MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 21, 2026: Will Sanders #43 of the Chicago Cubs throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the San Diego Padres at Sloan Park on March 21, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
According to Baseball America, the Cubs have signed 17 of their 21 draft picks already. The only ones that haven’t signed are 11th-round pick RHP Ariston Veasey, 13th-rounder C Emanuel Hernandez, 18th-rounder RHP Luke McGrath and 19th-round pick RHP Luke Guth.
Those four picks still have until a week from tomorrow to sign.
Right-hander Jake Woodford, who opted for free agency four days ago, re-signed with the Cubs and reported to Iowa.
It was a good start for Will Sanders, as he allowed just two runs on two hits over five innings. One of the two runs was unearned. The other one was a home run. Sanders struck out two and walked one as he collected the win.
Ethan Roberts pitched the sixth inning on a rehab assignment and retired the side in order. He did not strike anyone out.
First baseman Jonathon Long had a huge game, going 4 for 6 with two doubles and a solo home run in the third inning. It was Long’s 11th on the year. Long scored two runs and drove in two runs.
Third baseman Owen Miller cranked a three-run home run in the fourth inning, his sixth on the campaign. Miller went 2 for 4 with two walks. He scored two runs.
Finally, center fielder Brett Bateman hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth. It was Bateman’s third home run this year. Bateman went 2 for 5 with a walk and two runs scored.
Right fielder James Triantos doubled twice in a 3 for 5 afternoon. Triantos scored one run and drove in one.
Second baseman Ben Cowles was 2 for 5 with an RBI triple in the ninth. He scored twice.
Catcher Moisés Ballesteros went 2 for 5 with a walk. He stole two bases and had two RBI.
Starter Kevin Valdez gave up four runs in the bottom of the first inning and the Smokies never overcame that. The final line on Valdez was four runs on nine hits over 3.1 innings. Valdez struck out two and walked no one.
First baseman Edgar Alvarez went 2 for 4 and scored one run.
DH Ariel Armas was 2 for 4.
Catcher Ethan Hearn went 1 for 4 and drove in both Knoxville runs.
Kohl Franklin returned to South Bend on a rehab assignment and pitched quite well. Franklin tossed 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits. Franklin struck out four and only walked one.
The win went to Pierce Coppola, who tossed three innings of scoreless relief. Coppola surrendered two hits and issued two walks while striking out two.
Shortstop Angel Cepeda hit a solo home run in the sixth inning, his second on the season. Cepeda was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Left fielder Jose Escobar was 3 for 4 with two runs batted in.
Center fielder Kane Kepley went 1 for 2 with a walk and he was hit by a pitch. Kepley also left the game after his head collided with the Chiefs shortstop’s knee in the sixth inning. Kepley scored one run and had one run batted in before he exited.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 19: Drake Baldwin (30) of the Atlanta Braves celebrates his 3rd inning solo home run with his team during the Sunday afternoon MLB game between the Texas Rangers and the Atlanta Braves on July 19, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
June was a bad offensive month for the Braves. The first 12 games of July were a mixed bag: some good outputs, but questionable inputs. Still, it got the Braves to a 6-6 record. Then the All-Star Break came and went, and the Braves started the “second half” with a home series against the Rangers.
Good news! The bats not only showed up, they went more or less ham on Texas pitching. The Braves won the series and pushed their division lead back to three games. The Braves hit three homers in the series-opening win, followed with two more in the Game Two loss, and then hit four more in the rubber game. It was the fourth time (two of those were overlapping) that the Braves had three multi-homer games in a row. The nine homers in three games is the third time they’ve done that (they actually had four in a three-game stretch earlier in July). While it’s not clear if the Braves can keep this up (three homers a game is a very tall order), Drake Baldwin looks back and even Austin Riley went off in this series. Things may not be sanguine yet, but this outcome was way better than a loss.
The Rangers also came into this series with a decent pitching staff, and two of the starters they deployed have been having pretty good seasons (the third was Cal Quantrill…), so this series was less the Braves beating up on patsies all weekend, and more one patsy and some pretty good offensive performances in the summer Atlanta heat.
The Braves started the second half with a good ol’ fashioned clobberfest, courtesy of Cal Quantrill, who participated in some clobberfests of his own while eating innings with the Braves last year.
The box score in this one was ridiculous: Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson, and Austin Riley all homered, Baldwin had three hits and a walk while driving in five, every Braves starter had at least one hit, and even Victor Mederos got in on the action with a two-run hit… against a position player pitching. Meanwhile, Chris Sale, whose prior start was shortened by rain and who sat on the bench during the All-Star Game, came out firing and hurled seven scoreless frames with a 6/0 K/BB ratio.
This one was Braves all the way, a palate cleanser for much of the Braves’ struggles over the past five-ish weeks. And if you figured that Drake Baldwin was back after his rushed-back-from-injury slump after this one, well… you weren’t wrong.
…And all the good vibes of the first game post-Break came crashing down in this one. Temporarily, but crashing down nonetheless.
Most one-run games are kind of weird, and this one definitely fit the bill. The Braves were done in by bad defense, of all things — as they couldn’t stop the Rangers from rallying with a bunch of grounders. This has been a good defensive team even when it hasn’t been a good pitching team or a good offensive team, so having the defense fail to show up and condemn the team to a one-run loss is kind of lame.
It was also kind of lame because the Braves tried hard to win this game. Owen Murphy made his first career start and had it go pretty blah-y, with a 2/2 K/BB ratio and a homer allowed (to old pal Joc Pederson, the first batter of the game) while getting just eight outs. The pitching management was fairly aggressive, especially as a miscommunication in left field started a Rangers rally that Murphy and the gloves couldn’t really staunch, but despite all that, the game was ruined in the sixth. There was a double that Mauricio Dubon (part of the miscommunication earlier) couldn’t snag on a dive, and that was immediately followed by a thanks, short porch homer off Tyler Kinley that tied the game. After a walk, the Braves summoned Dylan Lee to at least try to preserve the tie, but… ball-hit-too-weakly-to-be-double-play, ball-hit-weakly-and-Ozzie-Albies-didn’t-throw-it-for-some-reason, hard-grounder-that-Jim Jarvis-couldn’t-snag-on-a-dive, and seeing-eye-single-to-score-two-runs did the Braves in.
The Braves threatened a few times afterwards and even scored another run, but couldn’t find the grass needed to re-tie the game. Michael Harris II and Eli White had the homers in this one; Baldwin had two hits, but also ended two innings late with outs, even though one was a liner that would’ve really helped were it not hit right at the third baseman.
