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The Miami Marlins traded Liam Hicks to the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, as first reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan. The package includes infielder Brayden Taylor, per Will Sammon of The Athletic. Under president of baseball operations Peter Bendix, the Marlins have made a habit of turning overlooked players into valuable major leaguers, with Hicks being a perfect example. The Marlins selected him in the 2024 MLB Rule 5 Draft. He had never played above Double-A, and after a solid spring, he managed to make the 2025 Opening Day roster. In his rookie season, Hicks slashed .247/.346/.346/.693 with six home runs, 45 RBI and posted a 98 wRC+. His role expanded as the year progressed. He finished 2025 catching in 62 games and playing 28 games at first base. Over the offseason, Hicks worked on his bat speed in an attempt to hit for more power. In 2026, that work has paid off. His average bat speed went from 67.4 mph to 68.3 mph, raising his average exit velocity from 84.6 mph to 85.2 mph. Combining added strength with an increase in his pull rate, Hicks already has 14 home runs this season. He has also maintained his elite contact ability, striking out 9.5% of the time, which is the lowest among MLB catchers and fifth-lowest among all qualified hitters. After all of his adjustments, Hicks is slashing .282/.363/.432/.795 with a team-leading 62 RBI and a 119 wRC+. However, Joe Mack is poised to be Miami's primary catcher long term. The Rays had a pressing need at the position, while the Marlins felt he was expendable to them. The Boston Red Sox were one of Hicks' other suitors, as The Athletic previously reported on Sunday. More updates to come... View the full article

The Minnesota Twins officially added newly acquired right-handed starting pitcher Dean Kremer to the active roster on Sunday, optioning right-handed reliever Jack Anderson to Triple-A St. Paul in the corresponding move. Minnesota acquired Kremer from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night in exchange for 18-year-old outfield prospect Jhomnardo Reyes, and this move confirms the club's intention of immediately inserting him into the major league rotation. Combined with Saturday's decision to option Zebby Matthews to St. Paul, Kremer is now expected to take over Matthews' spot in the rotation. If that lines up as expected, Kremer will make his Twins debut on Thursday, August 6, in Kansas City. Kremer last pitched for Baltimore on July 28 when he allowed eight earned runs against the Detroit Tigers. The decision to option Anderson is a logical one. The Twins claimed the right-hander off waivers from the Red Sox earlier in July, and while he impressed during his brief stint in Minneapolis by tossing 4 1/3 scoreless innings, most of his appearances came in low-leverage situations. With Kremer needing a roster spot, Anderson was the easiest move. The more intriguing question is what comes next for Matthews. Will he remain stretched out as rotation depth at Triple-A? Could he replace Connor Prielipp in the Saints' rotation if the organization wants to manage Prielipp's workload after the heaviest season of his professional career? Or do the Twins see Matthews as a potential bullpen option down the stretch? Those answers should become clearer over the next few weeks. What do you expect to see from Dean Kremer in the Minnesota Twins' rotation? Leave a comment below and start the conversation! View the full article

The Blue Jays and Rangers have agreed on a trade that will send utility player Josh Smith and minor league right-hander Josh Stephan to Toronto in exchange for left-hander Adam Macko. Evan Grant (The Dallas Morning News) and Ken Rosenthal (The Athletic) had the scoop. More to come... View the full article

Although the Miami Marlins are "not especially motivated to move him," they continue to listen on 2025 All-Star Kyle Stowers as of early Monday afternoon, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network. The Houston Astros remain the only specific suitor who's been identified. Stowers' overall slash line of .234/.319/.459 in 2026 is almost precisely in line with his career average, though he has gradually improved at the plate as this year has progressed. He has extreme platoon splits with 15 home runs and a 130 wRC+ against right-handed pitching compared to only one homer and a 39 wRC+ against lefties. Exclusively an outfielder during his first two seasons with the Marlins organization, he has gradually become their everyday first baseman this summer. The AL West-leading Astros, who have Christian Walker installed at first base, would presumably utilize Stowers in the corner outfield spots if they acquired him. The Marlins have a surplus of left-handed bats for the foreseeable future, especially when accounting for outfield prospects Cam Cannarella and Brandon Compton who've been dominating the upper minors. However, none of them have a major league season on their résumé that measures up to what Stowers did last season (4.0 fWAR in 117 G). Also, the 28-year-old is under club control through 2029, giving the Marlins plenty of leverage in negotiations. Both of these teams are playing high-quality ball as of late, combining to go 12-1 in their games last week. I'd be shocked if Stowers gets dealt today, but stay tuned... View the full article

After dealing Huascar Brazoban and Brooks Raley, the Mets landed Gabe Davis, Zach Franklin, Luke Gabrysh, and John Spikerman. Here's how each prospect fits into New York's future. View the full article

The New York Mets have made a minor trade with the Dodgers. The Mets are sending Ben Rortvedt to the Dodgers for reliever Chayce McDermott. The deal was first reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. McDermott, a righty reliever, has posted a 4.55 ERA in Triple-A for the Dodgers this season before being DFA'd this week. His arsenal includes a Cutter (43.6% usage), Four-Seamer (43.6% usage), Slider (10.3% usage), and split-finger (2.6% usage) in limited MLB experience. With the number of relievers the Mets are moving or are projected to move, McDermott could make a solid impact at the MLB level for the Mets. Moving Rortvedt, who was claimed by the Mets this offseason from the Dodgers, will return to the place where he won a World Series in 2025 as the Dodgers sought out some help at the catcher position. Rortvedt did not make an appearance for the Mets at the big league position. The Mets moving a catcher could also signal that the reports from the New York Post this morning are true that the Mets are not looking to move either Luis Torrens or Francisco Alvarez. View the full article

The Chicago Cubs view a relief upgrade as a must in the final few hours before the trade deadline, but because of a last-minute shift in the market, they're redoubling their efforts to grab a starting pitcher under club or contractual control through at least 2027, according to multiple league sources. More to come. View the full article

On Sunday, the Toronto Blue Jays made their first major trade before the MLB trade deadline, sending Kevin Gausman to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for two prospects. The move followed a trade to acquire Jameson Taillon earlier that day, after the Cubs designated him for assignment last week. It felt like the acquisition was a precursor to Gausman being dealt, as his contract expires at the end of the season. It hurts to see Gausman in a different uniform, but at least Blue Jays fans can root him on in the postseason. Plus, the move doesn't set the team back this season, especially after the Jays acquired José Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels. Obviously, to remain competitive, the Blue Jays need to find some offense, but at least the front office isn't waving the white flag. The two prospects that the Blue Jays acquired for Gausman are outfielder Brett Bateman and middle infielder Ty Southisene. Toronto targeted contact hitters with speed. Bateman is 24 and has been in Triple-A Idaho all season, where he slashed .312/.430/.421 with 59 runs, 33 knocked in, three home runs, and 20 stolen bases over 349 plate appearances. The lefty posted a 125 wRC+ and possesses great plate vision with a 17.2 percent walk rate and just a slightly higher strikeout percentage (18.9 percent). Bateman was the Cubs' 21st-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, but there was no clear path to the majors, as he was blocked by Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, and higher-ranked prospects. Though he has great on-base skills, his power is severely lacking, with only a 30 power grade, but he owns a 70-grade speed. Though Southisene is three years younger than Bateman (21) and is just in High-A, he was ranked higher in the Cubs' farm system (13th). Southisene is a middle infielder, though his 5-foot-7 frame may lead to him handling more second base than shortstop. He, too, is a speedster who hits for contact. Over his 318 plate appearances at Single- and High-A this season, he posted a stat line of .306/.425/.372 with 58 runs, 35 RBIs, 31 stolen bases, and a 123 wRC+. Southisene also possesses elite plate vision, with a 1.11 walk-per-strikeout rate. He has yet to homer since being drafted in 2024, with a power grade of 20, but he is 72-for-86 in stolen bases in his minor league career. These are not the flashy assets that fans were hoping for, but for a 35-year-old rental in Gausman, Toronto wasn't going to net any top-tier prospect. Both Bateman and Southisene get on base and will be aggressive on the basepaths. Speed is definitely an area the Blue Jays can improve on, as they've ranked 25th or worse in stolen bases in each of the last three years. Bateman may get a shot as early as September to make his MLB debut, depending on injuries or other moves the team makes. View the full article

