Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 18: Forward Impressing With Rapid Growth

It's officially another season, another prospects ranking for the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

In years past, this has been a bit easier of an exercise, as there used to be a more clear-cut line between prospects with NHL upside and longshots. However, because of the work that general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas and his staff have put in during the last several years, the line is blurring a whole lot more - and there is a substantially higher volume of talent in the system. 

This time around, making a top-20 list was challenging. So, a few criteria were put into place: To make our list, prospects must be under the age of 26 and have played less than 50 NHL games. This excludes names such as Ben Kindel, Filip Hallander, Oliver Okuliar, and Alexander Alexeyev.

At No. 19, we highlighted Kale Dach, a seventh-round center who could end up looking like a steal when all is said and done. With the next prospect on our list at 18, the situation is somewhat similar. But this is a guy who is garnering increased attention within the organization and is someone who could be ready sooner than folks think.


No. 18: LW/C Ryan Miller

Like Dach, it's not as if Miller was selected in the top-three rounds of the draft. In fact, they were actually taken in the same 2025 draft class, with Miller going in the fifth round (130th overall). He was one of three fifth-round selections by the Penguins in 2025, the others being defenseman Quinn Beauchesne and forward Jordan Charron.

On the surface, Miller's growth has been relatively quiet. He had a breakout offensive season with the Portland Winterhawks in 2025-26, registering 30 goals and 75 points in 65 games, but he still didn't garner all that much attention from fans and media.

However, his growth was about more than just offensive production. In fact, he grew in pretty much every facet of the game - and he affects the game in several different ways.

Of course, the offensive production stands out, and it came to a head during a 20-game point streak - which included eight goals and 27 points - in the first half of the WHL season last year. But what stood out more was his playmaking smarts, ability to read plays in all three zones, and him being in the driver's seat in terms of dictating play. 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 19: Forward Looking More Like Late-Round StealTop-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 19: Forward Looking More Like Late-Round StealNext up on THN's Top-20 Penguins' Prospects list is a seventh-round draft selection at center who continues to build out a two-way game and could turn out to be a late-round steal.

As the team's captain, the left winger (he also plays center but is mostly deployed on the wing) drives play offensively while also being committed to the defensive details. He is a tenacious forechecker, his skating is a big strength, and he doesn't shy away from physicality, either, making him a very tough guy to play against. 

The Penguins were extremely impressed with the steps that Miller took last season, and they believe they have something in the young forward, who is committed to one of NCAA hockey's most prestigious programs in the University of Denver next season. Miller's play last season actually earned him an amateur tryout agreement (ATO) with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) at the end of the year.

"I thought he really stood out in the two games (in WBS)," said Penguins' director of player development Tom Kostopoulos. "I thought his skating looked really powerful. His puck skills look good. He's a competitor. He might stand out in our organization among prospects of guys that want the puck, that play with hunger and a desperation to win puck battles. If [people] watched him last year in Portland, he would rip your head off to win a puck battle, and it's contagious. It moves around the lineup and everyone, it gets his linemates and teammates to buy in.

"So, he knows he's got some things to work on, but I thought he looked really good [during development camp] and looked really good in the gym and on the ice. We're really excited about the year he had... really excited about him. He's a great kid, and he's determined and hungry."

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 20: Defenseman Continues To Make Steady ProgressTop-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 20: Defenseman Continues To Make Steady ProgressLanding at No. 20 on the THN - Pittsburgh Penguins Top-20 Prospects List for 2026 is a defenseman whose growth last season lent to him rising up the ranks.

Miller pointed to his confidence as something that allowed him to take big strides last season.

"I think just being more confident as a player," Miller said. "Obviously, my teammates helped a lot, too. I have a good line. But, yeah, I think just taking a step that way, believing in myself throughout the year, and having the coaching staff behind me... they all helped me take a step this year. That was probably the biggest thing."

There is still a long way to go in order for Miller to reach the pros, but his game appears as if it will translate well to the AHL when the 19-year-old becomes eligible. Should he pan out, he should be a really solid third-line player, which will help the Penguins' depth down the line.

