Wednesday's slate is filled with opportunities, starting with Ty France, Wyatt Langford and Munetaka Murakami, who give us plenty of high-value targets on tonight's betting card.
We are backing the lone elite rated hitter in this matchup, and he comes from the current season dataset on Batters-Box. Ty France not only enters with a red hot bat, but also draws a red hot matchup against Atlanta Braves southpaw Martin Perez.
Through 14 elite ratings this season, France has surpassed this prop 57% of the time, while leaving the yard in nearly 30% of those games. He also covers over 63% of Perez’s pitch mix, and the expected data suggests that number should be even higher.
Across France’s last 60 plate appearances against left handed pitching, he owns a .365 BA, .433 OBP, .635 SLG, and 1.068 OPS, while posting a 56% hard hit rate and 7.7% barrel rate.
Perez, on the other hand, has struggled over his last three starts, posting a 7.43 ERA, 7.19 xERA, and 1.80 WHIP. While he has done a decent job limiting hard contact, he is still allowing an 8.33% barrel rate during that stretch.
For the price, and with the San Diego Padres lineup around him starting to heat up, I think France is in a great spot to clear his HRR prop. If you are not in the juice paying business, his bases are plus money.
Langford enters tonight with an elite rating on Batters-Box, where he surpasses this prop 60% of the time when he is elite, across a 25 game elite rating sample size. On top of that, he covers 86.4% of Kay’s pitch mix.
Kay has allowed right handed hitters to elevate the ball a ton this season, and despite his recent success, he is still allowing plenty of hard contact. Over his last 60 right handed hitters faced, the White Sox lefty is allowing a 47% hard hit rate and 14% barrel rate. On top of that, those hitters own a .403 xSLG and .358 xwOBA during that stretch.
Over his last 30 right handed hitters faced, those numbers climb even higher, with a 50% hard hit rate and 22% barrel rate. I think Kay is due for an off night.
I would not pay much more juice on this prop. If you cannot find Langford’s HRR around this price, I would pivot to his bases prop at plus money.
Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CHSN, RSN
Munetaka Murakami Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI (-111)
It is a beautiful day to fade Rangers right hander Cal Quantrill, and yes, there is an opener. Do not worry, Quantrill will be on the bump this evening.
I do not think there is another guy in baseball more due for a long ball than Chicago White Sox rookie Munetaka Murakami. Over his last 30 at bats versus right handed pitchers, he owns a .304 BA, .609 SLG, 1.076 OPS, .305 ISO, while posting a 58% hard hit rate and 16.7% barrel rate.
The young slugger enters Wednesday with an elite rating on Batters-Box, while also showing great arsenal coverage against Quantrill’s pitch mix.
Against left handed hitters at home this season, Quantrill is allowing a 73.8% elevation rate and over 32% hard hit rate. Those left handed hitters own a .280 BA, .460 SLG, and .352 wOBA.
I think this is a fantastic spot to back Murakami’s HRR prop. If you can find his hit price below -170, I would also be interested. Across 36 elite rated games, he records a hit 70% of the time.
Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CHSN, RSN
Colby Martchio's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 328-607, +1.6 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Richard Boardman was criticised by the managing judge
Players want ‘firm with resources and specialist expertise’
Hundreds of former rugby league and rugby union players taking legal action against the game’s governing bodies are now “staring into the precipice”, according to the barrister representing the claimants, Susan Rodway KC.
Richard Boardman, the solicitor who has been the organising force behind the litigation, has requested formally to come off the record after his handling of the case was criticised by the managing judge, Senior Master Cook. The case may now be taken over by Leigh Day, who has been working on it as consultants since February.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 06: Arthur Kaluma #47 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a basket in the third quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Chase Center on July 06, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After an undefeated start to the Las Vegas Summer League, the Lakers’ run ended in the semifinals at the hands of the Warriors. Though there will be no hardware this year, or even any NBA All-Summer League recognition, the results were an unquestionable success for the franchise.
LA’s most recent draft picks, Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero, were the star headliners for a fun and feisty athletic roster, but the player leading the team in scoring was surprise standout in Arthur Kaluma. He showed a versatile offensive game and an interesting athletic profile, a seemingly perfect match for the roster direction the Lakers headed towards.
The 24-year-old out of Texas played a year on the Lakers’ G League affiliate last season where he averaged 13.8 points and shot 37% from three. At 6’7” with a 7’1” wingspan, he has strong measurables for a prototypical modern forward.
As with any wings surrounding Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, it all begins with their ability to shoot in head coach JJ Redick’s offense. Kaluma led the Lakers in both 3-pointers made and percentage in Vegas, hitting a blistering 50% of his outside attempts. He hit seven more threes in Vegas than the next closest player.
The stationary catch and shoot was there as he operated as an effective spacer for ball handlers in the half-court, or caught and fired in transition, showing off his consistent form in the clip below.
His versatility was highlighted by head coach Ty Abbott, who used him as an off-ball mover, as shown in the clip below. He comes to set the on-ball screen, then immediately receives a flare screen. A shot fake jab flows into a difficult break rhythm 3-pointer.
In addition, Kaluma showed a fluid handle when teams overplayed him as a shooter. In the clip below, he receives a flare screen with his defender in a lock-and-trail position. After faking his defender, he catches on a curl, drives, and finds his teammate for a lob at the basket.
On lower volume, Kaluma also ran some actions as the main ball handler. Skilled enough to attack off the dribble and creatively finish at the basket, he comes off the inverted screen and gets downhill. A long euro step through the lane leads to the reverse layup on the other end.
In addition to being red hot from three, Kaluma shot an efficient 15-20 (75%) on his two-point attempts in Vegas. The offensive package is clearly there, and it will only be more empowered next to high-level playmakers, which was the lone blind spot on the Lakers’ summer roster.
Where he and the other end-of-the-roster players will earn their minutes is on the defensive end. Summer League isn’t exactly the situation for perfect defensive evaluation, but there’s a definite toolbox to work with.
Kaluma defended multiple positions, at times getting beat off the dribble while other times showcasing his quick feet to stay with his matchup. He transitioned from end to end quickly, and a chase-down block shown below exhibited his athleticism.
In his five breakout games in Vegas, Kaluma averaged 18.6 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 50% on his 3-pointers. His stellar performance was promptly rewarded with a two-way roster spot.
