PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 14: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Mets walks on the carpet during the 2026 All-Star Red Carpet Show presented by Mastercard at Independence Mall on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Welcome back to Monday Stat Party, a weekly series showcasing some of the most curious and nostalgia-inducing statistical developments from the past week of Mets baseball. What unites each entry is the sense of intrigue which they aim to spark, and the unbridled love of the game’s anomalies from which they arise. Without further ado, let the stat party begin.
TUESDAY
Juan Soto became the third Met to start the All-Star Gamein right field, along with Dave Kingman (1976) and Darryl Strawberry (1984-1988). Soto also became just the sixth Met since 2000 to get a hit in an All-Star Game, joining Carlos Beltrán (2005-2007, 2011), David Wright (2006-2010, 2013), José Reyes (2007), Michael Conforto (2017), and Pete Alonso (2019, 2025).
The All-Star Game resulted in a shutout for the first time since 2013, when the American League defeated the National League by a final of 3-0 at Citi Field.
THURSDAY
Luke Weaver’s dazzling streak came to an end with Trea Turner’s solo home run. His 25 consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run is tied for the second-longest such streak in Mets history with A.J. Minter, behind only Mark Guthrie’s 33 straight in 2002.
SATURDAY
A.J. Ewing became just the 10th Met to record 10 stolen bases before their 60th career game, joining Lee Mazzilli, Mookie Wilson, Darryl Strawberry, Lenny Dykstra, José Reyes, Carlos Gómez, Luisangel Acuña, Ronny Mauricio, and fellow 2026 rookie outfielder Carson Benge.
Kyle Schwarber hit his 26th homer against the Mets, fourth-most among active players behind teammate Bryce Harper (43), Giancarlo Stanton (38), and Freddie Freeman (31).
SUNDAY
Francisco Lindor reached base five times in a game for the fifth time in his career, having previously done so twice with Cleveland (September 3, 2016, vs. Miami / July 1, 2018, at Oakland) and twice with the Mets (July 6, 2023, at Arizona / September 5, 2025, at Cincinnati — better remembered as the new-cleat game).
Nolan McLean struck out 10+ batters in a game for the second time this season, and the third time in his career. No Met besides McLean has recorded a double-digit strikeout performance since David Peterson on August 19, 2025, in Washington.
McLean has a 0.47 ERA over his first three career starts against the Phillies, by far the best for any Met through their first three outings (min. 5 IP per outing) against the rival Phillies. Frank Viola is second with a 0.87 ERA, while Jon Matlack is third with a 1.01 ERA.
Miscellaneous Mets stat of the week:
Before 2026, the last time the All-Star Game was played in Philadelphia was 1996. Mets center fielder Lance Johnson started and went 3-for-4, marking one of two three-hit performances at an All-Star Game in Mets history (the other was José Reyes in 2007 in San Francisco).
Last week, our Rangers Reacts survey asked folks to grade the team’s 2026 draft. This turned out to be one of the rare instances where most everyone was pretty pleased.
Over 90% of respondents gave the draft either an A or a B, with the B’s narrowly edging out the A’s. Most of the rest gave the draft a C, with 1% apiece going with D or F.
As for the national questions, over half of respondents feel that the draft should go back to being held in June.
MLB had a June draft for decades, with the result being that players were being picked while the college season was still going on. The July draft allows for a draft combine to take place once the college season is over, as well as giving the opportunity for less-heralded players to play in the MLB Draft League or other early summer leagues, and potentially improve their draft status.
The other question has to do with the Futures Game, which MLB seems to be giving short shrift.
Having the Futures Game take place on the Sunday before the All Star Break, when major league games are taking place, doesn’t seem to be the best way to promote the game. But what do I know…
Ray Shero still has the text message on his cell phone. It came in the night of Feb. 4, less than a month after Sidney Crosby was shut down for God Knows How Long. It was from Evgeni Malkin, who had just left the game against the Buffalo Sabres after falling into the boards awkwardly.
Things looked gruesome, particularly given the fact that just about all of Tyler Myers’ 227 pounds had come down on Malkin’s right knee. Everyone suspected the worst, and it turns out they were right. The message contained only two words: I’m sorry. “I’m sorry?” said the Pittsburgh Penguins GM. “I’m sorry for what? For getting hurt?”
Winston Churchill once said the price of greatness is responsibility. Evgeni Malkin can relate. It turns out the man who, until recently, never talked to the media actually carries the weight of responsibility around with him all the time. So few have seen it because Malkin has not let us into his world, but behind the quiet facade is a man who cares intensely about his craft and his hockey team.
This will become more evident to us all as Malkin’s career unfolds and as he seizes more responsibility for the success of the Penguins. God forbid Crosby should miss the rest of this season or (gulp) find his long-term playing future in jeopardy, but one thing that will come of it is that Malkin will no longer be able to defer to Sid the Kid, on or off the ice.
It’s almost preposterous to say this season has been a coming-out party for a guy who has already won a Stanley Cup along with the Calder, Art Ross and Conn Smythe Trophies, but as Malkin nudged his way into being the top contender for his first Hart Trophy as MVP, the hockey world began to see a different, more committed player. Just watch his work along the walls.
He rarely won battles there in the past, but is now using his size, strength and reach to emerge from corners with the puck on his stick. Case in point, a game in late January against the Washington Capitals. With Pittsburgh trailing 3-2 in the third, Malkin gained the zone and fought off Matt Hendricks and Roman Hamrlik through the slot, with the latter knocking him down. But Malkin immediately sprung back up and beat Hamrlik to the puck in the corner before feeding James Neal for the tying goal. And for good measure, he scored the overtime winner.
There are those who watch Malkin every day who claim that he is playing the best hockey of his career. And that’s saying something. Go back to tapes of the 2009 playoffs and see what we mean. Neal did not have the benefit of playing with Malkin last season, and it showed. Without a center who could get him the puck, Neal scored one goal in 20 games after coming over from the Dallas Stars. Now Neal has a player who can do the heavy lifting in terms of lugging the puck up the ice, and all he has to do is find the open lane.
“I’ve only seen him this way,” Neal said. “I’ve never seen a guy be able to make so many moves at such high speed. He has that ability to drag guys to him and hit the open man.”
It’s reasonable to suggest that when more is asked of an athlete, the natural inclination for most of them is to step up their game. What has always been the Penguins’ strength – Crosby, Malkin and Jordan Staal down the middle – has suddenly become a concern with the long-term absences of Crosby and Staal.
