NEW YORK — Mark Vientos is headed for the injured list after suffering a fractured right hand when he was hit by a pitch in the New York Mets’ 7-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Mets interim manager Andy Green said he didn’t know the extent of Vientos’ injury or if it required surgery.
“It’s going to be an IL placement, and he’s still being evaluated right now,” Green said.
Vientos, just making his second start of the season at third base, was hit by Michael Wacha’s 92 mph fastball in the second inning. The 26-year-old whirled and ran into foul territory behind third base before falling on his knees.
Third base coach Tim Leiper raced over to Vientos, who slowly walked to first base with Green and a trainer, who checked Vientos’ hand.
Vientos initially remained in the game before he was replaced at third base to open the third inning by Brett Baty, who shifted from second base. Rookie A.J. Ewing moved from center field to second base in his first big league appearance at the position; Ewing played 53 games at second in the minors.
Vientos is batting .211 with 11 homers and 35 RBIs in 73 games. His struggles, along with the emergence of Jared Young at first base and Green’s desire to utilize Francisco Alvarez, Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto at designated hitter on days they don’t play the field, largely have relegated Vientos to a platoon player against left-handed pitchers.
The start against Wacha was Vientos’ first against a right-hander since June 29, when he batted seventh and served as DH against Trey Yesavage and the Toronto Blue Jays.
“I’m just disappointed for what he’s going through right now today,” Green said.
This will be the third big league IL stint for Vientos, who was sidelined with a left wrist injury in August 2023 and a strained right hamstring in June 2025.
Tyrone Taylor replaced Ewing in center and hit the game-tying homer in his first at-bat to fuel a five-run fifth.
The Buffalo Sabres have brought in a few new players this off-season, but they should not be done making moves yet.
One way that the Sabres could look to strengthen their roster is through the free agent market. Because of this, let's look at three remaining UFAs who the Sabres should consider signing.
Patrick Kane
Out of all the UFAs left, Patrick Kane stands out in a major way. The future Hall of Famer would have the potential to be a great addition to the Sabres' top six. With the Sabres taking a big step forward last season, now feels like the right time for them to bring the Buffalo native home. In 67 games with the Detroit Red Wings last season, he recorded 16 goals and 57 points.
Anthony Mantha
The Sabres have another top-six winger worth considering in Anthony Mantha. After posting career highs with 33 goals, 31 assists, and 64 points in 81 games last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the 2013 first-round pick is still a UFA at this point in the summer. The 6-foot-5 forward could be a solid replacement for Alex Tuch in Buffalo's top six.
Vladimir Tarasenko
Vladimir Tarasenko is another intriguing UFA still available right now. The 34-year-old winger had a nice bounce-back year with the Minnesota Wild in 2025-26, posting 23 goals and 47 points in 75 games. While he is no longer the star he was during his prime, he would still have the potential to be a good addition to Buffalo's middle six. It also doesn't hurt that he has won the Stanley Cup twice during his career.
Jun 13, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) walks off the court with the trophy after the Knicks defeat the San Antonio Spurs during game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
The New York Knicks had to make some difficult decisions this offseason in regards to their salary cap. They wanted to retain as many members of the championship team as possible, but it came at a price they weren’t necessarily willing to pay.
It ultimately resulted in losing center Mitchell Robinson, who signed a three-year contract with the Boston Celtics in free agency. Other than that, the Knicks were able to retain pretty much their entire championship squad, replacing Robinson with Andre Drummond on a one-year deal worth less than $4 million. While they aren’t in the second apron this offseason, the threat of reaching that threshold lingers in the future.
“The Knicks avoided entering the second apron while managing to return the same starting five that won an NBA championship and reserves Jordan Clarkson, Miles McBride, Jose Alvarado, Landry Shamet and Mohamed Diawara. Mitchell Robinson signed with Boston and was replaced by Andre Drummond on a less expensive contract,” ESPN insider Bobby Marks wrote.
“Possible extensions for Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart this summer, as well as Jalen Brunson next offseason, will test New York as it relates to the second apron in future seasons.
“Towns is eligible this offseason to sign a four-year, $272 million extension. Brunson, meanwhile, can extend for four years and $254 million the following year. If he waits and becomes a free agent in 2028, he would then be eligible to sign a five-year, $371 million contract.”
The Knicks have every reason to try and extend Towns and Heart this offseason. Those should be the goals for the next front office for the rest of the summer.
