Carson Benge went all out to make a terrific catch on Friday night.
But the Mets’ rookie outfielder paid a bit of a price.
Benge was removed in the bottom of the fourth inning of a 6-4 Mets win with what the team called left wrist soreness. X-rays came back negative, but Benge is set to undergo further testing Saturday.
New York Mets left fielder Carson Benge (3) hits an RBI single against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the third inning at PNC Park on Aug. 7, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Starting in left field, Benge tracked down a long fly ball during the bottom of the third, making a diving grab on the backhand before crashing into the wall in the corner.
Benge immediately grimaced and removed the glove from his left hand before getting back to his feet.
Cristian Pache, recently summoned from Triple-A Syracuse, came into the game in the bottom of the fourth as a defensive replacement.
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Benge, with two homers and a triple during a red-hot series at the plate in Cleveland, was 2-for-2 — upping his average to .270 — with a run scored before exiting Friday.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 01: Ronel Blanco #56 of the Houston Astros pitches in the third inning during the game against the Texas Rangers at Daikin Park on August 01, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TONIGHT’S GAME: The first-place Houston Astros (59-57) will begin the first game of a six-game road trip tonight at Petco Park against the San Diego Padres (59-56).
RHP Ronel Blanco (0-1, 7.36 ERA) will make his fourth start of the season for the Astros tonight opposite newly acquired LHP Robbie Ray (10-6, 3.08 ERA) and the Padres.
THE TURNAROUND: After a slow start to the season, the Astros are 39-26 since May 22, which is the second-best record in the AL in that span. On that date, the Astros were 20-31, 11 games under, which is their low water mark for the season.
THAT’S OFFENSIVE: The Astros lead the AL in SLG (.416), and OPS (.738), while ranking second in runs scored (540), home runs (157), OBP (.322) and hits (955). In the Majors, the Astros rank third in homers, trailing only the Nationals (168) and Yankees (164).
BLANCO’S BACK!: RHP Ronel Blanco is making his fourth start of the season after missing the first few months while recovering from right elbow surgery. Blanco was a mainstay in the Astros rotation prior to his injury, making 45 starts over the 2023-25 seasons, going 18-11 with a 3.36 ERA (94ER/251.2IP) and a .200 opponent average in that span. In his last start on Saturday against the Rangers, he allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
ROAD WARRIORS: The Astros begin a six-game west coast road-trip with two three-game series against the San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants. The Astros went 5-1 on their last road trip. Houston is also 22-13 (.629) on their last five road trips and are 28-19 (.596) on the road since going 1-9 on their first road trip of the season. Houston is 29-28 overall on the road in 2026.
THE LINEUP: The Astros have used 114 different lineups in their 116 games, repeating a lineup just twice on the season, which includes using the same lineup on Monday and Tuesday. DH Yordan Alvarez has the most starts at any spot in the lineup among Astros, hitting second 103 times.
VS. THE PADRES: The Astros and Padres have faced off vs. each other 615 times with the Astros leading the series 321-294. The Astros last faced the Padres in a three-game series at Daikin Park from April 18-20 (Astros went 2-1). The last time the Astros were at Petco Park was from Sept. 16-18, 2024 at SD (Padres went 2-1).
WEDNESDAY’S GAME: The Astros were defeated by the Blue Jays, 5-4 on Wednesday at Daikin Park in 10 innings. RHP Hunter Brown (6 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 8 K) spun his fifth quality start of the season. 2B Jose Altuve (2×5, HR, RBI), 1B Christian Walker (2×4, 2B, RBI) and LF LaMonte Wade Jr. (3×4, 2B, RBI) each recorded a multi-hit game.
ROSTER MOVES: OF Jake Meyers was recalled from Triple A Sugar Land today. Meyers takes the roster spot of IF/OF Zach Dezenzo, who was optioned to Triple A Sugar Land following Wednesday’s game.
