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The Guardians beat the White Sox 4-3 behind 5 and 1/3rd scoreless from the Cleveland bullpen. Franco Aleman, up for Daniel Espino, was impressive as were the other usual suspects. Nice to see Erik Sabrowski look like his old self, especially.

Jakhob has your recap here. Shoutout to Travis Bazzana and Kahlil Watson for excellent at-bats against a tough lefty reliever to win the game.

The White Sox decided to whine after the game, Anthony Kay blaming the Guardians for the timing of the rain delay (which they don’t control) and Will Venable blaming the grounds crew for his fielders’ sloppy play.

Zack Meisel looks at 12 potential trade targets for the Guardians in an article today.

Happy 250th birthday to the United States!

AROUND MLB:

Twins and Royals lost.

Good morning Birdland,

Orioles pitchers have allowed one total run over their last 18 innings. That’s good! Trevor Rogers has allowed one total run over his last 18.1 innings, which included five scoreless in the O’s 3-0 win over the Reds on Friday night.

The lefty’s ERA has dipped from a season-worst 6.96 on May 24 to 4.70 now. That includes his current six-start streak that has seen him allow seven earned runs over 35.2 innings, which translates to a 1.77 ERA in that span. The major key to his return to 2025 form is keeping the ball in the yard. Neither his strikeout or walk rates are too impressive, but it doesn’t matter too much when you avoid the loudest contact.

Rogers is an important figure for the Orioles this month. If they are going to go on a run, they need a few more impressive starts from him in July. And if they are going to see the bottom fall out, it sure would be nice to trade Rogers for a decent haul at the deadline. That is much easier to do with this version of Rogers than what he was putting forth early in the year.

This team won’t be going anywhere if the offense keeps on sputtering, as it has for the entire season. Gunnar Henderson has seemed rejuvenated in the lead-off spot. He had a pair of walks, a stolen base, and a run scored on Friday. He’s 5-for-14 with four walks in the four games since Craig Albernaz put him atop the order. But the lineup, as a group, has been as lethargic as ever. They had four total hits in last night’s win, and only got bailed out by a stellar showing from Rogers and the bullpen.

And that’s really the root of the team’s issues this year. You can complain about injuries, the inconsistency of the starting staff, etc. But the main problem is that they don’t score enough runs or hit enough home runs to justify how little they put the ball in play. The team was built with the expectation that the offense would be among the game’s elite, and it just isn’t.

That puts pressure of folks like today’s starter, Brandon Young, to be perfect. Credit to him, he has been far better this season than anyone expected. You can’t say he “saved” the season given how disappointing things have been overall, but the difference between him and whoever else they would have bussed in Triple-A Norfolk instead is probably a handful of wins alone. Some more of that magical this evening in Cincinnati would be much appreciated.

Links

Orioles Re-Sign Sam Huff To Minor League Deal | MLB Trade Rumors
The Orioles do this a lot with the fringy guys they like: DFA them and quickly re-sign them to a deal that probably comes with a little more guaranteed money. To be fair to Huff, he does seem to be a fine defensive catcher that is valuable to keep in your organization. If he could hit just a little bit more, he might be considered a number two backstop throughout the league. Instead, he bounces up and down quite a bit.

Orioles ‘going for it’ at trade deadline might be difficult for Elias | The Baltimore Sun
We still have a few weeks here, and it’s not out of the realm of possibility for the Orioles to be a few games under .500 and within a couple of games of the final wild card spot. If that is the case, they are probably going to buy and just pray they squeal into the playoffs. But does this team feel like a legitimate contender? The 2022 version of Mike Elias would be selling off anything not bolted to the floor.

Leftovers for breakfast | Roch Kubatko
Included here is the updated Baseball America list of top Orioles prospects. Ike Irish is number one, which isn’t surprising. Joseph Dzierwa, who has had a tremendous season, is up to number two. The 22-year-old is on track to make a big league impact sometime next season.

Orioles’ Robertson on upcoming draft: ‘There’s a lot of depth’ | Baltimore Baseball
The draft is coming up, and the Orioles have a high draft pick. Usually, they have done well under this circumstances with Elias at the helm.

Helsley lands on IL for second time in ’26 with elbow discomfort | MLB.com
In case you missed this from yesterday, Ryan Helsley is going to miss some more time with an elbow injury, and it doesn’t sound good. As a reminder, Helsley has a player option for 2027 worth $14 million. Right now it looks like a guarantee that he will be picking that up.

Orioles birthdays

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

• The late Babe Birrer (b. 1929, d. 2013) was born on this day. He appeared in four games for the 1956 Orioles as part of his brief MLB career.

This day in O’s history

1944 – Baltimore’s Oriole Park burns down. The ballpark had been built in 1914 for use in the Federal League but was home to the International League’s Orioles at the time it was destroyed. The O’s moved to Venable Stadium, which would later be renamed Memorial Stadium.

1964 – A game between the Orioles and the Kansas City Royals Athletics ends in 6-6 tie due to a special curfew so that a fireworks display can take place in Baltimore.

1971 – Boog Powell and Elrod Hendricks homer in support of Mike Cuellar’s complete game to beat the Tigers 3-2.

1973 – The Orioles score 10 times in the game’s final three innings to beat the Brewers 10-7, making it their third come-through-behind win over their division rivals.

We’re a mere two weeks away from the 2026 MLB First Year Player Draft, and it’s time for my second annual “listen to the prospects guy shout aimlessly about incoming prospects”. Last season, I highlighted three Tennessee Vols, among others, for the Guardians’ first round pick: Gavin Kilen (SF R1:13), Marcus Phillips (BOS CB-A:33), and Dean Curley. Curley ultimately fell a fair amount in the draft, largely driven by defensive concerns and passivity, but Cleveland ended up getting him anyways at pick 64. Seems like a win? Anyways, Cleveland ultimately went astronomical upside, equally devastating downside at pick 27, selecting Texas A&M outfielder, Jace LaViolette, and with LaViolette, Cleveland’s entire concept of player profile tendency went by the wayside.

Today, I’ll be bringing a handful of pitchers to the table. Next week, I’ll bring a few bats to the plate. I’ll start with names I’ve heard linked to the Guardians at 19, and then I’ll roll through some names further on down the draft that I like for Cleveland.

Starting with R1:19: I strongly think that, unless an AJ Gracia-level bat falls to 19, that Cleveland will be cashing in on a player from a group of the strong college pitching likely to be available to them in this range and bolstering a rather thin, top-heavy pitching system.

We’ll start with A Vol again, Tegan Kuhns.

ROUND ONE: 19th Pick

TEGAN KUHNS | RHP | TENNESSEE | 21

SYNOPSIS: Kuhns makes so much sense for the Guardians for four reasons: good spin, great fastball shape, good command, quality extension. Kuhns has three offerings that will have teams salivating over getting him in their pitching labs, and his long-limbed, athletic movements on the mound signal a pitcher built for consistency.

Kuhns operates with a traditional three-quarters slot, but his release height sits ~65.5 inches, and with that low release height and above average extension, he generates very good metrics for his fastball. Kuhns’s 4-seam sits 93-96, flashing 98 on occasion, and he eats the zone alive with it. He runs an iVB that ranges consistently between 18-20 inches, and that’s with ~11 inches of arm-side run at that release height. Of course, this will naturally deflate a bit with the pro ball, but his vertical approach angle at the top of the zone is as flat as it gets in this draft, and I have no doubts that the fastball will continue to play at a high level as he gets into a minor league system given how terrific his command is of the offering. When he was able to consistently live along the top half of the zone with his fastball, he proved to be borderline unhittable at times.

Kuhns does a great job mirroring his arm action with his changeup, and he combined that with an 8-10 mph difference from his fastball and good fading action. His changeup became a late-count out pitch against lefties, running a whiff rate north of 35% and in-zone whiff rate around 31%. He has a good feel for it, and if he got into Cleveland’s system, this is the pitch most likely to blossom into another plus offering alongside his fastball.

Kuhns drops an upper 70s curveball with around 2600 RPMs to primarily steal strikes, but he got good returns on it, generating a whiff rate of 37.7% against power-4 competition, his highest whiff rate of any pitch. His slider, however, is the breaker that I’m most intrigued by. Kuhns struggled to replicate his shape with his slider consistently, seeing it get too verty and lose its depth, leading to some loud contact, but at its best, it resembles a death ball shape in the 84-85 mph range. What I want to see him do with his slider is add a tick to it while keeping its depth. A slider with sudden drop at 85-87 is so much more effective for what Kuhns wants to do, and it lets him keep it in the zone a bit more safely when needed.