Keep an eye on this guy. The talent and the will is there, and it won't be surprising if he finds himself much higher on next year's list.

'It's All About Learning': Penguins' Prospect Ryan Miller Hopes To Build On Strong Season'It's All About Learning': Penguins' Prospect Ryan Miller Hopes To Build On Strong SeasonPenguins' forward prospect Ryan Miller, a fifth-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2025, put together a strong season WHL season and looks to keep building on that in the NCAA

The list so far:

No. 20:D Chase Pietila

No. 19: C Kale Dach

No. 18: LW/C Ryan Miller


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Braves vs. Marlins Chat and Discussion: Grant Holmes vs. Ryan Gusto

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 02: Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) celebrates with Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) after hitting a home run during the MLB game between the Washington Nationals and the Atlanta Braves on August 2, 2026 at TRUIST Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Atlanta Braves will be looking to continue their NL East-beating ways coming off the momentum of a four-game sweep of the Nationals… here come the Miami Marlins.

Grant Holmes gets the ball for Atlanta’s first game after the trade deadline versus Ryan Gusto at 7:15 pm ET. Join us to chat about the game (and fine, any other trade deadline-related feelings you may have remaining) in the comments.

Game Info

Pitching preview

Lineups

ICYMI

Matt Olson continues to mash, fly under the radar nationally

Alex Anthopoulos maintains that Braves “got better” despite underwhelming 2026 Trade Deadline

St. Louis Cardinals vs New York Yankees Game Discussion Tuesday

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 11: Hunter Dobbins #40 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during the second inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on June 11, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s game 2 in the Big Apple Tuesday night as the Cardinals do battle with the Yankees. The St. Louis Cardinals have announced Hunter Dobbins will be their starter for Tuesday’s game while the Yankees will give the baseball to Ryan Weathers. First pitch scheduled for 6:05pm central time at Yankee Stadium and the TV broadcast will be available via Cardinals.tv.

Here’s the Cardinals lineup according to MLB.com

  1. JJ Wetherholt (L) 2B
  2. Jordan Walker (R) RF
  3. Iván Herrera (R) DH
  4. José Fermín (R) 3B
  5. Nelson Velázquez (R) LF
  6. Masyn Winn (R) SS
  7. Blaze Jordan (R) 1B
  8. Nathan Church (L) CF
  9. Pedro Pagés (R) C

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Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Milwaukee Brewers: Jared Jones vs. Logan Henderson

PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 29: Jared Jones #17 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park on July 29, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Milwaukee Brewers, August 4, 2026, 7:40 p.m. ET

The Pittsburgh Pirates are in the second contest of a four-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers, where they hope to make up some ground in the NL Wild Card standings.

Jared Jones is drawing the start for the Pirates so far this season. He is 2-2 with a 3.81 ERA in his last start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 29. Jones pitched six innings, giving up four hits and three earned runs in a 3-0 loss at home. Jones has pitched at least six innings in three of his last four starts.

The Brewers are countering with Logan Henderson, who is making his 10th start of the year. The Brewers are 7-2 in games where he pitches, and he has won five of those decisions. In his last start on July 28 on the road against the San Francisco Giants, Henderson pitched 5.2 innings, gave up two hits, and allowed zero earned runs in an 8-2 victory for the Brew Crew.

Henderson’s last loss came on May 3, so this will be a tough matchup for the Pirates. Henderson made five starts last season for the Brewers, including one against the Pirates, where he pitched five innings.

Location: American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI

Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh

Pitching Matchup: Jared Jones (2-2, 3.81 ERA) vs. Logan Henderson (5-1, 2.66 ERA)

BD community, this is your gameday thread for today’s game. Chime off in the comments section below.

Game 114: Twins at Royals

CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 20: Starting pitcher Joe Ryan #41 of the Minnesota Twins reacts after the end of the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on July 20, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

First Pitch: 6:40 PM CDT

TV: Twins.TV

Radio: TIBN, WCCO 830, The Wolf 102.9 FM, Audacy App, LosTwins.com

Know thine enemy:Royals Review

After getting some needed pitching help at the trade deadline, the Twins will face off against the Royals. On the mound this evening will be Joe Ryan and Randy Dobnak. Last time out, Dobnak stymied the Twins lineup, tossing seven scoreless innings. For Joe, he hasn’t looked like himself in his last two starts, allowing 18 hits and 12 earned runs over 10 innings.

