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After the Yankees placed left fielder Cody Bellinger on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain Sunday, manager Aaron Boone shared the severity and return time frame.

"Grade 2 strain, so probably a 4-to-6-week situation," Boone said before Monday's game opened a three-game series at the Chicago White Sox. "The good thing is he's obviously able to move around right now, so we'll continue to do that and just allow this thing to heal and get him right."

Bellinger is slashing .259/.350/.420 with 11 home runs and 53 RBI in 102 games this season.

"Obviously we've had some tough, tough injuries to some really important people," Boone said. "But again, that is part of it. And as I said, the season waits for no one. It creates an opportunity, legitimately does, for one or more people to go plug that hole -- to develop, to grow -- and we feel very much that we have capable people out there, capable guys who are capable of going out there and performing at a high level. We've got to weather that storm, and confident we can do that."

With the MLB trade deadline set for next Monday at 6 p.m., does Boone expect Bellinger's status to impact the front office's approach?

"No," Boone said. "I get the sense that they have been working on this in different ways, shape and form for the last several weeks, getting ready for trade deadline stuff and I expect them to try and do all they can to improve our team. But again, you never know how that's going to shake out. We'll see. Again, you've got still teams out there defining who they are and what they're even going to do come a week from now or whenever it is. No, I think they're eager to improve our club if they can. But things got to line up, too."

"We'll see," Boone added. "You never know. You go in looking to try and improve certain areas. Sometimes it lines up. Sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes you've got to pivot and go add to a strength or you never know how it's going to go. You've just got to be prepared that if something lines up and makes sense you're able to go do that. I know the front office is doing all their due diligence right now and we'll see how it shakes out over the next week."

Other injury updates

Boone was also asked about Giancarlo Stanton, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt.

There is no clarity of when Stanton (right calf strain) could return, Boone said.

"He's continuing with his running progression," Boone said of Stanton, who is with the Yankees as they continue their 10-game road trip. "The strength stuff, explosive stuff he's doing in the weight room has been very good. We've just got to get him up to a level, obviously, on the running side of things to be able to go out there."

Rodón (left elbow inflammation) and Schmidt (right forearm tightness) are set to throw live batting practices this week, Boone said.

"I think he's a live Wednesday, I believe, and Clarke is, I think, on Friday," Boone said. "Carlos will have a two-up live Wednesday -- I believe that's Somerset."

Curtis Mead leaves Red Sox debut after getting hit by pitch on wrist originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Curtis Mead’s debut with the Red Sox didn’t go the way he or the organization hoped.

Mead was forced to leave Monday night’s game early after getting hit by a pitch in the wrist from A’s starter Jack Perskin.

Mead, who struck out looking in the first inning, took a 95 mph fastball off the left wrist in the top of the fourth inning. He remained in the game, diving back to first base twice on pickoff attempts and playing the field in the bottom of the fourth.

Curtis Mead left the game in his Red Sox debut after being hit by a pitch on the hand

Mead was acquired from the Nationals on July 25th pic.twitter.com/DXhS6aEY6b

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 28, 2026

Yet when the Red Sox took the field for the fifth, Anthony Seigler was in at second base.

The Red Sox acquired Mead over the weekend, trading left-handed pitcher Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals in a one-for-one swap.

Though Mead has primarily played third base in his career, he is expected to play second base for Boston, with Caleb Durbin manning third. Interim manager Chad Tracy also indicated that he likes Mead in the two-hole in the lineup, in part to give Ceddanne Rafaela more freedom to steal bases out of the fifth spot.

Those plans though, may be on hold for the near future, depending on how severe the injury suffered on Monday night might be.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Welcome back to another edition of our Reacts Survey! In this week’s survey, we’re asking about Brewers’ ace Jacob Misiorowski, specifically how you think the Brewers should manage his workload down the stretch.

Misiorowski, 24, pitched 66 innings in the majors (plus another 12 in the playoffs) last season after 63 1/3 innings at Triple-A in the first half of the year, totaling 141 1/3 innings to set a career-high mark.

This year, Misiorowski has already spanned 120 innings with two months left in the regular season, not to mention the postseason. While there’s no question Misiorowski is as dominant as they come — he struck out 12 in just five innings on Sunday, including the first seven batters of the game — the Brewers have already shown signs of cutting back on his workload.

