HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 01: Head coach Ime Udoka of the Houston Rockets looks on during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 01, 2026 in Houston, Texas. 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 Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Rockets are maneuvering through their offseason trying to get better with smaller details compared to last year’s big, splashy trade for Kevin Durant.
The team has made moves that haven’t shaken the league, but they have given the Rockets a chance to improve. CBS Sports contributor Sam Quinn graded the team’s offseason and gave the Rockets a “C-plus” for their efforts.
“I’m a bit concerned with how much stock they’re putting into the returns of Steven Adams and Fred VanVleet to solve last year’s problems. These are both injury-prone veterans in their 30s. There are still long-term questions to answer, but most of what the Rockets just did makes sense,“ Quinn wrote.
The only teams that ranked higher than the Rockets were the Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers.
The Rockets brought back Tari Eason on a five-year deal to secure him as part of the core moving forward. That was arguably the team’s biggest to-do item of the offseason and they managed to accomplish that.
The biggest addition the team made was signing Marcus Smart to a two-year deal. His experience with Ime Udoka could come in handy, but it isn’t a move that is guaranteed to make the Rockets better. Udoka will have to manage his backcourt differently this season with Smart and Fred VanVleet back in the fold. If he can find the right rhythm, it could unlock a new level for the Rockets, but it could also set them back if things falter.
TDS community, what do you think of the Rockets’ offseason so far? Do you agree with the grade on the report card? Let us know in the comments section below.
The Buffalo Sabres snapped their 15-year postseason drought, winning the Atlantic Division and advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but after an offseason that saw Bowen Byram and Alex Tuch being dealt, the task of repeating as division champion or finishing in the top three of the Atlantic could be significantly more difficult.
This week, we will look at the seven other teams in the Atlantic to see where they stand in comparison to where they were at the end of last season and see where they potentially stack up as competition with the Sabres.
The Florida Panthers finally had the long arduous journeys that resulted in three trips to the Stanley Cup Final and two straight Cup victories catch up to them. The club lost team captain Aleksander Barkov to an ACL injury in training camp, were without top winger Matthew Tkachuk for a significant chunk of the season, and endured a slew of other injuries that resulted in the club finishing out of the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
GM Bill Zito was extremely active after the season in the trade market, adding winger Brady Tkachuk in a massive deal with the Ottawa Senators and other moves that are expected to help a healthy Panthers squad return to the postseason.
Brady Tkachuk - Averaged nearly a point-per-game with Ottawa last season.
Garnet Hathaway - Veteran enforcer acquired from Philadelphia
Lars Eller - Veteran depth forward who played one season in Ottawa signs an incentive-based one-year deal.
Radko Gudas - 36-year-old former Panther signs a six-year, $9 million contract
Jacob Markstrom - Veteran goalie acquired from New Jersey
Akira Schmid - Played 34 games for Vegas last season, acquired for a third-round pick.
Where does Patrick Kane end up?
Subtractions
Evan Rodrigues - scored 31 points last season, swapped to the Devils in Markstrom deal.
Jesper Boqvist - depth forward who played 73 games for the Panthers last season, swapped to the Devils in Markstrom deal
AJ Greer - signed a free agent deal with the Anaheim Ducks
Sergei Bobrovsky - signed a free agent deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Daniil Tarasov - signed a free agent deal with the Detroit Red Wings
Mackie Samoskevich - traded to the Seattle Kraken for a pair of draft picks
Outlook
The Panthers will benefit just as much from the new additions as they will from getting their existing players back 100% healthy. Barkov is one of the best two-way forwards in hockey and already showed he is back playing for Finland at the World Championships. Tkachuk is expected to be fully back, and his younger brother joins one of the deepest groups in the NHL, with Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Brad Marchand, Eetu Luostarinen, and Anton Lundell up front, and Seth Jones, Aaron Ekblad, Niko Mikkola, and Gustav Forsling on the back end. The biggest area of question is in goal, where a contract dispute led to Bobrovsky leaving in free agency.
Markstrom is experienced and will benefit from playing behind a veteran crew who plays solid defensive hockey, but there are questions of whether the 36-year-old goalie is up to the task of replacing Goalie Bob.
