MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 08: Pete Fairbanks #29 and Joe Mack #80 of the Miami Marlins embrace after defeating the Seattle Mariners at loanDepot park on July 08, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I think about the 2023 Texas Rangers a lot. (Wait, isn’t this daily question post supposed to be about the Marlins? Yes, bear with me.) Not because they won the World Series. (Did they win the World Series? I have no idea.) But because of this:
The 2023 Rangers were, before the season, projected as an 82-win team, fourth in their division. Though their talent level changed over the course of the season, the swing was more like two wins (to an 84-win talent level).
At the same time, these same Rangers finished second in MLB in position player fWAR and 20th in pitching fWAR, with a whopping 97ish WAR-wins. They did outhit their xwOBA by a bit, and benefited from an FIP lower than their xFIP by a bit, but nothing dramatic or even that notable.
They finished with 90 wins.
So, it was kind of a weird double-whammy. They finished notably better than their talent level, but notably worse than their production. And usually, those two italicized things also line up, so it was kind of a mis-triangulation in a bunch of different directions slash along a bunch of different axes. Hence, that squad living rent-free in my head.
As of right now, the 2026 Miami Marlins are tied with the Phillies record-wise, both three games behind the Braves. The Fish and Phils hold the final two Wild Card spots in the NL, now up two games on the Cardinals.
The Marlins…
Were projected, preseason, with a central estimate of 76 wins. Their talent level estimation has barely gone up over the course of the season (to around 77 wins).
They are currently sixth in position player value and tenth in pitching value. Their current WAR-wins total is 50; the Marlins have 51 actual wins.
They have the league’s second-biggest xwOBA outperformance (after the Rockies), but also the league’s second-lowest HR/FB on the pitching end (which is probably park-aided, but then see the xwOBA outperformance).
So, it’s not exactly the same as the 2023 Rangers. But you can see why I’m going there. Are the Marlins good? They have had incredible production to date, but they’re 21st in team xwOBA and 15th in team xFIP. That combination of average-to-bottom-third is in line with a high 70s-win team (i.e., their projection central estimate). Meanwhile, the Marlins are on pace for 89 wins. If they keep it up, it’ll be a wild ride.
But, all of that is just a bunch of information. The Marlins’ outperformance could cease and they could regress, or it could keep up and give the Braves, Phillies, and other NL contenders a headache. Or, they could actually start playing better and become more 2023 Rangers-esque.
Do you think they’ll pass the Phillies this season? What about the Braves? I don’t necessarily mean when all is said and done, just… can they keep their run up enough to do so, even temporarily? They’ve lost just eight times in the last five-and-a-half weeks, which is quite an April/May 2026 Braves heater.
Since completing their home sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates in early June, the Atlanta Braves are 8-17, winning exactly one series over that span.
But they can change that tune Thursday afternoon, somewhat fittingly against the Pirates.
After a beatdown loss in Game 1 and a late scoring surge in a shutout win in Game 2, the Braves close out their series in Pittsburgh Thursday at 12:35 p.m. ET before heading to St. Louis for a weekend series.
If they’re going to win a series and begin to trend back in the right direction, a strong performance on the mound from Bryce Elder would set them on that path.
The right-hander’s 5-6 record and 4.01 ERA are certainly not representative of his recent form. He’s been off since June 27, skipped once through the order after some serious struggles of late.
After he had a 5-3 record and 2.66 ERA through his first 14 starts, he’s lost his last three starts, allowing a combined 19 runs on 27 hits over 14 innings. Opposing teams had a .313 batting average and 1.61 WHIP against Elder in June, with 35 hits and 24 runs allowed in 26 2/3 innings.
Maybe another start against the Pirates will be what he needs to take a step back in the right direction. His last effective start came against Pittsburgh in Atlanta, allowing two runs on two hits over six innings. At that time, that was his 10th quality start in 14 total starts this season.
Suffice it to say, he hasn’t had close to another one of those since.
In his career against Pittsburgh, Elder is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA over four starts, striking out 26 and walking five over 24 innings.
He’ll be facing off against Pittsburgh right-hander Mitch Keller. In the Pirates’ pre-Paul Skenes era, Keller was someone who seemed like a possible future ace for them. The former second-round pick was an All-Star in 2023 and had an ERA of 4.25 or better in each of the last four seasons.
This season, though, has been more of a struggle for Keller, now 30, who enters with a 6-6 record and 5.02 ERA, his worst since his first 100-inning season in 2021.
Like Elder, he had a stellar ERA early in the season that has taken a hit of late. In his six starts since June began, he’s 1-4 with a 6.47 ERA, 23 strikeouts and 13 walks in 32 innings. While his skid really began in his last start of May, he wasn’t very good back on June 5 at Atlanta, allowing six runs — tied for his second most this season — on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings.
That’s basically in line with Keller’s track record against the Braves. He has a 1-4 record and 7.85 ERA in eight career starts against Atlanta.
After Atlanta was so incredible in rubber matches early in the year, winning eight of their first nine, they’ve lost their last four deciding games of series.
This presents another chance to end that drought and build back some momentum with both the Phillies and Marlins only three games back in the NL East.
May 31, 2025; Oxford, MS, USA; Georgia Tech Yellowjackets catcher Vahn Lackey (25) reacts after stealing second base during the first inning against the Murray State Racers. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Thanks to a disastrous 2025 season, the Twins are set to draft a soon-to-be top MLB prospect with the 3rd overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft this weekend. It is their highest draft pick since 2017 when they selected Royce Lewis with the 1st overall pick, and their last two top 3 picks before that were Byron Buxton and Joe Mauer. Not bad! It goes without saying that a pick of this significance will have massive implications on the future of the Minnesota Twins franchise. As we approach draft day, I took a little dive into the top prospects in this draft class and ranked my top 5 hopefuls for the Twins if they are available at 3. Enjoy!
