All articles tagged with #sports baseball
The Philadelphia Phillies placed pitcher Brad Keller on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow UCL tear (retroactive to July 13). Seth Johnson was recalled to take his roster spot. It’s unclear if Keller will require surgery; non-surgical rehab can still take months and likely ends his season, with potential implications for 2027 if Tommy John is needed. The Phillies may look to bolster the bullpen at the trade deadline.
The Chicago Cubs selected Florida State 1B Myles Bailey with the 75th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, betting on his elite raw power despite injury history and concerns about his hit tool and strikeout rate. Bailey posted eye-popping college power and a strong left-handed swing, but scouts note questions about how well his power and approach will translate to the pro game, where he’s likely headed to first base after showcasing his defensive versatility.
The Mets will end Andy Green’s interim managerial stint after the 2026 season and reinstate him in the front office, as New York begins a full managerial search. Green took over after firing Carlos Mendoza, but the club remains far from .500 and under David Stearns’ leadership the organization will seek long-term leadership changes in the offseason.
UNC defeated West Virginia 5-2 in Omaha to advance to the bracket final. The Heels used a seventh-inning rally sparked by Gavin Gallaher’s two-run triple and Owen Hull’s RBI single, capitalizing on WVU’s errors. Pitching held up as Ryan Lynch worked into the fifth, Walker McDuffie delivered 3.2 shutout innings, and freshman Caden Glauber got the final outs. A sharp defensive effort—Hynek throwing out a runner and a pair of double plays—helped limit WVU. With the win, UNC awaits the WVU/Troy winner on Wednesday at 1 p.m. for a shot at reaching the national championship series.
Cardinals promote left-hander Brycen Mautz to make his MLB debut Sunday, sending Matt Svanson to Triple-A to clear a rotation spot; Mautz has a sub-3.00 ERA in Triple-A this season and ranks among St. Louis’ top prospects.
Verducci argues Cristopher Sánchez’s elite two-plane changeup—high spin, similar release to his sinker and strong movement—has become the backbone of the Phillies and a leading argument in the NL Cy Young race, with Ohtani also a strong contender; the piece also notes a broader shift in modern pitching away from four-seam fastballs toward off-speed and spin-heavy offerings.
With Mookie Betts returning from a month on the injured list due to an oblique strain, the Dodgers optioned Alex Freeland to Triple-A Oklahoma City to clear a roster spot. Freeland was hitting .235/.646 OPS across 33 games this season. Hyeseong Kim has been the more productive call-up, while Santiago Espinal would have faced waivers if moved, so he remains on the bench as Betts resumes everyday shortstop duties.
Detroit notes say Gleyber Torres left the game with left side tightness and is under evaluation, prompting a cautious removal as infield depth is thin after McKinstry and Báez landed on the IL. Hao-Yu Lee was recalled and Zack Short added for depth. Meanwhile, Justin Verlander is set for a bullpen session while on the 15-day IL with left hip inflammation, which could influence rotation depth alongside the continued struggles of Jack Flaherty and the absence of Casey Mize. Troy Melton—on the 60-day IL with elbow inflammation—begins a rehab assignment with Low-A and could push for starts in a month if all goes well. More injury updates are expected in the coming days.
The Atlanta Braves will activate Spencer Strider from the 15-day IL on Sunday for a season debut at Coors Field after an oblique strain in spring training. He has progressed through a rehab stint, reaching five innings with roughly 95–96 mph fastballs, and his return comes as the Braves’ rotation has remained strong despite multiple injuries, with several players nearing returns from rehab.
Verducci ranks five struggling MLB teams—Mets, Phillies, Royals, Astros, and Red Sox—by their odds of a late-season turnaround after an ugly opening month, noting that only a handful of clubs with sub-.400 starts have recovered since 1995. The Mets are listed as the best chance among them, with the Phillies and Royals offering limited upside and the Astros and Red Sox facing steeper odds. The piece also spotlights Jordan Walker’s encouraging swing adjustments as a bright spot in the season.
Facing a 7-15 start and an 11-game losing streak, the New York Mets are considering a midseason managerial change from Carlos Mendoza, with three potential replacements highlighted: Andy Green (senior VP of baseball development and former Padres manager), Kai Correa (bench coach and rising internal candidate), and Carlos Beltran (legend and special assistant, a long-shot option).
Yankees return Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest to the Cardinals after he cleared waivers following a designation for assignment; he won’t occupy a 40-man spot and has been sent to Triple-A Memphis, allowing him to continue his development in St. Louis after an uneventful spring with New York.
Michael Conforto will be on the Cubs’ Opening Day roster as Seiya Suzuki isn’t ready and Tyler Austin is sidelined with knee surgery. Signed to a minor-league deal with a big-league Spring Training invite, Conforto could back up in the outfield corners and may share right-field duties with Dylan Carlson, particularly against right-handed pitchers, a role aided by his 121 career wRC+ vs. RHP.
Twins right-hander Pablo López will undergo Tommy John surgery for a torn UCL, sidelining him for the 2026 season and aiming for a 2027 return. It will be López’s second TJ procedure, after one earlier in his career. He’s been a key part of Minnesota’s rotation, though 2025 was interrupted by a teres major strain and a forearm issue. With López out, Joe Ryan is expected to start Opening Day as Minnesota relies on internal options and offseason additions to fill the vacancy.
Xavier defeated East Carolina in a non-conference college baseball game at Clark-LeClair Stadium. Xavier pitcher Eli Bridenthal earned the win, Gavin Van Kempen took the loss for ECU, and Garrett Helsel recorded the save. The Musketeers delivered key offensive moments, including home runs by JD Crisp and Tommy Townsend, sealing a victory in the nine-inning contest.