The Sabres benefited from the Panthers decline and fall last season, but will not be as fortunate this time around. Florida appears to be assembling the closest version of the Charlestown Chiefs and unless they are hit with catastrophic injuries for two years in a row, they are a virtual lock to finish in the top three in the Atlantic.
The Panthers and Sabres have similar questions between the pipes, and a blueline that has won two Stanley Cups is equal or better than the Sabres defensive corps. Florida has a distinct advantage over Buffalo in experience and depth up front, but the Sabres forward corps has much more speed than the veteran Panther group. The Sabres slight step back after the loss of Tuch and Byram likely has the them finishing behind the Panthers next season.
PHOENIX, AZ - JULY 21: Ildemaro Vargas #6 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates with teammates on the field after hitting a walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning to win the game between the Athletics and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Brendon Baranov/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Vargas Walks Off Athletics in Extra Innings The hot streak is well and truly behind him, almost feeling like a season ago, but Ildemaro Vargas still found a bit of magic and salvaged a win for the Diamondbacks after Paul Sewald suffered only his second blown save of the season.
Diamondbacks Move Demetrio Crisantes to AAA Reno Reno is starting to get stacked with most of the best prospects in the organization. Next spring is going to be awfully interesting, (whether that is in 7 months or 19 months).
Ranking the Top 50 Players On the Block By Trade Value The Diamondbacks feature lightly in here. Eduardo Rodriguez is the only name on the list, with Kevin Ginkel getting an honorable mention and Ketel Marte listed under the No Trace Clause quagmire section.
Tigers Ignoring ‘Year of the Bunt’ Twenty different individual players have bunted more than the Tigers, this despite a marked increase in bunting this year.
How Boston’s Streak Impacts the Trade Deadline, Playoff Picture, and More After Monday’s victory the streak stands at fourteen in a row, one win away from tying the longest winning streak in franchise history set in 1946, a year Ted Williams hit .342 and won MVP honors as the Red Sox won the American League pennant.
MLBPA Calls to Preserve Current Draft System While owners are trying to shorten the draft and limit entrants, the MLBPA is looking to expand the draft pool substantially, but still only domestically.
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Jason Wilson's expert pick: Dodgers vs. Phillies Over 9.5
Price: 50¢ (+100) at Polymarket
Any hopes of an Aaron Nola rebound season seem dashed thanks to a 5.68 ERA (which, technically, is better than last year) and a career-worst 2.01 HR/9. He's getting barreled far too often (10.1%) as opponents are squaring his fastball up more than ever.
While that has me tempted to take the Dodgers on the run line at +138, SP Eric Lauer gives me pause. He's improved his fortunes since arriving from Toronto, but that 3.12 ERA is a mirage, and he's still giving up way too many home runs while missing zero bats.
Take the Over.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
How to watch: SNLA, NBCSP
Josh Inglis' expert pick: Rays moneyline
Price: 49¢ (-104) at Polymarket
Go ask any Toronto Blue Jays fan how the season is going, and you'll likely get the same negative response. Toronto can't score coming out of the break, and the offense has been one of the worst in baseball all season, ranking dead last in wOBA, ISO, and runs scored while sitting in the bottom five in nearly every other offensive category not named K%.
I can't see how a bullpen game against the Tampa Bay Rays — a team that has won seven of the last eight meetings — makes Toronto the favorite. Griffin Jax already faced the Jays once this season and needed just 66 pitches to throw five shutout innings.
This is a low point for the Blue Jays, and this is an offense worth fading after scoring just eight runs through five games since the All-Star break.
Time: 7:07 p.m. ET
How to watch: Rays.TV, SportsNet
Colby Marchio's expert pick: Tigers vs. Cubs Over 7.5
Price: 47¢ (-125) at Polymarket
Typically, a team coming off a ten-plus run outburst suggests a natural offensive regression that favors the Under, but tonight’s matchup presents a prime spot to shatter that.