Today’s Lineups

TWINSROYALS
Trevor Larnach – LFCarter Jensen – C
Ryan Jeffers – CBobby Witt – SS
Josh Bell – DHJac Caglianone – 1B
Kody Clemens – 2BSalvador Perez – DH
Royce Lewis – 1BMichael Massey – 2B
Brooks Lee – 3BNick Loftin – 3B
Alan Roden – RFIsaac Collins – LF
Luke Keaschall – CFJohn Rave – RF
Ryan Kreidler – SSKyle Isbel – CF
Joe Ryan – RHPRandy Dobnak – RHP

Shaquille O’Neal’s strange excuse for why he ‘lost a family’ raises eyebrows

Los Angeles Lakers legend and four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal has been painfully candid about his family life breaking down.

During a 2022 appearance on “The Pivot” podcast, Shaq went viral for admitting regret about his role in his divorce, and added, “I was lost. 76,000 square foot house by yourself, lost. No kids, go to the gym, nobody playing in the gym. We go to their room, nobody’s there. You start to feel it.”

Shaquille O’Neal looks at the camera at a Fanatics event. Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock

Another comment Shaq made about his deteriorated family life during a conversation with his son, Shareef, on a recent episode of his “Post Moves” Netflix show is raising eyebrows on Tuesday.

Shaq was speaking to Shareef about the sacrifices it takes to play professional basketball, especially when it comes to building and sustaining a family.

“Are you ready to live that life? If you want to be great, my man, you gotta sacrifice everything. I’ve lost a family trying to be great,” O’Neal added.

Shaq’s claim that he lost a family “trying to be great” has gone viral, as fans are raising their eyebrows about how he’s seemingly using his pursuit of greatness as an excuse for the detrimental decisions he made in his personal life.

This is especially true because it appears to contradict the accountability Shaq has shown in the past. He previously admitted that his own ego-fueled decisions and mistakes has led to his present situation.

O’Neal and his ex-wife of nine years, Shaunie Henderson, finalized their divorce in 2011.

Shaquille O’Neal poses with his ex-wife and four of their children. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

“I wasn’t protecting [Shaunie] and protecting those vows,” he said about his marriage with Henderson. “Sometimes you live that double life and you get caught up in it.”

Regardless of his reasoning, it’s clear that Shaq has a lot of regret for his current family situation. But at least he’s getting to spend time with one of his six children—even if it is for the cameras.

Walt Weiss: “I trust” Alex Anthopoulos and his judgment

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 17: Manager Walt Weiss #22 of the Atlanta Braves speaks with members of the media before the game against the Texas Rangers at Truist Park on July 17, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s the day after the Trade Deadline and the Atlanta Braves are back at it. Again, it has to be mentioned that Atlanta is 22 games over .500 with a healthy-sized lead in the NL East at the moment, so it’s not all doom-and-gloom at the ballpark. With that being said, it’s totally understandable for the fans to have questions about what’s going on with the state of the squad after what turned out to be an underwhelming Trade Deadline day.

Still, manager Walt Weiss feels confident in his squad and also confident in the GM’s vision for the team going forward. He stated as much when he was asked about it in the pregame press conference ahead of their season opener with the Miami Marlins.

“I’m not going to call him and say ‘Hey, I need this…He knows,” stated Weiss. “We talk on a daily basis and over the course of the Trade Deadline […] he was keeping me in the loop of what was going on.” Weiss went on to make it very clear that he’s in favor of the job that AA is doing as GM. “Bottom line: I trust his judgment. I trust who he’s going to bring in the building and that they’ve been very well-vetted if they’re going to come in this building,” affirmed Weiss. “Whether it’s a player or a staff member or support staff. You know it’s going to be [good] people on board with you.”