New York Mets Weekly Snapshot Record Last Week: 3-4 Runs Scored Last Week: 25 Runs Surrendered Last Week: 21 Standings 5th in NL East (47-66) 20.5 GB of 1st Place, 12.5 GB of a Wild Card Transactions 7/28 New York Mets sent RHP Clay Holmes on a rehab assignment to St. Lucie Mets. 7/28 New York Mets sent RHP Austin Warren on a rehab assignment to St. Lucie Mets. 7/29 New York Mets activated RHP Jonathan Pintaro. 7/29 New York Mets recalled RHP Jonathan Pintaro from Syracuse Mets. 7/30 New York Mets optioned RHP Jonathan Pintaro to Syracuse Mets. 7/31 New York Mets placed LHP Cionel Pérez on the 15-day injured list retroactive to July 30, 2026. Left forearm strain. 7/31 New York Mets sent RHP Austin Warren on a rehab assignment to Brooklyn Cyclones. 7/31 New York Mets traded LHP A.J. Minter to Minnesota Twins for SS Bruin Agbayani and 3B Billy Amick. 7/31 New York Mets recalled RHP Jonathan Pintaro from Syracuse Mets. 7/31 New York Mets recalled RHP Xzavion Curry from Syracuse Mets. 8/1 New York Mets selected the contract of RHP Kevin Herget from Syracuse Mets. 8/1 New York Mets optioned RHP Xzavion Curry to Syracuse Mets. Scores Game 107: NYM 14, ATL 3 Game 108: ATL 2, NYM 3 Game 109: ATL 1, NYM 0 Game 110: NYM 4, MIA 2 Game 111: NYM 2. MIA 5 Game 112: MIA 6, NYM 2 Game 113: MIA 2, NYM 0 Series Breakdown/Highlights Braves Series: Coming off a bad weekend against the Dodgers, the Mets bounced back with an impressive series win against the division rival and leading Braves. The Mets opened the week with one of their most complete offensive performances of the season, erupting for 14 runs on 19 hits. Francisco Lindor led the charge, finishing with two home runs, a triple, and six RBIs, while Tyrone Taylor launched a three-run homer and Marcus Semien added a two-run shot. After Atlanta tied the game in the fourth, New York broke it open with 11 runs over the final three innings behind relentless offense and some questionable decisions in the Atlanta bullpen. Zac Thornton gave the Mets 6.1 solid innings, and the bullpen took care of the rest in a convincing victory. The first game of Wednesday's split doubleheader came down to timely hitting and strong pitching. Sean Manaea kept the Mets in the game, while the offense scratched across enough runs to edge Atlanta in a tightly contested matchup. A late RBI with two outs proved to be the difference, and the bullpen held on to secure New York's second straight win over its division rival. The victory guaranteed at least a series win and gave the Mets a chance for a sweep in the nightcap. Unfortunately, hopes for a sweep were spoiled by Chris Sale, who turned in a vintage performance. Sale struck out nine over six dominant innings, limiting New York to just two hits as the Mets' offense never found its rhythm. Christian Scott matched him for much of the night, but Atlanta manufactured the game's only run in a classic pitchers' duel. Despite dropping the finale, New York still took two of three from the Braves, which was impressive. In the season series, they went 4-2 against the Braves at home. Marlins Series: After a thrilling series win, the Mets, as they often do, gave it all back by losing a series to the Marlins. The Mets carried their momentum into the series opener against Miami, getting another quality outing from the pitching staff and enough timely offense to earn a 4-2 victory. The Mets capitalized on scoring opportunities early and protected the lead with a solid effort from the bullpen. After taking two of three from Atlanta, the Mets appeared to be building momentum before the trade deadline, though their plans to sell were never going to change. The Marlins evened the series by quieting the Mets' offense for most of the following night. The Mets managed just two runs and struggled to string together rallies against the Marlins pitching staff, while they took advantage of their opportunities late to pull away. The Mets dropped the third game of the series as Miami pulled away late behind another quiet offensive night from the Mets' bats. Tyrone Taylor provided the lone highlight with a two-run home run, but the Mets managed just a handful of hits the rest of the way. Zac Thornton battled through five innings before the Marlins broke the game open against the bullpen. Miami's pitching continued to keep New York's lineup in check, handing the Mets their second straight loss and putting them on the brink of a series defeat. The Mets closed out the week with another frustrating offensive performance, getting shut out despite several opportunities to score, including a bases-lobbed, no-outs in the seventh inning. Robert Stock made his first major-league start in years and pitched well enough to keep New York in the game, allowing just one run over five innings. However, the Mets went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position, and Miami's pitching staff made the slim lead stand up. The loss also came on the heels of the Freddy Peralta trade, marking the beginning of what will become a significant trade deadline fire sale. Website Highlights Breaking Down The Three Prospects Coming To Mets In Freddy Peralta Trade BREAKING: Mets Trade Freddy Peralta To Rays Why Luis Robert Jr. Deserves To Make It Unscathed Through MLB Trade Deadline With Mets Looking Ahead August 3rd: OFF August 4th: @ Guardians August 5th: @ Guardians August 6th: @ Guardians August 7th: @ Pirates August 8th: @ Pirates August 9th: @ Pirates View the full article

Well folks, Craig Breslow has officially heard your complaints. After playing things far too passively at last year's trade deadline, he flipped Connelly Early for Curtis Mead in the summer's first blockbuster. And now, he's going even bigger, picking up Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles. After a year and a half in which he seemed greatly diminished by injuries, Rutschman is back on his game this year. He’d lost some bat speed; it’s back. He’d lost a bit of the edge he once provided on defense; it’s back. He’s a switch-hitting catcher with a strong track record who might have a gear we haven’t seen yet. It’s all too little and too late for the Orioles, though. They had a lousy 2025 and are headed in the same direction this year. They committed to a younger catcher, Samuel Basallo, both because of his huge power potential and because he was willing to sign a team-friendly extension; Rutschman wasn’t. Their surplus behind the plate turns into the Boston Red Sox's gain. There's no word on the return yet, but it'll be sizable, even before factoring in a division rival tax. More to come... View the full article

Update: The deal, as expected, is hung up in the medicals stage, per Chris Cotillo. Rutschman is dealing with a wrist injury (tell me where you've heard that one before) and missed time due to an ankle injury and concussion earlier this year. Original story as follows. Well folks, Craig Breslow has officially heard your complaints. After playing things far too passively at last year's trade deadline, he flipped Connelly Early for Curtis Mead in the summer's first blockbuster. And now, he's going even bigger, picking up Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles. After a year and a half in which he seemed greatly diminished by injuries, Rutschman is back on his game this year. He’d lost some bat speed; it’s back. He’d lost a bit of the edge he once provided on defense; it’s back. He’s a switch-hitting catcher with a strong track record who might have a gear we haven’t seen yet. It’s all too little and too late for the Orioles, though. They had a lousy 2025 and are headed in the same direction this year. They committed to a younger catcher, Samuel Basallo, both because of his huge power potential and because he was willing to sign a team-friendly extension; Rutschman wasn’t. Their surplus behind the plate turns into the Boston Red Sox's gain. There's no word on the return yet, but it'll be sizable, even before factoring in a division rival tax. There are significant fallout questions to address here. What happens to Carlos Narvaez now that a three-time All-Star is in the mix? Will the Red Sox try to enter extension conversations with Rutschman, who is 28 and under team control through 2027, before the lockout? What else is on tap for Breslow today? No matter what the answers to those questions are, what matters most is that the Red Sox have their catcher of the future. Rutschman still hasn't recaptured the magic of his first few seasons when he was worth a whopping 11.1 fWAR, but he's been excellent this year both at the plate (115 wRC+, .764 OPS) and behind it (+9 Fielding Run Value). He's also a switch-hitter who crushes southpaws (.783 OPS against left-handed pitching in his career), filling the quotient of a right-handed slugger the team has needed since Mead went down in his second at-bat with the team. Once the deal has been finalized and the prospect package is confirmed, we'll have plenty more to break down about this trade. View the full article