Meanwhile, Brunson has shown a willingness in the past to sacrifice for the greater good and is willing to take less money if it helps the Knicks contend. It remains to be seen if Brunson will continue this same approach now that the Knicks have won a title, but the captain’s selflessness doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon.
Maybe Brunson will have a change of heart, but that’s a problem for next offseason. For now, the Knicks should focus on negotiating new contracts with Hart and Towns, keeping their core together for many years to come.
Head to NBC and Peacock, this Sunday, July 12, for an action packed slate of MLB coverage. The excitement starts at noon with two games, the 2026 All-Star Futures game on NBC and Peacock, and a Sunday Leadoff thriller between the Milwaukee Brewers vs Pittsburgh Pirates on NBCSN and Peacock See below for additional information on how to watch both games.
Sunday's meeting marks the second of four series meetings between the two teams this season. The Pirates won two of three when the teams last met in April, in Pittsburgh.
Play-by-play voice Dave Flemming will be joined by World Series champion pitcher Bob Walk, former Milwaukee pitcher Tim Dillard, and reporter Caroline Pineda for Sunday's Brewers vs Pirates game.
How to watch the Milwaukee Brewers vs Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB Sunday Leadoff is a weekly Major League Baseball showcase featuring live Sunday daytime games. It highlights marquee matchups throughout the regular season and streams primarily on Peacock, with some games also airing across NBC Sports and NBC.
MLB Sunday Night Baseball is a weekly primetime Major League Baseball showcase, featuring marquee matchups each Sunday night during the regular season. The games air on NBC and Peacock and anchor NBC Sports’ Sunday night programming lineup.
On Sunday, July 5, all 15 MLB games will be presented nationally across Peacock and NBC as part of a special all-day “Star-Spangled Sunday” showcase.
NBC Sports will also stream one out-of-market game each day of the 2026 MLB season nationally on Peacock. Telemundo Deportes will present all NBCUniversal-produced MLB games in Spanish, with Universo televising all games broadcast on NBC.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers welcome the Arizona Diamondbacks for a three-game weekend series in Chavez Ravine.
L.A. has opened up a 14.5-game lead in the NL West and is rightfully a sizable favorite (-233) with Shohei Ohtani starting the opener, while the total is set at 8.5.
See my plays for the side and total with my Diamondbacksvs. Dodgers predictions andMLB picks for Friday, July 10.
Who will win Diamondbacks vs Dodgers today: Dodgers -1.5 (-112)
Eduardo Rodriguez's 2.25 ERA is a product of smoke and mirrors. His 5.00 xERA indicates immediate regression against a potent Los Angeles Dodgers lineup (128 wRC+ against southpaws over the last 20 days) in hitter-friendly weather.
Shohei Ohtani's 1.79 ERA, on the other hand, is a product of an elite 114 Stuff+. He should mow down an Arizona Diamondbacks lineup that has been utterly helpless against right-handed pitching (67 wRC+ over the last 14 days).
One of these NL All-Stars is overvalued, while the other is so dominant it's difficult to accurately price. Play L.A. -1.5 up to -120.
COVERS INTEL: Rodriguez rarely makes batters miss (10th percentile whiff rate, 13th percentile K-rate) and won't now against a Dodgers lineup with the second-lowest Swing% (29.5%).
Diamondbacks vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-112)
Ohtani has dominated Arizona's lineup in the past (.170 AVG and .484 OPS across 47 at-bats), and there's no reason to expect any difference on Friday.
He suppresses loud contact (92nd percentile barrel rate, 89th percentile xBA), and Arizona doesn't hit for much power, holding the second-lowest ISO (.137) against RHP.
L.A. has routinely played in low-scoring games with Ohtani on the bump (3-11 O/U). The bullpen behind him is well-rested after Thursday's day off, and Arizona's pen has a Top-5 FIP (3.35) and SIERA (3.28) in the last 14 days.
JD Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 26-27, -4.93 units
Over/Under bets: 35-19, +14.9 units
Diamondbacks vs Dodgers weather
Wind blowing out to center at 8 mph will give the offenses a slight bump on an 81F day in Los Angeles.
