[ayaghmour2]

July 28th, 2028: The Houston Astros will acquire SS Gabriel Alejandro Arias and RHP Gilberto Mendoza from the Rays for RHP Mike Shawaryn. I really like this deal for the Astros.

We opened the Padres series with Jake Florence (8-1, 2.90 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) hosting Dominic Pipkin (1-3, 5.04 ERA, 1.52 WHIP) and the Padres. Pipkin is making just his 2nd start of the year. I don't know how, but the crappy Padres dominated us 7-1...

Florence allowed 6 runs off 8 hits in 2.1 innings with 4 strikeouts. Blayne Enlow tossed 2.2 innings with 6 hits, a run, and 4 strikeouts. Jamie Priest tossed 2.1 perfect innings with 2 strikeouts. He's tossed 13.1 innings and allowed just 1 run since coming over from Cleveland. Ignacio Hinojos got the final 1.2 innings, striking out 3.

Juan Ramirez was 2-for-3 with a double and hit by pitch. Jackson Miller was 1-for-4 with a double and RBI. Jarred Kelenic was 1-for-4 with a double and run scored. Chris Reid was 1-for-3 with a walk.

July 29th, 2028: The Nationals will be without RHP Kevin Steck for the year with a torn rotator cuff. He had a 6.14 ERA in 7.1 innings with 7 strikeouts and 4 walks.

The Reds sent 2B Orlando Arcia and RHP Phil Osbrone to the Yankees for RHP Slade Cecconi. It's an even deal.

The Blue Jays sent 3B Nolan Gorman and LHP R.J. Sedwick to the Dodgers for RHP Juan Rivera and 3B Tim Styer. It's another even swap.

We looked to even the series with Luis Ardon (7-3, 3.59 ERA, 1.24 WHIP) facing Jake Webb (3-5, 5.40 ERA, 1.49 WHIP). Today was a much better game, and we edged them out 4-2.

Ardon went 7 innings with 8 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Riley Ferrell and Trevor Gott got holds and Chad Scoles got the save.

Daylen Lile was 2-for-4 with a double, 2 runs, and an RBI. Noah Smith was 2-for-3 with a walk and RBI. Jon Reid was 2-for-4. Juan Ramirez was 1-for-3 with a sac-fly and 2 RBI's. Jarred Kelenic was 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored.

Arizona 3B Buddy Kennedy hit for the cycle in a 11-6 win over Houston.

July 30th, 2028: Angels righty Phil Maton is out for the year with a torn rotator cuff. In 32 relief appearences, he logged a 4.04 ERA and struck out 48 in 35.2 innings.

The Braves sent SS Rece Hinds to the Cardinals for RHP Juan Ochoa, RHP Tristan Thatcher, RHP Danny Futch, and 1B Steve Frimpong. This is a huge trade, considering the 27-year-old Hinds is basically if Isaac Nunez hit like Chris Reid. It's a steal for the Cardinals, but Hinds is an injured rental. The only good prospect headed back is Ochoa, and he's basically Ignacio Hinojos with less stamina.

The Pirates sent RHP Eric Horne to the White Sox for LHP Jackson Gillis and RHP Kieron Emberey. The Pirates got a steal, and have done really well with trades recently, and it shows in their quality record.

We looked to take the finale at home with Jorge Flores (6-11, 4.22 ERA, 1.19 WHIP) taking on Charles King (7-8, 4.62 ERA, 1.42 WHIP). Flores pitched the best game he has as a Marlin, maybe because he had a 5-0 lead after 1, and we shut them out 7-0.

Flores went the distance, tossing a 2-hit shutout, walking 1 and striking out 8.

Mac Horvath went 2-for-2 with 2 runs and 2 walks. Chris Reid was 2-for-4 with a double, run scored, and RBI. Isaac Nunez was 1-for-3 with a two run homer. Daylen Lile was 1-for-2 with 2 walks, 2 steals, a run scored, and RBI. Juan Ramirez was 1-for-3 with a two run homer and a walk. Noah Smith was 1-for-3 with a double, walk, and run scored.

We'll finish our homestand with three hosting the Mets. We'll see Livio Montella (7-7, 4.11 ERA), Bobby Stiles (5-5, 4.84 ERA), and Arturo Romo (6-5, 5.24 ERA).

July 31st, 2028: Happy Deadline Day!

A little news before the trades:

The Angels lost RHP Jose Soriano for the year with shoulder inflammation. He was 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA in 25 innings.

