A good win takes a back seat

Casey Schmitt rounding the bases after a home run.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 11: Casey Schmitt #10 of the San Francisco Giants reacts as he jogs around the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the bottom of the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park on July 11, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Major League Baseball, for reasons no one is entirely sure of, chooses to hold the draft not only during the baseball season, but smack dab in the middle of a busy day of games. Which means the San Francisco Giants day game against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday fully took place during the draft … before the game had started, the Giants had already made their first-round selection. And when the game was over, the Giants were still busy making picks.

For some teams, the actual baseball being played is more important than the results of the draft, which won’t impact the roster for many years. The Los Angeles Dodgers, for instance — who are attempting to defend their back-to-back titles, and didn’t have a first-round pick — are one such team. But for the Giants? Well, they entered the day 16 games below .500, with their highest draft pick in eight years. And as such, the actual baseball took a firm backseat to the future baseball that we were able to spend the day dreaming about.

What mattered on Saturday was that the Giants used their lottery luck to draft the consensus top pitcher in the draft who, by the way, grew up in their backyard, attended the same high school as Brandon Crawford, and is a Giants fan. What mattered was that they used the No. 29 and 55 picks — the former acquired when they traded Patrick Bailey — on deeply intriguing high school pitchers who hopefully can develop into quality Major Leaguers. What mattered was that the first position player they took — with the 90th overall pick — is an elite athlete with stellar contact skills and power that might make you think he’s related to Barry Bonds … because he is.

But what took place at Oracle Park? That didn’t matter so much. Except, if you squint, it kind of did.

The Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 4-2, avenging Friday night’s ugly and painful defeat. This won’t be an in-depth recap, because I had 1.75 of my eyes tuned to Jackson Flora, Carson Bolemon, Kaden Waechter, Peyton Bonds, and Carlos Martinez, and only 0.15 of my eyes on the Giants game (forgive me, bosses and readers alike: the other 0.10 was on the England – Norway game).

But while the attention was turned towards the future in the draft, the Giants on the field were … well … playing for the future as well. Veteran Tyler Mahle had one of his best starts of the year, pitching seven excellent innings while allowing just five hits, three walks and one run … which came on a bizarre, delayed balk call that ultimately led to Tony Vitello picking up the second ejection of his career.

The attention leading up to the trade deadline has been centered around Luis Arráez and Robbie Ray, but Mahle shouldn’t be overlooked. Sure, he’s having a difficult season, but he’s also a trusted veteran who is not long removed from being a very solid pitcher. He won’t return as much as Arráez and Ray will, but, especially if he can string together two or three nice starts in a row, should still bring the Giants an intriguing prospect or two when he’s inevitably dealt.

That’s good for the future.

The Giants tied the game in the fifth inning thanks to a pair of rookies: Bryce Eldridge started the rally with a double, and Jesús Rodríguez ended it with a follow-up double. Eldridge is a foundational part of the Giants going forward; Rodríguez is someone who can be.

That’s good for the future.

They took the lead an inning later thanks to Casey Schmitt. After Heliot Ramos and Arráez led off the frame with back-to-back singles, Schmitt stepped up against Kyle Freeland, who had been excellent to that point. His night looked less excellent after Schmitt sent an absolute tank into the left field bleachers.

San Francisco will surely receive calls asking about Schmitt in the coming weeks. On the off chance that they decide to make him available, games like this — he’s up to a team-high 19 home runs — only increase the prospect haul it will take to get him. And assuming they keep him to replace Arráez, games like this only make us that much more excited to see what he can do with a stable role. He sure looks like a core part of the team for years to come.

That’s good for the future.

Reliever JT Brubaker even played his part, earning his first career save with two innings that were solid enough to keep his trade value decent, while also giving up a home run loud enough to put a smile on the face of anyone who (justifiably, I might add) is still seething about his role in the Pride Night absurdities.

And so the Giants won 4-2, and they did it with players who are a core part of their future, and with players who will be traded for other parts of their future. That wasn’t the most important thing that happened on Saturday, but it wasn’t nothing, either.

Let’s Do It Again – Rockets VSL Game Two

West All-Stars North Carolina State Quadir Copeland (14) rushes up the court Friday, April 3, 2026, during the Reese's DI College All-Stars game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. | Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Rockets Vs Raptors

Time: 8:30 PM CST

Watch: Prime Video, not sure if VSL is on SCHN?

Location: Vegas

And we’re back! NBA Las Vegas Summer League, the NBA’s trade convention plus basketball exhibition rolls on, with the 1-0 Rockets playing the 0-1 Raptors.