PITCHER OF THE MONTH: RHP Bryce Mayer was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Month on Wednesday. He went 2-0 with a 0.47 ERA (1ER/19IP) in July with Double A Corpus Christi. He also recorded 29 strikeouts, six walks, a 0.79 WHIP and a .143 opponent batting average in four appearances, including three starts during the month. According to MLB.com, he’s rated as the Astros number five overall prospect and the top pitching prospect in the Astros system.
HEART & HUSTLE: OF Cam Smith has been the Houston Astros 2026 Heart and Hustle Award winner. This prestigious honor, which is awarded by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA), is presented yearly to players who exemplify a passion for the game and who best embody the values, spirit, and traditions of the game.
NO. 500: RHP Bryan Abreu struck out two in 1.0 scoreless innings on Wednesday vs. Toronto. Struck out RF Nathan Lukes to begin his scoreless 8th inning, recording his 500th career strikeout. Became just the 4th reliever in franchise history to record 500 strikeouts with the club, joining LHP Billy Wagner (694), RHP Brad Lidge (557) and RHP Dave Smith (529).
TRADE DEADLINE: The Astros made one trade on Monday, acquiring OF Daulton Varsho and cash from the Blue Jays in exchange for RHP Spencer Arrighetti. Varsho, 30, was activated on Monday and started the first three games of this series for the Astros, batting cleanup in all three contests.
MVP-CALIBER: Yordan Alvarez leads the AL in all three Triple Crown categories, ranking first in batting average (.329), HR (35), and RBI (85). Additionally, he leads MLB in OPS (1.083), OBP (.442), SLG (.640), and TB (265). In the AL, he ranks first in hits (136), extra-base hits (59), and runs (78), and second in walks (81).
HEAVY TRAFFIC: DH Yordan Alvarez has reached base safely in 21 straight games (since July 10), batting .413 (31×75) with 16 runs, eight doubles, six home runs, 18 RBI, 22 walks, a .551 OBP and a 1.311 OPS during the streak. Alvarez also has on- base streaks of 25 games (May 22-June 19) and 22 games (April 4-28) this season.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS: 2B Jose Altuve went 2×5 with a solo home run on Wednesday vs. Toronto. Marked his 247th career home run as a second baseman, surpassing Joe Gordon and Ian Kinsler for the 8th-most home runs by a second baseman in MLB history.
CHIPPING IN: A couple Astros are on mini hot streaks, including OF Taylor Trammell, who’s hit three homers with seven RBI and a .950 OPS in his last 10 games. RF Cam Smith has hit safely in six straight games, batting .385 (10×26) with two doubles, one triple, four RBI and a .945 OPS during his streak. 1B Christian Walker has a nine-game hitting streak, batting .324 (12×37) with four doubles, two homers, four RBI and a .985 OPS.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1998 – A week after his acquisition at the trade deadline, LHP Randy Johnson makes his Astros home debut with a 5-0, 5-hit, CG shutout over the Phillies in the Dome. Johnson allows just 1 walk with 8 punchouts. Jeff Bagwell has a big night going 3×5 with 2 HR and 5 RBI.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Friday, August 7, 8:40 p.m. CT
Location: Petco Park, San Diego, CA
TV: SCHN, SCHN 2
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
A person fishes at sunset on Tempe Town Lake during a record heat wave in Tempe, Arizona on July 18, 2023. Swaths of the United States home to more than 80 million people were under heat warnings or advisories, as relentless, record-breaking temperatures continued to bake western and southern states. In Arizona, state capital Phoenix recorded its 17th straight day above 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius), as temperatures hit 113F (45C) Sunday afternoon. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Today’s Lineups
DODGERS
DIAMONDBACKS
Shohei Ohtani – DH
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Andy Pages – CF
Corbin Carroll – RF
Freddie Freeman – 1B
Gabriel Moreno – C
Max Muncy – 3B
Ketel Marte – 2B
Mookie Betts – SS
Lars Nootbaar – DH
Kyle Tucker – RF
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Teoscar Hernandez – LF
Max Kepler – LF
Tommy Edman – 2B
Tim Tawa – 1B
Hunter Feduccia – C
Ryan Waldschmidt – CF
Roki Sasaki – RHP
Merrill Kelly – RHP
Roster moves
The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ 40-man roster is at 40.