LA has clearly gone with a youth movement over the summer with their additions. With reports of talks on a Jonathan Kuminga signing stalling, there are minutes to possibly be had. If Kaluma proves the Summer League shooting to be real, his athletic profile gives a real pathway to potential minutes next season.
On the day he turned 46, and 360 days after earning induction to the Hall of Fame, CC Sabathia witnessed his son's baseball dream live on.
Carsten Sabathia, a first baseman who played collegiately at Georgia Tech and Houston, signed a contract wtih the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday, July 21.
The younger Sabathia, a 6-4, 240-pound right-handed hitter, was chosen in the 20th round with the third-to-last pick in the draft earlier this month. He joins a franchise that famously acquired CC Sabathia in 2008 and then rode his left arm to a surprise berth in the playoffs. Sabathia signed with the New York Yankees and won the World Series with them the following year.
Yet Sabathia has retained a fondness for the Brewers organization and the club took a flier on his son, who batted .283 with six home runs and an .883 OPS for the Cougars last season. He also played 11 games with Trenton in the MLB Draft League before he was selected.
Sabathia combined with AJ Burnett and fellow lefty Andy Pettitte to start every game of the Yankees' 2009 World Series run. Pettitte's son, Luke, was also selected in this month's draft, the Yankees picking the two-way player in the eighth round.
Humphreys Peak, Arizona, 1960s. (Photo by Erich Andres/United Archives via Getty Images)
Today’s Lineups
ATHLETICS
DIAMONDBACKS
Jacob Wilson – SS
Ketel Marte – 2B
Tyler Soderstrom – LF
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Shea Langeliers – DH
Corbin Carroll – RF
Carlos Cortes – RF
Gabriel Moreno – DH
Donovan Walton – 2B
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Tommy White – 3B
Ildemaro Vargas – 1B
Jeff McNeil – 1B
James McCann – C
Lawrence Butler – CF
Tim Tawa – CF
Jonah Heim – C
Ryan Waldschmidt – LF
Gage Jump – LHP
Merrill Kelly – RHP
Just a short intro today, what with it being a day game and all. Though as last night proved, it’s not as if anyone reads these things… [Sobs gently into keyboard] We could very much use a long outing from Merrill Kelly today. The bullpen is definitely wheezing, and the originally scheduled off-day tomorrow is now a make-up game in St. Louis. I definitely think we will see Gerardo Carrillo make his major-league debut today. Beyond that? Jonathan Loaisiga and Brandyn Garcia should be available, but I imagine Torey Lovullo would like to try and stay away from just about everyone else, as far as possible. Hopefully, by the end of the day that third wild-card spot will be purely ours…
In many ways, Philadelphia Flyers defensemen David Jiricek and Jamie Drysdale are similar, but only time will tell if their careers will pan out the same way.
Jiricek, 22, and Drysdale, 24, are former No. 6 overall picks: the former in 2022, and the latter in 2020. Both Flyers were conscripted into NHL service early--probably too early--by the teams that drafted them, which put them at a disadvantage developmentally.
Due to injury, and things just generally not working out on the ice, Drysdale was traded to the Flyers in exchange for a young, future top-six winger in Cutter Gauthier, as well as a 2025 second-round pick.
Jiricek's path was slightly different in that he was healthy but in and out of the lineup and up and down from the AHL; Columbus eventually traded him to Minnesota for Daemon Hunt and first-, second-, third-, and fourth-round picks, respectively.
Just over a year later, Jiricek, too, found his way to Philadelphia, getting flipped by Minnesota for Bobby Brink ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline.
Drafted two years apart, the two defensemen join the Flyers two years apart. Heading into the 2023-24 season, the year the Flyers acquired him, Drysdale had played 89 NHL games, scoring four goals, 28 assists, and 32 points with a -29 rating.
Jiricek, heading into his first full season with the Flyers in 2026-27 season, has played 85 NHL games, scoring two goals, 11 assists, and 13 points with a -8 rating. They have had very similar careers through their first 80-odd games.
The main difference between the two, at least when it comes to production and rating, is that Drysdale was thrown to the wolves in a big role from Day 1, whereas Jiricek has largely been forced to play sheltered minutes, which require him to play to avoid mistakes instead of learning on the job.
Drysdale, two years on, has quickly come into his own as an NHL defenseman. Even John Tortorella was willing to live with his warts for the greater purpose of player development.
New head coach Rick Tocchet hasn't always shown that same willingness; Matvei Michkov barely played last season, and Emil Andrae never quite established himself as an NHL regular despite handily outplaying his peers.
To that end, the Flyers were by and large considered to be rebuilders throughout Tortorella's reign, but expectations are higher now that the Flyers have made the playoffs, and won a round, in Year 1 of Tocchet.
Jiricek needs time and patience, given his inexperience, and it bears noting that he is playing for his third organization in four years, entailing yet another system change.
The Czech defenseman has obvious talent, and the Flyers are hoping his booming shot and offensive chops will make a difference on the abhorrent power play.
However, the question is, will he get plenty of opportunity and freedom to make his mark as Drysdale did the previous two years, or will Jiricek continue to be trotted out in limited minutes in fear of a big mistake?
DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 17: Brady Singer #51 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Brady Singer has operated almost inverse of the Cincinnati Reds so far in this 2026 season. As the club jumped out to a ridiculously lucky 20-11 start to campaign, it was Singer who was struggling – he picked up a blister problem late in spring camp and it seemed to impact both his pitch mix and ability to fully execute what he could throw through the first month or so of the year.
Through April he’d pitched to a 4.97 ERA. By the end of May, he was up to a brutal 6.18 ERA.
As the Reds began to completely crash and burn, though, Singer somehow managed to remember how to be an effective big league starting pitcher once again. Since his first start in the month of June, he’s pitched to a 2.76 ERA/3.83 FIP with 46 strikeouts across 45.2 IP (8 starts), and has manifested himself once again as a top trade chip on a Reds roster that is destined for overhaul any day now.
A free agent at season’s end, Singer has consistently shown again this year that he’s durable enough to take the ball each and every fifth day, and that paired with his return to form means just about any club out there trying to make the extended push deep into the playoffs will be in the market for his services before the August 3rd deadline. So, as he gets the start for Cincinnati on Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners in the series finale, we once again get to steel ourselves to the fact that we may well be watching him on the mound in a Reds uniform for the final time.