IF CLEVELAND DRAFTED KUHNS, I WOULD FEEL: THRILLED

Kuhns has some acute reliever risk, but I’m fairly bullish on that not becoming reality. I like his repeatable mechanics, I think this is among the best fastballs in the draft, and Kuhns is a massive competitor. The lack of consistency he has with his slider shape and its lack of in-zone whiffs with it make me raise an eyebrow, but I trust that he fleshes it out and pairs with a borderline plus fastball, and I feel the changeup is a great pairing with it. The later the season got, the better the slider shape appeared to be, and he went to his fastball less, showcasing a real starter’s repertoire and usage.

LIAM PETERSON | RHP | FLORIDA | 21

SYNOPSIS: Peterson is a fascinating right-handed pitching prospect in this year’s draft. A mountain of a pitcher, he stands at 6-foot-5 and close to 230 pounds with a higher arm slot, a massive fastball, and big spin capabilities.

There are some concerns here. I’m not the biggest fan of Peterson mechanically. Despite it being a more compact process, it’s far from smooth, and I believe it contributes to his biggest area of concern with consistency. It boils down to not throwing enough strikes with his fastball and throwing too many with it as well, leading to him getting behind in counts consistently early in outings or tagged much harder than he should.

Peterson has a big fastball and gets good extension, generating around 20 inches of iVB on average with a hair under 10 inches of arm-side movement, but a release height just north of 80 inches creates a fastball that does not generate friendly VAA, and the pitch generated under 20% whiff rates this season with Florida. When he stays up in the zone, he finds his most success, but he can miss high and not get any chases or stay lower in the zone at a hitter friendly angle and get touched up. He sits in the mid to upper-90s, typically 94-98 with big spin, and his entire repertoire is built around his heater.

Peterson’s best pitch is his slider. His breakers generate ~2800 RPMs on average. The slider sits 84-87 with good downward depth, and he ran a whiff rate just north of 50% on the season as a whole with the offering and goes to it against either handedness. It’s one of the better breaking pitches in the draft. Its 27% usage is necessary as it’s the only other pitch he can comfortably keep in the zone in any count outside of his 4-seam, and it was his main put-away pitch to righties. Peterson has a curve that generates big drop but works best either as a strike stealer or well below the zone.

Peterson has a changeup that gets vertical, right around 11-12 iVB, with good tumbling action. Its usage is vital for his fastball and keeps him a three, sometimes four pitch guy to lefties.

IF CLE DRAFTED PETERSON, I WOULD FEEL: NERVOUS

Peterson has big velo and a lot of traits to love, but given the names possibly available at this range, he’s the name I’m not totally sold on. I don’t love his command, and if he can’t consistently get swings and misses with his fastball, I’m typically going to push away on a college arm like this in the first round.

CADE TOWNSEND | RHP | OLE MISS | 21

SYNOPSIS: Townsend is my trust your eyes over the stat sheet pick here, largely just with his fastball. Townsend is a smooth mover on the mound, and establishing more consistent, repeatable mechanics was a clear goal moving into his final season at Ole Miss. He noticeably switched from a rested handset at his front hip through his windup in seasons prior to an overhead motion before bringing his hands back down to his chest. This gets him to his release point quicker and more consistently. Townsend gets above average extension (~6.3-6.4) with a deep arsenal of weapons at his disposal, all of which he has a capable feel for that comes from a 40-43 degree arm angle.

Townsend’s 4-seamer struggled this season, getting hit hard, but he was also able to get good in-zone whiff results with the offering. As we get through his write-up here, you’ll see it was just about the only pitch he struggled with. The shape, however, is very good. It’s more ride than run, generating 19.5 iVB to just 7.3 inches arm-side at a quality ~72 inch release height.

Townsend works a really nice cutter that he used almost as much as his fastball. He can get under the hands of lefties and get weak contact, and even with the higher usage, he still generated quality swing and miss stuff with it. His cutter sits along a good vertical plane with ~3 inches of horizontal movement and was a real weapon in both negating hard contact and creating swings and misses. From there, his high-80s changeup creates good tumbling action, generating close to 1100 RPMs fewer than the fastball. Between it, his cutter, and his 4-seamer, it makes for a strong trio pitch group against LHH.

Townsend spent time developing a sweeper this season, and it generated a little under a foot of sweeping action for the season. The returns were really good here as he ran a whiff rate of 46% with a chase rate of 36%. He showed real poise in executing the pitch down and away to RHH. Any added sweep here would be great, but even at where it sits, it’s a quality offering. He also mixes in a low-80s curveball

IF CLE DRAFTED TOWNSEND, I WOULD FEEL: CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC

Townsend oozes tenacity and competitive fire, almost to a fault. Between an unrelenting desire to win and a true 5-7 pitch repertoire that has shown flashes of fastball diversity, he has all a team could want in terms of a starting point to develop. His size is going to be something held against him as he stands just 6-foot-1, but I would be willing to take that chance, even at pick 19.

CAMERON FLUKEY | RHP | COASTAL CAROLINA | 21

SYNOPSIS: Flukey will be the final name we touch on here for first round arms. Flukey suffered a stress fracture in his rib back in February, and he didn’t return to the mound until late April, making just six outings after the injury, most of which were short bursts as he tried to build back up. Flukey possesses a big ceiling, thanks in part to his size and velocity capabilities. The long-limbed 6-foot-6 righty is a good mover whose fastball possesses electric stuff with a motion as lengthy as the day is long.

Flukey’s fastball sits 95-97 while being a real threat to reach triple digits. When he lives with the heater up in the zone, he’s borderline unhittable. Flukey is an extension monster, living around the 7-foot range. Finding consistency with the fastball up in the zone is priority number one with this pitch as Flukey, largely due to not having a fleshed out arsenal, had to lean on his fastball to fill out the zone rather than attack it with his strengths. Flukey averaged close to 20 iVB with the college ball, generating just shy of 8 inches of arm-side run. Along with added strength, he worked on truncating his motion a bit, and it returned some promising consistency with the fastball in comparison to the season prior. Flukey’s primary issue with the heater in ‘25 was finding its consistent shape. His extraneous movement before planting his landing foot created a lot of less than desirable shape.

Flukey’s slider is a low to mid-80’s gyro slider that hovers right around the zero axis. It generates hardly any iVB and minimal arm side run and generates a lot of swing and miss and chase. It’s a unique shape, and one that I’d like to see him find a tick or two more velo with. This sitting 85-88 with that kind of sharp drop would be a menace of a pitch. Flukey mixes in a big, loopy 12-6 curve of which the bottom just drops completely out of. It’ll sit upper 70’s.

Flukey showed a changeup in previous seasons, but he was predominantly a three-pitch pitcher coming off his injury. At the very least, we know it’s there.

IF CLE DRAFTED FLUKEY, I WOULD FEEL: ECSTATIC

These are the swings Cleveland needs to take if they fall into their laps. True draft day top-10 college talents don’t typically wind up falling to 19 all that often, and though I don’t think Flukey will (I’m eyeing 12-15 here), it’s not out of the realm of possibility. For reference, Over Slot’s most recent mock draft as of July 1 has Flukey falling all the way to 25. Between the injury and the amount of tidying up needed here, it makes sense, but the stuff is truly electric in spite of a real reliever risk.

ROUND TWO: 59th Pick

Round two is where I will choose to focus on the prep arms possibly available here (except for one). Cleveland will not have pick 29 at their disposal, so we will all be waiting from pick 19 all the way until pick 59. Cleveland has shown a history of going prep in R2, and these are some arms to highlight for this range.

KADEN WAECHTER | RHP | JESUIT H.S. (FL) | 18

Stop me when you’ve heard this before: Guardians target prep arm who’s an athletic mover with refined mechanics on the mound.

Waechter, who is set to turn 19 a couple weeks post-draft, is as advanced mechanically on the hill as any prep prospect in the class with a fastball that generates quality spin. At the 2026 Preseason Classic, Waechter sat 92-96 with the heater, and he throws both a traditional 4-seam that finds 15/8 iVB/HB splits and a sinker that runs more 9/16. Keep in mind, his early season outings were relief appearances as Jesuit wanted to preserve his arm for their season, but the velocity, good shape and control, and big, 2500+ range spin capabilities are there.

Waechter mixes in a tumbling changeup that creeps its way towards the upper 80’s. With more polish, this is a real weapon against lefties. His slider has been touted as one of the better breakers of the prep arms in this draft. It sits comfortably in the mid-80s with good spin, and its sharp bite creates a run and drop action that has had high school bats completely baffled. Waechter has also flashed a seldom used low-80’s curveball.

IF CLE DRAFTED WAECTHER, I WOULD FEEL: ON CLOUD NINE

Waechter has mid-rotation upside, if not higher, with a projectable frame and great spin capabilities to develop into a real deal prospect. There’s already four capable pitches here with potential for more, and if Cleveland saved some money in R1 and threw that money at Waechter that deep into R2, they will have just picked one of the biggest steals in the draft.