And whether it’s wittingly or not, Malkin has responded by being truly dominant. It must be difficult for a player to assert himself and be the focal point when Crosby is around. That might be a function of nothing more than their birth certificates, but the pressure has never been on Malkin to carry the team or to carry the mantle of being the league’s best player. Now that he’s doing it, he looks more and more comfortable all the time.
And he should. This is his sixth season in the NHL and even though he didn’t have the luxury of coming from a cosmopolitan city the way Alex Ovechkin did, he could only play the part of the quiet Russian for so long. Those who know Malkin well say he has an exuberant personality and might be the most intelligent player on the Penguins. And now we’re beginning to see that shine through. During the all-star weekend in Ottawa, which was minus both Crosby and Ovechkin for the first time since the two broke into the league, Malkin looked far more comfortable being in the spotlight.
He even tweets now and has more than 128,000 followers. One of them is Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers, a player Malkin refers to as “their best defenseman.” Most of the tweets are rather innocuous. They include pictures of his cat, Dixi, of him on a Zamboni or dressed for Halloween with a curly wig, a plume of chest hair coming out of his shirt and a bushy moustache, of him standing behind the cutout of an enormous offensive lineman. When NHL Twitter king Paul Bissonnette of the Phoenix Coyotes tweeted he would see Malkin at the All-Star Game, Malkin fired back, “sorry nasty you are play rookie game.”
Much of Malkin’s renewed vigor has to do with the injury last season, which turned out to be a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a malady that certainly isn’t as devastating as it once was in sports, but one that usually requires six months to heal. Regardless, Malkin insisted that had the Penguins managed to get by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs, he would have somehow willed himself back into the lineup for the rest of the playoff run, a mere three months after the injury. In fact, he wanted desperately to play in Game 7, which the Penguins lost, before being shut down by the organization. It was a preposterous notion, one the Penguins didn’t even begin to entertain, but it did show them how much Malkin wants to win.
“In every conversation about our team and his role, it ends up with him thinking we can win a Stanley Cup and thinking how good our team is and where we can go,” said Penguins coach Dan Bylsma. “Last year he wanted to come back because he thought he could help our team win a Stanley Cup, and this summer, his focus was not, ‘I want to be the best player in the league.’ It wasn’t ‘I want to win a scoring title.’ It was, ‘We gotta add more Stanley Cups.’
The Penguins knew Malkin was serious when he hired strength and conditioning coach Mike Kadar to come to Russia for two weeks to supervise his dryland and on-ice training. Two workouts a day every day with everything from kettle bells in the gym to flippers in the pool, Malkin displayed a vigilance and level of motivation few had ever seen before from him. He even admitted that early in his career he was a little bit lazy when it came to off-season conditioning, but the injury made him realize he had to put in the work if he wanted to return to his sublime level of play.
“I am hungry because I miss lots of games,” Malkin said. “Not just two or three games, 50 games. Of course I am hungry to play hockey, and to miss all those games is a very hard time for me. But I had a great summer.”
And you simply cannot discount the absence of Crosby and Staal in all of this. Because despite the fact Malkin now faces the other team’s top line, targeted as the player who must be shut down, he is excelling. It’s no coincidence he was averaging 21:21 in ice time per game, which was almost two minutes more than last season.
It’s also no coincidence that Malkin is more productive when Crosby is out of the lineup, and the numbers bear that out. Over the course of his career, Malkin has scored 185 goals and 477 points in 396 games for an average of 1.2 points per game. With Crosby in the lineup, he has posted 137 goals and 366 points for an average of 1.16 points per game. But in the 81 games without Crosby, Malkin has 48 goals and 111 points, for an average of 1.37 points per game.
That, of course, has something to do with the fact Malkin gets better wingers when Crosby (and Staal) aren’t in the lineup. Most of this season, he has been playing with Chris Kunitz on the left and Neal on the right. “This is the best line I’ve ever played with in my career,” Malkin said.
Both Shero and Malkin envision a day when Crosby, Malkin and Staal will be healthy and reunited. But will that day ever come? If it does, it doesn’t appear to be anytime soon. Crosby and the Penguins found themselves in the middle of a controversy during all-star weekend when it was revealed that doctors found an injury in his C1 and C2 vertebrae that Crosby’s agent later confirmed was a crack. Another doctor then said it was a soft tissue injury. All the while Crosby was skating, but nobody seems to know when he’ll return to the Penguins lineup. Staal, meanwhile, has been out of the lineup since early January with a sprained knee.
But they’re getting what they need from Malkin, who has only the Hart Trophy to win to complete his collection. This might be the year he gets it and the one in which he, and not Crosby or anyone else, leads the Penguins through the playoffs.
“We need that or else it would be a tough go for us,” Shero said. “If we don’t have this guy…yikes.”
DENVER — Hunter Goodman went deep three times to not only break out of a mini-homer slump but break into an exclusive Colorado Rockies club in which he’s now the founder.
The All-Star catcher became the lone player in franchise history to turn in a pair of three-homer games in the same season. Hall of Famers Todd Helton and Larry Walker never accomplished this particular feat. Neither did any of the famed “Blake Street Bombers.”
“Definitely cool knowing all the guys, the great players that have played here, the Hall of Famers that have played here,” Goodman said after the Rockies lost 9-6 to the Cincinnati Reds to drop two of three in the series. “It’s a pretty cool accomplishment.”
Goodman’s big day included two homers off Hunter Greene — a solo shot in the first and a two-run liner in the sixth — along with another two-run shot off reliever Sam Moll in the eighth. Those were homers No. 28, 29 and 30 of the season for Goodman.
This after not going deep since July 1. This after not being picked for the Home Run Derby. This after a day off from the hitting. Goodman wasn’t in the lineup Saturday and decided to not swing a bat in an effort to rest up.
“I feel like some of those off days you just take the full day and kind of just reset a little bit,” explained Goodman, who also had a three-homer game at Minnesota on June 27. “It’s not always the swing. It’s not always different stuff like that. Sometimes you’ve just got to keep going.”
And going and going and going — his three homers were a combined estimated total distance of 1,302 feet.
Turns out, it was just a good day to be a catcher in this game. Goodman’s counterpart, Tyler Stephenson, had two of Cincinnati’s four homers.
Give some credit to a hot summer day and this being Coors Field.
“The ball ball tends to fly on those days,” Goodman said. “And then I got some good pitches to hit.”