The Reds will look to take the series win after besting old friend Luis Castillo in last night’s 4-2 victory, and they’ll attempt to do so by going through righty Emerson Hancock. First pitch is set for 3:40 PM ET.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 15: Jalen Brunson accepts the Best Championship Performance award onstage during the 2026 ESPY Awards at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on July 15, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for W+P) | Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for W+P
Even before winning last season’s NBA title, the New York Knicks long ago established themselves as one of the Association’s flagship franchises. Knickerbockers have been All-Stars going back to 1951, when Vince Boryla, Harry Gallatin and Dick McGuire were all selected. 15 different Knicks have been named to All-NBA teams, beginning way back in 1947-48 with Carl Braun making Second Team. No Knicks made it the season before, the Year One of American professional men’s hoops. In that first season, a Bones McKinney made BAA First Team, and is in rare company as a two-time All-NBAer who shot below 30% from the field for his career.
There’ve been Olympians, starting with Jerry Lucas in 1960 and including Bill Bradley, Charles Smith, Patrick Ewing and Carmelo Anthony. Stephon Marbury was there when the Dream Team suffered the worse loss in U.S. men’s hoops history against a certain magical island from the Caribbean.
New York has won 60-plus games twice and lost 60-plus twice (interestingly, in 80 seasons they’ve only finished .500 once), made the playoffs 47 times, been coached by a Dick, a Red and a Herb, and run by a Gordon, a Glenn and Steve Mills. Twice. They’ve played 6,269 games. They went 24 years without a title, then three, then 53. Knicks fans have seen it all. Except one thing: the best player alive wearing blue and orange.
Willis Reed is the only Knick ever to win regular-season MVP. I’ve always argued Ewing was better than people think, even compared to contemporaries of his held in higher esteem. I wrote a very wordy slider piece for FanSided early in my career ranking the ‘92 Dream Teamers and had the audacity to rank Ewing fourth, behind the three you can guess and David Robinson. Reader, Ewing was better than the Admiral. But that’s another argument for another day.
The Knicks winning the title this year cast a lot of my prior facts and feelings in new light. The ‘90s Knicks, for example, are already mutating a bit in terms of their meaning to me, because for most of my life they represented an apex. But now that I’ve seen the mountaintop, the surrounding landscape hits different.
The best player on Earth today is Jalen Brunson. Full stop. Don’t believe me? Let’s go for a ride among the other leading candidates and see how and why JB is the GOAT.
STEPH CURRY
Not gonna lie: being the only NBA player ever with your own exhibit in the Hall of Famewhile you’re still active is a pretty sick flex. Steph isn’t merely a first-ballot HOFer; his ballots should arrive in the mail with his name already circled. And for most of the time his career has overlapped with Brunson’s, Curry’s been ahead of him and virtually everyone else.
But I’m writing this in 2026, not 2020. Golden State hasn’t won 50 games since Kemba Walker was a Knick. That’s not Curry’s fault, but he’s missed 85 games in that span. They’ve won as many playoff series since (2) as years they’ve missed the playoffs. He’s nearly a decade older than Brunson, yet in all that time only won two championships as his team’s best player. Brunson’s already halfway there, nipping on his heels with one.
LEBRON JAMES
LeBron is fortysomething; on any title contender he would be — at best — their third-best player, maybe fourth. Brunson, still twentysomething, is the most valuable player on the defending champions, something James hasn’t been since 2020. Plus James has grown more and more annoying as a public figure over time, while Brunson is easier to love than puppies. Also, James is built like a Sherman tank while Brunson is closer to a fire hydrant. Clearly the Knick star is doing far more with less. And we aren’t constantly bombarded with who-gives-a-**** updates from Brunson’s agent. Advantage JB.
CADE CUNNINGHAM
Call back when he gets a legit second banana and beats a two-way team in the playoffs.
LUKA DONČIĆ
I love Luka. A few years ago, he was the one player in the league I’d have moved heaven and earth and whatever else it took to bring him to the Knicks. But he hasn’t played for a team that’s won a playoff round since he was still a Dallas Maverick. And he was traded for garbage. So he’s clearly got some work to do. Also, I bet you he misses having Brunson alongside him. You think at any point last year Brunson thought “Wish Luka were here?” Fat chance.
NIKOLA JOKIĆ
Back in 2020, Jokić averaged 9.7 rebounds per game. Had he added another three tenths, he’d currently be on nine consecutive seasons averaging a double-double; last year was his second straight averaging a triple-double. Russell Westbrook did the latter three years in a row and four outta five, but doing so while shooting below 45% from the field and 30% from deep dings a little of that luster. By contrast, 2020 is the last time Jokić shot below 57% from the field, while his 36% career mark from deep is more accurate than any single season of Westbrook’s.
It isn’t Jokić‘s fault that he plays for such cheapskate owners in Denver. It also isn’t his fault that he’s about a foot taller than Brunson. If he were a foot shorter, you think he’d be nearly as good? HA! Now, take Brunson’s postgame and footwork and added 11 inches to his height, and whaddya got? An even GOATier GOAT.
SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER
SGA couldn’t handle the same Spurs team Brunson put in a blender during the Finals. And for all the deserved heat Wembanyama took for his “ethical basketball” tripe before assaulting multiple playoff opponents, the truth is the biggest difference between the Thunder and the Knicks (besides Jalen Williams being injured and OG Anunoby not) is that Gilgeous-Alexander used his skills to try and draw fouls, while Brunson used his to try and make shots.
Or maybe the biggest difference was SGA shooting 29% from deep while Brunson canned 39%. I dunno. All I know is the Thunder are always at the top of power rankings, they have the deepest roster in human history and 39,737 draft picks this decade, and even with homecourt advantage they couldn’t beat the same team the Knicks beat without it. So how good could SGA be, really?
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 06: Bradley Beal #0 of the LA Clippers reacts to a three-point shot during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on November 06, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the offseason’s dry period, where the lasting impressions of Summer League hoops have come and gone, left in the rearview by LeBron’s final “decision” and a rumor mill that at this stage in the summer, feels more like bored gossip than true reporting.
But we recently did get a Celtics-related nugget from reporter Jake Fischer, who took to a Bleacher Report live stream to talk about potential happenings around the league, including that of 33-year-old free agent Bradley Beal.
