CINCINNATI, OHIO - APRIL 24: A general view of rainfall during the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on April 24, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians were rained out yesterday and will play at 1:40 and 7:10. Slade Cecconi and Gavin Williams will both pitch as the Guardians have an off day on Thursday to get the rotation back on track.
The Guardians have five players in FanGraphs’ new Top 100 prospects list. 11. Angel Genao, 37. Braylon Doughty, 38. Ralphy Velazquez, 67. Juneiker Caceres, 96. Aaron Walton. Khal Stephen also snuck on to the 11 players listed just outside the 100 at 111. Get well soon, Khal.
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 27: Zac Thornton #49 of the New York Mets pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Monday, July 27, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Evan Yu/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets had themselves quite the night in the series opener against the Atlanta Braves, crushing their rivals to the tune of 14-3. Zac Thornton continued his run of success with his fourth straight quality start, and the bats slugged four home runs—including two from Francisco Lindor.
The Phillies entered the bottom of the ninth against the Marlins with a two-run lead, but Jhoan Durán then allowed six baserunners while recording just one out, culminating in a walk-off single from Griffin Conine to give Philadelphia an 8-7 defeat.
Speaking of Beltrán, it was fifteen years ago today that the Mets traded him to the Giants in exchange for a young pitching prospect named Zack Wheeler.
While theMLBGold Glove odds aren't out yet, it's never too early to speculate who baseball's sharpest defenders will be.
Established in 1957, the Gold Glove honors players who exhibit superior individual fielding performances at each position in the AL and NL. Overall, 18 Gold Gloves are handed out, making the Gold Glove odds a fun bit of speculation – and ultimately a lucrative market to bet.
As I said, we don't have odds, but we can offer a decent projection on potential winners based on Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) as of July 28.
AL Gold Glove Odds & Picks
Position
Player
Team
DRS
C
Dillon Dingler
Detroit Tigers
+8
1B
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Toronto Blue Jays
+5
2B
Cole Young
Seattle Mariners
+11
3B
Caleb Durbin
Boston Red Sox
+8
SS
Taylor Walls
Tampa Bay Rays
+14
LF
Cody Bellinger
New York Yankees
+19
CF
Cedanne Rafaela
Boston Red Sox
+17
RF
Wilyer Abreu
Boston Red Sox
+20
P
Brent Suter
Los Angeles Angels
+4
The AL board is loaded up the middle and in the outfield. Wilyer Abreu's +20 DRS in right field leads all AL fielders on this list, with Cedanne Rafaela (+17) and Cody Bellinger (+19) giving Boston and New York outfield candidates of their own. Taylor Walls (+14) paces infielders at short, while Cole Young's +11 stands out as the clear leader among AL second basemen.
NL Gold Glove Odds & Picks
Position
Player
Team
DRS
C
Luis Torrens
New York Mets
+12
1B
Ty France
San Diego Padres
+10
2B
Brice Turang
Milwaukee Brewers
+14
3B
Matt Chapman
San Francisco Giants
+16
SS
Geraldo Perdomo
Arizona Diamondbacks
+7
LF
Daylen Lile
Washington Nationals
+8
CF
Andy Pages
Los Angeles Dodgers
+17
RF
Corbin Carroll
Arizona Diamondbacks
+8
P
Nolan McLean
New York Mets
+4
The NL races center on the outfield and left side of the infield. Andy Pages tops this board at +17 DRS in center, with Matt Chapman's +16 keeping the hot corner competitive for San Francisco. Brice Turang's +14 leads NL second basemen, and Luis Torrens' +12 puts him ahead of every other catcher listed, a strong early marker in a position that's historically hard to grade defensively.
If you bounce around the majors, you'll find a variety ofMLBballparks, big and small. No two stadiums are alike, and that's a good thing.
Baseball sharps take note of which parks favor hitters or pitchers. There are betting advantages and disadvantages camouflaged within each venue's towering wall, short porch, dry air or deep alley. Here's everything you need to know about which MLB ballparks are good or bad for dingers.
Homer heaven: Best MLB ballparks for home runs
If you love the value of a home run player prop, take note of the ballparks that can make or break your bet.
Dodger Stadium remains the best home run environment in baseball, posting a 129 HR factor in the 2024–2026 window. That means the park is playing 29% more homer-friendly than league average, giving it a clear edge over the rest of the field. With dry conditions, limited wind disruption, and a lineup loaded with power, games at Chavez Ravine should stay circled for anyone betting dinger props.
Great American Ball Park (122)
Great American Ball Park has long carried a hitter-friendly reputation, and the latest HR factor data backs it up. Cincinnati checks in second at 122, making it one of the best parks in baseball for balls to leave the yard. The compact dimensions can turn well-struck fly balls into quick home runs, especially when the weather heats up. If you're shopping home run props, this is one of the first venues to check.
