All articles tagged with #mlb
Rikuu Nishida’s path from Mt. Hood Community College to the majors culminates in an improbable White Sox debut, with coaches and scouts highlighting his relentless preparation, speed, and contact skills that could keep him in the big leagues.
A panel of baseball writers ranks MLB teams after two months, highlights surprises like the Mets underperforming and the Rays thriving, and lays out two‑month projections for every club, including likely turnarounds for teams like the Dodgers, Braves, and Yankees as well as player‑level notes (e.g., Ohtani’s looming ERA rise) and several trade‑deadline considerations.
Bleacher Report surveys all 30 MLB clubs, posing the toughest questions they’ll face at the 2026 trade deadline (Aug. 3), from the Rays weighing a big splash versus rentals to whether the Dodgers can land a star middle infielder, and which teams—White Sox, Mets, Red Sox, Orioles, Rangers, etc.—might sell to set up 2027, with several clubs eyeing upgrades at the plate or in the bullpen.
The Astros combined to no-hit the Rangers behind Tatsuya Imai and two relievers, marking MLB’s first no-hitter since 2024; Colton Cowser provided late-inning excitement with a walk-off homer, while Jacob Misiorowski piled up 12 strikeouts over seven innings and threw a record number of 100+ mph pitches.
The Chicago Cubs’ season downturn continues with an eight-game skid and a 2-12 mark in their last 14, dropping from first to third in the NL Central as injuries bite the rotation and the offense stalls. Manager Craig Counsell urges patience, insisting it’s too early to panic, while top prospects Pedro Ramírez and Kevin Alcántara have been promoted to spark the lineup. With starting pitchers sidelined and offensively inconsistent, the Cubs must weather the downturn and hope for a rebound in upcoming games (notably vs. the Pirates), as projections place them in the mid-80s to 90-win range and the season remains far from decided.
Phillies star Bryce Harper uploads a TikTok video showing an unconventional toothpaste application, sparking playful online ribbing about his brushing method and a nod to the awkwardness of sharing toothpaste.
Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski shattered the MLB record for most pitches reaching 100 mph or more in a game, firing 57 such fastballs in seven innings of Milwaukee's 5-1 win over the Cardinals, while striking out 12 and allowing one run on two hits and one walk.
The Dodgers activated Kiké Hernández from the injured list to return as a versatile hitter/fielding option, designating veteran infielder Santiago Espinal for assignment to clear a spot on the active roster.
The Knicks are one win away from the NBA Finals after a 10-game postseason win streak and a league-record +234 point differential through 13 playoff games, with praise for owner Leon Rose, coach Mike Brown, and star Jalen Brunson as the face of the franchise; their potential Finals opponent will come from the West between the Thunder and Spurs. Meanwhile, the Mets dropped a 7-2 decision to the Reds as Nolan McLean allowed seven runs in 3.2 innings, the bullpen pitched 5.1 scoreless frames, and New York extended its four-game losing streak.
Houston’s pitching staff combined to no-hit Texas 9-0, with Tatsuya Imai tossing six innings before Steven Okert and Alimber Santa finished the job; the 22nd combined no-hitter in MLB history and the Astros’ fourth in franchise history. The win improves Houston to 24-31, puts them four games back in the AL West, and comes amid a four-game win streak and eight wins in 12 games.
Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski has been untouchable in May, posting a 0.29 ERA over 31 1/3 innings with 49 strikeouts, 11 hits and six walks, highlighted by a six-start stretch with 8+ strikeouts and no extra-base hits. His velocity is the story: he became the first pitcher in the pitch-tracking era to throw 50 pitches at 100+ mph in a game (57 at 100+ mph, 40 over 101 mph), with his fastball averaging about 99.7 mph (up to 100.7 mph recently). He’s the fastest to 100 strikeouts in a season since Spencer Strider (2023) and is among a small group to post 100+ Ks with 50 or fewer total bases in their first 11 starts, signaling Cy Young-caliber potential.
The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated Kiké Hernández from the 60-day injured list and designated Santiago Espinal for assignment to clear a roster spot. Hernández returns on a one-year, $4.5 million contract after elbow surgery, offering versatility and a chance to rebound after a down offensive stretch. Espinal, who joined on a minor deal and appeared in 26 games this spring, now enters DFA waivers; a trade could occur, or he could reject an outright assignment if no deal materializes given his service time.
Milwaukee defeated St. Louis 4-1 on May 25, 2026, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first thanks to Christian Yelich’s first-inning homer and a run-scoring play. The Cardinals finally pushed across a run in the sixth, but Milwaukee added a run in the sixth and another in the seventh to pull away. Starting pitchers were J. Misiorowski for the Cardinals and M. Liberatore for the Brewers, with the bullpen finishers contributing in relief.
Jacob Misiorowski struck out a career-high 12 over seven strong innings, allowing just one run on two hits as the Brewers toppled the Cardinals 5-1. Milwaukee jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a William Contreras RBI single and Christian Yelich’s fourth homer, while St. Louis finally broke through with a sixth-inning run. The Brewers added two more in the seventh, capped by Vaughn’s RBI double and an RBI single by Mitchell, then rode a bullpen trio to seal the win. Misiorowski lowered his ERA to 1.83, and the series continues with Kyle Harrison vs. Michael McGreevy.
Willson Contreras has become the Red Sox’s standout performer, hitting .281 with 11 HR and 33 RBI through 50 games and posting an elite 0.899 OPS, 148 wRC+, and ~2.0 fWAR. His defense at first base has improved (+3 DRS, +4 FRV), and he leads Boston in homers, RBI, OPS, and WAR. If he stays healthy, he’s on pace for a career-best season, supported by a higher pull-rate and sustained elite bat speed, though age and workload keep expectations measured.