Jul 23, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Tyler Locklear (31) hits a one run single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the eighth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
In the Dbacks Cardinals season finale, it was all Dbacks Thursday afternoon! On what would’ve been an off day for this team, the Dbacks had to go back to St. Louis today to play a makeup game as they were rained out earlier this month, and boy this one came at the perfect time as this offense and Brandon Pfaadt are rolling!
Pfaadt ran into a little bit of trouble in the first inning as he got papercutted to death. He was not giving up hard contact at all, but balls kept finding holes and before Pfaadt could even get settled in, the Cardinals had a 2-0 lead with nobody out. This likely would have been a moment that would have snowballed for Pfaadt earlier this year, however this version of Brandon Pfaadt was able to lock it in and hold the Cardinals to just the 2 runs and get out of the first inning. After the first, Pfaadt was in total control holding the Cardinals offense scoreless over the next 5 innings, and needing just 87 pitches to get through 6. Pfaadt is now 5-0 since being recalled from Reno and he has come up huge when this team needed him the most and the season was on the line.
On the offensive side, Tyler Locklear wasn’t even supposed to start today as he was a late addition due to Ketel Marte experiencing some lower back tightness before the game, but boy did he finally break through today. Locklear went 3-5 today including his first home run of the season and finished a triple short of the cycle. Really feel good for Locklear to get off to such a hot start as he has been battling back and forth from the minors to the majors the past couple of seasons, and has been struggling with injury. If he continues to produce at first base, that would be a massive development for this team!
Gabi Moreno also continued to look like the hottest hitter on planet earth going 3-4 but having some great at bats and coming through with guys on base getting 2 RBI’s. Ildemaro Vargas and Adrian Del Castillo also both added 3 hit performances today as this offense appears to finally be firing on all cylinders! They had a couple of big innings as they put up 3 runs in the 4th and 5 runs in the 8th inning driving this offense to 10 runs on the afternoon marking double digit run production in back-to-back games.
The Dbacks will now head to DC as they have the Nationals this weekend who are just 2 games back behind the Dbacks for the 3rd wild card spot. Eduardo Rodriguez gets a chance Friday to bounce back from his lone rough outing of the season his last time out. This weekends games and whether or not the offense can continue to stay hot may very well dictate the rest of the season for these boys as the front office is in the final stages of deciding whether to buy or to sell. Having exciting, must-watch baseball this time of year is certainly a treat!
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 12: Josiah Hartshorn #27 of the Chicago Cubs bats in seventh inning of the MLB All-Star Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I’m sure we’ll have an official post on this when the Cubs issue a press release, but 2B/OF James Triantos has been promoted to the Cubs for his major-league debut. Outfielder Kevin Alcántara has been sent down to Iowa.
Right-hander Jacob Wallace moves from the rookie ball ACL Cubs to Double-A Knoxville. The Cubs signed Wallace as a free agent on July 2.
Left-hander Drew Pomeranz has cleared waivers and has been assigned to Triple-A Iowa. We’ll see if Pomeranz reports or elects free agency soon enough.
Jaxon Wiggins started this game and took the loss. Wiggins allowed three runs on five hits over 2.2 innings. Wiggins struggled to find the plate as he walked three and struck out two.
Right fielder Brett Bateman went 2 for 3 with a double. He scored both Iowa runs.
Starter Brody McCullough did not allow a hit over 4.2 innings. Unfortunately, he exited in the fifth and Frankie Scalzo Jr. let an inherited runner score on the first Trash Panda hit of the game, so McCullough was charged with one run. McCullough walked three and struck out three.
Scalzo gave up three more runs in the sixth, but the Smokies came back and tied the game. However, Tyler Santana entere the game in the bottom of the ninth with the score still tied 4-4. Santana allowed three hits and the walk-off run in just one-third of an inning to get the loss. Santana did not have a walk or a strikeout.
Catcher Ethan Hearn put the Smokies up 1-0 with a home run in the fourth inning, his fourth on the season. Hearn went 1 for 4.
Center fielder Andy Garriola tied the game up 4-4 with a three-run home run in the seventh inning. it was Garriola’s 18th home run this year. Garriola went 2 for 4 with the home run and a walk.
Third baseman Jefferson Rojas was 2 for 5 with a double. He scored on Garrioila’s home run.
Second baseman Alex Madera went 2 for 4 with a stolen base.
Ethan Flanagan started and got the win with five strong innings, allowing just one run on three hits. The one run came on a third-inning home run. Flanagan struck out four and walked one.
Ben Johnson gave the Cubs two good innings of relief after Flanagan, allowing no runs on one hit. He walked one and struck out one.
Luis Rujano started the ninth and got into trouble. After Rujano gave up a run, Ethan Bell came into the game with a man on first and one out. The runner on first got thrown out trying to steal second base and being down two in the ninth, that seems like a dumb decision. Then Bell got a fly out to center to end the game and get the save.
First baseman Josiah Hartshorn cranked a massive two-run home run in the seventh inning. It was Hartshorn’s first home run in two weeks. It was also his 16th on the year and 11th with South Bend. Hartshorn went 2 for 3 with a double, the home run and a walk. He scored three times.
Right fielder Jose Escobar was 2 for 4 with an RBI triple.
Shortstop Angel Cepeda was 2 for 4.
Center fielder Kane Kepley went 0 for 3 with two walks and his 46th stolen base. Kepley scored on Hartshorn’s blast.
This ends the Arizona Complex League for the year. The Mesa Cubs finished at 20-39. Believe it or not, that’s not even last place. They finished above the Athletics in their division and had a better overall record than the White Sox as well.
The MLB players’ union submitted a proposal on July 21 in response to the MLB draft proposal of last month. The MLB negotiating team proposed ending the drafting of high school and junior college players, instituting a draft for international players, decreasing the bonus pool for both domestic and international players, and decreasing the draft to 12 rounds as part of their major overhaul.
In response, the MLBPA submitted a proposal to retain a 20-round draft that includes high school – and junior college-aged players. They want players to be eligible for the draft after their sophomore year despite their age (currently required to be 21 by Aug. 1 of their draft year).
They propose keeping the bonus pool system the same and growing it with league revenues, with small-market teams adding up to $2 million to their pool in a single draft over the next five years. The small market teams would also get another $1 million in bonus pool money for making the playoffs.
