LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 03: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts at the end of the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on July 03, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the first time since the “hurriquake” of August 2023, the Dodgers will play a doubleheader on Sunday after their game against the Yankees on Saturday was postponed due to heavy rain.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start the first game of the doubleheader, while the Dodgers have yet to announce their starter for the latter game. The Dodgers have made it clear that Shohei Ohtani will not be pitching in the Bronx, as his next scheduled start lines up on Wednesday when the team is in Philadelphia, per Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times. Whether he will resume his two-way duties on Wednesday is still up in the air.
Ohtani was expected to be in the lineup for all three games against the Yankees. He planned to play catch and throw off the mound in the coming days, and the team would monitor his response before finalizing pitching plans.
Taking the mound Wednesday would give Ohtani more recovery time heading into the team’s day off. When asked if Ohtani would shoulder two-way duties Wednesday, Roberts said, “We’ll see when we get there.”
Ohtani has not pitched since July 3 against the San Diego Padres, and he enters the second half of the season with a record of 8-2 and a 1.79 ERA across 14 starts.
Kiké Hernández has appeared in just two games this season and has been out since May 27 after suffering an oblique strain. Hernández is currently undergoing a rehab assignment and could rejoin the team during their next homestand, reports Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
The fan-favorite utility player began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday night, beginning with a weekend series in Tacoma, Wash. Hernández is unlikely to return during the Dodgers’ three-city road trip visiting the Yankees, Phillies and Mets, but he could be activated from the 10-day injured list during L.A.’s next homestand beginning on July 28.
The Yankees aren’t a ballclub that has expectations of losing in the World Series. It’s apparent with their 27 championships.
“The disappointment of getting to the end and playing for it all and coming up short, that’s one of those things that leaves a scar,” manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees’ game against the Dodgers on Saturday was rained out and will be made up on Sunday as a split doubleheader. “You want to be in a position to be in a World Series and play for it all. We had that opportunity and came up short. So there’s pain and disappointment that comes with that, and it’s part of our baseball journey.”
For Colin Rea, Friday evening was a rough one — but he had it better than most. Rea’s quality start over six innings saw him scatter five hits and a walk and strike out six. His one mistake was a three-run home run to Ryan Jeffers.
After Drew Pomeranz had a poor outing, the three following relievers punched through 2.2 innings of scoreless ball. But the game was over after that home run as the Cubs managed only six hits, two by Nico Hoerner, and included a double by Seiya Suzuki. Michael Busch’s first-inning RBI single was the only non-wild pitch aided run the Cubs could muster.
The reunion of the 2016 Cubs made for a wonderful Saturday and the Champions Gate is another fine addition to Gallagher Way.
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Hubert Charles Sumlin (November 16, 1931 – December 4, 2011) was a Chicago blues guitarist and singer, best known for his “wrenched, shattering bursts of notes, sudden cliff-hanger silences and daring rhythmic suspensions” as a member of Howlin’ Wolf’s band. Sumlin was born in Greenwood, Mississippi, and raised in Hughes, Arkansas. He got his first guitar when he was eight years old. As a boy, he met Howlin’ Wolf by sneaking into a performance.
In Chicago, Wolf hired the guitarist Jody Williams, but in 1954 he invited Sumlin to move to Chicago to play second guitar in his band. Williams left the band in 1955, leaving Sumlin as the primary guitarist, a position he held almost continuously for the remainder of Wolf’s career. Upon Wolf’s death in 1976, Sumlin continued playing with several other members of Wolf’s band, as the Wolf Gang, until about 1980. He also recorded under his own name, beginning with a session from a tour of Europe with Wolf in 1964. His last solo album was About Them Shoes, released in 2004 by Tone-Cool Records.
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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 13: Jose Quintana #62 of the Colorado Rockies gets a new ball after giving up a walk in the second inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on May 13, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Friday, the Colorado Rockies updated their injury report.
RHP McCade Brown — Continuing in his throwing progression in Arizona. (60-day IL; right shoulder inflammation)
RHP Blas Castaño — Continuing in his throwing program; scheduled to throw off a mound later in the week. (15-day IL; right pectoral strain)
OF Brenton Doyle — Continuing strengthening program with his left adductor, which was injured while on rehab for his left oblique injury; will progress to running and baseball activities during the week. (15-day IL; left oblique contusion)
RHP Seth Halvorsen — Threw live bullpen yesterday; next step is a scheduled rehab assignment. (15-day IL; right shoulder inflammation)
RHP Jaden Hill — Playing light catch. (15-day IL; right shoulder tendinitis)
LHP José Quintana — Continuing to progress through his throwing program. (60-day IL; left elbow strain)
Beyond that, here’s what our writers were up to during the All-Star break!
With the first half of the season complete and the second half underway, what are your conclusions so far? What are your expectations for the rest of the season? Let us know in the comments!