He’s made just two starts since July 7 (with the All-Star break in there), and those two appearances have totaled just nine innings on 148 pitches. So, that leaves the question: How would you like the Brewers to handle Miz’s workload over the next two months? Keep pitching him as usual to keep him fresh? Set strict pitch/innings limits? Spread his starts out more? Weigh in below (or directly on The Feed), and we’ll share the results later this week!

The MLB trade deadline is about a week away, and several playoff contenders are in dire need of an extra kick to push them into World Series contention.

Whether it's a great starting pitcher, a platoon role hitter, or just some depth in the bullpen, there is a myriad of players available across the league who could help bolster your favorite team's roster.

While superstars like Tarik Skubal, Byron Buxton and Mason Miller will certainly steal the headlines if they swap teams, it's the smaller, more subtle moves that could shape the upcoming MLB postseason above all else. Here is one player every team in playoff position should target as the trade deadline approaches.

MLB trade deadline targets for each playoff team

AL East

• Tampa Bay Rays: LHP Tarik Skubal

Now I know what you're thinking, "The Rays? Going after the biggest player available? Never in a million years." Well, I guess 2026 might be that one in one million. The Rays have made efforts in recent years to acquire big name players in both free agency and at recent deadlines.

In 2023, during the final year of Shohei Ohtani's contract with the Angels, the Rays reportedly offered Junior Caminero and another top prospect Carson Williams for Ohtani's services. The team also went after Freddie Freeman and Aaron Judge during free agency this decade as well.

Not only would acquiring Skubal show the world that even a small market team like the Rays can make a push for a World Series, but it would give the Rays a postseason rotation that could compete with the best of the best, featuring a two-time Cy Young winner, two more All-Stars in Drew Rasmussen and Nick Martinez and Shane McClanahan.

• New York Yankees: C Ryan Jeffers

The Yankees have collected -0.6 bWAR from their catchers this season. That ranks 21st in MLB per Baseball Reference. Jeffers would give the Yankees an immediate upgrade at their most troublesome position, and with Cody Bellinger moving to the IL, the team will need some offense if they want to catch up to the Rays and earn themselves a shot at an AL East title.

Jeffers' 158 OPS+ is far above what any other catching option on the trade block might be able to offer. While he certainly would be a downgrade from Wells in terms of catcher framing, Jeffers has still ranked as an above average catcher when it comes to framing, ranking 26th among all catchers in the league this year. There really isn't a downside to this trade aside from the prospects that the Yankees would need to give up. But the Yankees do have a myriad of prospects.

• Boston Red Sox: SS Zach Neto

The Red Sox made a smart move in acquiring Curtis Mead already. The team needed pop and Mead now ranks second on the team in home runs. However, they could use even more in their lineup. Neto provides solid pop from a non-power position but also gives the team a massive offensive upgrade overall at the position.

With Trevor Story on the 60-day IL, and boasting a lackluster .547 OPS when healthy, Neto is exactly the type of bat that Boston could just plop near the top of their lineup to give everyone else a solid boost.

AL Central

• Chicago White Sox: RHP Sandy Alcantara

The White Sox are in an interesting position. They aren't considered an elite ball club just yet but are probably only a few years away, so they likely don't want to trade away any of their top prospects. If they are dead set on acquiring a game-changer though, former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara would be a massive get.

While Alcantara won't help a ton in the ERA department, he would help massively with innings. Currently, the White Sox have just two pitcher with over 100 innings pitched on their roster. Alcantara leads baseball in that category. The White Sox bullpen ranks ninth in ERA this season, so anyone who can give them innings and keep them fresh for the postseason would be a great addition to the club.

• Cleveland Guardians: OF Jo Adell

The Guardians might not be very many games over .500 but they are expected to buy at this year's deadline. That said, they aren't a team known for committing to massive players and selling prospects.

Jo Adell is someone who won't cost the team an arm and a leg, but he also fills one of the team's biggest needs: someone who can mash southpaws.

On the season, Adell boasts just a 92 wRC+, but against lefties, it shoots up to 164, making him absolutely dangerous in that situation. The Guardians rank 28th in baseball in team OPS against lefties (.651), so adding Adell would certainly fill the lineup out and give them a solid platoon option down the stretch.

AL West

• Texas Rangers: RHP Luke Weaver

A premier relief arm, Weaver would instantly bolster the Rangers' lackluster bullpen. Currently, the team ranks 19th in bullpen ERA, which isn't terrible, but down the stretch, getting depth in the back end of games is of the utmost importance, especially considering the Rangers' lack rotational depth as well.