GAVIN GIESE | RHP | DANA HILLS H.S. (CA) | 18

Giese has seen a late rise up the ranks boost his draft stock into the stratosphere. Committed to go pitch at San Diego, Giese now has real top three rounds helium, ranging from back of the comp picks all the way to 70.

Giese is a 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher who has grown two inches and put on 30 pounds, filling out a prototypical starter’s frame, and finding fastball velo with it. Giese’s mechanics are solid, and he moves down the mound incredibly well. Many reports indicate well above average extension here.

Giese comfortably sits 90-92 now, and there’s more velo to be found here as he generates capable spin and already saw a major spike in velo from his junior year. Giese has a slider and curve that also generate good spin and will need continual refining to find their right shapes. He also throws a quality kick-change, easily his best offering right now that separates well from his fastball at his vertical release point and falls off a cliff.

IF CLE DRAFTED GIESE, I WOULD FEEL: OPTIMISTIC

Late risers can be scary given how much unknown it can entail, but Giese’s rise feels rooted in very trustworthy traits.

WES MENDES | LHP | FLORIDA STATE | 21

One final collegiate starter, and finally, a lefty, and a fun one at that! Mendes is a former two-way player out of the same Jesuit High School as Kaden Waechter. Mendes went the round-about way to get to Florida State, stopping at Ole Miss first.

Mendes is among the more underrated arms with 2nd round likelihood that you’ll find. He’s incredibly refined despite only now fully shifting towards pitching as his focus with a plus changeup and burgeoning slider.

Mendes sits 91-93 with the heater, reaching back for 95 at times. He gets quality ride and ~10 inches arm-side run from a ~71 inch release height. Despite Mendes having a higher three-quarters slot around 55 degrees, his above average extension and lower release height help create optimal shape with a -4.1 VAA along the top third of the zone.

Mendes has good command across his arsenal, primarily with his fastball, changeup, and slider. Mendes was a menace in particular to RHH because of the fastball+changeup combo. His circle-change generates huge horizontal action as it dives down and away. The changeup ran a whiff rate north of 50% with an in-zone whiff rate north of 40%. It was among the very best cambios in the nation.

IF CLE DRAFTED MENDES, I WOULD FEEL: THRILLED

Mendes is a big draft crush for me. His arsenal compliments itself much like a familiar FSU lefty’s arsenal did heading into the 2022 Draft. I see real sudden and quick growth here, and I think there’s comfortable back-end starter ceiling here, pushing fringe middle-rotation.

And that’s it! 3,000 words later, we have covered seven names either linked to the Guardians or are favorites of mine personally. Cleveland has a lot of work to do in regards to replenishing its arms within the system, and this is a very good draft to do exactly that.

Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) will tell you the adjustment was not dramatic.

In Eli Whitney’s Weekly Pebble Report, the Rockies’ top prospect described his midseason surge in fairly modest terms. There were some tweaks with his “load and gather,” a growing comfort in his swing, and a better ability to stay within himself instead of trying to force damage early in counts.

Condon’s June was not subtle: The power finally arrived. The question is whether the surge is being supported by something more than a hot stretch.

Across 22 games in June, Condon slugged .778 with nine home runs and 30 RBI. That surge pushed his full-season line to .296/.419/.612 with a 1.033 OPS, 20 home runs and a 145 wRC+. For a player selected third overall in 2024 largely because of his offensive ceiling, a surge of that magnitude carries weight. This is the production the Rockies were waiting to see.

The production is the headline. The process underneath it is what makes the breakout worth taking seriously.

The approach was already there

Condon’s underlying data does not simply show a hitter who got hot. It shows a hitter whose selectivity, damage and swing-and-miss are beginning to interact in a more encouraging way. Even so, there is still risk in his profile, and it does not make his eventual transition to Denver automatic. It does, however, give real analytical context to what Condon told Eli: He is trusting the swing more, getting deeper into counts with more confidence, and doing a better job punishing mistakes.

The plate discipline is the easiest place to start. Condon has walked at a 14.6% clip while chasing only 18.0% of pitches outside the zone. That is the foundation of the profile. He is not expanding the zone to get to his power, and for a hitter with Condon’s raw strength, that matters.

The key is that this was not a brand-new approach. Condon was already patient earlier in the season. What changed is that the patience has started producing damage.

Making patience more dangerous

The rolling data shows the shape of the adjustment: Condon’s expected slugging and hard-hit rate have climbed while his swing rate has drifted down and his whiff rate has backed off its rougher midseason peak. He is not chasing power by simply swinging more. He is doing more damage while becoming more selective.

Condon’s quote about chase is useful because discipline is not just refusal. It is confidence. His best stretch has not come from abandoning patience. It has come from making patience more dangerous.

The damage matters because the approach still gives pitchers a path. Condon’s overall swing rate sits at 39.7%. His zone-swing rate is 62.8%. His zone-contact rate is 79.9%, and his whiff rate is 28.4%. If the damage is not there, pitchers have every reason to attack him in the zone, steal early-count strikes and trust the swing-and-miss to show up before he hurts them.

That is what makes the recent stretch important. Condon controls the zone well, but he also gives pitchers a reason to believe they can enter it. The more he punishes mistakes when they do, the harder it becomes for that plan to survive.

Patience comes with risk. A low chase rate is a strength, but MLB pitchers do not have to live outside the zone if a hitter is willing to take strikes. Against Condon, the plan may be less about getting him to chase immediately and more about stealing early-count strikes, getting ahead and using spin to finish the at-bat.

The secondary-pitch question is more complicated

Condon is already punishing fastballs. Against four-seamers, he has produced a .417 xwOBA, .421 xSLG, +11.1 Run Value (RV) and a 61.1% hard-hit rate. That matters because MLB pitchers are unlikely to build their plan around simply challenging him with fastballs in the zone. The next test is how well they can use breaking balls and offspeed pitches to keep him from getting to that damage.

The slider results show why the question is not as simple as “Can he hit spin?” Condon has a .628 xSLG and +7.3 RV against sliders, so the damage is real. But the 38.9% whiff rate means pitchers still have a reason to keep testing him there.

The margins are thinner elsewhere. Against sweepers and changeups, Condon has still produced positive run value, but the expected slugging is more modest — .370 xSLG against sweepers and .386 xSLG against changeups — while the whiff rates sit above 37% on both pitch types.

Fastballs are getting punished. Sliders are dangerous both ways. Sweepers and changeups look more like the pressure points MLB pitchers may try to exploit. Run value says the overall results have worked in Triple-A. Expected slugging and whiff rate show where those results could be tested by better execution.

This is where the pitch-type table reaches its limit. It can show the pressure points, but it cannot show the progression of the at-bat. For Condon, that progression is the point: the same patient foundation that was producing walks and playable contact in April is now creating chances to do damage.

The progress shows up pitch by pitch

In April against Sacramento, Condon was already showing the approach. He was working counts, taking walks and forcing pitchers to execute, but the contact was not consistently changing the way pitchers had to attack him. Against Carson Whisenhunt, he walked in a six-pitch plate appearance, later doubled on an 83.3 mph changeup in a seven-pitch at-bat, and added a 101.0 mph sacrifice fly in a five-pitch plate appearance. The approach was competitive, but the double was a 94.6 mph ground ball at a 5-degree launch angle — useful contact, not the kind of impact that forces pitchers to rethink the plan.

That is the important baseline. Condon was not trying to become patient. He already was patient. The question was whether that approach would start producing enough damage.

The July 1 matchup against Marco Gonzales showed the later version.

Condon’s first at-bat against Gonzales was a six-pitch triple. Gonzales started him with a cutter for a called strike, then mixed a cutter, another cutter, a four-seam fastball and a changeup. Condon stayed in the at-bat, ran the count full and drove an 86.8 mph cutter for a 390-foot triple at 95.2 mph off the bat.

Then came the ambush. In the third inning, Gonzales opened the next plate appearance with an 80.9 mph changeup, and Condon hit it 103.5 mph at a 31-degree launch angle for a 397-foot home run. That at-bat lasted one pitch.

His third look at Gonzales showed the fuller version of the progress. In a six-pitch plate appearance, Gonzales changed speeds and shapes: cutter, fastball, curveball, cutter, changeup, fastball. Condon fouled off the first cutter, took a fastball off the plate, took a curveball below the zone, fouled off another cutter, then took a changeup to run the count full.

The sixth pitch was a 90.1 mph four-seam fastball. Condon hit it 101.8 mph at a 26-degree launch angle for a 385-foot home run.

