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Here’s the Twins lineup

Finale in Cleveland

📺 https://t.co/usGFyQCbUxpic.twitter.com/HVMt8zyLjY

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 23, 2026

Here’s the Guardians lineup:

Guardians 7/23

S. Kwan LF
J. Ramírez 3B
C. DeLauter RF
B. Rocchio SS
T. Bazzana 2B
R. Hoskins DH
K. Manzardo 1B
P. Bailey C
P. Halpin CF

G. Williams SP

— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) July 23, 2026

Let’s go, Guardians!

Being a Yankees fan is in my blood. My late father Bill was a diehard Yankees; his favorite player was Mickey Mantle. There was no way his first-born and only son was not going to be a Yankees fan. 

He took me to my first game 55 years ago, the anniversary of which just passed last Saturday.

It was July 18, 1971, a Bat Daydoubleheader against the Chicago White Sox on a Sunday afternoon. I remember being thrilled because the bat I got was a Bobby Murcer model – my favorite player at the time. My dad taught me how to keep score, something I still do to this day whenever I go to a game. Still have all the scorecards, too. 

The Yankees swept both games of the twin bill. In the opener, they rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth off knuckleballer Wilbur Wood to win, 3-2. Murcer had a two-run single to tie the game and Ron Swoboda’s RBI single won it. Then in the nightcap, Mike Kekich threw a one-hitter in a 6-1 victory. The lone hit Kekich allowed was a solo fifth-inning home run to Mike Andrews. Roy White backed Kekich with a two-run home run, a double and a steal of home. 

I’ve been hooked on the Yankees ever since. 

Reaching 55 years from my first Yankees game got me thinking about all the ballgames I’ve attended over the years, all the moments and players I’ve been fortunate to witness.  

I have seen the Yankees play at the original Yankee Stadium, the remodeled version, and the current one. I saw them play home games at Shea Stadium in 1974 and 1975. I have seen them on the road at the SkyDome in Toronto; Camden Yards in Baltimore; old RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.; and what was once U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. 

In all, I have been to 117 Yankees games and my record is 69-48. That includes one Opening Day (2011) and four other home openers (1985, 1997, 1998, 1999). 

Ten of the victories came in walk-off fashion, including:

• Graig Nettles hitting a home run in the bottom of the ninth off Mickey Lolich to give the Yankees a 2-1 win over the Detroit Tigers and complete a doubleheader sweep on June 24, 1973.
• Don Baylor going deep in the bottom of the ninth to beat the White Sox, 5-4, and win the home opener April 16, 1985.
• Paul O’Neill and David Justice clubbing solo home runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to beat the Boston Red Sox, 4-3, on April 22, 2001. (O’Neill threw his bat in frustration, not realizing that the ball sailed out.)
• Alex Rodriguez hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the 12th inning to defeat the Atlanta Braves, 4-3, on June 28, 2006.
• Starlin Castro homering in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Colorado Rockies, 9-8, on June 22, 2016.

Then there was Kerry Dineen. He only played in 16 games in his MLB career and had 12 hits and a pair of RBIs. On May 21, 1976, hours after being called up from Triple-A Syracuse, he delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 12th inning to beat the Red Sox, 6-5. This came one day after the famous brawl between the teams when Lou Piniella barreled into catcher Carlton Fisk and Boston pitcher Bill Lee injured his shoulder during the fracas. 

Some games were memorable because of what the opposition did. 

Twice, I almost saw opposing pitchers no-hit the Yankees. On September 12, 1981, Bob Ojeda of the Red Sox didn’t allow a hit through eight innings and faced only one batter over the minimum. But Rick Cerone and Dave Winfield led off the ninth with consecutive pinch-hit doubles to break up the bid. Boston still won, 2-1.

Then September 28, 2006, Daniel Cabrera of the Baltimore Orioles came within two outs of a no-hitter, only to have Robinson Canó single to ruin it. On his next pitch, Cabrera got a game-ending double play to complete a 7-1 win. 