Standing in the way of a quiet evening is Colin Rea, whose recent outings have featured an alarmingly high WHIP and elevated home run rate. Throwing hittable, middle-middle pitches to a Detroit Tigers lineup primed to bounce back makes a low-scoring affair unlikely.
With Rea vulnerable to hard contact and the bats on Chicago Cubs are already in a groove, expect early offensive fireworks to push this game over the 7.5 total with ease.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Jul 16, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Mets pitcher Christian Scott (45) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Mets lineup
A.J. Ewing – CF Francisco Lindor – SS Bo Bichette – 3B Carson Benge – LF Jorge Polanco – DH Jared Young – 1B Marcus Semien – 2B Brett Baty – RF Francisco Alvarez – C
Christian Scott – RHP
Brewers lineup
Christian Yelich – DH Jackson Chourio – LF Brice Turang – 2B William Contreras – C Garrett Mitchell – CF Andrew Vaughn – 1B Jake Bauers – RF Cooper Pratt – SS Joey Ortiz – 3B
Logan Henderson – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 2:10 PM EDT TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
A rainout on Tuesday has set up a doubleheader today at Fenway Park between the Red Sox (51-48) and the Orioles (49-52). Boston takes the field in Game 1 riding a 14-game winning streak that has lifted them out of the cellar in the AL East and into the thick of the division and wild card races. They trail the Rays in the East by 6.5 games and now sit in the third and final wild card spot. Baltimore’s seven-game winning streak was snapped Monday, but it pulled them to within three games of the final wild card spot.
The opener features a pitching matchup that appears to favor Boston. Dean Kremer (1-2, 4.15 ERA) gets the ball for the O’s. In 26 innings this season, Kremer has posted a 4.15 ERA with 29 strikeouts and a strong 1.12 WHIP. The right-hander has served up nine home runs this season, though. While the Sox do not mash the ball, that is an unhealthy number. Kremer did not serve up a home run in his last outing. On July 17 in Houston he allowed two runs on four hits over four innings. Boston counters with rookie left-hander Jake Bennett (5-3, 2.35 ERA), who has been one of the club's biggest surprises. Bennett owns a 0.88 WHIP and he has offered up just three home runs in 53.2 innings. Bennett's most recent start came July 17 against Tampa Bay in which he threw six innings of one-hit, shutout ball.
Baltimore will hand the ball to its ace, Kyle Bradish (6-9, 3.61 ERA) in Game 2. Bradish’s last start was July 11 against Kansas City. He gave up two hits and one run over 6.2 innings. He has seen the Sox this season previously, dropping a 5-3 decision in which he surrendered four hits and three runs over five innings. Boston has yet to officially announce a starter at the time of publication. However, interim manager Chad Tracy indicated that left-hander Ranger Suárez (4-3, 3.15 ERA), currently on the injured list with a groin issue, is a candidate to return and start the nightcap.
The storyline of the day is simple: Boston is looking to extend one of the hottest streaks in baseball, while Baltimore hopes Bradish and Kremer can slow down a Red Sox club that has suddenly become a serious contender in the AL East.
Lets dive into the doubleheader and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game Details and How to Watch Game 1: Orioles vs. Red Sox
Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Time: 1:35PM EST
Site: Fenway Park
City: Boston, MA
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, MASN, NESN
Game Details and How to Watch Game 2: Orioles vs. Red Sox
Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Time: 7:10PM EST
Site: Fenway Park
City: Boston, MA
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, MASN, NESN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Red Sox: Ranger Suarez (not announced as the starter but indications suggest) Season Totals: 91.1 IP, 4-3, 3.15 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 97K, 26 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Orioles vs. Red Sox
Willson Contreras is 2-4 in his career against Bradish with 2 HRs
Jarren Duran is 5-11 vs. Kremer in his career
Masataka Yoshida is 5-10 in his career against Kremer
Jarren Duran has K’d 5 times in 11 career ABs against Bradish
Jake Bennett has never faced the Orioles in his young career
Pete Alonso is 1-13 since the All-Star Break
Gunnar Henderson is 4-18 since the All-Star Break
Coby Mayo is 3-12 with 1 HR since the Break
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Orioles vs. Red Sox
The Orioles are 51-50 on the Run Line this season
The Red Sox are 47-52 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 53 times in Baltimore’s 101 games this season (53-45-3)
The OVER has cashed 45 times in Boston’s 99 games this season (45-50-4)
Expert picks & predictions: Orioles vs. Red Sox
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model for today’s day-night doubleheader between the Orioles and the Red Sox:
Orioles vs. Red Sox Game 1 Predictions
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Red Sox on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.5.