That is the difference. The April version was taking pitches and working counts. The July version is doing that while turning the eventual mistake into damage.

The July 2 double against Ryan Lobus added a breaking-ball example without needing as much space. In a six-pitch plate appearance, Condon took two sweepers for balls, watched two more sweepers land for called strikes, took a fastball to run the count full, then drove an 81.2 mph sweeper 108.9 mph for a double. It was a deep count, it was spin, and it was loud contact.

Condon can miss breaking balls and off-speed, but he can also hurt them. The next test is whether more advanced pitchers can separate his selectivity from his damage often enough to keep him from changing the game.

The question has changed

At this point, the more interesting question is whether Triple-A can keep sharpening the test. Condon is walking, not chasing, doing damage, adjusting deeper in counts and forcing pitchers to pay when they come into the zone. The remaining question is whether the balance of patience and impact holds against big-league spin, better sequencing and pitchers with better command of how to attack him.

That does not make the call-up decision simple, and it does not guarantee an easy first month in Denver. But Condon has moved beyond simple prospect hype. The power everyone was waiting on has arrived, and it is showing up without him abandoning the strike-zone control that made the profile so interesting in the first place.

Condon looks ready for the next test, and increasingly, that test looks like one that may have to come at the big-league level.

Whether that happens next week, next month or later in the season is up to the Rockies.

On the Farm

Triple-A:Albuquerque Isotopes 8, Round Rock Express 2

The Albuquerque Isotopes (44-41) used early offense, late insurance, and a strong start from Keegan Thompson to handle the Round Rock Express (37-48) in an 8-2 win on Friday night.

Brenton Doyle got Albuquerque moving with a one-out solo homer to left-center field in the first inning. Doyle’s first AAA home run of the year traveled 356 feet with a 96.9 mph exit velocity. He finished 2-for-5 with the homer, his second double, and two RBI.

The Isotopes added on in the second inning with three straight two-out RBI doubles. Adael Amador drove in Drew Avans with his 10th double of the season, Doyle followed with a double to score Amador, and Sterlin Thompson added his seventh double to bring in Doyle. Amador went 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, and a run scored, pushing his OPS to .768.

Albuquerque put the game away late. Jordan Beck opened the eighth with his second home run of the season, sending an outer-edge changeup to left-center for a 355-foot homer. Beck later added an RBI single in the ninth and finished 2-for-5 with two RBI, bringing his season OPS to .879. Bryant Betancourt added an RBI single in the eighth and finished 2-for-5 with his first AAA stolen base.

Keegan Thompson worked five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and three walks with five strikeouts. He improved to 2-4 and lowered his ERA to 4.04. His biggest outs came with runners on, including strikeouts to end both the third and fourth innings. Domingo Acevedo covered the final four innings, allowing two unearned runs on two hits with three strikeouts to earn his first save.

The Isotopes finished with 15 hits, went 6-for-13 with runners in scoring position, and produced five two-out RBI. Round Rock managed five hits and went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

Double-A:Somerset Patriots 5, Hartford Yard Goats 3

The Somerset Patriots (42-37) held off a late push from the Hartford Yard Goats (42-36) in a 5-3 win on Friday night.

Hartford had the baserunners to make this one look different, but missed chances shaped the loss. The Yard Goats finished with eight hits, drew eight walks, and went just 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position while leaving 11 on base.

Jack O’Dowd stayed hot in his first week at Double-A. O’Dowd started at catcher and went 2-for-4 with a walk, his second double, and an RBI. Through his first four Double-A games, he is hitting .375/.444/.875 with a 1.319 OPS.

Roc Riggio also reached three times, going 2-for-4 with a walk and his 19th double of the season. Riggio now has an .837 OPS. Dyan Jorge added an RBI single and a walk, while Andy Perez drove in a run during Hartford’s ninth-inning push.

The pitching split was sharp. Stu Flesland III opened with two scoreless innings, and Michael Prosecky followed with a clean third, but Fisher Jameson allowed all of Somerset’s damage after taking over following a rain delay. Jameson gave up five runs on five hits, three walks, and two home runs over four innings, raising his ERA to 9.26.

Hartford got one run back in the fifth, then made Somerset work in the ninth. Mike Antico singled, Jorge walked, and Perez singled home Antico to cut the deficit to 5-2. O’Dowd then brought in Jorge on a force-out, but Aidan Longwell lined out to end the game with the tying run still at the plate.

High-A:Spokane Indians 4, Hillsboro Hops 2

The Spokane Indians (38-41) scored early and got enough pitching to beat the Hillsboro Hops (38-41) in a 4-2 win on Friday night.

Spokane built its lead in the first two innings. Tommy Hopfe opened the game with a single, Roynier Hernandez walked, and Ethan Hedges drove in Hopfe with a single to left. Jacob Humphrey followed with his 12th double of the season, bringing in Hernandez and Hedges to give the Indians a 3-0 lead.

Hopfe helped set the table again in the second with his 15th double of the season, and Hedges brought him home with another RBI single. Hopfe finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored and carries an .846 OPS on the season. Hernandez reached four times, going 1-for-2 with three walks and a run scored, raising his season OPS to .850.

Hedges and Humphrey drove the offense. Hedges went 2-for-5 with two RBI, giving him 42 on the season, while Humphrey went 1-for-3 with a walk, his 12th double, and two RBI to push his season total to 28. Spokane finished 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Bryson Hammer gave the Indians a strong start, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out seven, improved to 4-6, and now owns a 5.26 ERA. Hunter Mann followed with three innings of one-run ball, allowing three hits and striking out one. Nathan Blasick handled the ninth with two strikeouts to earn his sixth save and lower his ERA to 3.20.

Single-A:Fresno Grizzlies 10, Ontario Tower Buzzers 9

The Fresno Grizzlies (43-36) kept answering and eventually walked off the Ontario Tower Buzzers (41-38) in a 10-9 win on Friday night.

Fresno trailed 2-0 after the top of the first, but Roldy Brito and Wilder Dalis helped erase it right away. Brito singled in the bottom half, and Dalis drove him in with his 11th double of the season. Jesus Freitez followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2.

Brito was in the middle of everything for Fresno. He went 4-for-4 with a walk, a run scored, and two doubles, pushing his season line to a .322 average and .872 OPS. Dalis also had a big night, going 2-for-5 with his 11th double, his sixth home run, two RBI, and two runs scored. He now has an .832 OPS.

The Grizzlies kept climbing back after Ontario built leads of 6-3, 8-5, and 9-6. Cameron Nelson hit his fourth home run of the season in the fourth, a two-run shot that cut the deficit to 6-5. Dalis homered in the fifth, and Jeremy Ciriaco added his second home run in the sixth to make it 9-7.

Fresno tied it in the seventh without needing a big swing. Freitez singled, Ashly Andujar was hit by a pitch, Ciriaco walked, and Yeiker Reyes brought in Freitez with a sacrifice fly.

The ninth inning was messy, but Fresno took advantage. Reyes singled, Nelson walked, and Brito walked to load the bases with two outs. Luis Mendez was then hit by a pitch, forcing in Reyes for the walk-off run.

Fresno rarely had a clean inning on the mound, but Dylan Crooks struck out one in a perfect ninth inning to earn the win.

With sharp eye for strike zone, catcher Hunter Goodman powers Rockies and wins ABS challenges | AP News

AP looks at Hunter Goodman’s season through both sides of the ABS system. Goodman’s power has already made him one of the Rockies’ clearest All-Star cases, but his value has extended behind the plate, too, where his strike-zone feel has translated into one of the better challenge records among catchers. It is another reminder that with Goodman it is not just about the home runs — it is also about how much more complete his profile has become.

The Draft is just over a week away! Find out if the landscape has changed with our latest mock | MLB.com

With the draft just a week away, MLB.com’s latest mock has the Rockies going back to the college position-player pool at No. 10, targeting an outfielder whose profile is built more around the hit tool and plate discipline than pure power. There is still some pitching intrigue here, though, with at least one college arm mentioned as a possible fit if Colorado decides to chase upside on the mound instead.

Why Rockies rookie TJ Rumfield flies under the radar in NL Rookie of the Year race | The Denver Gazette

Kevin Henry looks at why TJ Rumfield’s rookie season still has not fully broken through nationally despite the production. Rumfield has now won back-to-back NL Rookie of the Month honors, and the underlying case is strong: he leads qualified NL rookies in several major offensive categories, including average, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, and hits. The question is whether voters will look past the Rockies’ record, the Coors Field factor, and the lower defensive spotlight that comes with playing first base.

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks! 

Today’s Reflections

Yeah. That was fun Wednesday. Really fun.