FREDERICK, MARYLAND - APRIL19, 2026: Ike Irish #11 of the Frederick Keys bats during a South Atlantic League game against the Hudson Valley Renegades at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Frederick, Maryland. The Renegades beat the Keys, 7-6. (Photo by Rodger Wood/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Nestor German started for the Tides and pitched six strong innings. His only run allowed came on a solo home run in the second inning, and he in fact allowed just two hits and one walk. He struck out four. German is on a nice stretch and has now allowed just one run in July. That’s three starts and 18 innings.
The Tides hitters had two four-run innings. Enrique Bradfield, Jr., who has been pretty cold of late, contributed two singles from the top of the lineup. Heston Kjerstad had an RBI single in five ABs. It was a big night for outfielder Michael Siani, who singled and doubled. He picked up three RBI. And Jud Fabian had a nice night as well. He knocked in two with a single and a sac fly, and also took a walk.
Down 3-1 going into the bottom of the eighth inning, the Baysox stormed back with three runs to take the lead and get the win.
Joseph Dzierwa started for the Baysox and allowed just one baserunner through the first three innings on a walk. In the fourth, he gave up back-to-back singles to start the inning but worked out of the jam. The last out of that inning came when the Yard Goats runner attempted to steal home and was thrown out by Dzierwa. In the fifth inning, he issued a walk and then allowed a home run to put the Yard Goats up 2-0. That was his last batter. Final line: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K.
Sebastian Gongora pitched the final four innings and allowed just one run on two hits. He struck out six and was awarded the win.
On offense, the Baysox were hitless until the sixth inning. Through five, they had just two baserunners. One reached via HBP, the other by walk. Brandon Butterworth, who took the walk, was picked off. With runners on first and third and no outs in the seventh, Aron Estrada hit into a double play. The run came in, but the rally was squashed. Estrada and Butterworth both did better in the eighth inning, with RBI singles. Anderson De Los Santos knocked in the third run with a bases-loaded walk.
High-A: Frederick Keys 12, Greenville Drive (BOS) 2
The Keys’ offense was pumping last night as they scored 12 runs on 20 hits on the road in Greenville. They were leading 4-2 after six when they put up back-to-back four-run innings up in the seventh and eighth. Number nine hitter Edwin Amparo and leadoff hitter Ike Irish each had three-hit games, with Amparo on base ahead of Irish twice to get knocked in.
Wehiwa Aloy, batting after Irish, reached base four times with two singles and two walks. He scored a run on an error after a walk, and knocked in another un on a sac fly. Braylin Tavera capped off the scoring with a three-run home run in the eighth inning. It was a four RBI night for Tavera. Leandro Arias and Yasmil Bucce also had three hits. Every player in the Keys lineup had at least one.
Patrick Reilly continued his rehab with two runs in four innings. He allowed four hits, struck out four, and walked one. In his fifth game back, four innings is his longest stint so far.
Low-A: Salem RidgeYaks (BOS) 10, Delmarva Shorebirds 5
Starting pitcher Christian Rodriguez allowed one run in two innings pitched. He worked around a single in the first but wasn’t as lucky in the second, when a double and single resulted in a run. No word I could find on why Rodriguez exited after two innings. He had thrown just 34 pitches. Hopefully it’s not due to injury.
The pitchers who followed let the game get out of hand immediately. Jason Shockley, Teddy Sharkey, and Andrew Herbert allowed three runs apiece out of the bullpen.
The Shorebirds got off to an early lead with a three-run second inning. Two runs scored on a single by Jose Perez and a third scored on a throwing error by Salem’s shortstop. They added two more in the eighth. Stiven Martinez walked and scored on a Miguel Rodríguez double. Rodríguez then scored on a single from Adriander Mejía.
It was a three-hit day for Perez and a two-hit day for Mejía. Jaiden Lo Re was 1-for-5 as the leadoff batter.
The Colorado Avalanche weren’t going to replace Valeri Nichushkin with one draft pick.
Players like Nichushkin don’t come around often. When he was healthy, he was one of the most complete forwards in the NHL — a player who could impact the game at both ends of the ice with his size, speed, physicality, defensive awareness, and ability to finish.
So when Colorado moved him to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the conversation naturally focused on what the Avalanche were losing.
What they gained, however, was another opportunity to find talent.
As part of the return, Colorado acquired three future draft picks, including a second-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft. That pick became Egor Shilov, a talented winger who was still available when the Avalanche selected him 43rd overall.
Without the Nichushkin trade, Shilov probably never becomes part of Colorado’s organization.
Now, the Avalanche are hoping they found a player who slipped through the cracks because teams focused on what he needed to improve rather than what he already did well.
And there is plenty to like.
Shilov entered the draft as one of the most gifted offensive players in the class. In his first season with the Victoriaville Tigres, the Russian winger took the QMJHL by storm, producing 82 points with 32 goals and 50 assists in 63 games.
The numbers are impressive, but they don’t fully explain what makes him such an intriguing prospect.
Watching Shilov play, one thing immediately stands out: he has a unique ability to control the pace of the game.
He can attack defenders with his speed, but he isn’t a player who simply relies on moving faster than everyone else. He has the patience to slow things down, hold onto the puck, and force defenders into uncomfortable situations.
That’s where he creates openings.