Recalled from Triple-A Reno: RHP Kade Strowd
Optioned to Triple-A Reno following last night’s game: LHP Kohl Drake
That appears to be the decision as to who will be replaced when Michael Soroka returns from the injured list. Seems he’ll take over Drake’s spot in the rotation on Tuesday against the Rockies at Chase. The stark difference in performances this week between him and Mitch Bratt were just too much to overlook. But the Arizona bullpen is not in too bad shape, thanks mostly to Philip Abner sucking it up and throwing over fifty pitches. I’m actually a bit surprised that he wasn’t also optioned down to Reno for another fresh arm, since after that outing, Abner might not be seen at all in this series.
This weekend will also decide the winner’s of the season series between Arizona and Los Angeles since, like the Padres season series, it’s currently tied at 5-5 with three to play. It’s been a while since the D-backs came out on top. Indeed, you have to go back all the way to 2018, to find the last time Arizona won, going 11-8 that season. At least the last couple of seasons, the Diamondbacks have made a fight out of it, going 6-7 [insert obvious meme here] both in 2024 and 2025. Could end up being that way again this season. That’s a heck of an improvement over nightmare years like 2021-22 when Arizona were a combined 8-30 against Los Angeles.
Last year, the Diamondbacks had a great chance. Like now, they went into the final series at Chase Field tied at 5-5. They won the opener coming from behind in the ninth to walk-off on a hit by Geraldo Perdomo. But it was their final win of the year. They lost in 11 innings the next night, then got hammered 8-0 in the finale, on their way to a five-game losing streak to end the year. Let’s hope for better this time. If Arizona does reach the post-season, there’s a significant chance they could end up facing Los Angeles in the wild-card round. Showing we can beat them in the regular season would be a good way to put a seed of doubt in their heads for the playoffs, especially after 2023.
Over the years, there have been a total of six players to wear the number 55 for the San Jose Sharks. Despite that, none of them have been able to make a major difference for the organization, as many just spent part of a single season in the Bay Area.
Among those players, the one with the most interesting history is likely Derrick Pouliot. The eighth overall selection in the 2012 NHL Draft, Pouliot was, at one point, expected to be a major part of the Pittsburgh Penguins' long-term success. The Penguins tried to set him up to succeed as well, giving him constant opportunities after he turned professional. While he thrived at the American Hockey League level, he struggled to produce the offense he was known for at the NHL level.
After Pouliot was unable to earn an NHL role on a regular basis, the Pittsburgh Penguins gave up on him following the 2017-18 season and traded him to the Vancouver Canucks, who hoped they could get him back on track while they worked on their own project defensive prospect, Olli Juolevi.
Pouliot did step up a bit during his time in Vancouver, as he spent his entire two season stint with the Canucks in the NHL. However, that would be his final extended stint in the NHL to date. Following the 2018-19 season, Pouliot hit the free agent market for the first time in his career and signed with the St. Louis Blues. He'd only play a pair of games at the NHL level for the Blues and then was on the move once again.
After his time in St. Louis, Pouliot ended up in the Philadelphia Flyers organization, namely their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. After a short 25 game stint in Lehigh Valley, Pouliot joined the Vegas Golden Knights before being waived, and subsequently claimed by the Seattle Kraken.
After nine games with the NHL's newest franchise, Pouliot made his way to the Bay Area ahead of the 2022-23 season. Given the state of the Sharks at the time, he did find his way into eight games for the team in teal, but spend the majority of the season with the San Jose Barracuda in the AHL.