There was the much-anticipated nationally televised pitching showdown between Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens on Sunday night, May 28, 2000. It lived up to the hype and ended with Trot Nixon hitting a two-run home run in the top of the ninth off Clemens for a 2-0 Boston win. 

Most of the memorable moments, though, were done by the Yankees. 

I saw them crush the Milwaukee Brewers in the first game of a doubleheader, 19-2, to clinch the American League East Division title on September 25, 1996. I also saw Don Mattingly have his No. 23 retired prior to the game against the Montreal Expos on August 31, 1997.

I was there to see A-Rod hit his 600th career home run August 4, 2010 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Also saw him get career hit Nos. 2,998 and 2,999 against the Miami Marlins on June 18, 2015, and saw Ichiro Suzuki get his 4,000th career hit between Japan and MLB on August 21, 2013 against the Blue Jays.

On August 25, 2011, Robinson Canó, Russell Martin, and Curtis Granderson hit grand slams in a 22-9 win over the Oakland A’s – the first time a major league team hit three grand slams in the same game. What made being there more special was the fact my daughters were with me for their first game. I have been able to pass on my love for the Yankees to them, the way my dad did with me.

More recently, we were at Ben Rice’s three-home run game against the Red Sox on July 6, 2024 – coincidentally my dad’s birthday.

It has been a lot of fun going to games these past 55 years and cheering for the Yankees. Getting to cover and write about the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders now has only enhanced that fandom.

All things being equal, the team and the fanbase would most like to see the Phillies add an impact bat at the Trade Deadline.

But as always, supply and demand remain the greatest obstacle to landing an impact bat. There aren’t that many, if any, offensive stars available and the ones that are would likely require more than what the Phillies have in their war chest of prospects to offer.

With 11 days left until the Trade Deadline, I see seven clear sellers: the Mets, Giants, Rockies, Blue Jays, A’s, Royals and Angels. There are several other players not on these teams who are hitting the rumor mill, too.

Among those seven teams, here are the players who would qualify as “impact” bats, with my best guess that they could possibly be traded to the Phils in parantheses. There are other bats that will be available. Some will provide moderate upgrades and some will provide little-to-no improvement. But these are the big boys.

Heliot Ramos – Giants (65%)

The Giants have perhaps the two most intriguing and realistic players at this year’s deadline. The first of them is right-handed hitting corner outfielder Helio Ramos, who has hit nine homers with an OPS of .759 in 64 games this season. He was an All Star two years ago for the Giants when he slugged 22 homers in 121 games, and started 157 games for San Francisco last year with a .728 OPS and 21 dingers.

Ramos would help with one of the team’s biggest deficiencies — hitting left-handed pitching. This year he has a .315/.351/.556 slash line against southpaws, and for his career has posted an .857 OPS against them.

I think this is the guy they want.

Luis Arraez – Giants (40%)

Arraez is not a middle-of-the-order power bat, but he would help with one other area of extreme weakness — getting on base.

Entering their weekend series against the Yankees, the Phils’ .303 OBP is second-worst in Major League Baseball. They simply don’t get on base enough to be consistent. Arraez has a career .363 OBP and so far this season has been getting on base at a .359 clip. He’s also hitting .320, has an .805 OPS and has been worth 2.9 WAR at second base.

Adding Arraez would require the Phillies to trade one of their infielders away, most likely Bryson Stott or Alec Bohm, or move Trea Turner to the outfield. I think most Phils fans would be willing to go there.

Mike Trout – Angels (5%)

Trout is still owed a ton of money ($37 million a season through 2030), he’s an oft-injued 34-year-old, has a full no-trade clause and seems totally disinterested in leaving Los Angeles. The only way this happens is if he tells the Angels he wants to get dealt, and there are no indications he’s ready to do that.

But should that change, the Phillies should absolutely inquire what it would take to land him. His .234 batting average isn’t great, but his .388 OBP is elite, and he’s slugged 18 home runs in 84 games this year. On paper, it would make a lot of sense.