Update: The deal, as expected, is hung up in the medicals stage, per Chris Cotillo. Rutschman is dealing with a wrist injury (tell me where you've heard that one before) and missed time due to an ankle injury and concussion earlier this year. Original story as follows. Well folks, Craig Breslow has officially heard your complaints. After playing things far too passively at last year's trade deadline, he flipped Connelly Early for Curtis Mead in the summer's first blockbuster. And now, he's going even bigger, picking up Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles. After a year and a half in which he seemed greatly diminished by injuries, Rutschman is back on his game this year. He’d lost some bat speed; it’s back. He’d lost a bit of the edge he once provided on defense; it’s back. He’s a switch-hitting catcher with a strong track record who might have a gear we haven’t seen yet. It’s all too little and too late for the Orioles, though. They had a lousy 2025 and are headed in the same direction this year. They committed to a younger catcher, Samuel Basallo, both because of his huge power potential and because he was willing to sign a team-friendly extension; Rutschman wasn’t. Their surplus behind the plate turns into the Boston Red Sox's gain. There's no word on the return yet, but it'll be sizable, even before factoring in a division rival tax. There are significant fallout questions to address here. What happens to Carlos Narvaez now that a three-time All-Star is in the mix? Will the Red Sox try to enter extension conversations with Rutschman, who is 28 and under team control through 2027, before the lockout? What else is on tap for Breslow today? No matter what the answers to those questions are, what matters most is that the Red Sox have their catcher of the future. Rutschman still hasn't recaptured the magic of his first few seasons when he was worth a whopping 11.1 fWAR, but he's been excellent this year both at the plate (115 wRC+, .764 OPS) and behind it (+9 Fielding Run Value). He's also a switch-hitter who crushes southpaws (.783 OPS against left-handed pitching in his career), filling the quotient of a right-handed slugger the team has needed since Mead went down in his second at-bat with the team. Once the deal has been finalized and the prospect package is confirmed, we'll have plenty more to break down about this trade. View the full article

Update: The deal, as expected, is hung up in the medicals stage, per Chris Cotillo. Rutschman is dealing with a wrist injury (tell me where you've heard that one before) and missed time due to an ankle injury and concussion earlier this year. Update 2: The deal is done, per Jeff Passan. Still waiting on official terms of the deal. Original story as follows. Well folks, Craig Breslow has officially heard your complaints. After playing things far too passively at last year's trade deadline, he flipped Connelly Early for Curtis Mead in the summer's first blockbuster. And now, he's going even bigger, picking up Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles. After a year and a half in which he seemed greatly diminished by injuries, Rutschman is back on his game this year. He’d lost some bat speed; it’s back. He’d lost a bit of the edge he once provided on defense; it’s back. He’s a switch-hitting catcher with a strong track record who might have a gear we haven’t seen yet. It’s all too little and too late for the Orioles, though. They had a lousy 2025 and are headed in the same direction this year. They committed to a younger catcher, Samuel Basallo, both because of his huge power potential and because he was willing to sign a team-friendly extension; Rutschman wasn’t. Their surplus behind the plate turns into the Boston Red Sox's gain. There's no word on the return yet, but it'll be sizable, even before factoring in a division rival tax. There are significant fallout questions to address here. What happens to Carlos Narvaez now that a three-time All-Star is in the mix? Will the Red Sox try to enter extension conversations with Rutschman, who is 28 and under team control through 2027, before the lockout? What else is on tap for Breslow today? No matter what the answers to those questions are, what matters most is that the Red Sox have their catcher of the future. Rutschman still hasn't recaptured the magic of his first few seasons when he was worth a whopping 11.1 fWAR, but he's been excellent this year both at the plate (115 wRC+, .764 OPS) and behind it (+9 Fielding Run Value). He's also a switch-hitter who crushes southpaws (.783 OPS against left-handed pitching in his career), filling the quotient of a right-handed slugger the team has needed since Mead went down in his second at-bat with the team. Once the deal has been finalized and the prospect package is confirmed, we'll have plenty more to break down about this trade. View the full article

It's trade deadline day! Before we welcome any newcomers or say goodbye to any old friends, let's recap all of the Boston Red Sox's minor-league action from Sunday. Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series @ Norfolk Tides (Baltimore Orioles): 5-1 Season Record: 55-47 An excellent day from the pitching staff helped Worcester to victory amid a subdued offensive effort. Raymond Burgos took the first five innings of Sunday afternoon’s matchup, pitching to the tune of one run on three hits. Burgos struck out four as he won his third game of the season. Eduardo Rivera got the ball for the sixth and seventh innings, issuing two walks amid a shutout appearance. Rivera struck out three as he lowered his ERA to 2.61. Seth Martinez followed Rivera with a perfect inning of ball before Tyler Uberstine hurled a perfect inning of his own. Uberstine closed the game with two strikeouts as Worcester won yet again. Franklin Arias sat on Sunday afternoon and the rest of Worcester’s lineup struggled. The WooSox recorded just five hits and two RBIs, but were able to draw six walks. Mikey Romero accounted for one of Worcester’s RBIs in the third inning. He scored Braiden Ward on a line drive single as Worcester grabbed an early lead. Ward drove in two more in the fifth, scoring Tsung-Che Cheng and Vinny Capra on a single to center. In the seventh, Ward scored once more on a wild pitch as Worcester was able to steal a win from Norfolk. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series vs. Harrisburg Senators (Washington Nationals): 3-3 Season Record: 53-47 An excellent afternoon on the mound and a potent offensive showing led Portland to a 12-2 drubbing of Harrisburg. Gage Ziehl rebounded from a shaky start last time around with six innings of one-run ball. The 23-year-old nabbed his sixth win of the season as he struck out eight across six frames. He allowed six hits and issued one walk, but kept the damage to a minimum. Tyler Davis got the ball in the seventh and turned in a two-frame outing, allowing one run. Cooper Adams completed the win for Portland with a near-perfect outing. He issued two walks but struck out a pair in an inning of closing work. Every batter in Portland’s lineup reached base for the second straight contest, and Yoeilin Cespedes recorded his first Double-A knock. Matt Frazier and Ronald Rosario drove in three runs apiece as they led the Sea Dogs. Max Ferguson drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth, scoring Rosario. Frazier then doubled, clearing the bases and scoring Mason White, Will Turner, and Ferguson. Turner added to the three-run lead with an RBI double in the sixth, scoring Nate Baez. Turner and Ferguson were then driven home on a Tyler McDonough single to right field. Cespedes tacked on two more with a single to left, scoring Frazier and McDonough. After Brooks Brannon reached later in the inning, Ronald Rosario capped off an eight-run outburst with a three-run homer as Portland won in easy fashion. High-A Greenville Drive Series @ Asheville Tourists (Houston Astros): 6-0 Season Record: 44-54 Greenville completed the six-game series sweep as the 2026 draftees continued to get off to a hot start. Matt Duffy got the start in the series finale on Sunday afternoon, turning in an abbreviated start. Across 3⅔ innings, Duffy allowed three runs on three hits and issued two walks. On the bright side for Duffy, he struck out six batters as he set a season high. Adam Bates took over following Duffy’s exit but struggled from the start. Bates allowed four runs on two hits as he walked four. He struck out two before Matt McShane took over. McShane steadied the game for Greenville, throwing 2⅓ innings of shutout, one-hit pitching. He walked two and struck out a pair as he earned the win. Calvin Bickerstaff took over in the eighth and went the distance, closing out the win for the Drive. He allowed two hits but staved off the Tourists as Greenville rolled to another win. Greenville’s bats stayed hot on Sunday, scoring 11 runs for the second consecutive game. Jake Schaffner and Maximus Martin had three RBIs each as Owen Hull led the team with three hits. Enddy Azocar started the scoring for the Drive, driving in Stanley Tucker on a solo home run in the third inning as the Drive took the lead. Martin struck next, scoring Hull and Ronny Hernandez in the fourth on a three-run jack, his second of the year. Down by two runs in the seventh, Schaffner stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. He was unfazed despite the high-pressure situation, tripling to right field and clearing the bases as Tucker, Azocar, and Justin Gonzales all scored. Schaffner was then driven in on a Gerardo Rodriguez double as Greenville grabbed a two-run lead. In the ninth, Hull added an insurance run as he scored Gonzales on a double. Hernandez then drove Hull in on a single, capping off another great offensive effort from Greenville. Low-A Salem RidgeYaks Series @ Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (Chicago White Sox): 2-4 Season Record: 43-58 It was the same story on a different night for Salem as the bullpen faltered despite a solid offensive effort. 18-year-old Williams Montero got the ball in his second start for Salem, turning in an excellent performance. Across 3⅓ innings, the young pitcher allowed just one baserunner as he struck out four. Despite the solid start, Leighton Finley was disappointing as he relieved Montero in a bulk role. Finley kept Kannapolis scoreless until the seventh, when he allowed two runs. Then, in the eighth he allowed two more before being pulled. Finley finished with a line of four runs, six hits, one walk, and five strikeouts. Caden Vire was called in from the bullpen, but struggled in his second appearance with Salem. He allowed four more runs on two hits, walking two and striking out one in a brief ⅓-inning appearance. Luis Cohen entered to close the eighth and allowed one hit as he struck out one. The Yaks recorded nine hits on offense, but struggled to drive runners home as they went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Salem struck first with a pair of homers in the third inning. Franklin Primera went yard with Henry Godbout aboard before Skylar King left the yard, giving Salem an early 3-0 lead. Salem wouldn’t score again until the ninth inning when Godbout scored on a Kleyver Salazar single. View the full article