After a single season in the Sharks organization, Pouliot went looking for another opportunity once again. Since leaving, he's had stints with the Dallas Stars, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and currently, the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite a number of opportunities at the AHL level, he hasn't appeared in an NHL game since the 2023-24 campaign, when he played five games for the Stars.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 06: Adrian Morejon#50 of the San Diego Padres reacts after delivering a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on August 06, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Houston Astros (59-57) at San Diego Padres (60-56), August 7, 2026, 6:40 p.m. PST
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Young Mets outfielder Carson Benge was pulled from Friday's game against the Pirates for what the team is calling left wrist soreness.
Benge had gone 2-for-2 with two RBI in his first two at-bats, but in the bottom of the third, Ronny Simon lofted a flyball toward the corner in left field. Benge travelled a long way and slid feet first toward the corner, reaching up with his glove and making a catch. However, Benge seemingly jammed his wrist against the wall and was hunched over for a few seconds before tossing the ball back to the infield.
Benge completed the half-inning, but was pulled from left field for Cristian Pache in the fourth inning.
Mike Trout celebrated his 35th birthday on Friday, Aug. 7 with a home run for the Los Angeles Angels.
Trout's home run gave the Angels a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Miami Marlins pitcher Tyler Phillips.
It is the sixth home run Trout has hit on his birthday during his career. He is the first player in MLB history to hit a home run on his birthday in six different seasons (2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2026), according to the Angels.
Trout also ties Alex Rodriguez and Mark Reynolds for the most birthday home runs in MLB history.
The Colorado Avalanche have built their identity around speed for years. Now, the NHL Edge data puts just how fast they are into perspective.
According to NHL.com Senior Director, Fantasy Pete Jensen, the Avalanche were in a class of their own when it came to high-end skating speed during the 2025-26 season. Colorado led the NHL with 2,643 speed bursts of at least 20 mph during the regular season — nearly 1,000 more than any other team — while also producing the league's highest total of 22-plus mph speed bursts during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
That kind of speed isn't simply something that looks good on the eye test. It is a defining element of how the Avalanche attack.
And perhaps the best way to understand Colorado's speed is to look at the three players who put it on display most often.
Nathan MacKinnon recorded 455 bursts of at least 20 mph last season, second-most in the NHL, while Martin Necas ranked sixth with 348. Necas was even more dominant in the 18-to-20 mph range, leading the entire league with 1,030 bursts.
MacKinnon also recorded the second-fastest maximum skating speed in the NHL during the regular season at 24.78 mph, trailing only Beck Malenstyn's 24.94 mph.
But the most impressive part of MacKinnon's season wasn't necessarily how fast he was skating. It was what he continued to produce once he got there.
MacKinnon is coming off his fourth consecutive 100-point season, joining an exclusive group that includes Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov and Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid. Kucherov has also reached the 100-point mark in each of his last four seasons, while McDavid has done it six straight times.
McDavid, however, raised the bar again this season, capturing his sixth Art Ross Trophy after finishing with 138 points.
MacKinnon wasn't far behind.
The Avalanche superstar finished the regular season with 53 goals and 74 assists for 127 points in 80 games, good enough for third in the NHL. He also captured the first Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy of his career as the league's leading goal scorer.
For the first time in his career, MacKinnon also represented Canada at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games, adding another significant chapter to what was already an exceptional season.
Necas, meanwhile, is just getting introduced to the 100-point club.
After being acquired by Colorado, Necas put together the best offensive season of his career, finishing with exactly 100 points — 38 goals and 62 assists — in 78 games. It was his first time reaching the century mark, and he didn't slow down once the postseason began.
Necas produced at a point-per-game pace in the playoffs for the first time in his career, showing that his regular-season breakout wasn't simply a product of playing alongside one of the league's most dangerous offensive teams.
His skating helps explain why.