Giants righty Roberto Hernandez is out for the year with a ruptured ulnar collateral ligament. He'll be back around this time next year.

We remain 2nd in the Power Rankings, behind just the Cincinnati Reds.

The Nationals acquired CL Edwin Diaz, LF Branden Cook, and cash from the Cubs for RF Sammy Siani, the brother of Mike Siani. Absolute steal for the Nats, since they were willing to take the monster contract.

The Tigers added RHP Charles King from the Padres for SS C.J. Abrams. It's a decent deal for both teams.

I didn't make any deals, since I really don't need any upgrades.

We opened the series with the Mets as Devon Peterson (9-7, 3.81 ERA, 1.33 WHIP) looked to get back on track against Livio Montella (7-7, 4.11 ERA, 1.20 WHIP). It wasn't a perfect start, but we topped the Mets 8-3 in the opener.

Peterson went 6 innings with 4 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Jamie Preist allowed 2 runs in an inning with 3 hits and a strikeout. Riley Ferrell and Luis Alcantra got holds while Chad Scoles struck out 2 in the 9th for the save.

Chris Reid was 3-for-5 with a doubel and 2 RBI's. Juan Simental was 2-for-4 with 2 runs, a double, and solo homer. Isaac Nunez was 2-for-3 with 2 runs, 2 RBI's, a hit by pitch, and homer. Nesty Cirese was 2-for-5 with 2 runs, a double, and RBI. Jarred Kelenic was 1-for-3 with 2 walks and an RBI.

Sonny Warner struck out 15 hitters in a 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks, and allowed just 3 hits and a run in 7 innings.

August 1st, 2028: In AAA, SP Leonel Olvera was named Pitcher of the Month, going 4-0 with a 1.87 ERA in 5 starts. He struck out 31 hitters in 33.2 innings.

AA SP Dan Lesser was also named Pitcher of the Month. He was 4-1 with a 1.65 ERA in 6 starts, and he struck out 48 in 43.2 innings.

A Greensboro RF Rodlofo Ramirez was named Batter of the Month. He hit .288 with 9 homers and 23 RBI's.

The Twins extended Casey Mize 2 years for a total of $54,800,000. It's an interesting move, considering they've had the former 20th Overall Pick on the trade block for over a year.

We looked to keep rolling with Steve Paustian (10-4, 3.41 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) taking on Bobby Stiles (5-5, 4.84 ERA, 1.28 WHIP). Back-to-back shutouts, and we won 2-0.

Paustian went just 5 innings with 2 hits, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Ignacio Hinjos, Trevor Gott, Riley Ferrell, and Jamie Priest got holds before Chad Scoles got the save. Those five combined for 4 innings, 2 hits, and 5 strikeouts.

Grant Koch was 1-for-2 with a solo homer and hit by pitch. Juan Ramirez was 1-for-3 with a walk and RBI. Daylen Lile was 1-for-4 with a double and run scored.

August 2nd, 2028: We looked to finish the sweep with Jake Florence (8-2, 3.29 ERA, 1.30 WHIP) taking on Arturo Romo (6-5, 5.24 ERA, 1.45 WHIP). Can we make it three shut outs? Florence has been our (arguably) best pitcher this season, but he decided to give up 3 in the 1st, and then we eventually were out-slugged 10-6.

Florence lasted just 3 innings, allowing 7 hits, 5 runs, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Blayne Enlow got the loss, 2.2 innings with 1 hit, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Jordan Montgomery allowed 3 hits and 3 runs with 2 stirkeouts in an inning.

Jackson Miller was 4-for-4 with a homer and 4 RBI's. Mac Horvath was 1-for-3 with a run scored, 2 walks, and a steal. Juan Simental was 1-for-5 with 2 runs, an RBI, and double. Isaac Nunez was 1-for-4 with a double and walk.

Brewers SP Alfredo Rivera tossed a 4-hit shutout in a 4-0 win over the Padres. He struck out 7.

Michael Conforto hit his 400th homer in a 10-7 Rangers loss to the Astros. With the Mets and Rangers, he's hit .262/.358/.511 with 1,109 RBI's in 1,738 games.

We're off to Atlanta for three where we'll see Juan Ochoa (0-1, 6.52 ERA), Konnor Pilkington (4-10, 6.42 ERA), and Ty Madden (8-6, 2.96 ERA).