Once again in 2026, I will be monitoring Miami Marlins predictions from our valued SuperSubs, Fish On First staffers and livestream guests. Individual article pages like this one will be created prior to every Marlins series and featured prominently on the FOF site. Consistent participation is key if you want to win this annual contest. Submissions only take a few seconds. Scoring system A "perfect" series is worth three points: Earn one point for predicting which team will win the upcoming series Earn one point for predicting the precise number of victories for each team Earn one point for predicting the “Series MVP” who accumulated the highest win probability added (WPA) during the series as calculated by FanGraphs (could pick a player from either team) FOF staffer Jeremiah Geiger is currently atop the 2026 season leaderboard, which will be updated between every Marlins series. If you are a SuperSub, leave a comment with your Prediction Time picks on this page, or join the Marlins Discord Server and submit there. We'll feature them on the upcoming Fish On First LIVE episode and track your points throughout the season! Any picks submitted prior to the first pitch of the series opener will be counted. If you are not a SuperSub, please consider signing up here to support the FOF staff. Series preview notes Probable starting pitchers: TBA (MIA) vs. RHP Grant Holmes on Tuesday Expected to be bullpen game led by RHP Ryan Gusto RHP Eury Pérez (MIA) vs. RHP Bryce Elder (ATL) on Wednesday TBA (MIA) vs. LHP Martin Pérez (ATL) on Thursday RHP Janson Junk's rotation spot The Marlins rank 15th in MLB with a 101 wRC+ and 11th in MLB with a 3.99 FIP. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games and have a 24-32 record on the road this season. The following Marlins players are on the injured list: Anthony Bender (15-day IL), Josh Ekness (60-day IL, but could be activated for this series), Ronny Henriquez (60-day IL), William Kempner (15-day IL), Adam Mazur (60-day IL), Andrew Nardi (60-day IL) and Robby Snelling (60-day IL). The Braves rank 16th in MLB with a 101 wRC+ and 15th in MLB with a 4.14 FIP. They are 7-3 in their last 10 games and have a 36-20 record at home this season. The following Braves players are on the injured list: Joe Jiménez (60-day IL), Ha-Seong Kim (10-day IL), Reynaldo López (15-day IL) Sean Murphy (60-day IL), Spencer Schwellenbach (60-day IL), Spencer Strider (60-day IL), Robert Suarez (15-day IL) and Joey Wentz (60-day IL). View the full article

Three of the New York Mets’ four full-season minor league affiliates played Sunday, and for each one, an intriguing story emerged. For Syracuse, it was Christopher Morel hitting three home runs, including a go-ahead, three-run moonshot in the sixth inning that powered the Mets to a series-ending 9-7 victory at Rochester. For Binghamton, it was the latest episode of the Mitch Voit Experience. The infield prospect homered, doubled twice, singled and drove in five runs to cap a huge first week at Double-A as the Rumble Ponies stomped Reading 9-3. For Brooklyn, it was Clay Holmes making his final rehab start before Monday’s MLB trade deadline. It was almost surely Holmes’ last appearance for the Mets’ organization, at least this year. The Cyclones held off Winston-Salem 6-5. St. Lucie didn’t get in on the fun. Its game against Dunedin was canceled because of inclement weather. Both DSL Mets squads, Blue and Orange, were off. Further intrigue came from New York on Sunday and will again on Monday. The full-season clubs should look vastly different when they return to action Tuesday, thanks to the trades the big-league club is expected to complete before the 6 p.m. ET deadline. Binghamton and Brooklyn are already feeling the effects of Freddy Peralta being traded Sunday to the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Aidan Smith, right-hander Gary Gill Hill and second baseman Émilien Pitre. Hill and Pitre were playing at Double-A in the Rays’ chain, while Smith was at High-A. New York Mets Transactions New York Mets traded RHP Freddy Peralta to Tampa Bay Rays for RHP Gary Gill Hill, OF Aidan Smith and SS Émilien Pitre. New York Mets designated DH MJ Melendez for assignment. New York Mets designated RHP Joey Gerber for assignment. New York Mets released RHP Joey Gerber. New York Mets designated RHP Kevin Herget for assignment. New York Mets selected the contract of RHP Robert Stock from Syracuse Mets. New York Mets selected the contract of RHP Bryce Conley from Binghamton Rumble Ponies. New York Mets claimed C Shawn Ross off waivers from Pittsburgh Pirates. New York Mets optioned C Shawn Ross to Syracuse Mets. New York Mets optioned RHP Jonathan Pintaro to Syracuse Mets. New York Mets sent RHP Clay Holmes on a rehab assignment to Brooklyn Cyclones. Morel Mashes In Syracuse's Slugfest Win Make it eight home runs and a 1.174 OPS in 21 games with Syracuse for the former Cub, Ray and Marlin. Morel started his hat trick with a two-run drive in the third inning that gave the Mets a 5-1 lead. After Rochester scored five times in the bottom of the fifth to take a 7-5 advantage, he teed off in the sixth for homer No. 2. With Zack Short and Christian Arroyo aboard, he sent a Justin Lawrence pitch out of sight to put Syracuse back in front 8-7. Now, he waits to find out who will trade for him. The Mets will be off in Cleveland on Monday, so there’ll be no formal hugwatch. Holmes’ market appeared to lose bidders over the weekend when the Chicago White Sox acquired right-hander Luis Castillo from the Seattle Mariners on Saturday and the Chicago Cubs obtained right-hander Kevin Gausman from the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. Brooklyn made him the winning pitcher in his assumed Mets finale with two runs in the first, three runs in the third and a run in the fourth. Recently promoted Randy Guzman and the still-rehabbing Andy Ibáñez went back-to-back with their first Brooklyn home runs in that three-run third. Ibáñez went 12-for-20 (.600) in five games this week. Player AB R H RBI BB K Yonatan Henriquez 5 0 1 1 0 0 Jacob Reimer 3 2 1 0 0 0 Andy Ibáñez 4 2 3 2 0 0 Randy Guzman 4 1 2 1 0 0 Trey Snyder 4 0 2 2 0 0 Ronald Hernandez 3 0 0 0 1 0 Daiverson Gutierrez 4 0 0 0 0 1 Antonio Jimenez 2 1 0 0 2 1 Yohairo Cuevas 2 0 0 0 1 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Clay Holmes 5 1/3 7 4 3 0 3 0 Hunter Hodges 2/3 1 1 0 1 2 0 Austin Warren 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Daviel Hurtado 2 1 0 0 2 3 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Jonah Tong: DNP Jack Wenninger: DNP Ryan Clifford: DNP Elian Pena: DNP Nick Morabito: 1-for-4, RBI Jacob Reimer: 1-for-3 Mitch Voit: 4-for-5, 2 2B, HR, 5 RBI Jonathan Santucci: DNP Zac Thornton: MLB Chris Suero: 1-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, K Will Watson: DNP Wandy Asigen: DNP Eli Serrano III: DNP Randy Guzman: 2-for-4, HR, RBI Dylan Ross: DNP Ryan Lambert: DNP Antonio Jimenez: 0-for-2, 2 BB, K R.J. Gordon: DNP Jonathan Pintaro: DNP Marco Vargas: DNP View the full article

