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Weekly Pebble Report: A first half recap

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 12: Roldy Brito #1 of the Colorado Rockies is introduced prior to the 2026 All-Star Futures Game Presented by Nike at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

With the Futures Game kicking off All-Star Week and the first halves in the books across the minors, it’s a natural moment to take stock of the Rockies’ farm system — level by level, from the thin air of Albuquerque down to the backfields in Scottsdale. The big-league club’s improvement has gotten the headlines, but the story underneath it is just as compelling: at every rung of the ladder, somebody is forcing the organization to pay attention.

Here’s where each affiliate stands at the break, and the one performer at each stop you need to know.

Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes

If this ‘Topes team does one thing, it’s hit — relentlessly.

Albuquerque finished the first half of the Pacific League season in second place, two and a half games shy of a playoff berth. They lead the league in slugging percentage (.460), OPS (.833), and stolen bases (139). The second half has proved to be a different story, as the Isotopes are 7-11 and six games out of the division lead.

First Half MVP: Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP), 1B/OF

There’s no real suspense here. Condon is hitting .289/.414/.584 with 20 home runs and 60 RBI through 79 games, earned his second straight Futures Games appearance, and was Baseball America’s pick as the organization’s midseason Minor League Player of the Year.

The 2024 third overall pick has leaned into what he does best — controlling the zone and doing damage — and the walk total is the loudest sign that the approach has matured. The only question left is how much longer Albuquerque gets to keep him.

Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats

If Albuquerque’s identity is offense, Hartford’s first half belonged to the arms.

Jake Brooks led the Eastern League in innings pitched prior to his promotion, Konner Eaton (PuRP No.28) is 4-0 with a 3.78 ERA over 14 stars, and Jackson Cox (PuRP No.16) arrived from Spokane in June and struck out eight over 5.1 innings in his Double-A debut. Hartford clinched a playoff spot by possessing the Eastern League’s best record in the first half.

First Half MVP: Jack Mahoney, RHP

Mahoney has been close to untouchable — a 1.90 ERA across his ten Hartford starts with 49 strikeouts, including an Eastern League Pitcher of the Week nod in mid-June. In a system that has spent years searching for pitching it can trust, the South Carolina product is making the most persuasive case on the farm.

High-A: Spokane Indians

Spokane’s team results lagged — a fifth place finish in the six-team Northwest League first half. However, the Indians ran off ten straight wins from June 26th-July 7th, and currently lead the Northwest League with a 14-7 record in the second half.

In a subpar first half, the individual storylines more than carried the weight. Jackson Cox led all of minor league baseball with 78 strikeouts at the time of his promotion, and Jack O’Dowd — the 25-year-old January signee out of indy ball (and son of former Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd) — slashed .359.451/.664 with nine homers in 34 games before mashing his way to Hartford.

First Half MVP: Max Belyeu (No. 15 PuRP), OF

The 2025 competitive-balance pick out of Texas leads the Indians with 12 home runs and ranks among the Northwest League’s elite in OPS and total bases. In a pitcher friendly environment where Rockies affiliates have historically struggled to produce power, Belyeu’s first full pro season is exactly the kind of proof-of-concept development that the new regime is looking for.

Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies

Fresno’s season has been a story of resilience. The Grizzlies lost Ethan Holliday (No. 2 PuRP) — the No. 4 overall pick in 2025 — to a season ending foot surgery after 33-game stretch in which he hit .262/.395/.557 with nine homers, and they’ve weathered additional absences (Derek Bernard, Clayton Gray) while staying in the California League race: 47-40 overall and tied for second in the second-half standings at 11-10.

First Half MVP:Roldy Brito (No. 11 PuRP)

The 19-year-old switch-hitter is slashing .327/.390/.506 with eight home runs, 20 doubles, 66 RBI, and 18 stolen bases through 79 games, ranking amount California League leaders in hits, triples, runs, RBI, and total bases — and Sunday he took the field in Philadelphia as a first-time Futures Game selection. A year ago he was an unranked name in the complex league. Now he’s arguably the most electric position player in the systems lower half.

Rookie: ACL Rockies

The complex league club hasn’t been quiet about anything: at 37-15, the ACL Rockies own the best record in the Arizona Complex League. And the headliner is the same player evaluators have been buzzing about since spring.