Tonight’s big question is whether #31 pick Bruce Thornton can continue to keep up his scoring pace with top NBA draft picks in game two of VSL. Thornton matched the 27pts of AJ Dybantsa, but the Bulls Caleb Wilson scored 35pts on 12-21 shooting and 7-11 from three point range. Wilson, if he hadn’t been injured might well have been picked ahead of Daryn Peterson and Cam Boozer, or he might not have. Going #4 is nothing to be ashamed of, and we’ll see if the three point shooting holds at a high (but not 7-11 high, most likely) level.

This really does look like a great class so far, but it’s always worth remembering: this is Summer League. It might tell you something about the players, and their core skills, strengths and weaknesses. It’s also low stakes and fun. What it doesn’t tell you is how a young draftee will hold up against NBA players on an NBA team. Summer League amounts to GLeague pick up basketball, with a sprinkling of top prospects, and notional organization. It’s useful for evaluation to a degree. Looking terrible in summer league is rarely a great sign, but isn’t necessarily fatal, especially for players that rely on others to set up their scoring.

It’s a low stakes way for players to be introduced to a higher level of professional basketball (because if we’re paying NCAA players, it’s professional basketball, isn’t it?). And it is, of course a hoops trade show, not just for the NBA, but for the world. Players will be signed to contracts in other countries out of VSL, and a few might make their way into the NBA or GLeague from VSL, as well.

Anyhow the Rockets are playing again. The Raptors, unlike Denver where we didn’t see #26 pick Taris Reed play, should have their #19 pick, Alan Graves, out of Santa Clara available.

Of the Rockets with a good +/- from last night, all three are the players you might expect to get some minutes, or stick around as two way players or as Rio Grande Vipers: Thornton, Quadir Copeland, and Isaiah Crawford. Undrafted Purdue center Oscar Cluff (at 6’11” and at least 255) had a nice game, controlling the boards, and might stick around with the Rockets in some fashion as well, though he’s not super athletic or mobile.

The Rockets main attraction remains Thornton, and I’d urge some patience. Of course the smallest guy on a defense is going to be attacked. That’s pretty much going to happen with any player. As the New York Knicks amply demonstrated, whilst nearly sweeping the final three rounds of the NBA playoffs, a good coach, and team defensive structure can compensate for that, and if it can’t, then at least one of the coach and structure isn’t good.

Also, ESPN’s generative AI recap of the previous Rockets game gave us this gem:

(Definitely Not A Bubble)

Wallabies’ pop-gun revival under Joe Schmidt blown apart as France unload heavy artillery | Daniel Gallan

Plucky defeats decorated with patches of excellence will not cut it for Australia with a home World Cup now looming large

The camera found Joe Schmidt shortly after France had completed a 22-point swing. Australia’s coach had seen a 21-12 half-time lead obliterated in 16 brutal minutes. Schmidt, one of rugby’s sharpest minds, looked short of answers. The trouble was that the questions confronting him had obvious answers but almost impossible solutions.

Why had Australia’s discipline deteriorated? Because they were under pressure. Why had their tackle intensity and ruck speed fallen away? Because France had introduced fresh power from the bench. Why had the Wallabies gone from a nine-point half-time lead to a 13-point deficit in barely a quarter of an hour? Because one team had more large, skilful, Test-quality rugby players than the other.

Continue reading...

Blue Jays @ Padres Game Thread

Feb 20, 2026; Peoria, Arizona, USA; General view of the San Diego Padres on deck circle prior to the game against the Seattle Mariners during a Spring Training game at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images | Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

We are going out for drinks with friends as the ten days of Stampede partying is running out, so I’m going to miss out on tonight’s game.

But going to find a spot to watch England’s World Cup game, wearing my jersey.

Just as I was leaving there was this….amazing that someone who can throw 100 was still there for the 39th pick.

MLB Draft: Cubs select Nebraska RHP Carson Jasa in the 3rd round

Nebraska Cornhuskers' Carson Jasa (39) pitches as Auburn Tigers take on Nebraska Cornhuskers at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Auburn Tigers defeated Nebraska Cornhuskers 15-4. | Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

After going with power bats in with their two second-round picks, the Cubs went with big right-hander in Nebraska right-hander Carson Jasa in the third.

While Jasa is a tall, 6’7” right-hander with a fastball in the 95-96 mile per hour range, what the Cubs likely found attractive are his big spin rates. In fact, Jasa doesn’t throw his fastball very often and when he does, he has trouble locating it. Instead, Jasa relies on a upper-80s slider with some hard break. He also has a slow, upper-70s knee-bending curve with a 12-6 movement. Those two breaking pitches are Jasa’s primary weapons. He also has a fringy mid-80s changeup that he’ll need if he wants to get left-handed hitters out and remain as a starter. The Cubs have had some success teaching new changeups to Cade Horton and Ben Brown, and maybe they think they can go down a similar path with Jasa.