MLB proposed eliminating the competitive balance picks and the players’ association would retain them with small-market/low-revenue teams getting a pick in round A (after first and second rounds) or round B (after second or third rounds). The current system penalizes teams with a 75% tax and would lose their first round pick for going over their pool by 5%.
They propose reducing the tax penalties for teams that go over their draft pool. They could go over by up to 15% without losing a draft pick. This allows teams to compete with the college NIL money that players are now receiving.
Allow teams in small markets to sign up to two players taken by the third round to major league contracts. It would mean subtracting that player’s slot amount from the team’s pool no matter how much money the player signed for.
Move the draft from July to June and allow trading of picks in the first round up until two hours before the draft begins. The draft was moved to July from June by the league in 2021 to add more drama to the All-Star break and attempt to increase fan interest. The league also proposed a system for trading picks.
There was nothing in the proposal addressing the international player draft that MLB proposed.
With August just around the corner, the onset of NHL training camps is drawing nearer and nearer, which means time is beginning to dwindle for any kind of roster reshuffling prior to the 2026-27 season.
And, if general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins elect not to change anything up in the meantime, things will be quite interesting once the season gets underway.
The Penguins have been a relatively active team since the end of the 2025-26 season, as they have added a few players via trade and free agency. But through that addition, a bit of a logjam has been created both in the forward unit and on the blue line, even if it gives the team a whole lot of options as far as lineups.
The logjam on the forward front was covered already, but the blue line will certainly have its own intrigue. There are a lot of questions about the left side especially, particularly with the departure of Parker Wotherspoon, who played alongside Erik Karlsson on the top pairing last season. They also have a boatload of right-side defensemen, which could hinder chances of a promising young prospect cracking the roster.
Again, for these purposes, we can't assume that any trades will be made, however likely it may seem. So, barring there is no roster movement prior to training camp and the beginning of the season, what will the Penguins' defensive pairings look like?
Going into last season, there were a whole lot of questions concerning how the blue line would hold up. After all, the Penguins' defensive work was weak going into 2025-26, and it remained to be seen how the blue line would respond to new coaching.
Well, Karlsson responded very well and then some, as he registered 15 goals and 66 points in 75 games last season. He found his vintage form, playing well in all three zones, earning team MVP at the end of the season, and leading the Penguins down the stretch run of the season to the playoffs.
Last season was, by far, the best from Karlsson in a Penguins' uniform, and he has one year remaining on his current deal. He is 36 years old, but he is still very capable of playing at an elite level.
Simply put, the Penguins need that again from Karlsson if they hope to make any playoff noise. He is the best player on their blue line by a wide margin, and him regressing this season would be nothing short of catastrophic for the Penguins.
The departures of Parker Wotherspoon and Ryan Shea left a bit of a void on the left side of the blue line for the Penguins, and - techinically - they've only added one left-side blueliner in the aftermath in Declan Carlisle.
But on the right side? They have Karlsson, Letang, Korczak, van Riemsdyk, and even Harrison Brunicke pushing. There is certainly much more depth on one side, as the depth on the other side - at least, as far as traditional handedness - includes Girard, Carlile, and Solovyov.
van Riemsdyk can and will probably play the left side, and anchoring down Karlsson on the top pairing seems to make the most sense to start. So, the left side figures to consist of him, Girard, and Carlile, with Solovyov as an extra. The Penguins kind of have to bank on Carlile and van Riemsdyk to offset the losses of Wotherspoon and Shea, which is not going to be a walk in the park.
Of course, Owen Pickering could push, too, and Ryan Graves is still ever-present. But the Penguins will need to figure out a way to optimize their pairings, even with a lack of left shots.
Letang has been a fixture on the Penguins' blue line for two decades, but it's no secret that he largely struggled last season.
He did find some wind in his sails in the back half of the campaign, as he had chemistry with Brett Kulak, who was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers but then dealt to the Colorado Avalanche just two months later. It took a while for he and Girard to find chemistrry, but they got a bit better late in the season ahead of the playoffs.
However, aside from that, things didn't look too good. The best situation for Letang is to have a partner who allows him to be more stay-at-home, which Girard is on paper. But Carlile might provide the right kind of balance for him, especially if Letang isn't exactly itching to move away from the transitional and high-risk playing style entirely.
So, it will be interesting to watch how the Penguins approach Letang, his deployment, and his minutes this season. It seems like the third pairing is the best place for him at this point.
We don't talk about Bruno, no, no, no... or do we?
A bit like several other prospects on the forward front, one of the most interesting storylines to follow on the Penguins' blue line will be that of 20-year-old Harrison Brunicke.
Brunicke earned an NHL roster spot out of training camp at 19 years old last season, and he spent nine games at the NHL level dispersed across a few months. There were clear things for him to improve on - including play in front of his own net and along the walls as well as adding some size - as he subsequently went on a five-game AHL conditioning stint, played in the World Junior Championship for Team Canada, and was reassigned back to the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL in January.
Not only was he on a point-per-game pace for the remaining 24 regular season games for Kamloops - their best player down the stretch and in the playoffs - he also improved upon pretty much everything asked of him as he was summoned back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) for the rest of the AHL regular season and their playoff run. And, in the playoffs, he was arguably their best player at 19, playing top-pair minutes and headlining both special teams units while putting up two goals and seven points in 15 games to along with a plus-4.
It's not hard to deduce that, had Brunicke been AHL-eligible last season, that's where he would have spent the year, which means he would have had a full year of development there. Despite that, Brunicke looked NHL-ready in those playoff games, and given his track record at both training camps he's participated in - he almost made the NHL club as an 18-year-old, too - it won't be surprising if he has another dominant, standout camp.
If Brunicke earns an NHL roster spot, he should be on the team. However, realistically, Karlsson and Letang are locks, and there's next to no chance Korczak doesn't get regular playing time. So, it's more likely that he begins the season in the AHL, and some runway there may not be the worst thing for his development into a sure NHL-ready blueliner, anyway.
But, don't expect him to be there all that long. The Penguins believe they have a top-pairing type of talent in Brunicke, and if his rapid development has told us anything, he's going to blow his AHL assignment out of the water.
