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Today’s Headlines
A Sad Bronx Tale
In a weekend that could mark a turning point for the Yankees, the team announced that MVP candidate Aaron Judge will be on the 10-day IL due to a flexor strain in his right elbow. The injury appears to have flared earlier this week against the Blue Jays, and his status going forward may be the key for the team’s fate in 2025. To add insult to this injury, the Bombers lost for the seventh time in their past ten games, taking a beating from the Phillies in a 9-4 affair that was more lopsided than the final score would indicate. Starter Marcus Stroman allowed five hits, four walks, and four runs in only 3.2 innings, as Philadelphia would open a 9-1 lead before the Yankees added a few runs in garbage time. New York is now 6.5 games back in the AL East, but they still hold the top wild card spot in the league, with Fangraphs giving them playoff odds in excess of 80%. However, should Judge’s injury be worse than expected, things could unravel quickly in the Bronx.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone announces Aaron Judge has a flexor strain in his right elbow and will be placed on the IL. pic.twitter.com/UupLQsDSjy
— MLB (@MLB) July 26, 2025
It was All Yellow
Donning their controversial yellow City Connect jerseys, the Boston Red Sox faced the Dodgers with ace Garrett Crochet on the mound, opposite veteran Clayton Kershaw. Things did not start well for Boston, as Shohei Ohtani led off the game with a homer (his sixth in the past seven games), while Teoscar Hernández would join the party with a solo shot two batters later. The early deficit did not faze Crochet, though, as he would navigate the rest of the game allowing only six singles and two walks, completing six innings with ten strikeouts to his name. His effort would be rewarded by an offense that came alive with three runs in the second and an insurance score in the fifth, for a 4-2 final score that became just the second loss of the season for Kershaw. The game ended on a called third strike on Mookie Betts, as Aroldis Chapman earned his 18th save of the season. The Sox remain very much alive in the wild card race.
The @RedSox collect 10 hits in a big win over the Dodgers. pic.twitter.com/Kyu8FXOPkZ
— MLB (@MLB) July 27, 2025
Blue Jay Way
In what has become almost a daily occurrence for the past six weeks, the Toronto Blue Jays found a way to win, earning their fourth straight W to remain atop the MLB standings. Yesterday’s contest paired two aces, as Kevin Gausman and Tarik Skubal traded zeroes all afternoon before the game was decided by the bullpens. Gausman (one hit, one walk, ten strikeouts) was a tad better than Skubal (five hits, three walks, seven strikeouts), even as both managed to for six scoreless innings. With all tied at zero through seven, Toronto finally came through in the eighth, with an RBI single from Bo Bichette that led to a two-run frame. The top of the ninth is where the Jays broke it open, with homers from Nathan Lukes, George Springer, and Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. secured a four-run inning for the final 6-1 victory. With a commanding divisional lead and a pitching staff firing on all cylinders, it seems that the Blue Jays are becoming inevitable and should add talent to increase their status as a legit contender.
The @BlueJays have won 19 of their last 23 games and own the best record in baseball! pic.twitter.com/7ZsiY8Z8Ms
— MLB (@MLB) July 27, 2025
This is 40
The Mariners had a commanding 7-2 win over the Angels, staying close in the AL wild card chase. As has been the case for most of the season, the power came from Seattle’s usual suspects, as Julio Rodriguez hit his 18th homer of the year, while Randy Arozarena added #20 in his tally. But nothing compares to the latest Big Dumper milestone, as Cal Raleigh became the first hitter in MLB to reach 40 long balls in 2025, with his 416-foot blast breaking up the tie. With this homer, Raleigh became just the seventh primary catcher to reach 40 in a season, and he still has 47 games to go. With the unfortunate news of Aaron Judge’s IL stint, it is safe to say that Raleigh is probably the AL MVP favorite now, especially if the Mariners can surpass the Yankees in the standings.
CRUSHED 💥
Cal Raleigh evaporated this baseball 416 feet for his 40th home run of the season! pic.twitter.com/HDO2goW4QX
— MLB (@MLB) July 27, 2025
Best Moments From Yesterday
Cycles are Overrated
Michael Harris II has been one of the most disappointing players in the majors in 2025, downgraded to the eighth spot in the lineup and starting the day with a sub-.600 OPS. For a day, though, he reminded everyone of his scintillating potential and talent. His first at-bat yielded a triple, leading to Atlanta’s second run of the game. It was followed by a double and a homer, as Atlanta and Texas went back and forth. With a 4-4 tie leading off the ninth, Harris II only needed a single to record a cycle, and it seems he would get just that after hitting a low line drive to left. However, a Wyatt Langford misplay allowed Harris II to keep on running, forgoing the potential cycle to have a second triple and a final line of 4-4 with three runs, two RBI, and 12 total bases. Despite’s Harris’ best efforts, Atlanta would blow a ninth-inning lead and then lose via walk-off in the tenth, with a 6-5 final score.
Cycle? NOPE 😳
Michael Harris II motors all the way to third after only needing a single for the cycle! pic.twitter.com/Log9eV9TLl
— MLB (@MLB) July 27, 2025
Cedric the Entertainer
As an impending free agent, Cedric Mullins is a prime trade candidate for anyone looking for an outfield upgrade. Things were not supposed to be like this, as the Orioles have underachieved, and so Mullins is likely to contend for the playoffs for someone else instead of the only team he has known in the majors. If this weekend turns out to be his last calling Camden Yards home, he at least managed to give something memorable to the fans that have cheered him on for the last eight years. Mullins had a spectacular catch in center as part of his trademark stellar defense. He was also part of Baltimore’s offensive explosion, as he hit his 100th career homer as part of a 3-RBI day in the team’s 18-0 romp over the hapless Rockies. This was the Orioles’ largest shutout win in franchise history, as all 12 Baltimore hitters recorded at least one hit and one run, with ten of them adding at least one RBI. If and when Mullins dons another uniform, it will be very, very weird.
Are you not Entertained?!? pic.twitter.com/kXcQXsOM9u
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 26, 2025
The Hotter Corner
After showing signs of life with a couple of consecutive nine-run displays in Atlanta, the Giants are back to their offensive malaise, recording a second straight one-run output to lose again to the Mets, this time by a frustrating 2-1 score. The offensive foibles were compounded by the growing pains of the Rafael Devers experiment at first base, with the slugger finding that it is, in fact, incredibly hard to defend there. The highlighted play below may have been a tad comical, with an unconventional assist to himself on what looked like a routine grounder. Devers, however, also committed a key error and looked uncomfortable in several plays, while going a pedestrian 1-for-4 at the plate. With the Giants fading fast in the wild card race, getting Devers to improve on defense may become one of the remaining targets of the rest of the season.
Rafael Devers makes it look easy at first base 😅 pic.twitter.com/KgmBNqvtKP
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) July 27, 2025
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ The Angels placed two veterans on the IL, as Jorge Soler and Chris Taylor will be sidelined yet again. In the case of Soler, lower back inflammation will keep him out of action for the second time this season, as he has been limited to only 82 games. For Taylor, the left hand fracture that has ailed him for most of 2025 has flared, and he is now expected to miss around six weeks. With both players out, the Halos are more likely to become sellers at the deadline.
⚾ Cincinnati announced that righty Carson Spiers will undergo Tommy John surgery. While he had been out with a shoulder impingement and then a biceps injury, a more recent MRI revealed damage to his UCL. This means that Spiers would likely return to action after the 2026 season.
⚾ With the trade deadline looming, a couple of AL teams made depth moves with veterans, as the Yankees added Amed Rosario and the Royals acquired Randal Grichuk. Rosario has now been part of a midseason trade for three straight seasons, and he should provide above-average production against lefties as part of a platoon. Meanwhile, Grichuk is expected to be assigned to AAA before joining Kansas City, and he should be a modest outfield upgrade.
Articles You Should Read
Nick Allen and the Tyranny of the Batting Order — Davy Andrews, Fangraphs
Ichiro and the Hall of Fame — Daniel Kramer, MLB.com
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