A defender might expect Shilov to make the obvious play, but he has the confidence to wait an extra second, draw that defender toward him, and then use the space created to make something happen. He can beat players one-on-one, but he’s just as dangerous when he’s creating opportunities for teammates.
That combination of patience, creativity, and deception is what made him one of the more exciting offensive players in the draft.
It’s also the type of skill set that fits what Colorado has historically valued. The Avalanche have always looked for players who can think the game quickly, create offense, and make plays at a high pace.
Shilov checks those boxes.
The reason he was still available in the second round wasn’t because scouts questioned his offensive ability.
It was everything that came with it.
The biggest concern surrounding Shilov has been consistency. There are stretches where he looks like one of the most dangerous players on the ice, but there are also moments where he appears to wait for the game to come to him instead of forcing himself into the action.
That can be a difficult habit to overcome at the NHL level.
The best players aren’t only impactful when the puck is on their stick. They find ways to influence the game through positioning, defensive effort, and creating opportunities even when they aren’t the ones finishing the play.
That’s the next challenge for Shilov.
He’ll need to become more reliable away from the puck, improve defensively, and limit some of the turnovers that come with trying to make difficult offensive plays.
Those concerns are exactly why Colorado was able to get him at No. 43.
But they’re also why the Avalanche believe there is a chance for something special.
Colorado isn’t selecting Shilov because of where his game is today. They’re selecting him because of where it could eventually go.
There’s no expectation that he’ll immediately step into the NHL. Shilov is expected to return to Victoriaville for another season before continuing his development at Penn State, giving him additional time to become a more complete player before making the jump to professional hockey.
That development path could be important.
Shilov doesn’t need to rebuild his game from the ground up. The offensive instincts, puck skills, and creativity that made him a second-round pick are already there.
The focus now is on adding the consistency and responsibility needed to make those tools translate against better competition.
That’s where the Avalanche will be tested.
Colorado has had mixed results developing young players into NHL contributors, and Shilov represents exactly the type of prospect that challenges an organization’s ability to maximize talent. He has high-end offensive ability, but he also has areas of his game that will require patience and coaching.
If the Avalanche can help him become a more complete player, the 43rd overall selection could eventually look like one of the biggest steals of the draft.
Because sometimes the players who fall aren’t the ones without talent.
They’re the ones who need the right environment to unlock it.
Jun 12, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets mascots Mrs. and Mr. Met ride around the stadium after the New York Mets defeat the Atlanta Braves 7-5 at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The Mets, through Chelsea Janes, have started letting teams know that they will begin selling off the team with the exception of a few players. All of the approximately 20 or so teams that are still in a stone’s throw of a wild card spot have begun salivating. Woo for expanded playoff, I guess. It’s almost certain that the mutual NL East resident Mets will send any of their players in order to help the Braves to the postseason. But since this is a Braves blog, how does the Mets fire sale affect the Braves? Or does it at all?
"As the second half begins Thursday night, it seems the time has come: A rival executive said the Mets informed their team that the sale is on, and that everyone but young stars Carson Benge, AJ Ewing, Christian Scott, Nolan… pic.twitter.com/H9N4QmdOB9
For one, it looks like some team that will be fighting the Braves for a playoff spot is probably going to get pitching help. AJ Minter and Brooks Raley would be a great add for someone. Freddy Peralta is all but gone. Bo Bichette will be a prize for someone. But I don’t know if the Mets’ supply of expiring or bloated contracts adds much to the supply that might make some teams not interested in players that the Braves could grab. More supply is good, but there’s a ton of demand.
Still fun to watch it, though. I’m not grinning. You’re grinning.
Walk-up music is a phenomenon that has become more and more prevalent in recent years for baseball and softball players at all levels. It’s a trend that started at the major league level and has worked its way down to the kids. For some, it’s probably the highlight of their baseball experience, so why not let them have some fun? Plus, who hasn’t walked into a house at some point in their life and wished that they had their own entrance music to let everybody know that they’ve arrived?
I made this argument back in 2022 when a Koji Uehara entrance video from the 2013 playoffs resurfaced, running to the mound to Darude’s “Sandstorm” to uproarious, concert-level applause. The link is gone now, so let’s try again.
Remember, there was a time not too long ago that the only music that we had at Fenway was from the organist. Granted, it was a funeral in there most of the time up until 2004, but this was certainly a park that lagged behind most of the modern parks in terms of atmosphere.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about walk-up music at the high school level, mainly because of the people in charge of starting and stopping the music on time. When disco music is still playing in the pitcher’s wind-up, that’s a problem. However, after seeing a kid get into the box with Maxine Nightingale’s “Right Back Where We Started From” on the speakers, I decided I just couldn’t fight it anymore. When family members texted me from the World Baseball Classic in Puerto Rico that Abraham Toro had chosen French Montana’s “Pop That” as his walk-up song, complete with video footage of the historic event, I knew I need to write this article at some point.
A good walk-up song needs to be upbeat. It needs to be a groove. For a batter, it needs to work as a short snippet, maybe ten seconds long. You need fans to hear it in the stadium, stop in the middle of a sentence, and say “Oh!!” And, of course, it should never be country music. (I’m fully aware that I’ll lose at least a third of the readers with that last sentence. I’m not sorry that my selections below are devoid of country songs.)