Oh, and as far as other blue line prospects go, don't discount Owen Pickering making a push, especially with the question marks on the Penguins' left side. The organization was very happy with Pickering's development in the back half of the 2025-26 season in WBS, and they believe he's developing the game-to-game consistency as a reliable shutdown defenseman with offensive upside that was lacking before.
Jaden Fauske put up another 3-for-3 night on his hot streak with a double, walk, and a run scored | (Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Norfolk Tides @ Charlotte Knights — Postponed due to weather The Knights and Tides will make up Thursday’s game as a part of a doubleheader on Friday, July 24.
Montgomery Biscuits 6, Birmingham Barons 4 A three-run eighth inning for the Biscuits (46-46) was the difference in this one, as the Barons (35-58) fumbled the lead to drop their second of the series, 6-4. Even though he gave up a home run, lefthander Lucas Gordon put together a decent enough start for Birmingham to win the game, but the bullpen couldn’t hold up its end of the bargain. Gordon surrendered three runs on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts, but Pierce George gave up a game-tying double followed by a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth that immediately sent their chances of winning off a cliff.
The Barons outhit Montgomery, 10-6, with 60% of those mashed for extra bases: four doubles and two home runs. B-ham went 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left five on base, and the Biscuits were nearly identical on that front except they left four on instead. Anthony DePino (one) and Colby Shelton (two) accounted for three of the four two-baggers and posted two hits apiece. The long balls, however, were both solo shots, one by Jorge Corona and the other by Adam Fogel.
Cold Cat Pierce George (RHRP): 1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, BB, HR, Blown Save, LOSS (1-1) Lucas Gordon (LHSP): 5 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 4 K, HR, 2 Balk Boston Smith (C): 0-for-4, K, E
Winston-Salem Dash 1, Greensboro Grasshoppers0 — Opener The opener to Thursday’s doubleheader was a pitching duel from start to finish, with the Dash (51-41) persevering to defeat the Grasshoppers (57-35), 1-0. Righthander Jake Curtis made his third start of the year with Winston-Salem despite working out of the bullpen for the majority of the season, and held Greensboro to just two hits while striking out three in his five innings, earning his fourth win of the season. The bullpen was just as elite, not allowing another hit for the rest of the game as Max Banks recorded a hold and Garrett Wright snagged his third save of the season.
Offensively, the Dash posted five hits but went just 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position, as Arxy Hernández’s RBI double in the bottom of the fourth was just enough. Hernández was 2-for-3, and James Taussig scored the lone run of the game and also roped his 11th double of the season for the other extra-base hit.
Runners-Up Arxy Hernández (3B): 2-for-3, RBI, 2B Max Banks (RHRP): 1 IP, 0 H, K, Hold Garrett Wright (RHRP): 1 IP, 0 H, K, Save James Taussig (LF): 1-for-3, R, 2B
Cold Cat Ryan Burrowes (SS): 0-for-3 Ben Hartl (C): 0-for-2, K Alex Ungar (RF): 0-for-2 Bryce Eblin (2B): 0-for-2, K
Greensboro Grasshoppers 7, Winston-Salem Dash 6 — Nightcap A bullpen implosion for the Dash (51-42) gave the Grasshoppers (58-35) the edge in game two, splitting the doubleheader after the loss, 7-6. Justin Sinibaldi turned in a solid five innings, allowing two runs on five hits, but once the game was handed over to the bullpen with a two-run lead, 4-2, things snowballed out of control fairly quickly.
Lefthander Christian Oppor made his first appearance with Winston-Salem, but didn’t even manage to get an out before giving up four runs and getting yanked. A pair of walks and a double loaded the bases up, and he walked a run in before Seth Keener replaced him and four more runs scored: four to Oppor and one to Keener, with Oppor receiving the L while the latter rightly was given a blown save.
Four Winston-Salem batters put up at least two hits, but it was Calvin Harris who led the day with three RBIs from a two-run tank and an RBI ground out. A whopping eight of the Dash’s 10 hits were for extra bases, with seven doubles. George Wolkow and Bryce Eblin each doubled twice, accounting for four of Winston-Salem’s seven doubles, while James Taussig added his second double of the day.
Columbia Fireflies 2, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 1 Both teams scored in the first inning and then never again, leaving the Fireflies (48-45) to outlast the Cannon Ballers (47-46), 2-1. Columbia outhit Kannapolis by one, 7-6, but the Ballers went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left eight on base, unable to string anything together.
Despite a solid outing from righthander Gabe Tanner, he ended up with the loss, allowing just two runs on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts over six frames, but the bats couldn’t support him on the other end. Jaden Fauske and Javier Mogollón held up the offense. Fauske recorded three of Kannapolis’ six hits, going 3-for-3 with a walk and a double while scoring the Ballers’ lone run. Mogollón drove him home with a double of his own. Fauske has been on a heater, posting eight hits in his last 13 at-bats with a .464 OBP in July (51 ABs), continuing to strengthen his case for a promotion to Winston-Salem.
— Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (@Kcannonballers) July 23, 2026
MVP Jaden Fauske (LF): 3-for-3, R, BB, 2B
Runners-Up Javier Mogollón (2B): 1-for-4, RBI, K, 2B Gabe Tanner (RHSP): 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, BB, 2 K, Loss (3-3) Daniel Wright (RHRP): 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K Alexander Albertus (1B): 1-for-3, BB, K, CS
Cold Cat Matthew Boughton (SS): 0-for-4, K Nick McLain (CF): 0-for-4 Christian Gonzalez (RF): 0-for-4, 2 K Efren Teran (3B): 0-for-4, K
ACL White Sox 4, ACL Dodgers 1 The ACL Dodgers (25-35) scored one run early in the first, but the ACL White Sox (19-41) fought back for a run in the third and three more in the fourth to pull away with a 4-1 win. Pitching from the Sox rookies was spot on, as Justin Fuson paved the way with six excellent frames, allowing one run on five hits while striking out six. Earning his second save of the season, Reinder Gomez shut the Dodgers down in the final inning to seal the W.
All but three starters logged a hit on the day, though only two of their four runs were earned with the help of the Dodgers’ defense. Yordani Soto was the only batter to put up more than one hit, including an RBI double, though Jackson Appel kicked off the fourth-inning rally with a solo homer that gave the White Sox the lead. The ACL Sox otherwise went just 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position, leaving four on base.
