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Monday marked the two-week countdown to the Aug. 3 trade deadline. With the number of teams still in contention, several front offices are going to have to make some tough decisions on whether to go all-in or fold. Careers, for front-office leaders as well as players and managers, get decided by such deliberations. A potential free agent might get stuck on his original team, go to a legit contender or traded to a team that falls out of playoff position. Managers could lose their jobs based on the front office getting the wrong player or not giving him enough weapons to make that push. Fewer front-office executives pay the price for those decisions. What will the price be this year?
Today’s Headlines
Durbin Does It: Late Blast Gives Red Sox 14 Straight
There is always a little magic in any winning streak. Caleb Durbin, who was part of two double-digit win streaks with the Milwaukee Brewers last year, certainly knows that. So maybe it wasn’t surprising that Durbin came up with the magical moment to keep the Boston Red Sox’s current streak going. Durbin’s solo homer with two outs in the bottom of the eighth snapped a tie and sent the Red Sox to a 6-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, their 14th win in a row. The Red Sox will try to tie the 1946 team for the longest streak in franchise history tonight. The Orioles had a seven-game winning streak snapped. The homer was Durbin’s 10th of the season and gave the Red Sox a 19-2 record since late June.
Brewers Punch Way To MLB’s Best Record
It was a game billed as the new Milwaukee Brewers ace vs. the old Milwaukee Brewers ace as right-handers Jacob Misiorowski faced Freddy Peralta. But it didn’t turn out to be a battle of pitchers with the Crew treating their former teammate like he was just another guy. Rookie Cooper Pratt hit his first MLB homer, one of three long balls by the Brewers, and Misiorowski struck out six in short start in an 8-3 win over the New York Mets. The victory, combined with the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ 10-7 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, moved the Brewers (63-37) a half-game ahead of the Dodgers (63-38) for the best record in MLB. Misiorowski, who skipped his start the day before the All-Star break due to fatigue, wasn’t his usual self, although his triple-digit heat was still there. He allowed one unearned run on four hits and a walk over four innings and 65 pitches. Pratt took Peralta deep the the Brewers’ bullpen in left field for a solo shot in the second to make it 3-0, while Andrew Vaughn added a two-run homer in the third for a 5-1 lead and Joey Ortiz, the first batter faced by right-hander Xzavion Curry after Peralta exited, provided the death blow with a three-run blast.
Turner’s 2 HRs Push Phillies Past Dodgers
Two of the best starts staffs squared off in the opener of a three-game series between the Dodgers and Phillies. So of course the baseball gods called for a lot of runs. Trea Turner homered twice and doubled to drive in five runs and left-handed starter Cristopher Sánchez struck out seven in 5⅓ innings as the Phillies outslugged the Dodgers 10-7. Brandon Marsh, Kyle Schwarber and Derek Hill also went deep for the Phillies. Sanchez struck out Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani twice in his three at-bats, improving his track record vs. the left-handed slugger to four hits in 25 plate appearances with 12 strikeouts.
Alvarez’s Power Show Backs Blanco’s Return
Just when the Houston Astros look like they might be starting to slip out of the playoff picture, they reel you right back in. Yordan Alvarez smashed two more homers to tie for the MLB lead, Jeremy Peña belted a grand slam and right-handed starter Ronel Blanco struck out eight in his return from Tommy John surgery as the Astros turned back the Miami Marlins 8-5. Alvarez’s fifth multihomer game this year and 27th of his career gave him 33 long balls this season, tying the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber for the most in MLB. Pena hit his grand slam as part of a six-run second inning that was followed by Alvarez’s first blast of the game. Blanco was back on the mound for the first time since May 17, 2025, and went 4⅔ innings, giving up a pair of two-run homers, the only hits he allowed.
By The Numbers
8 Pittsburgh Pirates rookie slugger Esmerlyn Valdez hit his 14th homer of the season in an 8-5 loss to the New York Yankees. That extended his streak of having an extra-base hit and an RBI to eight, tied for the streak by a player in his first 32 career games with Cleveland’s Ed Morgan in 1928).
7 The Cleveland Guardians smashed seven home runs in a 13-4 pounding of the Minnesota Twins. Six of those homers came off Twins ace right-hander Joe Ryan, tying the MLB record. Ryan also has allowed five homers in a game twice.
7 San Diego Padres superstar third baseman Manny Machado hit his 20th homer of the year in a 3-2 loss to Atlanta. Machado has hit 20 or more homers in all seven of his season with the Padres.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Brewers Honor Aaron’s 755th
A mural was unveiled in Milwaukee on the 50th anniversary of former home run king Henry Aaron’s 755th and final blast of his illustrious career. Aaron’s widow, Billye, and Bud Selig, the former Brewers owner and ex-MLB commissioner, were among those in attendance. Aaron began and ended his MLB career in Milwaukee.
Benches Clear … Over The Pitch Clock???
It is no secret Yankees shortstop José Caballero plays the waiting game unlike anyone else when it comes to the pitch clock. Pirates left-handed reliever Dennis Santana didn’t appreciate their confrontation, which led to another type of confrontation.
Maybe Francona Doesn’t Like Rye Bread
I can’t improve this setup that much, so here you go. (The Mariners won 8-0.)
Terry Francona brought in reliever Caleb Ferguson in the middle of a jam, then had him intentionally walk Dominic Canzone to load the bases.And then here's what happened on Ferguson's first pitch after that…
— Casey Drottar (@caseydrottar.bsky.social) 2026-07-21T03:46:51.964Z
Staredown
It was only a brief moment, but Dodgers superstar Freddie Freeman swung at a pitch, with the ball ending up at his feet. He glared at Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto as he stood up and gathered the ball before breaking into a smile.
Dreamy Or No?
MLB officially unveiled the uniforms to be worn by the Twins and Phillies in the Field of Dreams game, which will take place Aug. 13. Thoughts?
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ All-Star Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.. left Monday’s game due to low-back tightness.
⚾ All-Star Twins center fielder Byron Buxton (strained right hip) was activated from the 10-day injured list, with infielder Tristan Gray optioned to Triple-A.
⚾ All-Star Miami Marlins right-handed starter Max Meyer was placed on the 15-day IL with a strained neck. Right-hander Zach Brzykcy was called up from Triple-A.
⚾ Chicago Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon (strained left hamstring) was activated from the 15-day IL and started Monday’s game against the Detroit Tigers. Right-handed reliever Phil Maton (right knee tendinitis) went on the 15-day IL.
⚾ Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (left wrist inflammation) was placed on the 10-day IL, with catcher Chadwick Tromp called up from Triple-A.
⚾ The Houston Astros are getting healthier as right-hander Ronel Blanco and left-handed reliever Bennett Sousa (left elbow inflammation) were activated from the 60-day IL. Blanco is making his first start following Tommy John surgery last year.
⚾ Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr. Jr. was activated from the 60-day IL. He has been out since the end of April due to a lumbar spine disc herniation.
⚾ Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel was lifted from Monday’s game due to a left ankle injury from a play at the plate. It appeared to be a sprained ankle.
⚾ Padres designated hitter Miguel Andujar went on the 10-day IL with a fractured right wrist sustained when he was hit by a pitch Sunday.
⚾ The Dodgers acquired hard-throwing right-handed reliever Seth Halvorsen from the Colorado Rockies for right-hander Nick Frasso and prospect outfielder Landyn Vidourek.
Articles You Should Read
The Aces Project: Stars rising, veterans falling, Ohtani’s case — Andy McCullough, The Athletic
Why Dodgers aren’t panicking over $60 million bet on Tucker — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times
Red Sox are baseball’s hottest team, so what is Breslow’s deadline plan? — Alex Speier, Boston Globe
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