Diamondbacks vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Diamondbacks +223 | Dodgers -233
Run line: Diamondbacks +1.5 (+104) | Dodgers -1.5 (-108)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+100) | Under 8.5 (-104)
Diamondbacks vs Dodgers trend
The Diamondbacks have played to the Over just once in Eduardo Rodriguez's last 12 starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Diamondbacks vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Friday, July 10, 2026
First pitch
10:10 p.m. ET
TV
Dbacks.TV, SportsNet LA
Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Eduardo Rodriguez (7-3, 2.25 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Shohei Ohtani (8-2, 1.79 ERA)
Diamondbacks vs Dodgers latest injuries
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.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 28: Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks in action during Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on April 28, 2026 in New York City. The Knicks won 126-97. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“It’s believed that the Lakers hope to package their lone tradeable first-round pick swap left over in 2032 along with Jarred Vanderbilt in a sign-and-trade proposal for Kuminga. Sources say Atlanta, however, has not considered taking back Vanderbilt in a deal that sends out Kuminga.
“There are said to be multi-team scenarios that the Lakers could pursue that offload Vanderbilt to a different team than Atlanta. That would help the Lakers provide Kuminga with an offer richer than the two-year, $20 million deal that sources say they originally presented him.”
We recently explored how trading Vanderbilt or waiving him and stretching his dead cap hit over the next five years could give the Lakers enough cap space to sign Kuminga to a deal of that size. Fischer added that Kuminga “would naturally be hoping for a richer deal than that,” but he is “open to various contract structures below his 2025-26 season salary of $22.5 million depending on what sort of sign-and-trade scenarios materialize.”
He concluded by saying, “The most clarity that can be offered on Kuminga’s future: If he indeed leaves Atlanta, it is almost certainly going to be via sign-and-trade rather than a move facilitated by cap space.”
So, let’s explore what that might look like for the Lakers.
How a Kuminga sign-and-trade could work
If the Lakers did acquire Kuminga via sign-and-trade, his contract would need to be at least three years (excluding any team/player options), although only the first season would need to be fully guaranteed. They would have to complete the sign-and-trade prior to the start of the regular season, too.
If the Lakers manage to salary-dump Vanderbilt separate from a Kuminga sign-and-trade, they’d have roughly $13.4 million of cap space left for Kuminga. That would top out at a three-year, $42.3 million contract or a four-year, $57.7 million deal.
But if the Lakers can convince Atlanta or a third team to take Vanderbilt as part of a Kuminga sign-and-trade, they could use an expanded trade exception to offer Kuminga even more.
Teams above the first and second apron can’t take back more salary than they send out in a trade, but teams below the first apron can. For instance, if the Lakers salary-dumped either Jaden Hardy or Jake LaRavia’s $6 million contracts, they could take back 200 percent of that salary, plus $250,000, or $12.25 million in total.
If they salary-dumped Vanderbilt, they’d be allowed to receive roughly $9.1 million more in salary than they were sending out, which would equate to around $21.5 million. If the Lakers were willing to go that far for Kuminga, his three-year deal could be as high as $67.8 million, and a four-year deal could be $92.5 million.
However, the Lakers need to remain mindful of the first apron as well. They’re already hard-capped there after acquiring Walker Kessler via sign-and-trade, which means they cannot have more than $209.015 million in salary on their books at any point between now and June 30, 2027.
If the Lakers salary-dumped Vanderbilt and gave Kuminga the most they could via the expanded trade exception ($21.5 million), their payroll would be up to roughly $205.2 million once they officially signed Austin Reaves, Collin Sexton and Kevon Looney. They’d have 14 players under contract, so they’d still have enough wiggle room under the first apron for one veteran-minimum deal ($2.45 million), but they wouldn’t have much in-season trade flexibility. They’d be roughly $1.35 million below the first apron if they filled that 15th roster spot with a minimum contract before the season started.
The Lakers are otherwise out of salary-cap exceptions after spending the room mid-level exception on Sexton, so they might not mind getting that close to the first apron. But they do need to keep their hard cap in mind as they negotiate with Kuminga and the Hawks on sign-and-trade permutations.
If the Lakers can find a taker for Vanderbilt, the expanded traded player exception grants them plenty of flexibility to give Kuminga more than the two-year, $20 million deal that they’ve already reportedly offered. The main questions are where they could dump Vando, how much it would cost to offload him, how close they’re willing to get to the hard cap, and how many years they’re willing to guarantee on Kuminga’s contract if they do acquire him via sign-and-trade.