Byron Buxton – Twins (4%)

He’d be a perfect fit. Full stop. He’s got speed, power, and is a fantastic defender. He would cost a million prospects, and they would all be worth it. He’s been healthy for two years now, so the concern of him getting injured again has lessened a bit.

The problem is that he tells everyone in no uncertain terms that he is not leaving Minnesota. So the only reason I include him here is because people have been known to change their minds. So, he joins Mr. Trout in the happy-to-lose crew until they decide they’re tired of losing.

Francisco Lindor – Mets (3%)

Reports indicate that if Lindor is going to be dealt, it won’t be until the off-season. But New York should consider it now, given teams are always a little more desperate at the Trade Deadline and clubs competing for a World Series title would get an extra two months of the star shortstop.

Lindor has not had a great season, but neither has anyone else in New York. His 0.8 WAR pales in comparison to his WAR totals since joining the Mets, but he also missed about 50 games with an injury. Is that six-win player still in there? The Phillies should at least be calling to see. If he is available, Trea Turner would have to move someplace else, but whatever happens would be worth it.

Bo Bichette – Mets (1%)

It’s really hard to envision a scenario in which the Phillies trade prospect capital and take on whatever is left of Bichette’s insane $42 million contract.

Maybe they’d do it if Bichette was having a good season, but highly doubtful for a guy with a 0.3 WAR and .677 OPS this year. But, he is a potential impact bat, so he’s included here.

Hunter Goodman – Rockies (0%)

There are some solid left-handed hitters on Colorado (first baseman TJ Rumfield and outfielders Mickey Moniak and Jake McCarthy), but the National League’s best right-handed power hitter is catcher Hunter Goodman. He currently leads all NL hitters in slugging percentage (.563) and has smashed 31 home runs in just 397 PAs.

No doubt teams will be calling the Rockies about him, and it’s doubtful Colorado will deal the 26-year-old. However, one never can count out that franchise doing something stupid. I doubt the Phillies have the prospects to land him, and you’d have to figure out what to do with J.T. Realmuto, but there’s no doubt Goodman would be the most impactful bat out there. It’s just not going to happen.

Shea Langeliers – Athletics (0%)

Just like Goodman, it’s hard to envision the A’s trading away their best hitter. But this is the A’s, we’re talking about.

Langeliers started for the American League in last week’s All Star Game and is crushing the ball to the tune of an .830 OPS, a 122 OPS+ and 23 HRs. Oakland outfielders Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler have both shown promise in the past, but are not “impact” bats right now, and both hit left-handed.

It’s unlikely the Phils could meet the prospect price for Langeliers and there is, again, the issue of what to do with Realmuto. Make him baseball’s most expensive back-up?

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There are only 10 teams in action today, but there are still some hurlers worth putting our money on, with multiple MLB player props showing value.

Shane Bieber might get hit around, but he will have a great leash. Brandon Pfaadt doesn't miss bats and is an Under candidate, and Ian Seymour has plenty of outs for his walk prop.

These are my favorite MLB strikeout props for Thursday, July 23.

Best MLB strikeout props and starting pitcher picks today

Strikeout prop: Shane Bieber Over 4.5 strikeouts (+125)

I have a lot of exposure to the Tampa offense today, but Shane Bieber getting extended might be the sneaky angle. His projected pitch count around 90 is already showing some value on the Over punchouts.

Bieber has been getting hit hard, but the recent strikeout numbers are encouraging with 10 Ks over his last 10+ innings.

He can still be a strikeout-per-inning pitcher when the stuff is there, and he has already reached 97 pitches in one of his five starts this season. A six-inning leash is very realistic. He still owns a 27% CSW rate over some rocky outings. 

The Rays are heading home, creating a getaway-game angle that should help Bieber. He is also much tougher on left-handed hitters, and Toronto's only available lefty out of the bullpen is Brendon Little and his 17.61 ERA.

The Blue Jays also used six relievers last night, which only increases the chance Bieber gets every opportunity to work deep.

Do I think Bieber can get hit? Yes. Do I think he has enough leash to reach six innings and strike out five at plus money? Also yes.