1. SS Roch Cholowsky – UCLA
Roch Cholowsky has been the top prospect in this year’s draft for a while, but doubts are rising as the draft approaches, with some scouts opting to push Grady Emerson or Vahn Lackey to the top spot. They are all phenomenal prospects of course, but as a gold glove caliber shortstop with an all-around great offensive profile, Roch stays put at the top for me.
He had a more slender build when MLB Pipeline ranked him as the No. 44 prospect in the 2023 draft out of high school. Instead, Cholowsky went to UCLA and was able to beef up without losing the athletic profile. Meanwhile, he was producing at an elite level the entire time. He combines a short and well-controlled swing with excellent bat speed and some loft that allows him to carry the ball out consistently to all fields. There is a little more aggression in his approach that will have to be monitored as he begins his pro career, but it is an elite combo of hit and power.
Defensively, Roch has a cannon arm that consistently produces highlight throws when he’s on the move or deep in the gap. While he’s an average runner, he is incredibly smart and instinctual, which shows up both in the field and on the bases. Excellent range and defensive actions are pushing Cholowsky’s defense into elite-level shortstop talks.
While it is still highly unlikely that he is available when Minnesota is on the clock, the chances have grown, and he should be a shoo-in for the No. 3 pick if he still happens to be on the board. The Twins have lacked true shortstop prospects in recent years but would move into an excellent spot with Cholowsky and Houston, while Culpepper sits on the border. It would set them up for a future level of infield defense that we have not seen from this team in a long time. And oh yeah, Roch can hit the crap out of the ball too!
Vahn Lackey has been highly touted throughout his college years for his excellent backstop defense, but back-to-back breakout years at the plate have thrown him into “best player in college baseball” territory.
There are a lot of moving parts in his swing, including a big leg kick and stride out. He loads his hands early and has a powerful, yet easy drive through the zone. Doesn’t miss a fastball, but I worry about his ability to adjust to offspeed given how much pre-swing movement there is. His contact skills have looked good in college and his swing decisions have improved nicely over the past few years, but I do think there could be some more whiff as he moves into the pros. Still, it’s an above-average hit tool with plus power potential.
Lackey is a unique catcher with an impressive athletic profile. He stole 18 bags in 2025 and 15 more in 2026. He possesses excellent quickness at the catcher position, moving laterally and blocking with ease. He has a plus arm with a lightning-quick trigger.
Its a plus catching profile with the tools to be a high-end bat, and the continued development makes me hopeful that there is even more in the tank. He may get pushed through the minors a little slower than fans would hope to allow the bat to continue developing, but the defense is already looking great. It’s a high floor, high ceiling player. The Twins haven’t drafted a catcher anywhere in the first round since Joe Mauer, but Vahn Lackey is the odds-on favorite to become Minnesota’s first selection of the weekend and he absolutely has the talent to warrant that.
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) May 31, 2026
3. SS Grady Emerson – Fort Worth Christian (HS)
Looking through clips of Grady Emerson’s swing on Twitter is fun because I watch them and say “wow that swing is beautiful” and then realize that it’s a post from 2023 when he had just entered high school. Emerson has been at the top of this class ever since scouts laid eyes on him.
His swing is so smooth. So simple and efficient in his load, gliding through the zone with some good loft and impressive bat speed. Emerson batted .532 with some solid power and was nearly impossible to strike out while showing off an incredibly mature approach. He’s a very well-rounded hitter with an easy plus hit tool, an advanced approach, and developing power.
Defensively, Grady is above-average across the boards and possesses a unique fluidity that pushes his shortstop defense into plus territory. Great instincts give him easy range and he pairs it with fluid actions and an above-average arm.
There is always more uncertainty about how high school prospects will mature physically. You can project a certain amount of added power, but it’s difficult to be certain about it, and you never know what some added muscle will do to their movement. I feel comfortable slotting Emerson in with an above-average power tool, but its not quite on Roch’s level and there is a more limited defensive ceiling. He gives me some Jackson Holliday vibes. An uber-polished high school hitter that will fly through the minors, but may not quite have that truly elite ceiling.
Grady Emerson may not be on the board very long 👀@CarlosACollazo has heard Emerson sounds like a strong fit for both the Rays and Twins in the top three.
Just one year after Tyler Bremner shot up the boards and went 2nd overall, another UCSB arm in Jackson Flora is slated to end up in the top 5. With a 1.06 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 102 innings this season, the hype is absolutely warranted.
Flora is 6’5” with long levers and some freakish arm speed. Its a whippy arm action and a lower release point. His fastball sits 96-98 and has touched triple digits. With good carry, its already an easy plus offering with potential to be one of the best fastballs in the world. He has a pair of plus breaking balls, one in the mid 80s and the other in the low 80s, both displaying some wicked sweep with huge whiff potential. His changeup has developed nicely this year, and while he is still finding the feel for command, the pitch is now flashing plus splittler-like depth.
He is a good strike-thrower, but the whippy arm motion may expose some weaknesses in command as he faces off against more talented hitters in the pros. He holds his velocity and stuff well throughout starts and has ace potential that we could see in the majors as soon as 2027. Given the three hitters at the top of charts, Flora is sitting comfortably in the No. 4 spot, but he is absolutely in play at pick 3 or even higher if one of these teams wants to go the pitching route.
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) May 15, 2026
5. OF Drew Burress – Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech’s superstar turned into a running mate this year with Vahn Lackey’s breakout, but Drew Burress has been unbelievably productive for the Yellow Jackets since the day he stepped on campus. If you just looked at the home run totals and exit velocities, you would be shocked to see that Burress is just 5’9” with a pretty compact build. Likewise, if you only looked at his height and weight, you would be shocked to find out that he is Georgia Tech’s all-time home run leader.