“I was told today that Bradley Beal’s decision is not exactly being held up by LeBron, but is being impacted by it,” Fischer said. “I do think there’s some Miami interest there, and I would not rule out Boston for Beal because of the connection with Jayson Tatum.”
Okay so, obviously that’s still just a speculative guess based around Beal’s long-standing relationship with Jayson Tatum. Probably not something to put all that much stock in, but we’re already here, so let’s talk about it.
Around this time last offseason, it was rumors of Ben Simmons interest that got us talking in the dead heat of the summer, even if they ultimately came from an unreliable/fraudulent Twitter source in which nothing came out of it.
In a nutshell, this is the same conversation. A former All-Star with the baggage of being glued to one of the worst contracts in the league and consistently marred by injuries is now available for the low, low price of a bag of chips and a ham sandwich (also known as the veteran minimum).
The logic is the same as the Simmons discourse last year. You take all that baggage into account, but at the end of the day, a vet minimum contract makes those concerns significantly less grave. Player perception is important, and Beal, like Simmons, has terrible perception among the fan community, further dug in by an immediate season-ending injury 6 games into the 2025-26 season.
What’s also worth mentioning is that, as it currently stands, singing Beal would put Boston back over the dreaded tax line they’ve worked so hard to avoid. However, another move can be made to get back under the tax, so that’s not as dire as it sounds.
Never know how much pull Tatum could have for his long-time friend, but Bradley Beal's 1yr vet minimum is $2.4M, which even at its discounted rate would push C's over the tax line. Is he a slam dunk to play on this roster? Major crunch at wing spots already. Don't see him coming.
But what do you get from Beal in his current state? A left hip fracture took him out six games into his season with the Clippers, and he played 53 contests in each of the prior two seasons, but he hasn’t played 60 or more since 2020-21.
Last year doesn’t give us much to work with in terms of on-court contributions, so let’s move to the previous season, where the Suns got Beal for 53 regular season games and four in the first round of the playoffs.
Despite sharing his high shot volume with two other All-Stars, he was exactly what we’ve come to expect over his 14-year career.
It was the lowest shot volume of his NBA career outside of his rookie season, but he was efficient in those opportunities (50/39/80 splits). He was also a fine playmaker (3.7 assists to 2 turnovers) and a negative defender (his -1.0 Defensive Box Plus-Minus is right on par with his -0.9 DBPM career average).
He’s still an impressively skillful shot creator that can work well on and off the ball, but what he offers outside of that is mostly a bare cupboard. And I say this as someone who has had to watch a lot of Beal basketball over the years, both because the Wizards are my local market team and because I interned for a media company that had me run Beal’s website for a year (they made me refer to him as “Brad” or “BB” a lot in those posts, I never got used to that).
The biggest thing I’m considering is what Beal would look like on the floor next to someone like Tatum, a star that can completely dictate the game and draws significant defensive attention into his orbit.
Beal has always been a strong off-ball shooter. He’s good on pindowns and flare screens as an off-the-catch threat, and he wraps around handoffs with the intent to attack, showing consistent touch on pull-ups in the mid-range.
In his final season in Phoenix, he maintained positive scoring efficiency across the three levels of the halfcourt. He was a 74% rim finisher (85th percentile according to Basketball Index), a 46% shooter on mid-range pullups (77th percentile), and a 39% shooter on threes (37% above the break, 41% on catch-and-shoots, and 41% from the corners). Even as his stock as a star has plummeted, Beal is still, at the end of the day, a more than capable bucket-getter.
I feel confident that Beal would be a plus offensive presence, but I’m also confident that you’d actively have to hide him defensively. No available name on the market is perfect at this point, but if you can’t hold up on the defensive end when there are other wings and backcourt options on the roster that have proven to be capable on that side of the floor, do we think Joe Mazzulla would trust that the good on offense outweighs the bad on defense?
Whether you fall on the side of “why not, sure” or “God no,” I think what we can all agree on is there are no handcuffs in this scenario. Beal on a veteran minimum is possibly the easiest thing to move off of. A signing today does not mean a roster spot past the trade deadline. If you’re bringing Beal onboard to provide a bench scoring boost and it doesn’t work out, chances are you won’t have to deal with it for too much longer. And if it does work out? That’s a professional scorer on a good short-term contract.
We shouldn’t pretend that Bradley Beal in 2026 moves the needle significantly in either direction, but the Celtics could use more scoring punch off the bench and they could afford to add another cheap backcourt option.
If I’m being honest, it feels unlikely that this move will happen, especially if it ends up as a decision between Boston or Miami.
Miami provides a more guaranteed opportunity for high volume and is kind of desperate for proven scorers to round out its roster. Boston is not in a desperate place. Signing Beal would be a small-scale luxury move with low risk/high reward potential.
In Boston, he wouldn’t be brought in under the expectation of being a 20-point scorer. He’s more likely to be asked to be a 20-minute player (he played exactly 20.2 minutes per game in his brief Clippers stint).
I enjoy narratives of character redemption or shifting perceptions. Beal would have that opportunity to change the tune around the back-half of his career with a good season in Boston, and I can support that.
DENVER, CO - JULY 21: Cole Carrigg #16 of the Colorado Rockies steals second base in the second inning during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The series is up for grabs in Denver after Hunter Goodman’s home run broke the Nats hearts. This is a massive game for the Nats, who need to stay in the mix as the trade deadline looms. Staying above .500 and winning a series is pivotal for this team’s playoff chances.
Curtis Mead will be taken out of the lineup today, with Jorbit Vivas taking his place at third. Dylan Crews will also take Jacob Young’s spot in center field. Those are the only two changes that Blake Butera is making ahead of this must win game. Cade Cavalli will be on the mound, looking to build on a good first start out of the break.
welcome to the lineup club it's where we post the lineup and you read it
With a righty on the mound, the Rockies are making some lineup tweaks. We will see Eduard Julien and Brett Sullivan for the first time. Mickey Moniak will also be moved up to the 2 spot. The versatile Willi Castro will play short, replacing the struggling Tovar. Rookie Gabriel Hughes will be making the start for the Rockies.
These next four games will reveal a lot about what direction the Nats will go. They play the Rockies today and then start a massive three game series against the D-Backs, who are also in the middle of the wild card hunt. There will be a lot more clarity after that stretch. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats.