There is a lot of talk about the 23-3 blasting of the Padres below, and plenty of talk about Dansby Swanson hitting out of his mind, so I won’t regurgitate all the names, numbers and legends involved.

I was just reflecting on this first half of the season. No matter where the Cubs finish this season, it will still be a season to remember. Two 10-game winning streaks in a 23-game span when everything was clicking. A 10-game losing streak when it all was falling apart. PCA doing things just a couple of guys have done before. Swanson matching a gathering of legends. While they were killing it, Seiya Suzuki was steadily pumping out key hits and improved defensive play. Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ and Michael Conforto are starting stir a bit at the plate. All of this during a 15-4 run in the Cubs’ last 19 games. And don’t forget the 10 walk-off wins they have already collected. All in all, the Cubs have positioned themselves for a run for the Central Division title.

Yes, we have to hold our breath with each start and pitching change as the staff keeps its head just above water. But there have been some remarkable games and performances we won’t forget.

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Stories from Wednesday’s game:

• Jesse Rogers (ESPN): Dansby Swanson hits 3 homers, 8 RBIs as Cubs torch Padres 23-3. “Dansby Swanson’s historic day included a grand slam and the most RBIs by a Cubs player since Sammy Sosa had nine in 2002.”

• Field Level Media (Deadspin): Cubs smack 8 homers, score 23 runs while steamrolling Padres. “The Cubs, hit five home runs Tuesday in a 9-7 win and eight on Wednesday to sweep the series and win their fifth consecutive game.”

• Casey Drotter (MLB.com): Dansby shines (3 HRs, 8 RBIs) in Cubs’ historic 23-run, 8-HR romp. “It wasn’t so long ago that the Cubs were scuffling, trying to regain their footing after navigating through a 10-game losing streak.”

• Casey Drotter (MLB.com): 100! Suzuki’s monster HR sends Cubs slugger into Japanese-born history. “The Cubs’ right fielder became just the fourth Japanese-born big leaguer to reach that milestone.”

• Zoe Grossman (Chicago Sun-Times): 3 Takeaways After Cubs Hit Record-Tying Number of Home Runs to Sweep Padres. “Dansby Swanson and Michael Conforto each had multi-homer games as the Cubs put up 23 runs in the series finale.”

A deserved block of stories about Dansby Swanson’s run of late:

• Zoe Grossman (Chicago Cubs On SI): Cubs’ Dansby Swanson Is So Hot, He’s Putting Up Sammy Sosa Numbers (Seriously). “The Cubs shortstop’s 26 RBI in 10 games surpassed Sosa for the most in that span.”
• Andrew Wright (Yardbarker): Cubs’ Dansby Swanson is on an all-time hot streak. “It took some time for things to click, but Dansby Swanson has officially caught fire.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Dansby Swanson’s RBI Binge Puts Him Rarefied Air Among Several Legends. “Not all that long ago, certain segments of Cubs fandom were begging for Dansby Swanson to be benched or even released.”
• Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Behind Dansby Swanson, Cubs’ resurgent bats bash 13 homers in two days: ‘RBIs are a good thing, right?’ “Swanson hit five homers and drove in 11 runs in two games as the Cubs’ offense exploded against the Padres, showing what it’s capable of as the team chases championship-level goals.”

Some PCA stories:

• Ryan Herrera (Just Baseball): Pete Crow-Armstrong Wins a Much-Deserved NL Player of the Month. “Pete Crow-Armstrong, the young Chicago Cubs star, put together a month to remember.”
• Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): As Pete Crow-Armstrong moves past spectacular June, is MVP talk in his future? ‘That dude can carry a team’. “The Cubs’ center fielder put up one of the best statistical months that baseball has ever seen in June. With him standing among the game’s best players midway through the season, will “MVPETE” become a reality?“
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong has turned his biggest weakness into a major strength. “Chicago Cubs superstar Pete Crow-Armstrong is closing the gap on Shohei Ohtani in the NL MVP race, thanks to a huge adjustment he’s made at the plate.”

Trade Talk and Injury News:

• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Cubs Injury Updates: Taillon, Cabrera, Palencia, Maton, Miller, Wiggins. “A few Chicago Cubs injury updates for your off-day updating … , Jameson Taillon’s rehab start will be for the Iowa Cubs on Sunday.”
• Steve Drumwright (North Side Baseball): Drew Pomeranz Returns To Cubs’ Bullpen. “The left-hander had been released by the Angels a couple weeks ago, but finds a second life in 2026 with Chicago, where he pitched last season.”
• Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Cubs trade idea with Red Sox reunites with beloved closer for two notable prospects. “This would be a huge move for the Cubs, but a very fun one.”
• Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Amid pitching injuries, Cubs need Matthew Boyd to make big impact as summer goes on: ‘That’s our ace’. “The Cubs need Boyd, who has made only seven starts this season due to injuries, show up in a big way as they spend the summer waiting for health to return to their pitching staff.”

Assorted stories:

• Casey McAleer (Da Windy City): Cubs’ five-game winning streak has finally put the NL Central back within reach. “Chicago’s recent surge has transformed what once looked like a lost season into a manageable climb.”
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): 3 takeaways from Chicago Cubs’ series sweep, including Dansby Swanson’s hot streak and pitchers stepping up. “The Chicago Cubs’ 23 runs Wednesday were their most in a game in 31 years, while their eight home runs tied the franchise record.”
• Tyler Courtney (LastWordOnSports): Is the Chicago Cubs’ Hitting Getting Hot at the Perfect Moment? “How June Sparked the Cubs Hitting.”
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune {$}): Column: Chicago Cubs President Jed Hoyer defends Alex Bregman’s running lapse, calling it a ‘nonissue’. “Alex Bregman’s reputation should provide him with the benefit of the doubt from fans upset he didn’t run at full speed on a grounder during Sunday’s game in Milwaukee.”
• Tyler Courtney (LastWordOnSports): Who Can Fill the Gap in the Cubs Right Field? “The combination of (Seiya Suzuki and Matt Shaw) left the team feeling confident, with solid depth across the rest of the organization. However, that has quickly taken a turn for the worse due to injuries. Now, the team is desperate to find a solution as it looks to build on its recent hot streak.”

Food For Thought:

Big ED Sullivan comes from Brooklyn, New York. He grew not far from the Gowanus canal, but god knows he never fished there! But, he spent hours and hours shaprening his talents on guitar and harmonica while watching his friends falling like flies, victims of drugs and gang wars.

“Yes,” says ED, “Music for me was an escape, but at the same time, it was really what saved me from the street and from a choice that could have ruined my life.” It was this escape, like the influence of some of the great names of the blues and rockabilly — such as Slim Harpo, Albert Collins, Danny Gatton and Link Wray — which inspired Ed’s style. All these musicians hold a special place in Ed’s list of musical gods. No one plays the guitar like Ed. He has a way of transforming a melody of traditional blues or rockabilly by adding all his personality to it. His slide guitar playing is perfectly wild.

Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.

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Saturday's schedule is packed with intriguing matchups from start to finish, and I've broken down my favorite MLB picks for every game on the board.

From heavyweight contenders to live underdogs, these predictions are based on current form, pitching matchups, and where I see the biggest edge heading into first pitch.

MLB moneyline picks for July 4

Matchup	Pick
Pirates vs Nationals	-117
Twins vs Yankees	-170
Tigers vs Rangers	-122
Blue Jays vs Mariners	-138
Orioles vs Reds	+122
Rays vs Astros	-104
White Sox vs Guardians	-127
Cardinals vs Cubs	-127
Mets vs Braves	-163
Giants vs Rockies	-133
Phillies vs Royals	-138
Red Sox vs Angels	-138
Marlins vs Athletics	+113
Brewers vs Diamondbacks	-144
Padres vs Dodgers	-233

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 7-4.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for July 4

Pirates vs Nationals: Pirates (-117)

Pirates win probability: 54%

Pittsburgh is simply the better team right now. The Pirates own one of the league's best offenses, ranking near the top in batting average, OPS, and hits, while Washington continues to struggle on the mound. Zack Littell's ERA sits north of five, and that's a tough matchup against a lineup that consistently puts the ball in play. I'll back the deeper, more complete club.

Twins vs Yankees: Yankees (-170)

Yankees win probability: 63%

This one starts with the pitching matchup. Minnesota has been one of baseball's worst teams at preventing runs, while the Yankees lead the majors in ERA and continue to get quality starts from Carlos Rodón. New York also brings the league's top home run offense, giving it another edge if this turns into a power game. The Yankees are the side.

Tigers vs Rangers: Rangers (-122)

Rangers win probability: 55%

Neither offense has lit the world on fire this season, so I'll trust the steadier starter and the home team. Cal Quantrill has quietly put together a strong year, while Jack Flaherty has struggled to find consistency. Texas has been slightly better offensively across the board, and in what projects as a close game, that's enough to get my vote.