Orioles vs. Red Sox Game 2 Predictions
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Red Sox on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 9.0
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The Buffalo Sabres have not made a major move since the opening of free agency in July, after trading defenseman Bowen Byram to Chicago for Louis Crevier, and a pair of high draft picks, Alex Tuch to Washington in a sign-and-trade, and acquiring blueliner Olen Zellweger from Anaheim prior to the NHL Draft last month. The club has been rumored to be interested in trading for Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck, and signing Buffalo native Patrick Kane, but neither move has come to fruition at this point.
Kane hit the open market on July 1, and immediately rumors tied him to his hometown Sabres, but over the last three weeks, there has been a growing amount of chatter that the Chicago Blackhawks would like to bring the three-time Cup winner. Earlier this week, star center Connor Bedard indicated that he hopes that Kane will re-sign with the Hawks.
"I hope so. I don't know what I can say to persuade his decision, but we'd all obviously be so excited to have a player like that, but also a guy like that.” Bedard said. “I can't imagine his first game back at the (United Center), the reaction he'd get and how much juice that would bring not only to our team but our fans as well. That would be incredible to get to play with him and learn from him. Hopefully he decides to come back. You talk about the legacy aspect of it, but as a team, it would make us a way better team. He's still an amazing player. I don't know if this is the best pitch, but hopefully he comes back and we can play together, for sure."
On Tuesday, Hawks GM Kyle Davidson added his two cents during an interview on a Chicago radio station, saying that he would love for the future Hall-of-Famer to return to the club that selected him first overall in 2007.
Where will Patrick Kane sign? Chicago or Buffalo?
Patrick is someone that our organization (and) myself have had a relationship (with) for a long time. I don’t necessarily think it’s right for me to comment on the process he’s going to be running this offseason.” Davidson said. “A guy like (Patrick) has done pretty much everything there is to do in our game. He’s inspired every young player playing hockey today with what he’s accomplished, and he’s earned the right to take his time and make a decision.”
The Sabres snapping their 15-year playoff drought has made them a more attractive landing spot, but there has always been a debate of how much Kane wants to play for his hometown team, especially with the expectation level raised since their Atlantic Division title last season. Buffalo has limited cap space after the signings of Zach Benson and Peyton Krebs, which also might be a contributing factor.
"We see (Patrick) often. He trains at our practice facility in the offseason. We’ll await his decision, but he knows our door is always open.” Davidson said. “We’ve got a great deal of reverence, respect, and love for Patrick Kane, so we’ll leave him to that decision, and we’ll see where he ends up when that day comes.”
Buffalo has to be looking to add some offensive punch without Tuch and his 30+ goals per season and may be a holding pattern until Kane makes his decision. If he decides to finish his career with the Hawks, the Sabres may have to pivot to other options in free agency or in the trade market before the opening of training camp in September.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JULY 17: Dean Kremer #64 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on July 17, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The opener of the three-game series between two streaking teams was a disappointment for the Orioles. Now they’ll get two chances today to redeem themselves.
After the Birds’ four-error, one-run loss on Monday snapped their seven-game winning streak — and extended Boston’s to 14 — last night’s rainout has led to a split doubleheader to finish the series. Dean Kremer and Jake Bennett, who were originally slated to start the regularly scheduled 7:10 game, have both been moved up to the afternoon contest. Kyle Bradish will make his second-half debut in the nightcap.
If Kremer hopes to cool down the red-hot Red Sox, he’ll need to work a little further into the game than he has recently. He went just four innings in Houston last Friday and five against the Cubs the week before. He has pitched well in his most recent outings against the Sox, working 5.1 scoreless innings against them last season and 7.1 frames of one-run ball in 2024. Kremer has held Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela in check (1-for-8 each) but has struggled against Masataka Yoshida (5-for-10) and Jarren Duran (5-for-11).