Drake Baldwin and Austin Riley both hit a pair of dingers; Riley also came through with a pull-away two-run single late, as the Braves took the rubber game. The Braves jumped ahead early, scoring a single run in each of the first four frames against Nathan Eovaldi.
Amazingly, Grant Holmes managed to get by relatively unscathed two whole times through the order… which meant that the Braves more or less stood by and let him struggle through a three-run fifth. Fortunately, that decision didn’t end up hurting in the standings, as there was no bullpen-and-defense-based heartbreak in this one. Instead, a couple of defensive miscues set up a bases loaded situation in the seventh, and Riley unloaded the bags by singling up the middle. Brewer Hicklen got in on the action with an RBI double of his own.
The Rangers managed to score a couple of runs off Dylan Lee and Raisel Iglesias, but it wasn’t enough to deny the Braves a series win.
With the Phillies dropping a series to the Mets (somehow), the Braves have at least a tiny bit of breathing room as the Padres come to town. That’s kind of a good thing, because A) the Braves were swept by the Padres earlier this season, but also B) the Braves haven’t won a series against the Padres in two years, and haven’t won a home series against the Padres since 2018. They’ll have that chance this week, though.
Jul 19, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman (15) celebrates his solo home run in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Record-setting performances are becoming routine for Hunter Goodman of the Colorado Rockies.
The Rockies catcher slugged three home runs against the Cincinnati Reds in the finale of a three-game series at Coors Field for Goodman’s second three-home run game of the season.
He also slammed three roundtrippers June 27 at Minnesota.
Goodman becomes the first player in franchise history to have multiple three-home run games in the same season.
“Definitely cool knowing all the guys, the great players that have played here, the Hall of Famers who have played here,” Goodman said about securing his special spot in Rockies history as he finished with five RBI in his team’s 9-6 loss to the Reds.
“It’s a pretty cool accomplishment,” he added before a throng of media in the Rockies clubhouse.
Goodman, who now has 30 home runs this season, becomes the fourth player in franchise history with at least two, three-home run games in their careers.
Hall of Famer Larry Walker did it three times while fellow Hall of Famer Todd Helton accomplished the feat twice. Carlos González also achieved the distinction on two occasions in his career.
With his 30 homers in 101 team games in 2026, Goodman becomes the fourth-fastest Rockie to reach 30 homers in a season. Vinny Castilla attained 30 homers in 97 games in 1998 to reach the total in the fewest number of games.
Goodman now has five multi-homer games this season to lead the Majors and has 10 multi-homer contests in his career.
The three-home run performance came on a sunny, 92-degree summer day in Denver,
“It’s a July day game, hot, Coors Field…the ball tends to fly on those days,” Goodman said.
“And then I got some good pitches to hit.”
Goodman belted a solo shot off Cincinnati starting pitcher Hunter Greene in the first inning then added a two-run blast off Greene in the sixth. His third homer of the day, another two-run shot, came against Reds reliever Sam Moll in the eighth inning.
Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer praised his catcher’s offensive output.
“His body looks like it’s flowing right,” Schaeffer said. “He looks dangerous. He just looks in sync. Today he was, obviously, with three homers. He was really good. You can see the confidence seep out.”
Aug 10, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) completes a double play after forcing out Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter William Contreras (24) in the seventh inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Brewers are set to host the second of three series during their current homestand, as they’ll welcome the New York Mets to town for three games beginning Monday evening. The Brewers currently sit at 62-37 and in first place in the NL Central after sweeping the Marlins this weekend, six games ahead of the second-place Cubs. The Mets sit in dead last in the NL East and with the fourth-worst record in baseball at 42-58, and they’ve already fired their manager. They’re coming off a nice series win in Philadelphia, though, as they took two of three from the Phillies.
The Brewers are currently without pitchers DL Hall (on rehab assignment), Kyle Harrison (late July), Rob Zastryzny (late July), Joel Kuhnel (late July or early August), Brian Fitzpatrick (out for season), Brandon Woodruff (out for season), Quinn Priester (out for season), and Angel Zerpa (out for season). Outfielders Brandon Lockridge and Sal Frelick, along with infielder David Hamilton, are also shelved, with Lockridge and Hamilton expected to return in late July and Frelick’s return TBD, as he’ll undergo imaging on his shoulder injury this week.
New York is without pitchers Clay Holmes (late July), Austin Warren (late July), Justin Hagenman (late July or early August), Tylor Megill (the younger brother of Trevor) (out for season), Reed Garrett (out for season), and Dedniel Núñez (out for season). First baseman Mark Vientos is out until late August with a fractured hand, and outfielder Luis Robert Jr. may be activated for this series after missing the last two-plus months with a lumbar spine disc hernia.
Jake Bauers continues to set the pace for the Brewers with 18 homers, followed by Brice Turang (14), Jackson Chourio (13), and William Contreras (10). Garrett Mitchell has been the Crew’s best hitter over the last month or so, and Gary Sánchez, Christian Yelich, Joey Ortiz, Andrew Vaughn, Luis Lara, Cooper Pratt, Blake Perkins, and Braden Shewmake round out what has been a balanced offensive attack for the Brewers. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .253/.337/.396 (.733 OPS ranks 10th), with 91 homers (last), 502 runs (tied for fourth), and 98 steals (fourth).
Juan Soto has easily been New York’s best hitter, slashing .290/.409/.552 with 21 homers. Francisco Alvarez and Carson Benge have 11 homers apiece, while Bo Bichette has added 10. Jared Young, Marcus Semien, Brett Baty, Tyrone Taylor, A.J. Ewing, and Jorge Polanco round out the regulars, with Eric Wagaman, Brett Baty, and Luis Torrens providing depth. As a team, the Mets are hitting .234/.304/.382 (.686 OPS ranks tied for 27th), with 117 homers (16th), 409 runs (25th), and 49 steals (24th).
Aaron Ashby sets the pace for Milwaukee’s bullpen with 47 appearances this year, pitching to a 3.43 ERA with 78 strikeouts over 57 2/3 innings. Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill have been the most effective arms in the back end of the ‘pen, with Chad Patrick, Grant Anderson, Craig Yoho, Lance McCullers Jr., and Bryse Wilson rounding out the lower-leverage arms. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.45 team ERA (second), including a 3.38 starter ERA (second) and a 3.54 bullpen ERA (fourth). They’ve struck out 960 batters (second) over 886 2/3 innings.