Blue Jays vs Mariners: Mariners (-138)

Mariners win probability: 58%

Toronto has been better at putting the ball in play, but Seattle has the much stronger pitching staff, and that's the difference for me. The Mariners rank among the league leaders in ERA, WHIP, and runs allowed, while Luis Gilbert has been one of their most reliable arms. In a game where runs could be hard to come by, I'll side with the better staff.

Orioles vs Reds: Orioles (+122)

Orioles win probability: 45%

Neither bullpen has been particularly trustworthy, so I'll lean on the better lineup. Baltimore has been more consistent getting on base and creating scoring chances, while Brandon Young has given the Orioles a solid chance to win nearly every time out. Cincinnati has enough power to stay in it, but Baltimore is the more complete team.

Rays vs Astros: Rays (-104)

Rays win probability: 51%

Everything points toward Tampa Bay. The Rays have been the better team on both sides of the ball, ranking near the top of baseball in batting average, on-base percentage, ERA, and WHIP. Houston still has dangerous hitters, but its pitching staff has been far too inconsistent. With Drew Rasmussen on the mound, I'll gladly back Tampa.

White Sox vs Guardians: Guardians (-127)

Guardians win probability: 56%

The White Sox actually own the better offensive numbers, but I'm still backing Cleveland. Parker Messick has been one of the more effective starters in this matchup, and the Guardians continue to do a much better job limiting runs than Chicago. Pitching usually wins games like this, and Cleveland has the edge where it matters most.

Cardinals vs Cubs: Cubs (-127)

Cubs win probability: 56%

Chicago has the edge almost everywhere I look. The Cubs rank near the top of the league in runs scored, OPS, and on-base percentage, while the Cardinals have struggled to generate consistent offense. This isn't a matchup where I want to overthink things. Chicago has the better lineup and enough pitching to take care of business at Wrigley.

Mets vs Braves: Braves (-163)

Braves win probability: 62%

This is Atlanta's matchup to lose. The Braves own the edge offensively, defensively, and on the mound, and Chris Sale has been one of the best starters in baseball with a 2.10 ERA. Sean Manaea has struggled to find consistency, while the Mets rank near the bottom of the league in just about every major offensive category. I'll lay it with Atlanta.

Giants vs Rockies: Giants (-133)

Giants win probability: 57%

Colorado's offense has been solid, but the Rockies simply don't get enough outs. They rank dead last in both ERA and WHIP, and that's a dangerous combination against Robbie Ray, who's quietly put together another strong season. San Francisco doesn't need to light up the scoreboard here—they just need to take advantage of one of baseball's weakest pitching staffs.

Phillies vs Royals: Phillies (-138)

Phillies win probability: 58%

Kansas City has been competitive, but Philadelphia checks more boxes. The Phillies have the better lineup, more power, and a clear edge on the mound with Jesús Luzardo facing Michael Wacha. Kansas City's pitching staff has struggled to keep runs off the board all season, and that's not the recipe you want against a Phillies offense that can score in a hurry.

Red Sox vs Angels: Red Sox (-138)

Red Sox win probability: 58%

Boston isn't an offensive powerhouse, but this matchup sets up well. The Red Sox have been the better pitching team all season, and Sonny Gray has been outstanding with a sub-3.00 ERA. The Angels have a little more pop in the lineup, but they've consistently given those runs back with shaky pitching. I'll trust Boston's starter to be the difference.

Marlins vs Athletics: Marlins (+113)

Marlins win probability: 47%

These teams are fairly even offensively, but Miami gets the nod because of the pitching matchup. Sandy Alcantara has looked much closer to his old self this year, while the Athletics continue to rank near the bottom of the league in ERA and WHIP. The Marlins don't need a huge offensive night if Alcantara gives them another quality start.

Brewers vs Diamondbacks: Brewers (-144)

Brewers win probability: 59%

Milwaukee has been one of the more complete teams in baseball, and the numbers back it up. The Brewers rank near the top of the league in runs scored, ERA, WHIP, and on-base percentage, while Arizona has struggled on both sides of the ball. Brandon Woodruff also owns a big edge over Merrill Kelly. This is one of my stronger leans on the board.

Padres vs Dodgers: Dodgers (-233)

Dodgers win probability: 70%

There's no need to overcomplicate this one. The Dodgers lead baseball in runs, batting average, OPS, ERA, and WHIP, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto gets the ball against a Padres starter carrying an ERA over seven. San Diego simply hasn't hit enough to overcome that kind of mismatch. Los Angeles is the deserved favorite.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Good morning, baseball fans!

Another week of San Francisco Giants baseball comes to a close this weekend, so it’s time to make our picks for Player of the Week!

I’m picking Rafael Devers this week, specifically for his performance in last Saturday’s 5-0 win over the Atlanta Braves, in which he hit TWO home runs, knocking in four RBI in the process. As of the time this is being written, he also has a hitting streak going for seven of the last eight games. Not a bad week, in my opinion.

Who is your pick for Player of the Week?

What time do the Giants play today?

The Giants play game two of this three-game series against the Colorado Rockies tonight at 5:10 p.m. PT.

Growing up in the 80’s, my brother Chris would always select Nolan Ryan on Nintendo’s RBI baseball, and for good reason.  Nobody threw as hard in a video game or in real life for that matter.  

Often overlooked due to his dominant velocity, was the relative ease in which he’d strike out hitters with his curveball which was often just as effective.   

He was the stuff of legends, and on America’s 250th birthday, we sat down with an icon exclusively at The Crawfish Boxes.  Here’s the Strikeout King and Hall Of Famer, Nolan Ryan.    

Q: Of all the No-Hitters, was one more gratifying than another?   

A: My 7^th No-Hitter probably was the most gratifying because it came so late in my career.

Q:  How often are you asked about Ventura going to the mound, and what do you think about that sequence becoming part of baseball lore?  What do you remember most about it?

A:  It’s a question that comes up quite often when someone asks about my career, and I find it interesting that it’s still on people’s mind when they talk about baseball.

Q:  Who’s a guy pitching today that you’d personally pay to watch? 

A:  I enjoy watching Gerrit Cole.

Q:  What would have happened in your day if a manager had attempted to put you on a pitch count?   

A:  Well, I would have to visit with him and see why he thought that, and why that was the best for me and my team.

Q:  What’s the most pitches you think you ever threw in a single contest?   

A:  It was speculated that in an extra innings game against Boston that I threw in the 230s

Q:  Favorite teammate?    

A:  I played for Houston for 9 years, and the nucleus of that ball club was held together.  Terry Puhl and Craig Reynolds are two of my best friends from baseball.

Q:  Toughest hitter(s) to get out?  Was there one guy that you always had difficulty with?  

A:  The type of hitter that was most challenging was a left-handed contact hitter who didn’t chase bad pitches.  Hitters such as George Brett, Rod Carew, Tony Gwynn, and Pete Rose were in that category.

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (43-42)

SYRACUSE 8, WORSTER 6 (BOX)

MJ Melendez broke the 6-6 tie in the bottom of the seventh with a go-ahead two-run home run that led Syracuse to victory. Jorge Polance reached base once in his rehab appearance.

• RF Nick Morabito: 1-5, K, SB
• REHAB ALERT: DH Jorge Polanco: 0-3, R, BB
• PH-DH Christian Arroyo: 0-0, BB
• 2B Ji Hwan Bae: 2-4, 2 R, BB, SB
• LF MJ Melendez: 2-5, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI
• 1B Ryan Clifford: 1-3, R, BB, 2 K
• 3B Yonny Hernández: 1-2, R, RBI, 2 BB, SB
• C Ben Rortvedt: 0-3, BB, K
• CF Cristian Pache: 0-4, 2 K, E
• SS Zack Short: 1-3, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K, SB
• P Tobias Myers: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• P Xzavion Curry: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• P Daniel Duarte: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• P Jefry Yan: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (29-50)

CHESAPEAKE 5, BINGHAMTON 4 (BOX)

The Rumble Ponies scored four runs, but Nick Lucky was the driver, driving in three-runs and stealing a base. R.J. Gordon was good, going five and striking out two, allowing no runs.

• DH Chris Suero: 1-5, 3 K, SB
• CF Jose Ramos: 1-5, K
• 1B JT Schwartz: 1-4, 2B, BB, K
• C Kevin Parada: 1-5, 2B, K
• LF Vincent Perozo: 0-3, 3 K
• RF Matt Rudick: 0-1, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 SB
• SS Wyatt Young: 0-4
• 3B Kevin Villavicencio: 1-3, R, RBI
• 2B Nick Lucky: 3-4, 3 RBI, K, SB
• P R.J. Gordon: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• P Justin Armbruester: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• P Zach Peek: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• P Felipe De La Cruz: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (32-46)

FREDERICK 8, BROOKLYN 7 (BOX)

The Cyclones hit three home runs in their loss to the Keys. The Mets were in the hole early, as Dakota Hawkins gave up six runs (five earned) in two innings pitched.