The team could certainly go for a back-end starting option like Brady Singer or Seth Lugo, but Weaver is someone that could seriously make a difference in one of Texas' weakest areas. They could also add back-end bullpen arms like Brooks Raley and Kenley Jansen as well as none of them would cost too much in prospects.

• Seattle Mariners: UTIL Casey Schmitt

Much like Cleveland, the Mariners have struggled against left-handed pitching this season, and while Schmitt is certainly a volatile hitter, who struggles to get walks, he mashes lefties. Seattle ranks dead last in team OPS vs. lefties (.640).

Furthermore, Schmitt's defensive versatility would be a massive help to the team. Seattle ranks 24th in WAR by third baseman (-0.8) and 23rd in WAR from right fielders (-1.2). Adding Scmitt could fix either of those problems based on anyone else Seattle might want to go after in free agency.

• Houston Astros: LHP Robbie Ray

Though the Astros are currently third place in the AL West and three games under .500, they expect to be buyers at the trade deadline, hence their appearance on this list. A rental left-handed starter is exactly what the team needs as the team currently ranks 28th in starter ERA and has only played two games all season in which they threw out a southpaw to start the game.

That's concerning, and with other potential playoff teams like Cleveland and Seattle struggling against lefties all year, the team could really use someone, anyone that would slow down either of those squads.

NL East

• Atlanta Braves: RHP Kevin Gausman

While Gausman is not having the best season of his career right now, he is on an expiring contract and provides valuable playoff experience, something that the Braves sorely lack from their starting pitchers. All that is to say that the Braves need that kind of veteran leadership, and someone like Gausman, who has produced a 3.83 career postseason ERA, provides exactly that. Furthermore, the Braves likely could get Gausman for pennies on the dollar if the Blue Jays decide to sell.

• Philadelphia Phillies: LHP Robbie Ray

While the Phillies undoubtedly boast one of the best 1-2 punches in baseball at the top of their rotation, the bottom of their rotation is rather thin. Robbie Ray would provide the team with someone who could take Aaron Nola's spot at the bottom of the playoff rotation and easily slide in as the team's No. 3 or 4 starter.

NL Central

• Milwaukee Brewers: RHP Mason Miller

While Trevor Megill has been serviceable as the team's closer this year, the Brewers really could do with someone who closes a door emphatically, and no one does that better than San Diego's Mason Miller. The Brewers have the farm system to pay an obnoxious price for an All-Star closer, and given that the Brewers have blown 15 saves this year, which is more than the Braves, Dodgers, Phillies and Diamondbacks, Milwaukee should definitely be giving San Diego a call.

• Chicago Cubs: RHP Sandy Alcantara

The Cubs' rotation has been absolutely decimated with injuries this year. In 2026 alone, the team has had 12 players start games and only two of their pitchers have more than 80 innings on the season. Alcantara is an innings-eater, someone who could take some stress off an overly worked bullpen. Furthermore, even when their pitchers are healthy, the Cubs' rotation has been anything but solid, with only two of their top five starters recording an ERA under 4.0.

NL West

• Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP Kevin Gausman

With both Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow out with injuries, the Dodgers need a pitcher to give their team some depth. The Blue Jays make for a very smart trade partner. Considering the team has said they will at least be shopping Gausman, Shane Bieber and outfielder Daulton Varsho, the Blue Jays likely would be in the market for another outfielder.

Guess what! The Dodgers have outfielders up the wazoo in their farm system, and they likely wouldn't even need to give up one of their top five prospects to acquire someone struggling as badly as Gausman is.

DODGERS TRADE TARGETS: Will Shohei Ohtani knee issues impact strategy at deadline?

• Arizona Diamondbacks: RHP Clay Holmes/1B Ty France

While Holmes is currently injured, he is nearing his return. The 33-year-old was fantastic before going down, posting a 2.39 ERA in nine starts.

The Diamondbacks do need pitching, and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo has said as much when speaking to the media, begging the team to bolster their rotation. The Mets would certainly love to move off of him for some value as well.

Of course, the Diamondbacks could also go with a position player, particularly first base. Outside of their top five guys in Ketel Marte, Nolan Arenado, Gabriel Moreno, Corbin Carroll and Geraldo Perdomo, the team has not gotten much out of their hitters. San Diego's Ty France would make a lot of sense for Arizona. Boasting 15 home runs and high-end defense at first, France would immediately give a boost to a D-Backs lineup that has received -1.7 WAR from first basemen on the season.