Feb 20, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Team LeBron forward LeBron James drives against Team Durant guard LaMelo Ball (2) in the second quarter during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
LeBron James remains a free agent, and the Minnesota Timberwolves still appear like one of the finalists in his sweepstakes.
The Wolves’ ability to contend over the last couple of seasons, with Anthony Edwards leading the charge, could be enough to woo LeBron in free agency. Minnesota has been busy this offseason, acquiring point guard LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets. ESPN insider Brian Windhorst wonders if that deal will hurt Minnesota’s chances at signing LeBron in free agency.
“With Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, the Wolves have elite perimeter play and rim protection. Edwards and James played together on the Olympic team, so there’s familiarity between the two, and Jaden McDaniels would provide James cover by guarding opponents’ top wing scorers,” Windhorst wrote.
“LaMelo Ball is a wild card; his style of play would test James’ patience, but having James on the court with shooters such as Ball, Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu provides what has always been a successful formula.”
Adding LeBron would change Minnesota’s offense completely, but it could be for the better. Even at 42 (he turns 42 in December), he still has a strong impact that could alter a team’s ceiling and the Wolves should be excited at the possibility of signing him at the veterans minimum.
Ball’s role in the offense would change drastically if LeBron were to come to Minnesota, but the Wolves have to make those changes if they can sell LeBron on a winning situation.
The Wolves originally brought Ball in as someone who can take some of the pressure off of Edwards to create in the backcourt, but utilizing him as the sharpshooter he is could yield stronger results, which could be what Minnesota needs to get over the hump in the Western Conference.
Canis Hoopus community, how do you feel about LeBron’s fit with the Wolves? Chime off in the comments section below.
Cal Quantrill is set to take the mound this evening for the Texas Rangers, and that automatically triggers me to lean toward the YRFI. Especially with Yordan Alvarez owning 100% arsenal coverage against him while grading out as an elite hitter on Batters-Box. He might be the only bat we need to rely on in the first inning.
However, on the other side, Hunter Brown is taking the mound for the Astros and has been struggling recently. Over his last 3 outings, Brown owns a 6.23 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP.
Overall, both offenses have been swinging the bat well over their last 6 games, each posting at least a 107 wRC+, a .199 ISO, and a .323 wOBA.
With Houston ranking second in first-inning runs scored and fifth in YRFI percentage, this sets up as a prime spot to root for some early offense.
Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CW33, SCHN
Athletics at White Sox: YRFI (-121)
This may be one of the biggest vibes plays I've made in quite some time, as White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami is set to return from the IL. The White Sox offense has gone cold this week, but I think getting their star first baseman back is exactly the spark this lineup needs to get back on track.
They draw struggling Athletics right-hander Aaron Civale, who owns one of the worst pitcher ratings on the slate. He also grades poorly in matchup ISO, wOBA, hard contact, strikeout rate, and ground ball rate.
Through 15 starts, Civale has allowed 8 first-inning runs, with opposing hitters slashing .339/.382/.548 with a .931 OPS.
Sean Burke gets the ball for the White Sox, and he hasn't exactly been sharp early either. Through 14 starts, he has surrendered 9 first-inning runs, with opponents hitting .309 with a .473 SLG and .800 OPS.
I think this is a great spot for early runs, but I'm leaning toward the White Sox being the team that gets us to the window.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CHSN, NBCSCA
Diamondbacks at Dodgers: NRFI (-112)
This could get sweaty, but that's the beauty of the NRFI. Both the Diamondbacks and Dodgers have gone cold offensively over their last 6 games, with each posting a wRC+ below 85, a wOBA under .295, and an OPS below .660. I think the NRFI is in play here.
Shohei Ohtani takes the ball for the Dodgers against a Diamondbacks lineup that doesn't feature a single elite or strongly rated hitter in Batters-Box's current season ratings. On the other side, Eduardo Rodriguez only has to navigate one elite and three strong-rated bats.
I'm willing to sweat out what will likely be a tense bottom of the first.
Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ARID, SNLA
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
NRFI/YRFI picks: 14-4, +6.5 units
What is a NRFI prediction?
NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) picks add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI pick is a prediction that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're predicting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.
A YRFI pick is the exact opposite. You're predicting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.
NRFI and YRFI picks add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for those looking for a quick resolution.
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.
PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 07: Hurston Waldrep #64 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after giving up a three-run home run to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third inning at PNC Park on July 7, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It wouldn’t be a day ending in “y” without a Braves roster move:
The #Braves today reinstated RHP Tyler Kinley from the paternity list and optioned RHP Hurston Waldrep to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Hurston Waldrep’s ongoing recovery has had quite a few twists and turns. Following a pseudo-breakout late last year, after the Braves were out of it and had little to play for other than trying to garner the kind of major league development that Waldrep largely showed (a 68 ERA-, 79 FIP-, and 89 xFIP- in 56 1/3 innings, good for 1.2 fWAR), the right-hander hit the shelf with recovery from an elbow cleanup, and made just a handful of rehab-ish outings in the minors before the Braves promoted him.
His first outing of 2026 was rough with a 3/4 K/BB ratio in two innings of relief, but he and the defense somehow kept the runs off the board. Waldrep then had his first start back, which had a fine enough 4/1 K/BB ratio in five innings… except that it involved a hit-by-pitch and a three-run homer, putting the Braves in a 3-0 hole early. And then, there was his disaster in Pittsburgh, where he hung multiple breaking pitches to Ryan O’Hearn in a blowout loss.
So, the Braves will welcome back Tyler Kinley from his time actively playing papa and go with a somewhat bulkier bullpen for a while.
Mark Bowman reports that the Braves plan to have JR Ritchie start on Sunday. Ritchie’s rookie season is not going particularly well (108/130/116) and he’s been used as a multi-inning-ish reliever fill-in so far in July, but he’ll get another shot to improve this weekend. Personally, I’m not really sure that “Waldrep being really bad on balance after three outings” is markedly worse for the team’s immediate-term outlook than “Ritchie being sub-replacement on balance after ten outings,” but my hope is that the Braves can go Johnny Wholestaff in that game anyway and not have to worry about which of their young arms potentially implodes either way.
Less than 24 hours after Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly accidentally leaked the MLB home run leader's plans to participate in the event, Schwarber announced on Friday, July 10 through the Phillies' social media pages that he will compete in the event for the third time in his career.
"I'm glad he's doing it, especially in Philly. Him and Kyle both, right?" Mattingly said when asked by a reporter about his thoughts on Harper participating in the Home Run Derby following the Phillies' 1-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds on July 9.
With Schwarber participating in the Home Run Derby, it not only gives the event another marquee name in the field, but it also marks his first time in the event since 2022. He first competed in the Home Run Derby in 2018 as a member of the Chicago Cubs, where he proceeded to lose to Harper in the finals at Nationals Park.
The Phillies' designated hitter enters the final weekend of the first half of the season with 32 home runs and 58 RBIs, becoming the fastest Phillies hitter to reach 30 home runs on the season — in just 80 games — on Sunday, June 28. He reached the milestone with a go-ahead, two-run home run against the New York Mets at Citi Field.
"It's just been fun to watch," Mattingly said of Schwarber in June when asked by USA TODAY Sports about his power hitter's season during a media availability. "There's been a lot of big ones that either get us early leads or get us back in the game.
"What I really like is that Schwabs is really all about the team and us winning and I think when you stay in that mode of doing something to help your team win. From a leadership position, that's huge because then everybody's in that mode."
The MLB Home Run Derby is set for 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 13 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
The MLB Draft is this weekend in Philadelphia, and there are plenty of mock drafts circulating and predicting who each team is going to take with their first round pick. The Pittsburgh Pirates pick at five in the first round of the draft and there’s a varied opinion on who people think the Buccos will select.
Jonathan Mayo of MLB.con predicts that the Pirates will address their longterm issues at catcher and select one of the best catchers that the college ranks have to offer in Vahn Lackey out of Georgia Tech.
“The Pirates have drafted the best high school position player (Konnor Griffin) and best high school pitcher (Seth Hernandez) in the last two Drafts,” Mayo writes. “If they wanted to go down that road again they could look at Eric Booth Jr. on the hitter side, or Gio Rojas on the mound, but it would be tough to pass on the super-athletic Lackey, the Yellow Jackets’ catcher with a 1.265 OPS, 15 homers and 14 steals.”
The Pirates are certainly in need of a catcher, and having one as athletic as Lackey would be a great grab at fifth overall. Being that he’d be coming out of college it would be assumed that he’d be closer to being pro-ready as well, so if the Pirates go in that direction it may not be long before a player like Lackey would be seeing action in Pittsburgh.