First Half MVP:Christian Arguelles

The reigning DSL MVP hasn’t slowed down stateside — he’s arguably sped up. Through 51 games, the 19-year-old Venezuelan is hitting .392/.474/.655 with eight home runs, eight triples, 61 RBI, and a 168 wRC+, with a walk rate (12.3%) nearly matching his strikeout rate (13.2%). He took home ACL Player of the Month honors for May after slashing .380/.494/.718 over 21 games, and has continued to produce in the following months.

The Big Picture

Zoom out and the picture is hard to miss: at every level, the standout is a hitter or pitcher acquired or developed within the last three years — Condon (2024 draft), Mahoney (2023 draft), Belyeu (2025 draft), Brito (2024 international class), and Arguelles (2024 international class). For a franchise that has staked its rebuild on the farm finally producing, the first half of 2026 offered something it hasn’t had in a while: evidence.

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How former Michigan Basketball players are doing in the NBA Summer League

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 23: Morez Johnson Jr, Aday Mara, and Yaxel Lendeborg pose for a photo during the 2026 NBA Draft - Round One on June 23 , 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Michigan men’s basketball program currently has 12 representatives on NBA Summer League rosters. These players range from 2026 lottery picks to players a few years older who are fighting for an opportunity. With each team a few games into the Summer League, here’s how each Wolverine is currently performing.

F Morez Johnson Jr, Dallas Mavericks

Johnson has proven to be worth a lottery pick and then some for the Mavericks. He’s scoring 18.5 points (admittedly through just two games), grabbing 6.5 rebounds and blocking three shots per game. His Summer League debut in particular was incredibly impressive.

C Aday Mara, Oklahoma City Thunder

Mara has struggled in the early goings of the Summer League. Fortunately, there is plenty of time to improve. Through two games, he’s scoring just six points per game, but the playmaking is still there as he’s dishing out 2.5 assists in 24 minutes per game. The scoring touch will come in time.

F Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State Warriors

Lendeborg has also flashed potential to be a breakout star. The boisterous forward has made quite a few headlines with his interview of Johnson and shenanigans with Mara. However, his play on the court can’t be overlooked, as he is averaging 17.5 points, six rebounds and five assists per game.

G Roddy Gayle Jr., Detroit Pistons

Gayle has not missed a single shot yet in the Summer League. Yes, you read that correctly. He is shooting 100 percent from the field through two games. After going undrafted, Gayle is just looking to secure a contract from either the Detroit Pistons or another franchise. Ten points per game and a flawless shooting percentage is a great start for him.

G Nimari Burnett, Toronto Raptors

Burnett signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Toronto in hopes of getting a full or two-way contract down the line. He has struggled to find his shooting stoke just yet, as he’s just 11 percent from beyond the arc through three Summer League games. However, he is still scoring 9.3 points per game and had this nice dunk we’ve seen a time or two in Ann Arbor.

F Danny Wolf, Brooklyn Nets

Wolf had a decent first year in the NBA with the Nets, despite the team itself being horrible. Brooklyn opted to have Wolf go back to the Summer League for a second year. Early results are promising, as he is averaging 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Wolf will look to establish himself as part of the Nets’ core moving forward.

C Vladislav Goldin, Miami Heat

Goldin was on a two-way contract with Miami during his rookie year and is primed to do so yet again. He isn’t setting the world on fire in the Summer League, but his game also doesn’t always stuff the stat sheet. He is averaging eight points, 6.3 rebounds and two blocks per game. Goldin is still a bit unpolished at the NBA level, so it will be fascinating to see how he fits in with the Heat.

G Tre Donaldson, Miami Heat

After transferring from Michigan to Miami last offseason, Donaldson went undrafted before being scooped up by the Heat. He’s off to a fast start, as he is averaging 17 points and 4.5 assists per game. More importantly, he’s showing an improved effort on the defensive end. Donaldson is still a ways away from a full roster spot, but he’s turned some heads in the Summer League.

C Tarris Reed Jr., San Antonio Spurs

After being drafted in the first round last month, Reed was immediately traded to the Spurs. Through two games, he’s scoring just 9.5 points but is also collecting 9.5 rebounds per game. Averaging nearly a double-double will turn some heads at the Summer League.