One of the more coveted arms at the trade deadline hasn't pitched in an MLB game since mid-May. That is not stopping contenders from pursuing New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes. According to multiple reports, including Ari Alexander of Boston TV station WHDH, the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox are among the chief competitors for the right-handed starter. Holmes has been out since taking a line drive off his right leg, resulting in a fractured right fibula May 15. But Holmes made what was expected to be a final rehab appearance Sunday at High A, pitching 5⅓ innings (73 pitches) and allowing four runs, three earned. He was a bright spot in a dismal Mets season before going down, posting a 3.21 FIP (2.39 ERA) in nine starts and 52⅔ innings, with an 8.4% walk rate and 20.9% strikeout rate. Holmes is being paid $13 million this year (about $3.8 million remaining) and $12 million next year. That plus the number of suitors means Holmes will come at a decent prospect cost. View the full article

One of the more coveted arms at the trade deadline hasn't pitched in an MLB game since mid-May. That is not stopping contenders from pursuing New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes. According to multiple reports, including Ari Alexander of Boston TV station WHDH, the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox are among the chief competitors for the right-handed starter. Holmes has been out since taking a line drive off his right leg, resulting in a fractured right fibula May 15. But Holmes made what was expected to be a final rehab appearance Sunday at High A, pitching 5⅓ innings (73 pitches) and allowing four runs, three earned. He was a bright spot in a dismal Mets season before going down, posting a 3.21 FIP (2.39 ERA) in nine starts and 52⅔ innings, with an 8.4% walk rate and 20.9% strikeout rate. Holmes is being paid $13 million this year (about $3.8 million remaining) and $12 million next year. That plus the number of suitors means Holmes will come at a decent prospect cost. View the full article

One of the more coveted arms at the trade deadline hasn't pitched in an MLB game since mid-May. That is not stopping contenders from pursuing New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes. According to multiple reports, including Ari Alexander of Boston TV station WHDH, the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox are among the chief competitors for the right-handed starter. Holmes has been out since taking a line drive off his right leg, resulting in a fractured right fibula May 15. But Holmes made what was expected to be a final rehab appearance Sunday at High A, pitching 5⅓ innings (73 pitches) and allowing four runs, three earned. He was a bright spot in a dismal Mets season before going down, posting a 3.21 FIP (2.39 ERA) in nine starts and 52⅔ innings, with an 8.4% walk rate and 20.9% strikeout rate. Holmes is being paid $13 million this year (about $3.8 million remaining) and $12 million next year. That plus the number of suitors means Holmes will come at a decent prospect cost. View the full article