More specifically, a slider and fastball (98.6 mph) from Greene and a sinker from Moll.
Goodman became the fourth player in franchise history with at least a pair of three-homer games in their careers, joining the company of Walker, Helton and Carlos González. His just so happened to occur all in the span of a few weeks.
Here’s more history for Goodman: He’s the fourth-fastest Rockies player to reach 30 homers in a season (101 team games). The only ones ahead of him are Vinny Castilla (97 in 1998), Andrés Galarraga (99 in 1994) and Walker (100 in 1999), according to Rockies research.
“He looks dangerous. He just looks in sync,” manager Warren Schaeffer said of Goodman. “He was really good. You can see the confidence kind of seep out.”
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Jameer Nelson, Nick Nurse and Jaylen Brown attends a game between the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers on July 11, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Choi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA preseason schedule is officially out, and with it comes the first opportunity for Jaylen Brown to return to TD Garden since the blockbuster offseason trade that sent him to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Celtics will host Philadelphia on Oct. 10 before making the trip to face the Sixers on Oct. 16, giving Brown two chances to face his former team before the regular season begins.
Jaylen Brown will return to TD Garden for a preseason game on Oct. 10. His first game in Boston since the trade from the Celtics to 76ers.
Whether Celtics fans actually see Brown on the floor in Boston, however, remains an open question.
Veteran stars often play limited preseason minutes, if they suit up at all, and Philadelphia could choose to ease Brown into training camp rather than having him play in both exhibition games. Even if that’s the case, Oct. 10 now stands as the first date Boston fans can circle as Brown’s return to TD Garden draws closer.
If Brown does play, it’ll mark his first appearance in Boston since the trade that ended one of the most successful individual tenures in recent Celtics history.
Selected third overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, Brown spent nine seasons with the Celtics, developing from a raw, athletic wing into a four-time All-Star, NBA champion and one of the franchise’s cornerstone players. Alongside Jayson Tatum, he helped lead Boston to multiple Eastern Conference Finals appearances and delivered Banner 19 before the organization made one of the boldest roster moves of Brad Stevens’ tenure this summer.
The preseason matchup also offers the first opportunity for Brown and Paul George to face their former teams following a trade that reshaped the balance of power in the Eastern Conference. Assuming both veterans are available, the Oct. 10 game would provide an early glimpse of two Eastern Conference contenders, even if the result won’t count in the standings.
Preseason games are notoriously unpredictable when it comes to star availability. Teams frequently prioritize conditioning, experimentation and evaluating younger players over giving established veterans extended run, particularly in the first week of exhibition play. Brown, George and several other key contributors could ultimately see only a handful of minutes, or none at all.
Still, the schedule release gives Celtics fans something they didn’t have yesterday: a date for Brown’s first possible return to the Garden.
Boston’s full preseason schedule is as follows:
Oct. 8: at Cleveland Cavaliers (7 p.m. ET)
Oct. 10: vs. Philadelphia 76ers (8 p.m. ET)
Oct. 14: vs. Charlotte Hornets (7:30 p.m. ET)
Oct. 16: at Philadelphia 76ers (7 p.m. ET)
The Celtics have announced their preseason schedule.
The NBA has not yet announced the 2026-27 regular season schedule, meaning these preseason meetings will be the first chance for Brown to reunite with his former team.
Whether that reunion lasts 30 minutes or simply consists of Brown waving to a familiar crowd from the bench will depend on Philadelphia’s plans once training camp gets underway.
CLEVELAND — Esmerlyn Valdez’s strong start to his major league career is showing no signs of slowing down.
The Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder’s two-run homer in the ninth inning of a 7-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians made him the fourth player in major league history with at least 12 homers and 31 RBIs in their first 31 games.
The others to accomplish that feat were Rhys Hoskins with Philadelphia in 2017, Cincinnati’s Aristides Aquino in 2018-19 and the Dodgers’ Will Smith in 2019.
“It feels great for the start that I’ve had. I always believe in myself. I prepared — mentally and physically — for this season to achieve what I’m achieving today, and the results are showing,” Valdez said through a translator.
The 22-year-old Valdez, nicknamed “The Magician” because his first name sounds like Merlin, was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2021. He was added to the 40-man big league roster last November after batting .368 with eight home runs in the Arizona Fall League.
He went 5 for 17 during spring training but started the year at Triple-A Indianapolis. He made his major league debut on May 22 and appeared in five games before returning to Triple-A. He was recalled on June 11 and quickly became an integral part of the roster.
Manager Don Kelly said Valdez’s power isn’t the only impressive part of his game.
“It’s the professionalism of the at-bats. He’s not going up there necessarily trying to hit the home runs. He’s going up there to hit, and he’s got the power to leave anywhere in the yard,” Kelly said. “I mean, it’s been really impressive what he’s been able to do in such a short amount of time, but the adjustments he’s made and the changes he’s made so far have been really impressive.”
Valdez has hit safely in 19 of his past 22 games, batting .370 (30 for 81) with 18 extra-base hits and 27 RBIs. He is the first Pirates hitter with an extra-base hit and RBI in seven straight games since Willie Stargell in 1971.
His 20 RBIs in July lead the majors and make him the sixth Pittsburgh rookie since 2000 with at least 20 RBIs in a calendar month.
Pirates ace Paul Skenes — who allowed one run and struck out eight in the victory — said he saw signs during spring training that Valdez could have a big impact.
“You see a lot of guys that can hit the ball really far and take big swings and hit the ball really hard, but you don’t see guys very often that take big swings and hit the ball really hard, really far and not chase and put together as good at-bats as he does,” Skenes said.
Valdez, who went 3 for 11 with two home runs and five RBIs in the weekend series against Cleveland, is also part of a Pirates’ offense that has hit its stride this season.
“Everyone on the team is doing a tremendous job. I think we’ll keep working to achieve the goal,” he said.
ATLANTA — After returning from an oblique injury that kept him sidelined for nearly a month, Braves catcher Drake Baldwin said he found himself desperate for a hit.
In the finale of the Braves’ three-game home series against the Texas Rangers, Baldwin had no problems making contact. The catcher was a career-best 5 for 5 at the plate and homered twice in Atlanta’s 8-5 win.
“Baldwin, he’s back. He’s back to form. I think it’s official now,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said after the game. “He was on an MVP-type trajectory before he got hurt, and he’s looking like that again.”