The Orioles will get their first look at Bennett, a 25-year-old who was Boston’s second-round pick in 2022. He’s had a fantastic introduction to the majors, posting a 2.35 ERA in nine starts since debuting May 1. With the O’s facing a lefty for the second straight game, Craig Albernaz is running it back with the same lineup he used against Payton Tolle on Monday, except with Jackson Holliday starting at second instead of Jeremiah Jackson.
Can the Orioles find enough spark to snap Boston’s epic streak? It would help if the O’s could actually play defense today.
Orioles lineup:
LF Taylor Ward 1B Pete Alonso SS Gunnar Henderson RF Tyler O’Neill DH Coby Mayo CF Leody Taveras 3B Christian Encarnacion-Strand 2B Jackson Holliday C Sam Huff
RHP Dean Kremer
Red Sox lineup:
DH Masataka Yoshida CF Ceddanne Rafaela RF Wilyer Abreu 1B Willson Contreras 3B Caleb Durbin 2B Romy Gonzalez LF Jarren Duran C Connor Wong SS Tsung-Che Cheng
On this day 39 years ago, Harold Baines became the all-time White Sox home run leader. | (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
1928 Hall-of-Famer Red Faber could do it all — and on occasion, he could hit.
Up to bat in the top of the eighth at Yankee Stadium, with two outs and runners at second and third and the game tied, 4-4, Faber was down two strikes. The righty Faber then jumped across the plate to finish the at-bat left-handed — and knocked in the eventual game-winning runs with a single!
The hit raised Faber’s average to .088 on the season, and pushed home his first two runs of the year. Oh, and Faber went the distance for the win.
1954 The only home run Mickey Mantle ever hit as a shortstop in the major leagues was a back-breaker, coming with two outs in the bottom of the 10th off of Don Johnson to beat the White Sox, 4-3.
It was a long shot, down 3-1 in the eighth, when Casey Stengel pinch-hit Enos Slaughter for shortstop Willy Miranda. But Eddie Robinson homered and later in the inning Mantle singled in the tying run. Shortstop Phil Rizzuto then entered the game — to play second base, while Mantle moved in from center field to man shortstop (Mantle came up through the Yankees farm as a shortstop, but had played just one career inning in the majors there.
With Rizzuto and Mantle back at the normal positions, the second-place Yankees won the nightcap, 11-1, to complete the sweep and move six games ahead of the third-place Sox.
1962 White Sox outfielder Floyd Robinson got six singles in six at-bats, with one RBI and one run, in a 7-3 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. He was the third player in franchise history to get six hits in a game.
The game raised Robinson’s average 12 points, to .319. Robinson would end the season at .312, with 11 homers and an impressive 109 RBIs.
1987 After the Baltimore Orioles struck for three runs in the third inning at Comiskey Park, the White Sox punched back with five. The burst began with a leadoff homer from Ken Williams and continued later on with a two-run shot from Harold Baines and a back-to-back jack from Iván Calderón.
The clout from Baines was his 155th career long ball, moving him past Bill Melton for the all-time franchise lead.
As for the game, Baltimore struck right back with five runs of its own in the top of the third, sending José DeLeón to the showers in an eventual 10-5 loss.
As for the home-run record, Baines would end up as a brief caretaker of the title between longtime holders Melton and Frank Thomas, who passed Baines in 1996 and with 448 in his career remains the all-time round-tripper leader on the South Side. Baines remains fourth all-time (221), also later passed by Paul Konerko (432) and José Abreu (243).
1991 Former White Sox owner Bill Veeck was enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Veeck also owned Cleveland and St. Louis Browns. He revolutionized the way baseball marketed its product, and he was decades ahead of his time in his thinking on revenue sharing and baseball’s option clause — which caused other owners, in some cases, to despise him. But he was beloved by fans, especially in Chicago, where he’d often walk around the stands during games interacting with the patrons.
