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It’s Hall of Fame Induction Day! But first, it’s News & Moments time. Sunday’s plaque starts in Boston, but not for the reason one thinks, moves to Detroit to talk about Kansas City, bounces over to Baltimore, then Pittsburgh, then its state mate, Philadelphia, and finally we’re down to South Beach.
Today’s Headlines
Cease & Desist
The Boston Red Sox wanted to keep rolling. The Toronto Blue Jays, though, had their own plan. The Birds defeated the Sox 6-0, largely behind one swing and one arm. Let’s start with the latter. Dylan Cease foisted Boston’s hopes all afternoon. He allowed just one hit while striking out 12 in a complete-game shutout. He played them like a pianist might his keys. Cease’s favorite note to play was his slider, using it to strike out six of the 11 batters he struck out. Still, his whole repertoire sounded strong with 19 swinging strikes. He’s down to a 1.83 ERA over his last seven games.
Speaking of sterling starters, Toronto got to Boston’s. The club recorded 10 hits and five runs against Sonny Gray. That’s the most hits Gray’s allowed in a game this season, and the most runs he’s surrendered in a start since April 14. George Springer is largely to blame for Gray’s faulty strings. With two on in the top of the third, Springer struck a low and away curve. The ball carried and carried before crashing down for a three-run shot. Ernie Clement collected an RBI double two batters later for Toronto’s fifth run. While it’s still too early for Cy Young talk, Gray’s ERA did rise from 2.48 to 2.78.
Salvador Stands Alone
Salvador Perez is many things: A nine-time All-Star, a five-time Gold Glover and Silver Slugger, a World Series MVP, and a World Series Champion. Now, he’s the Kansas City Royals home run king. Perez cracked the 318th homer of his career yesterday, moving him ahead of George Brett for the most homers in the franchise’s 58-year history. The crown now says Perez.
More than a history-making hit, the homer also tied the game. Kansas City trailed Detroit 2-1 at the time. Perez’s blast brought things even and set up teammate Nick Loftin for his game-winning solo shot in the top of the ninth. Underachieving, going backward, the Royals don’t have much to cheer about this season. Perez at least gave them yesterday’s 3-2 win and himself immortality.
Leave It To Beavers
The Baltimore Orioles needed one hit. Outfielder Dylan Beavers delivered it to walk off Atlanta 3-2. The situation was thus: Down to their last out with a runner on third, Beavers had to face the hard-throwing Didier Fuentes. The 24-year-old drilled the first pitch he saw, a fastball, to right and past the outstretched arm of Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies. Ballgame.
Two unheralded heroes for Baltimore? Jackson Holliday and Brandon Young. Holliday was the runner on third for Beavers, hitting a double after wearing down Fuentes in a seven-pitch at-bat. None of this happens without him. Nor does it happen without Young. The starter coughed up just four hits over six-and-a-third innings against Atlanta’s vaunted offense. The 27-year-old is now down to a 3.13 ERA after pitching to a 6.24 ERA last season.
Cubs Cruise Despite Skenes
The Pittsburgh Pirates put out a roadblock in Paul Skenes. The Chicago Cubs ran right through him in their 11-0 win. Six hits, five earned runs, two walks; Chicago tagged Skenes, even if they struck out 11 times in five and a third innings. It all started in the fifth. Pete Crow-Armstrong, an impossible force himself, collected an RBI double while Seiya Suzuki sliced a two-run single. Skenes survived this frame, but not the next. A single and a walk put two on and pulled Skenes off the road. Pittsburgh went to its pit crew and plucked out Isaac Mattson. Chicago blew by Mattson, hitting a double, single, double, single, walk to make it 8-0. Mattson didn’t see the inning’s end. Chicago, on the other hand, saw the checkered flag in sight.
Yankees Ease Past Philly
A team rarely reaches the high-water mark of success just three batters in. The Philadelphia Phillies did just that, however, in their 3-1 loss to the New York Yankees. That one run came, well, three batters in. A Bryce Harper sacrifice fly put Philly ahead early and only then. Afterward, it was all New York. An Austin Wells home run tied the game, a Cody Bellinger single put New York ahead, and a Jasson Domínguez home run was the clincher. Paul Blackburn pitched two scoreless innings to drop his ERA down to 1.93 (!), while closer David Bednar shut the door. But, hey, Philly’ll always have those first 10 minutes.
Miami Makes It To 11
The Miami Marlins were one of many feel-good stories about this season. Sadly, that story is ending. After losing 7-2 to the San Diego Padres, Miami has officially lost 11 straight games, tying a franchise record, and is under. 500 for the first time since June 17. Miami’s offense is the chief culprit. Over this streak, they’re averaging just 2.27 runs per game. They’ve scored two runs or fewer eight times. This unsustainable stretch could morph Miami from fringe buyers to sellers this time next week. Stay tuned.
P.S. Nice job, Padres.
By The Numbers
⚾ 25. With a homer yesterday, CJ Abrams officially has 25 this season, and for the first time in his career. The 25-year-old is now up to a .921 OPS, as well.
⚾ 17. Atlanta’s Didier Fuentes threw 17 straight fastballs in relief last night. That, folks, is how you get to a 70% usage rate on your fastball.
⚾ 16. Cease’s complete game one-hitter is Toronto’s first since Shawn Marcum in 2010. That’s 16 years ago.
⚾ 7. Hunter Brown allowed just two hits against the Chicago White Sox while striking out seven over seven innings.
⚾ 6.52. After allowing five runs on the road yesterday, Seattle’s Bryan Woo’s road ERA is now up to 6.52. It is the worst in the Majors. Woo’s home ERA is 2.20, fourth-best in baseball.
⚾ 5. One-third of yesterday’s slate saw a shutout pitched.
⚾ .934. Pete Crow-Armstrong’s .934 OPS is now sixth-best in baseball.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Sleight of Hand
The Guardians showed off some Odysseus-lite wit and cunning for their cause.
The Guardians successfully pulled off a fake out …
Watch Chandler Simpson's reaction 🤣 pic.twitter.com/yortqKzqBL
— MLB (@MLB) July 25, 2026
Rafaela’s A Nice Fella
Sonny Gray’s bad day might’ve been even worse without Ceddanne Rafaela.
Ceddanne Rafaela showing off the Gold Glove defense 👏
He turns an incredible diving catch into a double play! pic.twitter.com/kw8Eo2vFmo
— MLB (@MLB) July 25, 2026
Kerry’s Still Got It
The Cubs could do a lot worse to supplement their pitching injuries. Just saying.
Kerry Wood took the mound at Wrigley for the first time in 14 years for #BananaBall and threw an incredible behind-the-back pitch for a strike @WGNNews @TheSavBananas #Cubs pic.twitter.com/I0iGu3tznK
— Josh Frydman (@Josh_Frydman) July 25, 2026
Succession
Perez gets congrats from the man he surpassed.
From one 🐐 to another. https://t.co/yjl1I6md9B pic.twitter.com/FeMYddZZWc
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) July 25, 2026
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ The season from Hell keeps getting worse. The Mets placed Juan Soto on the 10-day IL due to a left calf strain. Soto’s battled calf problems all season, dating back to a right calf strain in April and more recent woes since July 16. The Mets expect this strain to cost Soto a fair bit of time. Eric Wagaman rejoins the club in the interim. What’s the saying? When you’re going through Hell, the only solution is to keep going?
⚾ Bad news in the Bronx. Cody Bellinger exited Saturday’s game early after legging out a double. The Yankees are officially calling it a hamstring injury. Manager Aaron Boone called it “something,” which could mean everything to a Yankees offense already without Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
⚾ Trade season is upon us. The Boston Red Sox started it off by sending starter Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals for infielder Curtis Mead. For every fan in the greater Boston region wondering who Mead is, he’s a 25-year-old with an .852 OPS and 17 homers whom Washington acquired off the scrap heap. Boston gets a much-needed bat, Washington gets a much-needed arm.
⚾ Minnesota’s Joe Ryan was scratched from his Saturday start due to what the Twins are calling arm fatigue. Another started in his place. Minnesota is hopeful Ryan will take the bump soon. In whose colors, who’s to say?
⚾ It’s an easy weekend for Philadelphia’s personnel. Reliever Brian Keller is up while fellow reliever Tanner Banks was shifted to the 60-day IL.
⚾ Dallas Keuchel, yes, that Dallas Keuchel, signed a minor league deal with the Athletics yesterday. When Keuchel pitches for Triple-A Las Vegas, it will make his first professional work since last summer. And should Keuchel make it back to the Bigs, he’ll face MLB hitters for the first time since 2024. It’s a long shot for the former Cy Young. But it’s one worth watching.
⚾ The calf strain strikes again, this time in Texas. The Rangers placed third baseman Josh Jung on the IL with a right calf strain. Jung hasn’t played since Tuesday due to the injury. Texas recalled Josh Smith to fill Jung’s absence. Texas is hopeful it won’t be long and is eyeing a return next weekend.
⚾ Houston, it keeps happening. The Astros placed another starter, Spencer Arrighetti, onto the IL. Arrighetti lands there due to a right foot nerve irritation. Bryan King goes back to Houston and will help out in the meantime.
⚾ The trades keep coming… Kind of. The Phillies kickstarted the frenzy with a minor move, acquiring outfielder Kameron Misner from the Royals for cash considerations. Misner provides depth and not much else. The 28-year-old hit .220/.256/.244 in 18 games with KC. Acquiring Misner comes at the cost of outfielder Steward Berroa, who was DFA’d.
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