G Kobe Bufkin, New Orleans Pelicans

Bufkin is one of the oldest players participating this summer, as he’s still working to make a name for himself at the NBA level. He has played incredible, as Bufkin is averaging 21.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, three assists and two steals per game. He’s in the top-15 of all Summer League participants in scoring.

C Hunter Dickinson, New Orleans Pelicans

Somehow only going into Year 2 in the NBA, Dickinson returned to the Pelicans’ Summer League squad this offseason. The big man is scoring 13.3 points while hauling in 5.7 rebounds per game. He recently signed a two-way contract with New Orleans, so he will hope to play more than the five games he did last year.

C Colin Castleton, Orlando Magic

I debated whether to include Castleton on this list or not. I leaned in favor, as he did in fact spend a full season in Ann Arbor. He is on a two-way contract with Orlando and was a bit of a surprise to be sent to the Summer League given his age (26). He had a great performance against Portland followed by a few underwhelming appearances.

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Manfred: Harper Did Not Violate CBA in FanDuel Video to Gambling Addict

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Bryce Harper’s Cameo video that FanDuel sent to a gambling addict didn’t breach Major League Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement, Rob Manfred said on Tuesday. 

Key Takeaways

  • Rob Manfred said MLB is still learning about the video message. 

  • Harper didn’t encourage betting, which avoided a policy violation. 

  • The gambling addict is suing FanDuel and other operators. 

The MLB commissioner told reporters at the All-Star Game in Philadelphia that the league is still reviewing the November 2024 message from the Phillies star.

“I’m not really certain that I know all of the underlying facts well enough to evaluate the behavior,” Manfred said, according to The Athletic. “The important thing is Bryce’s activity was not a violation of the basic agreement. We made sure about that. We’ll continue to try to figure out exactly how we ended up where we ended up on that.”

Harper released a statement on Monday, saying that he had no knowledge that his message on the video-sharing platform Cameo was going to be used for a gambling promotion by FanDuel. 

“I did not know FanDuel would do this, I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it,” Harper said in his Instagram post. 

Not a policy breaker

Players are allowed to endorse and promote legal sports betting operators and casinos, according to the MLB gambling policy, but they are prohibited from advocating or encouraging betting on a game. Violating that policy can lead to MLB penalties, including fines, suspension, and permanent ineligibility. 

Harper recorded the video for Terry Thompson, a FanDuel VIP who filed a lawsuit against several sports betting companies. Thompson claims that the operators "knowingly and intentionally coerce users into betting large amounts of money by using data to target them with microbets” that turned him into a gambling addict.

Harper said to Thompson that the message was an ask from a FanDuel host, but Harper made no mention of or encouragement to gamble. 

Not for commercial use

Thompson says he lost more than $1.5 million to FanDuel, which encouraged him to keep betting and made him a VIP. He received lavish gifts like Super Bowl tickets and the Harper video message wishing Thompson a Happy Thanksgiving. 

Harper said he received a Cameo request from a “Bryttanni” that November from a regular account, not a business one. He said he read a script but wouldn’t have if he had known “Terry” was a problem gambler.   

“I did not know the Cameo video would be used for a FanDuel VIP promotion, and I have no affiliation with FanDuel whatsoever,” Harper said. “Counsel has directed me not to comment any further at this time.”

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.

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Hurricanes to open the NHL season against the Panthers, raise their Stanley Cup banner on Sept. 29

Stanley Cup Final: Carolina Hurricanes v Vegas Golden Knights - Game Six

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 14: Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes reacts as he prepares to hoist the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Six of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

NHLI via Getty Images

NEW YORK — The Carolina Hurricanes will raise their second Stanley Cup championship banner on Sept. 29 before hosting the Florida Panthers to kick off the NHL season.

The opener pits the most recent champions against the winners the previous two years. The Panthers look primed to contend for another title until injuries derailed them and caused them to miss the playoffs. Carolina lost only one game to get through the Eastern Conference, then defeated Vegas in the final to win it all for the first time since 2006.

The league announced home openers for all 32 clubs Wednesday. The full schedule is set to be released on Thursday.

The Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs, the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins will also face off as part of a five-game curtain raiser. The Chicago Blackhawks visit the Vegas Golden Knights in the nightcap.