He packs a punch in his big and lofty swing. He starts his swing standing straight up and has a sizable stride out, but a minimal hand load keeps him on time as he explodes out with quick, twitchy hands. All throughout college, Burress has posted excellent contact rates against fastballs, but has had issues adjusting to secondaries. Still, he maintains a solid hit tool and patient approach, allowing him to maximize his power output, which is plus raw pop with elite pulled fly ball rates.
Defensively, he manned centerfield for Georgia Tech, showing off good range and a plus arm. He’s not an elite defender out there and will likely end up in a corner, but is a capable centerfielder. Not an aggressive base-stealer in college, but a good runner and all-around impressive athlete.
It is mostly a 3-man race between Cholowsky, Lackey, and Emerson for Minnesota at pick 3, and if the Twins decide to go another direction, I would be shocked if they choose to add to their already overcrowded outfield group. Still, the dynamite bat that Drew Burress swings is going to intrigue some teams at the top of the draft and for good reason.
Georgia Tech CF Drew Burress is proving that size doesn’t always matter and is arguably the best pure hitter in the 2026 draft. Numerous EVs >115 MPH. 37% PullAir, 20° HH LA. Outlier combo of raw+game power along with 11% Z-Whiff. I think he sticks in CF. 3rd on my college board. pic.twitter.com/O8YOQUMbI4
The Twins obviously do not control their own destiny here, so its a wait-and-see game. If Roch Cholowsky is on the board at pick 3, I would take him with no hesitation. I’d be ecstatic to get Vahn Lackey as well. If those two are both gone when the Twins are on the clock, I think there is a conversation to be had about Flora. I would still take Emerson at 3, but I can see the vision with the flamethrowing righty. At this point, I don’t believe that any other option is in play for Minnesota. There is a lot of pressure that comes with a pick of this importance, but all of these guys have superstar potential and any of them could bust. Given the insane talent in each of these players, the Twins are getting a franchise cornerstone type of asset no matter what.
The Cubs’ 9-7 win over the Orioles Wednesday evening, their third straight and 18th in their last 24, had a little bit of everything the 2026 season to date has provided.
Lots of homers? Check.
Some great defense? Check.
Some dodgy relief work, pointing out the need for bullpen improvements? Double-check, because the Cubs came close to blowing a six-run seventh-inning lead, yikes.
All right, since that didn’t happen, let’s begin at the beginning.
That was a tremendous catch by Taylor Ward. It’s not totally clear from the clip, but Ward might have stolen a home run from Bregman. At least Bregman is starting to drive the ball again. Good things should follow.
Pretty, pretty cool, I’d say. PCA’s going to be a candidate for Player of the Week again if he keeps this up. One more fact about PCA’s third-inning homer from BCB’s JohnW53:
The Cubs went 157 plate appearances without a homer from the last of the eight vs. the Padres on July 1 until Pete Crow-Armstrong’s in the third inning Wednesday night.
The Orioles tied the game off Colin Rea in the bottom of the third, scoring a run on a double play. Then Rea gave up a two-run homer to Pete Alonso in the fourth that gave Baltimore a 3-1 lead. For Alonso it was his 16th career homer off Cubs pitching, the most off any team not in the NL East, where he used to make his home.
The Cubs came roaring back to take the lead in the fifth with three more long balls of their own.
Two pitches, two runs, pretty efficient! More on these two homers from John:
The homers by Michael Conforto and Carson Kelly were just the Cubs’ second back-to-back blasts this season. The previous pair were by Alex Bregman and Ian Happ on March 29, at home vs. the Natiionals.
The Cubs hit 16, 12, 20, 10 and 10 pairs in the last five seasons. They have homered back-to-back 408 times in the regular season since 1876, plus 11 sets of back-to-back-to-back, for a total of 419 sets of consecutive homers.
Rea was removed with one out in the sixth with another decent outing, the only real mistake the home run pitch to Alonso. Drew Pomeranz finished up the sixth without incident and then the Cubs blew the game open — or so we thought! — with a five-run seventh.
With one out, Carson Kelly walked and Dansby Swanson singled. The O’s called on Grant Wolfram, who had faced 113 batters before this game and walked four of them. Of course that meant he walked the first hitter he faced, PCA. (And you think the Cubs have bullpen issues. Well, yes, they do, but so do a lot of other teams!)
The sac fly made it 5-3, and both trailing runners moved up. Michael Busch walked to load the bases again — that means within three batters, Wolfram had walked half as many as he had for the entire season before this game.
This was Grant Wolfram’s night to do stuff he hadn’t done all year. Before this game he had not allowed a single home run, as noted, among 113 batters faced. That streak reached 116 with the three batters faced in this game up to this point.
The Cubs had a six-run lead heading to the bottom of the eighth. You would think that would be enough.
My friends, it almost wasn’t. Pomeranz, left in to throw the seventh, allowed a home run to Tyler O’Neill that made it 9-4, and then two more singles before he was replaced with Trent Thornton. Thornton finished off the inning, but not before he gave up an RBI single, the run charged to Pomeranz. Still, it’s 9-5 going to the eighth. What could possibly…
Don’t finish that question and don’t answer it. Two more O’s homers off Caleb Thielbar — who’s really not having a good year at all — made it 9-7. That included O’Neill’s second homer of the game, and the fourth Orioles long ball to add to the Cubs’ five homers on the evening. And things could have been worse. After the homers, with two out Jackson Holliday doubled, bringing Gunnar Henderson to the plate as the potential tying run.
But could the Cubs record three outs in the ninth without giving up two runs?
Well, you now know the answer to that. Jacob Webb, who’s done a decent job filling in as closer for Daniel Palencia, recorded the first two outs of the ninth, both ground balls, on just four pitches. Then he ran a 1-2 count on Alonso… at which time some idiot ran onto the field. As is normal policy for TV channels, Marquee correctly didn’t show this, though Boog and JD said this person was wearing Cubs garb. Don’t do that. Just don’t. Seriously.
For Webb, that was his, uh, team-leading fourth save. So, yay?