Jasa is a redshirt sophomore who missed all of the 2024 season with Tommy John surgery. He returned in 2025 and mostly pitched out of the bullpen, where he struggled. Jasa managed just 18.2 innings in 2025 and he walked 18 batters in that time, compared to 24 strikeouts. He posted a poor 8.68 ERA his redshirt freshman year.

But this past season, Jasa moved to the Cornhuskers starting rotation and found much more success. Jasa made 16 starts and went 10-2 with a 3.59 ERA. Over 87.2 innings, Jasa struck out 117 batters and cut his walk rate by over 50 percent with 47 walks. Still too high, but a big improvement over his first year back from Tommy John.

MLB Pipeline ranked Jasa as the 173rd best prospect in the draft and Baseball America ranked him slightly better at 158. Once again, Keith Law at The Athletic is the outlier, as he ranked Jasa higher at 93. Law acknowledged the big command and control issues that Jasa has and the considerable reliever risk that goes with it, but he also thought Jasa had some high potential if he can learn to throw more strikes and command the zone better.

In Jasa, the Cubs are getting a project for the pitch lab. With Jasa’s huge size, strong spin rates and above-average velocity, there is a lot there to work with. But the challenge is for him to develop a better feel for pitching and a better command of the zone. Otherwise, there is a lot of relief risk or worse on Jasa.

Here’s some video of Jasa pitching against Ohio State in May.

White Sox draft son of MLB Hall of Famer Jim Thome

Jim Thome speaking at the MLB baseball combine with Landon Thome listening.
Landon Thome, left, a second and third baseman from Nazareth Academy, listens to his father, Jim Thome, an MLB Hall of Fame inductee, as he speaks at the MLB baseball combine in Phoenix, June 23, 2026.

The White Sox made it a family affair with their first-round draft pick this year.

With the No. 34 pick of the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday, the White Sox selected Landon Thome, the son of Hall-of-Fame corner infielder Jim Thome.

Chicago selected the 18-year-old shortstop out of Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park, Ill., and he was widely looked as one of the top high school talents this year.

Landon Thome (left) listens to his father, Jim Thome, an MLB Hall of Fame inductee, as he speaks at the MLB combine in Phoenix on June 23, 2026. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

He was also the 34th-ranked overall draft prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.

The Thome family already has a deep connection with the White Sox, with Jim, an Illinois native, spending four seasons in Chicago from 2006-09.

The elder Thome also currently serves as a special assistant to White Sox general manager Chris Getz.

Similar to his father, Landon is a left-handed hitter, with scouts saying he’s shown the ability of hitting the ball to all fields at a high level.

Landon, however, insisted that he’s more of an all-around hitter compared to his power-hitting dad, who racked up 612 home runs throughout his 22-year MLB career.

“Looking back at my dad in high school, he kind of had a similar build to me, kind of a longer, lankier guy,” Landon recently told MLB.com. “I’m more of a different hitter than my dad, just kind of more of a pure hitter, while my dad is more kind of that power guy.

The White Sox’s Jim Thome watches as his solo home run heads over the left-field fence
during a May 2006 game. AP

“So I try to kind of model my game after myself. I like to play my own game instead of trying to model my game after other people.”

After batting .535 with seven homers, 29 RBIs, and a 1.676 OPS during his senior season, Landon was named the 2026 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year.

Although he played shortstop while at Nazareth Academy, scouts believe he will transition to either second or third base at the professional level.

“I truly believe, as much as he loves the offensive side, when he reaches first base, to watch him run the bases is special,” Jim Thome told MLB.com.

“He wants to score, wants to change the game on the bases with a very aggressive impact.”

Yankees Draft: Brendan Brock selected with 2026 third-round pick

OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 20: Brendan Brock #10 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs to first base during the fifth inning against the North Carolina Tar Heels in Game 1 of the NCAA College World Series baseball finals at Charles Schwab Field on June 20, 2026 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Yankees have their first position player of the 2026 MLB Draft after taking left-handed pitchers with their first two picks. Following selections of southpaws Hunter Dietz out of Arkansas with their first pick and British Columbia high schooler Sean Duncan with their second pick, the Yankees returned to the SEC to address one of the thinnest positions in the system: catcher.

Joining the organization with the 99th overall pick is right-handed hitting catcher Brendan Brock out of The University of Oklahoma.

The redshirt junior turns 22 in less than a month and hails from Belleville, IL. With a ranking at No. 90 on Perfect Game’s Big Board, No. 112 on MLB Pipeline, and No. 113 according to Baseball America, it’s just about where you would expect him to be drafted.