Gage Jump gets the start today in the rubber match with the Arizona Diamondbacks. | Getty Images
The A’s will make a second stab at a series win this afternoon at Chase Field in Phoenix against the Arizona Diamondbacks. After taking the first game of the series 5-2 and then dropping last night’s matchup 6-5 in ten innings, the A’s will go for the win before heading to Minnesota to finish the road trip against the Twins.
Starting today for the Kelly-Green and Gold will be Gage Jump. Jump, the 23-year-old lefty is currently 3-5 with a 3.78 ERA over ten starts in 2026. He’ll go up against 37-year-old righty Merrill Kelly for the D-backs. Kelly is 8-7 with a 5.20 ERA over t17 starts this season. He’s struck out sixty-two opponents in 98.2 innings.
Kelly will match up with this lineup for Mark Kotsay’s A’s today:
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - MARCH 11: Josuar Gonzalez #2 of the San Francisco Giants looks on during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Just five games for the San Francisco Giants Minor League Baseball affiliates on Tuesday, as AA Richmond had their game postponed due to weather, while the Dominican Summer League squads faced off against each other. We’ll throw in Monday’s rookie ball games into this recap as well, especially since those seasons are wrapping up.
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
A few moves. Most notably and excitingly, there was a rise up the catcher ranks, as Adrián Sugastey was promoted from AA Richmond to AAA Sacramento, while Jancel Villarroel (No. 42 CPL) was promoted from High-A Eugene to Richmond. It’s very exciting for both players, as Sugastey had spent a very long time in Richmond before getting this call, while Villarroel has had a blissful debut season in the Giants organization following a trade right before spring training. Tying up that domino effect is Daniel Rogers, who was promoted from Low-A San Jose to Eugene. Meanwhile, San Jose outfielder Cam Maldonado (No. 34 CPL) was activated off the Injured List.
Infielder Zane Zielinski was sent down from Richmond to Eugene, while first baseman Robert Hipwell was demoted from Eugene to San Jose. Richmond RHP Dylan Hecht was released.
Down in the DSL, the Giants had three players selected to the All-Star Game: RHP Omar Calcurian, and infielders Keiberg Camacaro and Albert Jimenez. Manager Ian MacDonald was also selected to the team.
AAA Sacramento (52-42)
Sacramento River Cats beat the Oklahoma City Comets (Dodgers) 7-3 Box score
All the attention in Sacramento right now is on a pair of newcomers, outfielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL) and third baseman Parks Harber (No. 17 CPL). But it was a different newcomer who stole the spotlight on Tuesday, as the star of the game was catcher Adrián Sugastey, who was making his AAA debut.
It’s been a long journey to the highest rung on the Minor League ladder for Sugastey. It’s been over 7 years since the Giants first signed the righty out of Panama, and he’d spent 3 years in AA trying to earn a promotion to Sacramento. At times, he was one of the top catching prospects in the organization, though that label has dissipated a bit over the years.
Sugastey finally got the call to AAA this week. And while it was largely logistical — San Francisco currently has 3 rookie catchers on their roster, and DFA’d both Eric Haase and Logan Porter, leaving only Zach Morgan and utility player Thomas Gavello to serve as AAA backstops — it’s also deserved. Sugastey has made some gains in AA this year, with a .275 batting average that towers over the last 2 years (.231 and .210). That led to a .715 OPS and a 91 wRC+, and while those aren’t stellar numbers for a 23-year old in AA, it’s worth remembering that Sugastey is a tremendous catcher whose calling card is his defense and leadership. You only need to be able to fake it to have a career as a backup when you can throw out runners the way Sugastey does.
He didn’t throw out any runners in his AAA debut (though he didn’t allow any stolen bases either), but he did catch a fantastic pitching performance, holding a potent Comets offense to 3 runs, all of which came in one rough inning (the 8th) off of one struggling pitcher (LHP Nick Zwack).
And in the batter’s box? Sugastey made his Sacramento introduction by hitting 2-4 with a solo home run. He’s not a big power guy, but that had to feel good! Welcome to AAA!
Also homering was designated hitter Will Brennan, who had an otherwise poor day, hitting 1-5 with 2 strikeouts. Brennan has been on quite a tear since getting designated for assignment, hitting 29-97 with 2 home runs and 9 doubles during that time. Still and all, hard to see him getting another chance in the Majors for the Giants, given how many outfielders they have.
Speaking of which, right fielder Turner Hill and center fielder Scott Bandura both had lovely games in which they hit 2-4 and stole a base. Hill’s game was particularly delightful, as both of his hits went for extra-bases: a triple and a double. The 27-year old lefty has been utterly unfazed by AAA, posting an .890 OPS and a 135 wRC+, while striking out just 8.4% of the time, and swiping 20 bags in 23 attempts. Say what you will about the Giants season, but they’ve had some tremendous developmental successes with relatively unheralded outfield prospects this year!
Hill and Bandura (who now has a .780 OPS, a 108 wRC+, and 10 stolen bases in 11 attempts) are names to watch through the trade deadline … not because they’re likely to be traded, but because they’re possibly next up should the Giants decide to trade some of the many outfielders on the 40-man roster.
As for the aforementioned newcomers, Harber hit 2-4 with a walk and a strikeout, while Davidson had a tough day, going 0-5 with 2 Ks. Oddly, Davidson was in left field again … he’s played the corners in all 4 of his AAA games, despite coming up through the Minors strictly as a center fielder (and earning some pretty good reviews there). San Francisco’s current weakness is in center, so it doesn’t really make sense to think he’s getting prepped for a debut, but maybe this is to make sure he’s comfortable at all 3 outfield positions, so that Tony Vitello can deploy him wherever should that call come? Who knows.
Speaking of things I don’t fully understand, we had a pitcher switcheroo! RHP Trent Harris (No. 29 CPL), who entered the year as one of the organization’s top relief prospects, and LHP Joe Whitman (No. 26 CPL) who entered as one of the top starting prospects, pitched in reverse roles this year. Harris got the start, and while it wasn’t an earnest starting pitching performance, he was given enough of a workload to make you wonder if the Giants are actually moving him in that direction … in all, Harris threw 37 pitches en route to 3 stellar scoreless innings, giving up just 1 baserunner (a single) while striking out 4. Fantastic!
Despite a brutal start to the year, Harris has brought his ERA down to 3.78 (albeit with a 4.89 FIP), as he’s been quite good lately. The 4.6 walks per 9 innings are still quite high, but the 10.5 strikeouts are a delight to look at.