Play begins before October as the league moves to an 84-game schedule for the first time since 1993-94. The 1,344 games will be the most in NHL history.

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Tigers' Justin Verlander pumps up American League in his final All-Star Game

PHILADELPHIA — Justin Verlander used his fingers in this trip to Philadelphia simply to tip his cap toward applauding All-Star Game fans.

He once playfully flipped off Phillies fans when his Houston Astros were in Philadelphia for the 2022 World Series.

There only was mutual respect in this game.

The 43-year-old Verlander was one of the few All-Stars to receive a warm ovation in Philadelphia from a crowd that reveled in jeering just about any player who was not in a Phillies uniform.

Verlander is set to retire at the end of the season to cap a career that includes three Cy Young Awards.

Up first, one more Midsummer Classic.

“In his 10th and final All-Star Game, please welcome to Philadelphia, Justin Verlander,” the public address announcer noted.

Verlander didn’t totally sit out the American League’s 4-0 win over the National League.

Toronto manager John Schneider asked Verlander to address the team and share thoughts on the importance of the All-Star honor out of respect for the pitcher’s career.

“You never know when you’re going to be in this position,” Schneider said as he relayed Verlander’s message. “You have to appreciate the people along the way. He’s made lifelong friends from being in this game for so long.”

Verlander had more gas left in the pregame speech tank. He talked AL starter Dylan Cease out of throwing a changeup as the first pitch of the game and go with a heater against Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber.

Cease threw a 96.9-mph four-seam strike to Schwarber and struck out the side in the first inning,

“He could be a politician,” Cease said of Verlander.

Kevin McGonigle, Verlander’s’ 21-year-old Tigers teammate and suburban Philadelphia native, soaked in the moment when Verlander took the floor.

“He kept telling the guys that you don’t take anything for granted and if you keep working hard, you will find yourself back in this room multiple time,” McGonigle said. “Be a good teammate and building relationships and getting to learn as much as you can from other guys.”

Verlander, who did not discuss the speech, enjoyed the chance to participate in some final festivities and walked the All-Star red carpet in the afternoon with his wife, model Kate Upton, and their two young children.

The lone bummer for Verlander is that the Detroit Tigers All-Star was unable to pitch in the game as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Verlander, the oldest player in Major League Baseball, signed a one-year, $13 million contract to rejoin the Tigers in February.

He only has made one start in an injury-ravaged season and was named to the All-Star team as a Legend Pick by Commissioner Rob Manfred. Phillies slugger Bryce Harper earned the honor in the National League.

“I’m happy with the body of work,” Verlander said ahead of the game. “I hope I can add to it somehow, someway in the second half. When I look back, I know I gave it everything.”

Verlander went 183-115 from 2005 to 2017 with the Tigers. He won the American League Rookie of the Year award in 2006 and both the AL MVP and Cy Young Award in 2011. He helped Detroit reach the World Series in 2006 and 2012, along with four straight division titles from 2011 to 2014.

Verlander was the 2017 ALCS MVP in Houston and helped the Astros win the World Series that year, and was a key player for them when they won another title in 2022. He won his second and third Cy Young Awards in 2019 and 2022.

Verlander, who also had brief stints with the New York Mets and San Francisco, played coy when asked about which team cap he would choose for his sure-thing induction into the Hall of Fame.

“At least, I was able to narrow it down to two,” Verlander said with a laugh. “I’m not there yet.”

Verlander relaxed against a clubhouse wall next to his locker as he reflected over a career that stamped him as perhaps the best of his era.

Verlander has a career record of 266-159 with a 3.33 ERA in 556 starts across 21 major league seasons with the Tigers, Astros, Mets and San Francisco Giants. He has 3,554 strikeouts while tossing 26 complete games, including nine shutouts.

Not bad for a kid from Virginia who was sent to a baseball academy by his family to help him gain arm strength. His parents knew so little about how to guide a kid that flashed big league potential that his father, Richard, bought a most unique kind of instructional guide.

“My dad bought a ‘How to Pitch for Dummies’ book,” Verlander said to laughter. “I’m not joking. He’s like, OK, step one, you step back with your left foot. Step two, you turn this way. We were doing that in my front yard because he learned I could throw a rock pretty far.”

Turned out, with a little help along the way, Verlander learned to throw a baseball pretty hard.

