Welcome to The Pregame Lineup, a weekday newsletter that gets you up to speed on everything you need to know for today's games, while catching you up on fun and interesting stories you might have missed. Thanks for being here. We are a little more than three days away from the Trade Deadline, which comes Thursday at 6 p.m. ET. The Hot Stove reached a simmer over the past few days, but now it's time for general managers around the league to put on their aprons and get ready to cook.
A few bats changed teams last week. The Yankees filled their need at third base with the Rockies' Ryan McMahon and then added the versatile Amed Rosario from the Nationals. The Mariners bolstered their offense via a trade with the D-backs for first baseman Josh Naylor. Arizona also dealt outfielder Randal Grichuk to the Royals. On the pitching side, the Mets acquired lefty reliever Gregory Soto in a swap with the Orioles.
So, which deals will be struck over the next 72-plus hours? Here are the top storylines to follow.
1. Who will land Eugenio Suárez's big bat?
The D-backs third baseman looks like the top hitter on the trade market. He already has 36 home runs, which would be the most in a season by any player before being traded. The Mariners could reunite Suárez with Naylor. The Cubs and Astros are a couple of other teams that are reportedly interested in the slugger. We're tracking the latest Suárez rumors here.
2. Which elite relievers will be traded?
Good news for any contending team looking for an impact bullpen arm (which is basically all of them): The options are plentiful. The biggest names on the block include the Twins' Jhoan Duran, the Cardinals' Ryan Helsley and the Pirates' David Bednar. Might the A's deepen this pool of late-inning fireballers with closer Mason Miller? Even if not, there will be someone for any club that wants to upgrade its 'pen.
3. Which club will kickstart the quiet SP market?
We're still waiting for this Deadline's first trade that includes a notable starting pitcher. The number of possibilities actually shrank earlier today, when the Royals and Seth Lugo finalized a two-year contract extension, eliminating him as a trade candidate.
The Cubs, Blue Jays, Padres, Red Sox and Mets have been linked to Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara in recent reports, even though the 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner currently has an ERA above 6.00. The Cubs have also been mentioned in reports surrounding the Padres' Dylan Cease, the D-backs' Zac Gallen and Pirates' Mitch Keller. Those right-handers are all on expiring deals. As far as controllable starters go, the Twins' Joe Ryan and Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore are receiving plenty of interest, but the asking price for each is reportedly very high.
4. Will an 8-time All-Star be on the move?
The clubs that miss out on Suárez could pivot to trading for a possible future Hall of Fame third baseman. Sources have told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand that the Cardinals' Nolan Arenado could be moved ahead of the Deadline.
St. Louis would have to get approval from Arenado, who possesses a full no-trade clause and can veto any trade -- which he did in December after the Cardinals and Astros had agreed to a deal that would have sent the 10-time Gold Glover to Houston.
-- Brian Murphy |
- Dodgers @ Reds (7:10 p.m. ET, MLB.TV): Chase Burns' 6.65 ERA through five big league starts suggests the game's No. 2 overall prospect may not be ready for The Show, but a closer look paints a much brighter picture. He owns a 3.78 FIP and remarkable 14.5 strikeouts per nine innings thanks to his 96th percentile fastball velocity. Burns' Reds have won 10 of their last 14 to pull within a game of the final NL Wild Card spot, while the Dodgers -- starting ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto tonight -- have gone just 8-13 in July.
- Cubs @ Brewers (7:40 p.m. ET, MLB.TV): The two best teams in the NL Central -- and National League -- meet with identical records to open a critical set, their last in Milwaukee this season. All three pitching matchups are evenly matched, but tonight's is the clear standout: Matthew Boyd, the Cubs' ace all season, faces rookie sensation Jacob Misiorowski, who meets the North Siders for the first time since his June callup. Chicago leads the season series, 3-2, and will host a five-game set next month.
- Mets @ Padres (9:40 p.m. ET, MLB.TV, MLB Network Showcase): The Mets, vying for an eighth straight win, appear to have fully shrugged off last month's struggles. Closer Edwin Díaz's continued brilliance has been key to their stability -- he's allowed one run in 31 2/3 innings since April 26 -- but don't overlook the return of former top prospect Francisco Alvarez, who's hit .353 since rejoining the club last week. Could this be Dylan Cease's final start with the Padres? The former Cy Young runner-up was reportedly part of an offer that Boston rejected last week.
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Earning a plaque in the Hall of Fame is the sport's ultimate achievement, and making a speech in front of the baseball world -- including 52 Hall of Famers yesterday -- is a once-in-a-lifetime honor. The Class of 2025 brought it as usual, and here were our favorite quotes. Billy Wagner "There were only seven full-time relievers in the Hall of Fame. Now, there are eight because I refused to give up, or give in. … Don't fear failure. Embrace it, because perseverance isn't just a trait, it's a path to greatness." Though he never started a game in his 16-year MLB career, the elite lefty closer opened the proceedings in style. More » David Parker II "Top-tier athlete, fashion icon, sex symbol.
No reason to list the rest of my credentials.
I'm him, period. The Cobra.
Known for my rocket arm, and I will run any catcher over." Dave Parker's son did an excellent job paying tribute to his father, who passed away last month. The unquestioned highlight was his reading of a poem The Cobra wrote to commemorate the occasion. More » Willa Allen "He was devoted to people. Not just fans, but especially his teammates. If he heard someone was sick, or going through a tough time, he'd turn to me and say, 'Willa, they have to hear from us. Let's send a card or write a letter. We have to let them know we're here.'" The widow of Dick Allen shared a wonderful story about the slugger meeting a 16-year-old fan, taking him under his wing and sparking a lifelong friendship. (Now 70, the fan was in attendance.) More » CC Sabathia "No one has more fun hanging out with the fellas than me. But I was so blessed to have so many loving and caring women in my life." Widely beloved throughout the sport and beyond, the decorated lefty ace dedicated his speech to his loved ones who helped him through thick and thin, singling out his mother, Margie, and his wife, Amber. More » Ichiro Suzuki "Thank you for welcoming me so warmly into your great team. I hope I can hold the values of the Hall of Fame. But please, I am 51 years old now. So easy on the hazing!" The incomparable Ichiro did not disappoint with a speech that was equal parts humorous and emotional, a fitting way to end a day to remember. More » -- Bryan Horowitz |
The Speedway Classic, hailing from historic Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn., is five days away (FOX, 7 p.m. ET), and like any racetrack, a record is set to be broken. With more than 85,000 tickets sold to date, the first AL/NL game in Tennessee, featuring the Braves and Reds, will eclipse the previous regular-season record of 84,587 tickets sold, set on Sept. 12, 1954, when Cleveland hosted the Yankees at Cleveland Stadium. And if you haven't gotten your tickets yet, what are you waiting for? The checkered flag hasn't been waved yet, so get yours now and be a part of history! |
Can you Beat the Streak? Try to top Joe DiMaggio's record hitting streak of 56 games by selecting a player each day to record a hit. If you get to 57, you can win $5.6 million. Plus, new for this year, a chance to win unique weekly prizes. Who's hot right now: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has hit .462 in his last 14 games against the Orioles, who host the Jays tonight. |
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