As for Whitman, it was another relief outing following a surprising, unexplained move to the bullpen 2 weeks ago. He struck out 2 batters in 1.1 scoreless innings, though he did allow 3 singles along the way. I would still assume that the Giants view his future as a starter, given the year he had, but … given the year they’ve had, I won’t pretend to have any idea what the Giants are ever doing.
Nice outings for a pair of veterans, as LHP Reiver Sanmartin gave up just 1 hit and 0 runs in 2.2 innings, with a strikeout, while RHP Michael Fulmer tossed a perfect frame with 2 Ks. Sanmartin has a 3.97 ERA and a 4.45 FIP, while Fulmer is rocking a 3.29 ERA and a 3.26 FIP.
High-A Eugene (55-36)
Eugene Emeralds beat the Everett AquaSox (Mariners) 13-8 Box score
Baseball is definitely a funny sport. Eugene had an offensive explosion, getting 15 hits on the day, with everyone in the lineup getting a hit except, naturally, the best hitting prospect on the team by a mile, shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL), who went 0-5 with a walk. So it goes. Funny sport.
There were a lot of great days, and that was highlighted by a continued hot streak from third baseman Walker Martin, who hit 1-2 with a solo home run, 3 walks, and 1 strikeout.
On the whole, it’s been a very disappointing year for Walker, the team’s 2nd-round pick in 2022, as he has just a .734 OPS, a 93 wRC+, a 33.1% strikeout rate, and 20 errors (his defense looks a little better than that mark would suggest, but not great). But he’s been a bit better lately, and in his last 4 games is hitting 6-12 with 2 homers, a double, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Here’s hoping he can end the year on a very high note.
And on the note of players who are on heaters, great days for both designated hitter Carlos Gutierrez (No. 18 CPL) and right fielder Jakob Christian (No. 40 CPL). Gutierrez, a lefty, went 2-4 with a double, 2 walks, and a stolen base, bringing him up to an .827 OPS and a 124 wRC+ on the year, with 21 stolen bases in 23 attempts. The soon-to-turn 22-year old’s season has really flown under the radar following his breakout last year, in part because his outstanding contact has come down a little (though his strikeout rate remains under 20%). He’s slowly building the average back up, though (it’s at .268 now) and, excitedly, that’s not coming at the expense of his new-found power or his walks (he’s raised his walk rate year-over-year from 12.6% to 14.6%, while his isolated slugging mark of .180 towers over last year’s Low-A mark of .101). Gutierrez is on quite a hot streak, as he’s hit safely in 11 of the last 12 games, and has gone 17-42 in that span, with 6 doubles, 12 walks, and just 9 strikeouts.
As for Christian, a righty, he went 2-4 with a triple, a walk, a hit by pitch, and a strikeout. The soon-to-turn 24-year old, who was taken in the 5th round of the 2024 draft, is having a bit of a funny season, in line with past ones: he’s drawing a ton of walks (12.5% rate), and showing off absurd power (.239 isolated slugging), which is leading to a very nice line (.865 OPS, 129 wRC+). But he’s also currently repping a 32.9% strikeout rate and … well … yeah. That’s pretty ugly for an A-ball hitter who is older than his peers at the level. Still, a lot of tools are in that shed, and Christian is hitting a blistering .298/.389/.660 so far in July.
A pair of recently-promoted players shined, as second baseman Isaiah Barkett hit 3-6 with a 2-run home run and a strikeout, while left fielder Jose Astudillo went 2-3 with a walk and 2 stolen bases. There weren’t high expectations for either player coming into the year — Barkett was a 10th-round pick in last year’s draft, while Astudillo was a soft-contact outfielder coming off a good, if not emphatic stateside debut. But the 22-year olds have absolutely run with the year, as both have displayed brilliant contact ability, more power than expected, and outstanding speed and defense. They very much earned their promotions, and each has made the most of it so far.
Rounding out the dinger party was first baseman Zander Darby, who hit 2-5 with a 2-run home run, a walk, and 2 strikeouts. Like Christian, Darby, a 12th-round pick in 2024, has shown off some good power but with far too many strikeouts … the overall numbers aren’t quite as compelling for the lefty, though, as he has a .767 OPS and a 104 wRC+ on the year.
That was a lot of words about the hitters, which works out to everyone’s benefit because no one wants to hear about the pitchers in this game. RHPs Cade Vernon and Cole Hillier were not sharp at all, while RHP Liam Simon’s walk woes continued after a very brief hiatus. The best outing belonged to LHP Esmerlin Vinicio, who struck out 3 batters in 3 innings with 0 walks, but did give up 4 hits and a run. Vinicio, a 23-year old, has a 3.11 ERA and a 3.69 FIP on the season.
Low-A San Jose (54-37)
San Jose Giants lost to the Ontario Tower Buzzers (Dodgers) 6-2 Box score
A very uninteristing game. We can breeze through this one quite quickly. The offense only provided 5 hits on the day. The best day belonged to first baseman Robert Hipwell, who was perhaps angry about being sent down to Low-A, and took his aggression out on the baseball, as he went 2-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
There’s no fun way to say this, but things aren’t looking good for the Santa Clara alum, and you have to wonder if his time with the organization is nearing an end. He had some good hype when the Giants drafted him in the 6th round in 2024, and paid him accordingly, and he played well after being drafted, posting a .762 OPS and a 109 wRC+ with San Jose. He began his first full season back in San Jose, and, unfortunately, ended up spending the entire year there. The overall numbers were good (.824 OPS, 126 wRC+), but they came with a concerning strikeout rate (31.2%).
Still, the move for 2026 was obvious: give the lefty a challenge in High-A and see what happens. What happened was, unfortunately, an even more damning strikeout rate (40.9%) that led to an average well below the Mendoza Line (.161), and a very poor overall line (.619 OPS, 79 wRC+). Add in the fact that he’s pretty much exclusively a first baseman these days, after being a third baseman out of college, and it’s hard to see a path forward barring some extreme developmental steps.
Shortstop Lorenzo Meola (No. 23 CPL) continued his hot streak, going 1-4 with a double. He’s up to a stunning 14 extra-base hits in July, with a .417/.493/.833 slash line. A stunning month! And just like that, his full season debut features an .817 OPS and a 101 wRC+ … not great numbers for last year’s 4th-round pick, but far better than they were early in the year, and they’re accompanied by awesome defense.