Here’s an abridged scouting report from Baseball America on a catcher described as possessing an “atypical toolset”:

In a class that’s unusually deep with athletic college catchers, Brock might have the most atypical toolset. He’s every bit of a 70-grade runner, and for many scouts he’s the quickest running catcher they’ve seen… Listed at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Brock has a lean and athletic frame with solid bat speed and plus raw power. Brock has shown impressive all-fields game power this spring, but that pop comes with below-average contact skills and a questionable hit tool… He’s longer and lankier than most catchers, but he has a plus arm that would be an asset at the position if he can sharpen his footwork and exchange. He has the speed and arm strength to handle all three outfield positions. Playing outfield would also be easier on his legs and help him maintain his loudest tool over the course of a full pro season.

Brock’s draft stock skyrocketed following a stellar redshirt sophomore campaign at Southwestern Illinois CC, ranking third among national junior college players in OPS (1.435), homering 20 times and stealing 27 bases. He declined an over-slot offer from the Brewers, who attempted to select him in the 14th round of the 2025 MLB Draft, and instead transferred to The University of Oklahoma hoping to further boost his stock.

After transferring into the competitive cauldron of the SEC, Brock’s number took a modest downturn, though he still slashed .302/.399/.522 with 13 HRs, 55 RBIs, and 28 stolen bases in 65 games. He then took things to another level in the NCAA Tournament, leading his team in batting (.457) and OBP (.576). He was a key player in their run to capturing the third championship in program history at the the 2026 College World Series, hitting .400 with eight hits, five walks, a double, a home run and three RBIs.

Despite the slight downturn in form upon joining the SEC, his performances in the CWS mean he will likely sign for close to the $792,300 slot value assigned to the No. 99 pick. The bigger question is what position lies in his future. The right-handed bat, capable framing, and strong arm earn him marks to stick at a position of need in the organization, while the unnatural speed and experience in the outfield make center an intriguing option.

Dodgers on Deck: Sunday, July 12 vs. Diamondbacks

Jul 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan (80) pitches in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

The final game before the All-Star break, the Dodgers taking on the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday in Los Angeles, features a pitcher looking to turn things around after a rough stretch.

Emmet Sheehan certainly fits this description, though it really applies to Zac Gallen, who ranks dead last among 61 qualified pitchers in both ERA (6.34) and xERA (6.53). The longtime D-backs ace had a 3.14 ERA and 5.17 xERA through the end of April, but since then has allowed 63 runs (59 earned) in 69 1/3 innings for a 7.66 ERA and 7.11 xERA in his last 13 starts.

Sheehan had a bumpy ride in June but has recovered to allow one run with five strikeouts in each of his last two starts, though he needed 96 pitches to tally just 4 1/3 innings last Sunday against the San Diego Padres.

Sunday game info

  • Teams: Dodgers vs. D-backs
  • Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
  • Start time: 1:10 p.m.
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)

Mariners blow themselves up, out in 6-1 loss to Rays

Jul 11, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert (36) delivers a pitch during the second inning against Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images | Pablo Robles-Imagn Images

That game was nearly less bad than the last few games I’ve recapped. Nearly.

The Mariners lost 6-1 to the Rays on Saturday. But they had a shot right from the get go. Griffin Jax could not find the zone in the top of the first. Randy Arozarena drew a walk. Dom Canzone chopped a single into shallow right. Cal Raleigh battled and drew a walk to load the bases with one out. The Mariners could not deliver: Josh Naylor struck out on a middle-middle changeup; Luke Raley went down on three pitches.

But the Mariners weren’t deterred and got right back to it in the second inning. Cole Young led off with a hustle double into the left-center gap the other way. Victor Robles bunted him over to third. Colt Emerson smacked a pitch at his eyes just far enough toward to center to work as a sacrifice fly. It wasn’t a sexy inning, but it gave the Mariners an early 1-0 lead.

Arozarena began the third with a walk — they really made Jax work in this one — and Cal later slapped a single the other way. Unfortunately, Naylor lined out right to the first baseman, and Arozarena was doubled off at second to end the inning.

Whatever momentum that was kind of just died from there. The Mariners sent one more than the minimum in the next three innings. With one out in the seventh, Victor Robles lined a ball just fair down the line in left for a double. Then Cam Booser picked up his fourth and fifth strikeouts in relief — another dominant outing for a lefty reliever against the Mariners.

It wasn’t over yet, though. Logan Gilbert kept the Mariners in the game. He picked up his 1,000 career strikeout to begin the second. He got Jonny DeLuca to swing at two high fastballs, then threw a filthy slider at the knees. DeLuca couldn’t lay off, and handed over the milestone.

Chandler Simpson singled on the next pitch. Ben Williamson fouled off a bunch of pitches before slapping a hanging curveball down the line for a double, tying the game at one. Gilbert would escape without further damage.