Yankee Stadium (117)
Yankee Stadium remains a prime target for home run bettors, especially when left-handed power is involved. The short porch in right field gives hitters a clear path to cheap or pulled home runs, and the park's 117 HR factor puts it third in the majors over the 2024–2026 sample. Matchups in the Bronx deserve extra attention any time a power bat gets a favorable handedness split.
Daikin Park (115)
Daikin Park also sits firmly in homer-friendly territory with a 115 HR factor. Houston's home park rewards hitters who can pull the ball with authority, and the Crawford Boxes can make life uncomfortable for pitchers who miss up or over the plate. It may not always get the same betting attention as Cincinnati or New York, but the park factor says it belongs in the same conversation.
Homer Hell: worst MLB ballparks For home runs
Maybe you love old-timey small ball? Maybe you're scanning daily picks and want to fade a team with tons of sluggers? Either way, this will help inform your next move.
Oracle Park (77)
Oracle Park sits at the bottom of the home run park factor rankings, posting a 77 mark in the 2024–2026 window. The cold air, deep right-center gap, and bay-side conditions continue to knock down fly balls that might carry elsewhere. If you're fading power props or looking for a reason to lean under on a slugging market, San Francisco is one of the first places to start.
PNC Park (78)
PNC Park remains one of baseball's toughest home run environments, checking in just ahead of Oracle Park with a 78 HR factor. The deep left-center gap can swallow fly balls, and the park rarely gives hitters the same cheap power boost they might find in Cincinnati, New York or Los Angeles. For bettors, Pittsburgh is still a strong fade spot for homer-heavy profiles.
Busch Stadium (81)
Busch Stadium also lands near the bottom of the list with an 81 HR factor. St. Louis has not played as a friendly home run park in this sample, which can matter when evaluating power props or game totals. The venue does not erase offense entirely, but it makes hitters earn their damage more than most parks on the board.
As she heads to Royal Lytham as a guest of the R&A for Thursday’s start of the Women’s Open, the inaugural winner looks back
Golf commitments in the United States meant Jenny Lee Smith was unable to accept the North East Sports Personality of the Year award for 1982 in person. She attended the following year’s event, this time to present the trophy to Kevin Keegan. His death last week shocked Smith, prompting her to reflect back on that time. It delivers a snapshot of Smith’s sporting status at a time when Keegan was wooing Tyneside.
“It is very sad,” Smith says of Keegan’s death, aged 75. “We did a lot of work together because I was sponsored at the time by Scottish and Newcastle Breweries, who did the same for the football team. He became a good friend and was such a lovely chap.
By not extending his contract a summer ago, they made it clear: They were ready to move on. And they have. They found their way to a front-line center and got a whole lot younger. And get this: They got better. In the long run and probably in a sprint too.
Maybe it seems sacrilegious to suggest they’ve improved by parting ways with the greatest player of all time and trading for a fifth-year pro who missed all but five games last season with the Utah Jazz after suffering a torn labrum.
Maybe you’re finding it hard to get fired up about the new guy with no playoff experience. And you’re used to the Lakers collecting the biggest names — not guys whose games are unfamiliar. Giannis, say. Not ... Walker.
But please, stop and consider the tankathon Utah has been running; the last thing the Jazz wanted was Kessler on the court winning games for them.
You also still might be experiencing sticker shock on the Lakers’ behalf. They’re getting Kessler on a $130-million, four-year deal after completing a sign-and-trade that sent out a 2031 first-rounder, 2033 first-rounder and first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030.
But position, position, position is to the NBA what location, location, location is to real estate — and if this fit proves as fun as Doncic seems to believe, then Kessler’s contract is going to feel like a real fair trade on the hot center market.
Because, defensively, the Lakers’ new 7-foot-2 center is a shot-blocking, space-eating deterrent in the post. That’s invaluable when you’re going with Doncic and Austin Reaves on the perimeter.
Offensively, Kessler has good hands and good handoff timing. You can call for him to screen all day. He has a radar for the rim, sixth in the NBA in dunks per game in 2024-25.
And Kessler is a blessing on the glass, the king of second chances. His 4.6 offensive rebounds per game in 2024-25 led the NBA.
Also: LeBron is going to turn 42 this season; Kessler is 25.
Walker Kessler was a big presence in the paint for the Jazz before he got hurt last season. (Frank Franklin II / Associated Press)
Age and experience count for a lot in life. But increasingly, today’s NBA is proving a young man’s game — and check ball, the Lakers are now in it.
Out went Deandre Ayton (28 years old), Rui Hachimura (28), Luke Kennard (30) and Marcus Smart (32). Jaxson Hayes (26) too, the only departing rotation player younger than 28.
In come Quentin Grimes (26), Sandro Mamukelashvili (27), Collin Sexton (27), Ziaire Williams (24), Jaden Hardy (24) and rookie summer league sensation Cameron Carr (21). Also, Kevon Looney, who will be Kessler’s backup big, and Matisse Thybulle, a proven defender on the wing, who are 30 and 29, respectively, and the only additions not younger than Doncic (27) and Reaves (28).
Still, I get it. You’re not wowed by the incoming group.
Were you wowed when the Dodgers acquired Max Muncy, Justin Turner or Chris Taylor? Probably not. But those guys went on to help the club win World Series titles.
Were the Dallas Mavericks banking on lob threat Derrick Jones Jr. — on a minimum contract — being a catalyst for their run to the 2024 NBA Finals? Do Lakers fans remember Doncic’s 17 assists to guys like Dante Exum, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Grant Williams in a 2023 victory over LeBron and Anthony Davis?
Doncic is manning the Lakers’ elevator now; it’s his job to lift his teammates to new heights. He can do it. He better do it.
Because the margins can be major, but they don’t account for most of the Lakers’ offseason grade this summer.
So give them a B+.
Not an A. No, because not every assignment has been completed.
There’s the minor matter of a starting five. The Lakers don’t appear to have one of those just yet.
They might yet add Jonathan Kuminga at forward. Or perhaps someone already rostered — hello, 22-year-old, skyscraping Adou Thiero — is waiting to wow us all in that role?
Normally, not having an answer to the most basic of questions at this point in the summer would fail you.
Filling the hole at center was weighted so heavily among the Lakers’ priorities — and landing Kessler earned them so much extra credit — it bumps their grade almost all the way up.
Of course, this was only the introductory course.
The real tests for this fresh new roster — down an all-time talent but so much more solid in the center — come when the season begins. Or, really, when the postseason does.
And expecting that opponents won’t have an easy time coming up with answers for Doncic and his new dominant defensive center, the Lakers are now set up to score well there too.
Jul 27, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Baltimore Orioles celebrate after defeating the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
The Orioles have less than a week to decide whether they’ll be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. Their two series before that Aug. 3 date, a three-game trip to Detroit and three at home against the Phillies, could be critically important for deciding the near-term direction of the club.
Last night, the O’s looked like a team that plans to stay in the postseason race, winning the opener against the Tigers in a series with big wild card implications. Even with ace Kyle Bradish suffering a rare bad outing, the Birds used a 12-hit, three-homer offensive explosion and a superb combined effort from four relievers to secure an 8-5 victory. Check out Alex Church’s recap of the high-scoring affair.
With so many teams jostling for position on the fringes of the wild card race, we’re at the point where every win (and every loss) shuffles the Orioles’ status in the pecking order. Their victory last night pulled them back within two games of the rained-out Guardians for the final wild card spot, and inched them a game behind the idle Twins. The O’s also pulled even with the Mariners, who lost yesterday, and possibly a half game ahead of the Astros, who were trailing in Anaheim at the time of this writing. (Morning update: the Astros overcame a two-run deficit in the ninth to win, because the Angels are useless.)
When you see the standings laid out like that, it’s more than reasonable to think that the Orioles have a good shot at earning a postseason spot. But all it takes is another losing streak and suddenly the O’s could find themselves in a lousy position again. Two days from now, they could be four games out of wild card position and languishing behind three or four other teams once more. The margin for error at this point is incredibly slim, even with so many other AL teams struggling to get hot.
For now, the O’s have put two games of distance between themselves and the Tigers. Another Orioles win tonight would deal a further blow to Detroit’s fading playoff hopes. In fact, I think the Tigers might as well just call it a season and trade Tarik Skubal today. No need to let him face the Orioles in the series finale tomorrow. It’s the responsible thing to do.
Tonight, it’ll be Dean Kremer on the mound for the Orioles, hoping to bounce back from his six-run outing in Boston last week, while the O’s offense will hope to greet the Tigers’ Troy Melton with the same offensive firepower they brought yesterday.
Jackson Holliday had four hits, Coby Mayo homered against a righty, and even Tyler O’Neill had a pinch-hit dinger. It was a big night for some of the most-maligned Orioles hitters.
Some might say that getting Ryan Mountcastle and Chris Bassitt back is just like making trade acquisitions. They would be wrong, but they might say it anyway.
Kyle Goon is flummoxed about the Orioles owner’s recent vote of confidence for his GM. Is it possible that Rubenstein was just being so dryly sarcastic that we all missed it?
Craig Albernaz says, “The whole squirrel thing was nuts.” Alby’s got puns!
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Three former Orioles were born on this day: outfielder Drew Jackson (33) and right-handers Chad Paronto (51) and Bob Milacki (62).
A lot of stuff has happened on this date in Orioles history. In 1971, 16-time Gold Glover Brooks Robinson committed three errors in one game for the first — and only — time in the Hall of Famer’s 2,896-game career. The miscues led to two unearned runs against the Athletics, who took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth. But it turned out okay anyway when fellow Hall of Famer Frank Robinson hit a walkoff three-run homer against yet another Hall of Famer, Rollie Fingers.
In 1978, Rich Dauer set an Orioles record with his 10th consecutive multi-hit game, giving him a .583 average over those 10 games. It was a remarkable hot streak for a hitter who batted just .257 in 10 career seasons.
In 1990, Cal Ripken’s MLB-record 95 consecutive errorless games as a shortstop came to an end when he flubbed a grounder from the Royals’ Jeff Schulz in the sixth. It was Cal’s first error since April 13, the third game of the season.
The O’s have also made a bunch of trades on July 28. In 1995, they made a splash by acquiring slugger Bobby Bonilla from the Mets for outfielders Damon Buford and Alex Ochoa. Bonilla provided a big boost to the O’s lineup, batting .300 with an .877 OPS and 39 homers for the Birds from 1995-96. And he is still to this day getting paid by both the Orioles and Mets, thanks to a deferred-payment arrangement he made with each club. He’ll receive $1.19 million annually from the Mets through 2035 and $500,000 from the Orioles through 2028.
In 2000, the Orioles made another trade with the Mets, the only one of GM Syd Thrift’s fire-sale deals that season that paid any dividends for the Birds. They sent shortstop Mike Bordick to New York for three players, including 28-year-old utility man Melvin Mora. Mora blossomed in Baltimore, emerging as a versatile OBP machine with power over the next decade, and was inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame after hitting .280/.355/.438 with 158 homers for the club.
And in 2017, the Orioles made a useless trade, sending fan-favorite outfielder Hyun Soo Kim and minor league southpaw Garrett Cleavinger to the Phillies for washed-up starter Jeremy Hellickson, who spoke openly about how much he disliked pitching at Camden Yards. Hellickson bombed to a 6.97 ERA in 10 starts for the Birds, while Cleavinger has since emerged as a solid lefty reliever, currently with the Rays.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 24: Edmundo Sosa #33 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after a bases loaded out in the eighth inning during a game against the New York Yankees at Citizens Bank Park on July 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Detroit Tigers opened up the back leg of their current homestand with an 8-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Keider Montero was far from his usual self, surrendering six runs in four-plus innings, while the offense just did not have enough to dig out of the hole.
Taking the mound for Game 2 of the three-game series for the Motor City Kitties is right-hander Troy Melton, who has held his opponents to two runs or less over his last six games. The 25-year-old has posted a 1.31 ERA and 3.08 FIP over the past 34 1/3 innings, allowing 18 hits (three home runs) and 13 walks while striking out 41.
Melton faced Baltimore at Camden Yards in his first start of the 2026 campaign back on May 24 in the second game of a doubleheader, allowing just one run on two hits and three walks while striking out three over 5 2/3 frames for the win in a 4-1 final.
Opposite him for the Orioles is fellow righty Dean Kremer, who has struggled a bit over his last three starts. The 30-year-old has put up a 7.20 ERA and 6.58 FIP stretching across his last 15 innings, surrendering 18 hits (five home runs) and five walks while striking out 14, taking losses in two of those three appearances.
Kremer missed more than two months from the end of May to the beginning of July due to a right quad strain. His first game back was a beauty, throwing six innings of one-run ball on three hits — including a solo homer — and a walk while striking out four. However, it has been since then that he has hit that aforementioned rough patch.
Here is a look at how the two hurlers match up on Tuesday night in the D.
Detroit Tigers (50-57) vs. Baltimore Orioles (52-55)
Time (ET): 6:40 p.m. Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan SB Nation Site:Camden Chat Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 108: RHP Troy Melton (5-1, 1.95 ERA) vs. RHP Dean Kremer (1-3, 5.06 ERA)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 12: Jesús Made #12 of the Milwaukee Brewers looks on during batting practice 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
Welcome back to the Minor League Roundup!
For the second week in a row, this week’s roundup is going to look a little different. This time, it’s because MLB Pipeline released its first midseason update to their Brewers’ Top 30 prospects list, and a lot has changed — including some major shakeups within the top half of the list.
Like last week, I’ll still include the week’s standout performances, but instead of the usual affiliate-by-affiliate breakdown, the rest of this roundup will focus on the new landscape: the system’s biggest risers, a couple of fallers, and a few prospects I think should have made the list.