San Diego Padres Weekly Snapshot Record last week: 5-1 (53-53) Runs scored last week: 30 Runs allowed last week: 21 (season run differential: minus-12) Scores Monday: Off Game 107 (Tuesday): Padres 8, Rockies 7 Game 108 (Wednesday): Padres 3, Rockies 1 Game 109 (Thursday): Giants 4, Padres 1 Game 110 (Friday): Padres 7, Giants 0 Game 111 (Saturday): Padres 5, Giants 4 Game 112 (Sunday): Padres 5, Giants 4 Week in Review and Highlights Rockies series Game 1: This brief two-game series against the Colorado Rockies is one that could make or break the good work the Padres did over the weekend in sweeping the Miami Marlins on the road. Back at home and fresh off a day off, And this game played out exactly as you might imagine. The Padres, a team that has been unable to find any real positive momentum since April, and the Rockies, a team playing better but trying to avoid yet another 100-loss season, engaged in a sloppily played yet entertaining tilt. In a game they had to have—at this point, they are all like that, aren't they?—the Padres used two late blows to upend the Rockies 8-7. Xander Bogaerts delivered the winning shot, a bases-loaded, no-outs sacrifice fly to center field that scored Jackson Merrill. That came an inning after Manny Machado tied things at 7-7 with an opposite-field single to right-center that was bobbled by right fielder Jake McCarthy, allowing Jake Cronenworth to score from first base. While there were plenty of talking points produced by this game—Fernando Tatis Jr.'s first career five-hit game, Michael King's six stalwart innings, the Friars producing 16 hits, Craig Stammen's fourth ejection (Ryan Goins getting tossed, too), the Rockies' four errors—the Padres are in one mode and one mode only for probably the rest of the season: must-win. No matter the opponent, that one win can make a difference in playing in the postseason and watching it from Cancun. And the Padres continue to show enough fight to remain in the race. This win put the Padres above .500 at 54-53 for the first time since they were 43-42 on July 1. They are 1½ games out of the last NL wild-card spot, with only three teams to climb over. The Padres could have taken the drama out of this game by scoring more than once in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings or more than twice in the seventh. But they did just enough to not let the Rockies get too far out in front. Machado and Merrill each had three hits and Luis Campusano had a pair. In addition to his five hits, Tatis drove in two. Game 2: Mission accomplished. With a Rockies team that can be a bit of a thorn—the Padres are now 8-1 vs. Colorado, but with two walk-offs and four more wins decided by one or two runs—a 3-1 win is more of an exhale than a major accomplishment. But as mentioned above, a win is a win is a win. That is the only thing that matters. Unlike Tuesday's game, Wednesday's matinee was much more crisp. The Padres rode the chaos pitching plan with left-hander Kyle Hart and right-hander Griffin Canning combining for 5⅔ innings shutout innings with a walk and seven strikeouts. The buy-in for this plan instead of trying to force more innings out of certain guys certainly seems to be working, at least to this point. The Friars scored all three of their runs in one inning, the bottom of the fourth, all without an extra-base hit. Cronenworth and Machado singled and Ty France was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Merrill singled home Cronenworth, Luis Rengifo hit an RBI groundout and Gavin Sheets hit a sacrifice fly. That quick, it was 3-0. The 2⅔ innings by Hart wasn't that surprising, but the three clean innings from Canning certainly was. In his first spin through the chaos plan, Canning allowed just one hit and for the first time this season (16 games) didn't allow a run. This after getting roughed up for nine runs over 6⅓ innings in his last two outings. From there, it was a typical bullpen run of left-hander Wandy Peralta, right-handers Bradgley Rodriguez, Jeremiah Estrada and closer Mason Miller. Estrada was just activated from the 15-day injured list due to right knee inflammation. Miller's perfect ninth included a pair of strikeouts en route to his 28th save in as many attempts. Giants series Game 1: OK, so the Padres weren't going to win their final 58 games. We all know that. Some losses are a little more palatable than others and while a loss to the San Francisco Giants isn't ideal, they were shut down by 2021 AL Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray, who is auditioning to join a contending team before Monday's trade deadline. So Thursday's 4-1 Padres loss to the Giants is a little easier to swallow in the grand scheme of things, especially when you consider that every other team battling for the last two NL wild-card spots that were in action lost. Ray limited the Friars to four hits and a run over six innings, walking one and striking out six. Unfortunately, the Padres were unable to dent the Giants' bullpen either. The Padres' only run off Ray came in the bottom of the second as France was hit by a pitch, Merrill singled and Campusano hit into a double play, putting France on third. Bogaerts singled to center to trim the Padres' deficit to 3-1. But the Padres would have half of the six hits they would notch in the game at that point. The chaos pitching plan didn't backfire, but perhaps hit its first glitch. Left-hander JP Sears started and went 3⅔ innings, allowing three runs in the first two. It could have been worse as Tatis made a nice homer-saving catch on a drive by Rafael Devers to right-center. But Sears loaded the bases (two singles, hit by pitch) with one out in the fourth, then struck out the next batter before Peralta came in to get the final out, which he did thanks to Campusano challenging a pitch and turning a run-scoring walk into an inning-ending strikeout of Bryce Eldridge. Peralta got another out in the fifth but left two runners on for right-hander Randy Vasquez to clean up. He did, then pitched the final four innings. So the Friars got 8⅓ out of Sears and Vasquez, so that was certainly a positive development while also saving true relievers. Game 2: Adding more chaos to the chaos pitching plan worked wonderfully for the Padres. As a result, the Friars did what they should have done in this particular pitching matchup, dispatching the Giants 7-0. This twist on the chaos involved two relievers setting up a starter. It began with Rodriguez striking out two in a perfect first inning, then left-hander Yuki Matsui came on for a career-high three innings and 49 pitches in facing just one hitter over the minimum. Matsui turned things over to right-hander German Marquez, who went a traditional starter's five innings and only allowed one hit to complete the two-hit shutout. As chaos begets chaos, Matsui, the reliever, was credited with the win, while Marquez, a starter, picked up a five-inning save, the first save of his 11-year career. The offense was a little more straight-forward, although there was a surprising contribution. The Padres got a pair in the first inning off left-hander Carson Whisenhunt, who will not be mistaken for Ray, his rotation mate who stifled the Friars the night before. Tatis opened with a double, Rengifo singled him to third and Machado hit a liner of a sacrifice fly as Tatis sped home for a 1-0 lead. France walked and, one out later, Campusano singled home Rengifo. A Bogaerts double-play ball brought in a third-inning run, then the surprise struck. Jase Bowen, who has shown well defensively as the extra outfielder but hasn't had much of an impact with the bat, went deep for the first time since getting called up June 2 to make his MLB debut, a no-doubt solo shot into the Western Metal Supply Building in the fourth inning. He hit 13 homers in 49 games at Triple-A El Paso and got his first in MLB in his 40th game. He also had just his third multihit game as his season slash line languishes at .167/.206/.250. France then put this one out of reach with three more RBIs, two on a fourth-inning single and another on a sixth-inning sacrifice fly. Game 3: The one trait that hasn't left the Padres since Opening Day is their ability to have some late-inning magic. One of the big differences since then, though, is they are getting a lead early and not having to make big comebacks. On a day in which the impeccable Miller blew his first save of the season, the Padres rescued their closer by walking off the Giants 5-4 on Cronenworth's two-out, two-strike single to center that scored Bogaerts from third. Their seventh win in eight games kept the Padres one game out of an NL wild-card berth. Again, it was a group effort. While Cronenworth got the postgame Gatorade bath, Bogaerts had doubled leading off the ninth and Freddy Fermin bunted him to third. That wasn't Fermin's only contribution. He hit a two-run homer in the fourth to put the Padres up 4-3, his first since June 8, two stays in the injured list ago. Fermin also had an RBI single in the sixth to make it 5-3. Bogaerts had two hits and scored twice, France had three hits and scored once, Merrill had a two-run double in the first and Cronenworth had two hits. That was just the offense. Buehler wasn't as solid as he has been, only going 4⅓, giving up three runs on eight hits and two walks, striking out just one. But Peralta and Morejon each didn't allow a run while getting four outs. Estrada loaded the bases before he got a strikeout. Miller was summoned for a five-out save, but for the first time this season, he blew the assignment. After getting a strikeout, Miller was tagged by Osleivis Basabe for his first double of the season that tied the game 5-5, just the second extra-base hit the right-hander has allowed in the year he has been with the Padres, both coming in the last two weeks. Miller returned to the dugout after the inning and threw a cooler, which resulted in a minor cut on the middle finger of his throwing hand. Still, he returned for the ninth and struck out two of the four batters he faced. Bogaerts doubled down the left-field line leading off the ninth and Cronenworth's line drive kept the good vibes going at a time the Padres need them to remain high. Some change, maybe something big, could be coming before Monday's 3 p.m. PT trade deadline arrives. Game 4: A 5-1 week is nothing to sneeze at, but with where the Padres were, what is at stake and the way they are playing, that is exactly what you should have expected while facing the Rockies and the Giants, two of the three worst teams in the NL. This round of pitching chaos starred Hart and Merrill hit a two-run homer as part of a four-run second inning that carried the Padres to a 5-4 victory. After winning three of the four games in the series and eight of their last nine, the Friars are now one game behind the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies for the last two NL wild-card spots. Who do the Padres play next? The D'backs for four games in Phoenix. Hart set the tone with three shutout innings, surrendering just one hit and no walks with three strikeouts. Sears experienced a hiccup by giving up a pair of runs in the fourth, then Canning came on, allowing a solo homer in two innings. After a scoreless inning from Estrada, Rodriguez ran into trouble in the eighth, which required Morejon, filling in as the closer after Miller's extended outing Saturday, to come on in the eighth to get four outs for his second save of the season in what could be his final appearance as Monday's trade deadline looms. The Padres used six pitchers in their chaos plan. The offense produced one big inning, which was enough. France (2-for-4, two runs) had a leadoff single, then Merrill hit an 0-2 pitch for a 422-foot homer and a 2-0 lead. After an out, Bogaerts and Sheets walked, then a strikeout and Rengifo walked to load the bases. Cronenworth then delivered a two-run single to make it 4-0. The Giants got two in the fourth and one in the fifth to pull within 4-3, with Campusano singling home France. The deadline awaits, then the push against the D'backs begins. Marvelous Mason Miller Some of the amazing stats for the Padres' closer: Season stats: 4-1, 0.76 ERA, 45 games, 28 saves (29 chances), 47⅓ IP, 22 H, 6 H, 4 ER, 16 BB, 88 K, .137 opponent average Blew first save of the season trying to get a five-out save vs. the Giants on Saturday. Struck out three batters in an inning for the third time in six outings Tuesday vs. the Rockies. It was the 13th time this season he has done that, more than doubling the next-highest total by a reliever (six). Tuesday marked the seventh time he struck out all three batters he faced in an inning. Random Stats Fernando Tatis Jr.'s five-hit game Monday was the 10th five-hit game in MLB this season. Xander Bogaerts has eight career walk-offs, with three coming against the Rockies, including two this year. The Padres have won their last seven series against the Rockies. Manny Machado played in his 2,000th career game in Thursday's series opener vs. the Giants. He is one of seven active players to be in that many games and one of 255 players all time to reach that mark. Xander Bogaerts' second-inning run-scoring single Thursday was his 1,900th career hit. The Padres had their 45th sellout in 57 games at Petco Park this year. Transactions Note: The Padres officially announced the signings of 20 draft choices and nine minor-league free agents as previously reported by Padres Mission. Check out the transactions log here: Wednesday: Activated RHP Jeremiah Estrada (right knee inflammation) from the 15-day injured list. Wednesday: Designated RHP Matt Waldron for assignment. Website Highlights Campusano has forced Padres' hand behind the plate — Randy Holt Rengifo is proving to be exactly what Padres need — Randy Holt Looking Ahead (Projected starter or bulk reliever) Monday: Padres (Michael King) at Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m. Tuesday: Padres (Randy Vasquez) at Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m. Wednesday: Padres (German Marquez) at Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m. Thursday: Padres (Walker Buehler) at Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m. Friday: Astros (Kyle Hart) at Padres, 6:40 p.m. Saturday: Astros (Michael King) at Padres, 4:15 p.m. Sunday: Astros (Randy Vasquez) at Padres, 5:20 p.m. View the full article