Yandy Diaz led off the third with a double deep to center. Jonathan Aranda followed with a double of his own to give the Rays a 2-1 lead. Gilbert was then forced to pitch around Junior Caminero, which wound up looking prescient, as Gilbert followed with a strikeout and a weak groundout to escape again.

Escape would be the word of the night for Gilbert. He allowed a runner in every inning he pitched, though he’d gotten through six with just the two runs allowed and 86 pitches. He came back out for the seventh and got two quick line outs.

But up stepped the lefty Aranda, and out came Dan Wilson to go to the pen. Gilbert, yelling through his glove, lobbied Wilson to leave him in the game. He did. Aranda immediately doubled, which meant Wilson had to intentionally walk Caminero before he could go get Gabe Speier. Here’s the first pitch he threw: 

And that was pretty much the game at 5-1 Rays. But not before a couple more punches to the gut. 

In the top of the eighth, Cal walked and Naylor doubled with two outs. Maybe they could claw back into this thing. But Mitch Garver came off the bench and went down on three pitches. It was an awful at bat, where he failed to challenge an obvious ball, chased out of the zone, then watched strike three down the middle. The Rays also picked up another run for themselves in the bottom of the inning with a bunt that Michael Rucker threw away into right field.

This was a nearly competitive game with a few solid performances. But the Mariners, once again, could not get a hit with runners in scoring position, and could not stand up to even a small amount of pressure. I have low expectations for the final game before the break tomorrow. I don’t know what to expect from there.

Mets shut out against Red Sox as offense fails to find a rhythm

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 11: Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets makes a play at second base against Tsung-Che Cheng #39 of the Boston Red Sox during the fifth inning at Citi Field on July 11, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Mets struggled again today against the Red Sox, ultimately being shut out for the ninth time this season and losing 4-0. The offense could not get anything going, even as the pitching and defense made a good effort to strand most Red Sox runners.

Freddy Peralta looked good initially, throwing his fastball for the majority of the first inning and striking out the batters in order. In the second inning, he struggled more, and the results were not as impressive. Caleb Durbin threaded one between Francisco Lindor and Brett Baty for a single. In the next at bat, Peralta challenged ball 4, but the call was confirmed, resulting in a walk for Masataka Yoshida. A sacrifice bunt from Andruw Monasterio moved the runners to second and third with one out. Peralta walked Carlos Narváez to load the bases with two outs; however, he worked out of it by striking out Tsung-Che Cheng. Unfortunately, by the end of the second inning, his pitch count was already 43.

After a quiet first inning, the Mets offense walked a batter in each of the second and third innings, but could not capitalize or create any momentum. Carson Benge walked in the second inning and stole second base one pitch later, but the three batters went down in order after him to end the inning. Brett Baty walked in the third inning, but after Zack Short struck out, A.J. Ewing grounded into a force out behind him, and Juan Soto popped out to end the third inning.

Peralta walked Durbin to lead off the fourth inning, and Durbin slid into second when Yoshida flied out to Soto. After an injury delay due to a ricochet off the face masks of both Francisco Alvarez and the home plate umpire, Brock Ballou, Monasterio smacked a two-run home run into left field. At the bottom of the fourth with two outs, Jorge Polanco fouled a ball off the inside of his knee, resulting in another injury delay, but he got back up and dropped a line drive into center field, just out of reach of Ceddanne Rafaela, for a single. Unfortunately, this prompted the Red Sox to change pitchers to Greg Weissert, who struck out Wagaman to end the fourth: Red Sox 2, Mets 0.

Peralta started with a walk to Cheng in the fifth. However, Seigler grounded into a force out when Short robbed him by laying out to block the base hit. Ultimately, this move saved a run for Peralta when the next two hitters gave him trouble. Rafaela popped one over Wagaman’s head that rolled slowly down the baseline for a double, moving Seigler to third. Peralta walked Abreu to load the bases and bring his pitch count to 91, prompting a pitching change. Huascar Brazobán replaced a clearly unhappy Peralta for the last two outs of the fifth. Durbin was called out on strikes thanks to a well-placed challenge from Alvarez that overturned ball three to strike three. Yoshida grounded out to first for the third out, leaving the bases loaded and ending the scoring threat.

When Alvarez allegedly grounded out to lead off at the bottom of the fifth, despite clearly beating the tag to first base, the Mets challenged and won. Baty then struck out, technically on a foul tip, as the ball wedged itself under Narváez’s right arm and stayed there. A passed ball allowed Alvarez to move to second base, but Ewing flied out to end the inning, strand Alvarez, and keep the score Red Sox 2, Mets 0.