1994 Did you know that three-time Manager of the Year Bob Melvin ended his playing career with the White Sox? On this day, the Angels swapped him to the Sox for pitcher Jeff Schwarz. Melvin got into just 11 games and had three hits, none for extra bases, giving him a -0.3 White Sox WAR. He was granted free agency after the season, and never played in the majors again.
Nine years later, he assumed the stewardship of the Seattle Mariners and guided them to 93 wins. He’s managed in the majors in every year since, taking 2010 off. He’s currently the skipper of the San Francisco Giants.
1995 In a game in Chicago, Brewers manager Phil Garner and White Sox manager Terry Bevington got into a fist-swinging brawl near the third-base bag. The brawl was touched off when Ozzie Guillén shoved Jeff Cirillo on a play at third base.
Garner, who managed Milwaukee from 1992-99, had incidents with the Sox before. Many of those were prompted by some of his acerbic comments, including refusing to refer to the Sox by name, using the moniker “big city.”
Lakers' star Wilt Chamberlain played his final NBA season in 1972-73. The warmup jacket he was wearing in this photo is believed to be the same one that was found at a Goodwill in January and eventually auctioned for nearly $90,000. (Anonymous / Associated Press)
A Portland teenager found a random old Lakers jacket in a Goodwill bin in January.
He paid $3.07 for it.
Seven months later, the item sold at auction for $89,600.
Turns out the old jacket wasn’t so random after all.
Verified by Sotheby’s auction house, it was a warmup jacket worn by NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain at least three times. That includes during the 1972 NBA Finals in which the Lakers defeated the New York Knicks in five games and Chamberlain was named the series MVP.
“This is Truly a once in a lifetime find,” Quinn Brown wrote on Instagram in January. “I am so grateful this jacket has landed in my hands.”
Brown, 19, has been reselling his thrift-store clothing finds online for the past three years. When he saw someone toss the short-sleeved Lakers jacket with “Chamberlain” on the back into a bin of clothes outside Goodwill, Brown grabbed it for his online shop.
Then he did some research. Brown found an online photo of Chamberlain wearing a jacket that looked very similar. He also discovered that the four-time league MVP’s jersey measurements closely matched those of the jacket.
This undated photo provided by Sotheby's shows a warmup jacket worn by Wilt Chamberlain during the 1972 NBA Finals that was found in an Oregon thrift store. (Sotheby's via Associated Press)
After he posted a photo of the jacket online, Brown was contacted by Sotheby’s about consigning it for auction. He took the auction house up on the offer, and the jacket was whisked away in an armored vehicle.
Sotheby’s photomatched the jacket to three images: an undated photo from the 1972-73 season, a photo from a January 1973 game and a photo from a 1972 home game against the Knicks that was determined to be from either Game 1 or Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
Chamberlain had 12 points and 19 rebounds in Game 1, a 114-92 Lakers loss, and 23 points and 24 rebounds in Game 2, a 106-92 Lakers victory.
“I didn’t even think that finding something like this was possible,” Brown told the Associated Press. “I got very, very lucky.”
Sotheby’s estimated that the jacket could go for $150,000 to $250,000. While the final amount wasn’t quite that high, Brown told KIRO-FM (97.3) in Tacoma, Wash., that he’s “obviously happy” after making back 29,000-times his initial investment.
“$90,000 is pretty good,” he said. “I was hoping it would go higher. A little surprised, sitting there the last five minutes it didn’t really get any bids. So that was a little disappointing. But, still, a lot of money — especially since I only spent $3.”
ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 21: Members of the Texas Rangers celebrate a win after the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kelcee Skoug/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rangers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Texas Rangers are currently in first place in the American League West, up a half game on the Seattle Mariners. Texas is a game back of the Boston Red Sox, who are in Wild Card 3, 2.5 games back of Wild Card 2 (which is either the White Sox or the Guardians, who are also tied for first place in the American League Central), and 5.5 games back of the New York Yankees, who have the Wild Card 1 spot.
Our question for today is…where do you think the Texas Rangers end up at the end of 2026, vis-a-vis the playoffs?