Sure, yay. Someone’s got to do the job. But clearly, in addition to needing some rotation help, the Cubs need bullpen reinforcements. Some might come when injured relievers (including Palencia) return. But Jed Hoyer should also be exploring the trade market for relief pitchers.
One last note, this one on the Cubs’ five-homer game, from John:
After hitting five home runs in a 6-0 win over the Red Sox at Wrigley Field on July 19, 2025, the Cubs did not hit five again in 149 consecutive game. Now they have done it in three of their last seven: five on June 30, eight on July 1 and five vs. the Orioles — with none in the four games between the last two.
The Cubs picked up a game on the Brewers, who lost Wednesday to the Cardinals, and trail Milwaukee by six games, while still leading the third-place Cardinals by 3.5 games. The Cubs also lead the Phillies by 1.5 games for the top wild card spot.
All’s well that ends well, though, and the Cubs continue to find ways to win. They’ll go for the series sweep Thursday afternoon — and that’s a change, the game’s been moved up to 12:35 p.m. CT due to impending weather in Baltimore Thursday evening, as noted here last night. David Peterson gets the start for the Cubs and Trevor Rogers goes for the O’s. TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network and the BCB game preview will post at 11 a.m. CT.
The Calgary Flames have reached a point where their biggest challenge is no longer finding defensive talent — it is figuring out how to fit everyone into the picture.
After an aggressive offseason reshaping the blue line, Calgary suddenly has a crowded group filled with NHL experience, young talent, and high-end upside. Unfortunately for Hunter Brzustewicz, that growth creates a difficult reality: barring unforeseen circumstances, he may be the odd man out.
General manager Craig Conroy has been one of the busiest executives in the NHL over the past four months, and the Flames’ offseason activity has only accelerated that trend.
Calgary landed 22-year-old right-shot defenseman Simon Nemec from the New Jersey Devils in a trade that sent three draft picks and Etienne Morin to New Jersey, adding a young defenseman who already possesses significant NHL experience and top-four potential.
The Flames continued building for the future at the NHL Draft, selecting defenseman Carson Carels sixth overall. The highly regarded prospect is projected by many to develop into a top-pairing NHL blueliner down the road.
Then, Calgary added more stability to its current roster by acquiring Jake Middleton from the Minnesota Wild as part of the Blake Coleman trade, bringing another reliable veteran presence to the back end.
The result is a defense corps that now features a rare combination of proven NHL players, emerging prospects, and legitimate upside.
That depth is a positive development for the organization — but it also creates a difficult situation for Brzustewicz.
The 20-year-old defenseman has shown plenty of promise, but the reality of professional hockey is that talent alone does not guarantee opportunity. Sometimes, circumstances dictate that a player has to wait, take another path, or become part of a larger transaction.
Conroy has several options available.
The most aggressive route would be exploring a trade and using Brzustewicz as a potential piece to acquire help elsewhere, particularly down the middle. It would be a ruthless decision, but that's the nature of building a competitive team. Organizations constantly have to make difficult choices between developing young players and adding pieces that can accelerate their path toward playoff contention.
The Flames could also look to move him for additional draft capital. Calgary has been stockpiling picks like they’re preparing for a nuclear war. And if that day ever came, Calgary would probably be one of the better-prepared organizations in the NHL.
All jokes aside, the draft-pick surplus gives Conroy another avenue to explore if he decides Brzustewicz is no longer part of the long-term plan.
However, the best decision may simply be allowing Brzustewicz to continue developing in the AHL.
Rather than forcing him into an NHL role where his minutes could be limited, giving him the opportunity to play major minutes, refine his game, and gain confidence could be the most beneficial path forward.
At this stage of his career, ice time matters more than simply being around an NHL roster.
For Brzustewicz, the challenge is not proving he belongs in the organization. It is finding the environment where he can continue becoming the player Calgary believes he can be.
Less than a month after winning the NBA championship, the Knicks will be back on a basketball court -- well, at least a few players on the actual team.
New York’s Summer League roster, which features roster players Mohamed Diawara, Dillon Jones and Pacome Dadiet will give the club a chance to evaluate their younger talent and potential training camp and G-League invites.
The Knicks begin Summer League on Friday night with a matchup against the Nets -- let’s look at four players to track during the July exhibition games.
Mohamed Diawara
One of the pleasant surprises of last season was the emergence of Diawara. A late second-round pick, the 6-foot-9 forward was in New York’s rotation for parts of the season and showed flashes on both ends of the floor.
With a 7-foot-4 wingspan, Diawara can defend multiple positions and cover a lot of ground in help coverages.
Offensively, he has potential as a ball-handler and good vision as a passer. Diawara’s also been a better shooter than expected, converting 36.9 percent of his 130 three-point attempts last season. He was open on the lion's share of the attempts, so there’s still work to do to garner respect from opposing defenses.
Still, the signs of a legitimate contributor were there for the 21-year-old, and that impressive play led to the Knicks locking him up on a multi-year deal this offseason. Summer League should be an opportunity for Diawara to show that he can handle a larger role and do more as a scorer and secondary playmaker.
Pacome Dadiet
In what will be his third Summer League, Dadiet’s continued development will be something to keep an eye on.
A 2024 first-round pick, the soon-to-be 21-year-old wing has barely played in two seasons. Dadiet saw just 136 minutes of action in his second season. He did show promise in the G-League, averaging 23.2 points on 46.6 percent shooting in 15 Westchester games, but he still has work to do to improve as a perimeter shooter, ball-handler and passer.
The Knicks already have three wings in OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart who play a considerable amount of minutes. Diawara also passed Dadiet on the depth chart.
New York will have to decide whether to exercise the fourth year team option of Dadiet’s rookie scale deal around training camp, so this might be the last real shot for him to impress ahead of that future fork in the road.