Keith Law of The Athletic thinks that the Pirates could add another strong arm to their pitching staff by taking one of the best college pitching projects in this year’s class. Jackson Flora out of UC Santa Barbara is Law’s pick, after setting school records for most strikeouts in a season.
There’s more that goes into acquiring talent than just the two days of the MLB Draft. Follow along with our Amateur Scouting Series as we bring you to the draft and beyond in a way you’ve never seen before.
“The most opaque team in the top 10, the Pirates would take any of those top three names if one fell here. Buster Posey was the No. 5 pick in 2008, and Vahn Lackey has some similarities in his career arc, although they are not similar players — but that’s probably not happening at pick 5,” Law writes. “Several sources noted that the Pirates have swung big in several drafts now and have a pretty good hit rate, so don’t be surprised if they go for another high-upside pick here.”
ESPN and Bleacher Report both see the Pirates taking one of the top high school prospects in the country. Shortstop Jacob Lombard out of Gulliver Prep High School in Florida has been shooting up mock draft boards as of late, with ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel officially projecting he’ll be a Pirate.
“The Pirates are a lower-payroll team with playoff aspirations, but the college players available aren’t talented enough to move them off the best talent,” McDaniel writes. “In addition, I would only give Lombard to a team with a history of picking and developing players who will need a contact improvement and/or swing tweaks. Konnor Griffin is a nice recent example. Lombard’s profile is similar to that of 2025 No. 4 overall pick Ethan Holliday at the same stage, but with even more athleticism/upside.”
Sports Illustrated Ryan Phillips also predicts that the Pirates will draft a top high school prospect, he just happens to think it’ll be the one from the same home state as the Pirates’ current short stop, Konnor Griffin. Eric Booth Jr. out of Oak Grove High School in Mississippi is looking to be one of the most athletically gifted outfielders in this year’s class and has all the makings of a big league center fielder.
“Flora could be the pick here, but the Pirates like upside and might be able to cut a deal with Booth. That would save money for the three other picks they have in the top 51,” Phillips writes. “At 6’ and 207 pounds, Booth has elite speed, a plus hit tool and good raw power. He’s also a plus fielder in center who will flash an above-average arm. The Vanderbilt commit’s swing can get a bit out of whack as he holds his hands away from his body and moves them up and down as a timing mechanism before he locks them to move to the pitch. He still has good bat-to-ball skills despite that. There’s a lot of upside here with proper development.”
The Pirates and the rest of Major League Baseball will begin the draft on July 11 from the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.
The Houston Astros are healthy -135 favorites against the Texas Rangers on Friday night.
With a massive starting pitching advantage, my Astros vs. Rangers predictions and MLB picks for July 10 believe that line is short and the value lies with the road team.
Who will win Astros vs Rangers today: Astros moneyline (-135)
Injuries have prevented Hunter Brown from being his usual, dominant self. However, he has still pitched well when healthy.
One of the only problems to date is control, and that should be less of an issue against a Texas Rangers team sitting 27th in BB% against righties over the last month.
Cal Quantrill (3.35 ERA, 5.35 FIP) is a prime regression candidate, and the Houston Astros have hit much better of late.
Astros vs Rangers Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-115)
Globe Life Field is extremely pitcher-friendly.
Brown’s ability to limit hard contact, and induce grounders at a high rate, makes him particularly well-equipped to prevent runs.
Scoring should be like pulling teeth for the Rangers, which puts a lot of pressure on the Astros to put up a big number.
They will give Brown enough support to win, but I wouldn’t expect a ceiling performance offensively. For all Quantrill’s faults, he doesn’t give up a ton of hard contact and has limited homers effectively (1.12 HR/9).
There’s enough there to avoid a blowup. Bet to -125.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 54-44, +0.65 units
Over/Under bets: 53-41-4, +7.04 units
Astros vs Rangers weather
The Rangers generally keep the roof closed and temperatures in the low-to-mid 70s. No impact.
Astros vs Rangers odds
Moneyline: Astros -140 | Rangers +120
Run line: Astros -1.5 (+120) | Rangers +1.5 (-140)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-105) | Under 8.5 (-115)
Astros vs Rangers trend
Houston has hit the moneyline in 16 of their last 25 away games (+8.60 units, 33% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Astros vs. Rangers.