RHP Trey Seeley had a nice showing while getting the start, as he struck out 5 batters in 4 innings with 0 walks, while giving up just 2 hits and 1 run. It’s been a tough debut season for last year’s 14th-round pick, as he has just an 8.17 ERA and a 7.90 FIP, but this was not only one of his better outings, but his longest outing too (he hadn’t even pitched 3 innings before this start). Seeley really lives in the strike zone, for better and for worse: he has 12.1 strikeouts and just 3.6 walks per 9 innings … but in 25.1 frames has allowed 29 hits and 9 home runs.
Arizona Complex League (34-25)
Monday: ACL Giants lost to the ACL Rockies 12-7 (6 innings) [box score] Tuesday: ACL Giants beat the ACL Cubs 6-0 (7 innings) [box score]
The ACL season is in its final week, and soon we’ll find out if top prospects Josuar González (No. 2 CPL) and Luis Hernández (No. 6 CPL) will be headed to Low-A to test their mettle against better pitchers. I think the answer both should be, and will be “yes,” but just in case, that pair put together another audition these last few days.
It was a particularly notable performance for González, as he had been “slumping” (by his standards) lately … so this was a welcome sight, as he hit 2-7 with a home run, a walk, a stolen base, and a strikeout. Quite a performance! González, who is widely considered a top-25 prospect now, is sitting on a .975 OPS and a 140 wRC+ in his stateside debut. The 18-year old switch-hitter is doing it all: he’s hitting for average (.344), he’s drawing walks (16.8%), he’s limiting strikeouts (21.0%), he’s showing off power (.177 ISO), and he’s stealing bases (8 in 10 attempts over 29 games). And that’s without mentioning his elite shortstop defense, though he played second base in both of these games.
It was Hernández who handled shortstop, and he hit 3-7 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, and a strikeout. Hernández’s numbers are, understandably, a touch below González’s, as he has a .921 OPS and a 117 wRC+. But if you’re not impressed by a 17-year old shortstop in their debut season, after skipping the DSL, putting up a .297 average with just a 16.7% strikeout rate, then I don’t know what to tell you!!!
Anyway, as much as I’m loving watching Meola put it all together and show off the web in San Jose, I sure hope this duo is headed up there to steal some reps soon.
A great performance from catcher Yohendry Sanchez, who hit 2-3 with 2 doubles and a walk on Monday, but didn’t play on Tuesday. Sanchez, who was a big signing in 2024 but was mediocre in 2 years in the DSL, is hitting way better in the ACL this year than in the DSL a year ago … it’s a season that’s flown under the radar due to Hernández and González, but Sanchez has an .880 OPS and a 134 wRC+ with just a 9.2% strikeout rate in 20 games on the complex, and the 19-year old plays some damn good defense behind the dish, too. Very exciting stuff!
The pitching on Monday was awful, particularly for RHP Luke Mensik, the team’s 17th-round pick a year ago … he only recorded 2 outs, while allowing 3 hits, 2 walks, and 2 hit batters, committing 2 errors, and ceding 7 runs. Shake it off, Luke.
It was much better on Tuesday, with RHPs Kendry Castro and Marlon Franco absolutely dealing. Castro, a 19-year old who recently received the very rare international in-season promotion, pitched 2.2 no-hit innings with 2 walks and 1 strikeout in his 2nd appearance in the ACL following 5 games in the DSL this year. Franco, a 23-year old, pitched 3.1 no-hit innings with just 1 walk and 5 strikeouts. Dominance! Hopefully there’s more of that in the tank, because this is Franco’s 6th professional season and he has just a 7.15 ERA and a 4.92 FIP on the year.
A pair of rehab appearances: on the mound, AA RHP Ben Peterson kicked off a rehab assignment by striking out 1 in a perfect inning; in the box, Low-A first baseman Hayden Jatczak began a rehab stint by hitting 1-2.
Dominican Summer League Black (21-14)
Monday: DSL Giants Black beat DSL Arizona Red 8-7 [box score] Tuesday: DSL Giants Black beat DSL Giants Orange 7-2 (7 innings) [box score]
These games were all about the offense for the DSL Giants Black team. And really, they were all about a trio of hitters, who were the stars in both games: shortstop Keiberg Camacaro, center fielder Djean Macares, and left fielder Franco Willias.
Camacaro had the most explosive pair of games, hitting 3-7 with home runs in each contest, while also drawing a walk, getting hit by a pitch, stealing 2 bases, and striking out once. What a performance! The 19-year old is already in his 4th DSL season, but things are finally clicking: his .321 average is nearly .100 points better than his career high, while his .229 isolated slugging is nearly triple what it was last year. He’s cut his strikeout rate year-over-year by nearly 10 percentage points, and he’s stolen 19 bases … after just 22 total in his 3 prior seasons. The result is a 1.011 OPS, a 148 wRC+, and perhaps a plane ticket to Arizona when February rolls around.
Macares went 3-5 with 2 doubles, 3 walks, a hit by pitch, a stolen base, and an outfield assist. A little bit of everything! The 18-year old has made huge strides in his 2nd year, with large statistical improvements in quite literally every category. He was a decent-sized signing last year, so when you add that to his up-the-middle position and, most importantly, his performance (.800 OPS, 117 wRC+, 17 stolen bases), it seems all but guaranteed that he’ll make a stateside debut in 2027.
As for Willias, he didn’t supply the extra-base thunder that Camacaro and Macares did, but he went 3-7 with a walk, a hit by pitch, and 4 stolen bases. The 21-year old was solid in his 1st 2 DSL campaigns, but this year has really taken off, with a .996 OPS, a 144 wRC+, and 21 stolen bases.
One pitcher to highlight: RHP Brayan Cabello, who continued his brilliant run suppression, giving up just 1 hit, 0 walks, and 0 runs in 2.2 innings, with 3 strikeouts. Cabello has only allowed 12 hits in 26.1 innings, which has given him a 1.37 ERA (albeit with a 4.03 FIP, as he’s not striking out too many batters). That said, he’s a 22-year old in his 5th DSL season.