After the Angels sent starter José Soriano to the Blue Jays Monday morning in the first big trade of deadline day, multiple league sources indicated that the team is likely to trade Reid Detmers, too. The Chicago Cubs remain interested in Detmers, but are trying to find a way either to avoid giving up catching prospect Owen Ayers or to replace him by acquiring a different young backstop as part of a two-step maneuver if they must surrender Ayers to get the controllable starter they've craved. One source familiar with the Angels' plans said interim GM John Mozeliak is working hard to capitalize on the value of players with medium-term team control, believing that the nucleus of the next good Halos team is nestled in the team's farm system, rather than being found on the current big-league roster. That could mean that, in addition to Soriano and Detmers, reliever Ryan Zeferjahn is available. Zeferjahn, 28, has a 97-MPH fastball and a sweeper that has helped him rack up a 33.6% strikeout rate this year. He's the kind of power arm the Cubs bullpen currently lacks, though he also walks too many batters to feel like a legitimate relief ace. He's controllable even longer than Detmers, so a package deal would require a prospect haul from Chicago, but adding both of those hurlers would transform Chicago's pitching staff for the stretch run and raise their ceiling for the future, to boot. Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins won't wait around on that potential deal, though. They're also in active conversations with multiple other teams looking to move relievers, including the Orioles (a reunion with Andrew Kittredge is very much in play; the Cubs are also keen on Rico García), Reds (Pierce Johnson, Emilio Pagán, Caleb Ferguson and Brock Burke) and Rangers (Jacob Latz, a lefty with high-leverage experience already who's arriving late on the market). García might be the most intriguing and plausible of those options. He's not at all in the vein of Zeferjahn, but the journeyman has tapped into something impressive since joining the Orioles last summer and looks like a solid potential complement to Jacob Webb in support of the soon-returning Daniel Palencia. Finally, the team is checking in on available right-handed bats who could fit on their bench and take on platoon roles, sources say. They talked to the Royals about Lane Thomas before he was dealt to the team from outside Atlanta. They've also spoken with the Mets about outfielder Tyrone Taylor, and though they didn't choose to bundle in George Springer with Kevin Gausman when trading with the Blue Jays yesterday, they might yet revisit that possibility. An acquired batter could spell Ian Happ against left-handed pitchers, but it's more likely that they would find their playing time as a designated hitter. That gives the team a wide variety of ways to improve, but they still have to find the right fit for a team with a strong, set lineup full of veterans. Even after taking on Gausman's significant remaining salary Sunday, the Cubs can spend more money to get better today, a source said. They have identified their preferred avenues for doing so, but so many teams are acting in both buying and selling capacities (or leaning toward staying inactive altogether) that what comes next is even harder to predict than usual. View the full article

Boston Red Sox Weekly Snapshot Record Last Week: 6-1 Runs Scored Last Week: 36 Runs Surrendered Last Week: 22 Standings 3rd in AL East 5.5 GB First Place 2nd in AL Wild Card 3 GB First Place Transactions 07/27/26: Boston Red Sox optioned SS Tsung-Che Cheng to Worcester Red Sox. 07/27/26: Boston Red Sox activated 3B Curtis Mead. 07/29/26: Boston Red Sox recalled 3B Nick Sogard from Worcester Red Sox. 07/29/26: Boston Red Sox placed 3B Curtis Mead on the 10-day injured list retroactive to July 28, 2026. Left wrist fracture. 08/01/26: Boston Red Sox traded LHP Jojo Ingrassia to Detroit Tigers. Scores Game 105: BOS 4, SAC 2 Game 106: BOS 3, SAC 4 Game 107: BOS 4, SAC 2 Game 108: BOS 5, SAC 4 Game 109: BOS 9, LAD 4 Game 110: BOS 3, LAD 2 Game 111: BOS 8, LAD 4 Series Breakdown/Highlights A’s Series: It’s safe to say this series could also be called the ‘Red Sox Couldn’t See Until the Sixth Inning’ series. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a team go from completely cold through the first half of each game of a four-game series to catching fire to close them out like this. In game one, Payton Tolle continued his post-All Star-Break run of good but not great starts. He tossed 5.1 innings, giving up three earned runs while walking one and striking out seven. His start to the season was so electric that it’s maybe easy to get disappointed in these types of outings for him, but he’s blowing past his career high in innings and navigating that while helping lead the team to, hopefully, a playoff appearance come October. This version of Tolle isn’t what we saw earlier but it’s more than serviceable and gives us hope that he can take the next step to becoming the ace he seems primed to be. Behind Tolle, Justin Slaten, Jovani Moran, Garrett Whitlock, and Aroldis Chapman finished out the game. On the offensive side, Ceddanne Rafaela provided all of the firepower with a ‘Sacramento Grand Slam’ that just barely cleared the wall in left field. He was so sure it was a fly out, slamming his bat in frustration before he was able to celebrate as he rounded first base. In game two, Jake Bennett followed Tolle’s lead by having a good, but not great, start in Sac-Town. He tossed 6.1 innings of three-run baseball while walking two and striking out four. Behind him, Ryan Watson and Moran worked to keep the Sox in it but Watson allowed another earned run so the rally in the ninth inning would come up short. To further echo the Tolle comp, there’s little reason to worry as Bennett figures out the life of a major-league starter. On offense, Connor Wong contributed two RBIs on one home run and Wilyer Abreu drove a run in as well. Game three saw the Sox get back to their winning ways behind Patrick Sandoval on the mound. He tossed five innings of two-run, seven-strikeout baseball. Chad Tracy seemed to pull all the right levers in the bullpen for this one with Tyron Guerrero, Slaten, Whitlock, Chapman, and Greg Weissert all coming in in relief. Newcomer Jahmai Jones contributed one RBI on a home run and Nick Sogard added another as well. In extras, Andruw Monasterio clobbered a two-run home run that put the Sox in front for good. Game four was more of the same. Sonny Gray started off the game very shaky, but settled in through seven innings. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits while striking out five. Weissert and Chapman came in and worked clean to close out the game, even if Chapman did get lucky on a Lawrence Butler double (that looked like a home run and should have been a triple if Butler was legging it out of the box). On the offensive side, this was the game that people kept talking about but mainly because of an interaction between Jarren Duran, Willson Contreras, and third base coach Chad Epperson that the team has mostly swept under the rug. Rafaela and Monasterio both provided RBIs but the big swings of the game belonged to Abreu and Contreras on back-to-back home runs that put the Red Sox in the lead for good. Dodgers Series: The Red Sox were hoping to ride the wave of wins from Sacramento but knew they were in for a tall task as they prepared for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the best team in baseball. In game one, the Dodgers decided to run with a bullpen game while the Red Sox had southpaw Ranger Suarez on the bump. Suarez operated on a pitch count like he has in every start since coming off the injured list last month. He tossed 4.2 innings of three-run, two-strikeout baseball before being replaced by Moran, who didn’t look stellar. Bullpen superstar Brayan Bello entered into the game after that and shined, again. He tossed four scoreless innings en route to the win. What his performance out of the bullpen did, more than anything else, was save a taxed bullpen a night of work. On offense, Rafaela continued his hot streak with a home run and two RBIs. Also driving in runs were Masataka Yoshida, Carlos Narvaez, Duran, and Monasterio. Game two was penciled in to be must-see TV with Tolle on the bump for the Sox and superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto standing opposite him. Tolle looked like the bright LA spotlight didn’t impact him at all as he threw six innings and allowed just two runs against a lineup that was ready to redeem themselves from the night before. Slaten, Guerrero, and Chapman all shut the door for the Sox win to take the series. On the offensive side of the baseball, Rafaela was the story once again. He took Yamamoto deep twice, and almost three times, off two splitters. Going into the game, Yamamoto had given up only one home run on his splitter all season and Rafaela got him for two in back-to-back at-bats. The other run came after a Monasterio double, a Duran bunt that was perfectly placed, and a Connor Wong double play that plated Monasterio for the final run. Game three saw Bennett get the ball for the Sox on Sunday Night Baseball. While the defense let him down early, he settled in nicely. He went 5.2 innings and gave up three earned runs. Like Tolle, he didn’t seem to be too bothered by the pressure of pitching against the best team in baseball on a national stage. Slaten worked his way out of an inherited jam to close out the sixth inning cleanly. Guerrero allowed a run in his one inning of work but Moran, Weissert, and Whitlock all worked clean to close the game and secure the sweep. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but Rafaela homered. Along with that, Abreu, Duran, and Yoshida all sent the ball over the wall as well. On top of that, Duran laid down another excellent sacrifice bunt to move Durbin and Monasterio up a base each, which allowed Durbin to score on a wild pitch while Anthony Seigler was pinch hitting. The Red Sox came into L.A. looking to keep rolling and did so in incredible fashion. If this team can add a legitimate bat at the deadline, the league will be put on notice. Website Highlights Three Veteran Starters Red Sox Should Target to Fill Innings Gap at Trade Deadline by Nick John Sending Out an SOS to Craig Breslow to Fulfill Red Sox’s Newest Trade Deadline Need by Ryan Salvaggio How is it Possible that Red Sox’s Medical Staff Can’t Accurately Diagnose Its Own Players? by Maddie Landis CJ Abrams Gives Red Sox Every Reason to Go Back to Nationals Trade Well by Alex Mayes Looking Ahead 08/03/26: Off Day, Trade Deadline 6 PM EDT 08/04/26: White Sox @ Red Sox: 7:10 PM EDT 08/05/26: White Sox @ Red Sox 7:10 PM EDT 08/06/26: White Sox @ Red Sox: 7:10 PM EDT 08/07/26: A’s @ Red Sox: 7:10 PM EDT 08/08/26: A’s @ Red Sox: 4:10 PM EDT 08/09/26: A’s @ Red Sox: 1:35 PM EDT View the full article