How to watch Astros vs Rangers and game info
Location
Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
Date
Friday, July 10, 2026
First pitch
8:05 p.m. ET
TV
Space City Home Network, Rangers Sports Network
Astros starting pitcher
Hunter Brown (1-0, 3.38 ERA)
Rangers starting pitcher
Cal Quantrill (3-1, 3.35 ERA)
Astros vs Rangers latest injuries
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ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild has re-signed defenseman Carson Lambos to a one-year contract, keeping one of the organization's top young blueliners in the fold ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Lambos, 23, was selected by Minnesota with the 26th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and has spent the past several seasons developing with the Iowa Wild.
The left-shot defenseman also made his NHL debut during the 2025-26 season, giving the organization a glimpse of what he could bring at the next level.
With Quinn Hughes, Brock Faber, Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon leading the NHL blue line, with a mix of Olli Maatta, Zach Bogosian and Daemon Hunt to round it out, Lambos will likely continue competing for opportunities while serving as valuable organizational depth.
He remains one of Minnesota's more intriguing defensive prospects and could push for a larger NHL role as the season progresses.
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In the last two seasons, the Montreal Canadiens made the playoffs, and their dominance over their divisional rival, the Florida Panthers, was a big part of that. The Habs have won their last seven games against the Cats. This past season, Montreal outscored Florida 13-7, while the January matchup ended 6-2; the other two games didn’t finish in regulation. The April bout was ultimately decided in a shootout, while the December meeting went into overtime.
Back in 2024-25, the Tricolore played four games against the Panthers and outscored them 14-5. Montreal blanked the Panthers 4-0 in their first matchup of the season, before winning 3-1 at home and 4-2 in Florida in March. They then wrapped up the season series with another triumph, this time at the Bell Centre by a score of 4-2. Back then, Florida was the two-time defending champions and being able to handle them like that was a big confidence builder for the young Habs.
Looking ahead to the 2026-27 season, however, it looks like winning against Paul Maurice’s team won’t be quite that easy. After missing the playoffs last season, there won’t be any bumps or bruises left on the Panthers. Captain Aleksander Barkov sat out the entire season after undergoing knee surgery on both his ACL and his MCL, but he’ll be back with a vengeance.
Barkov won’t be the only addition, though; Bill Zito was able to add some more sandpaper to a team that hardly needed any more when Brady Tkachuk essentially fell into his lap after forcing his way out of Ottawa. The younger Tkachuk will join big brother Matthew and effective pest Brad Marchand, who’s just not slowing down despite being 38 years old. Last season, he put up 54 points in just 52 games; one can wonder if he would have kept up the same pace in 82 games, but it’s far from impossible that he would have. As for the older Tkachuk, he played only 31 games due to an injury, but he still put up 34 points. Those are three players who know how to get under your skin, and it will take a lot of self-control not to fall victim to their antics.
On July 1, they also added some depth at center, signing former Hab Lars Eller to a one-year deal at just $850,000. He may not put up many points, but he’s an effective player on both sides of the puck and highly responsible defensively. Since they knew they couldn’t afford to sign A.J. Greer to a new contract, they traded for Garnet Hathaway, who will replace Greer’s physicality, though he’s unlikely to be as productive.
On the blueline, Zito added even more physicality by signing Radko Gudas as a free agent. He may only be a third-pairing guy, but he knows how to lay down the boom effectively and punish his opponent’s forwards. Just like Marchand, Zito signed him to a long-term contract he probably has no hope of playing through, but it allowed the Panthers to spread out the money they have to pay him, bringing his cap hit down to just $1.5 million.
The offseason isn’t over yet, though, and the Cats have only $1,221,786 in cap space while still needing to sign a backup goaltender. They didn’t re-sign Sergei Bobrovsky, but they traded for Jacob Markstrom, who has a $6 million cap hit over the next two seasons. While he’ll be looking for a bounce-back season after only winning 23 games with a 3.07 goals-against average and a .883 save percentage, he has won his last four games against the Habs.
The Cats have also acquired goaltender Akira Schmid from the Vegas Golden Knights, but he’s an RFA right now and has filed for arbitration. The hearings are set to take place from July 20th to August 1st, so they should get some clarity on the net front sooner rather than later. Depending on the result, Zito may be forced to make another move as teams are allowed to go over the cap during the offseason, but they’ll have to be cap-compliant by the time the season starts.