Huascar Brazobán, Brooks Raley, and Luke Weaver lead the Mets in appearances, and each of them has an ERA in the low- to mid-2.00s. Former Brewer Devin Williams has 14 saves in 17 opportunities this year but has a 4.68 ERA over 32 2/3 innings. Kodai Senga has been moved to the bullpen as he has a dismal 8.85 ERA and 0-7 record this year, while A.J. Minter has been solid with a 1.80 ERA over 20 frames. Cionel Pérez (5.14 ERA) and Xzavion Curry (2.70 ERA) round things out. As a staff, the Mets have a 4.23 team ERA (17th), including a 4.44 starter ERA (21st) and a 4.00 bullpen ERA (14th). They’ve struck out 918 batters (third) over 891 2/3 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Monday, July 20 @ 6:40 p.m.: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (10-4, 1.62 ERA, 2.09 FIP) vs. RHP Freddy Peralta (5-8, 4.66 ERA, 4.39 FIP)
A matchup of the former ace vs. the current ace. Misiorowski, who has had a lengthy layoff to give him a bit of extra break, hasn’t pitched since July 7 against the Cardinals. He’s 10-4 this year with a 1.62 ERA, 2.09 FIP, and 167 strikeouts across 111 innings. He picked up the win in that game against St. Louis, allowing three runs on three hits and no walks while striking out 11. Misiorowski’s lone start against the Mets came last July in New York, when he took the loss as he allowed five runs on five hits and three walks, striking out two over 3 2/3 innings.
Peralta, 30, is in his first season with New York after being traded by the Brewers in the offseason. The nine-year veteran has had his worst full season to date, as he’s pitched to a 4.66 ERA, 4.39 FIP, and 104 strikeouts over 104 1/3 innings this year. He got hit for two runs on three hits and five walks, striking out six over just 4 1/3 innings in his last outing against the Red Sox, a 4-0 loss. This marks Peralta’s first career start against his former team.
Sproat, who was acquired in the aforementioned Peralta trade with the Mets, made his debut with New York last season. He’s shown flashes of his potential but hasn’t fully put things together just yet, with a 5.16 ERA, 5.11 FIP, and 87 strikeouts over 82 innings. Walks and hit batters have plagued the young right-hander, as he has 39 free passes to go with nine hit batters. That was exactly what gave him fits in Pittsburgh last weekend, when he allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits, two walks, and three hit batters, striking out three over three innings. This marks Sproat’s first start against his former squad.
Thornton, 24, ranks as the Mets’ No. 12 prospect by MLB Pipeline. The Winona, Minnesota product was drafted in the fifth round in 2023 out of Grand Canyon University, and he’s made three starts in the majors thus far, pitching to a 2.60 ERA, 2.99 FIP, and 15 strikeouts over 17 1/3 innings. He started last weekend against the Red Sox in what was his best start yet, allowing no runs on two hits and two walks, striking out five over seven innings on just 82 pitches, though he took a no-decision as the Red Sox went on to win in extras. This marks Thornton’s first career start against Milwaukee.
Wednesday, July 22 @ 1:10 p.m.: RHP Logan Henderson (3-1, 2.97 ERA, 2.71 FIP) vs. RHP Christian Scott (3-1, 2.87 ERA, 3.77 FIP)
Henderson continues to impress, as he now has 12 MLB starts across parts of two seasons, pitching to a 2.45 ERA, 2.84 FIP, and 71 strikeouts over 58 2/3 innings. He went five innings in a no-decision against the Marlins in Friday’s series opener, allowing one run on three hits and no walks, striking out four on 73 pitches. This will mark Henderson’s first career start against New York.
Scott, 27, is in his second major league season after making nine starts for the Mets back in 2024. In 13 starts this year, he’s pitched to a solid 2.87 ERA, 3.77 FIP, and 72 strikeouts over 59 2/3 innings. He’s looked great in each of his last two appearances, totaling 10 2/3 innings with no runs allowed and 12 strikeouts against the Royals and Phillies. This marks Scott’s first career appearance against Milwaukee.
How to Watch & Listen
Monday, July 20: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Tuesday, July 21: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Wednesday, July 22: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
These are two teams with completely opposite philosophies — the Mets like to spend money and lose; the Brewers like to save money and win. Give me the Crew to win two of three.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 17: Ronel Blanco #56 of the Houston Astros pitches against the Texas Rangers in the first inning at Globe Life Field on May 17, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Astros continue to shuffle the deck with their pitching staff.
SP Ronel Blanco, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since May 18, 2025 due to Tommy John surgery, will return to the roster on Monday and get the start against the Miami Marlins at Daikin Park.
Ronel Blanco set to return to Astros rotation following Tommy John surgery, with Wesneski not far behindhttps://t.co/oFA9NwtTdD
Blanco has pitched well on his rehab assignment. In 5 games covering 17 innings, Blanco is 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA. He has allowed 2 runs on 12 hits, walked 6 and struck out 13 in that time. Blanco’s velocity has also mirrored that of his pre-injury days.
After today’s loss to the Baltimore Orioles, the Astros optioned RP Bryan King to Triple-A Sugar Land.
Since joining the team in 2024, King has been a solid reliever for the Astros, but has been in a bad rut of late. Not only has he allowed runs in each of his last 4 outings, but he has allowed at least 1 home run in each of his last 4 outings. In his last 4 outings, covering 5 innings, he has allowed a total of 5 home runs. He has allowed 8 runs overall in that time on 10 hits, walked 2 and struck out 4.
King’s strikeout rate is down notably this season, sitting at 7 K/9 entering today’s game. It was 9.1 K/9 last season and 10.9 K/9 in 2024.
Multiple Astros pitchers this season have been optioned to Sugar Land, only to be later have that option cancelled and be placed on the MLB 15-day IL instead. Whether King has an injury at this time is unknown, but he is in the middle of the worst stretch of his career.
The potential swap of King for Blanco still leaves the Astros with only 12 pitchers, and 14 position players. Teams can carry up to 13 pitchers, but not more than that.
The Buffalo Sabres should consider adding another skilled forward to their roster before the start of the season. When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, Boston Bruins forward Pavel Zacha is an interesting potential option to consider.
Zacha just had an excellent 2025-26 season with the Bruins, posting new career highs with 30 goals and 65 points. He has also recorded at least 57 points in three out of his last four seasons. With numbers like these, he would have the potential to be a very good addition to the Sabres' roster. This is especially so when noting that he also plays a strong two-way game.