• SS Mitch Voit: 0-5, 2 K, 2 E
• 3B Yonatan Henriquez: 1-4, R, 3 K
• C Ronald Hernandez: 1-4, 2 K, E
• 1B Corey Collins: 0-3, R, BB, K
• DH Daiverson Gutierrez: 0-3, BB, K
• CF John Bay: 1-4, R, HR, 3 RBI, K
• LF JT Benson: 1-3, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB, 2 K
• 2B Colin Houck: 1-2, R, 2 BB, K
• RF Yohairo Cuevas: 2-3, R, HR, 3 RBI, BB, K
• P Dakota Hawkins: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
• P Parker Carlson: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• P Juan Arnaud: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• P Gregori Louis: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• P Ryan Dollar: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (35-42)

TAMPA 1, ST. LUCIE 0 (BOX)

The Tarpons scored in the second off of Christian Rodriguez, who allowed seven hits across his three and two-thirds innings of work. From there, the St. Lucie bullpen was phenomenal, allowing no baserunners in five and a third innings, striking out nine. Unfortunately, the Mets couldn’t push a run across on their five hits.

• SS Elian Peña: 0-4, 2 K, SB
• CF Trey Snyder: 2-4, 2B, SB
• C Chase Meggers: 1-4, 3 K
• DH Julio Zayas: 1-3, BB
• 2B Branny De Oleo: 0-4, K
• LF Simon Juan: 0-2, 2 K
• 3B Jeremy Rodriguez: 0-3, K
• RF Jackson Hauge: 0-3, 2 K
• 1B Jack Scanlon: 0-2, 2 K
• PH Antonio Jimenez: 1-1
• P Christian Rodriguez: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
• P Tyler McLoughlin: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
• P Kevin Herget: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• P Ernesto Mercedes: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Rookie: FCL Mets (18-24)

FCL METS 1, FCL MARLINS 1 (BOX)

[Game was suspended in the bottom of the fourth)

• DH Bohan Adderley: 0-2, 2 K
• SS Vladi Gomez: 0-2, K
• CF Wyatt Vincent: 0-2
• RF AJ Salgado: 0-1, R, BB, K
• C Yovanny Rodriguez: 1-2
• 1B Josmir Reyes: 0-1
• 3B Roybert Herrera: 0-1
• LF Heriberto Rincon: 0-1, K
• 2B Yorber Semprun: 0-1
• P Roberto Pena: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

Rookie: DSL Mets Orange (14-11)

DSL GIANTS BLACK 5, DSL METS ORANGE 4 (BOX)

• SS Wandy Asigen: 0-1, 2 BB
• PR-SS Jose Padilla: 0-1, K
• DH Cleiner Ramirez: 1-4, K
• 1B Cesar Acosta: 0-4, K
• 3B Sebastian Toro: 1-4, R, 2B, E
• CF Jhonael Cuello: 3-4, 2 R, 3B, RBI, 2 SB
• C Yadier Fuentes: 1-2, R, HR, 3 RBI, BB
• C Jesus Griman: 0-0
• 2B Oscar Pena: 0-2, BB, K
• LF Anthony Delgado: 0-1, K
• RF Elvis Teran: 0-4, K
• LF-2B Roni Garcia: 1-4
• P Maxgregori Harvey: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K
• P Frandy Lora: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
• P Mauricio Nunez: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• P Derlin Rojas: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Rookie: DSL Mets Blue (9-14)

DSL RANGERS BLUE 13, DSL METS BLUE 12 (BOX)

• SS Johnderis Sanchez: 3-4, 3 R, 2 BB, K, SB
• DH Dayron Oramas: 3-6, 2 R, 3 RBI
• RF Henry Manrique: 1-4, 2 R, 2B, 3 RBI, BB, K
• LF Jonnhan Sanchez: 3-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K, SB
• 1B Frank Moreno: 0-4, R, RBI, BB, 2 K
• 3B Michalle Mercedes: 2-5, K, SB
• CF Aiberson Blanco: 0-4, R, BB, 2 K
• C Adrian Silva: 0-3, 2 R, 2 BB
• 2B Jesus Minaya: 2-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
• P Eduardo Pina: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• P Arnaldo Tejeda: 1.2 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
• P Enmanuel Feliz: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• P Maykol Vasquez: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K

STAR OF THE NIGHT

MJ Melendez

GOAT OF THE NIGHT

Arnaldo Tejada

For the next few weeks we’ll be doing some theorizing on optimal returns at the trade deadline as the Red Sox look to do another tear down amidst a hopeless season. This week, it’s Sonny Gray—and unlike last week’s Chapman conversation, this one comes with a wrinkle.

Week two of Sock Drawer. Last week it was Aroldis Chapman and a relatively clean simulation—the Sox have the asset, contenders want it, Breslow sets the price. This week is messier, because Sonny Gray has a no-trade clause, and that changes the whole conversation.

Gray has been one of the few things working on this roster in 2026. This season, he’s commanding a 2.69 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 75 strikeouts across 83.2 innings. He’s somehow 9-1. On a team that’s going nowhere and gives NO support for its starting pitching. As a 36-year-old who wasn’t supposed to be anyone’s ace, that’s not a just real asset. That’s a legitimate AL Cy Young contender, and the market is starting to understand what it’s looking at. The Braves, Cubs, Brewers, Giants, and others are already circling. Jon Heyman has Atlanta’s name attached.

The complication is clearly the NTC. Gray restructured his contract when he came to Boston—the Cardinals are covering $20 million of his $31 million salary, meaning an acquiring team only owes the prorated remainder plus a $10 million buyout on a mutual option. That’s manageable. But Gray gets final say on the destination, and he’s been measured about it: “If someone came to me from the Red Sox and made a decision that that’s the direction this team was going to go, I would be open for a conversation.”

Open for a conversation is not a yes. The Sox can’t just shop him to the highest bidder. The field narrows to places Gray would actually approve. Frankly, I don’t blame Gray for being measured about it. I would think even for his age and long career, staying settled in one city might be more important to him and his family than title chasing.

The whole situation is actually fine if you’re looking at things from Craig Breslow’s perspective. The teams that make sense for Gray make sense for the Sox, and the NTC creates a different kind of leverage. The places Gray would approve are serious contenders with real farm systems (for the most oart), and serious contenders with real farm systems don’t get to lowball you. If you’re smart.

One more complication: Connelly Early just went to the IL with an elbow injury. On the surface, you might think that makes Breslow more reluctant to move Gray, now that the rotation has lost two legitimate arms and he’s even more exposed. That’s not wrong. But on a team that’s going nowhere, “we need pitching depth” is not a reason to hold a guy you can turn into a top prospect or a real bullpen piece. Early going down hurts the on-field product. It doesn’t change the deadline ethos.

There’s also a decision Breslow has to make before he picks up the phone: how much salary relief is Boston putting in? The answer to that question changes the return completely.

If Boston eats a chunk of salary: the acquiring team’s cost drops, Gray becomes easier to move, and the Sox can push for a real prospect from the top of the system.

If the full contract goes with him: the team absorbs more cost, and what comes back is an MLB piece, a bullpen arm who can contribute now rather than a name on a list, but isn’t the most valuable in general.

Neither is wrong, it just depends on what Breslow thinks this team needs more. I’ll give you both just to show you what that means.

Braves

Eats salary — Owen Murphy (RHP)/Tate Southisene (2B/SS)

Full salary — Dylan Dodd (LHP)/Dylan Lee(LHP)

Atlanta is the most obvious match here and maybe the most likely destination if this deal gets done. Their rotation is beaten up more than a room in Magic City—Spencer Strider, Joey Wentz, Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver are all missing some time—and the Braves are still contending, which means they need a real arm, not a depth add. Gray is exactly that.

The NTC nearly solves itself. Gray is from Nashville. Atlanta is close, the organization is stable, and the Braves have been in October almost every year for half a decade. If I were him, I would approve this one. Breslow knows that and should price accordingly. The fact that Gray probably says yes to Atlanta when he might say no to someone else is leverage, not a concession.

Murphy is the arm I want here. He dominated High-A in limited action before the injury, has one of the higher ceilings left in an admittedly thin Braves system, and fits the pitching-for-pitching logic cleanly. If Atlanta pushes back on Murphy, Southisene is the alternative, different profile, still a legitimate top-five piece from a system that isn’t deep enough to be holding onto anyone. The Braves farm being ranked near the bottom of the league is exactly why the salary relief matters here. Boston is making the deal easier in exchange for a sweetened pot.