Every Major League Baseball team has a page within their website that compiles the walk-up songs of most of the players. Inexplicably, there isn’t a landing page within mlb.com where you can toggle across the 30 teams. Lucky for you, I’ve put a link to every one of those teams’ pages below, so that you can bookmark this article for eternity for future updates. And all Spotify song links are “clean” versions, so that you won’t get fired if you read this at work.
Music is very subjective, so if you disagree with anything below, I encourage you to write your own piece on the matter. Here is my list of the best walk-up song choices across each of the 30 MLB teams, mostly in alphabetical order by team, with the exception of the Top-5 that are ranked at the end.
An oldie that aligns with a pitcher’s entrance. Tremendous guitar in the song opening, which works better for a long jog to the bump, rather than a short ten-second walk.
Few albums in this century are more of a joy than Kid Cudi’s “Man On The Moon” (2009). Rutschman’s choice of “Alive” is a strong one from that album (also the walk-up of the Red Sox’ Caleb Durbin), although personally I would have gone with “Cudi Zone.” Either way, the Cudi vibes are high in the Orioles clubhouse, and I appreciate that.
“Allow me to reintroduce myself: my name is HOV.” Dave Chappelle yelling that phrase at work executives during the “When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong” sketch was a personal favorite.
As I mentioned in the Uehara piece, entrance music means the most to WWE fans, specifically during the Attitude Era of the 90s. Jim Johnston was a damn legend, writing and recording all of the WWE theme songs. Kurt Angle gets the easy nod from the Rockies, but I certainly would’ve gone with The Great Chris Jericho’s “Break The Walls Down” if it was me.
Tremendous choice. For my money, the single best song of the 80s. A hat tip to Gru as well, who flawlessly covered this song at a prison in Despicable Me 4.
WEEI has a shocking number of bangers that they use coming out of commercials on the Sox radio broadcast. Wu Tang Clan’s “Gravel Pit” … Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” … A Flock of Seagulls’ “I Ran (So Far Away).” Whoever is tasked with the commercial outro music deserves a significant raise. I didn’t know I liked Levitating until I heard the version that features Joe Castiglione.
(See Colorado Rockies write-up). If this week’s #1 overall pick, Roch Cholowsky, does not come out to one of the numerous versions of The Rock’s entrance song, alongside a People’s Eyebrow, it will be a major whiff.
The Phillies don’t post their walk-up songs, so I’m taking it upon myself to post this clip from 2022. Bryce Harper’s first at bat at home in the World Series, after hitting the game-winning home run in the NLCS. Incredible job from Fox letting the walk-up and crowd noise tell the story, followed by a first-pitch home run, which John Smoltz basically predicts will happen. Imagine not liking baseball? (Also, a reminder of how great the pitch clock is as we go more than a minute waiting for the first pitch of the at-bat).
Empire of the Sun’s “Walking On A Dream” is an all-time favorite and was under consideration for the Top Five. This strong alternate version will have to do.
“It sounds like the music they play at The Olive Garden. The Olive Garden kicks ass.” The immortal Beavis and Butthead broke this song down back in 2011.
Butthead: “Remember when you asked that waitress at The Olive Garden to dance, and then she slapped you, and the manager threw you out?”
Beavis: “Oh yeah. That was cool.”
San Francisco Giants Adrian Houser: Creedance Clearwater Revival – Run Through The Jungle
A 12-second perfect instrumental to start the song, and then not a single lyric that could be played at a family-friendly event. Arguably the ideal choice!
As if we shouldn’t be concerned enough about Naylor, after learning that he stabbed a teammate in the minor leagues, he walks up to “Stan”?? A “prank that went a little too far.” I’ll say!
Speaking of Eminem, 2002’s “The Eminem Show” album was his peak, in my opinion. The only thing that I ever “re2pected” about Derek Jeter was that “Square Dance” was his walk-up song for one season.
As mentioned earlier, the epic guitar solo in “Money For Nothing” could only work for a pitcher’s entrance to play throughout the lengthier first-inning warm-up pitches.
Two-for-two from PCA. He nails the local theme featuring the lyric, “When I’m back in Chicago,” from End Of Beginning. And then the iconic groove of Time To Pretend … more on that album later.
We’ve all heard this one a thousand times. Perhaps on a dance floor, or perhaps to get through the final few minutes of your workout. It never gets old. I’ll run through a wall to this song, or just to the pitcher’s mound, either/or.
Honorable Mention: Taylor Walls: Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz “Get Low”
Yup. Taylor “to the window, to the” Walls. I see what you’re doing here, and I approve.
3b. Toronto Blue Jays Adam Macko: Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack
If you have a name that includes “mack” or rhymes with “mack”, you don’t have much of a choice but to walk out to this song.
I don’t have such a name, but I’d still walk up to it since it just might be the greatest song of my lifetime.
Leaving Edwin Diaz’s “Narco” intro out of this list feels reckless. But Timmy Trumpets felt like more of a Mets connection than Dodgers. And for all we know, Diaz is probably only using Narco as his cockfighting intro music these days.
Cheating a little, as this was Anthony’s walk-up song last year, and he’s currently taking a tour of lovely Fort Myers in July, but maybe getting back to his rookie-season roots will turn his luck around in 2026. The “Oracular Spectacular” (2007) album is an absolute masterpiece, especially when you consider that many of the songs were meant to be ironic, making fun of modern pop music. In the behind-the-scenes making of “Electric Feel”, you hear the band asking if, by attempting to make the song better, “do you mean worse?” It was the soundtrack to his first career at-bat, and if the Sox are going to make any kind of postseason run, we need Roman and these vibes back in the lineup asap.
Loperfido is curiously missing from the Astros website at the moment, but I heard it earlier this season, and immediately made sure I had a screenshot of the heroic player in question.
Paper Planes was played on alternative rock stations, it was played on hip-hop stations, and eventually pop stations. Hell, Jay-Z and T.I. made “Swagga Like Us”, which had an entire chorus out of one single lyric from the song. The intro is incredible, the chorus is unmatched, and if you don’t react with an “Oh!” when Joey Loperfido walks to the plate, then I’m not sure we can be friends.
Paper Planes would be my 2026 walk-up song (to the buffet).
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Milos Uzan #29 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic during the 2026 NBA Summer League on July 18, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With Hugo Gonzalez, Chris Cenac, and Dillon Mitchell on the bench for Game 5, we got a good look at Amari Williams, Milos Uzan, Tucker DeVries, and John Tonje in Boston’s finale against Orlando — all players either directly or tangentially related to the Celtics. Williams will again be on a two-way contract and split his time in Maine and Boston; he’ll be eligible to play 50 games with the big club. Uzan and DeVries have Exhibit 10 deals for training camp in October and will most likely join the G League affiliate in Maine. Tonje is effectively a free agent after he was traded to the Celtics last season in the Chris Boucher deal and his option was declined.
To make it to the bigs, role players have to have at least one portable NBA skill. Think Sam Hauser and his three-point shooting or Jordan Walsh’s lockdown defense. They can build out from there, but for anybody showcasing their talents at Summer League, unless you’re a lottery pick expected to be a face of the franchise, you’re working to be a complementary player.
With that in mind, in Boston’s 103-97 loss to the Magic in their Sin City finale, the Celtics got a good look at some of those players.
Williams is such an interesting prospect because of his unique ability to be an offensive hub in the high post. Unless you’re Nikola Jokic, it’s not a skill that most teams will try to develop with their bigs, particularly one so far down on the depth chart. With Williams, the Celtics seem dead set on trying to make that happen. He has definitely shown a willingness to work outside of the restricted area and use his 6’11 frame as a watch tower in the half court over the last week in Vegas. Here’s a nifty find on the back cut for the hockey assist.
There’s a long way between “Amari loves to pass” and “Mazzulla can rely on Williams to be a playmaker above the break,” but the team will have another year to see if this is a real development in his game.
With Uzan, there’s no question he can play. Even with the short turnaround of putting together a Summer League roster, getting a few practices in together, and developing chemistry with his teammates, it’s obvious that he’s got the skills to run point on a team. He averaged a tidy 9-4-4 through five games and finished with nine points in 17 minutes on Saturday.
Depending on whether Mitchell signs a standard deal or gets put on a two-way, Uzan’s future with the franchise is still up in the air, but at least expect him Maine green.
DeVries again showed that he’s capable of contributing from beyond the arc. He hit 3-of-6 against the Magic and finished his summer slate making 9-of-27. Of all the niche skills, shooting will always be a premium that teams will look for on the edges of their salary cap, especially with today’s collective bargaining agreement. DeVries was a 36% three-point shooter in five years at the college level, but if he can hit Hauser’s over-40% watershed mark, he’ll find a job somewhere in this league, if not in Boston.
The curious case is Tonje. The shooting is real. He averaged 14.2 points per game in Vegas at a high efficiency rate (51% from the field, 45% from 3) with 14 points in the finale on 6-of-9 shooting. Another year in the G League could lead to a promotion like Ron Harper Jr.
Here’s CelticsBlog’s Noa Dalzell on Tonje’s improved defense and John shouting out his development coach.
John Tonje gave a shoutout to his player development coach, Nana Foulland, for helping him improve on the defensive end:
“I gotta give a special shoutout to a coach named Nana who’s actually standing right here in front of me. All summer, we’ve been focused, trying to get… https://t.co/FX8319sRb8pic.twitter.com/8yyx7xIjGm
And as much of a revelation as some of the players were, this summer’s sensation was also the premiere of Amile Jefferson as a head coach. Here’s a snippet again from from Noa’s profile on the 33-year-old coach:
“On a regular day-to-day basis, you just see me walking around – I’m very calm, very smiley, just easy to be around,” Jefferson told CelticsBlog in an exclusive conversation. “But, as a player, or when I’m coaching, that side gets unlocked, and then I get super competitive, and I’m a totally different person.”
Near center-court, Jefferson emphatically clenches his fist when Hugo Gonzalez sinks a three-pointer.
“That’s a foul, ref!” he belts each time he believes the whistle should have been blown.
“I’m trying to let them know that I’m in the fight with them, that they’re not alone,” Jefferson said. “And making sure they can hear my voice, making sure they know that I can help them be organized, making sure that they know that I got their back. And whether it’s screaming out a call or coverage, or whether it’s just giving an encouraging word, when I’m out there, I’m locked in – and probably am a little bit of a different person.”
Much has been made about the Philadelphia Flyers ruining contract negotiations for themselves and the rest of the NHL by giving Leo Carlsson an $18 million cap hit on the offer sheet attempt, but a slew of recent signings prove this talking point just isn't true.
Carlsson, 21, is, at least for now, the highest-paid player in the NHL on a per-year basis, narrowly poking out ahead of Minnesota Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov and his $17 million annual cap hit.
The difference between the two is that Kaprizov is 29, a winger, and in his prime, while Carlsson is a center whose best is yet to come. Any time an NHL team signs a player in Carlsson's age range, they're paying for potential rather than the here and now. It seems obvious, but that isn't always explicitly outlined.
On Saturday, 2023 No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard signed a five-year, $75 million contract extension with the Chicago Blackhawks, giving him a $15 million AAV at the age of 21, similarly to Carlsson.
Yes, the Flyers gave Carlsson $3 million more than that, but we must also consider that the Flyers needed to jack up the price high enough to force the Anaheim Ducks to ponder letting their franchise player go.
Aside from that factor influencing that specific contract, nothing has really changed.
Plenty of other young, up-and-coming players signed contracts for perfectly reasonable cap hits: Pavel Mintyukov got $7.2 million, while Simon Nemec got $7.25 million, each for five years.
The Flyers managed to lock down Jamie Drysdale for a shorter term than those two at just four years, but a cheaper $6.5 million cap hit.
If you want to be the Blackhawks and shell out $12.5 million big ones to Bowen Byram, that's your choice.
Some other deals to consider: Connor McMichael got six years and $6.75 million per, while the Flyers got Zegras at $9.125 million for four.
Egor Chinakhov, fresh off his breakout season, re-upped with Pittsburgh at a $6.25 million cap hit for three years.
Mavrik Bourque, whom the Flyers reportedly attempted to trade for, signed for six years and $5.5 million annually.
Among those forwards, the Flyers probably got the worst deal, as they got shorter term and higher AAV in the negotiation. Had things gone better, the opposite would have been true.
Still, Zegras is getting what is, and soon won't be, top-flight center money.
Zegras's agent, Pat Brisson, signed Jack Eichel to a $13.5 million cap hit extension in October. Jack Hughes, one of Brisson's other talented clients, is still getting just $8 million a year against the cap from a deal he signed in 2021.
Brisson got Elias Pettersson his eight-year, $92.8 million deal ($11.6 million AAV) when he was 25 back in 2024, which is the same age Zegras is now.
The difference is, in a more robust market, Zegras still cost $2 million less than Pettersson, and coming off a career-high 67 points, it's clear both Brisson and the Flyers believe the player has room to grow.
He didn't get that contract because the Flyers tried to gorge Carlsson on money to get him out of Anaheim.
Another way to look at it: one Carlsson is slightly cheaper than two of Zegras; that's a good deal.
So if the NHL and its fans want to blame the Flyers for breaking the league, they may want to take a look in the mirror first.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 10: Devin Carter #22 of the Sacramento Kings passes the ball against the Golden State Warriors in the second half of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on April 10, 2026 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Some Atlanta Hawks fans may tell you that the team hasn’t made many moves this offseason, but if you check the transaction list, you’d see several things they did. No, it was Jaylen Brown, or trying for LeBron James, but they’ve made moves that will keep them financially flexible, while also competitive now and in the future.
One of the several moves they made that may have gone under the radar was acquiring Devin Carter and a second-round pick from the Sacramento Kings.
Carter is going into his third year in the league after being selected with the No. 13 pick by the Kings in the 2024 NBA Draft. At the time, the pick was seen as a good move for Sacramento, but through two seasons, it’s obvious things just didn’t work out. With the recent selection of Darius Acuff Jr., one of their several guards was going to be on the outside looking in, and it happened to be Carter.
He didn’t see many minutes until the final two months of this past season, and he showed that when given the opportunity, he can make an impact.
The first thing that stands out about Carter is his athleticism and his ability to get to the rim. His upper body is sturdy, and he uses that to his advantage when attacking the rim against smaller opponents, or even stronger defenders. Either way, he’s shown that he has a knack for being physical, and that’s special at the guard position.
The closest person that the Hawks have at guard who can get to the rim with his type of skill is Dyson Daniels, and Quin Snyder has always praised his ability to get two feet in the paint. If Carter can do that, he’ll be a good piece off the bench if they need him.
Before coming into the league, Carter’s 3-point shot was something that seemed promising for his career. Through two seasons, he’s shooting a combined 27.4% from the 3-point line, and he shot 26.3% this past season. Whether it’s a change of mechanics or simply needing to improve, Carter is going to have to get that part of his game fixed, especially on a Hawks team that loves to shoot 3s.
The good news is that he showed a little more consistency down the stretch of last season, and the hope is that he can carry that into the upcoming season. The best way to put him in the best situation to succeed is by surrounding him with shooters when he’s on the floor.
Just like Carter uses his athleticism and frame to make plays on offense, that’s what he uses on defense as well. For a guard, he also rebounds better than most, which shows he isn’t afraid of doing the dirty work when he’s on the floor. His energy on that side of the ball could be what the Hawks need off the bench.
Carter isn’t seen as a primary ball handler, so putting him on the floor alongside someone like CJ McCollum or Kington Flemings would be key. He may still have a long way to go as far as playing time, with several Hawks being interchangeable, but if Carter brings the energy that he showed at the end of last season, things could look good for him.
If things don’t work out, the Hawks can say that it was a low-risk, high-reward move, and it didn’t cost them much to see if he could pan out on the team
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 16: Sergio De Larrea #55 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 16, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Earlier in the week, we ran a basic poll question, asking you all which player you most enjoyed watching in the NBA Summer League held out in Las Vegas. One guy cleared the question easily.
First round pick Sergio De Larrea ran away with the vote, getting 63% of the vote. And why was obvious if you were able to watch more than the opening game. In four contests, De Larrea averaged just under 30 minutes, while putting up 8 points, 8.8 assists, five rebounds, a steal, and a block. While those numbers may underwhelm some, it was clear watching him in the third and fourth games when he had 12 assists in a win over the Grizzlies and 14 assists in a win over the Thunder that this guy has something.
Now, don’t get me wrong, Morez Johnson Jr. had a great debut but he played just two games and the second one was against a Lakers team full of try-hards, and Dallas looked flat-out asleep. Vsevolod Ishchenko was a surprising delight, but his lows were a bit lower than De Larrea and he didn’t play as consistently. That said, he’s an obvious future hardcore fan favorite once he makes the transition to the NBA.
Sergio is the guy we’re going to talk about all summer. If the Mavericks get wild and play him at the starting point position immediately (unlikely, but let a man dream for now), we could be in for a fun ride. And look, if you want to get top-notch value for him, on our partner FanDuel, he’s a +25000 to win Rookie of the Year. How can you NOT take that bet?
He needs to continue to work on his shot, but the playmaking and vision were really something. If his outside shot can fall consistently, even from just a catch-and-shoot situation, then we the Mavs might have a stew going.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 22: Starting pitcher Kyle Bradish #38 of the Baltimore Orioles smiles in the dugout during the sixth inning of a game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 22, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Scott Strazzante/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
Is it just me, or is baseball suddenly kind of fun again?
The Orioles could end up disappointing us all again, and soon. But yesterday was a pretty great day for the organization. On the field, the O’s pulled off a stunning, extra-innings victory over the Astros to run their winning streak to six, getting key contributions from unheralded (and in some cases, maligned) players like Tyler O’Neill, Leody Taveras, and Cam Sanders. The Orioles are now within two games of a wild card spot, though they’re still having to play catch-up to the surging Red Sox, who won their 12th game in a row last night.
And the Birds made even bigger news off the field, signing Kyle Bradish to a five-year, $90 million extension. The deal buys out his remaining two years of arbitration and keeps him in an O’s uniform for an additional three. It’s great news not only for Bradish but also for the Orioles, who have locked up a quality arm through the 2031 season. With Shane Baz also signed long-term, the O’s have guaranteed some stability in their rotation for the next several years.
Bradish has been perhaps the best pitching success story under the Mike Elias administration. The O’s acquired him as a High-A minor leaguer in the Dylan Bundy trade with the Angels in 2019, and while he wasn’t a top prospect at the time of the deal, the Orioles have developed him into one of the game’s most dependable hurlers. Bradish has a career 3.50 ERA in 86 major league starts, including a dominant 2023 season that earned him fourth place in the AL Cy Young vote. After Tommy John surgery cut short his 2024 and 2025 campaigns, he has returned to form this season as an integral part of the Birds’ rotation. Now we’ll be seeing him for a long while.
Kudos to Elias and David Rubenstein for getting this deal done. There are a lot of problems with this Orioles team that won’t be easy to fix — and could ultimately cost Elias his job if the O’s tail off again — but ponying up the money to keep talented players in Baltimore is an excellent way to build the foundation of a winning team. In the past 12 months, the O’s have done it with Samuel Basallo, Baz, and now Bradish, not to mention the five-year commitment to add Pete Alonso in free agency. The Orioles have the core of a contending roster. Now let’s work on cleaning up the other stuff.
There was still more Orioles signing news yesterday. The O’s announced an agreement with their 2026 first-round draft pick, Eric Booth Jr. The deal is for $7,324,700, according to MLB.com’s Jim Callis, which is $2,500 less than the slot value of the #7 pick. There wasn’t much doubt that the Orioles were going to sign Booth, but it’s nice that they got this over with quickly so that the speedy outfielder from Oak Grove, Miss., can start his professional career.