If the stuff is there, this could cash comfortably. If he gets hit, the volume still gives him a chance. I'm playing this to +100.

• Time: 3:07 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Rays.TV, Sportsnet

Strikeout prop: Brandon Pfaadt Under 3.5 strikeouts (-111)

Brandon Pfaadt is the definition of a pitch-to-contact starter. He is averaging just half a strikeout per inning this season and rarely gets to those deep two-strike counts needed to pile up Ks.

Nick Martinez leads MLB in pitches per plate appearance among qualified starters at 3.5, but Pfaadt isn't far behind at 3.6. He is not one of the league leaders in making hitters work, and that doesn't translate into strikeouts.

His K/9 ranks in the Bottom 25 among MLB starters, and his Bottom 15th percentile whiff rate is nothing to chase.

The innings can be misleading because Pfaadt gets deep by letting hitters put the ball in play early, not by overpowering them. The projections show value on his Under 3.5 strikeouts, but they are based on a 91-pitch workload that feels aggressive.

Pfaadt has thrown 87, 77, and 72 pitches over his last three starts and hasn't recorded more than 16 outs in any of them. I'm playing the Under 3.5 Ks down to -120.

• Time: 5:15 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Cardinals.TV, DBACKS.TV

Walks allowed prop: Ian Seymour Over 1.5 walks allowed (+115)

Ian Seymour has not gotten deep over his last two starts, throwing 61 and 78 pitches, but he has hit this Over in both of those games.

His control away from the Trop is also favorable, as his BB/9 on the road sits at 4.8 vs. 2.6 at home. That's 11 walks in 18 road innings.

Toronto might not be the best BB% team in baseball, but this offense is more than struggling and has to see pitches today vs. a struggling pitcher with control issues. 

THE BAT is projecting 85 pitches and 1.74 walks, making the break-even price around -115/-120.

• Time: 3:07 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Rays.TV, Sportsnet

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Let's dive into my favorite MLB player props and MLB picks to attack on Thursday, July 23.

Best MLB player props today

Shane Bieber Over 2.5 Earned Runs (-116)

The Tampa Bay Rays offense is one of the highest rated on this five game slate, as they draw Toronto Blue Jays right hander Shane Bieber, one of the lowest rated pitchers on Batters-Box.

Over his last five starts, Bieber owns a 5.70 ERA, 7.35 xERA, and 1.73 WHIP. During that stretch, opposing hitters have generated a 53% hard hit rate and nearly a 12% barrel rate against him.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has been seeing the ball extremely well over the last week, posting a 144 wRC+, .373 wOBA, and .850 OPS. With the way Bieber has been pitching lately, this feels like a great spot to fade him this afternoon.

I would play this prop down to -120 if I had to.

• Time: 3:07 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: RAYS, Sportsnet

Junior Caminero Over 1.5 Total Bases (-110)

Rays superstar Junior Caminero enters Thursday with one of the highest matchup ratings on Batters-Box, while covering 71% of Bieber’s pitch mix.

On top of that, he has strong trends when elite on the road, surpassing this prop 60% of the time when elite, while also leaving the yard 30% of the time across 20 elite road games.

This season, through 33 elite rated games, Caminero has gone over this prop 54.55% of the time while leaving the yard 24.24% of the time.

The Rays slugger has been on an absolute tear over his last 30 at-bats against right handed pitching, posting a .375 BA, 1.042 OPS, .457 wOBA, while generating a 52.6% hard hit rate and 10.5% barrel rate.

As for Bieber, right handed hitters have been crushing him this season, producing a 55% hard hit rate, 12.5% barrel rate, and 60% elevation rate. On top of that, they own a .402 xBA, .732 xSLG, and .470 xwOBA against him.

Caminero is one of my favorite looks on the board today, and I would pay this down to -120.

• Time: 3:07 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: RAYS, Sportsnet

Brandon Pfaadt Under 3.5 Strikeouts (-111)

Everyone’s favorite pitcher during the 2023 MLB playoffs, Arizona Diamondbacks right hander Brandon Pfaadt, is who we are fading this evening by taking the under on his strikeout prop.