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos right-handed pitcher Jackson Flora (2) pitches during the game against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. | Matt Bush/Special to the Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Do the owners of Major League Baseball like baseball? Unclear. Sure, the league has been “listening” to its fans during this Collective Bargaining Agreement, but only because “the fans” agree with them about the “need” for a salary cap. When it comes to something like, say, the minor leagues, the league seems completely disinterested in what you and I have to say.
The latest SB Nation Reacts poll focuses on the prospect component of the just-completed All-Star festivities in Philadelphia. First, it’s important note that MLB moved the draft to coincide with the All-Star Game as a way to boost interest and elevate it into a higher strata that competed with the NBA and NFL drafts.
But a funny thing has happened with those intentions: they got thrown in the trash.
Now, maybe it had something to do with America 250 or the World Cup, but the draft in Philadelphia was completely downplayed, almost to the point of being an afterthought. First, it was very difficult to just sit down and watch it.
The first day of coverage was sliced up into one of the strangest viewing experiences this long-time couch potato has ever seen:
Day 1 (Rounds 1-4) Saturday, July 11:
1 p.m. — picks 1-10 on NBC and Peacock 2:30 p.m. — picks 11-40 on MLB Network, Peacock, MLB.com, MLB.TV and MLB+ 4:30 p.m. — picks 41-135 on MLB.com, MLB.TV and MLB+
Day 2 (Rounds 5-20) Sunday, July 12:
11:30 a.m. on MLB.com, MLB.TV and MLB+
That’s six total platforms and on day 1 you’ll be forced to change your channel twice just to keep watching. An absurd bit of scheduling that demands an explanation. Did NBC have Rob by the Manfreds and he had no choice but to slice it up like this? Peacock is a streaming platform that could’ve ran the whole thing. MLB Network is the league’s own cable channel that could’ve covered whatever their broadcast partner couldn’t or wouldn’t.
So, it was tough to track just from a viewing experience. It was even difficult for, say, FanDuel users to follow along in order to bet on who would be drafted next. In the room, the draft itself wound up being in the way.
After the Dodgers made the 40th pick, the live show portion of the draft was over. Quite quickly, the draft rolled on into the second round, which, again, aired on MLB.com. But in the convention center, the draft was effectively over. The remaining fans trickled out. Picks were being analyzed a floor up on the broadcast desk, but they weren’t being announced to anyone remaining in the arena.
[…]
While the remaining picks were being streamed online for those fans still watching, arena crews began disassembling the stage and seating area that only a few hours earlier had housed one of the most important days on the baseball calendar. Workers on lifts could be seen pulling down the lighting trusses and doing other work to tear down the stands and lighting.
And because the Baseball Draft is actually different from the drafts it’s being forced to compete with for some reason, the league doesn’t fly out a crop of prospects to be there in the room. So, why are they making a show of this at all if the show they plan to put on stinks at the concept stage? I’ll admit that my interest in the Giants’ pick of Jackson Flora was generated only after the fact while reading about him. I can’t imagine what the people who actually care beforehand were being put through during this streaming telecast mess.
Anyway, while fans are being used to crush one of the most powerful unions in the world (which should be an example of what makes unions great rather than why they are bad), they’re probably going to be flatly ignored when it comes to everything else.
The fans and traditionalists have it right here. The draft should be held in June. The baseball calendar had been shaped around a June draft for years and years, primarily for practical reasons. But beyond that, making it A Thing hasn’t really worked, because that was only a marketing decision. The league wanted to do… something… even if it was bad.
Speaking of marketing, though, the other poll question had a predictable response:
I think this desire is good and pure and true, and it’s another example of the league wanting a win in a press release but not in reality. The game aired at 9am Pacific and in the course of a regular schedule of MLB games. I would’ve liked to have seen Dakota Jordan’s double when I was more awake!
So, it seems like the easy call here is to put it in Prime Time a la the Home Run Derby.
But here’s the thing: it’s not a given that the league is invested in the minor leagues. In fact, the latest CBA proposal regarding the draft is a continuation of the Jeff Luhnow plan to shrink the minor leagues:
The goal is to push off as much development as possible onto college baseball programs. There is also the growing control by private equity funds of minor league teams. It seems like a good collision of “ruthless efficiency” that will almost certainly be good for the players and fans, right?