On the shortstop situation

Ha-Seong Kim has finally returned from rehab assignment and while it’ll surely be nice to have Kim back (and hopefully productive), his return did spark a bit of speculation as to how the shortstop situation would unfold going forward.

Weiss has decided to stay the course with the rookie Jim Jarvis and he confirmed that Jarvis will be staying active with the squad. “Jarvis has earned some playing time. He’s going to get some reps,” said Weiss when he was asked about the shortstop situation. “You’re going to see me use [Mauricio] Dubón at short against some left-handed starters. [Ha-Seong] Kim’s back in the picture so we can see what that looks like.”

Weiss appears to see Kim’s return as a bit of an opportunity. “We got some versatility,” stated Weiss. “For the most part, I’m going to continue to look at that spot like I do everywhere else — who’s playing well, who gives us the best chance to win based on how they’re performing.”

Where does Mauricio Dubón fit in?

With shortstop being a bit crowded, that also opens up questions about where Mauricio Dubón fits into things. The obvious answer is “Wherever there’s a gap” since Dubón’s versatility has proven to be his most valuable asset as a player so far and Weiss confirmed that Dubón is still going to play a big role for the Braves going forward.

“When we first signed Dubón, [the versatility] is what we had in mind,” said Weiss. “I talked about giving these guys days and obviously Dubón was a major piece that allowed me to do that. He’s been one of our best performers. He started out as an infielder and then when [Ronald] Acuña [Jr.] went down, he’s been one of our most consistent performers — one of the guys that’s the heart and soul of our club. He’s going to continue to play a lot. I know he’s not in the lineup tonight but he’s going to continue to play a lot.”

On the catcher situation

Another sign that Weiss is starting to have some good problems to have when it comes to filling out his lineup card on a nightly basis is the return of Sean Murphy into the fold as well. When asked about where Murphy fits into things going forward, Weiss was pretty excited to talk about it.“

“At this position, I’ve caught Drake [Baldwin] against right-handed starters and DH’d him against left-handed starters. That makes the most sense obviously with [Sean Murphy] being a right-handed hitter, he gets to start against left-handed pitching. However, I don’t think he’s going to be exclusive to that,” explained Weiss. “We love what Murph brings to the table, especially on the defensive side. The game-calling, the ability to control the running game and the ability to handle a pitching staff, those are all strengths of his. It’ll look similar to where it’s been in the past with Murph getting the starts against lefties but I don’t think it’ll be that exclusive.

Weiss is clearly keeping his options open when it comes to his primary duo of catchers and again, it’s a good problem to have. “Like everything else, you’ve got to watch how it all plays out and things change every day […] If you try to look to October and what’s going to happen, that’s a million miles away as we sit here today,” proclaimed Weiss.

On Tyler Mahle being added to the pitching staff

I was able to ask about the addition of Tyler Mahle to the squad as well and how important it’ll be for him to eat some innings for the squad going forward. As usual, Weis was very effusive about having a new pitcher to utilize going forward and he made it clear how Mahle is going to fit in going forward.

“Looking [to have Tyler Mahle] protect the bullpen when we can. I think he helps us do that,” stated Weiss. “You’ve heard me talk about the importance of starting pitching as the most valuable commodity in the game […] I think that Mahle has shown that he can get deeper in games and he’s throwing the ball lately so he’s trending in the right way this year. I think he’s a very functional piece to work with.”

Gamethread 8/4: Nationals at Phillies

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 04: Luis Arraez #4 of the Philadelphia Phillies warms up prior to the game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Derik Hamilton/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Here are the lineups. For the Phillies:

For the Nationals:

Let’s talk about it.

METS AT GUARDIANS: Cantillo vs. Manea, discussion

CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 29: Joey Cantillo #54 of the Cleveland Guardians throws a pitch during the first inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 29, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Here’s the Mets lineup:

Here’s the Guardians lineup:

Let’s go, Guardians!