Tyler Nickel
Picked 47th overall in this year’s draft, Nickel already has one sure fire skill -- he was one of the best shooters in college basketball, and has a lightning-quick release. In his last two seasons at Vanderbilt, Nickel shot 191-for-475 (40.2 percent) from the three-point line. Standing 6-foot-6, he’s also showcased an ability to move well off the ball.
There are a few weaknesses in Nickel’s game to evaluate during Summer League, though.
He competes on defense, but lacks premium foot speed -- it will be important to see if Nickel can contain defenders on the perimeter and not allow easy drives into the paint. On offense, the focus will be on if he can attack closeouts, put the ball on the floor, and either create his own shot, or make plays for his teammates.
There’s a chance Nickel could earn one of three available two-way contracts or possibly compete for a standard NBA contract with the Knicks, it just depends on how the front office decides to fill out the roster.
After signing Andre Drummond, the Knicks have 12 roster spots filled. There’s a chance the team adds two more veterans to get to the minimum of 14 standard contracts, rather than going young.
Dillon Jones
There’s a couple of compelling invites to the Knicks’ Summer squad, including St. John’s guard Oziyah Sellers, but let’s focus on Dillon Jones. The former first-round pick could be a two-way candidate for the Knicks next year, and has a fringe chance to earn a full-time spot.
Signed to a two-way deal last season, Jones only played in seven games with the Knicks. The wing showed the ability to fill the stat sheet with Westchester, though, averaging 15.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 18 games.
At 6-foot-5, Jones isn’t tall, but he is strong and uses his sturdy 235-pound frame to finish on drives despite middling athleticism. He’s arguably the best shot creator on this Summer League team.
A two-time NBA champion in his first two NBA seasons, Jones is still trying to find where he fits as a role player.
Can he knock down enough three-pointers at a high clip off the catch? Who does he guard on defense? Can he become more efficient as a shot-maker? Those are some of the questions in the way of the 24-year-old finding a cemented spot on an NBA roster.
Janse van Rensburg, Caluori and Kloska to make debuts
Head coach: ‘My conversations with the RFU are private’
Steve Borthwick says he and his players are also feeling “the hurt and pain” caused by England’s losing streak but has sidestepped questions about his job security if his team are beaten by Fiji on Saturday. The head coach has not tasted victory since early February and will come under significant external pressure should his side slip to a sixth successive Test defeat at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Rangers have been awfully busy this offseason, making numerous moves in free agency and the trade market as they look to turn things around next year.
Chris Drury likely isn’t done yet, but here’s how he’s graded out thus far…
Sent to Vegas: Pick No. 26, 2026 third-round pick, 2028 first-round pick
Drury found the Blueshirts a much-needed reliable scorer in a draft day stunner, bringing in Dorofeyev from the Knights for a trio of picks. He also wasted no time locking him up on a big money seven-year contract extension.
At just 25, Dorofeyev seemingly just keeps getting better. He’s topped the 35-goal mark in each of the past two seasons and added a dozen points to his career-best total last season with the high-powered Golden Knights.
Drury bringing him in without parting with the No. 5 pick was a massive win.
Sent to Boston: 2028 fourth-round pick, LW Kalle Vaisanen
This move was a bit of a shock as the Blueshirts elected to part with a fourth-rounder for a veteran backup goaltender, despite having youngster Dylan Garand on the roster -- him and Korpisalo will now compete for the spot behind Igor Shesterkin.
Korpisalo has finished with a save percentage under .900 the past three seasons in Boston, and he’s under team control with a $4 million cap hit for the next two years.
Even if the team wanted a more experienced backup than Garand, there were cheaper options out there.
Acquired from Utah: D Sean Durzi, C Cole Beaudoin, 2027 third-round pick
Drury elected to keep Trocheck at last year’s deadline hoping for a better return in the summer, and he certainly received that from Utah here.
Parting with a veteran piece in Trocheck is tough but Durzi should slide in on the second pairing of New York’s revamped d-core and Beaudoin gives them a legit top-tier center prospect coming off an 88-point campaign in the OHL.
GRADE: B+
Apr 2, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (16) shoots the puck past Montréal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson (8) in the first period at Madison Square Garden. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Acquired Marcus Pettersson in trade with Canucks
Sent to Vancouver: Conditional 2030 first-round pick (top-10 protected)
Giving up a first-round pick for a 30-year-old blueliner is a bit risky, but Pettersson should help this club right out of the gate. He’s a puck-moving d-man coming off a season in which he recorded 18 points over 82 games with Vancouver.
Petterson is also solid defensively and should help on the penalty-kill. He’s plenty familiar with head coach Mike Sullivan’s system from their time together in Pittsburgh, and is under club control for the next four seasons at a $5.5 million cap hit.
GRADE: B
Traded Will Borgen to Bruins
Acquired from Boston: 2027 second-round pick, conditional 2028 third-round pick
Borgen lost his spot on the Rangers’ second pairing with Petterson and Durzi brought in. Even with his up-and-down time as a Blueshirt, Drury was able to flip him for a pair of early-round picks which is a huge win.
Borgen was due to earn $4.1 million each of the next four years.
Bjorkstrand’s coming off a down season in which he recorded just 32 points in 80 games, but the Rangers are hoping a change of scenery can help him return to form.
The 31-year-old has multiple 20-plus goal seasons under his belt.
Even if the production still isn’t quite there, Bjorkstrand is a reliable righty-shooting middle-six depth option for the Rangers’ forward group on a cheap one-year pact.
Veleno isn’t much of a threat offensively but he fills a big-time need for the Blueshirts, bringing a speedy defensive-minded center for the fourth line.
He won 51.6 percent of his faceoffs last season with the Canadiens.
The Raptors announced Thursday that the trade will not be finalized until the NBA’s probe into Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers is finished.
The NBA has been investigating Leonard and the Clippers for the past 10 months after reports that he received a multi-million endorsement deal with sustainability services company Aspiration in an alleged effort to circumvent league salary cap rules.
Toronto and Los Angeles agreed to a deal involving Leonard last month, with the Raptors receiving Leonard and the Clippers getting Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and several draft picks.