If the full salary goes with Gray, Dodd gives you a back-end MLB starter with some upside who could slot into a Boston rotation that always needs arms. Lee is the more established bullpen piece, lefty, track record, knows how to get hitters out. Either is a legitimate MLB contributor, not a lottery ticket. In a year where the Sox bullpen has been a problem, adding a proven arm to that mix has real value even if it doesn’t change the rebuild timeline.

Cubs

Eats salary — Jaxon Wiggins (RHP)

Full salary — Phil Maton (RH) or Porter Hodge (RHP)

Chicago’s rotation is a mess and they know it. Two Tommy Johns, two hammies, a neck, a back, you may as well walk into the recovery ward of any ER Northside and see the venerable Cubs starting rotation. They had to trade for David Peterson just to stay afloat right now! If the Cubs are going to make a run, they need another reliable starter, and Gray is the definition of a reliable, veteran presence, experience in big games, innings-eater who won’t need to be pulled in the fourth. The fit is clean.

The double-package angle is worth noting: there’s real reporting floating around that Chicago could go after both Gray and Chapman in the same deal. Whether that’s actually on the table or just a fun idea that got written up is unclear—I get it with Chapman winning the WS in 2016 with the Cubbies—but if Breslow can work that angle, he should. Two complementary needs from one buyer is a GM’s dream negotiation.

Wiggins is the one I want from Chicago. He just cracked the top 100 and the scouting reports have gotten genuinely interesting, the stuff was always there, now the polish is catching up. The Cubs system has thinned out from where it was a couple of years ago (Shaw and Horton graduated, Caissie got traded), which makes Wiggins the clear headliner of what’s left. Pitcher for pitcher makes the most sense for both sides.

Full salary to Chicago means pushing for Maton or Hodge. Maton is a power arm with swing-and-miss stuff who would fit well in the back of a Boston bullpen that needs exactly that. Hodge is the younger option with more upside but less certainty. Either gives the Sox a real MLB reliever back, which is a reasonable ask when you’re handing over a $21 million arm and not asking for a cent back.

Brewers

Eats salary — Jett Williams (SS/CF)/Bishop Letson (RHP)

Full salary — Aaron Ashby (LHP)/Abner Uribe (RHP)

Milwaukee is the most interesting team in this conversation that isn’t getting talked about enough. The Brewers have the best farm system in baseball, by most accounts the best in years, and they’re contending, which means they need what Gray provides. They also develop pitching better than almost anyone in the sport. A guy like Gray going to Milwaukee under their coaching staff could buy him another productive season-plus.

The Brewers tend not to overpay at the deadline—it’s an organizational strength of theirs, which means Breslow has to go in knowing his floor. But their system is deep enough that they can give up a real piece without gutting themselves, and that’s exactly the kind of trade partner you want.

Williams is the intriguing prospect here. Traded to the Brewers from the Mets in the Freddy Peralta trade, his ranking has slipped slightly but the tools are still there and Milwaukee’s development track record means the ceiling hasn’t closed. Letson is more of a pure pitcher profile with a legitimate shot to move fast. Either way, the Brewers have the depth to make this hurt a little, and when the top farm system in baseball is making a move hurt, that’s a good outcome for the Sox. I’ll also say this: I really want Shane Drohan back. Boston drafted him, developed him, and then let him walk. If there’s any version of this deal where Drohan is part of the return, I’m listening.

Ashby is the name on the full-salary track. Lefty, swing-and-miss, already knows how to pitch at the big league level. He’s exactly what the Sox bullpen needs and the Brewers have the depth to absorb losing him. Uribe is the higher-upside option: the stuff plays in high leverage and if he figures out the command piece, he becomes someone. Either way, Milwaukee has the bullpen to send a real piece back without hurting their October chances.

White Sox

Eats salary — Hagen Smith (LHP)/Tanner McDougal (LHP)

Full salary — Sean Newcomb (LHP)/Grant Taylor (RHP)

Here’s the one nobody is writing about. The White Sox have been one of baseball’s most historically futile franchises for the better part of a decade. Multiple 100-loss seasons. A rebuild that took forever and delivered mixed results. Guaranteed Rate Field on a Tuesday. None of that sounds like a Gray destination.

Except they’re leading the AL Central right now.

That changes everything about this conversation. Chicago isn’t calling Boston because they’re stockpiling assets for three years from now. They’re calling because they have a pennant race on their hands for the first time in years, a market that has been starved for relevance, and a front office that knows exactly how rare and fragile first place feels when you’ve spent most of your recent history losing 95 games. A team in that position does not let a shot at Sonny Gray pass them by.

The NTC is the real question here. Gray has to approve the destination, and Chicago’s recent history is not exactly a draw. But if the White Sox are still in first at the deadline, that’s a different conversation than it would have been in April. Pitchers want to pitch in October. Gray says he’s open to a conversation. A first-place team with a real need is the kind of conversation that moves the needle on a waiver.

The farm depth is real too. All those top draft picks from the losing years are still in the system. Smith is already in the top 100 and has the profile of a back-of-rotation starter with real MLB durability. McDougal is the longer-range bet, younger, rawer, higher ceiling if the stuff develops. The Sox adding another lefty arm to the system is never a bad thing given how they develop pitching.

The full-salary version of this deal is the one I find most interesting. Boston could have a funny reunion on their hands. Newcomb returning to the organization would be interesting, and he’s been more effective in this stint than his previous run in Boston that the Sox would have something to work with. Taylor is the option if Newcomb isn’t available, left-handed, serviceable, fills a need in a pen that has needed help all year.

Giants

Eats salary — Gavin Kilen (SS/2B)

Full salary — JT Brubaker (RHP)/Sam Hentges (LHP)

San Francisco is the most interesting team on this list and probably the most overlooked one. Tony Vitello took over as manager this past offseason, coming straight from Tennessee where he built one of the better college programs in the country. He doesn’t have the personal history with Gray that Bob Melvin did, so the NTC approval is less certain here than it might have been a year ago. Oracle Park is a great place to pitch, San Francisco is a good market, and the Giants are a respectable organization—Gray could do a lot worse. But this one is a harder sell than Atlanta, and Breslow should know that going in.

What makes San Francisco interesting is Gavin Kilen.

Kilen was a Red Sox draft pick. Boston selected him, he went back to college (Louisville first, then transferred to Tennessee), and now he’s a top-five piece in the Giants system. The Tennessee connection is the thread that makes this section worth writing: Vitello coached Kilen with the Vols before taking the Giants job. So you have a manager who knows this prospect intimately, which cuts both ways — Vitello may be the last person who wants to trade him, or he may be exactly the person who knows what Kilen is and isn’t at the MLB level. Either way, Breslow has leverage in asking, because the Giants need rotation help and the Sox hold the asset. He’s the name I want from San Francisco if Boston is putting money in. Jacob Bresnahan and Blade Tidwell are also in the top-five conversation if Kilen isn’t available, Bresnahan is a sneaky-good lefty who keeps getting better, Tidwell has the stuff to move fast.

Brubaker is the headliner on the full-salary track, a legitimate MLB arm who gives the Sox a real contributor and not a project. Hentges is the alternative, left-handed and serviceable, fills a pen need. Carson Whisenhunt is worth a mention too: still a top-30 Giants prospect but he’s been down in Triple-A and could be framed as MLB-ready depth, which makes him an interesting piece that straddles both tracks.

With the tsuris Buster Posey has put himself through this season alone in the Bay Area, I could see Breslow actually end up on the right side of a deal between these former players here. We’ll give Devers to Posey, even with the drama there of late.

Atlanta is the deal that should get done and probably will. Gray approves it, the Braves need it, and the NTC leverage means Breslow can squeeze them. Cubs are the second call because of the double-package angle and the Wiggins possibility. Brewers are the sleeper with the best farm in the sport.

The Giants are the wildcard. The NTC approval is probably the easiest of any team on this list, and the Kilen homecoming angle is the best narrative piece in this whole conversation. The White Sox are the sleeper. Nobody is putting Chicago in this conversation right now, and that’s exactly why Breslow should. A franchise that’s been irrelevant for years just found itself in first place and they know the window could slam shut by September. That’s panic-buy energy, and panic-buy energy gets you Smith or McDougal. Make all five teams think the other four are ahead of them. Then close the right deal.

The salary decision is the only open question. If Breslow is building toward the deadline as a genuine rebuild, eat the salary, get the prospect, add to the system. If he thinks this team has a window to compete sooner than the standings suggest, take the MLB piece and plug the bullpen. Both are defensible. Just know what you’re doing before you pick up the phone.