Game Thread: White Sox (59-52) at Red Sox (60-51)

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - JULY 31: Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox watches his home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the third inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on July 31, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Munetaka Murakami owns a 1.006 OPS with four home runs in the past two weeks, and is batting second tonight. | (Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

Both the White and Red Sox were active at Monday’s trade deadline as they chase their respective division titles. A three-game set on the road in Boston will be a good test for the South Siders against high-quality competition in a tough atmosphere away from home, giving a taste of what the playoffs could potentially be like down the line.

To make room for the newly acquired players from the trade deadline, the White Sox made seven corresponding moves to the 40-man and 26-man rosters today, with Edgar Quero and left-handed reliever Tyler Schweitzer optioned to Triple-A Charlotte.

Catcher Joey Bart and outfielder Brenton Doyle will make their White Sox debuts tonight, batting sixth and seventh in the lineup as Will Venable leverages a righty-heavy batting order against a left-handed pitcher. The good news is that the Sox have (likely) their three best pitchers tossing throughout the series, with righthander Davis Martin being tapped first. Martin is making his 22nd start of the season, and while he hasn’t been as dominant as the first half, he’s maintained a 3.62 ERA — the 13th-best in the AL — with a 9-5 record on the year. Martin leans on his fastball the most, but his off-speed pitches are producing lower opponent batting averages, with his curveball leading the way with a .163 opponent BA and a 40.4% whiff rate.

Martin will have plenty of power to support him throughout the lineup. However, the bottom half of the order is a bit of a wild card outside of Braden Montgomery, given these will be Bart and Doyle’s first at-bats for Chicago, and Luisangel Acuña is pretty much always a question mark. To be fair, Acuña is batting .352 over his last 54 at-bats, but he’s been cooling down in his last seven, only going two for his last 13 (.154). If we’re lucky, maybe someone will blast a moon shot over the big Green Monster.

Chicago White Sox Lineup

The White Sox offense will go against lefthander Patrick Sandoval, who has only started four games since returning from injury about a month ago. In his 19 innings, he’s posted a 3.32 ERA, but his 1.579 WHIP could definitely use some work. Sandoval hasn’t walked many batters, holding a 7% walk rate, but he’s allowed 24 hits thus far, contributing to his elevated WHIP. The lefty seems to leverage his slider the most, 31.2% of the time, but opponents are batting .300 against it. In contrast, his changeup seems to be the more unhittable pitch, holding just a .130 opponent BA and slugging percentage while drawing a 36% whiff rate.

Thankfully for Sandoval, Ceddanne Rafaela is adding some strength at the top of the order, as he has been one of the hottest hitters in all of baseball these last couple of weeks. In the past 15 days (12 games), Rafaela holds the fourth-best OPS (1.134), the second-best SLG (.788), and has mashed seven homers in his last 12 games, the most in MLB during that time span. Though he’s batting eighth for Boston tonight, Andruw Monasterio has also been hot these past two weeks, boasting a .935 OPS with a .342/.409/.526 slash line. The Red Sox could make Martin work tonight, but ideally, he’s on his game and is up for the challenge.

Boston Red Sox Lineup

Since the Good Guys are on the East Coast, game time is a bit earlier this week, with first pitch taking place at 6:10 p.m. CT. It should be a nice summer evening, with temperatures expected to be in the low-80s to upper-70s throughout the game. Tune into CHSN or ESPN Chicago AM 1000 on the radio, and let’s get a White Sox W.

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Washington Nationals vs Philadelphia Phillies Game Thread

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 3: First baseman Abimelec Ortiz #81 of the Washington Nationals hits a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park on August 3, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bill Streicher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

This has been a painful run of Nats baseball, and things only got worse with James Wood hitting the shelf. However, the grind of the season continues, and these Nats need to get back on track. Beaten up and with many key names gone, the Nats need to trudge on down the stretch.

Without James Wood, this lineup looks very different. With a lefty on the mound, Dylan Crews will be leading off and playing right. Daylen Lile and Jacob Young are the other outfielders. Nasim Nunez plays shortstop as CJ Abrams gets a day off his feet at DH. Brady House is at third, which moves Jorbit Vivas to second. Harry Ford is behind the dish. Carson Palmquist will open for Zack Littell.