“On June 30, we reached an agreement in principle to trade Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors,” the Clippers said in a statement. “We have since been informed that the trade can only be finalized if the Raptors’ ownership group assumes the risk of penalties related to Kawhi’s contract that could theoretically result from the ongoing investigation. The investigation is ongoing, and we expect the trade to be finalized following its conclusion.
“At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration. We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Like many sophisticated investors, financial institutions, and business partners, we were victims of a fraud initiated by Sanberg, who has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
“We recognize the uncertainty this has created and the impact it has had on our team, our fans, the Raptors organization, their fans, and the players whose futures remain affected while this process continues. We remain confident that, when the facts are evaluated fairly and thoroughly, the NBA will confirm exactly what we have said from the beginning: We have not done what we are accused of doing.”
Despite the holdup, Toronto said it is still committed to completing the trade after the investigation is over.
“The Raptors remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization and our fans,” the team said in a statement.
Leonard, 35, spent the last seven seasons with the Clippers after signing as a free agent in 2019. He played the 2018-19 season with the Raptors before joining the Clippers, leading the team to 58 wins and a championship.
The Tampa Bay Rays are firm -155 moneyline favorites against the New York Yankees today, and my Yankees vs. Rays predictionsare backing them in the series finale.
Drew Rasmussen gives Tampa Bay the clear starting-pitching edge, while New York’s bullpen-game setup asks too much from a staff patching innings together.
My MLB picks for July 9 are also taking the Under behind two run-prevention profiles that limit loud contact.
Who will win Yankees vs Rays today: Rays moneyline (-155)
I’m fading the New York Yankees again, and would play the Tampa Bay Rays moneyline to -165, with a smaller -1.5 play to +122 (bigger edge on the moneyline).
New York is on a bullpen day. The focus is Ryan Yarbrough, and whether he opens or works bulk, the former Ray should play a part.
He has not pitched since July 4 and can cover length, but his 18% strikeout rate meets a Rays lineup with an 86% zone-contact rate. That has been a series-long problem.
Drew Rasmussen adds the cleaner edge with just a 4.5% walk rate against a Yankees lineup needing free traffic.
COVERS INTEL:Rasmussen has allowed only a 6.9% barrel rate, a key matchup point against a Yankees offense leaning on its 10.0% team barrel rate.
Yankees vs Rays Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-103)
I’m taking the Under and would play it to -115.
Rasmussen fits this matchup because of his reliability and contact control. He ranks in the 80th percentile in hard-hit rate and 75th percentile in ground-ball rate, the right mix against a Yankees offense still trying to score through lift and isolated power.
New York’s bullpen day is also set up better than it looks. Several rested arms induce soft contact, which should play against a Tampa Bay lineup with the third-highest ground-ball mark in baseball.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 37-32, +7.77 units
Over/Under bets: 42-29, +17.09 units
Yankees vs Rays weather
Dome.
Yankees vs Rays odds
Moneyline: Yankees +140 | Rays -155
Run line: Yankees +1.5 | Rays -1.5
Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5
Yankees vs Rays trend
The Rays have hit the moneyline in 35 of their last 50 games at home (+15.65 Units / 24% ROI).
How to watch Yankees vs Rays and game info
Location
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Date
Thursday, July 9, 2026
First pitch
1:10 p.m. ET
TV
YES, Rays.TV
Yankees starting pitcher
Ryan Yarbrough (bulk) (0-0, 4.29 ERA)
Rays starting pitcher
Drew Rasmussen (7-4, 2.78 ERA)
Yankees vs Rays 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.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JULY 5: Pitcher Ranger Suarez #55 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 5, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are four games left before the All-Star break next week, and the Red Sox are both riding high winning ten of their last twelve contests, and also kind of desperate to get into the annual summertime stoppage.
For the next two games, the starting rotation is simple. Patrick Sandoval will make his Red Sox debut this afternoon in the finale against the White Sox as the Red Sox go for a sweep, and Sonny Gray is set to go on Friday as he tries to extend his American League lead in pitching wins. After that? Things get dicey.
The issues stem from Connelly Early going on the IL with left elbow discomfort (we’re still waiting for additional clarity there as he’s schedule to see a doctor sometime this week), and Ranger Suarez leaving his last start on Saturday with a groin injury where the severity is uncertain. The good news is Suarez still hasn’t gone on the IL and may be able to go on Saturday, but given how import he is to the rotation both now and going forward with his contract, it also kind of makes sense to just shut him down until the other side of the All-Star break to give him additional time to recover.
If that happens, the Red Sox are left without a starter for Saturday and then have Payton Tolle going on regular rest on Sunday. The Tolle piece of this is also fascinating because ideally you want to keep his innings down this year given he’s never thrown 120 innings in a season and already is beyond 80 this year. Despite pitching on an extra day of rest in Tuesday’s game against Chicago, they actually bumped him up a slot in the rotation to Connelly Early’s spot using the double off days surrounding the Angels series on Thursday and Monday to their advantage. The problem with that is they essentially created an additional Tolle start for the season because that space in the rotation is now slated to land on Sunday instead of falling into the All-Star break.
So on one hand, the Red Sox don’t appear to have anybody that can really go deep on Saturday or Sunday, but on the other hand, they have a really rested bullpen with two recent off days and the rotation pitching extremely well of late. With guaranteed addition rest on the horizon, do the Sox just piggyback everybody in the bullpen in those last two games to try and get to the checkpoint? Does it depend on how deep Sandoval goes today? Do they dare call up Brayan Bello to make a start in a pinch? (Shivers went down my spine as I typed that.) Regardless of how they choose to navigate this chokepoint, they’ve got some pretty compelling decisions coming up in the next 48 to 72 hours.
The good news? Their next opponent is the Mets who are having the season from hell (even for them), so the Sox might be able to get away with a weird pitching arrangement for this series. After that, even more fascinating decisions will come on the other side of the All-Star break when we get a better idea of injury timelines.
