in just 39 games in 2023-24, 19 in 2024-25 and 38 last season. It’s been three years since he’s played in more than 60 games.

Shaquille O’Neal on the Stephen A. Smith Show. Stephen A. Smith Show

The center has suffered just about any injury you can think of – from knee to oblique injuries – over his 12-year career. 

When on the court, however, Embiid is a force. 

Albeit in limited time, Embiid averaged over 30 points in a game in three straight seasons from 2021-24 and has kept the 76ers as a perennial playoff contender. 

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid looks on. Getty Images

Embiid won MVP in 2022-23, is a seven-time All-Star and two-time scoring champion. 

With James and Jaylen Brown joining the 76ers, increased pressure is on Embiid to stay healthy and regularly contribute to a team hungry for its first title in 44 years. 

And if Embiid actually stays healthy, you can probably thank O’Neal.

Kiké Hernández is back, Alex Freeland optioned to Triple-A

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 24: Enrique Hernández #8 of the Oklahoma City Comets walks to the dugout after striking out during the second inning of a rehab assignment against the Sacramento River Cats at Sutter Health Park on July 24, 2026 in Sacramento, California (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Dodgers utility man Kiké Hernández is back, activated off the injured list on Tuesday as expected before the start of a series against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium. Alex Freeland was the odd man out, optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Hernández’s season now includes two long stints on the injured list. He missed the first 53 games of the season after elbow surgery last November, and has missed the last 51 games with a left oblique strain. In between, he’s working on a perfect season, with four hits in his four at-bats thus far, including a home run and two doubles.

In seven games on a rehab assignment with Oklahoma City, Hernández hit .333/.320/.542 with two doubles and a home run. He split his time with three games each at third base and in left field, plus once at first base.

Freeland has played sparingly of late, with his last start coming on July 7. In the Dodgers’ 13 games since he’s only played in five of them, totaling five plate appearances, going 0-for-5 with four strikeouts.

On the season, Freeland hit .231/.309/.313 with a 76 wRC+, seven doubles, and three home runs in 72 games. The switch-hitter has performed better from the left side, hitting .249/.330/339 with an 89 wRC+, while collecting only four hits in 30 at-bats while batting right-handed.

Freeland started 59 games at second base, with four Defensive Runs Saved and three Outs Above Average, the latter in the 85th percentile in MLB.

Mets' Clay Holmes pitches four innings with St. Lucie in second, and potentially final, rehab start

Clay Holmes got back on the mound, this time with St. Lucie, on Tuesday evening in his second and potentially final rehab start.

The Mets right-hander got through four innings in relatively easy fashion.

Holmes' first inning started with a three-pitch strikeout, punching out Blaine Bullard (Blue Jays' No. 8 prospect) on a changeup before stranding a runner. His second inning saw more of the same, stranding a runner in a scoreless second inning, punctuating it with a strikeout of Owen Carapellotti on five pitches, getting the left-hander swinging on a changeup out of the zone. 

The Blue Jays got to Holmes a bit in the third inning. He allowed a leadoff single to Dean West, making his Jays debut, but erased him when he picked him off. Holmes allowed a two-out walk, but got the final out to get through three innings. 

In Holmes' final inning, the right-hander pitched a 1-2-3 inning on just nine pitches.

Holmes allowed just two hits and two walks in four innings while striking out three batters. He tossed 59 pitches (37 strikes), eight more than his first rehab start, that time with Syracuse, as Holmes tossed 2.1 innings on 51 pitches. 

If this is Holmes' final rehab start, his next appearance could be with the Mets this weekend. But with his name in trade rumors, the converted closer could be pitching for a different team by the time the Aug. 3 trade deadline arrives.