Deadline day has arrived and the San Diego Padres have yet to make a move, but you know that will change by the 3 p.m. PT deadline. The biggest need is a starting pitcher and the Padres are looking at a pitcher who just shut them down: San Francisco Giants left-hander Robbie Ray. Joel Sherman of the New York Post said the 2021 AL Cy Young Award winner is of interest to the Padres. That move would certainly make sense, especially after Ray stifled the Padres for six innings in Thursday's series opener, allowing one run and striking out six. Other contenders will be after Ray as well, so it could become a bidding war. Ray has a 4.36 FIP (3.08 ERA) with an 11.1% walk rate and 20.9% strikeout rate in 22 games this year. View the full article

William Contreras has looked like a different hitter this season. After averaging 20 home runs across his first two years in Milwaukee and playing through a broken finger in 2025, the expectation was that offseason surgery would restore his power. Instead, the opposite has happened. The underlying data suggests he hasn't just been less productive; he's become a different kind of hitter. You can see below the Savant percentiles comparison for Contreras across the last three years; it's telling in this regard. Strikeout rates were never a problem for him, even when he was swinging and missing. Pitchers also appear more willing to challenge him in the zone, which has coincided with the lowest walk rate of his Brewers career. So what, exactly, has gone wrong here to change his profile so dramatically? Before diving into the swing changes, it's worth asking whether fatigue could be playing a role. The first thing, which we can't rule out, is injury, Contreras showed just last year that he'll play through almost anything with nary a peep, and catchers take a beating behind the plate. The wear and tear at that position is unique, but we can say that, if there was an injury, there is absolutely no reason not to see Gary Sánchez behind the plate more regularly. Of the 111 games the Brewers have played at the time of this writing, Contreras has started 83 behind the plate, which would project up to around 121 starts by the end of the year. That's seven fewer than 2025, but it would constitute a large workload for a catcher they want to be firing on all cylinders in October, not struggling to the finish line. Is Contreras Still Swinging Fast? Let's take a look at the bat-tracking data. His bat speed distribution shows us how often Contreras is swinging the bat at different speeds, where the higher the arc, the more often he swings in that range. Here is his distribution of swings since 2023: This is the biggest measure of intent we can see, and there are some giveaways that Contreras is being less aggressive this year than he was in 2024. The arc of 2025-26 is peaking earlier, with his most common swing averaging around 74 mph rather than 75 mph in bat speed. What's really telling, however, is on the right-hand side of this graph. Notice how the orange and blue lines for 2023 and 2024 show a number of swings at 82+ mph, but there are almost none in that range between the last two seasons. Injury may account for some of that, but there's more to this; Above is another breakdown, this time of Contreras's stance and point of impact. This is where we're seeing a big change. In 2023 and 2024, Contreras's stance was slightly more open/neutral, impacting the ball a little further back overall (which did engender him to a few more ground balls than is ideal). The MLB average stance set-up is 11° open, so Contreras was still more "closed" than your average player. The last two years, however, he's adopted an even more closed stance. In theory, a more closed stance should encourage a hitter to stay on the ball longer and use the opposite field more often. That was true for stretches of 2025. However, his contact point relative to his center of mass is now almost identical to what it was with the more open stance, creating a mechanical mismatch. Let's compare two home runs from those years to see the stance difference even into his "A" swing: Above is a swing from earlier this year. Notice how Contreras's feet are angled more toward the opposite field, almost shutting off the pull side. He opens up slightly after his toe tap, but while he middled this swing, it's an awkward position to pull the ball from. Now see the swing below (in case you ever needed to see what "letting it rip" looks like), which is from 2024: Contreras uses a leg kick rather than a toe tap here, starting with his feet closer together and exploding into the ball. At contact, his feet are 10-15° open, directed toward left field rather than right field. This is a swing where he was over 82 mph in bat speed, and it showed. One might question why someone whose swing was so successful would have remodeled it quite so extensively, and that perhaps lends itself to the cerebral nature of the man, which we'll come to in a bit. I'm not suggesting Contreras can't hit home runs with 74 mph of bat speed. That's plenty for a hitter, but I do think it shows a lack of intent versus previous seasons. He's trying to be more of a hitter than a slugger, especially in favourable counts wherein he should be able to unload. Most importantly, however, there seems to be a discrepancy in his set-up compared to his swing, and closing off his stance means that when he does pull the ball in the air, something he's doing more of this season, he's not doing it with the authority we're used to. He has managed to get the ground balls under control, reducing it from 55% of balls in play coming on the ground in 2024 to 42% in 2026. That's great, but he's lost the authority with which he traditionally hit balls, especially over the last month or two. Contreras is known for, at times, overthinking his approach behind the plate as a catcher, and he seems to be very cerebral in the box, too. We've seen him set up with different stances in the same at-bat in the past, playing a game of 4D chess with a pitcher. I can't say if that's right or wrong, but it is unique, and can make it difficult to be consistent in your swing. Whether it's lingering physical limitations, accumulated fatigue, or an intentional mechanical adjustment, Contreras doesn't look like the hitter he was in 2023 or 2024. The encouraging part is that the underlying bat speed remains good enough to rediscover that version of himself. The Brewers just need him to do it before October. The catcher is too important to their lineup, and perhaps the freedom to let the bat eat every once in a while could loosen the mental shackles, too. Can he find a way to tap into those elite exit velocities while keeping the ball in the air? Or is this a pick-your-poison situation? That, I can't answer, but if given a choice, I would take the latter. That power is far more consequential to this Brewers lineup, as constructed, than any bat-to-ball improvement that sacrifices said power. What have you thought of William Contreras's output lately? Do you think this is just a blip on the radar? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! 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Three relievers down, how many to go? After a late-night trade that sent Huascar Brazoban to the Chicago White Sox, David Stearns clearly woke up with some urgency. Brooks Raley is now on the move, and he'll be staying in the NL East as he joins the Philadelphia Phillies. Though the destination is a little surprising, the move itself is anything but. Raley is a rental reliever, and much like A.J. Minter before him, was better suited to help a contender down the stretch than the Mets. Meanwhile, the Phillies recently lost Brad Keller for an extended period of time and have been in desperate need of a quality left-handed set-up man. In return, prospects Luke Gabrysh and John Spikerman (incredible name) will be coming back to New York. More to come... View the full article