Talk about this and whatever else you’d like, and as always, be good to one another.
UNITED STATES - CIRCA 2001: Former New York Yankees' greats Bill (Moose) Skowron, Tex Clevenger, Tom Tresh and Joe DeMaestri (l. to r.) are on hand for annual Old Timer's Day festivities at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees later lost to the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-3. (Photo by Howard Earl Simmons/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) | NY Daily News via Getty Images
When records are being broken, all eyes are on those who break them. But it’s important to remember that in those moments, there are others around witnessing history that have stories to tell. Teammates of Aaron Judge will remember the 2022 season in which he broke Roger Maris’ franchise and AL home run record. No matter how many games they played in a Yankees uniform, they’ll be able to say they saw one of the greats do what he did best day in and day out.
Tex Clevenger was one of those teammates of Maris and Mickey Mantle, who could tell stories from his days playing alongside legends.
Truman “Tex” Eugene Clevenger Born: July 9, 1932 (Visalia, CA) Died: August 24, 2019 (Visalia, CA) Yankees Tenure: 1961-1962
Truman was born in Visalia, California, attended Visalia High School, and then spent three and a half years at Cal State Fresno. He began high school standing 4 feet 11 inches tall and weighing only 86 pounds. He did not play his first year due to the coaching staff’s concern about his stature, but a new coach – Hank Viden – came on in his sophomore year and said that anyone who wanted to play baseball would be allowed to play. Clevenger was initially playing in the outfield, but when Viden came to the team and asked if anyone wanted to volunteer to pitch, Clevenger raised his hand and was given his start on the mound.
He was signed by the Boston Red Sox on June 9, 1953, after a scout named Tom Downey saw him throw his second no-hitter for the Fresno Bulldogs against the College of the Pacific. In the game, he struck out 20 hitters and went 6-for-6 at the plate with three triples, two singles, and a double.
When the Red Sox signed him, other teams made their own bids, and three reportedly offered more money. But Clevenger saw an opportunity not just to make the major leagues down the line, but also to work on his arsenal, specifically his curveball. He knew that to make it in Major League Baseball one day, he would need to develop a major weapon in his pitch mix. Clevenger got his wish and began his pro career with the Red Sox organization in 1953, he went 16–2 with a 1.51 ERA and 157 strikeouts over 155.0 innings. As a result, the 1953 California League MVP Award.
After his almost-perfect minor league season, Clevenger trained with the Red Sox in Sarasota, Florida, in the spring of 1954. He was sent to the Triple-A Louisville Colonels to begin the year. He was called up just a week later, before the season began, receiving praise from the Red Sox coaching staff as an excellent prospect. However, they were hesitant to rush him in the major leagues, fearing it might stunt his development.
It was clear that Clevenger was close to being ready, but he wasn’t quite there just yet. In 23 games pitched in 1954 (eight started), he finished the season with a 2-4 record and 4.79 ERA in 67.2 innings. His first major league game came against the Philadelphia Athletics on April 18, 1954. He pitched an inning without allowing a hit or a walk.
Clevenger was sent back down to Louisville and received more playing time there, spending the entire 1955 season with the Colonels. He started 21 games and pitched 39 total, finishing with a 9-13 record and a 3.77 ERA, including nine complete games.
The same happened in 1956 after Clevenger was traded to the Washington Senators. The Red Sox pulled the trigger on a nine-player deal that sent him to Washington, and he initially started the season with the major league club, taking the mound in 20 games, of which only one was a start. His time in the majors was, once again, nothing to write home about. In those 20 appearances, he pitched 31.1 innings and posted a 5.40 ERA before being sent back to Louisville, which had become the Senators’ Triple-A team after their time with the Red Sox. He posted a 5.94 ERA and a 2-11 record over 103.0 innings, including a nine-game losing streak individually at one point.
The 1956 season would not be the last that he saw in the minor leagues, but it would be for a handful of years. In 1957, Clevenger pitched the most innings of his major league career (139.2), added another two complete games to his major league resume, and saw a significant decrease in his ERA (4.19). And in 1958, his ERA ticked up to 4.35, but he actually led the AL in appearances that season with 55.
Clevenger would remain primarily a reliever for the Senators in 1959 and 1960, where over 246.0 innings pitched, he posted a 4.06 ERA (including the first and only ERA under 4.00 and ERA+ over 100 in his entire major league career in a season where he pitched over 50.0 innings), an ERA+ of 98, and a FIP of 3.79. But 1960 would be his last in a Senators uniform, as an upcoming expansion draft would require Washington to make some hard roster decisions. Clevenger was not one of the players protected, and the newly introduced Los Angeles Angels selected him with the seventh overall pick.
However, his time in the City of Angels was short-lived, as he appeared in only 12 games before being traded to the Yankees in early May, despite not allowing an earned run in his first seven outings and maintaining a 1.69 ERA at the time of the trade. The Angels believed they could get more out of who they received, particularly right-hander Ryne Duren (who we profiled back in February).
The Yankees, according to reports of the time, had been looking to acquire Clevenger for some time while he was with the Senators, but they never made the move until he was with the Angels.
So, in 1961, when Mantle and Maris were setting their own records of 54 and 61 home runs, Clevenger was in the bullpen for it all. He pitched in 21 games, finished with a 1-1 record and a 4.83 ERA over 31.2 innings, putting his season total at a 3.78 ERA over just 47.2 innings pitched. The Yankees won the pennant and advanced to the World Series to face the Cincinnati Reds, but Clevenger did not see any playing time in the five-game series, which the Yankees won.
The 1962 season was a different year, same story. Manager Ralph Houk expressed faith in Clevenger, but he threw him out on the mound for only 21 games, and that was after the right-hander started the year with the Triple-A Richmond Virginians. After closer Luis Arroyo was put on the DL due to elbow inflammation, Clevenger had the chance to show his stuff. But it was to no avail, as despite the best ERA of his career (2.84) in 38.0 innings, he did not see action in a World Series that went seven games against the San Francisco Giants.
