The Baseball Buffet for 7/12/2026

MIL 6, PIT 7 (Gm 1) - The Pirates scored two in the first inning, and then rookie Esmerlyn Valdez hit a solo HR in the third. PIT SP Braxton Ashcraft allowed 5 runs over 5 innings (5 H, 2 BB, 6 K), including 2-run HRs by Jake Bauers and Sal Frelick. The Brewers added one more run in the top of the seventh to go up 6-3, but then after the stretch the Pirates loaded the bases and Valdez hit a grand slam to give them a one-run lead. The Bucs bullpen has been the weakest part of their team this year, but Carmen Mlodzinski pitched a scoreless eighth as part of a three-inning appearance (3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K), and then Gregory Soto did the same in the ninth to earn his 12th save.

MIL 2, PIT 3 (Gm 2) - Esmerlyn Valdez continued his big day with a 2-run HR in the fourth inning to give the Pirates an early lead. The Brewers came right back with two runs of their own in the fifth off PIT SP Bubba Chandler (4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K). Pittsburgh then reclaimed the lead with a run in the sixth off MIL SP Shane Drohan (6.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K). Both bullpens put up zeroes from that point forward, with the Pirates using six arms including Mason Montgomery striking out two in the ninth for his first save of the year. Brandon Lowe went 2-4 with a double, and Bryan Reynolds was 2-3 with a walk and a double.

BOS 4, NYM 0 - Andruw Monasterio hit a 2-run HR in the fourth inning, and NYM SP Freddy Peralta exited after walking five in only 4.1 innings pitched (3 H, 2 ER, 6 K). Masataka Yoshida added a 2-run HR in the eighth inning, while the Red Sox used a patchwork of five pitchers to throw a 3-hit shutout for their eighth win in a row.

ATH 0, CWS 1 - Rookie ATH SP Gage Jump pitched a good game (5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K), finally giving up a run in the sixth inning. That would be all the White Sox would need, as they used a type of bullpen-day approach, with two relievers throwing scoreless frames to open the game, then Erick Fedde (usually a starter) gave them four quality bulk innings. Two others worked to complete the 4-hit shutout, with Grant Taylor getting a five-out save, his 4th of the year. The loss marks the Athletics eighth in a row.

ATL 1, STL 4

LAA 3, MIN 5

COL 2, SFG 4

NYY 4, WSH 2

SEA 1, TBR 6

CLE 4, MIA 1

PHI 4, DET 2

KCR 1, BAL 6

HOU 9, TEX 3

CHC 5, CIN 3

TOR 7, SDP 8

ARI 9, LAD 2

Draft Day 1: Pick-by-pick rundown, analysis, by Jonathan Mayo at MLB, 7/11/2026

9 key storylines from an eventful Draft Day 1, by Anthony Castrovince at MLB, 7/11/2026

2026 Draft Tracker - a useful overall results page from MLB

1987 Star Tribune Official Homer Hanky

1978 Sports Illustrated special baseball issue, with Rod Carew and George Foster on the cover

1992 ICEE Kirby Puckett cup

1967 Topps Jim Kaat card #300

1996 SLU Marty Cordova figure (unopened)

1995 SLU Kirby Puckett figure

(4) 1984 Fun Foods Buttons

(11) different oversized cards

(10) different 1980s team stickers

(54) all different Kirby Puckett cards

(23) mixed odd-ball cards of stars from the 1980s

... and a few other miscellaneous items!

PHI Zack Wheeler vs. DET Tarik Skubal - Many have argued that even with his missed time on the IL, Wheeler and his 9-1 record and 2.28 ERA should be on the NL All-Star team. Here he faces another ace in Skubal who is 5-4 with a 3.06 ERA over 12 starts so far.

HOU Cristian Javier vs. TEX MacKenzie Gore - Javier has been working his way back from the IL, including two recent relief appearances, but hasn't made a major league start since early April.