Verlander just hopes in his last season, he hasn’t thrown his last one.

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Rangers' Season And Home Opener Revealed

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

The first two games of the New York Rangers’ 2026-27 campaign have been revealed. 

The Rangers will open the season on Sept. 29 at T.D. Garden to face off against the Boston Bruins, will be broadcast on ESPN at 8 p.m. 

On Oct. 1, the Rangers will host the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden for their home opener. 

The rest of the NHL schedule is set to be released on Thursday. 

The Blueshirts will participate in four preseason games from Sept. 21 to Sept. 25 against the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils. 

This upcoming season will feature 84 regular season games for the first time after the NHL and NHL Players Association agreed to these terms in the four-year CBA extension.

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Brewers acquire Lance McCullers Jr., Colton Gordon in trade with Astros

Apr 24, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (43) throws a pitch during in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images | Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

The Milwaukee Brewers are finalizing a deal to acquire right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and left-handed pitcher Colton Gordon in a trade with the Houston Astros, with the return to Houston not yet known.

Neither club has yet confirmed.

Per multiple reporters, the trade is primarily a depth deal for Milwaukee and a salary dump for Houston. McCullers, who must waive his no-trade clause for the deal to go through (per Chandler Rome of The Athletic, he’s done just that), is being paid $17 million this year in the final year of his five-year, $85 million contract signed ahead of the 2022 season. Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Astros have agreed to pay down a portion of what’s remaining on the contract.

McCullers, 32, has struggled over the last few years, as he missed all of 2023 and 2024 due to injury before making his return in 2025. Over the last two years, he’s appeared in 24 games (21 starts) with a dismal 6.65 ERA, 5.48 FIP, and 104 strikeouts over 94 2/3 innings. He’s pitched just 39 1/3 innings this year and is currently on the IL, though he’s currently on a rehab assignment with an expected return of late July. In three rehab appearances, he’s pitched well, with a 2.45 ERA and 11 strikeouts across 11 innings.

Gordon, 27, was an eighth-round pick by the Astros in 2021 and hasn’t had much major league success in parts of two seasons. Across 24 games (15 starts) in 2025 and 2026, Gordon has a 5.95 ERA, 5.86 FIP, and 83 strikeouts over 95 1/3 innings. He’s pitched just 9 1/3 innings in the majors this year, with an 11.57 ERA and 10.39 FIP. He’s been much better at Triple-A, however, with a 6-3 record, 3.69 ERA, and 55 strikeouts over 70 2/3 innings this season. Gordon is a controllable arm, as he’s still in his pre-arbitration years.

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No. 1 pick Roch Cholowsky reportedly agrees to a $10.35 million signing bonus with White Sox

CHICAGO — Roch Cholowsky agreed to a contract with the Chicago White Sox that includes a record-breaking $10.35 million signing bonus after he was the No. 1 overall pick in the amateur draft.

A person familiar with the contract confirmed the agreement to the AP because it hadn’t been announced by the team.

The slot value for the top pick this year was $11,350,600. Cholowsky’s bonus tops the previous mark of $9.25 million for the amateur draft that belonged to Reds pitcher Chase Burns and Rockies prospect Charlie Condon, two of the top three selections in 2024.

Cholowsky, a 6-foot-2 shortstop who turned 21 in April, hit .320 with 21 homers, 60 RBIs and a 1.088 OPS in 60 games this season for UCLA. He is the first No. 1 overall pick for the White Sox since they drafted outfielder Harold Baines in 1977.

“At the end of the day, we were most comfortable with Roch Cholowsky with our first pick, regardless of what the signing bonus was going to be,” general manager Chris Getz said.

Cholowsky played for the Bruins for three seasons, batting .329 with 52 homers, 167 RBIs and a 1.072 OPS in 178 games. He ranks among the school’s career leaders in homers, runs scored, on-base percentage and RBIs.

“You look at what he has done throughout his baseball career, both at UCLA, but prior to that,” Getz said. “We had interest in him in high school and then to be able to watch his college career unfold and see what he accomplished and the impact that he had on his teammates and that program and now to envision that type of influence within this organization is something that attracted us to select him at No. 1.”

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Mets at Phillies: 5 things to watch and series predictions | July 16-19

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Phillies play a three-game series in Philadelphia starting on Thursday night at 7:10 p.m.