Dominican Summer League Orange (21-15)
Monday: DSL Giants Orange beat DSL Arizona Black 9-4 (7 innings) [box score] Tuesday: DSL Giants Orange lost to DSL Giants Black 7-2 (7 innings) [box score]
It was mostly the pitching that stood out for the Giants Orange team, especially on Monday when there were a pair of good performances from RHPs Jose Trevizo and Jhon Leon. Trevizo struck out 5 batters in 4 innings, while giving up 2 hits, 1 walk, and 3 unearned runs. The 18-year old, who is in his 2nd season, has a delightful 30 strikeouts against 8 walks this season, en route to a 3.58 ERA and a 3.61 FIP. Leon, a 22-year old pitching in his 3rd season, allowed 2 hits and an unearned run in 2 innings, while striking out 3 batters. He has 26 strikeouts in just 17.2 innings, which is great, but has also walked 14 batters. He has a 5.60 ERA and a 4.09 FIP on the year.
Not too much to talk about with the hitters. Shortstop/third baseman Yeison Oviedo hit quite nicely, going 3-6 with a double, 2 walks, and a stolen base, bringing him up to an .861 OPS and a 125 wRC+, with just a 13.1% strikeout rate. Huge strides for the 18-year old, who really struggled in his debut season a year ago.
Designated hitter Jesus Hernandez played sparingly, but hit 1-2 with a triple, a walk, and a strikeout. The Giants have brought along the debuting catcher, who is just 17, very slowly this year.
Home run tracker
13 — Walker Martin — [High-A] 9 — Zander Darby — [High-A] 6 — Isaiah Barkett — [1 in High-A; 5 in Low-A] 5 — Keiberg Camacaro x2 — [DSL] 4 — Adrián Sugastey — [1 in AAA; 2 in AA; 1 in ACL] 3 — Will Brennan — [AAA] 2 — Josuar González — [ACL]
Wednesday schedule
Sacramento: 12:05 p.m. PT vs. Oklahoma City (SP: TBD) Richmond: 2:35 p.m. PT doubleheader vs. Hartford (SPs: Greg Farone and Trystan Vrieling) Eugene: 7:05 p.m. PT at Everett (SP: Luis De La Torre) San Jose: 1:00 p.m. PT vs. Ontario (SP: TBD)
Reminder that almost all MiLB games can be watched on MLB TV
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 14: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a free throw during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during the 2025-26 Emirates Cup on November 14, 2025 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 2025 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
One thing is clear: no player has left a greater imprint on modern basketball than Stephen Curry.
The Golden State Warriors superstar revolutionized the NBA with his unprecedented three-point shooting, becoming the league’s all-time leader in three-pointers made while leading the Warriors to four NBA championships and earning two MVP awards.
While Curry continues to add to his resume through 17 NBA seasons, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is already honoring his impact with a historic first. On Tuesday, the Hall announced “Stephen Curry: Beyond the Arc,” a new exhibit that marks the first time in its 75-year history that an active NBA player has received a dedicated immersive experience.
He inspired a generation to dream bigger and shoot farther. Now, for the first time in its nearly 75-year history, the Hall of Fame will feature a dedicated experience honoring an active NBA player.
According to the Hall of Fame, the exhibit follows Curry’s journey from an undersized prospect to one of the greatest players in NBA history, celebrating not only his accomplishments on the court but also the impact he’s had on the game and beyond. For Curry, the recognition is a humbling honor, and he’s grateful to the Hall of Fame for telling his story while he’s still playing.
“Being part of the Basketball Hall of Fame in this way is hard to put into words,” said Stephen Curry. “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.”
It’s a fitting tribute for a player who forever changed the way basketball is played. And with Curry still going strong at 38 years old, there’s every reason to believe his story is far from over.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Wednesday, July 22nd:
“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. “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.”
“I keep hearing that my hips are stiff, so I got to figure out how to loosen up my hips,” Lendeborg said after the Warriors’ championship win. “A lot of what I’ve been hearing too is like a point-of-attack defender. … So I want to try to work on those two things, just the little things to fix that up.”
The one question Lendeborg has asked Steph Curry about is how he got his stamina up to becoming the most conditioned player in NBA history. Lendeborg has acknowledged he needs to get his conditioning to a better point after taking time off his feet from playing through two different leg injuries in Michigan’s national title run.
The Miami Heat posted a link to a scheduled live stream titled “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference” followed by the date July 27 to its YouTube channel in what a team spokesperson said was a mistake.
The spokesperson told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Tuesday that the club’s social media department was preparing for the possibility of James’ signing and mistakenly posted the link to the team’s YouTube page. The post was later deleted.
Lendeborg beat out a talented field of Summer Leaguers that included No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer and No. 4 pick Caleb Wilson, both of whom made the All-Summer League first team. Boozer averaged 18.5 points, eight rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals, while finishing second in points and third in rebounds. He’d likely have been Summer League MVP had the Grizzlies managed to close out the Warriors, but the Dubs’ Yaxel-driven rally — he scored seven straight points to take the lead — relegated the Duke forward to the lesser honor. Boozer was quite good, but the elite defense from Lendeborg and his team’s success seemed to be the tiebreaker.
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 17: Gabriel Hughes #43 of the Colorado Rockies pitches in the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field on July 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There’s been plenty of offense during this homestand at Coors Field, sometimes from one team, sometimes from both teams. Now, the Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals face off in the rubber match with a series victory on the line.
Gabriel Hughes (0-1, 3.14 ERA) will make his third start for the Rockies and second of the homestand. Hughes has looked good in his 14.1 innings of work, especially as a starting pitcher. After a quality start on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Hughes looked just as good against the Cincinnati Reds last Friday. In that start, he allowed just two runs on five hits with six strikeouts against two walks in 5.1 innings of work. The cut fastball has proven to be a bread-and-butter pitch for Hughes, but the secondary offspeed pitches have proven a bit more difficult to master. Still, Hughes has worked quickly and effectively through his first two starts, and if he can continue to take a step forward in efficiency, he is lining up to be a reliable big league starter.
The Nationals will send out one of their best starters in Cade Cavalli (6-4, 3.78 ERA). Cavalli has been effective throughout the season, particularly since May 10. Since then, he has a 3.60 ERA in 70 innings over 13 games while registering 79 strikeouts against 15 walks. His last start came on the road against the Athletics, in which he allowed two runs on four hits over six innings with nine strikeouts. This will be the first time Cavalli has faced the Rockies, but his ability to get strikeouts and not give up big hits will be a challenge for the Colorado offense.
Ty France
Wyatt Langford
Munetaka Murakami