Sure, the young right hander has pitched well over his last few starts, but he still owns just a 15% strikeout rate across his last 5 outings.

Meanwhile, the St. Louis Cardinals have been fantastic at making contact at home, sporting a 77.5% contact rate. Over their last 6 games, that number sits at 76.7%.

With a sub 20% strikeout rate at home this season, I expect the Cardinals to minimize the whiffs and put plenty of balls in play against the Diamondbacks right hander.

Play this down to -115 at the most.

• Time: 5:15 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: CARD, ARID

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Should Sox pursue Zach Neto? Assessing rumored trade target originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Could the Boston Red Sox land their shortstop of the future at this year’s MLB trade deadline?

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto has been linked to Boston as a potential trade target, and the discourse is growing louder with the Aug. 3 deadline looming. The Red Sox could use an upgrade to their middle infield, and the 25-year-old Neto fits what they’re looking for as a premier right-handed bat.

Boston reportedly tried to trade for Neto in the offseason, but L.A.’s price was too high. Now, with the Angels cruising toward another last-place season, it sounds like they’re open for business (via ESPN):

“(John) Mozeliak, brought in as a consultant and interim general manager about a month ago, is very open to trading controllable players if the right offers materialize, according to people who have spoken with him in recent days. …

“Mozeliak could be tempted to take advantage of what is expected to be a major sellers’ market, especially with the knowledge that the Angels are not a year away — or two, or potentially even three — from legitimate contention.”

Is Neto the kind of player the Red Sox should be pursuing ahead of the deadline? We assessed the potential move below:

Slugging shortstop

We advocated for a Neto trade back in May because of the power he’d bring to one of the league’s worst lineups. The 2022 first-round draft pick tallied 23 homers in 2024, 26 in 2025, and has 19 so far this year. He posted a WAR over 5.0 in each of the last two seasons.

UNBELIEVABLE ENDING

ZACH NETO HITS A WALK-OFF HOME RUN! pic.twitter.com/f59JSth4VG

— MLB (@MLB) May 19, 2026

So, what’s the catch?

Neto has struck out an American League-leading 141 times this season for a K rate of 31.5 percent. Then there’s the defense at shortstop, where he ranks near the bottom of the league in Outs Above Average (-8).

Where does he fit?

Neto has exclusively played shortstop throughout his four-year big-league career, so it’s safe to assume that’s where he’d play in Boston. That would raise obvious questions about Red Sox veteran shortstop Trevor Story, who’s expected to return from injury later this season and is under contract through 2027.

While Neto would be an upgrade over Boston’s current shortstop options, top prospect Franklin Arias could reach the MLB club as soon as next season. Would Arias shift over to second base? And if so, would it be wise to force another top infield prospect to change positions upon reaching the majors given what the club just went through with Marcelo Mayer?

Contract situation

Neto and the Angels avoided arbitration with a $4.15 million deal for 2026. He’s under team control through 2029.

What would he cost?

The price has probably come down since the offseason, but as a talented 25-year-old shortstop under contract for the next three years, Neto will still cost a pretty penny.

The Angels are likely years away from fielding a competitive ballclub, so they’re expected to want a package of top prospects in return. Since Arias is almost certainly off the table, Boston could offer a package headlined by one of their top pitching prospects — Anthony Eyanson or Kyson Witherspoon.

Verdict

A decent Plan B or C.

If the Red Sox are going to give up the farm for a big bat, we’d prefer one of the power-hitting catchers we’ve already covered — Hunter Goodman (Rockies) or Shea Langeliers (Athletics). If they’re off the table, or Neto would cost significantly less, we’d make the move for the Angels shortstop.

While Neto would undoubtedly help the Red Sox this season, it’s understandable to feel uneasy about his long-term future with the club. His alarming strikeout rate and poor defense are legitimate red flags. That said, beggars can’t be choosers, and Neto would instantly become the best hitter in Boston’s lineup alongside Willson Contreras.