A.J. Minter came in for the top of the sixth inning and gave up a lead-off triple to Monasterio, but retired everyone else in order. Brooks Raley replaced him to work a 1-2-3 seventh inning. At the bottom of the seventh, Wagaman worked a walk, and Alvarez tapped a line drive into right field for his second single of the day. With two outs, Bo Bichette came in to pinch-hit for Short. Bichette did not play yesterday and had been available off the bench today due to soreness and bruises on his right leg and foot. He worked a walk to load the bases for Ewing and immediately came out for pinch runner Tyrone Taylor. Ewing, however, was called out on strikes, using the last Mets challenge to challenge the (obvious) third strike. It was the Mets’ turn to leave the bases loaded with no runs scored.

In the eighth inning, Ewing moved to second base, playing the position for the third day in a row. Tobias Myers replaced Raley and allowed a lead-off single to Durbin, again a home run beneficiary. This time, Yoshida belted a two-run dinger to right field to extend the Red Sox’ lead to 4-0. Soto and Lindor walked to start the bottom of the eighth, the first time either had reached base all day. Benge flied out to Abreu in right field, but Soto was able to make it to third base. Unfortunately, Polanco grounded into a double play that ended the eighth inning with no Mets runs scored again.

Myers came back out and worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning. At the bottom of the ninth, Alvarez walked but fell victim when Baty grounded into a force out for the second out. Taylor flied out to end the game as the Mets were shut out and the Red Sox picked up the second game of the series.

The Mets will try to salvage a win tomorrow, which is also the last game before the All-Star break. First pitch is at 1:40 PM ET, with Payton Tolle taking the mound for the Red Sox and facing off against TBD for the Mets.

SB Nation GameThreads

Amazin’ Avenue
Over the Monster

Box scores

MLB.com
ESPN

Win Probability Added

Fangraphs

What’s WPA?

Big Mets winner: Huascar Brazobán/Francisco Alvarez, tied at +11% WPA
Big Mets loser: A.J. Ewing, -23% WPA
Mets pitchers: -4% WPA
Mets hitters: -46% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Francisco Alvarez 7th inning single, +6.8% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Andruw Monasterio 2-run HR, -20.0% WPA

Brewers drop both halves of doubleheader, lose to Pirates 3-2

Jul 11, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers (9) celebrates with left fielder Jackson Chourio (11) and third baseman Joey Ortiz (3) after Chourio and Ortiz scored runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Box Score

The Milwaukee Brewers had a dud of a day in Pittsburgh, dropping both halves of the doubleheader despite being outscored by just two runs total — after losing the first game 7-6, they dropped this evening’s game 3-2.

The Brewers had traffic against rookie Bubba Chandler early, as Jackson Chourio singled and stole second (on a 3-2 check swing that Brice Turang was called out on, though it wasn’t exactly obvious), and Jake Bauers then walked to put runners at first and second. After perfectly executing a double steal to put a pair of runners in scoring position, Gary Sánchez grounded out to end the threat.

Shane Drohan set the Pirates down in order in the bottom of the inning, and the Brewers once again threatened against Chandler in the second, as Garrett Mitchell and Luis Lara reached on a single and a walk. Cooper Pratt grounded into a double play, though, and a flyout off the bat of Joey Ortiz ended the inning.

Drohan and Chandler both worked 1-2-3 frames over the next inning, and Drohan worked around a leadoff single in the third for his third clean inning of the day.

After the solid start, however, things fell apart for Drohan in the fourth.

Bryan Reynolds started things with a one-out double, and Esmerlyn Valdez followed with a two-run homer, his third of the day after two in the early game — including the go-ahead grand slam late. Drohan bounced back to get out of the inning, but the Bucs were staked to a 2-0 lead.

The Brewers had a quick response in the top of the fifth, as Ortiz and Christian Yelich both singled with one out before Chourio hit into a force out to put runners at the corners with two outs for Turang. Turang crushed a double down the left-field line, just shy of the fence and just out of reach for the left fielder. Both Ortiz and Chourio scored easily, and Turang had tied the game at 2-2.

Milwaukee wasn’t done there, though, as Chandler was replaced by Brandon Eisert, who proceeded to walk both Bauers and Sánchez to load the bases for Mitchell. The threat ended as Mitchell grounded out back to Eisert, and the Brewers squandered another run-scoring opportunity.

Both teams then traded scoreless innings until the bottom of the sixth, when Drohan allowed a one-out double to Brandon Lowe, who then came around to score on a single by Reynolds, putting Pittsburgh up 3-2.

Offensively, the Brewers couldn’t get anything going in the final few innings, as no baserunners advanced past first after Pittsburgh took the lead.

It was another disappointing loss, as the ball just seemed to fall the wrong way all day today. Drohan turned in another quality start but took the loss, as he went 6 1/3 innings with three runs allowed on five hits and no walks, striking out six. Grant Anderson and Abner Uribe combined to keep the Pirates off the board over the final 1 2/3 innings, but it was too little, too late.

The Brewers had seven hits, with Ortiz leading the way with a pair on a double and a single. Turang had the big hit with his two-run double, but it wasn’t enough as the Brewers went just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base today.

In more bad news, Jacob Misiorowski has been scratched from his start in Sunday’s first-half finale, but it doesn’t sound too serious, as Misiorowski simply blamed it on fatigue. He, along with Kyle Harrison and most of the rest of Milwaukee’s pitching staff, will obviously enjoy the long All-Star break.

In Misiorowski’s place, left-hander Robert Gasser will get the start on Sunday, opposite Paul Skenes for Pittsburgh. First pitch in that one is a bright and early 11:15 a.m. on Peacock and NBC Sports Network. The MLB Draft will also continue Sunday, and you can follow along with our draft tracker here.

Toronto Blue Jays at San Diego Padres

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 10: Luis Rengifo #21 of the San Diego Padres blows a bubble-gum bubble during the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Petco Park on July 10, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Toronto Blue Jays (45-49) at San Diego Padres (46-48), July 11, 2026, 5:40 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Petco Park – San Diego, Calif.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan



Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.

  • Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
  • Remember Gaslamp Ball is basically a non-profanity site
  • Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our thread

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

  • Fewer ads
  • Create community posts
  • Comment on articles, community posts
  • Rec comments, community posts
  • New, improved notifications system!

Philon, Broome stand out again as Summer Sixers hang on to beat Pacers in OT

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Labaron Philon #00 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers on July 11, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion 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

If you’re the Sixers, the thing you most want to see throughout the Vegas Summer League is the duo of Labaron Philon Jr. and Johni Broome stand out.

So far, so good.

The 2026 first-rounder and 2025 second-rounder were the Summer Sixers’ best players as they narrowly took down the Pacers 100-93 in overtime Saturday. Philon led all scorers with 24 points and added six assists and three rebounds, while Broome finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds and three assists.

Here are a few takeaways from the victory.

First quarter

  • More impressive stuff from Philon to start this one. He hit a pair of middies off the pick-and-roll. I’ve been most impressed by his passing reads. He found Saint Thomas with a beautiful pocket pass (Thomas missed the layup).
  • I didn’t know much about Dante Maddox Jr. coming in, but he can really shoot it. He nailed a pair of threes in the first quarter. He might deserve a look on an Exhibit 10 deal.
  • I still don’t know what to make of Johni Broome. He was productive in the first game and had nine points in the first on Saturday, but the lack of athleticism is so obvious.
  • Holy shit … Gerald Ayayi? Don’t know much about him, but he threw down one hell of a dunk. He’s French, he’s 6-foot-5 and apparently capable of some things.
  • Matt Rogers with a couple nice cuts and a three in the first. He seems like a smart offensive player. He’s a 6-foot-9 forward from American University. He led the Sixers with 11 points through one.

Second quarter

  • Philon continued to show off his extensive bag in the second. He made a gorgeous Euro-step teardrop finish. He then found Taye Fields with another gorgeous bounce pass which led to a foul. He only had one assist in the first half, but his passing skills were front and center.
  • Philon and Broome were working the pick-and-roll well. One action led to a Broome layup, the other a Philon three. The Summer Sixers extended the lead to 12.
  • Again, I knew nothing about Ayayi before this game, but this kid has some juice. He had another nice finish and was picking up full court, playing Purdue legend Braden Smith tough.
  • This was a dominant first half for Philon (13 points, three boards, two assists) and Broome (17 points, seven boards, two assists). It’s exactly what you want to see if you’re the Sixers. They led 59-45 at the half.

Third quarter

  • Broome opened the quarter with a nice baseline jumper and then buried a contested three. He’s been awesome since he checked back in for his second stint.
  • And another three from Maddox. Shooting is not easy to find. I know he’s 6-foot-2, but he’s the kind of guy you’d probably like to keep around the organization in some capacity.
  • Credit to T.J. DiLeo who is coaching the summer league team. These guys are locked in. They’re flying around, playing team basketball and dominating. They built a 20-plus-point lead.
  • Man, Philon talks, but he walks the walk, too. He told Chris Haynes there’d be “more cookin’” in the second half during his interview. He buried a three as the Sixers were leaking oil a bit towards the end of the third and then shushed the boisterous Pacers’ veterans who were in attendance. He had 18 through three and the Sixers held a 80-67 lead.