DSL Cardinals 13, DSL White Sox 8 It was quite a chaotic game in the DSL, with the Cardinals (17-18) getting the win, 13-8, by putting up 12 runs in the first three frames. The White Sox (12-23) attempted to claw back in the top seventh with eight runs before they ultimately fell short. Roderic Ramírez had a rough outing, allowing nine runs on six hits and two walks, while also racking up four wild pitches in his 1 1/3 innings.
Five runs were given up in the first — the first run being the only one that was earned — all with two outs, and Ramírez was actually pulled out of the game as he was floundering, unable to get the third out. Christopher Romero struck out the only batter he faced to finally get out of the first, just for Ramírez to re-enter in the second and give up four more. The only thing that “saved” Ramírez’s outing on paper was the fact that the defense committed three errors, leading to eight of the nine runs being unearned.
The DSL Sox pitching was all over the place, not just Ramírez, as Sox pitchers accounted for eight of the 12 wild pitches in the game and hit two batters along the way. On the other side of the ball, the bats were dormant for the majority of the game, but the Sox nearly erased a 13-run deficit in the top of the seventh, going on an eight-run rally with no outs before falling short with three strikeouts to end the game with the bases loaded. Both Sebastian Romero and Fernando Graterol posted multi-hit days, driving in three and two runs, with Romero’s coming from a three-run bomb in the seventh.
The moment that Pittsburgh Penguins fans feared would never happen took place Sept. 5 in a packed Mellon Arena media room, when Mario Lemieux stepped to the podium and presented 20-year-old Russian hockey star Evgeni Malkin with a No. 71 Penguins jersey.
Malkin, the team’s first round draft pick (second overall) in 2004, could not contain his smile as he draped the jersey over his button-down shirt.
“I am really happy to be here today,” he said through his interpreter, Olga McQueen. “It was my dream to come here and play for the Pittsburgh Penguins.”
The Penguins’ new marketing slogan – “Experience the Evolution” – might have to be changed to “Experience the Russian Evolution” in the wake of Malkin’s incredible odyssey. In early August, he abandoned his hometown team, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, at the Helsinki Airport. He’d just signed a one-year deal with the club, but said he did so under extreme pressure from team management. He quickly realized his mistake.
One month and a few dramatic twists later, he arrived in Pittsburgh, via Los Angeles, on the night of Sept. 4. Local television stations were there to greet him, and the Penguins were ready with open arms. Malkin spent that first night dining on steak and lobster at Lemieux’s suburban mansion. New teammates Sergei Gonchar and Sidney Crosby, plus GM Ray Shero, also were among those present for the first supper.
“His dream was to come to Pittsburgh and start his career in the NHL, and he had to go through a lot in the last couple of weeks to achieve that,” said Lemieux, a player to whom Malkin has been likened.
“It’s always difficult when you’ve got a different country and a different language, and it will be tough for him for the next few months.”
Malkin immediately moved in with Gonchar, his teammate on the 2006 Russian Olympic team. The coaching staff plans to ease Malkin into the system.
Said coach Michel Therrien: “We’re going to be there to help him and make sure he’s comfortable in the city and comfortable with his teammates and the coaching staff so he’ll be able to perform well on the ice.”
It will take Pittsburghers a while to get to know Malkin, but a few things seem obvious. He’s clearly strong-minded and courageous, or he wouldn’t have fled his Russian club knowing it would cause massive resentment among team officials and fans.
“Not much flusters him,” said J.P. Barry, the agent who hid out with Malkin for five days in Helsinki as Malkin awaited his visa. “He has this ability to deal with pressure. He has a sense of humor, but he’s generally very serious.”
During those days in seclusion, Malkin, a big Internet surfer, tracked what people back in Russia were saying. He knew they weren’t pleased. That is why Barry arranged an interview with the Russian daily Sport-Express as soon as Malkin arrived in Los Angeles.
“He’s very proud to be a member of the Russian national team,” Barry said. “So he was glad to be able to openly tell his side of the story. At the end of the day, that went a long way with public sentiment. (Fans) realized the (Metallurg) team was using, let’s say, old Russian tactics.”
In Los Angeles, Malkin trained with several current and former NHL players. One was Alexander Mogilny, who picked up Malkin at his hotel each day and shared stories of his defection from the Soviet Union many years earlier.
Once in Pittsburgh, Malkin was thrilled to meet Lemieux, saying, “To tell the truth, I was a bit nervous.”
Malkin signed the same entry-level contract the man picked ahead of him in 2004, Alex Ovechkin, signed with Washington last year, Barry said. The three-year deal is worth $984,200 annually in base salary, plus bonuses that could top $2 million.
Malkin is confident things have settled down at home.
“I was always open in my desire to come to North America and become one of the best here,” he said. “My friends understood me and I am very grateful for their support.”
He’s also confident his parents are free from harassment, despite reports they might flee Magnitogorsk because of fan displeasure and pressure from team general director Gennady Velichkin.
“I definitely was a little concerned,” Malkin said. “But, knowing Velichkin for so many years, I had to believe he wouldn’t go for any harsh measures toward me. After I had my visa obtained, I called my parents and informed them everything was fine and I was doing great. They contacted Mr. Velichkin and actually now they are doing well and Mr. Velichkin doesn’t have any hard feelings against me.”
Therrien spoke for every hockey fan in the city when he said, “I can’t wait to see him on the ice.”
Trump even cracked a few jokes with the team Thursday during the outdoor ceremony in the Rose Garden.
Perhaps one of the funniest moments from the 2025 World Series celebration in the nation’s capital was when the president asked Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani a hilarious question.
President Donald Trump made Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto laugh during the Dodgers’ White House visit. AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Donald Trump to Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani:
Ohtani and Yamamoto laughed along with the rest of the Dodgers’ personnel who erupted into smiles. Trump sang the Dodgers’ praises for nearly 20 minutes in a recap of the team’s success throughout the 2025 season, culminating in LA’s epic World Series win in a thrilling Game 7 against the Blue Jays.
Shohei Ohtani shook hands with President Donald Trump during the Dodgers’ White House visit. AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Three notable Dodgers absent from the White House visit were Mookie Betts, Kiké Hernandez and reliever Edgardo Henriquez. Betts revealed he likely wouldn’t join his teammates at the Oval Office for family reasons.