There’s a lot going on with the O’s right now, most of it good. Let’s hope they can keep the positive vibes rolling as they go for a three-game sweep in Houston this afternoon.
Melewski speculates that Booth could report to extended spring training at Sarasota for a while before he joins an affiliate. But I want to see him now! Don’t the Orioles care what I think?
Think of all the terrible pitchers the Orioles have employed in the last 34 years, and yet none of them have ever given up a warehouse home run. I’m starting to think it’s never going to happen.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Former Orioles born on this day are first baseman David Segui (60), catcher Dan Graham (72), and the late infielder Billy Gardner (b. 1927, d. 2024).
On this date in 1991, Cal Ripken Jr. played his 1,500th consecutive game and also hit his 20th homer of the year, becoming only the eighth hitter in MLB history to begin his career with 10 consecutive 20-homer seasons. That streak was broken the following year, when he hit just 14 during the 1992 campaign.
And in 1994, the Orioles’ scheduled game at the Kingdome was postponed when four 15-pound tiles fell from the roof onto the seats. Fortunately it was two hours before gametime and no fans were sitting there, but yikes. An inspection revealed water damage in many of the roof’s tiles. The Mariners had to play their remaining 20 games on the road before the strike canceled the rest of the season.
Random Orioles game of the day
On July 19, 1956, the Orioles lost to the White Sox, 3-2, to end a six-game winning streak. Birds starter Mike Fornieles lasted only three innings, giving up three runs and seven hits, and the O’s offense had no answer for White Sox lefty Billy Pierce, who tossed a complete game for the victory. Pierce was a pretty good pitcher but especially dominant against the Orioles in his career, posting a 2.22 ERA against them in 66 games (more than a run lower than his overall 3.27 mark). Left fielder Bob Nieman homered in the losing effort for the Orioles.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 20: Yennier Cano #78 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, June 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
With the 2026 trade deadline looming in the coming weeks, contending teams are looking to do everything between making a big splash and tying up some loose ends. Among the more frequent moves at the deadline is movement among veteran relief pitchers. With the Orioles 10 games out of the American League East, and four games under .500, there’s a reasonable chance Yennier Cano could fit that bill.
The Yankees, just like almost any team with October aspirations, could always use some security in the bullpen. The righty broke out with an All-Star season in 2023, and is enjoying his best season in 2026 since then. Cano is a talented pitcher, and has two more years of team control, so he wouldn’t necessarily be the cheapest option out there, but he could certainly be of help to plenty of contending clubs.
Cano, who made his major league debut at 28 years old back in 2022, has had an up-and-down career in the big leagues. The big right-hander made that debut with the Minnesota Twins, though he pitched only 10 games with the club before being traded to the Orioles. On the whole, none of his 13 games in his debut season were particularly impressive, but Cano did enough to stick around for the 2023 season, and the O’s were certainly glad that he did.
In that year, the righty pitched 72.2 innings, managing a sparkling 2.11 ERA and 2.84 FIP for Baltimore. For a team that won over 100 games, Cano was a vital part of the bullpen for the O’s that featured several premier arms. The performance warranted an All-Star selection for the then 29-year-old, and locked him in as a cog in the Baltimore ‘pen.
While it wasn’t quite on par with the year prior, Cano was still good in the 2024 season, where he worked 60 innings in relief with a still-respectable 3.15 ERA. In a similar workload in 2025, however, Cano struggled to make much of anything happen, as his ERA soared above five while his strikeout and walk rates each took hits. It was certainly a disappointing season for the righty, in his third full year with the O’s, but there was still time for a rebound for Cano.
To this point in the season, it’s fair to call Cano’s 2026 season exactly that. He’s pitched in 42 games this year (just 31 innings), but they have been high quality ones. His 2.32 ERA is the best since that All-Star campaign and his 2.58 FIP would be a career-best. While his strikeout rate is trending in the wrong direction, his control has been top-notch, as he’s limited walks at the best rate in his career. After a down year, a control-reliant bounce back was exactly what the righty needed.
As far as a fit with the Yankees, it would be hard to deny the need for quality bullpen arms for any squad. With one of their prior deadline acquisitions, Camilo Doval, managing an ERA north of five, the Yankees will take another impact right-hander by any means. Whether the Yankees will pay the price for a reliever with two-plus years of control remains to be seen, but Cano would easily slide into almost any bullpen with ease.
Yennier Cano’s track record in the big leagues is not exactly a consistent one, but his highs are impressive, and he’s seemingly in the midst of one of them here in the 2026 season. The Yankees wouldn’t shy away from bullpen help, but the question remains of whether they’d pay for Cano’s talents and team control.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 18: Brandon Marsh #16 celebrates a 6-1 win over the New York Mets with Bryson Stott #5, Trea Turner #7, Alec Bohm #28, and Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies during a game at Citizens Bank Park on July 18, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Do you think this is the day where the team doesn’t move their start time up? Not that yesterday or Thursday’s games didn’t need to be moved; they had good reasons.