When is the MLB trade deadline?

The 2026 MLB trade deadline is set for 6 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 3.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: One perfect trade target for every MLB contender ahead of deadline

The Yankees got walloped last night, but overall their road trip is off to a strong start having taken two out of three from the Phillies. Now they’ll have the rare chance to get comfortable in a city other than New York, as they’ll be in the Windy City for the next week starting with a four-game set against the Chicago White Sox. The surprise division leaders in the AL Central have managed to jump ahead a few games of the pack thanks to a decent post-break start as well as the Guardians sliding down, and they’ll look to get revenge for a series victory that New York took in the Bronx back in June.

Max Fried is set to make his second start since returning from the IL, and his previous outing was about as good as you could ask for. Limited to 60 pitches, Fried was hyper efficient going five innings and striking out seven with just one hit and one walk allowed, and though the organization has not said there’s an official pitch limit in place for tonight you’d have to imagine he’ll be lifted somewhere in the 80-85 pitch range this time out as he builds back up from his bone bruise. Overall Fried’s been solid this year, pitching to a 2.97 ERA in 66.2 innings with 57 strikeouts to his name.

Noah Schultz will go for Chicago, and the 22-year-old rookie has been welcomed to the league rather roughly. He’s the owner of a 6.04 ERA in 12 starts, and he got rocked in his most recent start for five runs and 11 hits in 3.2 innings. Schultz hasn’t made it past the fifth inning in any of his July starts, and has given up three or more runs in seven of his last eight, so the onus is on the Yankee offense to wake up and make it a comfortable game for Fried. Schultz carries a wide pitch repertoire, consisting of a mid-90s four-seam, a cutter, a sinker, and a slider that he utilizes around 20 percent of the time each. He’s also got a changeup that he mixes in around 10 percent and a curveball that’s for show occasionally.

The Yankee lineup gets shaken up despite facing another lefty, with Max Schuemann leading off with Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt swapping order as they bat second and third respectively. Jasson Domínguez shifts over to right field as Spencer Jones enters the starting lineup and will play in center batting eighth, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. returns to second base batting sixth while José Caballero will move across the diamond and play third base.

Chicago’s answer to Fried starts with former Yankee Randal Grichuk leading off, the outfielder hitting for a 132 wRC+ in 53 games after getting DFA’d earlier in the year by New York. Home Run Derby participant Munetaka Murakami will bat behind him and Miguel Vargas rounds out the top of the order, both hitters having clubbed 22 home runs thus far. Montgomeries Colson and Braden cover the middle of their lineup, the former having hit 24 home runs while the other is a bench bat, and former Yankee Everson Pereira has been activated off the IL and will hit seventh manning center field.

How to watch

Location: Rate Field, Chicago IL

First pitch: 7:40 pm ET

TV broadcast: YES Network, Chicago Sports Network

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000 AM, 107.9 La Ley (CWS)

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

Starting the week on the South Side. #RepBXpic.twitter.com/7J95ubCKfr

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 27, 2026

Taking on the Yankees pic.twitter.com/PIloC9qA1m

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 27, 2026

The shocking Red Sox resurgence has happened nearly entirely on or near the East Coast; that changes tonight, in Sacramento, where the Sox will face the A’s behind Payton Tolle. I’m not being hyperbolic to say that this trip is the Sox’s everything; while this year will always be known for The Streak, the ability to hit the road in the dog days and come back stronger is what powered the 2004 team (for example). It’s time for the Sox to win the games they’re supposed to win. I gotta good feeling, folks. Curtis Mead is batting second. Let’s get this.

I suppose thinking I’d find the A’s lineup on BlueSky was a bad idea. It’s okay, I’ve got plenty of those.

Things I did instead of starting this recap, a woeful 7-3 Mariners loss to the Rangers:

• Made a cup of coffee. Just one cup to get me going!
  
• Decided I deserved some chocolate syrup in the coffee. A treat for the recapper.
  
• Checked Slack, Bluesky, Twitter. Maybe someone else has some fresh insight on this team that will spark something that isn’t just baseball sucks dressed up in nicer language.
  
• Made a second cup of coffee because chocolate-laced coffee disappears quickly, it turns out.
  
• Thought about how the Rangers hitters seemed to have the Mariners’ pitchers figured out all weekend long, pouncing early and often and doing damage.
  