Overall in his career, Clevenger compiled a 36–37 record with a 4.18 ERA, 298 walks and 361 strikeouts. Oddly enough, perhaps his best season was his last those 21 games with the 1962 Yankees.
Clevenger was sent back to Richmond for the 1963 season and pitched well. He thought it was well enough to find a spot on another major league team, but no one came calling, and after another season in the minors, he looked ahead to 1964, which would have been more of the same. After that, Clevenger decided it was time to call it quits, and he became an insurance underwriter for Mutual of New York back home in Visalia until 1964, when he purchased a car dealership, which he owned until it was sold in 1995.
After being inducted into the Fresno State Athletics Hall of Fame and having his number retired, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2008 and died due to the disease in August 24, 2019.
An excellent collegiate player who struggled to stick in the majors but witnessed some of the best moments in Yankees history, Clevenger may not be the most recognizable name. Still, it’s players like him that helped contribute on the side while the likes of Maris, Mantle, and Berra plied their trade. Happy birthday, Tex!
Jul 8, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets second baseman Brett Baty (7) reacts after scoring in the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets rallied for five runs with two outs in the eighth inning to win 6-2 against the Royals. Brett Baty delivered the big hit with the bases loaded to drive in two to extend the Mets’ lead. Unlike in the previous game, the team managed to hold on to the lead and get the victory.
The Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Seattle Kraken’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, announced on Wednesday that the team had re-signed forward Mitchell Stephens to a two-year contract, keeping him with the club through the 2027-28 season.
The 29-year-old was drafted 33rd overall in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. In five NHL seasons, Stephens has played 123 games across four teams.
He made his debut on Dec. 9, 2019, with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and in two seasons and 45 games, Stephens recorded seven points.
On July 30, 2021, he was traded by Tampa Bay to Detroit for a 6th-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Stephens recorded six points in 27 games with the Detroit Red Wings before signing as a free agent on July 13, 2022, with the Montreal Canadiens, where he recorded three points in 23 games in the 2023-24 season.
On July 1, 2024, Stephens signed with the Kraken as a free agent. He appeared in 28 games with the Kraken during the 2024-25 season, tallying three points.
He also appeared in 35 games with the AHL Coachella Firebirds that same year, recording 13 points.
Last season, the five-foot-11, 190-pound forward played 69 games with the Firebirds and recorded 12 goals and 15 assists.
The new deal locks Stephens in with the Firebirds through the 2027-28 season.
Firebirds General Manager Troy Bodie shared his excitement about keeping Stephens on the roster.
“We’re thrilled to have Mitchell back with the Firebirds. He brings invaluable NHL and championship experience, but just as importantly, he’s a leader our players look up to”, said Bodie. “His professionalism, character, and commitment to winning help set the standard for our group every day.”
The Firebirds will kick off their season on October 2.
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The Leo Carlsson hype in Philadelphia ended with a thud Thursday.
The Flyers’ five-year, $90 million offer sheet to the restricted free agent was matched by the Ducks. So Carlsson will stay in Anaheim as the NHL’s highest-paid player with an $18 million average annual value.
Danny Briere, who took a serious swing for Carlsson last Friday, will keep his four first-round picks. That is what the Flyers would have given up had the Ducks not matched their loaded offer for the 21-year-old center.
The Flyers’ general manager went the bold and aggressive route in an attempt to net his club much-needed talent down the middle of the ice. He put Anaheim in a bind with its salary cap, but Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek refused to lose his franchise piece.
“We are very happy to have Leo under contract for five years,” Verbeek said in a statement released by the team. “We have viewed Leo as a franchise player since the moment we met him prior to the 2023 draft. He’s a character person on and off the ice. Leo is viewed as a top player in this league, and it was always our intention to match any offer sheet.”
Carlsson, who was the second overall pick in the 2023 draft, racked up 29 goals and 67 points in 70 games last season. He added 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 12 playoff games.
The 6-foot-3, 208-pounder is one of the top young centers in the NHL. The Flyers were ready to severely overpay for a player who hasn’t hit 30 goals or 70 points in a season yet because that’s the gist of an offer sheet. The Flyers had to be audacious enough to make Anaheim think twice.
Coming up empty on Carlsson is a disappointment for the Flyers. He’s an all-situation player who would have given them the upside of a first-line center, something they’ve desperately needed in their rebuild.
So how will the Flyers pivot? It might not come before this season. With no Carlsson, the Flyers have plenty of cap space to re-sign their four restricted free agents. Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale are the most notable ones.
The Flyers could hold onto that extra cap space and use it next offseason, when perhaps they’re in a better position to strike. They could also use it at some point this season if they want to have room for a trade addition.
“It’s about making the right moves,” Briere said a little under two weeks ago. “But also, you’ve got to be patient. I’m not going to make a move just to make a move. I know there are some people out there complaining that we’re not making the big move yet. But it has got to be the right thing to do.”
The Flyers have a young team, and they wouldn’t mind giving it more opportunity. Briere addressed the backup goaltending position by acquiring Joseph Woll in a trade with the Maple Leafs. In the deal, the Flyers added a physical, 6-foot-4 defenseman with Simon Benoit. On Day 1 of free agency, Briere signed bottom-six forward Noel Acciari, a hard-to-play-against type who can win faceoffs.
“It’s a fine line,” the Flyers’ GM said last Wednesday. “We’ve preached patience from the start of this, like three years ago. And that’s the fine line that we’re trying to stay on where we’re giving our young guys the chance to get better. It paid off last year. But we want to try to help them. That’s where Woll, Benoit, Acciari, that’s where they come into play, you try to help with small steps here and there. If we have the chance to take a big leap, we will jump on it.”
COVERS INTEL:
