Armadillo Sports

— A’s 15, Astros 3
Rookie 1B Nick Kurtz had one of the greatest games in baseball history:

He went 6-for-6, and scored six runs.
He hit four home runs, a single and a double.
He drove in eight runs.

He tied the all-time record for total bases in a game (19), a record that Shawn Green set in 2002. 

— Angels 3, Mariners 2 (10)
Zach Neto had a walk-off single on his bobblehead night.
Angels’ bullpen allowed only 3 baserunners in four scoreless IP.
Julio Rodriguez had two home runs for Seattle.

— Diamondbacks 1, Pirates 0 (11)
Pittsburgh had one hit the whole game, Pham’s 2nd inning triple.
Eugenio Suarez hit a sac fly in the 11th inning.
Teams combined to go 0-18 with runners in scoring position.

— Rockies 6, Orioles 5
Baltimore hit four solo home runs in the first two innings, led 4-0.
Colorado is 5-2 since the All-Star break.
Orioles are only MLB team without a walk-off win this season.

— Phillies 12, New York 5
New York led 3-2 after the sixth inning.
Kyle Schwarber homered twice, scored three runs, had four RBI.
Schwarber got his 1,000th career hit in this game.
New York’s bullpen gave up 10 runs in 3.1 IP.

— Twins 1, Nationals 0
Rookie Zebby Matthews allowed two hits in his six scoreless IP.
Byron Buxton’s 5th inning sac fly scored the game’s only run.
Washington hasn’t scored in its last 21 innings.

— White Sox 12, Cubs 5
White Sox led this game 9-0 in the fourth inning.
Cubs ace Imanaga gave up 12 hits, seven runs in three IP.
Rookie C Edgar Quero had his first career 4-hit game.

— Cardinals 3, Padres 0
San Diego has lost four games in a row.
Willson Contreras got on base four times, scored twice.
Miles Mikolas tossed 5 shutout IP, despite getting only one whiff in his 73 pitches.

— Famous birthdays, July 26th:
Bob Lilly, 86
Dick Grubar, 78
Mike Rae, 74
Jody Reed, 63
Sandra Bullock, 61

Kate Beckinsale, 52
Delonte West, 42
Ryan O’Hearn, 32
Van Jefferson, 29
Gavin Williams, 26

— Thoughts/prayers go out to Kansas Jayhawks basketball coach Bill Self, who went to the hospital this week and had a procedure with two stents inserted in arteries near his heart. He is expected to make a full recovery.

62-year old Self had a similar procedure two years ago.

— New Jersey Jets QB Justin Fields dislocated a toe on his right foot this week; he isn’t expected to miss much time, should be ready for the season opener against Pittsburgh, his old team.

Tyrod Taylor is the Jets’ backup QB; he’s started 58 NFL games (28-29-1).

— Minnesota Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson a mild hamstring strain and will be held out of practice; he will be re-evaluated next week, but is expected to be ready for the Vikings Week 1 game against the Bears in Chicago.

— Seattle Mariners acquired 1B Josh Naylor from Arizona, the first significant chip to fall before this summer’s trade deadline. Diamondbacks got two prospects in return.

Naylor went 1-for-4 in his Seattle debut; he is hitting .292 this year, with an .804 OPS.

— Colorado Rockies traded 3B Ryan McMahon to Bronx, for two minor leaguers; New York will also take on the $36.5M that is left on McMahon’s contract, thru 2027. 

McMahon is hitting. 217 this year, with a .717 OPS.

— Baltimore Orioles traded traded lefty reliever Gregory Soto to the Mets for two minor leaguers; Mets are Soto’s fourth team the last four years- he has a 3.96 ERA in 45 appearances this season, but he gives the Mets a second lefty in the bullpen.

— If the baseball playoffs started today (they don’t):
NL: Mets, Brewers, Dodgers. Wild Cards: Cubs, Phillies, Padres
AL: Toronto, Detroit, Houston. Wild Cards: New York, Mariners, Red Sox

Some stats for Friday’s baseball games:
National League

— Marlins (48-53) @ Milwaukee (61-41)
Quantrill is 0-1, 4.77 in his last six starts.
Marlins won all five of those no-decisions.
Miami is 5-5 in his road starts.
Under is 11-2 in his last thirteen starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 4-18

Marlins are 6-2 in their last eight games.
Under is 7-3 in their last ten games.

Peralta is 7-0, 3.18 in his last seven starts.
His last six starts went over the total.
Brewers are 10-1 in his home starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 2-21

Milwaukee won 12 of its last 13 games.
Over is 6-3 in their last nine games.

— Diamondbacks (50-53) @ Pittsburgh (42-61)
Nelson is 4-0, 2.52 in his last seven starts.
Arizona is 7-4 in his starts.
Under is 7-4 in his starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 3-11

Arizona is 5-7 in its last 12 games.
They traded 1B Naylor to Seattle last night.
Over is 10-6 in their last sixteen road games.

Burrows is 0-2, 4.91 in his last six starts.
Pirates are 3-6 in his starts.
Over is 4-1 in his last five outings.
Allowed run in first inning: 2-9

Pirates are 10-3 in their last 13 home games.
Under is 13-5 in their last 18 games.

— Padres (55-48) @ St Louis (53-51)
Pivetta is 3-0, 0.57 in his last five starts.
San Diego is 6-3 in his road starts.
Over is 6-3 in his last nine starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 5-20

San Diego is 1-11 in its last 12 road games.
Under is 8-3 in their last 11 road games.

Mikolas is 1-2, 8.69 in his last four starts.
Over is 3-1 in his last four starts.
Cardinals are 5-3 in his home starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 8-19

Cardinals lost seven of their last nine games.
Over is 8-2 in their last ten home games.

— Mets (59-44) @ San Francisco (54-49)
Holmes is 0-1, 6.10 in his last four starts.
Mets are 6-4 in his road starts.
Under is 8-4 in his last 12 starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 3-20

Mets won six of their last nine games.
Under is 5-2-1 in their last eight games.

Webb is 2-2, 5.47 in his last four starts.
Giants are 6-4 in his home starts.
Under is 6-4 in his last ten starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 5-21

Giants won last two games, after an 0-6 skid.
Over is 4-0-1 in their last five games.

American League
— Blue Jays (61-42) @ Detroit (60-44)
Berrios is 2-1, 7.11 in his last four starts. 

Over is 3-1 in those four starts.
Toronto is 8-2 in his last ten starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 5-21

Blue Jays are 17-4 in their last 21 games.
Over is 4-1-1 in their last five games.

Montero is 4-2, 4.28 in 14 games (8 starts)
Sometimes they use an opener when he pitches.
Detroit is 6-2 in his starts.
Under is 7-1 when he starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 1-8

Detroit lost 10 of its last 11 games.
Tigers’ last five home games went over the total.

— Guardians (51-51) @ Kansas City (50-53)
Williams is 1-0, 2.00 in his last three starts.
Cleveland is 2-6 in his last eight starts.
Over is 6-2 in his last eight starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 6-22

Cleveland won 11 of its last 14 games.
Over is 5-2 in their last seven games.

Wacha is 0-3, 4.85 in his last five starts.
Royals lost seven of his last eight starts.
Under is 6-3 in his last nine outings.
Allowed run in first inning: 1-20

Royals are 8-5 in their last thirteen games.
Under is 12-4 in their last sixteen home games.

— A’s (43-62) @ Houston (60-43)
Springs is 2-1, 4.43 in his last four starts.
Under is 5-2 in his last seven outings.
A’s are 6-5 in his road starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 10-19

A’s are 2-5 since the All-Star break.
Over is 8-3 in their last 11 road games.

Astros haven’t named a starter for this game.

Houston lost six of its last seven home games.
Astros are 8-5 in second game of series, if they lost the opener.

— Mariners (55-48) @ LA Angels (49-54)
Woo 3-1, 2.58 in his last six starts.
Seattle lost four of his last five road outings.
Over is 4-2 in his last six starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 6-19

Seattle is 7-3 in its last ten games, 2-3 in last five.
Over is 14-3 in their last sixteen road games.

Soriano is 0-2, 11.85 in his last three home starts.
Overall, Angels are 9-12 in his starts.
Over is 4-2 in his last six starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 4-21

Angels lost five of their last six games.
Over is 10-3-1 in their last fourteen games.

— Famous birthdays, July 25th:
Illeana Douglas, 64
Doug Drabek, 63
Dean Biasucci, 63
Torey Lovullo, 60

Matt LeBlanc, 58
Jon Barry, 56
Billy Wagner, 54
Tracy Murray, 54

Tee Martin, 47
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 44
Alvin Kamara, 30
Bryce Young, 24

Friday would’ve been Biff Pocoroba’s 72nd birthday.

Interleague
— Rockies (26-76) @ Baltimore (45-57)
Freeland is 1-1, 3.38 in his last three starts,
Colorado is 2-7 in his road starts.
Over is 4-1 in his last five outings.
Allowed run in first inning: 9-18

Colorado is 4-2 since the All-Star break.
Rockies are 12-38 on the road.
Under is 7-1-1 in their last nine games.

Kremer is 1-0, 0.64 in his last two starts.
Orioles are 6-0 when he starts at home.
Under is 8-1 in his last nine starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 5-19

Orioles lost seven of their last nine games.
Under is 6-4 in their last ten games.

— Phillies (58-44) @ New York (56-46)
Walker is 1-1, 5.82 in his last four starts.
Phillies are 5-5 in his starts.
Under is 6-4 in his starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 2-10

Phillies are 5-7 in their last 12 games.
Under is 11-3 in their last 14 road games.

Warren is 1-1, 4.20 in his last three starts.
Over is 3-1 in his last four starts.
New York is 5-4 in his home starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 5-21

New York is 3-5 in its last eight games.
Over is 5-2 in their last seven home games.

— Dodgers (60-43) @ Boston (55-49)
Sheehan is 0-1, 5.25 in three starts.
This is his first road start this season.
Under is 2-1 in his starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 0-3

Dodgers are 4-11 in their last fifteen games.
Under is 8-3 in their last eleven road games.

Bello is 2-1, 2.53 in his last three starts.
Under is 4-2 in his last six outings.
Red Sox are 4-8 in his last 12 starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 6-16

Red Sox won their last seven home games.
Under is 7-3 in their last ten games.

— Rays (53-50) @ Cincinnati (53-50)
Littell is 2-0, 2.43 in his last five starts.
Under is 13-7 in his starts.
Rays are 6-4 in his road outings.
Allowed run in first inning: 6-20

Rays are 2-9 in their last eleven read games.
Under is 8-5 in their last thirteen games.

Martinez is 2-0, 3.48 in his last two starts.
Reds are 6-2 in his last ten starts. 
Over is 7-3 in his last ten starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 6-20

Reds are 7-4 in their last eleven games.
Under is 8-2 in their last ten games.

— Cubs (60-42) @ White Sox (37-66)
Imanaga is 4-1, 1.78 in his last five starts.
Under is 10-3 in his starts.
Cubs are 9-4 in his starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 3-13

Cubs lost three of their last four games.
Under is 8-4 in their last 12 games.

Houser is 3-0, 2.48 in his last five starts,
White Sox are 7-3 in his starts.
Under is 9-1 in his starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 1-10

White Sox are 5-1 since the All-Star break.
Over is 6-3 in their last nine games.

— Braves (44-57) @ Texas (53-50)
Wentz threw four shutout IP (59 PT) in his first ’25 start.
Allowed run in first inning: 0-1

Braves lost five of their last seven games.
Over is 9-2-1 in their last 12 games.

Eovaldi is 3-0, 0.96 in his last three starts.
This is his first start since July 13th.
Under is 12-4 in his starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 3-16

Rangers won six of their last seven games.
Under is 5-2 in their last seven games.

— Nationals (41-61) @ Minnesota (49-53)
Gore is 1-4, 5.63 in his last six starts.
Washington is 5-6 in his road starts.
Over is 4-1 in his last five starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 6-20

Washington is 4-8 since they fired their manager.
Over is 12-3 in their last fifteen road games.

Matthews is 1-2, 6.26 in five starts.
He allowed 2 runs in 4 IP, in his one home start,
Over is 3-1 in his last four starts.
Allowed run in first inning: 1-5

Twins lost five of their last seven games.
Under is 9-3 in their last 12 games. 

— Green Bay Packers are a publicly-owned team, so they divulge their earnings every year; this past year, the Packers and their 539,529 stockholders (lot of stockholders) banked a check from the NFL worth $432.6M, which means since every team got one of those, the league’s total revenue was roughly $13B, that’s BILLION, with a B. 

Which is how they can afford to pay Roger Goodell $30 or $40M a year; he is the captain that keeps the golden yacht afloat.

— Tennessee Titans QB Will Levis is going to have season-ending shoulder surgery; he hopes to be ready for the 2026 season. Levis was 5-16 as a starter for Tennessee his first two years in the NFL, but the Titans drafted Cam Ward in this April’s draft.

Brandon Allen (2-8 as an NFL starter in five years)/Tim Boyle (0-5 in six years) are the Titans’ other QB’s, if they don’t start Ward right away.

— Miami Dolphins’ head coaches, since 2000:
2000-04- Dave Wannstedt 42-31 regular season (1-2 playoffs)
2004- Jim Bates 3-4 as an interim coach
2005-06- Nick Saban 15-17 regular season
2007- Cam Cameron 1-15 regular season

2008-11- Tony Sparano- 29-32 regular season (0-1 playoffs)
2011- Todd Bowles 2-1 as an interim coach
2012-15- Joe Philbin- 24-28 regular season
2015- Dan Campbell 5-7 as an interim coach

2016-18- Adam Gase- 23-25 regular season (0-1 playoffs)
2019-21- Brian Flores 24-25 regular season
2022-present- Mike McDaniel 28-23 regular season (0-2 playoffs)

— Notes for the Houston Texans:
Went 10-7/10-7 in two years under DeMeco Ryans.
Last year, Texans were 7-5 in games decided by 8 or fewer points.

This year, Texans are #18 in $$$ spent on offense (#23 on QBs)
This year, Texans are #9 in $$$ spent on defense.

Last year, Houston was +10 (29-19) in turnovers. 

Last year, Houston was minus-5 (49-54) in sacks.

Last two years, under is 22-12 in Texans games.
Last two years, Texans are 7-11 ATS as a favorite, 9-6 as an underdog.

— Kudos to MLB Network for showing a minor league game live Monday afternoon, a AAA game between farm teams of the Phillies-Orioles. It is fun to watch prospects play, see what they have a they try and make it to the majors.

— Red Sox 9, Phillies 8 (11)
Boston is now 1-7 in extra inning games on the road.
Phillies led 5-0 after the fourth inning.
Bryce Harper hit his 350th career home run.

— Rockies 6, Cardinals 0
Colorado got its first shutout in its last 220 games.
Rookie Tanner Gordon pitched six innings, got his second win..
Ezequiel Tovar homered for the Rockies.

— Famous birthdays, July 24th:
Robert Hays, 78
Michael Richards, 76
Lynda Carter, 74
Steve Grogan, 72

Kevin Butler, 63
Karl Malone, 62
Barry Bonds, 61

Rick Fox, 56
Jennifer Lopez, 56
Rafer Alston, 49
Rose Byrne, 46

Anna Paquin, 43
Kyle Kuzma, 30
Drake London, 24

— Mets 6, Angels 3
Mets won their fourth game in a row.
Francisco Lindor snapped out of a slump, going 2-4 with two RBI.
Mike Trout now has 396 homers, 999 RBI in his career.

— Astros 4, Diamondbacks 3
Christian Walker had the game-winning single in the 9th inning.
First two Astros in 9th inning reached base on bunt singles.
Houston now leads AL West by six games.

— Guardians 3, Orioles 2
Steven Kwan had the game-winning hit in the 8th inning.
Guardians have won 11 of their last 13 games.
Baltimore has lost seven of its last eight games.

— Reds 5, Nationals 0
Nick Lodolo threw a 105-pitch complete game for the Reds.
Cincinnati has now gone 33 series without being swept this season.
Washington is 4-8 since they fired their GM/manager.

— Marlins 3, Padres 2
Jesus Sanchez hit a 2-run homer for the Marlins.
Sandy Alcantara allowed one (unearned) run in 7 IP.
Marlins are 23-12 in their last 35 games.

— Dodgers 4, Twins 3
Freddie Freeman hit a 2-run, walk-off single in 9th inning.
Shohei Ohtani homered for the fifth game in a row.
Game was tied 1-1 after six innings.

— Pirates 6, Tigers 1
Spencer Horwitz hit his first career grand slam.
Bailey Falter allowed only four hits in 7 IP.
Detroit has lost nine of its last ten games.

If the baseball playoffs started today (they do not):
AL: Blue Jays, Tigers, Astros. Wild Cards: New York, Mariners, Red Sox
NL: Mets, Brewers, Dodgers. Wild Cards: Cubs, Phillies, Padres

Air Force
Falcons are 14-7-1 ATS last 22 games as a road underdog.
Since 2015, Air Force is 16-26-1 ATS in games coming off a loss.
Air Force won/covered its last five bowl games.

Boise State
Since 2019, Boise State is 41-24-2 ATS in Mountain West games.
Broncos are 13-6 ATS in last 19 games as a home favorite.
Boise State is 9-4-1 ATS in last 14 games as a road underdog.

Colorado State
Last year was Rams’ first winning season since 2017.
Last three years, Colorado State is 4-10 ATS in non-conference games.
Rams are 0-5 SU/ATS in their last five bowl games.

Fresno State
Since 2016, Bulldogs are 8-1-1 ATS as a home underdog.
Since 2017, Fresno is 21-13-1 ATS in non-conference games.
New coach went 60-11 at I-AA North Dakota State, winning two national titles.

Hawaii
Since 2015, Rainbows are 9-21-2 ATS as a home favorite.
Hawaii is 17-28 ATS in its last 45 road games.
Last three years, Rainbows are 14-8-1 ATS in conference games.

Nevada
Last three years, Wolf Pack was 2-21 SU/8-14-1 ATS in conference games.
Nevada is 3-2 SU in last five bowls (underdog in 4 of 5, pick ‘em in the 5th)
Since 2016, Wolf Pack is 17-23-1 ATS in games coming off a win.

Notes on the Green Bay Packers:
Made playoffs five of last six years, went 3-5 in those playoffs.
Last year, Packers were 11-6, 5-5 in games decided by 8 or fewer points. 

Green Bay is 3-7 ATS in its last ten games as a road favorite.
Packers are 6-4 ATS in their last ten games as a home favorite.

Last year, Packers were +12 in turnovers (31-19)
Last year, Packers were +23 in sacks (45-22)

This year, Green Bay is #29 in $$$ spent of offense (#31 on WRs, #21 on OL)
This year, Green Bay is #3 in $$$ spent on defense (#2 on CB’s, #8 on DL)

Famous birthdays, July 23rd:
Ronny Cox, 87
Larry Manetti, 78
Belinda Montgomery, 75
Woody Harrelson, 64

Gary Payton, 57
Elden Campbell, 57
Nomar Garciaparra, 52
Chase Meidroth, 24

UNLV
Last two years, Rebels were 9-5/11-3 SU; from 2015-22, they were 27-63.
In his career, Dan Mullen is 49-34-1 ATS at home.
Last three years, UNLV is 13-2 ATS in non-conference games.

New Mexico
Lobos have had eight consecutive losing seasons.
New Mexico is 9-21-2 ATS in its last 32 conference games.
Lobos haven’t been to a bowl game since 2016.
Last time they went to a bowl outside of New Mexico? 2004.

San Diego State
Last four years, Aztecs are 4-11 ATS as a home favorite.
Since 2015, Aztecs are 16-10-1 ATS as a road favorite.
Since 2015, San Diego State is 26-17-1 ATS as an underdog.

San Jose State
Last two years, San Jose State is 8-4 ATS as a favorite.
Spartans lost their last four bowls; they were favored in all four.
In his career, coach Niumatalolo is 34-20 ATS as a road dog.

Utah State
Last three years, Aggies went 6-7/6-7/4-8 SU.
Since 2016, Utah State is 20-8-1 ATS as a home favorite.
In his career, coach Mendenhall is 57-37-1 ATS in non-conference games.

Wyoming
Cowboys were 3-9 LY, just their second losing season in eight years.
Since 2016, Wyoming is 19-7 ATS as a home underdog.
Since 2016, Cowboys are 29-18-1 ATS in games coming off a loss. 

— Baseball’s trade deadline is 9-10 days away, 6:00 on July 31st; how much activity will there be? Lot of the contending teams need pitching help, but how much pitching help can the teams who are out of contention provide?

Some teams are teetering on the edge of contending/selling; which teams will go for it? Seems like with a few teams (Arizona, St Louis, Kansas City) that could change on a daily basis.

— There are 13 major league managers who have won 2,000+ games; 10 of them are in the Hall of Fame. The other three?

Dusty Baker
Bruce Bochy
Terry Francona…….all three of them will get inducted in Cooperstown, too.

— Chicago White Sox are 35-65 this season, but they’re 9-5 on Fridays. Go figure.

— Reds OF Jake Fraley is playing with a torn labrum in his shoulder, which will need surgery after the season. Fraley is hitting .242 with a .748 OPS this season.

— Houston reliever Bryan Abreu has nine saves in 13 opportunities this season; all four of his blown saves have come against Seattle.

— Charlotte 83, Sacramento 78
Hornets won the NBA Summer League; players actually get championship rings. 

Dennis Rodman’s son scored 11 points in 16:00 off the bench for Charlotte.
Sacramento’s bench shot only 6-20 from the floor.

— Notes for the Detroit Lions:
Last two years, Lions were 27-7 SU in regular season.
Last year, Detroit was 7-2 in games decided by 8 or fewer points.

Lions were +9 (24-15) in turnovers last year.

Since 2022, Detroit is 36-14 against the spread.
Lions are 21-8 ATS in their last 29 games as a favorite. 

Since 2022, over is 17-9 in Detroit home games.

From 1992-2022, Detroit was 0-8 in playoff games; then they won two playoff games in 2023, losing NFC title game 34-31 at San Francisco.

This year, Lions are #5 in NFL in $$$ spent on offense (#13 QB). 

This year, Lions are #26 in $$$ spent on defensive players.

— Famous birthdays, July 22nd:
Sparky Lyle, 81
Danny Glover, 79
Albert Brooks, 78
Willem Dafoe, 70

Dave Stieb, 68
Alvin Robertson, 63
David Spade, 61
Keyshawn Johnson, 53

Steven Jackson, 42
Tanner Scott, 31
Ezekiel Elliott, 30
Garrett Wilson, 25

— White Sox 8, Rays 3
Chicago is 4-0 since All-Star break, scoring 35 runs.
Brooks Baldwin hit a 3-run homer for the White Sox.
Rays are 1.5 games out of the AL’s last Wild Card spot.

— Pirates 3, Tigers 0
Paul Skenes allowed 3 hits in 6 shutout IP.
Detroit has lost seven of its last eight games.
Despite that, Tigers still lead the AL Central by ten games.

— Astros 6, Diamondbacks 3
2B Brice Matthews hit his first two big league homers in his 5th MLB game.
Just third win for Houston in its last ten games.
Eugenio Suarez hit his 36th home run for Arizona.

— Brewers 6, Mariners 0
Milwaukee has now won 11 games in a row.
Game was scoreless after five innings.
Brandon Woodruff allowed two baserunners in six IP.

— Blue Jays 4, New York 1
Toronto won its 11th straight home game.
Overall, Toronto is 17-4 in its last 21 games.
Blue Jays now lead AL East by four games.

— Padres 2, Marlins 1
San Diego’s bullpen got 14 outs, allowed only two baserunners.
Miami out-hit the Padres 9-5, but they were 0-5 with RISP.
Padres hold a 3.5-game lead for the NL’s last Wild Card spot.

— Cardinals 6, Rockies 2
Willson Contreras homered, drove in two runs.
Michael McGreevy allowed two runs in 7 IP to get the win.
Colorado is now 24-76 in its first 100 games. 

Trends for major league teams
(thru Sunday’s games)

— Arizona (50-50)
Arizona won its last three games, scoring 22 runs.
Over is 17-7 in their last 24 home games.
Arizona is 8-19 in last 27 games where winning run scored from 7th inning on.

— Braves (43-55)
Braves are 6-14 in its last 20 games.
Atlanta is 10.5 games out of the last Wild Card spot.
Atlanta is 25-24 at home, 18-31 on the road.
Over is 7-2 in their last nine games.

— Cubs (59-40)
Chicago is 13-7 in its last 20 games.
Cubs are tied with Milwaukee for NL Central lead.
Under is 7-2 in its last ten nine games.
Cubs are 46-24 vs righty starters, 13-16 vs lefties.

— Reds (52-48)
Cincinnati is 6-2 in its last eight games.
Reds are 38-30 vs righty starters, 14-18 vs lefties.
Under is 9-3 in their last 12 games.
Reds scored in first inning in six of last ten games.

— Rockies (24-75)
Colorado won its first home series of the season this weekend.
Under is 15-8 in Rockies’ last 23 games.
Rockies are 3-23 vs lefty starters, 21-52 vs righties. 
Colorado is 6-3 in last nine games where winning run scored from 7th inning on.

— Dodgers (58-42)
Dodgers lost 10 of their last 12 games.
LA leads San Diego by 3.5 games in NL West.
Dodgers are 42-28 vs righty starters, 16-14 vs lefties.
Under is 13-7 in their last 20 games.

— Marlins (46-52)                                                                       )
Marlins are 23-14 in their last 37 games.
Miami is 22-28 at home, 24-24 on the road.
Under is 17-5 in Marlins’ last 22 home games.
Over is 8-4 in Marlins’ last 12 road games.

— Brewers (59-40)
Brewers won their last ten games, scoring 56 runs.
Milwaukee is 33-17 at home, 26-23 on the road.
Over is 7-1 in their last eight series openers.
Milwaukee is tied with the Cubs for the NL Central lead.

— Mets (56-44)
Mets are 11-20 in their last 31 games.
Mets are 34-16 at home, 22-28 on the road.
Under is 4-1 in their last five games.
Mets are #2 Wild Card team right now, trail Philly by half-game in NL East.

— Phillies (56-43)
Phillies are 4-8 in their last 12 road games.
Phillies are 44-27 vs righty starters, 12-16 vs lefties.
Over is 4-1 in their last five games.
Phillies are 11-5 in home series openers.

— Pirates (39-61)
Pirates are 1-11 in their last 12 games.
Pittsburgh is 26-24 at home, 13-37 on the road.
Under is 11-4 in their last 15 games.
Pirates are 10-5 in last 15 games where winning run scored from 7th inning on.

— St Louis (51-49)
St Louis is 5-11 in its last 16 games.
Cardinals are 11-5 in home series openers.
St Louis is 29-20 at home, 22-29 on the road.
Over is 10-2 in their last dozen games.

— Padres (54-45)
Padres are 10-9 in their last 19 games (starting pitchers have two wins.
San Diego is 3-8 in its last 11 series openers.
Under is 17-10 in their last 27 games.
San Diego leads Giants by 2.5 games for the last NL Wild Card slot.

— Giants (52-48)
Giants are 1-6 in their last seven games, 11-17 since acquiring Devers.
Giants are 42-31 vs righty pitchers, 10-17 vs lefties.
Over is 6-3 in their last nine road games.
SF is 21-10 in games where winning run scored from 7th inning on.

— Washington (39-60)
Nationals are 2-7 since they fired their general manager/manager.
Washington is 4-14 in its last fifteen home games.
Over is 20-4 in their last 24 games.
Washington is 17-8 last 25 games where winning run scored from 7th inning on.

— Notes for the Denver Broncos:
Broncos were 10-7 LY, 1-6 in games decided by 8 or fewer points.
Broncos were 9-1 in games decided by 9+ points.

Last year was Denver’s first winning season since 2016.

Denver was 8-0 ATS as a favorite LY, 4-5 as an underdog.

Broncos were +6 (25-19) in turnovers LY,+39 in sacks (63-24).

Broncos are #24 in NFL in $$$ spent on offense, #7 on OL, #28 on QB’s.
Broncos are #15 in NFL in $$$ spent on defense, #25 on CB’s

— Famous birthdays, July 21st:
Al Hrabosky, 76
Jon Lovitz, 68
Barry Redden, 65
Henry Ellard, 64
Mike Bordick, 60

Geoff Jenkins, 51
Justin Bertha, 47
David Carr, 46
CC Sabathia, 45
DeAndre Jordan, 37

Today would’ve been the 74th birthday for the great Robin Williams. 

— Orioles (44-54)
Baltimore lost four of its last five games.
Orioles are 7-3 in their last ten series openers.
Orioles are 14-15 vs AL East foes, 30-39 vs everyone else.
Under is 28-15 in their last 43 games.

— Red Sox (54-47)
Red Sox won 11 of their last 13 games.
Boston is 12-19 in one-run games.
Under is 5-2 in their last seven games.
Red Sox are 17-11 in 28 games since trading Devers.

— White Sox (35-65)
Chicago swept the Pirates this weekend, scoring 27 runs.
White Sox are 21-29 at home, 14-36 on the road.
Under is 16-5 in their last 21 road games.
Chicago is 25-50 vs righty starters, 10-15 vs lefties.

— Cleveland (48-50)
Cleveland is 8-2 in its last 10 games, after an 0-10 skid.
Guardians are 4.5 games out of the last Wild Card slot.
Guardians are 37-31 vs righty starters, 11-19 vs lefties.
Over is 5-1 in their last six games.

— Detroit (60-40)
Detroit lost six of its last seven games.
Tigers are 18-9 vs its AL Central rivals, lead division by 11 games.
Detroit is 13-3 in home series openers.
Under is 5-1 in their last six road games.

— Houston (57-42)
Astros are 2-7 in last nine games, lead AL West by 4 games.
Astros are 33-19 at home, 24-23 on the road.
Over is 10-5 in their last 12 road games.
Three of their four starting infielders are on the IL.

— Royals (48-52)
Royals are 8-5 in their last 13 games.
Kansas City is 37-45 vs righty starters, 11-7 vs lefties.
Under is 11-3 in Royals’ last 14 home games.
Royals are 1-8 in last nine home series openers.

— Angels (49-50)
Angels are 6-4 in their last 10 games.
Halos are 14-5 in last 19 series openers.
Angels are 40-40 vs righty starters, 9-10 vs lefties.
Angels are 24-12 in games where winning run scored from 7th inning on.

— Twins (48-51)
Twins are 2-6 in their last eight road games.
Minnesota is 28-20 at home, 20-31 on the road.
Twins are five games out of the last playoff slot.
Under is 13-5 in their last eighteen games.

— New York (55-44)
New York is 7-3 in its last ten games.
Over is 14-3 in their last 17 games.
Right now, New York is the #1 Wild Card in the AL.
New York is 43-33 vs righty starters, 12-11 vs lefties.

— A’s (42-59)
A’s are 9-8 in their last seventeen games.
Under is 8-4 in their last 12 home games.
A’s are 12-14 in one-run games, 6-3 in extra innings.
Last ten series, A’s are 6-0 in games where winning run scored from 7th inning on..

— Seattle (53-46)
Mariners won five of their last six games.
Seattle is 11-5 in its last sixteen home games.
Over is 18-4 in their last 22 road games.
Under is 13-7 in Mariners’ last 20 home games.

— Tampa Bay (52-48)
Tampa Bay lost 12 of its last 17 games.
Rays are 30-26 at home, 22-22 on the road.
Tampa Bay is 1.5 games out of the last Wild Card slot.
Rays are 2-7 in last nine games where winning run scored from 7th inning on.

— Texas (50-50)
Rangers are 21-15 in their last 36 games.
Texas is 9-21 in games where winning run scored from 7th inning on.
Rangers are 28-20 at home, 22-30 on road.
Under is 4-0 in their last four games.

— Toronto (58-41)
Blue Jays won 14 of their last 17 games.
Blue Jays won their last 10 home games.
Over is 13-7 in their last 20 road games.
Toronto is 13-5 in last 18 games where winning run scored from 7th inning on.

If the baseball playoffs started today (they do not):
AL: Blue Jays, Tigers, Astros. Wild Cards: New York, Red Sox, Mariners
NL: Phillies, Chi/Mil, Dodgers. Wild Cards: Mil/Chi, Mets, Padres

— Reds 5, Mets 2
Mets retired David Wright’s #5 before this game.
Jake Fraley had three hits, drove in two runs.
In their last 40 games, David Peterson is only starting pitcher for the Mets who has gotten an out after the sixth inning.

— Bronx 12, Braves 9
Atlanta led 7-2 after the fifth inning.
New York scored four runs in the decisive ninth inning.
Anthony Volpe homered twice, drove in four runs.

— Brewers 8, Dodgers 7
Both teams scored four runs in the fourth inning.
Freddy Peralta got his 12th win, but gave up four runs in 5 IP.
Shohei Ohtani hit his 33rd home run of the season.

— Phillies 9, Angels 5
Angels led 4-2 in the sixth inning.
Kyle Schwarber hit a grand slam, his 32nd home run.
In his last six games. Bryce Harper is 12 for 24 with four home runs.

— Famous birthdays, July 20th:
James Harris, 78
Donna Dixon, 68
Mike Lansford, 67
Mike Witt, 65
Reed Diamond, 58

Omar Epps, 52
Ray Allen, 50
Stephen Strasburg, 37
Steven Adams, 32
Keibert Ruiz, 27

— A’s 8, Guardians 2
Luis Severino allowed only five baserunners, two runs in 5 IP.
Nick Kurtz was 3-5 with a home run, three runs scored.
Jacob Wilson, Shea Langeliers also homered for the A’s.

— Cubs 6, Red Sox 0
Chicago hit five solo home runs in this game.
Shota Imanaga threw seven shutout innings; he is 7-3, 2.40 this year.
Red Sox scored one run the last two days, after entering the All-star break on a 10-game winning streak.

— Rays 4, Orioles 3
Baltimore led 2-0 in the 7th inning.
Chandler Simpson had the game-tying hit, scored the winning run.
Scott Fairbanks got his 16th save for Tampa Bay.

— Nationals 4, Padres 2
Nathaniel Lowe homered in the 6th inning for Washington.
Just the second win for the Nationals in their last 11 games.
It was the first time in 35 games that Washington recorded a save.

— Rangers 4, Tigers 1
Kumar Rocker didn’t allow a hit until the sixth inning.
Rowdy Tellez hit a 3-run homer in his second game with Texas.
Rangers are 50-49, are over .500 for the first time since May 20th.

— Movie of the Day: Moon Over Parador (1988)- An American actor gets an acting gig in South America, then gets hired to stand in for the country’s dictator, when the dictator dies in real life. Can the actor and dictator’s mistress change Parador? 

Richard Dreyfuss is the actor, Sonia Braga is the mistress, Raul Julia plays the dictator’s right hand man. Jonathan Winters has a strange role as a spy of some kind.

This is a funny movie, a weirder version of Dave, when Kevin Kline stands in as the President when he has a stroke.

— Blue Jays 6, Giants 3
Addison Barger went 4-for 4; Toronto has won 9 in a row at home.
Giants led 2-0 in sixth inning, but Blue Jays scored 4 runs in the sixth.
Willie Adames homered twice for San Francisco.

— Marlins 3, Royals 1
Marlins led 1-0 after seven innings.
With score 1-1, Otto Lopez hit a 2-run double in 8th inning.
Since June 13, Marlins are 21-10.

— White Sox 10, Pirates 4
White Sox won first two games in this series, scoring 10 runs in both games.
Lenyn Sosa was 3-for-5, scoring twice, with 3 RBI.
Adrian Houser didn’t pitch well, but Chicago is 7-3 in his starts.

— Diamondbacks 10, Cardinals 1
Eugenio Suarez homered twice, now has 33 homers this season.
Corbin Carroll had two triples, now has 12 triples this season.
Arizona is 49-50, 4.5 games out of the last Wild Card spot.

— Rockies 10, Twins 6
Colorado wins a home series for the first time this season.
Ezequiel Tovar hit a 3-run homer to put the Rockies ahead for good.
Minnesota has lost 12 of its last 15 road games. 

Trends for football teams in the Big Ten (Big 18) Conference:

— Illinois
Since 2017, they’re 9-16-1 ATS as a home favorite.
Since 2015, they’re 26-35 ATS coming off a loss.
In his career, Bielema is 27-17-1 ATS as a road underdog.

— Indiana
Cignetti is 23-8 ATS as a favorite.
Indiana was 11-2 SU last year, +15 in turnovers.
From 2021-23, Indiana was 9-27, minus-22 in turnovers.

— Iowa
Since 2014, Hawkeyes are 21-8-1 ATS as a road favorite.
In his career, Ferentz is 18-13-2 ATS as a home underdog.

— Maryland
Since 2017, Terrapins are 17-7 ATS in non-conference games.
In his career, Locksley is 11-22 ATS as a road underdog.

— Michigan
Michigan was 8-5 SU last year (40-3 SU from 2021-23)
Wolverines are 7-11-2 ATS in last 20 games as a home favorite.
Since 2019, Michigan is 31-20-3 ATS in conference games.

— Michigan State
Last three years, Spartans went 5-7/4-8/5-7 (minus-18 in turnovers)
In his career, Jonathan Smith is 16-9 ATS as a road underdog.

— Minnesota
In his career, Fleck is 25-14-1 ATS as a road underdog.
Gophers won/covered their last five bowl games.

— Nebraska
Ruhle is 34-19-1 ATS as an underdog, 13-7 as a home dog, 11-5 as a road favorite.
Since 2015, Nebraska is 25-37-3 ATS at home.

— Northwestern
Since 2021, Wildcats are 2-8 ATS as a home favorite.
Since 2015, Wildcats are 23-14 ATS as a road underdog.
Northwestern won its last five bowl games (was underdog in 3 of the 5)

— Famous birthdays, July 19th:
George Dzundza, 80
Alvan Adams, 71
Anthony Edwards, 63
LeRoy Butler, 57

Rick Ankiel, 46
Adam Morrison, 41
LaMarcus Aldridge, 40
Yan Gomes, 38

Patrick Corbin, 36
Mauricio Dubon, 31
Jonathan Cannon, 25
Ethan Evans, 24

— Ohio State
Ryan Day is 26-16 ATS as a home favorite.
In their last 131 games, Buckeyes are 2-1 ATS as an underdog.
Former NFL coach Matt Patricia is Ohio State’s new defensive coordinator. 

— Oregon
Last three years, Oregon is 26-15 ATS.
Ducks are 9-3 ATS as a road favorite in conference games.
Oregon is 14-4 ATS as a single digit favorite in conference games.

— Penn State
Last three years, PSU is 34-8 SU (+11/+16/+11 in turnovers)
Since 2021, Penn State is 16-8-1 ATS as a home favorite.
Overall, Nittany Lions are 27-11-1 ATS in last 39 games as a favorite.

— Purdue
Last three years, Purdue was 2-15 ATS at home.
Since 2016, Purdue is 5-16 ATS as a home favorite.
In his career, new coach Odom is 20-13 ATS as a home favorite.
Since 2020, Boilermakers are 14-28 ATS in conference games.

— Rutgers
Since 2021, Scarlet Knights are 12-3 ATS in non-conference games.
In his career, Schiano is 36-22-3 ATS as a road underdog.

— USC
In his career, Riley is 29-19 ATS as a home favorite, 9-21-1 as a road favorite.
Since 2021, Trojans are 14-23 ATS in conference games.

— UCLA
Since 2015, Bruins are 14-27 ATS as a home favorite.
Since 2015, Bruins are 10-20-1 ATS in non-conference games.
UCLA lost three of last four bowl games, giving up 37.8 ppg.

— Washington
Since 2018, Washington is 22-38 ATS in conference games.
Since 2015, Huskies are 8-14 ATS as an underdog.
Since 2017, under is 24-11 in Washington’s away games.

— Wisconsin
Since 2018, Wisconsin is 16-24 ATS as a home favorite.
Since 2015, Badgers are 23-11 ATS as a road favorite. 

Before I start today, the Home Run Derby after the All-Star Game was fun, but there is no way on God’s green earth that this should become a permanent thing in baseball. No chance.

It is good gimmick for exhibition games, that’s it. 

Umpire trends for the baseball season so far:
Home plate umps with lot of runs scored in their games:
over 13-4- Hanahan

over 12-4- Barrett, Barry

over 13-5- Livensparger

over 12-6- Johnson

over 12-7- Fletcher

over 10-5- Bellino

over 10-6- Additon

over 12-8- Wolcott

Home plate umps with not a lot of runs scored in their games:
under 11-1- Ramos

under 14-4- Hudson, Blaser

under 13-4- Libka

under 12-4- Emil Jimenez

under 12-5- Bacchus, Segal, Tichenor

under 13-6- Lentz

under 12-6- Cuzzi

under 11-5- Scheurwater

Home plate umps where home teams have done well:
home 15-4- Clemons

home 13-3- Ceja

home 12-4- Bucknor, Ramos

home 12-5- Blakeney

home 13-6- Diaz

home 12-6- Gibson, Hudson

home 11-5- Barry

Home plate umps where road teams have done well:
road 13-6- DeJesus
 
road 12-6- Blaser

road 8-3- Valentine

road 11-6- Edwin Jimenez

road 13-8- Carapazza, Morales

road 10-6- Dreckman

Movie of the Day: The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)- The lives of two struggling musicians, who are brothers, inevitably change when they team up with a beautiful, up-and-coming singer.

Jeff/Beau Bridges are the brothers, Michelle Pfeiffer is the singer, and she sings all her own songs in the movie. This is a very good movie.

— Notes for the Dallas Cowboys:
Dallas went 7-10 LY, fired Mike McCarthy, after they made the playoffs the three years before that. Brian Schottenheimer is the new head coach. Dallas hasn’t played in the NFC title game since 1995.

This year, Dallas is #1 in NFL in $$$ spent on offensive players (#2 at QB).
Dallas is #13 in NFL in $$$ spent on defensive players

Last year, Cowboys were minus-6 in turnovers (22-28)
Last year, Cowboys were +14 in sacks (52-38)

Dallas was 2-5 LY in games decided by 9+ points, 5-5 in games decided by 8 or fewer points.

Cowboys were favored in only 3 of 17 games last year.

Last two years, Dallas is 6-12 ATS as an underdog.
Last two years, over is 11-6 in their home games.

— Famous birthdays, July 18th:
James Brolin, 85
Joe Torre, 85
Dick Shiner, 83
Wally Walker, 71

Audrey Landers, 69
Mike Greenwell, 62
Jeff Lageman, 58
Anfernee Hardaway, 54

Torii Hunter, 50
Eugenio Suarez, 34
Dinelson Lamet, 33
Kyle Manzardo, 25

— Pittsburgh Steelers signed TJ Watt to a 3-year deal oath $123M, making him the highest paid non-QB in NFL history.

— Washington Commanders signed 36-year old Von Miller  to a one-year deal; he played for the Bills the last three seasons. Washington already had the oldest roster in the NFL, now they’ve gotten a little bit older.

— Damian Lillard signed a 3-year, $42M deal to return to the Portland Trailblazers, where he played the first eleven years of his career. Lillard is rehabbing from a torn Achilles he suffered in the first round of the playoffs, so he’ll be out next season.

— If you hear that an NBA player signs a “two-way contract” with a team, it means he will be paid $578,577 for that season, which is half the minimum salary for an NBA player. He’ll split his time between the G League and the NBA.

— If the Tampa Bay Rays make the playoffs, they can host playoff games at their temporary home, a minor-league stadium with a seating capacity of 10,046 that the Bronx Bombers use for their spring training games. 

— Tuesday was a good night for baseball; the All-Star Game was interesting, the new ball/strike challenge system was a success and the game had an interesting, albeit weird ending. 

Home Run Derby is a good way to decide the outcome of an exhibition game, especially since one of the teams was out of pitchers. What was weird is that apparently, the players didn’t know the Home Run Derby was going to happen, until like 10 minutes before it happened.

Would’ve been better TV if Aaron Judge/Shohei Ohtani had been in the Home Run Derby, but they were long gone by then. Tough loss if you bet on the American League, losing a bet that way, when no one even knew Home Run Derby was an option.

In the future, I’d kind of want the option to take a push on the bet if the game goes to extra innings. With live betting so prevalent, that should be a choice.

— Dan Iassogna was the home plate umpire for the All-Star Game; does that mean he has graded out the best out of all the umpires this season?

— Corbin Carroll is the first Diamondback to homer in an All-Star Game; Brett Rooker is the first A’s player since Terry Steinbach in 1988 to homer in an All-Star Game.

— In the history of the Chicago Cubs, three players have hit three home runs in a game against the St Louis Cardinals:
1939- Hank Leiber
2003- Moises Alou
2025- Michael Busch

I mention this because all three of those games happened on the 4th of July.

— If you’re looking for a hitter to add in your fantasy baseball league, Giancarlo Stanton has four homers, 10 RBI in his last nine games, with six runs scored, two walks. He is rostered in only 47% of CBS fantasy leagues.

— Major League home run leaders, over the last 365 days:
59- Aaron Judge
57- Shohei Ohtani
52- Cal Raleigh
51- Eugenio Suarez
49- Kyle Schwarber

Schwarber is the first Phillies player since Johnny Callison in 1964 to be MVP of an All-Star Game.

— Famous birthdays, July 17th:
Don Kessinger, 83
David Hasselhoff, 73
Scott Norwood, 65
Bobby Thigpen, 62
Frank Stams, 60

Calbert Cheaney, 54
Kevin Curtis, 47
Mason Rudolph, 30
OG Anunoby, 28
Noah Cameron, 25

Today would’ve been the great actor Donald Sutherland’s 90th birthday.

— It takes ten fouls to foul out of an NBA Summer League game, which is a lot, but it has happened this year.

Memphis Grizzlies rookie Jahmai Mashack, who played college ball at Tennessee, played 23:00 in a summer league game this week, scoring 5 points, dishing out 9 assists, grabbing 4 rebounds, all while he committed 10 fouls. It was a very busy 23 minutes for him. 

It was also a productive 23:00-; Memphis was +6 in the 23:00 that Mashack played.

— Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo is also coaching their summer league team, which is very unusual, but Iisalo only coached nine games with Memphis last year, so he is getting his footing as an NBA head coach.

— Dallas Mavericks rookie Joan Beringer has looked pretty good in summer league, but he’s only played basketball for four years, starting when he was 14 years old and grew out of his soccer cleats while growing up in France.

— Mavericks shut down rookie Cooper Flagg after his second summer league game, after h scored 31 points in that game, after he shot 5-for-21 in his debut. Not really sure why they shut him down; he could use the experience, but maybe they just used his 31-point game to try and promote their new star get fans to buy season tickets

— Wednesday, Bulls beat Milwaukee 102-96 in a Summer League game. 

Chicago’s coach was Billy Donovan III, whose father is the Bulls’ head coach. 

Milwaukee’s coach was Spencer Rivers, whose father is the Bucks’ head coach.

— Former Marquette/Indiana coach Tom Crean is great as an analyst on TV; has been fun listening to him on summer league games, Sean Farnham, Isiah Thomas have been good too; they just talk about basketball, with a minimum of nonsense.

— It has been hot around here the last couple weeks; there is a convenience store near my house that makes great milkshakes, so I go there a few times a week. Was in there Tuesday and there is a guy in there wearing a Willie Stargell Pirates’ number 8 jersey.

There is no way this guy was alive when Stargell was playing (he retired in 1982) but it was pretty cool to see anyone wearing a Pirates’ jersey these days.

— I love game shows; was glad to see that ABC is bringing Match Game back, with Martin Short as the new host.

— Notes for the Cleveland Browns:
Kevin Stefanski is 40-44 in four years with the Browns, 3-14 last year.

Browns has only 12 takeaways last year, were minus-22 in turnovers.
Browns gave up 66 sacks last year, were minus-25 in sacks. 

Former college QB Tommy Rees is the new OC; he was with Cleveland last year, was with Nick Saban at Alabama before that.

Last year, Browns were 3-4 in games decided by 8 or fewer points.
Cleveland was 0-10 in games decided by more than 8 points.

Browns are 7-13 ATS in last 20 games as an underdog.
Cleveland is 4-13 ATS in its last 17 road games.

Under is 11-5 in their last sixteen home games.

This year, Browns are #19 in NFL in $$$ spent on offensive players.
This year, Browns are #6 in NFL in $$$ spent on defensive players, #1 on CB’s.

— It is July 17th, NFL training camps will all be open soon, and the Saints/Browns don’t seem to know who their starting quarterback is going to be. Both teams have rookie QB’s who figure to take over at some point, but when? It is a difficult decision.

— Only two of 32 second round draft picks have signed their contract; Cincinnati is the only team that hasn’t signed its first round pick yet. 

AL teams’ records, by starting pitcher:
(thru All-Star break)

— Orioles (43-52)
Eflin 6-6
Morton 8-7 (7-1 last eight; under 8-2 last 10)
Kremer 9-9 (under 11-3 last 14)
Sugano 11-7 (under 12-3 last 15)
Povich 4-8
Young 1-5 (over 4-2)
Gibson 0-4 (over 3-1)
Rogers 4-2
McDermott 0-1
Akin 0-3 (opener)
Blewett 1-0 (opener)

— Red Sox (53-45)
Crochet 13-7 (under 14-6)
Houck 2-7 (over 5-1 last six)
Buehler 9-7 
Pitts 2-6 (under 6-2)
Newcomb 2-3 (over 4-1)
Dobbins 8-3
Bello 8-7 
Giolito 9-4 (over 4-0 last four)
Bernadino 0-1 (opener)

— White Sox (32-65)
Burke 7-10 
Cannon 4-9 (won last 3; over 7-2 last nine)
Smith 4-14 (0-5 last five)
Martin 3-10
Houser 6-3 (4-0 last four; under 9-0)
Wilson 3-2 (over 4-1)
Civale 0-6 (under 4-1-1)
Gilbert 1-2 (opener)
Eisert 1-2 (opener)
Shuster 0-2 (opener)
Vasil 0-3 (opener)
Taylor 0-1 (opener)
Leasure 0-1 (opener)
Perez 2-2

— Guardians (46-49)
Lively 7-2 (under 6-2 last eight)
Williams 9-10 (1-6 last 7; over 12-7)
Bibee 9-10
Ortiz 6-10 (under 9-3 last 12)
Allen 8-9 (under 6-2 last  eight)
Cecconi 5-5 (under 8-2)
Cantillo 2-1
Nikhazy 0-1
Allard 1-0

— Tigers (59-38)
Skubal 13-5  (over 4-1 last five)
Flaherty 6-13 
Olson 6-5
Jobe 9-1
Mize 11-5 (over 9-2 last 11)
Montero 6-1 (under 6-1)
Gipson-Long 1-1
Enns 1-1
Holton 2-3 (opener)
Hurter 2-2 (opener)
Guenther 0-1 (opener)
Brieske 0-1 (opener)

— Astros (56-40)
Valdez 14-5 (under 7-4 last 11)
Brown 13-6 
Arrighetti 1-1
Blanco 5-4 (under 5-1 last six)
Wesneski 2-4 (under 5-1)
Gusto 6-6
McCullers 5-4
Gordon 7-3 (under 7-3)
Walter 2-5
Blubaugh 0-1
Alexander 1-0

— Royals (47-50)
Ragans 5-5 (over 5-1 last six)
Lugo 9-8 (under 5-1 last six)
Bubic 10-8 (under 11-4 last 15)
Lorenzen 10-8 
Wacha 8-11 (1-6 last seven)
Cameron 4-8 (under 9-3)
Lynch 1-1 (opener)
Zerpa 0-1 (opener)

— Famous birthdays, July 16th:
Ron Yary, 79
Ron Brewer, 70
Gary Anderson, 66

Terry Pendleton, 65
Phoebe Cates, 62
Charles Smith, 60

Will Ferrell, 58
Barry Sanders, 57
Aaron Glenn, 53

— Angels (47-49)
Kikuchi 10-10 (over 5-2 last 7)
Soriano 8-12 
TAnderson 12-7 (under 4-1 last five)
Hendricks 9-9 (over 6-2 last eight)
Kochanowicz 8-11

— Twins (47-49)
Lopez 7-4 
Ryan 9-9
Ober 8-9 (over 7-1-1 last nine)
Paddack 5-14
Woods-Richardson 8-6 (under 5-1 last six) 
Matthews 3-1
Festa 5-4 (under 4-1 last five)
Topa 0-1 (opener)
Sands 2-0 )opener)
Coulombe 0-1 (opener)

— New York (53-43)
Rodon 10-10 (over 3-0 last 3)
Fried 14-6
Warren 11-9 (under 5-2 last 7) 
Carrasco 2-4 (under 4-2)
Schmidt 7-7 (under 7-2 last nine) 
Stroman 4-2 (over 6-0)
Yarbrough 4-4
Schimmer 1-0
Winans 0-1

— A’s (41-57)
Severino 5-15 (over 10-3 last 13)
Springs 10-8 (under 5-1 last six)
Bido 4-5 (over 4-1 last five)
Sears 10-9 
Lopez 6-4 (under 6-1 last seven)
Spence 2-5
Hoglund 2-4 
Ginn 2-2 (under 3-1)
Estes 0-2
Sterner 0-1 (opener)
Holman 0-2 (opener)

— Mariners (51-45)
Gilbert 9-3 (over 6-2 last 8)
Castillo 11-8 (over 5-2 last seven)
Miller 4-6 (over 6-0 last six)
Woo 10-8
Kirby 6-4
Hancock 7-8 (over 4-1 last five)
Evans 4-5 (over 7-2)
JFCastillo 1-1 (opener)
Legumina 0-1 (opener)

— Rays (50-47)
Pepiot 8-12 (under 6-3 last nine)
Littell 10-9
Bradley 6-7 
Rasmussen 7-6 (under 11-2)
Baz 12-7 (under 4-0 last four)
Boyle 1-0

— Rangers (48-49)
Eovaldi 9-7 (under 12-4)
Leiter 5-11 
Mahle 7-7 (under 12-2)
deGrom 12-7 (over 5-1 last six) 
Rocker 6-5 (under 6-2 last 8)
Corbin 7-10 (over 5-1 last six)
Armstrong 1-1
Latz 2-0

— Blue Jays (55-41)
Berrios 12-8 
Gausman 11-8
Bassitt 12-7 (over 7-1-1 last nine)
Francis 4-10 (over 7-2 last nine)
Lucas 2-2
Scherzer 3-2 (over 4-1)
Lauer 6-2 (under 6-2)
Urena 1-1
Schultz 2-0 (opener)
Rodriguez 1-0 (opener)
Fisher 1-0 (opener)
Turnbull 0-1 (opener)

Teams’ records by starting pitcher:
(thru All-Star break)

Diamondbacks (47-50)
Gallen 9-11 (over 8-1 last nine)
Kelly 10-10 (1-4 last five home starts)
Burnes 6-5 (under 5-1 last six)
Pfaadt 10-9 (over 9-2 last 11)
Rodriguez 6-10 (over 10-3 last 13)
Nelson 6-4 (under 7-3)
DeSclafani 0-1

— Braves (42-53)
Sale 8-7 (under 8-3 last eleven)
Schwellenbach 12-5 (over 9-4 last 13)
Smith-Shawver 5-4 (under 7-2)
Holmes 7-12 (under 10-4 last 14)
Elder 6-9 (under 9-3 last 12)
Strider 3-8 (under 9-2)
Daniel 0-1
Lopez 0-1
Fuentes 1-3 (over 3-1)
Bummer 1-1 (opener)
Blewett 0-1

— Cubs (57-39)
Imanaga 8-4 (under 9-3)
Steele 3-1 (over 4-0)
Taillon 8-9
Boyd 11-8 (won last four; under 7-2 last nine)
Brown 7-7 (over 11-3)
Rea 12-4 (over 3-1 last four)
Horton 7-4 (under 6-3 last nine)
Flexen 0-1
Pomeranz 2-1 (opener)
Keller 1-0 (opener)

— Reds (50-47)
Greene 6-5 (under 8-2 last ten)
Lodolo 10-9 (under 6-1 last seven)
Abbott 12-4 (over 4-1 last five)
Martinez 7-12 (over 7-2 last nine)
Singer 10-9 (under 12-3 last 15)
Burns 1-3 (under 3-1)
Miley 2-0 (over 2-0)
Petty 0-2
Suter 2-1 (opener)
Spiers 0-2

— Rockies (22-74)
Freeland 3-14 (over 6-2 last 8)
Senzatela 5-13 (under 3-1 last four)
Marquez 6-13
Dollander 4-11 (under 8-1 last nine) 
Palmquist 1-6 (under 5-2)
Gomber 1-5 (under 3-1 last four)
Blalock 0-4
Feltner 1-5 (under 4-0 last four)
Gordon 1-2
Rolison 0-1 (opener)

— Dodgers (58-39)
Yamamoto 11-8 (under 4-1 last five)
Kershaw 7-3 (under 3-0 last three)
May 9-8 
Ohtani 3-2 (opener)
Snell 2-0 (over 2-0)
Glasnow 3-3 (under 3-1 last four)
Sheehan 1-1
Sasaki 6-2 (over 6-2)
Knack 5-2 (over 5-2)
Gonsolin 3-4
Wrobleski 0-2
Miller 1-0
Casparius 1-2 (opener)
Dreyer 4-1 (opener)
Sauer 1-0 (opener)
Trivino 1-1 (opener)

— Marlins (44-51)
Alcantara 7-11 (over 3-0 last three)
Quantrill 10-8 (under 10-2 last 1)
EPerez 5-2 (3-0, 0.50 last three)
Cabrera 8-8 (under 11-5)
Junk 4-1 (under 4-1)
Weathers 2-3
Mazur 0-1
Bellozo 1-4
Meyer 5-7 (over 7-1 last eight)
Gillispie 1-5 (over 5-1)
Gibson 1-0 (opener)
Veneziano 0-1 (opener)

— Brewers (56-40)
Peralta 13-7 (won last six; over 5-0 last five)
Woodruff 2-0
Patrick 5-13 (under 13-5)
Quintana 8-3 (under 9-2)
Priester 6-6 (under 8-4)
Misioroski 4-1
Myers 2-3
Rodriguez 0-2 (over 2-0)
Alexander 2-2 (over 3-1)
Henderson 3-1 (over 3-1)
Hall 3-0
Zastryzny 1-0 (opener)
Civale 3-2
Cortes 1-1

Famous birthdays, July 15th:
Billy Truax, 82
Jesse Ventura, 74
John Stallworth, 73
Lolita Davidovich, 64

Brigitte Nielsen, 62
Carnell Lake, 58
Khalid Reeves, 53
Damian Lillard, 35

Tobias Harris, 33
Masataka Yoshida, 32
Ramon Laureano, 31
Landon Knack, 28

— Mets (55-42)
Holmes 12-7 (over 3-1 last four)
Megill 6-8 (over 9-2 last 11)
Senga 10-4 (under 12-2)
Peterson 10-8 (home team 17-1)
Montas 2-2 (over 3-1)
Canning 12-4 (over 5-2 last seven)
Blackburn 1-3 (under 3-1)
Tidwell 0-2
Brazoban 1-2 (opener)
Devenski 0-1 (opener)
Haberman 1-0 
Waddell 0-1 (opener)

— Phillies (55-41)
Wheeler 13-6 (under 3-1 last four)
Luzardo 11-8 (over 6-2 last eight)
Suarez 8-5 (under 10-3)
Sanchez 14-5 (under 6-0 last six)
Walker 4-5 (under 4-1 last five)
Nola 3-6 (under 6-3)
Abel 3-3
Ross 0-1 (opener)
Banks 1-0 (opener)

— Pirates (39-58)
Skenes 9-11 (under 12-4 last 16)
Keller 6-16 (2-0, 2.11 last four; under 10-3 last 13)
Falter 10-9
Heaney 6-12 (over 3-1 last four) 
Burrows 3-5 (over 3-1 last four)
Mlodzinski 3-6 (under 4-1 last five)
Harrington 0-1
Ashcraft 1-0

— Cardinals (51-46)
Gray 15-4 (under 7-2 last nine)
Fedde 5-14 (2-9 last 11; under 5-2 last seven)
Mikolas 9-9 (over 6-2 last 8)
Liberatore 9-9 (over 7-2 last nine)
Pallante 9-9
Matz 2-0
McGreevy 2-1 (over 3-0)

— Padres (52-44)
Cease 9-10 (0-3, 7.88 last three)
Vasquez 12-7 (under 12-7)
Pivetta 12-7 (2-0, 0.71 last four)
Darvish 1-1
Bergert 5-1 (under 5-1)
Hart 3-3 (over 4-2)
Kolek 4-8 (under 5-2 last seven)
Waldron 0-1
Reynolds 0-1
King 5-5 (1-5 last six) (over 3-0-1 last four)
Morgan 1-0 (opener)

— Giants (52-45)
Ray 15-5 (under 12-4 last 16)
Webb 11-9 (under 6-2 last eight)
Verlander 4-11 (2-9 last eleven)
Roupp 11-8 (under 9-2 last eleven)
Birdsong 4-5 (over 5-1 last six)
Harrison 3-1 (under 3-1)
Hjelle 0-1 (opener)
Hicks 4-5 (over 7-2)

— Nationals (38-58)
Gore 8-11
Irvin 10-10 (over 5-1 last six)
Parker 9-10 (over 5-1 last six)
Williams 6-11 (under 4-1 last five)
Soroka 4-9 (over 5-0 last five)
Okasawaga 0-2
Lord 2-4

If the baseball playoffs started today (they do not):
AL: Blue Jays, Tigers, Astros. Wild Cards: New York, Red Sox, Mariners
NL: Phillies, Cubs, Dodgers. Wild Cards: Brewers, Mets, Padres

Trends for major league teams
(thru All-Star break)

— Arizona (47-50)
Arizona is 4-8 in its last 12 games.
Over is 15-6 in their last 21 home games.
Arizona hasn’t scored in first inning in its last nine games.
Arizona is 8-19 in last 27 games where winning run scored from 7th inning on.

— Braves (42-53)
Braves is 5-12 in its last 17 games.
Atlanta is 9.5 games out of the last Wild Card spot.
Atlanta is 24-22 at home, 18-31 on the road.
Under is 25-11 in their last 36 home games.

— Cubs (57-39)
Chicago is 11-6 in its last 17 games.
Cubs lead NL Central by a game over Milwaukee.
Over is 8-2 in its last ten home games.
Cubs are 44-24 vs righty starters, 13-15 vs lefties.

— Reds (50-47)
Cincinnati is 4-1 in its last five games.
Terry Francona won his 2,000th game as a manager Sunday,
Reds are 37-30 vs righty starters, 13-17 vs lefties.
Under is 7-2 in their last nine games.

— Rockies (22-74)
Colorado is 5-16 in its last 21 games.
Under is 13-7 in Rockies’ last 20 games.
Rockies are 3-23 vs lefty starters, 19-51 vs righties. 
Colorado is 6-3 in last nine games where winning run scored from 7th inning on.

— Dodgers (58-39)
Dodgers lost seven of their last nine games.
LA leads San Diego by 5.5 games in NL West.
Dodgers are 42-26 vs righty starters, 16-13 vs lefties.
Under is 12-5 in their last 17 games.

— Marlins (44-51)                                                                       )
Marlins are 21-13 in their last 34 games.
Miami is 20-27 at home, 24-24 on the road.
Under is 16-3 in Marlins’ last 19 home games.
Over is 8-4 in Marlins’ last 12 road games.

— Brewers (50-40)
Brewers won their last seven games, scoring 40 runs.
Milwaukee is 33-17 at home, 23-23 on the road.
Over is 7-0 in their last seven series openers.
Milwaukee would be the #1 NL Wild Card team right now.

— Mets (55-42)
Mets are 7-4 in their last eleven games.
Mets are 33-14 at home, 22-28 on the road.
Over is 19-9 in their last 28 games.
Mets are #2 Wild Card team right now, trail Philly by half-game in NL East.

— Phillies (55-41)
Phillies are 4-8 in their last 12 road games.
Phillies are 44-25 vs righty starters, 11-16 vs lefties.
Under is 14-5 in their last nineteen games.
Phillies are 11-4 in home series openers.

— Pirates (39-58)
Pirates had a 1-8 road trip the last three series.
Pittsburgh is 26-21 at home, 13-37 on the road.
Under is 10-2 in their last 12 games.
Pirates are 10-5 in last 15 games where winning run scored from 7th inning on.

— St Louis (51-46)
St Louis lis 5-8 in its last 13 games.
Cardinals are 11-5 in home series openers.
St Louis is 29-20 at home, 22-26 on the road.
Over is 8-1 in their last nine games.

— Padres (52-44)
Padres are 8-8 in their last 16 games (starting pitchers have one win).
San Diego is 2-8 in its last ten series openers.
Under is 16-8 in their last 24 games.
San Diego leads Giants by half-game for the last Wild Card slot.

— Giants (52-45)
Giants ware 7-4 in their last 11 games.
Giants are 42-29 vs righty pitchers, 10-16 vs lefties.
Under is 6-2 in their last eight games.
SF is 21-10 in games where winning run scored from 7th inning on.

— Washington (37-53)
Nationals are 1-5 since they fired their general manager/manager.
Washington is 3-12 in its last fifteen home games.
Over is 18-3 in their last 21 games.
Washington is 17-7 last 24 games where winning run scored from 7th inning on.

— Notes for the Cincinnati Bengals:
Bengals were 9-8 LY, 4-7 in games decided by 8 or fewer points.
Bengals were 1-3 in games decided by 3 or fewer points.

Cincinnati is 22-14 ATS in last 36 games as a favorite.
Bengals are 17-9 ATS on the road.

Last two years, over is 21-13 in Bengal games.

Bengals are #3 in NFL in $$$ spent on offense, #1 on WR’s, #26 on OL.
Bengals are #25 in NFL in $$$ spent on defense, #26 on DL

— Famous birthdays, July 14th:
Ken Willard, 82
Steve Stone, 78
Ken Burrough, 73
Robin Ventura, 58
Tim Hudson, 50

Erick Dampier, 50
Darrelle Revis, 40
Carson Kelly, 31
Lucas Giolito, 31
Alaric Jackson, 27

— Orioles (43-52)
Baltimore is 8-5 in its last 13 games.
Orioles are 7-2 in their last nine series openers.
Orioles are 13-13 vs AL East foes, 30-39 vs everyone else.
Under is 26-14 in their last 40 games.

— Red Sox (53-45)
Red Sox won their last 10 games.
Boston is 12-19 in one-run games.
Over is 11-5 in their last sixteen games.
Red Sox are 16-9 in 25 games since trading Devers.

— White Sox (32-65)
Chicago is 2-6 in its last eight games.
White Sox are 21-29 at home, 11-36 on the road.
Under is 15-3 in their last 18 road games.
Chicago is 24-50 vs righty starters, 8-15 vs lefties.

— Cleveland (46-49)
Cleveland was 6-1 last week, after an 0-10 skid.
Guardians are 4.5 games out of the last Wild Card slot.
Guardians are 37-30 vs righty starters, 9-19 vs lefties.
Under is 19-9 in their last 28 games.

— Detroit (59-38)
Detroit lost its last four games, giving up 42 runs.
Tigers are 18-9 vs its AL Central rivals, lead division by 11.5 games.
Detroit is 13-3 in home series openers.
Over is 8-4 in their last dozen games.

— Houston (56-40)
Astros are 1-5 in last six games, lead AL West by 5 games.
Astros are 33-19 at home, 23-21 on the road.
Over is 8-4 in their last 12 road games.
Astros are 18-11 in games where winning run scored from 7th inning on.

— Royals (47-50)
Royals won seven of their last 10 games.
Kansas City is 36-43 vs righty starters, 11-7 vs lefties.
Under is 11-3 in Royals’ last 14 home games.
Royals are 1-8 in last nine home series openers.

— Angels (47-49)
Angels are 5-7 in their last 12 games.
Halos are 13-5 in last 18 series openers.
Angels are 40-39 vs righty starters, 7-10 vs lefties.
Angels are 23-12 in games where winning run scored from 7th inning on.

— Twins (47-49)
Twins are 10-7 in their last 17 games.
Minnesota is 28-20 at home, 19-29 on the road.
Twins are four games out of the last playoff slot.
Under is 11-4 in their last fifteen games.

— New York (53-43)
New York is 11-18 in its last 29 games.
Over is 12-2 in their last 14 games.
Right now, New York is the #1 Wild Card in the AL.
New York is 42-32 vs righty starters, 11-11 vs lefties.

— A’s (41-57)
A’s are 8-6 in their last fourteen games.
Under is 8-4 in their last 12 home games.
A’s are 12-14 in one-run games, 6-3 in extra innings.
Last nine series, A’s are 6-0 in games where winning run scored from 7th inning on..

— Seattle (51-45)
Mariners won their last three games, scoring 35 runs.
Seattle is 9-4 in its last thirteen home games.
Over is 18-4 in their last 22 road games.
Under is 12-5 in Mariners’ last seventeen home games.

— Tampa Bay (50-47)
Tampa Bay lost 11 of its last 14 games.
Rays are 28-25 at home, 22-22 on the road.
Tampa Bay is 1.5 games out of the last Wild Card slot.
Rays are 1-7 in last eight games where winning run scored from 7th inning on.

— Texas (48-49)
Rangers are 19-14 in their last 33 games.
Texas is 8-20 in games where winning run scored from 7th inning on.
Rangers are 26-19 at home, 22-30 on road.
Over is 6-1 in their last seven games.

— Toronto (55-41)
Blue Jays won 11 of their last 14 games.
Blue Jays are 18-5 in their last 23 home games.
Over is 13-7 in their last 20 road games.
Toronto is 13-5 in last 18 games where winning run scored from 7th inning on.

If the baseball playoffs started today (they do not):
AL: Blue Jays, Tigers, Astros. Wild Cards: New York, Red Sox, Mariners
NL: Phillies, Cubs, Dodgers. Wild Cards: Brewers, Mets, Padres

— Brewers’ rookie P Jacob Misiorowski has started only five major league games; he is 4-1, 2.81 in those starts, a solid start to his career, but when he was named to the NL All-Star team this weekend, it ruffled some feathers, especially in Philadelphia.

First of all, in my opinion, five games doesn’t make you an All-Star, it just doesn’t.

Then when you consider that Cristopher Sanchez is 7-2, 2.59 in 18 starts, Ranger Suarez is 7-3, 1.94 in 13 starts, and you understand why people in Philadelphia are steamed.

— Sanchez has a $200,000 bonus in his contract for making the All-Star Game; the Phillies have apparently paid him $50,000 of that bonus, a solid gesture on their part.

— The ball/strike challenge system will be used at the All-Star Game Tuesday, as commissioner Rob Manfred continues to push the system to become activated for next season. It worked well during spring training, everyone seemed to approve of it.

— When the Bronx baseball team DFA’d DJ LeMahieu this week, they ate almost $22M that was left on his contract.

— Time flies: Red Sox SS Trevor Story, Mets OF Brandon Nimmo both played in their 1,000th career game this week. I remember trading for Story in our fantasy league when he was a rookie.

I was in Las Vegas and my team needed a shortstop; I was trying to trade for Story, who went on a heater that first week, hitting six home runs in his first four games. Every time he hit one I upped my offer via text and finally got him, but he was more expensive than I wanted him to be. He turned out to be really good for a few years.

— Detroit Tigers are doing really well, they’re 59-37, lead their division by 11.5 games, but a weird stat is that Detroit is only 6-12 when Jack Flaherty starts on the mound, and Flaherty is their #2 starting pitcher.

— Things have changed a lot over the years: Mets have already used 36 different pitchers this year, in 96 games; when the Mets won the World Series in 1969, they used 15 pitchers the entire regular season. 

— Earlier this week, Orioles P Brandon Young threw an immaculate inning, striking out all three batters in one inning, on nine pitches- that doesn’t happen very often.

Young is only the 5th Orioles’ pitcher ever to throw an immaculate inning.

When the inning ended, Orioles’ catcher Jacob Stallings threw the ball down to first baseman Ryan O’Hearn, who tossed it into the stands (as players often do) without realizing that it was an important baseball.

An 11-year old kid got the ball; couple innings later, an Orioles’ employee approached the kid and asked him if he would trade the baseball for one of Ryan O’Hearn’s bats; the bat was signed by O’Hearn, and the trade was made, and everyone was happy.

— Riddle me this: How is Juan Soto not an All-Star?

— Famous birthdays, July 13th:
Harrison Ford, 83
Danny Abramowicz, 80
Stu Lantz, 79
Cheech Marin, 79

David Thompson, 71
Bill Caudill, 69
Spud Webb, 62
Ken Jeong, 56

Yadier Molina, 43
DJ LeMahieu, 37
Ty France, 31
Cody Bellinger, 30

— Twins 12, Pirates 4
Byron Buxton hit for the cycle on his bobblehead day.
This was the first hit ever in the 16-year history of Target Field.
Pirates have lost eight games in a row.

— Astros 5, Rangers 4 (11)
Zack Short had the walk-off single for Houston.
Texas tied the game after trailing 3-1 in 8th inning.
Jose Altuve homered for the Astros.

— Padres 5, Phillies 4
Jackson Merill homered twice for San Diego.
Merrill hadn’t hit a home run since May 27th.
Five San Diego relievers combined to get the last 13 outs.

— A’s 4, Blue Jays 3
Brent Rooker hit a two-run homer for the A’s.
This was only the 2nd loss for Toronto in their last 13 games.
Mason Miller recorded his 18th save for the A’s.

— Brewers 6, Nationals 5
Milwaukee scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to walk it off.
Brandon Woodruff struck out 10 in 4.1 IP (81 PT), giving up two runs.
Washington is 1-4 since they fired their GM/manager.

— Red Sox 1, Rays 0
Garrett Crochet allowed only 3 hits in his 100-pitch complete game.
Red Sox have won nine games in a row.
Carlos Narvaez knocked in the game’s only run, with a 4th inning single.

— Braves 7, Cardinals 6
St Louis led 5-3 after seven innings.
Sean Murphy hit his 7th home run in his last 11 games.
Cardinals lost Erick Fedde’s last four starts, giving up 33 runs.

If the baseball playoffs started today (they do not):
AL: Blue Jays, Tigers, Astros. Wild Cards: New York, Red Sox, Mariners
NL: Mets, Cubs, Dodgers. Wild Cards: Brewers, Phillies, Padres

— NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signed a new contract that will pay him $79M during the 2030-31 season; when a player makes $82M a year, which can’t be too far away, that means he will be earning $1M per game. A MILLION $$$$’s A GAME!!!!!

Thunder has signed its nucleus of Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren to contracts totaling $822M, which is a lot of cabbage.

By way of comparison, the Seattle SuperSonics, who were the Thunder before they moved to Oklahoma, the Sonics’ entire franchise sold for $350M in 2006.

— In case you’re wondering, the first athlete to earn $1M a year was Nolan Ryan, in 1979. 

— Phoenix Suns’ star Devin Booker signed a two-year, $145M extension thru the 2029-30 season.

If you have a young son who is athletic and might be kind of tall, get him a basketball, a hoop and send him outside to practice. A lot.

— NBA Summer League is going on for the next week in Las Vegas; guys competing very hard to become NBA players. You need to be great at one or two things to have a shot at making a roster. Shooting is marketable.

— Veteran pitcher Justin Verlander doesn’t have a win in 15 starts this year; until this year, he had never had fewer than three wins in any 15-game span in his entire career.

Three of Verlander’s starts this year have gone into extra innings.
In his other 12 starts, Giants scored a total of only 25 runs.

— Best records this year in one-run games:
Astros 18-8
Tigers 14-7
Angels 18-11
Padres 20-13
Cubs 14-8
Mariners 19-13

— Worst records this year in one-run games:
White Sox 8-21
Braves 12-23
Red Sox 11-19
Diamondbacks 11-19

— Famous birthdays, July 12th
Cheryl Ladd, 74
Mario Soto, 69
Howie Kendrick, 42
Patrick Beverley, 37

LeSean McCoy, 37
Kellen Moore, 36
Bailey Ober, 30
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 27

— Mets 8, Royals 3
Kansas City led 3-1 after the 7th inning.
Mark Vientos’ bases loaded double was a game-winner.
Lindor/Soto homered for the Mets in the ninth inning.

— Twins 2, Pirates 1
Trevor Larnach hit a two-run home run for Minnesota.
Pirates scored 2 or fewer runs in seven of Skenes’ last eight starts.
Pittsburgh has lost seven games in a row, scoring 10 runs.

— Red Sox 5, Rays 4
Ceddanne Rafaela hit a walk-off, two-run homer for Boston.
Red Sox have now won eight games in a row.
As of right now, AL East would have four teams in the playoffs.

— Rangers 7, Astros 3
Wyatt Langford had four hits, including a home run.
Astros have lost four games in a row.
Texas bullpen got 11 outs, didn’t give up any runs.

— Angels 6, Diamondbacks 5
Travis d’arnaud had a pinch-hit, walk-off single to win the game.
Game was 4-4 in the second inning.
Randal Grichuk homered twice for Arizona.

— Mariners 12, Tigers 3
Cal Raleigh homered twice; he has 38 taters this season.
Tarik Skubal lost for the first time in his last 17 starts.
Mariners scored seven runs in 9th inning to break open a close game. 

— Giants 8, Dodgers 7
Giants led 8-2 after five innings, held on for dear life.
Adames/Lee both drove in three runs for San Francisco.
Ohtani/Conforto homered for the Dodgers.

If the baseball playoffs started today (they do not):
AL: Blue Jays, Tigers, Astros. Wild Cards: New York, Rays, Red Sox
NL: Phillies, Cubs, Dodgers. Wild Cards: Brewers, Mets, SD/SF