Standout Performances:
Luke Adams: 8-for-19, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 4 BB, 2 K Lyon Richardson: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K Coleman Crow: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K Thomas Pannone: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K Tyson Hardin: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Blake Burke: 9-for-21, 1 2B, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 5 BB, 5 K Josiah Ragsdale: 7-for-24, 4 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 10 K Jesús Made: 6-for-24, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K Andrew Fischer: 6-for-25, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 9 K Yorman Galindez: 5.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Braylon Payne: 8-for-23, 3 2B, 1 RBI, 4 BB, 9 K Luis Castillo: 7-for-21, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K Luis Peña: 6-for-20, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K Chandler Welch: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K Garrett Hodges: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Daniel Corniel: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K Josh Knoth: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 2 K Brady Ebel: 8-for-21, 2 RBI, 6 BB, 4 K Carlos Carra: 4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K Hayden Robinson: 8.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 9 K
Miqueas Mercedes: 7.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K Diustin Mayorquin: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
The Top 10:
Most who follow the Brewers probably know who the organization’s consensus top four prospects are: SS Jesús Made, INF Luis Peña, SS Cooper Pratt, and OF Luis Lara.
Made is the consensus top prospect in baseball. He has a beautiful swing, great numbers, and a five-tool ceiling, while Peña (No. 18 overall) may have just as high a ceiling but has missed weeks at a time this season due to what have been reported as heat-related health issues. Lara and Pratt aren’t quite in the same tier as Made or Peña, but both have star potential. Both have already debuted, signed long-term extensions, and played well in limited time with Milwaukee.
Since so much ink has already been spilled on those four — along with Andrew Fischer (No. 7) — I wanted to focus on a few players I’ve been especially excited about over the last year and a half. It’s awesome to finally see three prospects I really believe in — Braylon Payne (No. 8), Josh Adamczewski (No. 6), and Tyson Hardin (No. 9) — ranked among the Brewers’ top 10 prospects.
When I started writing for BrewCrewBall, Adamczewski and Hardin weren’t on the Brewers’ Top 30 at all. Neither prospect is especially young, flashy, or toolsy, but both have been remarkably steady producers throughout their minor league careers.
The 24-year-old Hardin is a great story. He attended junior college out of high school before transferring to Mississippi State, where he posted an ERA over 5.00 out of the bullpen in his first season. He improved enough in his second year (3.22 ERA over 23 relief appearances and two starts) for the Brewers to select him in the 12th round of the 2024 draft.
Hardin is exactly what you’d expect from a Brewers pitching prospect who’s climbed the rankings through consistent production. He doesn’t throw especially hard, but he has a low release point, a flat approach angle, good extension, and a slider that’s become his best pitch. His fastball and cutter have both shown promise, and—most importantly—he gets results.
Last year, his first full professional season, Hardin posted a 2.72 ERA between High-A and Double-A. This year, he’s put up a 3.48 ERA in 12 Triple-A starts while striking out exactly nine batters per nine innings. Milwaukee has found another pitcher it can develop, and we’re seeing the results.
While their ace is throwing harder than any starting pitcher ever has before, the Brewers continue to churn out another type of pitching prospect: command-first starters with average velocity who consistently miss bats and get outs. Logan Henderson, Chad Patrick, and Coleman Crow have all pitched well for the Brewers this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Hardin was next.
Adamczewski has one of the prettiest swings in the farm system, and he’s hit .315 or better in each of his first three professional seasons. His power numbers — and his prospect stock — have risen after he lowered his hands to produce more line drives. Questions remain about his long-term defensive home (probably left field, maybe designated hitter), but the bat has played at every level.
Josh Adamczewski (@Brewers) ups his system-leading batting average to .328 with his 13th homer of the year!
While Adamczewski had already posted an OPS above .900 in each of the previous two seasons, Payne didn’t necessarily need to hit like that to justify his place among the organization’s top prospects. Milwaukee’s first-round pick in 2025 was drafted primarily for his speed, giving him a high defensive ceiling and making him a weapon on the bases. Scouts believed he could eventually grow into home-run power, and after showing flashes with 22 extra-base hits (nine home runs) in Single-A, he’s taken a huge step forward this season. In High-A, Payne has already hit 15 doubles and 18 home runs.
Payne’s profile isn’t perfect. He strikes out too much, is still somewhat unrefined defensively, and uses a leg kick that can throw off his timing, meaning a swing or approach adjustment could come at some point. Still, it’s hard not to be excited about a 19-year-old budding power hitter with 70-grade speed, and Payne has given the Brewers every reason to believe he’ll someday be an impact player.
INF/OF Jett Williams (No. 5) drops a spot after an underwhelming season at the plate (.726 OPS). Williams entered the year looking like a possible option at third base or a replacement if Milwaukee suffered injuries in either the infield or outfield. Instead, he watched both Pratt and Lara outperform him and earn the call before he did. He’ll be fine, and he’s picked things up lately, but it makes sense that he’s now behind both of them.
The Biggest Risers:
Even with Payne, Adamczewski, and Hardin all climbing into the top 10, the biggest jumps on the list belonged to Alexander Frias, Josiah Ragsdale, Josh Knoth, and Ricki Moneys.
Frias (No. 29 —> No. 12) has quietly put together one of the better seasons in the farm system. The 18-year-old outfielder, signed as an international prospect out of the Dominican Republic, hit .441 in Rookie ball before earning a promotion to High-A. With Wilson, he’s already collected eight extra-base hits in his first 92 at-bats. Frias boasts a 60-grade arm and an enormous ceiling thanks to his athleticism. There’s still plenty of development ahead of him, but it’s easy to see why MLB Pipeline is buying in. If he ends the year hot, he’ll be in the top-10 going into next year.
Alexander Frias just hit a go-ahead solo HR in the 8th inning.
Ragsdale (No. 30 —> No. 14), a seventh-round pick last year, was drafted at 21 and was 22 by the start of this season, so he was expected to be a relatively developed prospect coming into this season. I don’t think many people expected a combined slash line of .319/.446/.554 through eighty games. Between his bat, his glove, and his 70-grade speed, he suddenly looks much more like a legitimate major league prospect than an organizational depth piece.
Knoth’s (No. 22 —> No. 11) rise is slightly surprising, even though he has some of the best pure stuff in the organization. Knoth debuted with the organization in 2024 and showed up on end-of-year prospect lists due to his filthy stuff and despite his 4.48 ERA. Unfortunately, he ended up missing all of last season due to Tommy John surgery.
The stuff — headlined by his 60-grade curveball and slider — is still there, but so is the high ERA, Knoth’s ERA is now at 5.49 through over 40 innings this year, although he’s striking out almost exactly a batter an inning and still has his 60-grade curveball and slider after surgery. Ranking him here could honestly look bad in a year —either way — but I’m willing to bet on the young prospect to bounce back and keep doing stuff like this.
So Josh Knoth threw a 3,518 RPM curveball in the Complex League today
No MLB pitcher has thrown one over 3,500 in 2026
Only 33 total pitches since 2022 (sticky stuff crackdown had begun)
Been a little more common in the minor leagues, but still only 22 such pitches this year. pic.twitter.com/jRMjF4rzrk
On the bright side, most of the Brewers that fell more than a couple spots had more to do with the talent around them. Jeferson Quero’s arm isn’t yet what it used to be, but he has a .757 OPS and plays good defense. There’s also not a spot on the major league roster right now, and several younger prospects have taken big steps in the meantime. Because of his arm, Quero probably won’t be what the Brewers thought he would after 2023, but it wouldn’t be unexpected to see him end up as a solid starter when given a shot
The same is true for Marco Dinges. Dinges’ numbers (.838 OPS) are good, but they’re not quite as good as last year, and he’s not a standout defensive prospect, so he’s dropped a couple spots. Nothing to see here has continued to show the offensive approach that made him an intriguing prospect after last year’s draft, but other players have simply passed him on the list. Another player that fits this mold is Luke Adams, who has a .965 OPS in Triple-A, but dropped three spots to No. 16.
Finally, JD Thompson, picked in the second round last year, fell from No. 14 down to No. 26. Thompson’s stuff has looked as expected, with 25 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched. He’s also allowed 15 hits and walked 15 batters in those 21 innings. That’s a walk rate of 71.4%, which is about as bad as it can get. With that being said, Thompson still has the stuff to strike out more than a batter an inning while seemingly unable to find the zone, and he had great command in college. I have a feeling he’ll figure things out and end up closer to 14 by the end of the season.
Honorable Mentions:
— Matthew Wood, who’s quietly been great at the plate for Double-A Biloxi and, like Ragsdale, has played his way into being considered a legitimate prospect
— Mike Boeve, who’s had a bounce-back season at the plate (.289, .792 OPS) and nobody cares, maybe because he kinda reminds some people of Tyler Black.
— Daniel Dickinson, who fell off the list entirely after a rough start but has bounced back recently. The 22-year-old infielder now sports a .411 OBP and an OPS inching closer to .800 (.774). I wouldn’t write off the LSU alum after a slow start to his professional career.
#Brewers C Matthew Wood (#36) is one of five prospects that BA lists as outperforming their stats despite his already strong results. “His bat looks like a surefire major leaguer” with an expected OPS nearing 1.000, almost .100 higher than his actual OPS (.896)#BrewersFarmhttps://t.co/mAvBkRDwU7
Dominican Summer League Yankees:W, 9-8 vs. DSL Miami
CF Isaias Castillo 0-2, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, 3 SB — 20th stolen base of the year in 37 games with a major leap in power, a strong second season surge SS Stiven Marinez 0-3, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K 2B Juan Torres 1-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R, 2 BB — second straight year tearing up the DSL with a 1.075 OPS at just 18 years old, could potentially see time stateside next year C Cesar Lopez 2-4, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K DH Poly Ojeda 0-2, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K RF Manuel Aguilar 0-2, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K 3B Abrahan Pichardo 0-1, 1 R, 3 BB, 1 K 1B John Rosillo 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K LF Kendry Diaz 0-2, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 SB
Dominican Summer League Bombers:W, 7-5 at DSL Rangers Blue
CF Ruben Castillo 1-4, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 CS SS Dariel Santana 1-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K C Alessandro Rodriguez 1-5, 1 R, 2 K DH Carlos Bello 0-4, 2 K RF David Carrera 0-2, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K 1B Kenneth Melendez 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 2 K — capped off a 7-0 run with an RBI single in the eighth 3B Germayhoni Beltre 2-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 SB, throwing error — got the scoring started with an RBI double in the second LF Sebastian Pinto 1-4, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 K 2B Alfred Ciriaco 1-4, 2 RBI, 1 K, 1 CS, throwing error
Andre Avila 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 5 K Randy Angomas 4.2 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 4 BB, 1 K (win) Oscar Vasquez 0.2 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K — an error, a wild pitch, and a passed ball combined to allow three runs through in the eighth Ronald Tejada 0.2 IP, 0 R, 1 BB (save)
LeBron James ultimately did not choose to sign with the Warriors, and Draymond Green believes there was one main reason why.
The Golden State forward discussed James’ decision to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers on the latest episode of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” and hypothesized why the 22-time NBA All-Star might have been hesitant to join the Warriors.
“You look at Golden State, and I ultimately don’t think Bron was ever able to get over the history, and I understand it, I get it,” Green said. “What we all ultimately always knew was like, that’s the hurdle to get over. I don’t think it’s the team, the organization, anything else. I think it’s the history.
“We live in a day and age where everybody who doesn’t have anything to say has something to say. And so, he’s gonna get crushed if he comes to the Warriors, ‘Ahh man, you went to team up with Steph, you had to go to them.’ All the things people would have said, and I think ultimately that weighed in on the decision a lot.”
James famously faced off against Golden State in four consecutive NBA Finals from 2015-2018 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, losing three of the four series against Green, superstar Steph Curry and the Warriors.
Green believes James, a longtime Warriors rival, might not have wanted the backlash that could have followed had he joined forces with the organization — or just Curry and Green at this point — he went to war against time and time again on the biggest stage.
“Because I’ve never seen so often and so much people — and when I say ‘people,’ I’m talking about media, I’m talking about fans — I’ve never seen so many people who want to find something to tear someone’s legacy down,” Green added. “We live in a miserable ass world where people just want to find anything to tear someone’s legacy down, and this for sure, had he come to the Warriors, would have been something that everyone would have tried to use to tear his legacy down.
“… Needless to say, I think there’s always this narrative of people trying to tear guys down, tear their legacy down, and I ultimately think that played a big role in the Warriors not landing LeBron.”
James, despite having a longstanding respect for the Warriors organization, and being close friends with both Green and Curry, ultimately decided it was best for him to take his talents elsewhere.
RUSSIA, NOVOSIBIRSK - MARCH 31: A polar bear cub is seen at the Novosibirsk zoo named after Rostislav Shilo in Novosibirsk, Russia on March 31, 2026. The cub was born 7 December 2025 to polar bears Kai and Gerda. Biologists haven't yet examined it or determined its sex. (Photo by Rostislav Netisov/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
A lot of no-story stories going on in the middle of the summer as we patiently wait for something—anything, God please help me—to happen. Here’s today’s dose of links and notes.
The more the offseason advances, the more we’re hearing about Karl-Anthony Towns’ contract situation as the biggest unresolved issue around the Knicks heading into next season. The New York Post’s Jared Schwartz broke it down as the big man approaches a $61-million decision, with New York already able to offer him a four-year extension worth up to $272 million.
Josh Hart’s future also remains uncertain, with a team option worth roughly $22 million for 2027-28 and his eligibility for an extension starting on Aug. 10.