The Dodgers traveled to Washington on their off-day during a nine-game road trip. This marked the second consecutive year that the team commemorated a World Series title at the White House.
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There was uncertainty surrounding the Dodgers’ visit this year after scheduling conflicts prevented the team from making a stop at the White House during their opening road trip to kick off the season, which began with a three-game series against the Nationals.
Pittsburgh acquired right-handed reliever Ron Marinaccio from the Padres on Thursday, the team announced.
San Diego received international signing bonus pool considerations in return for Marinaccio.
Padres pitcher Ron Marinaccio delivers during the fifth inning during a game against the Blue Jays at Petco Park earlier this season. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Marinaccio, 31, has experienced a down year so far this season, holding a 4.79 ERA with 38 strikeouts through 47 innings.
Marinaccio can help out a depleted Pirates bullpen that’s without Chris Devenski and Evan Sisk.
Outside of his 2026 season, the Toms River, N.J., native has had a rather successful MLB tenure since being called up to the Yankees four seasons ago, posting a career 3.02 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 125⅓ innings from 2022-25.
In order to make room for Marinaccio, the Pirates opted to designate Dennis Santana for assignment, who had a 6.05 ERA through 44 appearances this season.
Pittsburgh’s move to DFA Santana comes just three days after the righty got into a wild brawl with Yankees infielder Jose Caballero.
Dennis Santana (left) is restrained by teammates Rafael Flores Jr. (43) and Ryan O’Hearn (29) as Austin Wells moves in during an altercation after the eighth inning of the Pirates’ loss to the Yankees on July 20, 2026 in The Bronx. Getty Images
The two started waking towards each other before teammates had to hold them back, with both benches and bullpens clearing.
“If you get frustrated, I’m winning,” Caballero told reporters, according to MLB.com. “For me, it’s a battle in the box. I’m trying to win the battle. If you’re not concentrating 100 percent, I think I’m winning.”
Santana, however, insisted that he was upset with the “game speed” rather than Caballero himself.
“It was the game speed. I’m not used to that,” Santana said. “People waiting too much at home plate. It frustrated me a little bit. With baseball, you have to be quick. It’s nothing against him.
Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is the biggest name in the rumor mill ahead of the trade deadline, and he has been connected with the Yankees, but the two-time Cy Young winner has made it clear he does not want to be dealt.
Speaking with the media Thursday afternoon, including The Athletic's Cody Stavenhagen, Skubal said that his desire is to stay in Detroit for the remainder of the 2026 season.
“I think we have a chance to win a World Series,” Skubal said. “I’ve said that since spring training. That’s never changed. That belief in this team has never changed throughout the season. … Going into spring training, the whole offseason, I’ve never been more motivated to try to win a World Series for this city, the team that drafted me in 2018 and helped develop me. That’s always been the goal, and that will never change unless I’m told I’m on a different team.”
Skubal is an impending free agent and many in the industry believe that his price tag will be too much for the Tigers in the offseason. However, what complicates matters is Detroit's recent string of wins. Following Thursday's 4-3 victory over the Royals, Detroit is 27-16 since June 1 and sits 6.0 games behind the White Sox for the AL Central lead and 4.0 games back of the third Wild Card spot.
In a weak AL, the Tigers are certainly not out of the playoff hunt.
As for the Yankees side of things, many in the industry believe New York has the assets Detroit is looking for in a potential Skubal deal. The Athletic's Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal reported earlier this week that Detroit is looking for a controllable starting pitcher plus quality prospects. Among the list of teams, which includes the Dodgers, Brewers, Rays, Phillies and Braves, the Yankees have what the Tigers could use in Will Warren or Ryan Weathers.
But with the Yankees getting Max Fried back, the priority seems to be in bolstering the bullpen and picking up a right-handed bat, preferably a catcher.
In any case, how the Tigers handle the Skubal situation by the Aug. 3 deadline, or whether the Yankees will pursue Skubal, is unclear, and the southpaw doesn't expect a conversation with the front office about his future with the club.
“Those questions are not for me,” Skubal said. “I don’t know how they handle the business on that side. Been around it a couple times and (other players) didn’t have any idea until about five minutes before you guys did. I assume that’s how it’s going to be handled because that’s how most things are handled.”
Skubal is set to take the mound for the Tigers on Friday, in what could be his final start with Detroit.
Jul 23, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder James Outman (43) celebrates after he hits a three run home run in the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Despite striking first, the Royals dropped the opening game of their four-game series against the Detroit Tigers, 4-3. The result drops Kansas City’s record to 43-61 while Detroit improves to 49-54.
On the bright side for the Royals, starting pitcher Randy Dobnak threw a fine game. Looking for his first win since May 21, 2021, Dobnak threw five scoreless innings while limiting the Tigers to five hits. He walked only one while he struck out three. Matt Strahm relieved in the sixth inning, preserving the lead for his 13th hold of the season. Strahm’s ERA dropped to 6.88—still bad, but under 7.
The game remained scoreless through five innings as the Royals threatened, but never maimed, Tigers starting pitcher Troy Melton. Melton, who entered the evening with a 1.80 ERA and 3.87 FIP through nine starts and 55 innings pitched, struggled with his command as he walked four. He got away with it, though, until the sixth inning.
Against the last batter he’d face, Isaac Collins, Melton left a slider over the plate. Collins turned on it, hitting it 390 feet to right, over the fence and on to the Michigan Lottery sign. (“For fun. For schools.”) Michael Massey, who singled to begin the inning, also scored. 2-0, Royals.
After Strahm held the Tigers at bay, John Schreiber came in to pitch the seventh. It’s not fair to Schreiber, but when he entered the game, The Rolling Stones started playing in my head, specifically the song, “Play With Fire.” Schreiber’s had a decent season—he entered with a 3.29 ERA (but 4.93 FIP) and hadn’t allowed an earned run in his last three outings. Heck, during his last two outings, he hadn’t even allowed a hit.
To his credit, he almost got out of it unscathed, but horseshoes and grenades, am I right?
The first two batters of the inning, Dillon Dingler and Kerry Carpenter, both singled, Dingler moving to third on Carpenter’s hit. Spencer Torkelson struck out before Zach McKinstry softly lined out to Andrew Velasquez at short. Two outs, two on, James Outman, he of the .155/.216/.275 slash line, coming up.