Fourth quarter

  • Another trait Philon seems to have is just knowing when his team needs a bucket. It was another slick drive which temporarily kept the lead at double-digits.
  • For as good as Broome has been, the lack of athleticism still shows up. He had a particularly rough sequence where he went up weak on a roll, was blocked by Jalen Slawson and then was beat down the other end by Slawson for a transition dunk. The Pacers cut the lead to six.
  • Credit where it’s due, Broome shook off a tough stretch and muscled his way to a bucket when the Sixers desperately needed it. Philon followed up with another strong finish.
  • It was an ugly, ugly close for the Sixers. Indiana tied things up on Braden Smith free throws with 5.7 second left. The Sixers got the final possession, but Philon stumbled during a dribble handoff with Broome and couldn’t get off a clean look. Summer league overtime. Yay.

Overtime

  • Just like in regulation, Broome and Philon came through with buckets — the only two field goals scored in OT for either team.

Bell Ringer

Standings

  • Isaac Johnson – 1

Candidates

  • Labaron Philon Jr.
  • Johni Broome
  • Dante Maddox Jr.
  • Matt Rogers

Cubs 2026 MLB Draft Tracker and discussion thread

The 2026 MLB Draft starts today! Coverage starts on NBC or Peacock with a half-hour preview show at noon followed by the first pick at 12:30 CT. The first hour (about 10 picks) will then be on NBC or Peacock when coverage switches to MLB Network, MLB.com or MLB.tv from 1:3o to 3:30. That should cover picks 11 through 40, or enough for every team to pick once.

After that, rounds 2 through 4 will be today (Saturday) on MLB.com or MLB.tv. Rounds 5 through 20 start on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. CT. Those rounds will conducted by a conference call, but you can again listen in on MLB.com or MLB.tv.

The White Sox have the first pick in the draft and as I write this, no one is sure whether they will select UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Fort Worth Christian HS shortstop Grady Emerson, or Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey. Those three players are expected to go 1 through 3 in the draft, with the Rays and Twins taking whomever the White Sox don’t.

In my preview on Friday, I gave some possibilities for the Cubs with the 23rd pick in the first round. The Cubs could get a real great player with that pick. Some players who went 23rd in the draft this century include Christian Yelich, Jacoby Ellsbury, Phil Hughes, Gavin Williams and Jeff Francoeur. However, more often than not, the player taken with the 23rd pick either fails to reach the majors or only has a short career. So the draft is indeed a crapshoot—one with huge rewards but also one in which the odds are against every team. So keep that in mind as the Cubs select.

Throughout the draft, we’ll be updating this article with the names of every player taken by the Cubs. We’ll also be giving you separate articles welcoming the Cubs first five picks, along with the information you need to know about them.

Here is the schedule for every Cubs pick. The number in parenthesis is the overall number of that pick. After the seventh round, the Cubs have every 30th pick. The second-round comp pick is for losing Kyle Tucker.

Day 1 picks (Saturday):

Round 1 (23):Cade Townsend RHP Mississippi

Round 2 (62):Caden Sorrell OF Texas A&M

Round 2 Comp (75):Myles Bailey 1B Florida State

Round 3 (98):Carson Jasa RHP Nebraska

Round 4(126):Dylan Marrioneaux RHP Northwestern State (LA)

Day 2 picks (Sunday):

Round 5 (159):

Round 6 (188):

Round 7 (217):

Round 8:

Round 9:

Round 10:

Round 11:

Round 12:

Round 13:

Round 14:

Round 15:

Round 16:

Round 17:

Round 18:

Round 19:

Round 20:

Seattle Mariners select 3B Trevor Lucas in 4th round of 2026 MLB Draft

With their fourth and final pick on day one of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Seattle Mariners opted for UNC-Wilmington third baseman Trevor Lucas.

Lucas possesses an excellent blend of hitting ability and defensive chops that made him an attractive candidate for an M’s farm system lacking in depth at the hot corner. Comped to Ben Williamson by Scott Hunter, Lucas is a plus defender in the field and could bounce around the diamond if need be, but his arm strength and lateral movement should lend themselves well to wherever he happens to be playing. The M’s are bullish on his abilities on the dirt and view him as an asset defensively.

Offensively, Lucas posts some eye popping underlying metrics. Making a ton of contact and producing some very solid exit velocities, Lucas complements his raw batting ability with a sound approach at the plate, limiting chase and drawing a healthy amount of walks. Lucas walked more than he struck out this season, a trait that typically tends to translate to the professional ranks pretty well.

The feel to hit for Lucas is evident; he frequently barrels the baseball, and the M’s think there’s even more power to unlock once he’s in a professional development setting. The foundation for a very enticing prospect is certainly there, but proving it against a higher level of competition will be the next step for the former Seahawk infielder.

Lucas has reportedly agreed to terms with the M’s, coming in at an underslot $450,000 figure. This puts the Mariners roughly $450,000 under their allotted bonus pool entering day two, a decent chunk of change that should afford them some flexibility.