The big news in the Phillies lineup is the arrival of Luis Arraez. This comes with a lot of shuffling around the diamond. Arraez will play second, shifting Bryson Stott to third, Alec Bohm to first and Bryce Harper to right field. Harper has not played right in many years now, so that could be something to watch. Jesus Luzardo is on the mound for the Phillies.

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Game Info:

Stadium: Citizens Bank Park

Time: 6:40 PM EST

TV: Nationals.TV

Radio: 106.7 The Fan

These Nats need to stop the bleeding ASAP. The hitting with RISP has to take a step forward or else the winning simply won’t come. Hopefully the Nats can finally get a curly W tonight. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!

Nick Pivetta injury update: Padres pitcher abruptly leaves mound during rehab start

San Diego Padres starter Nick Pivetta abruptly walked off the mound three batters into his first rehab appearance with High-A Lake Elsinore on Tuesday afternoon.

The right-hander took the mound for the top of the fourth inning and drew two flyouts to center field before giving up a first-pitch single to Oswaldo Osorio. On the next at-bat against Conner O'Neal, Pivetta wound up, fired a pitch that hooked outside of the plate for a called ball and immediately turned and walked towards the dugout.

The 33-year-old was visibly frustrated as he left the mound after throwing just 14 pitches. Rordy Mejia entered the game in his place.

But there is optimism, both from the Padres and Pivetta himself, that he avoided any kind of serious setback on his recovery from a right elbow flexor strain that's kept him on the IL since April. Per the San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee, Pivetta threw over 20 pitches in the bullpen after his early exit and didn't feel the discomfort he felt on the mound.

Joe Musgrove also pitched in Tuesday's game for Lake Elsinore in his latest rehab start. He allowed one earned run on two hits with three strikeouts and two walks on 39 pitches across 2.2 innings. San Diego's rotation has been decimated by injuries this season, so the impending returns of both Musgrove and Pivetta are crucial as the Friars begin a late season push for a postseason spot.

Pivetta, now in his 10th big league season and second with the Padres, is reportedly targeting a late August return.

This story has been updated with new information.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nick Pivetta injury update: Padres pitcher abruptly leaves mound during rehab start

Tuesday night Orioles game thread: vs. Angels, 6:35 ET

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 7: Cade Povich #37 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on during the second inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on May 7, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Well, Trade Deadline Monday has come and gone, and ultimately, the Orioles’ “buy and sell” approach meant a really deflating sell-off, especially with Adley Rutschman departing for AL East rival Boston for a passel of prospects (I mean, great prospects haul, but a hard day to lose the face of the franchise, if you feel me). The remaining 50 games of the Orioles’ 2026 season feel to me like the post-credits scene in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, where Ferris emerges from the bathroom in a robe, looks right at the camera, and says, “You’re still here? It’s over. Go home. Go.”

But technically, it’s not over. So here we are, the rubble having settled, trying to find something to play for. Presumably there are tougher rivals than the Angels, who at 43-69, aren’t pretending to be contenders anymore either. The Halos shipped off a ton of pitchers at the deadline, but not one Grayson Rodriguez, the onetime O’s top prospect. Ah, how innocent we were then. This year, Rodriguez has struggled with bone spurs, but the Angels claim he’s healthy now. Maybe, but he’s still got a 7.98 ERA in 10 games so forgive me if I’m not seeing G-Rod of 2024 quite.

The Orioles initially went into this one with TBD for a starting pitcher, but it’s since been clarified that they meant Cade Povich, called up today from the Minors. The 26-year-old lefty has spent most of the season with Triple-A Norfolk, posting not-great ERA there of 6.30. His WHIP of 1.45 is too high; his .268 opposing average doesn’t make me feel great, either. This season, Povich made four appearances (three starts) with the big club during April and May, allowing eighteen runs in 11 innings. It’s not ideal.

Already some of the newest Orioles are in the lineup: Christian Franklin in the outfield and catcher Carlos Narváez is the backstop. Ain’t it… great. First pitch is 6:35 ET.