Because this is just the way things are going for the Royals, on a 2-2 pitch, Outman hit it out, man. (I’m not sorry.) 3-2, Detroit.
The Royals didn’t go quietly, though. Massey led off the top of the eighth with a single. Tyler Tolbert replaced him on the basepaths. Collins, who homered his last time up, popped up a bunt to the third baseman, failing to advance Tolbert. No matter. With Josh Rojas up, Tolbert stole second before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Rojas then singled him home, tying the game, 3-3.
Rojas remained at first, though, as Detroit quickly retired Nick Loftin and Velasquez.
Steven Cruz replaced Schreiber, and Mick Jagger picked it back up in my head. Sure enough, with two outs and two strikes, Detroit regained the lead when Dingler doubled home Hao-Ye Lee. Tigers up, 4-3.
My sons decided to watch the top of the ninth with me. Things looked promising after Lane Thomas walked and Vinnie Pasquantino singled to bring up Salvador Perez with one out and the tying run on second. I’d been telling the boys all night when Salvy came up to bat so they could possibly witness some local history. My oldest said, “It would be great if he hit a home run right here.”
I replied, “Yeah, but I’m thinking a game-ending double-play instead.”
DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 19: Jordan Romano #68 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates a defensive play as he pitches in the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field on July 19, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With more than seven years of Major League experience, Jordan Romano is no stranger to serving as a closer.
The Canadian right-hander spent the first six years of his Major League career with the Toronto Blue Jays before moving to Philadelphia for a year in 2025, and was most recently with the Los Angeles Angels earlier this season before being designated for assignment on April 26th.
In just a short period of time, Romano is quickly making his case to assume the closer role at his new home in Denver.
Signed as a free agent by the Rockies on May 6 and then moving to Colorado’s 40-man roster on July 4, the 6’ 5” Romano has recorded scoreless outings in five of his six appearances as a Rockie, surrendering only one run.
“Whenever you are in the big leagues, it’s a chance to perform and showcase yourself,” said Romano.
“So, that’s just what I am trying to do,” he added. “Whenever you are on that field, I am just trying to bring it, get outs and, hopefully, it goes all right.”
Since being a Rockie, Romano earned a save in back-to-back outings (July 5 against San Francisco and July 7 at Los Angeles Dodgers).
In so doing, he became the first Colorado pitcher to log two saves in their first three contests with the team since Pierce Johnson in 2023.
He notched his third save in three opportunities with Colorado (seventh on the season after four with the Angels) needing only 11 pitches to retire the side in order, including a pair of strikeouts, in the ninth inning of the Rockies’ come-from-behind 8-7 home victory July 21st against Washington.
Colorado manager Warren Schaeffer pointed to Romano’s mental approach as a key to his mound success.
“How you prepare yourself mentally, he just does it differently,” Schaeffer said.
“He turns himself into someone different when he comes in the ball game. I think all the experience he has brings (us to) a level that we necessarily haven’t had in the bullpen with all those big league saves that he has.”
Romano has 120 saves in his Major League career, including 105 in his six seasons with the Blue Jays. He logged back-to-back seasons with 36 saves in 2022 and 2023, earning All-Star Game selection each campaign, and his 87.0 save percentage (120 for 138) since 2019. That is tied for the second-highest in MLB (minimum 130 save opportunities).
“I have had a lot of experience closing games, [I’ve] been around and have seen a lot of things,” said Romano.
“I just try to help out, especially some of the young guys in the bullpen,” he added. “I am not saying I am like a ‘super veteran,’ but I have seen a lot and have pitched in a lot of tight spots.
“I am just trying to pay it back and tell guys what works and what doesn’t,” he continued. “Everyone’s different. But there’s some key things that stick with good players in the league.”
Schaeffer sees the importance of having someone with Romano’s experience in the team’s bullpen.
“I think it’s just the pedigree,” the manager said. “I think it’s the young relievers being able to look to him to how he prepares himself for a game in the middle of the game, which is huge.”
Thus far Romano is pleased with his early success with Colorado as he attempts to re-establish himself as one of the top closers in the Majors.
“I feel like things are just kind of trending upward,” he said. “I am feeling more comfortable on the mound, feeling more comfortable with the fastball and the slider.
“I always believed I could pitch. We just got to get on a roll here.”
This raises an interesting question. Manager Warren Schaeffer has been resistant to naming a single closer, instead using specific relievers to face specific batters. Should the Rockies name Romano their closer or continue with their previous strategy?
That music you hear in the background is the Jeopardy theme, playing while we wait for LeBron James to announce his decision. While LeBron's dragged-out process has slowed the market, it has not slowed the rumors, here are some of the latest.
Lakers calling Kuminga
The Lakers will have 16 guaranteed contracts on the books once the Kevon Looney and Matisse Thybulle deals become official, meaning they have to shed at least one player from the roster before the season starts (league rules only permit carrying 15). The Lakers also are just under $2 million below the luxury tax line, according to Spotac.
That hasn't stopped Lakers president Rob Pelinka from calling Jonathan Kuminga to make his pitch, reports ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
"I can tell you that they keep calling Jonathan Kuminga. Obviously they have not made a lucrative enough offer for Kuminga to jump. But part of their pitch has been, 'Hey, you can come start here potentially'... All I can tell you is Rob Pelinka keeps calling about Jonathan Kuminga."
Slater's report comes despite previous ones that sign-and-trade talks between the Lakers and Hawks have all but died, and that the Lakers and Kuminga were nowhere close to agreeing to a new contract number. It's possible all that is true and Pelinka keeps calling anyway. The Lakers reportedly have offered two years, $20 million total, while Kuminga is looking for something at the very least north of the mid-level exception of $15 million a season.
Then there are the multiple problems of a sign-and-trade with Atlanta — the Hawks are not interested unless the Lakers throw in draft compensation that makes it worth their while. The Hawks are currently $4.9 million below the luxury tax with 17 players on the books (one of those is a partial guarantee), meaning Atlanta must trade or waive two players before the season starts — and Kuminga is not one of the guys on the books. Meaning if they do a sign-and-trade they add a player and salary to their books. The Lakers reportedly offered Jared Vanderbilt in the deal, but that doesn't work for the Hawks on two fronts: 1) It puts them into the luxury tax this year, and Vanderbilt is not worth going into the tax for; 2) Vanderbilt has two guaranteed years left on his contract and the Hawks don't want his $13.3 million for 2027-28 on the books. The Hawks might consider it for the swap rights to the Lakers' 2032 first-round pick — the only first-round pick the Lakers can trade — but is Kuminga worth giving up that trade asset for?
Lakers fans, remember how frustrated Steve Kerr was with Kuminga, trying to get him to play in their system and work off the ball to get open? With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, JJ Redick is going to ask a lot of the same things of Kuminga. So why is he suddenly a good fit?
D’Angelo Russell expected to become free agent
D'Angelo Russell ended up in Memphis as part of the massive six-team trade that also saw Isaiah Stewart end up with the Grizzlies. While Stewart is part of the future plans in Memphis, Russell is not and the sides are working toward a buyout that would make Russell a free agent, reports Kelly Iko at Yahoo Sports.
Russell's timeline — an experienced player with over 30 playoff games — simply doesn't align with a rebuilding Grizzlies franchise seeking young, developmental talent centered around a core of Cedric Coward, Zach Edey and recent No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer.
Russell would have interest on the open market. However, he has been inconsistent in recent seasons and has always been better with the ball in his hands rather than working off it (which is why he fell out of favor with Jason Kidd in Dallas last season, before the team traded him to Washington at the deadline). Last season he played in just 26 games, averaging 10.2 points and four assists a game, but shooting 29.5% from 3-point range. He will draw interest as a backup point guard, although he could wait until camps open and teams realize they need another point guard (or an injury hits them) and they come calling.
Expect to see this split between Russell and the Grizzlies to happen in the coming weeks.
How much is Jalen Duren worth?
Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons remain at an impasse, with Duren becoming this year's poster child for why agents and players hate restricted free agency.
As a reminder, coming off an All-NBA season where he averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds a game while playing high-level defense in the paint, Duren qualifies for a Rose Rule: 30% of the salary cap max for five years, $287 million. However, after a disappointing playoff run where he was largely a non-factor (or at least not near what was expected), he is willing to take the same deal Victor Wembanyama got at 25% of the cap, or five years at $239.2 million.
Except the Pistons reportedly are not putting that on the table. So Fred Katz of The Athletic asked 13 people from other front offices what they would offer Duren if they were in the Pistons' shoes, and the offers were much lower than what Duren is seeking.
One executive believes he's identified the fair deal for Duren and the Pistons: $204.5 million over five years... Yet, this exec is on the high end of the poll; $204.5 million, even though it's far below his max, is the second-most guaranteed money any of the respondents suggested. The largest proposed deal was $230 million over five years. Two executives considered $200 million over five years to be fair. The two other five-year deals were for $190 million and $180 million.
All the others were lower than that, with some offering only four-year deals.
Duren's only leverage is to say he will play this season for the $9.6 million qualifying offer and become a free agent next summer, potentially leaving Detroit for nothing. The concern there is that not a lot of teams are lined up to have max cap space next summer. More concerningly would be leaving all that money on the table — things do sometimes go sideways. Even on the lower end of what might be offered, that is generational wealth. It's a lot just to walk away from.
Which is what Detroit is counting on. Expect a deal to get done, eventually.
Other trade rumors
• New Orleans has had trade conversations with several teams about wing Jordan Hawkins, reports Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. Memphis was one of the teams involved, according to the report. Hawkins was a lottery pick in the 2023 draft but has regressed each of the last two years, and last season averaged 5.1 points per game shooting 36.6% overall.
• It's worth noting the Pelicans continue to hold tightly to the wings teams are really calling them about, Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones.
• Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball have been to France and are working out with Rudy Gobert, reports Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. That's a good sign for Timberwolves fans.
• The Houston Rockets re-signed veteran Jae'Sean Tate to a one-year, veteran minimum contract (partially guaranteed). His role decreased last season with the Rockets, he played in just 46 games and averaged 8.8 minutes a night.
• Houston may have the best free agent signing of the summer: assistant coach Chip Engelland. The shooting guru is leaving Oklahoma City to work under Ime Udoka in Houston, and it's hard to overstate what a quality hire that is for the Rockets.
The Angels have a suitor for Neto if the team looks to deal the infielder ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline. The Boston Red Sox reportedly have renewed interested in Neto, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon.
Angels star Zach Neto is under team control for three more years. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Neto’s availability remains unclear, though, as owner Arte Moreno and interim general manager John Mozeliak may not want to part ways with a player under club control for three more years.
Boston pursued the 25-year-old last winter, but their efforts were evidently unsuccessful. But, the Angels no longer have Perry Minasian in the front office after he was relieved of his duties at the end of June, which could open the door for the Red Sox to acquire the young dual threat.
The Red Sox are coming off an improbable 15-game win streak that tied the franchise record, transforming Boston from seller to buyers this summer. The middle infield is an area that the Red Sox are looking to address at the deadline.
During the win streak, Boston played Andruw Monasterio and Tsung-Che Cheng at shortstop, neither of whom are everyday infielders.
The Red Sox front office, led by Craig Breslow, is interested in acquiring Angels star Zach Neto ahead of the trade deadline. AP
Neto is hitting .238 with 19 home runs, 46 RBIs, and a OPS of .772 across 395 at-bats. The Angels star also has 13 stolen bags on the season.
Since the start of the 2024 season, Neto has 68 home runs and 69 stolen bases.
The Red Sox already having a starting shortstop in Trevor Story, but he hasn’t played since May. The former All-Star is expected to begin a rehab assignment next month, but age and injury still pose a lot of questions. Meanwhile, Neto presents a younger and more cost-effective option for the team.
Angels owner Arte Moreno has been the recipient of much criticism for the way he’s run the team. AP
The only problem? Moreno has a history of retaining players under long-term control rather than trading them away. The Angels may not want to kickstart a rebuild by letting go of Neto and that would certainly fall in line with how the organization has operated in recent years.
This Red Sox prospect’s home run sparked an all-out brawl.
After blasting a homer for High-A Greenville during their 13-6 win on Wednesday, Justin Gonzales exchanged some words with Rangers affiliate Hub City’s catcher Cal Stark before things quickly devolved into a benches-clearing brawl.