With Zacha entering the final season of his contract, questions have come up about his future in Boston. If negotiations do not go well and he ends up being made available for trade, the Sabres would be very wise to make a push for him. He would offer them with an upgrade for their second-line center spot. However, he can also play the wing, which only adds to his appeal.
It will be interesting to see if the Sabres end up making a push for Zacha this off-season, but the fit looks strong on paper.
It’s been a long and exhausting season for the Angels, but it appears the team has helped at least one fan rediscover his love for baseball.
New York Times award-winning sports author Jeff Pearlman released a video on TikTok, revealing the Angels have rekindled his passion for the sport.
“In the last [month] I’ve gone to probably like five games, three of the five just by myself, and you may think, ‘What kind of loser goes to a baseball game by himself?’ It’s [the] best,” Pearlman said during the TikTok video. “I buy a ticket really high up. … I get free parking because I park offsite, and I just love it.”
“I love the feel of the ballpark, I love the look of the ballpark, I love the green, I love the national anthem, the seventh-inning stretch, I love that the Angels always do these really cheesy giveaways.”
Despite the Angels having a poor record (39-61), Pearlman said he enjoys being able to watch baseball at an affordable price and called it the “cheapest, best bang for your buck ever.”
Pearlman went on to compare how cheap the Angels tickets are compared with Dodgers tickets. He said he’s happy not having to spend $40 to park and spending over $100 for a ticket.
Jeff Pearlman admits the Angels have helped him rediscover his love for baseball. WireImage
Pearlman is a New York Times best-selling author who writes about football, baseball and basketball. He also wrote a biography on Tupac Shakur.
Some notable books Pearlman has written about LA sports in his career include “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s,” and “Three-Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty.”
Now attending Angels games for the experience to watch baseball in its purest form, Pearlman said he’s been taking photos with fans in attendance and leaving free copies of his books across the stadium. He enjoys getting a cold brew coffee from the Rise Espresso Bar in the stadium that includes cold foam and Cocoa Puffs.
The Angels have struggled on the field, but author Jeff Pearlman is enjoying his visits to Angel Stadium. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
The 2026 season has been another tough one for Angels fans, and the franchise might lose 100 games in a season for the first time.
The victories have been few and far between for Angels fans this season, but the team has brought joy to Pearlman. Getty Images
Fans at Angel Stadium have been voicing their frustrations toward ownership this year. Earlier this season, they organized protests toward owner Arte Moreno, urging him to sell the team due to another losing season.
Pearlman admitted he has mixed feelings about Tarps Off but called it “entertaining.”
“My new happy place is going to Angels games, parking for free, knowing I have a $5 ticket, watching the game, presuming the Angels are probably going to lose,” Pearlman said. “Just relishing in the moment.”
BOSTON, MA - JULY 19: Victor Mesa Jr. #25 of the Tampa Bay Rays rounds the bases after hitting an inside-the-park home run in the second inning during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Sunday, July 19, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Natalie Reid/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Tampa Bay Rays did not allow a hit in the third inning Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park.
The Boston Red Sox scored three runs anyway.
A walk, a hit batter, another walk, a passed ball, an error, and a groundout turned a tied game into a three-run Boston lead, sending the Rays toward a 6-1 loss and a four-game sweep. The defeat extended Tampa Bay’s season-high losing streak to five games while Boston won its 13th straight.
Before the third-inning unraveling, Victor Mesa Jr. provided the Rays with one of the more exciting ways imaginable to take a lead.
Mesa opened the second by driving a ball into the right-center-field gap and never stopped running, racing around the bases for an inside-the-park home run. It was his seventh homer of the season and gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead without the ball ever leaving Fenway Park.
The Rays threatened to add more. Richie Palacios singled and stole second. Taylor Walls followed with a walk, but Sonny Gray retired the next three batters to strand both runners.
Boston immediately answered.
Caleb Durbin opened the bottom of the second with a single, stole second and advanced to third when Hunter Feduccia’s throw bounced away into centerfield. Andruw Monasterio then doubled into left field to tie the game. Feduccia recovered by throwing out Jarren Duran attempting to steal second, helping Shane McClanahan escape without further damage than a 1-1 tie.
The Rays created another scoring opportunity in the third. Cedric Mullins walked, and Chandler Simpson doubled, placing runners at second and third with one out. Gray responded by striking out Mesa after an unsuccessful Rays challenge and retiring Palacios on a fly ball.
Those missed opportunities became more costly during the no-hit blunder of the third inning.
McClanahan walked Jahmai Jones before retiring Ceddanne Rafaela. Wilyer Abreu was then hit by a pitch, and Willson Contreras walked after a Red Sox challenge confirmed ball three.
With the bases loaded, a passed ball by Feduccia allowed Jones to score the go-ahead run. Durbin followed with a grounder to Junior Caminero, but Caminero’s throw hit Abreau as Abreau scored, Contreras moved to third, and Durbin advanced to second.
Romy Gonzalez completed the damage with a groundout that brought Contreras home. Boston had turned three free baserunners and two defensive mistakes into a 4-1 lead without recording a hit.
Gray made sure the lead held.
After allowing Jonathan Aranda’s leadoff single in the fifth, the right-hander retired Caminero, Mullins and Simpson in order. Another opportunity disappeared in the sixth when Walls grounded into an inning-ending double play after Palacios walked.
Contreras then supplied Boston’s only necessary insurance. Rafaela singled to open the bottom of the fifth, and Contreras drove McClanahan’s next pitch into the right-center-field seats for his 22nd home run, extending the lead to 6-1.
McClanahan finished with six runs allowed, four earned, on five hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out three, matching his season low, but the line reflected an afternoon when missed locations and defensive mistakes compounded one another.
The Rays finished with eight hits to Boston’s six but went 0-for-15 with runners in scoring position. Even after Feduccia doubled in the seventh and Walls and Feduccia reached to begin the ninth, Tampa Bay could not push across another run.
With this series in the books, the Rays look to get back to winning baseball as they finish their road trip in Toronto. Nick Martinez is scheduled to start against the Blue Jays with a 7:07 pm first pitch.
While we saw a trade on Sunday, it feels like NBA free agency is on pause waiting for LeBron James to make his free agency decision, which will come... eventually. Everyone — the front offices involved, other players, fans — is ready for LeBron to end his dragged-out free agency process, but he will do it on his own time. Until then, stars keep making their pitches, but other free agency rumors are flying around. Here are some of the latest.