In the Braves’ first games back from the All-Star break, the club clinched its 21st series — tying its total from the 2025 season.
Baldwin spent his days off as the National League’s starting catcher in his first All-Star game. Third baseman Austin Riley’s break looked a little different, but it proved just as efficient in being the reset he needed to get back on track.
“I actually didn’t do anything over the break. Just more of a mental break. ... Went home, hung out with my family, chased my boys around,” Riley said after his first two-homer outing since April 17. “After a couple of days off, coming back and just kind of a little recharged, it’s nice to see that we’re kind of firing on all cylinders with the offense there.”
Riley homered twice and had four RBIs, including a clutch two-run single in the seventh inning to put the Braves up 6-3. Weiss said it’s hard not to root for a player, teammate and person like Riley.
“That’s a great sight to see Riley swinging the bat like that,” Weiss said. “He’s been taking better swings lately, and he’s hit the ball really hard. ... He’s shown some really good signs, and that’ll be huge for us.”
After a difficult June, Weiss hopes a series victory against the AL West-leading Rangers is enough for his team to turn the page. The Braves have a three-game lead over second-place Philadelphia in the NL East.
“Our team had a rough June, but we’ve come out the other side still in first place, and we’re playing better now,” the first-year Braves manager said. “Those things are deposits in the bank as far as your mental toughness and being battle-tested — as long as you come out the other side, and I think we have.”
San Diego (49-50) travels East for a four-game series with the Atlanta Braves (57-41). Earlier in the season, the Padres swept the Braves over three games, outscoring Atlanta, 13-8.
The Padres are coming off a 19-2 throbbing of the Royals after losing the first two games of the series. San Diego had five home runs, including two apiece from Ty France and Jackson Merrill. France hit a grand slam to top off the highest scoring performance of the season for San Diego.
Atlanta won the series over Texas, 2-1, outscoring the Rangers, 29-13. The Braves are 5-5 in their last 10 games, but the offense is cooking to start the second half of the season as they are still without Ronald Acuna Jr. who was injured on June 9.
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Padres at Braves
Date: Monday, July 20, 2026
Time: 7:15 PM EST
Site: Truist Park
City: Atlanta, GA
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Padres at the Braves
The latest odds as of Monday:
Moneyline: Atlanta Braves (-131), San Diego Padres (+109)
Spread: Braves -1.5 (+144), Padres +1.5 (-175)
Total: 9.0
Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Braves
Monday's pitching matchup (July 20): JP Sears vs. Bryce Elder
The Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. is hitting .284 with 109 hits, 7 home runs and 41 RBI over 384 at-bats
The Padres’ Jackson Merrill is hitting .221 with 83 hits and 102 strikeouts over 375 at-bats
The Braves’ Michael Harris III is hitting .301 with 105 hits, 17 home runs, and 58 RBI over 349 at-bats
The Braves’ Austin Riley is hitting .217 with 77 hits and 115 strikeouts over 355 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Padres at Braves
The Padres are 53-46 ATS, ranking tied for seventh-best
The Braves are 54-44 ATS, ranking sixth-best
The Padres are 54-44-1 to the Under, ranking fifth-best
The Braves are 47-45-6 to the Over
The Padres are 24-22 ATS on the road
The Braves are 26-22 ATS at home, ranking eighth-best
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Padres and the Braves
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Padres and the Braves:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Braves on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Braves at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Over on the Game Total of 9.0
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Kleinow, New York, American League, from the White Border series (T206) for the American Tobacco Company, 1909-11. Played for the New York Highlanders (1904-10). Artist American Tobacco Company. (Photo by Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images)
Born John Peter but better known by his nickname, Red Kleinow was with the organization before the Yankees officially adopted their famous moniker. A late bloomer behind the plate, Kleinow never quite blossomed into a star, but he carved out a respectable career as one of the better defensive catchers of his era.
John Peter “Red” Kleinow Born: July 20, 1877 (Milwaukee, WI) Died: October 9, 1929 (New York, NY) Yankees Tenure: 1904-10
Born in America’s Dairyland in 1877, Kleinow traveled south to attend St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, becoming the first Hilltopper to reach the major leagues. After playing for St. Edward’s, Kleinow spent the 1902 and 1903 campaigns with the Toledo Mud Hens, developing a reputation as a strong defensive catcher, and—after hitting .320 in 1903—drew the attention of both the New York Highlanders and the Cincinnati Reds.
There are conflicting reports regarding which club first secured Kleinow’s rights and exactly how the dispute unfolded between the two clubs in these early days of the American League. After some debate, the Highlanders were ultimately awarded his contract, making Kleinow a member of the club prior to the 1904 season, just the second season in the club’s history.
The former Hilltopper would play for the Highlanders at Hilltop Park, making his MLB debut on May 3, 1904. He spent his rookie season backing up veteran Deacon McGuire, slashing .206/.259/.282 while appearing in 68 games. It would prove to be one of the best seasons of Kleinow’s tenure in New York, as the Highlanders narrowly lost the pennant to the Boston Americans on the season’s final day. Kleinow was also behind the plate for Jack Chesbro’s infamous wild pitch that helped seal the pennant for Boston. The pitcher’s wife later said that she thought it should have been a passed ball on Red, but regardless, it was a painful way for a fun season to end.
Kleinow improved in 1905, appearing in 88 games while slashing .221/.284/.281. His 1906 season was statistically very similar, and the Highlanders once again finished second in the pennant race.
The 1907 campaign proved to be Kleinow’s best. He raised his batting average to .264 while collecting 71 hits and scoring 30 runs. However, that success was short-lived. Red followed his best season with arguably his worst, watching his batting average fall nearly 100 points during his age-30 campaign. The Highlanders also struggled in 1908, losing 103 games.
After such a difficult season, both Kleinow and the Highlanders needed a change in fortune. The club debuted the now-famous interlocking NY in 1909 and improved to a 74-78 record, though it still finished fifth in the pennant race. Kleinow also rebounded, lifting his batting average back above the .200 mark.
Kleinow opened the 1910 season with New York before being sold to Boston after just six games. He remained there for the rest of the season and appeared in a handful of games in 1911 before being released. Following his release, he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and finished the season by appearing in a handful of games for them as well.
In 1912, Kleinow signed with the Baltimore Orioles but appeared in fewer than 10 games before being released in early June. He then spent several more seasons in the minor leagues and Independent baseball before finally hanging up his cleats.
After his playing career ended, Kleinow worked as both a scout and a coach. Even by Deadball Era standards, he was never much of an offensive player, but he built a reputation as one of the better defensive catchers of his day. In his seven years in New York, Kleinow produced 5.1 WAR and was also one of the players who was featured in the 1909 T206 tobacco card set made famous by Honus Wagner.
Happy birthday, Red!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
One rainy day removed from the WooSox’s one-run loss to the RailRiders (Yankees AAA) on Friday night, they fell to a walk-off home run at the end of a pretty effective bullpen day when they allowed just five hits, three of those being home runs. The WooSox even being in a position to close out the game was unthinkable because they had almost no offense to speak of until the eighth inning; that frame was when they had three of their seven hits, three of their four runs and turned a 4-1 deficit into a tie game, but ultimately couldn’t get the series finale to extras.
Gage Ziehl is making better and better starts as the season goes on, save for that horrific outing ten days ago when he allowed eight runs, and he’s one to watch as a potential piece to be dealt at the deadline if this team is truly going to buy (and I’m finally in the camp that says they should.) Sunday was another example of him generating those swings and misses; he had eight strikeouts in his five scoreless innings and he allowed just three base runners. He did not have a ton of run support in Sunday’s win against the Patriots (Yankees AA) but, with Somerset being shut out until the ninth inning, all the Sea Dogs needed were two runs, which they got with RBI knocks from Matt Frazier and a white-hot Jack Winnay.
Ziehl, who I’ll never stop reminding people the Red Sox acquired in part of the “please get Jordan Hicks off this team” deal, is an interesting piece. He’s never been a particularly highly regarded prospect, but he’s sat down 84 batters on strikes in 72 innings of work, and his five-pitch repertoire is also intriguing.
*And, yes, I’m aware that the picture of him above is from when the 23-year-old and former Miami Hurricane was in high school, but it’s an incredibly posed shot.
To say Frederick (Orioles High-A) dominated Salem pitching would be an understatement. When guys start coming to the plate a seventh time in a nine-inning game, you know something has gone catastrophically wrong. When four batters in a row in a lineup have at least three hits, you’re in blowout territory. The Drive allowed twenty-five hits and six home runs (half of those coming off the glove of Griffin Kilander) in a game that couldn’t have even been close. Catcher Luke Heyman got his fourth home run of July, but even that cut the deficit to 6-5 after the Drive took Matt Duffy for five runs in the top of the fifth, and the hole didn’t get any more level.
The RidgeYaks had this rainy one against Delmarva (Orioles A) wrapped up with a three-run shot in the first inning by catcher Kleyvar Salazar, they just weren’t aware of it yet. They’d get a very respectable five innings out of Leighton Finley and twelve lock-down outs from Trennor O’Donnell. On top of Salazar also stealing a base later in the afternoon, the usual suspects showed their speed in the win; Andrews Opata stole his 39th base of the season and Skylar King swiped his 27th.
Kyle Leahy will be looking to continue his recent dominance when the St. Louis Cardinals visit the Los Angeles Angels tonight as slight +101 underdogs.
My Cardinals vs. Angels predictions are eyeing a low-scoring affair, but Leahy's recent success will lead the visitors to victory.
Who will win Cardinals vs Angels today: Cardinals (+101)
Kyle Leahy has been dealing lately for the St. Louis Cardinals. He owns a 2.69 FIP over his last four appearances, and the right-hander hasn't allowed a single home run during that span. He's also up against a Los Angeles Angels lineup with just a 34.1% hard-hit rate over the last two weeks.
As for Jose Soriano, he's been more vulnerable lately. The righty has a 4.74 xERA over his last 19.1 innings of work, and he's given up five earned runs in his previous two starts.
Neither offense is thriving, but Leahy’s run-prevention profile gives St. Louis the cleaner path here.
I'll play this pick up to -120.
COVERS INTEL: The Cardinals have a 106 wRC+ on the road this season, compared to a 90 mark at home.
Cardinals vs Angels Over/Under pick: Under 9.5 runs (-131)
Neither offense is exactly clicking right now. St. Louis has been better on the road overall, but the Cardinals own just a 69 wRC+ over their last 11 games. The Angels haven’t been much better, sitting at 98 wRC+ during that span.
The clearest pathway to the Under is the lack of power. St. Louis has a .126 ISO over the last two weeks, while Los Angeles sits at just .104.
The Cardinals bullpen is a concern with a 4.75 FIP lately, but Leahy typically covers 5-6 innings, limiting exposure. The Angels relief corps has been steadier, posting a 3.26 xERA over its last 33 innings.
This profiles as a lower-scoring matchup.
Polymarket also has the Under 8.5 at +122, which I would take instead of the 9.5.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 34-37, -7.21 units
Over/Under bets: 40-29, +5.15 units
Cardinals vs Angels weather
Conditions look excellent in Anaheim tonight, with clear skies and temperatures falling from the low 80s into the low 70s as the game progresses. Winds will stay light around 4 to 6 mph, while rain chances sit near 2% all night. Weather should have minimal impact on the matchup.
Cardinals vs Angels odds
Moneyline: St. Louis +104 | Los Angeles -108
Run line: St. Louis -1.5 (+170) | Los Angeles +1.5 (-178)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-127) | Under 8.5 (+122)
Cardinals vs Angels trend
The St. Louis Cardinals have hit the Moneyline in 25 of their last 45 away games (+8.65 Units / 19% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cardinals vs. Angels.
How to watch Cardinals vs Angels and game info
Location
Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
Date
Monday, July 20, 2026
First pitch
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Cardinals starting pitcher
Kyle Leahy (7-4, 3.73 ERA)
Angels starting pitcher
Jose Soriano (8-6, 3.49 ERA)
Cardinals vs Angels latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Several Dodgers did reconnaissance at Citizens Bank Park last week, in preparation for this week’s series against the Phillies. But it was also for good reason, with three Dodgers starting the All-Star Game and Justin Wrobleski on the mound.
Once regular season play resumed on Friday, the Dodgers acquitted themselves well in a low-scoring weekend against the Yankees. The series was bookended by 2-1 contests, each team winning one. The Dodgers won the middle game, postponed by rain on Saturday and played Sunday morning instead. Even that game was low-scoring, aside from the Dodgers pulling away with a five-run eighth inning.
The result was two wins in three games, and the Dodgers finishing the week at 63-37, the best record in Major League Baseball 100 games into the season.
Batter of the week
Tommy Edman has been quite productive since returning from the injured list over a month ago. He was instrumental in The Bronx, with two hits and two RBI in Sunday’s first game, then a game-tying pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning of the nightcap.
Honorable mention goes to Max Muncy, who played in his third All-Star Game and started at third base in Philadelphia, then homered off Gerrit Cole on Friday night at Yankee Stadium to give the Dodgers the win in the series opener.
Pitcher of the week
Two-time All-Star Yoshinobu Yamamoto rebounded from his first truly bad start of the season by going the distance on only 102 pitches on Sunday afternoon against the Yankees. He struck out seven, walked none, and hurled the Dodgers only complete game this season to date.
2-1 record 11 runs scored (3.67 per game) 5 runs allowed (1.67 per game) .809 pythagorean win percentage
Year to date
63-37 record 517 runs scored (5.17 per game) 362 runs allowed (3.62 per game) .658 pythagorean win percentage (66-34)
Miscellany
Happy birthday: Left-hander Justin Wrobleski made his first All-Star team, and got to pitch two innings for the National League on his 26th birthday, Tuesday in Philadelphia. Wrobleski allowed a solo home run to old friend Miguel Vargas but also struck out five. That matched a Dodgers record in an All-Star Game, along with Don Drysdale in 1959 and Fernando Valenzuela in 1986. Those two previous five-strikeout affairs came in three-inning stints.
First things first: Two weeks after his major league debut, catcher Eliezer Alfonzo singled to center field off Yankees left-hander Ryan Yarbrough in the third inning on Sunday night at Yankee Stadium for his first major league hit at 26 years, 299 days old.
Backstop on top: Speaking of catchers, Will Smith hasn’t played since June 5, and he’s expected to be out until at least mid-August as he still deals with neck inflammation. Smith led the Dodgers in catching starts and innings behind the plate every season from 2020-25, and was leading the team this year too until the weekend in New York. Dalton Rushing now tops the team with 46 catching starts and 398 1/3 innings, with Smith at 44 starts and 393 innings.
A new week brings a ton of opportunities, and tonight's MLB moneyline predictions are no exception.
Let's dive into the full slate with my MLB picks on Monday, July 20!
MLB moneyline picks for July 20
Matchup
Pick
Twins vs Guardians
-113
Dodgers vs Phillies
+125
Pirates vs Yankees
+106
Rays vs Blue Jays
-150
Orioles vs Red Sox
-138
Padres vs Braves
+130
Mets vs Brewers
-199
Giants vs Royals
-111
White Sox vs Rangers
-160
Tigers vs Cubs
+106
Marlins vs Astros
-117
Nationals vs Rockies
-117
Athletics vs Diamondbacks
+144
Reds vs Mariners
+138
Cardinals vs Angels
+104
Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of July 20.
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Expert MLB moneyline picks for July 20
Twins vs Guardians: Twins (-113)
Twins win probability: 53%
We’re getting a ton of value with the Minnesota Twins in this matchup.
The Cleveland Guardians offense has been ice cold, and now they will send Tanner Bibee to the mound, who has posted a 4.58 ERA over his last three starts. This feels like a perfect spot to fade Cleveland and back Minnesota.
On the other side, the Twins hand the ball to Joe Ryan, who has been absolutely NAILS all season long. Their offense has been swinging it well too, posting a 110 wRC+, .327 wOBA, and .744 OPS over their last 12 games.
Give me the Twins.
Dodgers vs Phillies: Dodgers (+125)
Dodgers win probability: 44%
As lazy as this may sound, when's the next time you're going to get the Los Angeles Dodgers at +125? Seriously.
Emmet Sheehan has looked sharp over his last three outings, posting a 2.87 xERA and 0.95 WHIP. Meanwhile, Cristopher Sanchez has hit a bit of a rough patch in his last few starts.
Getting the Dodgers at plus money is a price I'm willing to take. Give me Los Angeles at +125.
Pirates vs Yankees: Pirates (+106)
Pirates win probability: 48%
The way the New York Yankees have played over the last month, I can't bring myself to back them today, tomorrow, or the next day. Until they prove they've turned things around, they'll remain an auto fade for me. And trust me, it pains me to say that because this is my team.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates offense has been on a tear over the last week, posting a 145 wRC+, .374 wOBA, .223 ISO, and an .860 OPS. At +106, give me the Buccos.
Rays vs Blue Jays: Blue Jays (-150)
Blue Jays win probability: 60%
Sure, the Toronto Blue Jays offense has been pretty cold over the last month, but the Tampa Bay Rays haven't been much better over the last few weeks. With Dylan Cease on the mound, I think he puts Toronto in a position where the offense only needs to do the bare minimum to come away with a win.
Orioles vs Red Sox: Red Sox (-138)
Red Sox win probability: 58%
I want to see them make it 14 straight.
I'm also a huge fan of lefty Payton Tolle, who's been outstanding for the Boston Red Sox this season. Baltimore Orioles starter Shane Baz has pitched well lately, but there's still one concern. He's allowing 46% hard contact, and that's a number that can catch up to you in a hurry.
I'll keep riding the hottest team in baseball. Give me the Red Sox to come out on top once again.
Padres vs Braves: Padres (+130)
Padres win probability: 44%
The San Diego Padres shouldn't be +130 underdogs when the Atlanta Braves have been just as bad over the last few weeks. On top of that, neither starter has inspired much confidence lately. JP Sears owns a 5.79 ERA over his last three starts, while Bryce Elder has been even worse with a 10.29 ERA.
I'll gladly take the plus money here. Give me the Padres as the underdog.
Mets vs Brewers: Brewers (-199)
Brewers win probability: 66%
Until we see Jacob Misiorowski take a step back, I don't know how you can bet against the Milwaukee Brewers. I don't care if it's Freddy Peralta's return to Milwaukee. He's posted a 5.58 ERA on the road, while the New York Mets have managed just a 90 wRC+ over their last six games.
Give me the Brewers on the run line at plus money for a better overall price tag.
Giants vs Royals: Royals (-111)
Royals win probability: 52%
Sure, both offenses have cooled off over their last few games, but there's one thing you can usually count on: the Kansas City Royals playing their best baseball at Kauffman Stadium. That's also where Michael Wacha has done his best work, posting a 3.21 ERA and 1.07 WHIP at home.
On the other side, Tyler Mahle has struggled mightily on the road with an 8.45 ERA. I'd much rather trust the team that consistently plays better at home.
White Sox vs Rangers: Rangers (-160)
Rangers win probability: 62%
I'm taking Jacob deGrom over Erick Fedde 10 times out of 10, especially with how well the Texas Rangers have been swinging the bats lately. This feels like a great spot for Texas to stay hot offensively while their ace takes care of business on the mound.
Tigers vs Cubs: Tigers (+106)
Tigers win probability: 48%
I'm never a fan of backing the Detroit Tigers because of their inconsistencies, but after putting up 10 runs the day before, it's tough to expect them to replicate that type of offensive explosion in back-to-back games.
Plus, when you throw out Jameson Taillon, who owns a 7.77 ERA, 6.92 xERA, and 1.64 WHIP over his last five starts, I don't have much confidence in him keeping things under control for the Chicago Cubs.
Marlins vs Astros: Astros (-117)
Astros win probability: 54%
The Miami Marlins have posted a 65 wRC+, .261 wOBA, .578 OPS, and .117 ISO over their last six games, and that makes it tough for me to back them in this spot.
Have the Houston Astros been playing great baseball lately? Not really. But they are back at home, and they still have Yordan Alvarez, who feels due to make an impact at any moment.
I'll side with Houston here.
Nationals vs Rockies: Nationals (-117)
Nationals win probability: 54%
Only having to pay 17 cents of juice for one of the most explosive offenses in baseball, in Coors Field? Yeah, I want the Washington Nationals.
The Colorado Rockies have gone cold since the break, while the Nationals have been scorching hot all month long. Give me Washington to keep the momentum rolling.
Athletics vs Diamondbacks: Athletics (+144)
Athletics win probability: 41%
Neither team has been particularly impressive over the last month or so, but I think getting the Athletics at +144 as an underdog provides great value.
This is an offense that feels primed to break out at any moment, and the Arizona Diamondbacks pitching staff has been atrocious all season long. I'll gladly take the plus money and back the dog here.
Reds vs Mariners: Reds (+138)
Reds win probability: 42%
The Seattle Mariners have been an ice cube offensively for over a month, while the Cincinnati Reds have been absolutely scorching hot.
If George Kirby's strikeout rate hadn't dipped so much over his last few outings, I may have leaned toward Seattle. But when you're not missing bats, it's tough to slow down a Reds lineup that's been putting pressure on opposing pitchers.
Give me Cincinnati here.
Cardinals vs Angels: Cardinals (+104)
Cardinals win probability: 49%
Yup, another dog.
Kyle Leahy has been lights out over his last five starts, posting a 1.42 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. Meanwhile, Jose Soriano has been one of the biggest disappointments since April, struggling badly over his last five starts with a 6.38 ERA and 12.50 WHIP.
Both offenses have been cold, but in my opinion, the St. Louis Cardinals have the much better offensive unit. At this price, give me the dog.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Two heavy weights meet when the Dodgers (63-37) and Phillies (55-45) clash for a three game series in Philadelphia. Both are top five in odds to win the World Series and top three to win the National League.
Los Angeles opened the second half of the season with two wins and a loss versus the Yankees. The Dodgers lost Sunday night, 2-1, but had elite pitching holding the Yankees to four total runs across three games. Los Angeles went 2-1 versus Philadelphia in the earlier season series, outscoring the Phillies, 16-7 in Los Angeles.
Philadelphia lost the series versus the Mets to start the second half of the season. The Phillies managed eight runs with six of them coming in the lone win. Philadelphia will turn to ace Cristopher Sanchez for the start. Sanchez allowed 22 total hits and 11 earned runs in his last two starts before the All-Star break. Sanchez also allowed three hits and three earned runs in the opening frame of the All-Star Game in Philadelphia.
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Dodgers at Phillies
Date: Monday, July 20, 2026
Time: 7:10 PM EST
Site: Citizens Bank Park
City: Philadelphia, PA
Network/Streaming: ESPN
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Odds for the Dodgers at the Phillies
The latest odds as of Monday:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (+118), Philadelphia Phillies (-142)
Spread: Phillies -1.5 (+144), Dodgers +1.5 (-175)
Total: 8.5
Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Phillies
Monday's pitching matchup (July 20): Emmet Sheehan vs. Cristopher Sanchez
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is hitting .290 with 101 hits, 22 home runs and 60 RBI over 324 at-bats
The Dodgers' Mookie Betts is hitting .226 with 56 hits and 32 strikeouts over 190 at-bats
The Phillies’ Brandon Marsh is hitting .293 with 103 hits, 15 home runs, and 46 RBI over 351 at-bats
The Phillies’ Alec Bohm is hitting .219 with 77 hits and 59 strikeouts over 352 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Dodgers at Phillies
The Dodgers are 45-55 ATS, ranking sixth-worst
The Phillies are an MLB-worst 38-62 ATS
The Dodgers are 54-46 to the Under, ranking eighth-best
The Phillies are an MLB-best 54-41-5 to the Under
The Dodgers are 27-23 ATS on the road, ranking eighth-best
The Phillies are 18-31 ATS at home, ranking third-worst
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Phillies and the Dodgers
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Phillies and the Dodgers:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dodgers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dodgers at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 8.5
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LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Chris Cenac Jr. #12 of the Boston Celtics celebrates scoring the game tying shoots a three point basket during the game against the Toronto Raptors on July 10, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LAS VEGAS — It’s 6pm on July 19th, and I’m sitting along the baseline of the Thomas and Mack Arena to watch the 2026 NBA Summer League Championship.
Cameron Boozer and Yaxel Lendeborg, two of the most intriguing picks from the 2026 draft class, both warm up by their respective baskets as the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies prepare to square off.
The arena is sparsely attended — just days ago, the very same gym was inundated with fans, players, coaches, media, and front office executives — but the fans who are here are thrilled to be here. Dozens of kids wear Warriors jerseys and repeatedly belt out “Yaxel!” during warm-ups. The 23-year-old, No. 11 overall pick has quickly blossomed into a Summer League fan favorite, in part due to his elite on-court play, but mostly because he’s taken the time to wave to, sign autographs for, and chat with more kids than I have ever seen a professional athlete do. (Regardless of city affiliation, I am now a lifelong Yaxel enthusiast. I keep joking he’s the physical embodiment of LeBron’s ‘I can’t believe this is my life’ meme).
For the Grizzlies, Saturday’s title game is much bigger than basketball. Seven years ago, Brandon Clarke won Summer League Championship MVP, and the NBA holds a moment of silence before tip-off in his honor. In May, Clarke tragically passed away at just age 29, and every single Grizzlies coach and staff member dons a ‘BC’ pin in his honor, including Summer League head coach Erik Schmidt, who has worked with Clarke since 2019.
Last day of Summer League!
Grizzlies vs Warriors face off, but first a moment of silence for Brandon Clarke.
I wish more Grizzlies fans were here to see this, to see how the organization has made sure that every detail in this Summer League title run honors the former beloved Grizzly. But, based on how every single Grizzlies staff member spoke with me about Clarke, I imagine it’s the first of many such odes.
There are so few reporters left in attendance that the NBA asks me to cast a vote for Summer League Championship MVP, an honor I mull over for hours before ultimately selecting Lendeborg after he powered the Warriors to a 94-90 title win. I spent all game thinking about how every player impacted each and every possession, going back and forth in my decision so many times that I had to chase down NBA PR to secure my final vote in the waning seconds. (I’ll never judge a Finals MVP voter again).
As I walk out of the arena, I chuckle. There’s quite literally no reason for a Celtics beat writer to still be here.
Yet, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Why I love NBA Summer League
My absolute favorite part of covering the Celtics is going to NBA Summer League. That might seem counterintuitive to some, because there are certainly moments during the year that are far more high-profile, and certainly stretches in the season where there are way more eyes on my work. I’ve covered an NBA championship, blockbuster trades, and an unexpected 56-win season, all things that were uniquely challenging and rewarding.
But there’s a beauty to Summer League, a specific joy that it cultivates, that I haven’t experienced anywhere else in my career. I don’t actually like Las Vegas all that much — the casinos are a little too smoky, the food a little too pricey, the air far too hot — but Summer League? That’s my favorite place in the world.
For two weeks, I find myself submerged in basketball nirvana. Hundreds of players who have dedicated their entire lives to the nearly-impossible dream of one day making the NBA get the chance to put it all on the line. Coaches who never thought they’d ever take the lead role get to run the show for two blissful weeks.
Take Caleb Grill, for example. The 26-old-year Celtics Summer League guard has an uphill battle to climb to achieve his ultimate goal of making the NBA, but Saturday afternoon was a good start. After sitting on the sidelines for most of his Vegas stint, Grill erupted for 18 points, suppressing a grin as he hit three-pointer after three-pointer. Grill has laced up for four different colleges and two different G-League teams.
Now, donning a Celtics jersey, with Celtics front office executives like Mike Zarren and Alison Feaster sitting courtside, Grill reached a flow state.
“I was just super blessed to get the opportunity to come out here and play,” he tells us reporters afterwards with a smile.
This July was my third time covering NBA Summer League. Each time, I’ve arrived on the first day and left on the last, just in case this year was the year the Celtics made the playoffs (spoiler alert: it’s yet to happen during my tenure). The Celtics assistant coaches joke to let them know in advance when I decide to not stay through the title game, because that’ll be the year they make it.
Summer League has gotten increasingly more fun as I’ve become more experienced in this career, in part because I’ve gotten better at my job (I hope!) and in part because the circle of people in the NBA space that I know (and love!) has progressively grown.
This year, my Summer League experience began with the rare opportunity to sit down with Joe Mazzulla for a lengthy 1-on-1 conversation that centered around his summer spent traveling the world, the Jaylen Brown trade, and an offseason of dramatic change.
A few weeks ago, when I saw Mazzulla visit Neemias Queta in Portugal and Hugo Gonzalez in Spain, I was quite literally itching to tell the story of why he’s decided to go all-in on deepening his relationships. Sometimes, I feel so compelled to write a story I see unfolding from afar that I experience a genuine endorphin rush when I get the chance to do so. This was the epitome of that.
Another cool moment?
Chatting with Neemias Queta about what it was like to sign a $56 million extension earlier this month. Queta is the ultimate Summer League success story — he’s previously competed in four Summer Leagues as a player, which is honestly hard to fathom. Very few players lace up that many times and ultimately make it as decisively as he has.
So, seeing him arrive in Vegas with an extra pep in his step, sitting courtside with teammates Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and Jordan Walsh, was pretty cool.
We caught up with White, who joined Amile Jefferson’s coaching staff as an assistant coach for the very first time. That was fun to watch — he argued calls, grabbed the clipboard, and looked like he belonged, as Jordan Walsh confirmed.
Amile Jefferson loved having White, a close friend, assist him on the sidelines.
“He’s a natural,” Jefferson said. “If he wanted to be, he’d be a head coach. I truly believe that. If he ever wants to do it, he’d be amazing. He just has a great feel for people. Obviously, we all know how cerebral he is and his basketball mind, and so he’s a natural. He’d be amazing at it.”
And, there are players like John Tonje, who knew going into Vegas that Summer League would be a make-or-break moment. Tonje balled out, and his odds of making an NBA roster are a lot higher than they were a few weeks ago.
The joy of chit-chatting at Summer League
But the true joy of Summer League is the moments in between, the conversations. It’s talking to Brandon, the 20-year-old sports journalism student who thoughtfully asks me for 20 minutes of my time because one day, he’d like to cover the Celtics too. It’s meeting Bella, the NBA communications girl who I only knew for one hour, but who instantly felt like a lifelong friend. It’s catching up with Katie, who I only know from my summers in Vegas, but with whom I’ve never had a conversation that was not profound. It’s seeing Vanessa, the Houston Rockets sideline reporter who has made it a point to welcome me into the industry each and every time we’ve crossed paths.
That paragraph could have gone on forever.
Coaches are willing to chat longer. I learned at Summer League the many different paths coaches can take to get to where they are, from Amile Jefferson getting his start as a former Duke University star to Matt Reynolds learning how to cut film as an intern who never played basketball at a high level. Almost every Celtics assistant coach that I now know well, I first had a meaningful conversation with at Summer League.
Front office executives are willing to — off-the-record, of course — share the inner workings of trades, disclose deals that didn’t happen, and give their perspective on the Celtics’ young prospects. I could sit at a restaurant for 12 hours if the topic of the day was the NBA, and I’m reminded of that each July.
Above that, I can’t help but continuously think one thing.
The people of Summer League are each so different. We have entirely different upbringings, strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations. But we are bonded by one thing: an almost irrational love for basketball.
And, boy am I glad my own obsession once again led me to Las Vegas.
COVERS INTEL: The Cardinals have a 
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