5 things to watch

Christian Scott has taken it up a notch

In his first season back after undergoing Tommy John surgery, Scott has been a bright spot for a Mets team whose rotation will be in flux after the season.

Across 54.0 innings over 12 starts, Scott is not only showing that he belongs, but displaying the upside that had New York so excited about him when he debuted in 2024.

Scott has a 3.17 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, and has allowed just 44 hits while striking out 65 -- a rate of 10.8 per nine innings. The 27-year-old doesn't yet have enough innings to qualify among the league leaders, but if he did, his strikeout rate would be tied with Paul Skenes for the fifth-highest among MLB starters -- behind only Dylan Cease, Jacob Misiorowski, Jesus Lazardo, and Jacob deGrom. 

And Scott's ability to miss bats this season is not surprising. 

His four-seam fastball (which he has used 50 percent of the time this year) is averaging 95.4 mph (up 1.2 mph over where it was in 2024) and topping out in the high-90s. Scott's cutter has also been a serious weapon, with batters slugging just .167 against it -- though it's his sweeper that has induced the highest percentage of swings and misses (whiff percentage of 34.9).

Francisco Lindor is starting to look more comfortable at the plate

The lasting image of Lindor's first half will be him botching a would-be game-ending double play ball last Sunday against the Red Sox.

But after missing roughly two months due to a calf injury, Lindor's offense is starting to come around.

He has reached base safely in each of his last four starts (including ripping a homer and a double last Sunday) and has popped three homers over his last 12 starts.

Lindor's OPS is still just .671, but he is average to well above average this year in 12 of 13 key advanced metrics tracked by Baseball Savant, including xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, average exit velocity, and hard hit percentage.

So there is reason to believe Lindor's triple slash will look like it usually does when all is said and done this season. 

Nolan McLean's quiet dominance

McLean has still been battling himself a bit as he looks to regain his early-season form, but the results lately have been tremendous.

He has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts, pitching to a 2.35 ERA while allowing just 33 hits in 46.0 innings during that span.

New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) throws a pitch in the first inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) throws a pitch in the first inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. / Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

McLean has been even more locked in over his last three starts, allowing two earned runs in 18 innings while walking five and striking out 19. 

One key thing to watch with McLean down the stretch is whether he continues to go four-seamer heavy while relying much less on his sweeper (he's throwing it just 16.4 percent of the time this season after using it 25.7 percent of the time in 2025).

Can Jorge Polanco produce?

Polanco has been limited to just 19 games this season due to injuries, with an Achilles issue being the main thing holding him back.

In those 19 games, he has slashed .178/.241/.274 (.514 OPS, 44 OPS+) with just one home run.

Since Polanco is under contract through the 2027 season and will count for $20 million toward the luxury tax payroll, it would be a relief for the Mets if he is able to produce and stay healthy over the final few months of the season.

If not, the Mets will have a serious issue on their hands. 

The dangerous Kyle Schwarber

This year's Home Run Derby runner-up, Schwarber is on pace to finish the year with 53 homers.

If Schwarber hits 50-plus bombs, it will be his second straight season accomplishing that feat, and the fourth time in the last five seasons where he's hit at least 46 taters.

While he's leading the league in home runs, Schwarber is also leading the league in strikeouts (144), and is on pace to finish the year with 240 of them -- which would be miles past his career-worst of 215 that he set in 2023.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Juan Soto

Soto had a quiet final weekend before the All-Star break. He'll come out recharged. 

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

Nolan McLean

As McLean rounds back into form, one thing he has to get in check is his issue with hit batsmen. He has plunked a league-high 13 batters this season.

Which Phillies player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?

J.T. Realmuto

Realmuto was swinging the bat well before the break, with two homers and two doubles over his last seven games. 

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Rockets have to trust the process with Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson

The Houston Rockets’ core is centered around Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, arguably the two best players they have drafted in this current era of the franchise.

Shang-Goon has already been an All-Star twice in his five NBA seasons, and Thompson has earned some consideration for being one of the league’s top defenders. Bleacher Report writer Andy Bailey believes Sengun and Thompson are among the top 30 players in the league when 2030 arrives.