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 17: Seth Lugo of the Kansas City Royals throws during the first inning of a game against the San Diego Padres at Kauffman Stadium on July 17, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Reed Hoffmann/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Kansas City has come out of the All-Star break 4-1 and are going for the sweep today. Unfortunately, everyone is getting hurt and the run differential is still negative over those five games because of the blowout on Sunday. Jac Caglianone is out after hurting his shoulder last night and Bobby Witt Jr. is going to the injured list. The season of attrition continues. Replacing Bobby is Andrew Velazquez who has been bouncing around the majors and minors for a long time and will make his debut for the Royals. He is an okay defensive shortstop with a career wRC+ of 48, so please heal quickly Bobby!
Seth Lugo will take the mound today trying to build off of a strong start against San Diego Last time out. He will face Landen Roupp. Roupp is a 27 year old righty who has been pretty solid for the Giants the last three years. He does have a proclivity for walking some batters and he has struggled with runners on base this season.
DETROIT, MI - JULY 08: Athletics relief pitcher Mason Barnett (63) pitches during a regular season Major League Baseball game between the Athletics and the Detroit Tigers on July 8, 2026 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The A’s just can’t catch a break in the health department. The club announced that right-hander J.T. Ginn is the latest member of the squad to land on the 10-day IL, landing there because of a blister on his right middle finger:
The A’s placed RHP J.T. Ginn on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to July 18, with a right middle finger blister and recalled RHP Mason Barnett from Triple-A Las Vegas.
The loss hurts for the short-term but on the bright side this shouldn’t be a long-term absence for the righty. In fact it could be a blessing in disguise: Ginn has already surpassed his career-high in innings pitched and a breather, even after the All-Star Break, isn’t the worst thing in the world. It certainly makes the team’s decision for them regarding slowing down the righty in what is his first full big league season as a starting pitcher. Don’t want to blow out his arm during the final stretch of a lost season.
Ginn’s absence will presumably allow right-hander Mason Barnett a chance at starting for the next couple of weeks. The well-regarded righty hasn’t quite found his footing at the big league level yet but with where the A’s are in the standings maybe giving him an extended look against big league hitters as a starting pitcher isn’t the worst way to use the final couple months of the season.
There remains no known timetable for Giancarlo Stanton, but based on what Aaron Boone is seeing, the return of the designated hitter “shouldn’t be too far off.”
The Yankees manager wanted to correct the record on Stanton on Tuesday, telling the “Talkin’ Yanks” podcast that Stanton is closer to rejoining the club than reports had indicated.
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Asked Wednesday, Boone said that the lack of a public and known timeline does not mean Stanton is a great distance away from playing again.
“I feel like he’s moving in a good direction,” Boone said before a doubleheader in The Bronx against the Pirates. “I just don’t know if [his return is] a couple of weeks from now, a few weeks from now, whatever it is.
“But he is getting much closer to that point.”
Stanton has not played since suffering a right calf strain on April 24.
Giancarlo Stanton’s return date still a mystery Jason Szenes for the New York Post
He appeared on the verge of a return in mid-June, when he had progressed to running the bases, but then felt something in his calf that Brian Cashman later clarified was “a whole new injury,” rather than a setback.
Since that point, Stanton has not run the bases, and the Yankees have not offered much detail about when the powerful but oft-injured slugger could return.
In what is probably the most optimistic update yet from Boone, the manager said Stanton “is running, and so I think based on that, it shouldn’t be too far off.”
Stanton has been in his running progression for several weeks. Boone said Stanton is at the stage of reaching “certain speed points” and then “obviously bouncing back and recovering.”
There is still little clarity about the exact details of Stanton’s daily workload, but the club says he is making progress and has been hitting.
Stanton generally prefers skipping rehab assignments, feeling he can be ready by swinging off the Trajekt machine, but a return-to-play plan, too, is unknown.
“I don’t have a timeline,” Boone reiterated. “I don’t know when he gets to the end of that and then what we do to get him back.”