Orioles lineup

  1. Dylan Beavers LF
  2. Pete Alonso 1B
  3. Gunnar Henderson SS
  4. Christian Encarnación-Strand 3B
  5. Jackson Holliday 2B
  6. Coby Mayo DH
  7. Christian Franklin LF
  8. Colton Cowser CF
  9. Christian Narváez C

Angels lineup

  1. Zach Neto SS
  2. Mike Trout CF
  3. Nolan Schanuel 1B
  4. Vaughn Grissom 2B
  5. Denzer Guzmán 3B
  6. Moisés Ballesteros DH
  7. Travis d’Arnaud C
  8. José Siri LF
  9. Wade Meckler RF

Game Discussion: Milwaukee Brewers (69-43) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (57-57)

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JULY 28: Logan Henderson #43 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches during the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Bryan Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

After a bit of a dud on Monday night, the Brewers will, for the third day in a row, go for their 70th win tonight as they attempt to even this four-game series against Pittsburgh at one game apiece. With a 6-1 record, the Pirates have had Milwaukee’s number this season, a stark change over the modern history in this divisional rivalry; over the last 20 years, the Brewers have an overall record of 194-126 against the Buccos.

Tonight’s pitching matchup features two bright young stars, both 24 years old, though not the first two who might come to mind when considering these two teams. For the Brewers, Logan Henderson—still a Brewer after many a speculative fan had linked him to a Tarik Skubal trade before the deadline yesterday—gets the nod, while the Pirates send Jared Jones.

By rate stats, Henderson has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season. A back injury has limited his innings, but this will be his fifth start since missing about a month and a half between late May and early July. In the nine starts that Henderson has made, he’s pitched to a 2.66 ERA and 2.80 FIP, a 0.909 WHIP, and 11 strikeouts to just 1.8 walks per nine innings. You’d expect that the league will adjust to Henderson at some point, and he’s averaged less than five innings per start this season, but in his limited sample as a big leaguer he’s been outstanding.

Jones, who is right-handed and a few months older than Henderson, is back on track after missing all of the 2025 season due to Tommy John surgery. Jones, who was a top-100 prospect prior to his debut in 2024, has pitched to a 3.81 ERA and 3.48 FIP in 52 innings across 11 starts this season with impressive peripheral numbers of his own (10 K/9, 2.6 BB/9). In contrast to Henderson, and like last night’s starter, Bubba Chandler, Jones is a high velocity guy; his 98.4 average fastball velocity is in the top five percent of the league. Jones relies heavily on that fastball but gets a ton of whiffs with the slider he plays off of it. Jones is primarily a fastball/slider pitcher but mixes in a changeup every now and then and, a few times a game, a curveball.

With yesterday’s trades, the Brewers have made some adjustments to their roster. Garrett Stallings’ heroic outing on Monday night was rewarded with a demotion to Triple-A Nashville (life is tough for fringey pitchers), but the headline—not unexpected—is that Brandon Sproat will join him there.

NOTE/UPDATE: Jake Bauers was a late scratch with abdominal soreness, which invalidates what I wrote below, because Christian Yelich is, instead of batting seventh, batting fifth instead. But I’m going to leave what I wrote initially, because the intention of batting Yelich seventh does matter.


There’s also a notable change in the lineup: Christian Yelich has been dropped to seventh, the first time all season he’s hit below the five spot in the batting order; a quick scan of game logs tells me that it’s the first time that Yelich has started a game below the fifth spot in the batting order since 2015, when he was on the Marlins and playing in his second full season. Pat Murphy had some thoughts on the move:

With the move down in the order from Yelich, lefties Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell move up to third and fifth, respectively. Brice Turang leads off tonight, and the rest of the lineup consists of Jackson Chourio, William Contreras, Luis Lara, Cooper Pratt, and David Hamilton. Note: the updated lineup has Andrew Vaughn in for Bauers, batting sixth.

Of note for the Pirates: the three pitchers they acquired yesterday, Luke Weaver, Lake Bachar, and Kirby Yates, have all been activated and will be available tonight.

First pitch tonight is at 6:40 p.m. on Brewers TV and the Brewers Radio Network.