Miles McBride presents another looming cap decision, and Daily Knicks’ Jack Simone compared it to what happened to the Celtics and Al Horford.
Are the Pelicans showing more willingness to discuss deals involving some of their younger players? Could that lead to another attempt at landing Knicks fans’ favorite target Yves Missi? Questions, questions!
A trade for Milwaukee center Kel’el Ware has been floated by SI’s Steven Simineri as an aggressive solution to the Knicks’ frontcourt problem. I think we all agree that’s a lovable idea, but at the same time a very far-fetched one.
Karl-Anthony Towns talked about everything in an interview with The New York Times and among all the quotes, he explained why he was so vocal after scoring against Victor Wembanyama during the NBA Finals.
Another interesting nugget was Towns admitting it will feel strange seeing Mitchell Robinson in a Celtics jersey next season.
“I don’t even know if I could look at Mitch with a Celtics jersey on after everything. He owes me a pickup truck.”
Our own John Gove decided to build his Mt. Rushmore of Knicks’ all-time point guards. The list centered on winning and cultural impact rather than empty statistics, with the championship years of 1970, 1973 and 2026 serving as the obvious foundation. Do John a favor and read it all.
LeBron James is expected to spend significant time playing point guard for the 76ers. ESPN’s Shams Charania said Philadelphia wants James to initiate the offense and create opportunities for usage-rate monsters Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and V.J. Edgecombe.
The Knicks might never call James one of their own, but it feels James will never get over the idea of one day represeting New York. That’s why he is expected to live at least part-time in NYC despite signing with Philadelphia.
Back to NYP’s Schwartz, he believes the Knicks’ decision not to seriously pursue LeBron will remain a season-long storyline and could come back hunting them.
“The Knicks’ decision to not make a real effort for LeBron, coupled with his interest in the team, his availability at a cheap price and his eventual signing with a rival, puts pressure on the Knicks. They are doubling down on the belief that their roster is good enough to repeat as champions, with LeBron and the 76ers now representing the opponent that oddsmakers believe will serve as the Knicks’ greatest obstacle in the Eastern Conference.
“In head-to-head games, in the standings, in a potential playoff matchup — this will be a talking point. The Knicks must prove themselves right. They must prove that they do not need The King.“
At least 18 men’s college basketball players are projected to earn more than LeBron next season, with James making just under $4 million in Philadelphia next year.
Remember the Heat employee who accidentally scheduled a “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference” video? Now we know the real reason why he did it.
Yo @spidadmitchell trade deadline coming up. Yall might want to make a move…it’s looking dark at the bottom
Josh Hart trolled Donovan Mitchell over the Mets’ struggles.
OAKAAK Mario Hezonja is really really returning to the NBA after agreeing to a one-year, $2.8 million deal with Cleveland after the Cavs whiffed on LeBron’s homecoming. Hezonja, for what it’s worth, said he had no interest in returning to the NBA when he first left the league because he felt disrespected.
“No, I’m not going to return to the NBA. There was a lot I didn’t like there, I didn’t get the respect that I deserved. In my opinion, the NBA is more of a show than the game itself.”
There are similarities between the tournaments – three co-hosts, England challenging and diaspora players – but tickets are cheaper and there are half as many matches
Gianni Infantino said the World Cup was like 104 Super Bowls. The men’s event at the Rugby League World Cup will be more like 18 Super League games. Some matches will attract four-figure crowds while others will be played in front of full houses of 50,000. There will be tens of thousands fans visiting rather than millions, but they will have fewer visa issues.
“I wasn’t blindsided because I know a few people that know a few people,” he said. “And I knew the stuff was in the works. So I wasn’t quite blindsided. However, I didn’t know exactly when the announcement would come. I didn’t know exactly how the announcement would come.”
Green was spotted with James several times leading up to the decision, raising eyebrows across NBA circles as Green’s Warriors were viewed as a finalist to win the LeBron sweepstakes.
Ultimately, it came down to Golden State, Philadelphia, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat.
Green explained why he believes James ruled out the Cavaliers and Heat, stating that since James already won with each team, it wouldn’t be as special to run it back with them. Plus, Green added, it could risk James making his legacy with those organizations worse than when he originally left them should things not go as planned this time around.
As far as the Warriors, Green believes it was the history between James and Golden State, dating back to those intense consecutive NBA Finals matchups from 2015 to 2018 when James was Dub Nation’s biggest villain.
Detroit Tigers
Toronto Blue Jays
Seattle Mariners
Boston Red Sox
Tampa Bay Rays
New York Yankees
Los Angeles Angels
New York Mets
San Diego Padres
Milwaukee Brewers
San Francisco Giants
Arizona Diamondbacks
Washington Nationals
Los Angeles Dodgers