Gonzales — who is the Red Sox’s No. 3-ranked prospect, according to MLB.com — took his time around the bases to admire the blast before Clark threw up his hands as the outfielder crossed home plate.
CHAOS IN GREENVILLE
Justin Gonzalez DEMOLISHES a three-run homer and benches clear as he crosses the plate.
Despite being held back by his teammates during the scuffle, Gonzales broke free at one point and slapped Stark in his mask.
Gonzales was ejected from the game for his actions, though any details of a further suspension have yet to be released.
Gonzales, 19, has quickly risen up the ranks for Boston since being signed as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2024.
Through 73 games in High-A this season, Gonzales has posted an impressive slash line of .263/.379/.443 with 13 home runs and 40 RBIs.
“That’s something that I like to do,” Gonzales told MLB.com through an interpreter in late April. “I try to hit the ball hard, and also that’s something that I’ve been working on, trying to be more consistent hitting the ball hard.”
Justin Gonzales wound up being ejected for his actions. Baseball America on X
One of Gonzales’ most projectable characteristics is his towering six-foot-five, 210-pound stature, with MLB Pipeline listing his projected big-league arrival in 2028.
“That body, look at him,” former Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Gonzales in March, according to MLB.com. “He’s only 19. Lucky for him, he’s playing baseball. He was born in the Dominican. If not, he would be playing tight end for somebody.
Jul 23, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder James Outman (43) receives congratulations from right fielder Kerry Carpenter (30) and catcher Dillon Dingler (13) after he hits a three run home run in the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
It took almost seven innings for the Tigers to remember to try to win, but they did win indeed, going 4-3 over the Royals.
The Tigers were back home again after a post-All-Star Break road trip, and they would be facing a team that would most certainly be a thorn in their side. The Kansas City Royals, dubious season record aside, have always been a hard win for the Tigers. To open the weekend series against their division rivals, they would have Troy Melton on the mound, and they would be facing off against a former Tigers farmhand in Randy Dobnak.
In the first inning Carter Jensen took a leadoff walk. Then, with one out Vinnie Pasquantino singled. Right on his heels Salvador Perez walked. Despite the rough start, though, Melton kept his head and got the final two outs of the inning with no damage done. This particular play needs to be seen to be believed.
In the home half, Gleyber Torres got a one-out single. He was then eliminated in a force out off the bat of Colt Keith. Riley Greene singled to put runners on the corners, but the Tigers just weren’t able to convert a golden opportunity and left two runners stranded.
Josh Rojas opened the second with a leadoff double, but three outs in a row followed to end the inning and get Melton out of another uneasy situation. Zach McKinstry got a two-out single in the bottom of the inning, but he was picked off by Dobnak to end the inning.
Melton was finally in his groove by the third, getting the Royals out in order. Too bad the Tigers did the same in the bottom of the inning.
In the fourth, Isaac Collins got a one-out walk, but two outs followed to leave him stranded. Similarly, Dillon Dingler got a two-out walk in the bottom of the inning, but he was also left behind to end the inning.
Carter Jensen got a one-out double in the fifth. Then, with two outs, Pasquantino walked, but the Royals failed to convert the baserunners. Now, while we have a moment: tell me if you thought a Dobnak vs. Melton game would basically become a pitchers’ duel? If you say yes, you are a liar. McKinstry got a one-out single in the bottom of the inning but was eliminated on a force out off the bat of James Outman. Outman was then caught stealing second and though the Tigers challenged the out call (and frankly it looked like he was safe) the call was upheld to end the inning.
Michael Massey got a leadoff single in the top of the sixth, and then Collins homered, bringing in two runs. That was it for Melton, whose final line for the game was 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 1 HR on 76 pitches. Some good stuff from Melton overall, just the Royals picking away small ball style all game. Tyler Holton came in to replace him and after getting the first out, gave up a single to Nick Loftin. He got the next two outs after that, though, to end the inning. Dobnak was also done after five, being replaced by Matt Strahm. With two outs a pinch-hitting Hao-Yu Lee walked, but the Tigers weren’t able to bring him home.
Holton got two outs into the seventh before being pulled in favor of Jacob Waguespack. Waguespack got the final out of the inning. John Schreiber, another familiar name to Tigers’ fans, was the new reliever for the Royals in the bottom of the inning. Dingler and Kerry Carpenter got things going with back-to-back singles. Then, with two outs, James Outman hit a homer to right to clear the bases and give the Tigers the lead.
Kevin McGonigle then singled, but got tagged out at second trying to leg out a double.
Drew Anderson came in for the Tigers in the eighth. Michael Massey got a leadoff single, then his pinch-runner Tyler Tolbert stole second with one out. A wild pitch that bounced off home plate allowed Tolbert to advance to third and then a Josh Rojas single brought him home to tie the game 3-3.
Steven Cruz continued the bullpen rotation. Hao-Yu Lee got a one-out single, then got to second on a Riley Greene groundout. Dingler then doubled to score the much-needed go-ahead run, bringing Lee home.
Kerry Carpenter reached on an error from Pasquantino, putting Dingler on third and giving the Tigers a great opportunity to extend their lead. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to take advantage of it. Alas. Drew Sommers came in for the top of the ninth, hoping to keep the Tigers in the lead. Lane Thomas got a one-out walk as Sommers struggled to locate his fastball. Pasquantino then singled. That was it for Sommers, the leash very short, who was replaced by Kyle Finnegan. And he did exactly what they needed, getting Salvador Perez to hit into a double play to end the game, with Finnegan covering first for the final out. Iconic.
Judging by the national media today, the Tigers are preparing to trade Tarik Skubal, keep Tarik Skubal and buy, and keep Tarik Skubal and shed salary elsewhere to avoid the luxury tax screwing up their compensation picks. Hard hitting stuff from the MLB insiders. We’ll be glad when this saga is over one way or another.
At no point during Jose Iglesias’ days as the Tigers shortstop did we envision his Broadway debut, but the Cuban born defensive specialist had a minor hit with his “OMG!” song two years ago during his run with the Mets. Now he’ll be on Broadway as part of the cast of Buena Vista Social Club. The musical covers the ensemble of Cuban musicians who formed in 1996. That’s one heck of a second career for Candelito, and if you’ve never heard this album you owe it to yourself to check it out.