Wherever you look in the Panthers’ lineup, there doesn’t seem to be any weakness. Meanwhile, Kent Hughes has yet to address any of the Canadiens’ needs this offseason. The GM is after a top-six forward (a center wouldn’t go amiss, but the Habs would settle for a winger if he were impactful), a top-four right-shot defenseman, and some more grit for the bottom six.
Of course, the offseason is far from over, but when you compare the Canadiens’ lineup to the Panthers, you get a sense of how much the Habs are missing to really ice a contender. That was also made clear by the Carolina Hurricanes' dominance in their third-round series. Hughes has a lot of futures to trade, but as he has said himself, there aren’t that many rebuilding teams looking for what he’s selling right now. There’s no doubt that this makes his job harder, and with the Canadiens making the Eastern Conference Final last season, other GMs aren’t exactly keen on helping the Habs improve. Still, the GM will need to find a way if he wants his team to keep improving. There’s only so much organic growth can do.
NEW YORK - JULY 5: Buddy Groom #38 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Baltimore Orioles on July 5, 2005 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. The Yankees defeated the Orioles 12-3. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As we move into the summer months of our birthday series here at PSA, we are once again brought to a perhaps lesser known player in the deep history of baseball in the Bronx. Despite that less-than-household-name status, today’s entry highlights a 14-year big league career, an accomplishment in its own right, and a player with an all-time record to call his own. Buddy Groom only had a brief tenure with the Yankees, but throughout the early 1990s and early 2000s, the lefty was a staple in plenty of bullpens.
Wedsel Gary “Buddy” Groom Jr. Born: July 10, 1965 (Dallas, TX) Yankees Tenure: 2005
Wedsel Gary Groom, born in Dallas 61 years ago, did his college pitching two hours south in Belton at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. The left-handed hurler made enough of a name for himself there to earn selection in the 12th round of the 1987 Draft, a pick made by the White Sox.
Before he could work his way all the way through Chicago’s minor league system, he was traded to the Tigers, where he would finally break into the big leagues. He’d pitch there for three seasons, with mostly forgettable returns, and would eventually be dealt to the Marlins mid-year in ‘95, his first season with a fuller workload. Still, ERA marks above seven don’t move the needle much.
Groom signed with the Athletics prior to the 1995 season, and would pitch four full seasons with the A’s. His first year there was his best, when he posted a 3.84 ERA in a career-high 77.1 innings of work. Most notably, his tenure in Oakland established him as a durable left-handed option out of the ‘pen. His four years there marked the beginning of seven consecutive seasons in which he would make 70 or more appearances on the mound. From 1996-2002, Groom’s 511 appearances were the third most in all of baseball.
The reliever’s scenery changed for the 2000 season, when he signed with the Orioles, beginning a four-season run in Baltimore. His 2002 season with the O’s was by far the best of his career, when he posted a sparkling 1.60 ERA across 62 innings of work. One of the fun things about relief pitching, is that sometimes a guy can just find it, and clearly Groom did so during that ‘02 campaign.
The lefty pitched with Baltimore through the 2004 season, before hitting free agency once again in the following offseason. In February of 2005, Groom signed with the Yankees to pitch in the Bronx for his age-39 season.
Now in his late-30s, Groom’s stuff had diminished, and he only pitched 25.2 innings across 24 appearances for the Yankees to begin the season. Not necessarily bad, but a 4.91 ERA and an unimpressive strikeout rate makes it awfully difficult to stick around in any big-league bullpen. At the end of July, Groom was designated for assignment by the Yankees, and eventually sent off the the Diamondbacks. The 23 appearances he would make for Arizona in 2005 would be the final of his career, as it marked the end of a solid 14-year career, during which his left arm was called upon more than almost any other’s.
Despite the lack of accolades on his resume, it would be far from fair to call Groom’s career insignificant. He led the league in pitching appearances in 1999 with 76, and is the all-time leader in games played without ever taking an at-bat in the majors. Beyond all else, Groom was depended on for nearly a decade and a half as a dependable lefty out of the bullpen, an asset almost any team would sign up for.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
D.J. Short
COVERS INTEL: Rodriguez 
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- Astros vs. Rangers YRFI
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- Athletics vs. White Sox YRFI
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- Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers NRFI