“Sengun could take a little better care of the ball. His jump shot and the touch on some of those adventurous finishing attempts need improvement. Defensive mobility may never get better, but his awareness can. If he does zero in and make those improvements, several more All-Star appearances are likely on the way,” Bailey wrote of Sengun.

“Thompson’s athleticism can be genuinely shocking. He already uses it to great effect on the defensive end. If he spends the next four years figuring out how to do so on the other, Thompson could be a perennial All-NBA contender,” Bailey added.

While the Rockets have flirted with the idea of trading one of these players to get better sooner, the team has to trust that they can carry Houston for the next several years. With Sengun’s IQ leading the way on offense and Thompson’s tenacity charging the defense, the Rockets have elite playmakers that can keep them in the contender conversation for years to come.

By 2030, if both players are still with the Rockets, they should be one of the best teams in the NBA.

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Chris Chelios Believes Patrick Kane Is Between Chicago Blackhawks & Buffalo Sabres

The Chicago Blackhawks have an offer in to Patrick Kane, which has been kind of a well-known secret over the last few weeks. 

On Wednesday, NHL legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Chris Chelios was on 104.3 The Score in Chicago and talked about Kane's future. 

Of course, Chelios played a large portion of his career with the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings, which are the two teams that Kane has played for the most. 

According to the three-time Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Chelios, Kane is between the Blackhawks and the Buffalo Sabres, which he was told personally by Kane. 

"I am not gonna lie to you guys, it is down to Buffalo and Chicago I know that." Chelios said. 

Kane is well known for being a Buffalo native, so this is him choosing between two places that have been "home" to him in his life. 

Chelios also said that there should be a decision on this coming soon, so it's something to keep an eye on as the week progresses. 

All off-season, it has been talked about how Kane would be a perfect fit in both markets for different reasons, and that's besides the fact that he has ties to both. He would help them both from an on-ice hockey point of view. 

Fits For Patrick Kane: Blackhawks, 3 Others Make Sense For Future Hall Of Fame VeteranFits For Patrick Kane: Blackhawks, 3 Others Make Sense For Future Hall Of Fame VeteranThe Chicago Blackhawks are one of the few teams that make sense for Patrick Kane as he weighs his decisions.
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Shohei Ohtani to be available for Dodgers’ weekend series at Yankees after fluid drained from knee

PHILADELPHIA — Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will be a designated hitter at a minimum for the series at the New York Yankees after having fluid drained from his left knee.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani had the procedure to relieve irritation and the four-time MVP was taking a few days of vacation before the season’s second half. Roberts said the two-way star did not receive an injection.

Two-time World Series champion Los Angeles opens the second half with a three-game series at Yankee Stadium.

“He’s going to be in the lineup,” Roberts said before managing the National League in the All-Star Game.

Ohtani is batting .293 with 22 homers and 58 RBIs while going 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings over 14 starts. The four-time MVP skipped the All-Star Game.

Ohtani last pitched on July 3. It isn’t yet clear whether he will pitch against the Yankees.

“We haven’t decided that yet,” Roberts said.

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Adam Silver defends second apron after players union, players, fans rip it

Victor Wembanyama choosing to take a discount and leave roughly $50 million on the table in his latest contract to help the Spurs build and maintain a championship team is exactly what is wrong with the system in the eyes of David Kelly, the new executive director of the NBPA (the players' union).

"Our position would be that the system should not require a player to carry all that burden," Kelly said during his introductory press conference last week. "It should not put a player in a position where he has to carry the burden in order to keep a team together. A system that does that, we have a problem."

Kevin Love was more direct, saying the second apron has essentially become a hard cap. He referenced how Brad Stevens and Boston traded away Jaylen Brown because he felt he couldn't have two supermax players together and build out a championship roster, or how the tax is already impacting decisions for the Thunder and Spurs.

"I'll tell you, selfishly, what's really f****** stupid, these aprons are f****** with the game," Love said in an appearance on The Old Man and the Three podcast. "That's on our side, [the owners] know exactly who they are that did it…

"You're telling me Oklahoma City can't keep those three guys together because of these aprons? That's bulls***. You're telling me Sam Presti, the greatest, all the things that he's done, is handcuffed because of these f****** aprons?"

To NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, the system is working as designed.