Harden, Edwards make LeBron pitches
Among the most predictable, tedious, frankly clickbait things about LeBron's free agency has been players, coaches and front-office people from every team that might land him — and a few that haven't — being asked about him and asked to make their public pitches. The fact that 76ers owner Josh Harris had a quick, private conversation with LeBron made news.
If you care about such things, here are the latest from James Harden and Anthony Edwards.
“That’s the goal, that’s the plan,” - James Harden on a big 3 of him, Donovan Mitchell and LeBron James pic.twitter.com/YoDNaMgqp2
The Lakers remade their roster this offseason to better fit around Luka Doncic this summer — LeBron is out, Walker Kessler and a group of new role players are in — but they may not be done, reports Sean Deveney of Heavy.com, based on a conversation with a league executive.
"When it comes to moving contracts, the Lakers have found teams more receptive to take on Jake LaRavia's remaining $6 million for one year than the $25 million over two years for Jarred Vanderbilt.
"Vanderbilt is a guy who has probably gotten a bad rap there because he has had injuries and has not fit in well and all of that," the exec said. "He can still play, just not at that number. (LaRavia) is a guy who you can ride when he is hot, but it gets tough when he is not. But he is tough, he plays every game, he hustles. You'd like to see better defense but he hustles. And $6 million, most people would take what he gives you for that."
This is likely a training camp or in-season thing, but keep an eye on those two, particularly LaRavia.
Dallas open to trading Klay Thompson, Gafford
If it feels like Daniel Gafford has been available via trade for years, you're not far off, and the Mavericks are still listening to offers, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
"Daniel Gafford, they're still fielding offers on him. We've also discussed they'd rather trade Klay Thompson rather than buy Klay out...
"I reported this on June 14th. Teams calling for Kyrie Irving are being told Kyrie's not available, but Gafford, Klay, and P.J. [Washington] are regarded as the most available of the Mavs vets...
"Is Daniel Gafford going to be on this team by season's end? It's not an answerable question at this point. We know he's available. Is someone going to put an offer together that interests the Mavs or are the Mavs going to keep holding out for a for a first round pick in exchange? Time will tell."
Thompson, 36, is set to make $17.5 million in the final year of his deal. Thompson may be headed to the Hall of Fame someday but he is not that player now. He averaged 11.7 points per game, shot 38.3% from 3 but shot just 41.8% inside the arc, and is not the same defender he once was. While there might be teams interested in him in a reserve role, they don't want to pay his current salary.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 19: Cole Young #2 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at T-Mobile Park on July 19, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mariners have played 100 games. 50 of those games have been wins. 50 of those games have been losses. Eight of the wins came in a heady run in late May to early June that made it feel like the team had turned a corner and was poised to claim a commanding lead in the AL West, only to be followed by a string of losses that suggested that no, actually, this was the same inconsistent, frustrating team that’s been playing since March. High expectations have made the losses sting, badly, making the record at times feel worse than it is – the 2026 Mariners have at no point been worse than five games under .500, and that was back in the very early days of the season. But it hasn’t felt like that. The play has been so inconsistent that even this 50th win, a 6-3 triumph over the Giants to start off the second half with a series win, doesn’t necessarily feel like a turning point so much as Lucy lowering the football for Charlie Brown once again.
Maybe blame Friday night’s abysmal 7-0 shutout loss against the drain-circling Giants, but even yesterday’s joyful Julio-fueled walkoff win seemed to pale in the harsh light of the series finale, with former Mariner Robbie Ray on the mound for the Giants – recently off back-to-back eight-inning shutout performances – against Logan Gilbert. It was a rough start to the game for Gilbert, who walked off the mound in the first having surrendered two runs: one on a no-doubter Bryce Eldridge home run where he pounced on a first-pitch fastball at 98 mph and pummeled it over the wall, and another on a ground ball base hit off the bat of Casey Schmitt that split J.P. Crawford and Colt Emerson; Schmitt would advance to second and score on another ground ball base hit from Heliot Ramos past a diving Cole Young.
Dan Wilson spoke pregame about the necessity of being patient against Ray and forcing him to get in the zone and wait for your pitch, but that message appeared lost on many of the Mariners hitters for the first few innings. The Mariners got some pressure on Ray in the second inning by following the Wilson 14 Point Plan (all 14 points involve waiting for Ray to throw the ball in the zone): J.P. Crawford singled with two outs, rapping a sharp slider past the second baseman, and then Julio worked a very good at-bat, fouling off and taking pitches before walking on the eighth pitch of the at-bat. Unfortunately, that brought up the lefty Cole Young with two outs, and Young was not on message:
Progress: sometimes it is linear, and sometimes, not so much.
The Mariners got on the board in the fourth thanks to some good old-fashioned chaos. Arozarena hit a ball right at Giants third baseman Casey Schmitt who decided it would be nice to send the ball on a scenic tour of Seattle, allowing Randy to get to second; he advanced to third on a Cal Raleigh flyout and scored easily on a Josh Naylor single. Naylor then stole second, because he is a chaos demon wearing polyester pants, and then scored on a game-tying single from Weston Wilson. It is important to have a niche, and in this inning everyone was tucked snugly inside their own personal niches: Randy being a Grade A Annoyance in the box and on the bases, trailing a cloud of chaos behind him like Pigpen; Josh Naylor singling on a pitch located at eye level and causing every Little League coach watching to wail in agony; and Weston Wilson being Professionally Right-Handed.
The Mariners weren’t able to add on but did keep the pressure on Ray, as Colt Emerson followed with a single and J.P. Crawford walked to load the bases for Julio Rodríguez. Julio flew out to end the inning, but the Mariners had managed to put 79 pitches on Ray by the end of the fourth.
Unfortunately, Logan Gilbert wasn’t able to deliver a shutdown inning in the fifth. Maybe it was the long layoff, but Gilbert wasn’t sharp when he came out for thie fifth, walking leadoff hitter Willy Adames on some not close pitches. Adames advanced to second on a bunt and scored on a go-ahead RBI double from Luis Arraez, who got on a slider that didn’t slide enough. Gilbert rebounded to strike out Eldridge on a slider, but the Giants now held the lead.
The Mariners were able to tie it back up in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of a tiring Robbie Ray. Ray spammed Young with sliders off the plate again, like he had in the first at-bat, but this time Young made an adjustment, getting a slider on the plate and pulling it sharply (101.3 EV) into right field for a leadoff single. Randy followed him with a single of his own, this one at 105.7 mph off the bat, taking over the honorary Dom Canzone big brother role of “anything you can do, I can do better.” The Giants pulled Ray for righty Sam Hentges, who got Cal Raleigh to ground into a double play on a curveball, but the run still scored, tying things back up. But with two outs, the Mariners couldn’t continue to add on.
However, this time Gilbert was able to deliver the shutdown sixth, capping his day at 95 pitches and ten strikeouts – pretty good work, considering how the day had started. Also of note: Gilbert delivered contact-monster Luis Arraez back-to-back strikeouts in his first two at-bats, the first time Arraez had struck out more than once in a game all season, a fact eagerly shared by Bryce Miller when Logan came into the dugout. When informed actually Miller was underselling it and that this was the first time that’s happened to Arraez in two years, Gilbert couldn’t contain a look of wonder and an involuntary “golly.”
The Giants sent righty Adrian Houser out to the mound for the sixth, allowing Luke Raley to step in for Weston Wilson and immediately make his presence known. This is just the Mariners’ second pinch-hit home run of the year, and I’d forgive you for not believing who hit the first. Hilariously, this is Raley’s second pinch-hit homer, and they both have come against the Giants. Again, it’s important to establish your niche.
With the Mariners clinging to a one-run lead, Eduard Bazardo took over on the mound for Gilbert. Jung Hoo Lee immediately hit the most annoying BABIP flyball single ever off the Bazardvark, which must have really ticked him off because he then rattled off about as filthy a string of strikeouts as I remember from him this year: first he put Willy Adames in a blender on a sweeper, then nailed Grant McCray on the same sweeper for a three-pitch strikeout. Nine-hole hitter Drew Cavanaugh actually made Bazardo work, getting ahead 3-1 and then fouling off a couple pitches, but he too was subject to the bite of the Zard Dog, who punched Cavanaugh out looking on an absolutely filthy sinker.
Everybody has a niche, but Cole Young’s has been harder to pin down this season. Sometimes it’s Gold Glove Cole; sometimes it’s Clutch Cole when there’s runners in scoring position; quietly it’s been Iron Man Cole, playing in every game this season, a feat only accomplished by five other players in MLB. Lately, though, it’s been Cole Power. With Julio aboard on a leadoff single, Young saw a first-pitch changeup from Houser he liked the look of and promptly sent it over the right-field wall for two very important insurance runs. Even more importantly for me, people who enjoy symmetry, this made three runs scored via small ball/chaos ball vs. three runs scored via home run, the optimal mix for this lineup.
With the bullpen breathing a little easier, Gabe Speier and Andrés Muñoz combined for two shutout innings to keep the Giants pinned in place. Speier had to do a little wiggling to get around a four-pitch walk to Eldridge, but posted a zero. Muñoz, by contrast, pitched maybe one of the most dominant innings he has all season, striking out Heliot Ramos on three pitches (heater-slider-slider), getting Jung Hoo Lee to ground out on a slider, and then striking out Willy Adames on three pitches – two heaters at 100 followed by another wicked slider. Muñoz has looked much, much sharper of late, but the effort from the bullpen today was superb, something Dan Wilson says is partly due to the willingness to attack that having a multi-run lead offers.
“It helps guys to get into the ballgame and have confidence that we’re going to take home a victory…anytime you can give them an extra run, an extra two runs, it makes all the difference in the world, because then they’re able to attack. In a one-run or a tie game, these guys are nails. But you give them a little extra lead, they’re going to make you pay.”
I might not be convinced these Mariners have turned a corner, but I’m not the one who needs to be convinced. Postgame, Logan Gilbert expressed confidence in not only the team’s recent record, but also how they’ve gotten there.
“We know where we’re at. It hasn’t been exactly what we wanted up to this point, but Dan keeps talking about how everything’s right in front of us. Division’s wide open. Won three of the last four, so that’s huge, and the way we’ve done it too, any time in the past I feel like we’ve gone through it a little bit – it’s kind of like a walkoff win is huge, with the momentum, so we got that walkoff hit, we came from behind today, clawed back, the offense did great, so those are two really scrappy wins. I think that’s what kind of gets us going.”
Luke Raley echoed Gilbert’s sentiments.
“We know the talent that’s in the clubhouse. It’s pretty clear we haven’t put it all together, but we know it’s there, and we know how we can play. We’ve seen flashes of it, but the consistency hasn’t been there. But we all believe that it’ll show up. We’re going through it a little bit right now. But the way to look at it is, we’ve won three out of our last four, and hopefully we can start getting some momentum and run with it…It’s kind of a cliche answer, but I feel we’ve had some good at-bats where we’ve hit balls hard and they’re outs and we just haven’t come up with the big hit. And Cole [Young] had the big swing yesterday, and it can be as easy as one swing. Just change the momentum, change the confidence, the the team starts rolling. That’s all it takes in baseball. And I hope that was the swing, and I hope we can roll from there, but if it isn’t, we’re going to keep working to get to that point.”
It can be as easy as one swing. It can also be as difficult. But it’s a lot easier when everyone knows their niche, and after today, where the Mariners stacked 11 hits up and down the lineup and scored on balls both small and long while striking out seven times against three walks, it feels like maybe – maybe – they’re starting to find it.
The Mets shortstop homered in his first plate appearance and didn’t stop until he had reached base five times in his team’s 6-1 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Lindor began the day with a .594 OPS since his return from the IL on June 24 (he missed two months with a calf strain).
His defensive play has been just as shaky.
So, are the Mets about to receive a dose of the Lindor who has been a key figure in this lineup since 2021?
“I am extremely confident, and there’s no other option,” Lindor said when asked about returning to his All-Star level. “I have to play to a higher standard. I have to play to the level that the organization wants me and I have to play to the level that I expect myself to be.”
Francisco Lindor rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the Mets’ July 19 win. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Lindor delivered a 3-for-3 performance with three RBIs from the cleanup spot.
He also walked twice, allowing him to reach base five times in a game for the fifth time in his career.
“I’m putting in the work, and the coaching staff here is helping me a lot,” Lindor said. “We have three hitting coaches and they are all sending me videos and all putting in the time. And [bench coach] Kai [Correa], we all know Kai doesn’t stop.”
Lindor committed a throwing error a day earlier.
Last Sunday he failed to turn a potential game-ending double play on a routine grounder, costing the Mets a victory.
Correa, who oversees the team’s defense, told The Post that Lindor is still trying to catch up from the time he’s lost this season.
Francisco Lindor celebrates after the Mets defeated the Phillies on July 19. Imagn Images
Before his calf injury, Lindor missed most of spring training due to hamate bone surgery.
“The biggest thing for him is he’s trying to close the gap on the lack of a normal offseason, the lack of a normal spring training,” Correa said. “The multiple serious issues, injuries, consecutively, without continuous play or a rehab assignment. Some of the things you see are mental mistakes that manifest as physical mistakes. It comes from the lack of game flow, where he’s out there and not doing things without thought.”
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The Mets can only hope to receive a steady flow of production from Lindor as they attempt to avoid finishing as a complete embarrassment.
“We know who [Lindor] is and he has a long track record of being really good,” interim manager Andy Green said. “The day before the All-Star break, that ended up being a tough day [on the botched double play], but he was swinging the bat really well, and made a ton of good plays that day. It’s good to see him come out, enjoy playing baseball, play it really well and lead us to a win.”
Los Angeles, CA - February 20: Guard Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against center Yanic Konan Niederhauser #14 of the LA Clippers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Friday, February 20, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
The Lakers will look a lot different when they take the floor for the 2026-27 season.
Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Walker Kessler are Lakers. Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura and LeBron James are no longer part of the franchise.
Though much has changed, one thing the Lakers can still rely on is Austin Reaves. He remains with the Lakers and is now unequivocally the No. 2 option.
Throughout his career, whether he’s coming off the bench, starting, scoring in bunches, or doing the grunt work like taking charges, Reaves has demonstrated that he’ll do what it takes to impact winning.
In a Dave McMenamin article for ESPN, Reaves discussed the dramatic changes to the Lakers and his commitment to making any sacrifices necessary for the team’s success.
“Everybody knows it’s a completely different team,” Reaves said. “There’s going to be different things asked of different people, and if that’s what JJ [Redick] and the staff asks of me, I’ll do it to the best of my ability.”
Reaves will likely remain a high-usage player and should be in a great position for a career year. LA is compensating him as a top player, and he needs to do everything that comes with that level of pay on and off the court.
However, it’s great that he is open to any scenario now, just like he’s been before.
With so many new players, this is a different era of Lakers basketball. Reaves was around when the top guys were LeBron and Anthony Davis, survived the transition to Luka Dončić and now he is a key part of LA’s future.
Later in the story, Reaves elaborated on how pumped he is about the upcoming year.
“The pieces that are coming in, I’m very excited about and I’m happy to get started today and see where it goes,” Reaves said.
So far, Reaves’ career has been steady improvement year after year. This season, he’ll have high expectations, and every Lakers fan desires an All-Star campaign from Reaves.
Based on how well he’s done so far, that’s a very realistic goal. But beyond that, Lakers head coach JJ Redick can continue to expect him to give the full effort he’s known for.
So yes, Reaves will put up some gaudy numbers and have iconic shots. But he’ll also put his body on the line as a screener. Reaves will dive on the floor fighting for a loose ball. And he’ll speak up, rally his team when the pep in their step is missing.
Reaves is a fierce competitor and will do whatever it takes to win. He’s already demonstrated this recently by taking less money so the Lakers can have some flexibility in the future to add other players.
Whether Reaves helps raise a championship banner for the Lakers remains to be seen, but if he falls short, it won’t be due to a lack of effort.
That’s something Reaves has always been willing to do, and that’s unlikely to change just because his checks have gotten bigger.
There was a time when a $10 million cap hit stopped people in their tracks.
Nathan MacKinnon became the NHL's highest-paid player at $12.6 million less than three years ago, Auston Matthews pushed the market to $13.25 million shortly after, and now Leo Carlsson has an $18 million cap hit after signing a five-year offer sheet with Philadelphia that Anaheim matched. Connor Bedard agreed to a five-year extension worth $75 million, collecting nearly $49 million through signing bonuses while settling at $15 million against the cap. Those contracts arrived only days apart, yet neither felt particularly out of place.
That's how quickly the conversation has changed.
The flat-cap years trained everyone to think differently. General managers guarded every dollar because they had no reason to believe another one was coming. Players still landed enormous contracts, but negotiations rarely wandered far beyond the financial reality sitting in front of them. Every long-term commitment came with the understanding that flexibility would remain scarce.
With a continouslly rising salary cap, nobody is negotiating that way anymore.
The numbers being thrown around this summer are tied to where the NHL expects itself to be by the end of the decade, when the salary cap is projected to sit comfortably above where it stands today and contracts that currently dominate headlines could look surprisingly ordinary.
That's what Carlsson's offer sheet represents. One 141 points in 201 NHL games doesn't resemble the résumé that traditionally produces the richest cap hit in hockey, but Philadelphia saw a young centre with size, skill and years of team control remaining. They recognized how rarely players like that become available and attached a number large enough to force Anaheim into making a decision immediately.
Bedard's extension reflected many of the same realities. Chicago secured the face of its franchise before another negotiation had the chance to become more expensive, while $49 million in signing bonuses served as another reminder that cash has become every bit as important as average annual value in discussions involving the league's biggest stars.
Every negotiation involving Macklin Celebrini, Adam Fantilli, Will Smith and the next wave of franchise players now begins with fresh comparables, signed under financial conditions that barely resemble those from only a few seasons ago. Agents will point to Carlsson. Teams will point to Bedard. Neither side will spend much time talking about contracts signed before the cap began climbing again.
Offer sheets could find their way back into the conversation as well.
They spent years feeling more theoretical than practical, largely because front offices preferred preserving relationships over creating uncomfortable situations. Philadelphia demonstrated there are circumstances worth testing, particularly when cap growth softens the long-term consequences of a contract that might have felt impossible to absorb only a few years ago. It won't surprise anyone if another general manager decides the risk is worth taking.
Fans still react to these numbers the way they reacted when double-digit cap hits first appeared, even as the league continues moving the goalposts. That's understandable. Hockey has never experienced sustained financial growth like this under a salary cap system, and perspective usually lags behind reality.
Reality has already moved on.
The next contract that resets expectations probably isn't far away. Neither is the one that makes it seem modest.
When the Colorado Avalanche traded Justus Annunen to the Nashville Predators during the 2024-25 season, it looked like a move between two teams searching for stability in goal.
Colorado needed a reliable presence behind Alexandar Georgiev. Nashville was hoping a change of scenery could unlock the potential of a goaltender who had shown flashes of being something more.
A year and a half later, both teams may have gotten exactly what they needed.
Scott Wedgewood has become one of the NHL’s most dependable goaltenders in Colorado, while Annunen is coming off the best season of his career and followed it with a gold medal performance on the international stage.
The player Colorado once hoped would develop into a long-term option is now looking like a goaltender on the verge of becoming a star.
Annunen spent parts of four seasons with the Avalanche organization, arriving as a promising goaltending prospect with the size, athleticism, and potential to become an NHL regular.
Annunen did not play, but hoisted the Stanley Cup when the Avalanche won in 2022. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas - Imagn Images
But by the end of his time in Colorado, it became clear something had to change.
His final season with the Avalanche was difficult. Much of his workload came after Alexandar Georgiev struggled, leaving Annunen in a difficult position as he tried to find consistency while often entering games with the pressure already mounting.
Instead of continuing to fight for sporadic opportunities, Annunen needed somewhere he could play, develop, and build confidence.
That opportunity came when Colorado traded him to Nashville along with a 2025 sixth-round pick in exchange for Scott Wedgewood.
At the time, neither goaltender had fully lived up to expectations.
Looking back, however, it may have been the perfect trade for everyone involved.
Wedgewood immediately found his game with the Avalanche, providing the steady play Colorado needed behind its starter. Annunen received something equally important in Nashville: an opportunity to grow.
The transition wasn’t easy.
After joining the Predators, Annunen posted an .888 save percentage and a 3.17 goals-against average while playing behind a Nashville team that struggled defensively. The Predators allowed 3.34 goals per game, ranking among the worst defensive teams in the NHL.
Those numbers were not an accurate reflection of Annunen’s ability.
Even the beginning of the 2025-26 season was a challenge. Through his first six starts, he recorded an .857 save percentage and a 3.83 goals-against average.
Then, something changed.
Starting with a 30-save performance against the Washington Capitals in his first start of 2026, Annunen began to settle in. The confidence grew, the performances improved, and by the end of the season, he looked like a completely different goaltender.
Annunen appeared in a career-high 28 games, posting a 10-12-2 record with a 2.68 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage.
Those were career-best numbers for Annunen in any season where he appeared in at least 20 games.
He also delivered one of the best performances of his NHL career, stopping all 43 shots he faced to record Nashville’s first shutout in more than a year.
“I thought Big Juice was outstanding,” Predators head coach Andrew Brunette told reporters after the win. “We’ve had a lot of [shutouts] that slipped away and they weren’t going to let this one go for Big Juice. He’s been put in real tough scenarios. I think they all wanted to get him a shutout.”
The momentum carried over beyond the NHL season.
Annunen earned the starting role for Finland at the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship and delivered when his country needed him most.
He was perfect in the gold medal game, stopping all 22 shots he faced in a 1-0 overtime victory against Switzerland to secure the championship for Finland.
The victory came against Predators captain Roman Josi, who captained Switzerland to a silver medal.
Annunen finished the tournament with a 7-1-0 record, a 1.47 goals-against average, and a .933 save percentage while serving as Finland’s starter.
For a goaltender who spent much of the previous year trying to establish himself, it was another reminder that his ceiling may be much higher than many originally thought.
His development also caught the attention of Chris MacFarland.
Now Nashville’s general manager, MacFarland knows Annunen better than most. He was part of the Avalanche front office that helped oversee his development before ultimately trading him to the Predators.
“I’m not surprised that Justus came here and found his game with his commitment and work,” MacFarland said. “I think the goaltending department here has done some really good work and it allowed him to develop, stretch his wings a little bit.”
That may become one of the biggest storylines for Nashville heading into next season.
Juuse Saros has been the Predators’ unquestioned starter for the last five seasons, but 2025-26 was easily one of the most difficult years of his career.
In 59 games, Saros posted a 28-22-8 record with a 3.16 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage.
Meanwhile, Annunen enters the offseason with confidence, momentum, and a two-year contract extension signed in January.
Nashville doesn’t need to rush into replacing Saros, but it may make sense to give Annunen a much larger role next season. A true rotation between the two goaltenders could allow both players to stay fresh while giving the Predators a better evaluation of what they have.
But if Annunen continues playing at this level, the conversation could change quickly.
Starting goaltenders rarely emerge overnight. They earn that opportunity through consistency, confidence, and proving they can handle the pressure.
Annunen is doing exactly that.
If he takes another step forward, Saros could eventually become one of the most intriguing names on the trade market next season.
It may not happen. It may not even be the direction Nashville wants to go.
But for the first time, there is a legitimate question surrounding the Predators crease.
Who is the future in net?
Colorado believed Annunen had that potential when they drafted and developed him. Nashville gave him the chance to finally prove it.
The trade worked out exactly as both sides hoped.
The Avalanche found a dependable veteran in Wedgewood, who has played the best hockey of his career in Colorado.
Annunen found something just as valuable in Nashville: opportunity.
Now, the potential Colorado once saw is finally turning into production.
Cameron Carr has yet to play in a regular-season game for the Lakers and is already making a name for himself.
Isaiah Thomas, a former Lakers guard, raved about Carr’s NBA summer league performance.
Former Lakers guard Isaiah Thomas (3) has been impressed by rookie Cameron Carr. AP
“We’ve been giving a lot of praise to the top four or five picks this week, but Cam Carr has been someone I’ve seen since the [NBA draft combine],” Thomas said. “He probably had the best showing at the combine, and as you see him now, in the summer league, he’s a hooper’s hooper.”
"He's gonna have a real big impact on the Lakers." @IsaiahThomas praises No. 24 overall pick Cameron Carr for his performance at NBA Summer League. pic.twitter.com/b7fJ8xZ62D
Carr played in four games during the NBA summer league and averaged 18 points, 2.3 rebounds and one assist.
During the Lakers’ summer league opener against the Heat on July 5, Carr had an incredible debut, scoring 26 points and making four 3-pointers.
“I think he’s gonna have a real big impact on the Lakers just cause he can space the floor, he can catch and shoot, and he can put the ball on the ground and make a play for others,” Thomas said. “That’s always good when you’re a young guard coming into this league.”
“So, he’s impressed me the most out of you know, not the top guys, but still somebody in there where everybody respects this guy and his game.”
Cameron Carr averaged 18 points per game during summer league play. NBAE via Getty Images
Before Carr was drafted by the Lakers with the 24th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, he played college basketball for three years at Tennessee and Baylor.
In his lone season at Baylor, Carr led the team in scoring, averaging 18.9 points per game.