Necas can hit another gear almost instantly, and his ability to generate speed without needing much room makes him particularly dangerous when Colorado gets moving through the neutral zone. His 1,030 speed bursts between 18 and 20 mph were the most in the NHL, a remarkable number that helps illustrate just how frequently he operates at a high-end pace.
Then there is Cale Makar.
For Makar, the 2025-26 regular season could reasonably be described as an off year — at least by the absurd standards he has established for himself.
He finished with 79 points in 75 games, including 27 goals and 59 assists. For virtually any other defenseman, that would be an outstanding season.
For Makar, it was a step back.
When healthy, Makar has generally operated around the 89-point mark over a full season, which is almost difficult to comprehend for a defenseman. His ability to create offense isn't limited to his passing or his vision, either. His skating allows him to turn what looks like a routine defensive possession into an offensive opportunity in a matter of seconds.
The NHL Edge numbers reinforce that.
Makar led all NHL players with a maximum skating speed of 23.92 mph during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and finished second among defensemen in 20-plus mph speed bursts during the regular season with 223.
That combination of skating and skill is what makes Makar so difficult to defend. He doesn't need to wait for a play to develop. He can create one himself.
And if Colorado can get more from him on the power play next season, where the Avalanche struggled for stretches, the impact could extend well beyond the regular season.
Because that is ultimately what makes Colorado's speed so dangerous.
It isn't just that MacKinnon can fly. It isn't just that Necas can accelerate through a gap before a defender has time to close it. And it isn't just that Makar can join the rush with the speed of a forward.
It's that all three can do it at the same time.
When the Avalanche are at their best, there is very little time for an opponent to make a mistake. A missed assignment can become a MacKinnon breakaway. A loose puck can turn into a Necas rush. Makar can suddenly appear as the fourth attacker before the defense has even had a chance to reset.
That combination helped Colorado become the only team in the NHL with two 100-point scorers last season and one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the league.
The Avalanche ultimately fell in the Western Conference Final, leaving plenty of questions about what needs to change before they can take the final step.
Speed isn't one of them.
The numbers now back up what opponents have experienced firsthand for years.
Colorado isn't merely one of the NHL's fastest teams.
At the request of the Harris County district attorney's office in Houston, a misdemeanor gun charge against Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden has been dismissed after he completed an alternative resolution program, reports the Associated Press.
Alternative programs are a fairly common way for people to avoid a criminal record for a minor offense. In this case, Harden likely did some community service in the Houston area, although the agreement did not detail exactly what he did, according to the AP.
Harden, an 11-time All-Star, had been arrested on June 13 for having a gun in the cupholder of his car. He had been driving a car as part of a multi-car group when one of the other drivers was pulled over, according to the Harris County police report. Harden had pulled up behind the police and the other vehicle, and while interacting with the police, one officer noticed Harden had a gun in the cupholder of his car, according to the report. Harden allegedly confirmed the gun was his, which led to his arrest and booking.
Harden played eight seasons — his peak seasons, statistically — in Houston and has close ties to the city. He spends much of his offseason there every year.
Harden, 36, technically still remains a free agent, but is expected to re-sign with the Cavaliers in the coming weeks. He opted out of the $42.3 million he was owed to give the Cavaliers more cap space to chase LeBron James (they struck out there) or make other moves. He is expected to re-sign in Cleveland for around $30 million a season (depending on what other moves the team makes) for multiple years. Harden was traded from the LA Clippers to Cleveland in the middle of this past season, and between the two teams he averaged 23.6 points and 8 assists per game while shooting 37.5% from 3-point range.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 06: An overall photo before the game between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees on May 6, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s Unofficial 1990s Throwback Night at Yankee Stadium on Friday, as the Atlanta Braves are in town to face the Yankees for a three-game set.
These showdowns always bring to mind fond—for us anyway—memories of the 1996 and 1999 Fall Classics, when the Yankees came back from down 0-2 to win their first championship in 18 years and then when they polished off a similarly potent Braves team in a four-game sweep durig the final year of the 20th century (securing a repeat to follow the act of the legendary 1998 club). Of course, it’s been many years since those rumbles, and from 2001 onward, the Yankees and Braves have the same number of titles: one apiece, in 2009 and 2021 respectively.
Tonight has a special sort of buzz about it, as erstwhile Braves ace Max Fried—who won the World Series clincher in Houston during that special 2021—will face his old team for the first time. The personnel has changed a bit since Fried departed after 2024 (including now-retired skipper Brian Snitker), but Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, and plenty more are still around. Meanwhile, Atlanta will send out one of their Trade Deadline acquisitions, Tyler Mahle, who will make his Braves debut.
It’ll be a fun showdown … whenever they get to play it. The weather in the Bronx is crummy at the moment and even though first pitch is still an hour away, the Yankees have announced that the game will not begin at 7:05pm ET as expected. Whenever the Yanks and MLB offer updates, we’ll update our own article in turn. Stay dry and hang in there! The rain is supposed to subside, so we should get baseball tonight.
Please be advised we do not intend to start tonight’s game on time. Information will be provided as it is received.
On an episode of “The Big Podcast” hosted by Shaquille O’Neal, he questioned why former teammate Kobe Bryant isn’t included in the conversation.
Shaquille O’Neal questions why Kobe Bryant isn’t considered in GOAT debates. Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
“There’s only three people in the GOAT conversation. Listen, I’m arrogant, but I’m not dumb,” O’Neal said. “It’s Kobe, Bron and Mike, that’s it.”
O’Neal was originally asked why he isn’t considered in the GOAT conversation; he was then confronted about a bias of shooting guards who are in the conversation, to which O’Neal admitted that players have their sub-categories.
“For so long it was just Mike and Bron, and I’m like, ‘I understand, great picks, but what about the Kobester?’ ” O’Neal said.
Bryant won five NBA championships with the Lakers during his 20-year career. AP
Bryant is no doubt one of the NBA’s greatest players. He spent his 20-year career as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, leading them to five NBA championships. Bryant was a two-time Finals MVP and a regular-season MVP in 2008.
Bryant’s five NBA titles eclipse James, who has won four championships in his 23-year career, but do not surpass Jordan, who won six NBA titles and was crowned Finals MVP in all six series.
Bryant was known for his “Mamba Mentality,” which focused on his relentless effort to try to win games and perform well while dealing with adversity.
With so many iconic moments in his career, Bryant’s greatest performance came on Jan. 22, 2006, when he scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, the third-most points in a game by a player. Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 in 1962, and Bam Adebayo tallied 83 in 2026.
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Lonnie Walker IV, a seven-year NBA veteran who spent last season with Maccabi Tel Aviv in the EuroLeague, reportedly has agreed to a one-year, $3.3 million minimum contract with the Denver Nuggets to return to the NBA, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Walker is a 6'4" two guard, a position where the Nuggets need depth after losing Tim Hardaway Jr. in free agency (plus Jalen Pickett is not back as well). It's unclear if this contract is fully guaranteed, but it's possible he steps into (or earns the chance in training camp to step into) the role Bruce Brown played with this team.
Walker was a double-digit scorer in four of his seven NBA seasons (four of the last five) and is a career 35.6% shooter from 3-point range. The former No. 18 pick averaged 15.2 points per game in EuroLeague play last season, shooting 35.1% from beyond the arc.
Denver still has a lot of work to do this offseason, most notably either re-signing or finding a sign-and-trade for wing player Peyton Watson. With that comes the fact that the Nuggets are currently already above the second apron of the luxury tax with 12 contracts on their roster — this is a team that needs to shed salary. They have looked for trades for Cameron Johnson or Christian Braun, but would have to add the sweetener of picks to either of them to get another team to take on those contracts at this point in the summer.
Where Walker fits into all that is just another piece of the puzzle.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JULY 10: Kyle Leahy #62 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the Atlanta Braves at Busch Stadium on July 10, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals return home for a 3-game weekend series vs the Colorado Rockies starting Friday night. Kyle Leahy will start for the Cardinals while the Rockies will send Ryan Feltner to the mound. First pitch scheduled for 7:15pm central time at Busch Stadium and the TV broadcast will be available via Cardinals.tv.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 02: Head coach Taylor Jenkins of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on against the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on February 02, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks announced their coaching staff earlier on Friday. Under new head coach Taylor Jenkins, only Darvin Ham and head of player development Jack Herum will return to the Bucks for the 2026-27 season. The rest of Milwaukee’s new coaching personnel—including Summer League head coach Pat St. Andrews—are all new hires or returning to Milwaukee after previously leaving.
Darvin Ham is the most recognizable name among Jenkins’ assistant coaches. Ham served as the lead assistant coach for four seasons, including Milwaukee’s championship-winning season in 2021. He then spent a turmoil-filled two years in Los Angeles, where, despite posting a winning record across his two seasons in charge, he was fired after a first-round playoff exit. Ham was a candidate to fill the New Orleans Pelicans’ coaching vacancy in the summer, but he ultimately remained in his role as the Bucks’ assistant coach. Ham has worked with Jenkins before in Atlanta for five seasons and in Milwaukee for one.
Two of the Bucks’ assistant coaches, St. Andrews and Brad Jones, worked with Jenkins as assistant coaches in Memphis. Others have ties to Milwaukee; Vince Legarza returns to the Bucks after spending the 2024-25 season as an assistant with the Suns, and Schuyler Rimmer spent four seasons with the Bucks from 2018-22 as a video coordinator. Some of the Bucks’ new assistants have experience from around the league. Johnny Carpenter was an assistant for the Indiana Pacers last season but turned down the opportunity to coach the Pacers’ Summer League team to join Milwaukee.
T.J. Ford will also join Milwaukee’s coaching staff, his first coaching role in the NBA. The former eighth overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft, Ford spent two seasons with Milwaukee as the team’s starting point guard and made 127 appearances, averaging 10 points. After retirement, Ford spent time coaching high school and AAU basketball, including his own Adidas-sponsored team, TJ Ford Elite.
Joe Boylan, the highly-touted coach who seemed set to join Jenkins’ coaching staff, won’t join the Bucks. Boylan shifted course in early July to join new coach Dusty May and the Dallas Mavericks,
Dave Joerger, a longtime assistant to Doc Rivers, will take on an assistant coaching job in Denver, while Greg Buckner joins the Orlando Magic.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 01: Jackson Holliday #7 of the Baltimore Orioles bats against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 01, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Orioles are back for another one of those “man, they’ve got to find a way to take two out of three” series. This one pits the club against the Texas Rangers. The Rangers (57-58) currently sit one game ahead of the Orioles in the chase for the third wild card spot. You can read more about Texas in Paul Folkemer’s series preview.
Jackson Holliday will bat third and play second base tonight against right-handed pitcher Nathan Eovaldi. The Orioles will look for Holliday to step up with Adley Rutschman and Taylor Ward no longer with the organization. Craig Albernaz will give the former first-overall pick a chance to make an impact from a higher spot in the batting order this evening.
Gunnar Henderson will bat first and play shortstop. He’ll be joined in the infield by first baseman Pete Alonso and third baseman Coby Mayo. Tyler O’Neill will slot in as the designated hitter with Christian Encarnacion-Strand beginning the game on the bench. Dylan Beavers, Colton Cowser and Leody Taveras will make up the outfield from left to right. Carlos Narváez will catch starter Shane Baz.
The Orioles have struggled to provide Baz run support this season, but it would behoove the bats to strike early in this one. Baltimore’s high leverage relievers should all be fresh after getting the day off in a 4-1 loss on Thursday.
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