• Thought about how that approach really didn’t matter when George Kirby was grooving sweepers and sliders middle-middle, putting the Mariners in first a 1-0 hole, then a 4-1 hole, then a 7-2 hole, effectively wiping out any chance at a comeback despite some early signs of life from the offense, which shut down after that against Kumar Rocker, who demolished Mariners hitters with his slider and looked unhittable over his last four innings.
  
• Thought about how George Kirby, who gave up four (4) homers today to Rangers hitters, once looked unhittable against Texas.
  
• Checked to make sure the chart posted properly. Read the comments. Felt bad.
  
• Debated a third cup of coffee. Filled water bottle instead.
  
• DM’d a bit with Sam, the site manager for Purple Row. Sympathized about how tough it is to run a site when the team sucks. Got and gave pointers on dealing with “doomers” in the comments because that is the level we are at, needing advice from people who have to deal with the literal Rockies on a daily basis.
  
• Thought about the Dodgers series looming and the real chance the Mariners will go 1-6 on this roadtrip.
  
• Checked chart comments again. Felt worse.
  
• Forced self to think about a positive thing about this series. Positive thing: Colt Emerson with five hits against just three strikeouts this series against a tough slate of Texas pitching.
  
• Considered if trading a lost 2026 season is worth it if Cole Young – who had six hits this series, didn’t strike out once, had the hardest-hit ball in today’s game at 111 mph, and looks locked in as the leadoff man – becomes the Mariners version of Jose Altuve.
  
• Entertained self by imagining Astros fans hating Nice Young Man Cole Young with the white-hot passion Mariners fans have hated Altuve.
  
• DM’d some more with Sam from Purple Row. The Rockies have just called up a young Cole of their own, Cole Carrigg, who plays at 150% at all times and the other day the Rockies broadcaster described him as “emotional.” Debated if “emotional” is pejorative or not, when “emotional” turns into “fiery competitor,” and how that term gets applied differently depending on a player’s age or national origin.
  
• Watched some Cole Carrigg highlights. Decided I much prefer having Cole Young.
  
• Wondered if the Mariners might give Michael Arroyo, who plays a pretty high-emotion brand of baseball himself, a shot since firing the hitting coach didn’t seem to spark anything.
  
• Made a third cup of coffee. Ignored water.
  
• Decided I already put more effort into this recap than the Mariners did this game. Tough recap today.

Oh boy. Here we go.

Here’s the Guardians’ lineup:

2nd leg of the Ohio Cup starts tonight. Here’s the #Guardians starting lineup for their series opener in Cincinnati:

LF Kwan
DH Ramírez
RF DeLauter
2B Bazzana
SS Rocchio
1B Manzardo
3B Arias
C Bailey
CF Halpin

SP Cecconi#GuardsBall x @WEWS

— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) July 27, 2026

Here’s the Reds’ lineup:

Burns Day on ESPN.

Powered by @PNCBankpic.twitter.com/jDRgFt7del

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 27, 2026

Let’s go, Guardians!

Yay, the phenom is back!

Game 107.

The first of three against the Nationals. Tomorrow’s is a 6:45 start time too, then a 1:00 game on Wednesday/

It is Max Scherzer starting for us tonight. And James Wood, taking a few years off acting, leads off for the Nationals. I was trying to think of the best movies I’ve seen with James Wood in. I guess Casino. Maybe Once Upon a Time in America. Or perhaps the small role in Entourage.

I’m still not a fan of Nathan Lukes at the top of the order against a lefty.

Go Jays Go.

Detroit Tigers (50-55) vs. Baltimore Orioles (51-55)

Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., Comerica Park
SB Nation Site:Camden Chat
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Keider Montero (7-5, 3.14 ERA) vs. RHP Kyle Bradish (7-9, 3.49 ERA)

Player	G	IP	K%	BB%	GB%	FIP	fWAR
Montero	22	106.0	18.6	5.3	40.7	3.57	2.2
Bradish	20	113.1	23.1	10.7	48.7	3.95	1.7

Motor City Monday

⚾️ 6:40 PM ET
📺 @WatchDSN
📻 @971theticketxyt
🏟️ Comerica Park pic.twitter.com/pmoPgK4k8s

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) July 27, 2026

Monday in the Motor City.

📺 @masnOrioles & MASN+
📻 98 Rock 97.9 FM & WBAL 1090 AM pic.twitter.com/cL79h49OVp

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 27, 2026