"It's certainly not an unintended consequence," Adam Silver said when speaking to the media after the NBA Board of Governors meeting in Las Vegas on Tuesday. "When you have a salary system in place as we do, every general manager is going to need to make mixed basketball and business decisions. Frankly, they make them regardless of whether you have a cap. You see that in other sports. People manage budgets. People recognize that you can't — at some point, you can't have unlimited resources, whether it's for a team or any business....

"The purpose of the system is ultimately to create competition throughout the league, and from that standpoint, I think the system is working incredibly well. The goal isn't necessarily to have a different champion every year, but we've had eight different champions over the last eight years. As I've said previously, one of the things we were hoping to accomplish in this latest collective bargaining agreement was to dispel this notion that only certain markets were in a position to truly compete. We just saw a Finals between, essentially, the largest market in the league in New York and one of the smallest markets in San Antonio."

What the owners and Silver wanted was parity — and they got it, or at least closer to it than the league saw before. Fans may hate that the Thunder and Spurs, at the start of potential dynastic runs and an elite rivalry, are already having to get players to take discounts — OKC's Chet Holmgren took the exact same discount Wembanyama did — and think about breaking up their star trios, but the owners love that. If Boston feels it has to trade Brown, he just goes to another team and makes them better in the 30,000-foot view of the league.

There is a push in some circles to allow teams that draft and develop a max player — a guy who stays with his team — to get a salary cap discount so they can build around their homegrown star. For example, in Wembanyama's case, he could put the Rose Rule escalator in his contract and get 30% of the salary cap in his next deal (about an extra $10 million a year), but on the official team books, it would only count as 25%. That could help a team like Boston keep Brown and build around him (because both Brown and Jayson Tatum would qualify). It's something Warriors owner Joe Lacob brought up when he had Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green together (it was a selfish proposition on Lacob's part, but that doesn't mean it was wrong).

All of that will be part of the next CBA negotiations, but the owners like this current system. They wanted a hard cap, instead the owners got a second apron that is essentially the same thing (only one team was over it last season, Cleveland, and only one is now, Oklahoma City, and it may make a move to get below that number). If the players want to change it, what are they willing to give up in the next CBA negotiations?

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Anthony Mantha signs with Devils after 33-goal season

Anthony Mantha's prove-it season has landed him a raise and a new deal in another city.

Mantha, 31, signed with the New Jersey Devils for two years at a $4.75 million average on Wednesday, July 15, two weeks after the start of free agency. He'll make $5.4 million this upcoming season and $4.1 million in 2027-28.

He had scored 33 goals and 64 points last season on a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins,

That goal total was more than any Devils player had last season. Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes led the way with 28 and 27 goals, respectively. His 64 points would have ranked fourth.

The question is whether Mantha can duplicate that. He had only one 20-goal season from 2019-25 and had one assist and a minus 5 rating in a six-game loss in the first round against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Anthony Mantha contract details

He will make $5.4 million in 2026-27 and $4.1 million in 2027-28 for a $4.75 million cap hit. According to puckpedia.com, all but $1 million a year of that is signing bonuses. 'the website says the Devils have $3.875 million left in cap space.

Top remaining free agents

Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko, Eeli Tolvanen, MIchael Bunting, John Klingberg

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Anthony Mantha signs with Devils after 33-goal season

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Sabres Host Bowen Byram's Blackhawks In Home Opener

The Buffalo Sabres will not have to waste any time hosting one of their prominent former players, as the NHL's release of the 32 club home openers on Wednesday revealed that the club will begin the 2026-27 regular season against Bowen Byram and the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, October 3rd. 

Byram, 25, who was heading into the final year of a two-year bridge deal, indicated to the Sabres that he would not re-sign with the club and wanted to go someplace where he could be a #1 defenseman. Before the NHL Draft last month, GM Jarmo Kekalainen shipped the blueliner to the Hawks for the #4 overall selection (Daxon Rudolph), defenseman Louis Crevier, and a 2026 second round pick, which was later flipped to Anaheim for blueliner Olen Zellweger. 

The Hawks will be without young star Connor Bedard to start the season, as the center suffered a shoulder injury in a summer pickup game and had surgery last week that will keep him out a minimum of four months. 

Sabres sign Peyton Krebs to a four-year contract extension

Buffalo will start the schedule on the road in Columbus on Thursday, October 1st against the Blue Jackets. 

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