July 13, 2026

152 thoughts on “Yankees (52-42) @ Nationals (48-47), Saturday, July 11, 2026, 4:05 PM EDT”

  12. Yankees pick Hunter Dietz Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Cutter: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55

    His performance during fall practice was so spectacular that some evaluators believed Dietz was the best college left-hander in the 2026 Draft and he has cemented that status with a strong and healthy spring. He works at 94-96 mph and reaches 98 with his fastball, displaying impressive backspin and carry at times and natural cut at others. His mid-80s slider and upper-80s cutter play as plus offerings, and his low-80s curveball does as well even if it’s less consistent. He barely uses a mid-80s changeup with depth.

  13. He had a stress fracture in his elbow that required surgery in the fall of 2023 and pitched twice the following spring but broke out this year with 131 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings and a Southeastern Conference-best nine quality starts.

    1. We’ve already so past surrendering the position that “any professional hitter should be able to lay down a bunt.” We’re resigned ourselves that unprofessionalism is inevitable here.
      That sucks, if anyone was unclear on the issue.

  17. 35. Yankees: Hunter Dietz, LHP, Arkansas (No. 17)

    This is the Yankees’ first pick of the Draft, having moved down 10 spots for exceeding the second surcharge threshold of the Competitive Balance Tax. They likely didn’t expect Dietz to be here, as many thought he’d land in the back half of the first round. He does come with an injury history, having barely pitched his first two seasons at Arkansas. But he fanned 131 in 85 2/3 IP and was one of the better arms in the SEC this year.

    https://www.mlb.com/news/2026-mlb-draft-day-1-complete-coverage

    1. I hate to keep harping on it, but this is pure cockiness. Blake even came out to talk to him, and nothing changed.

      I mean, whatever, dude is young, so I guess I can live with some cockiness, but holy shit, dude!

  36. I was in the middle of writing this comment when that happened. What I hate about Volpe on the roster is that Boone feels that he needs to play him if he’s on the roster. It’s just absurd. If the guy isn’t good enough to start, then DON”T FUCKING START HIM!

    So that’s why I’d prefer to just have him in the minors, so Boone won’t feel the need to keep starting him.

    Volpe isn’t even that bad of a player. If Cabby were hurt, I’d be fine with Volpe as the regular shortstop, but Cabby ISN’T hurt, so Volpe has no reason for being here.

  40. The Yankees selected Duncan with the No. 63 pick

    Duncan is a 6-foot-3 lefty who has been on the scouting radar since he was 14 years old. He’s added to his heater, which now sits around 93 mph, and his secondaries have shown above-average potential.

    3. You really can’t continue to play PGold, let alone bat him cleanup? Last 7 games 080/080/080. Last 15 games 132/164/264.
      You can’t keep playing him. Bring Spence up, let Cody play some 1b. HES BATTING CLEANUP!

    4. Yeah, not that Belli is hitting, either, but the idea of not having Belli and Dominguez ahead of him just because of a lefty OPENER seems like such a bad idea by Boone.

      Why is an OPENER changing your lineup strategy so dramatically?!

    5. There is a GLARING lane for Spencer Jones on this team, and they just won’t make the move. Send down Volpe, have Jones occasionally start, but definitely pinch hit.

  43. The Yankees second pick Sean Duncan scouting report. Needs [or recently had] TJ surgery.

    Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

    A majority of big league talent to be drafted out of British Columbia in Canada has been of the position player variety, with Tyler O’Neill and Brett Lawrie the most recent top three round success stories. The last time a high school pitcher went early from the province was back in 2002 when left-hander Adam Loewen was the No. 4 overall pick in the Draft. A fellow southpaw, Duncan looked like he had a very good chance to end that drought, first exciting scouts after throwing well at various showcase events last summer and fall, then standing out this spring during trips to Arizona in Florida. He walked off the mound with an elbow injury during a spring outing with Team Canada in the Dominican Republic, and though it was confirmed in early June that he would require Tommy John surgery, the industry was still bullish on him being drafted and signed.

    A projectable 6-foot-3 lefty, Duncan has shown steady progress stuff-wise while being in front of scouts a lot since age 14 pitching for Canada’s junior national team. He was sitting around 88-89 mph with his fastball then and kind hovered in that range, with scouts waiting for a leap forward. It’s possible that started to happen at the Futures Showcase, when he was up to 95 mph — sitting 93 — with his heater. He’s also shown the ability to show off at least above-average secondary stuff, really selling his deceptive changeup with excellent arm speed and snapping off very good breaking stuff when he stays on top of it.

    Not only does Duncan have a true three-pitch mix (it’s not too difficult to dream about three above-average-to-plus offerings in the future), he’s shown a propensity for strike-throwing and understanding how to mix all of his pitches. He’s committed to Vanderbilt for college, but there was conviction he would still go in the first few rounds and rehab his elbow under pro instruction.

    https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/draft/

  45. Facing nothing but Garbage the Yankees have had one good inning in two games, and that was against Garbage that was left out in the sun on a 100 degree day.

    4. Cabby is better but I don’t think that’s the problem. PGold, Wells, Jazz, Cody, and Grish are the problem.

    5. It’s a problem because Boone uses both of them when he only needs one. Schuemann is fine as a utility guy. Having Volpe there just means no room for Jones, when there is absolutely a spot for Jones here.

    1. Spence 3/3 with a home run. He’s not better than Schumann or PGold

      The issue is more that you can definitely carry TWO of Cabby, Volpe, and Schuemann, but carrying ALL THREE is just foolish. You ABSOLUTELY have room to have Jones’ bat on the bench.

    2. Weds I don’t know what.And he’s a threat. PGold is not. The problem is Boone and the FO are the problems. That said Spence is not a difference maker. Cody and Grish have to hit and Wells n

    3. The issue is more that you can definitely carry TWO of Cabby, Volpe, and Schuemann, but carrying ALL THREE is just foolish. You ABSOLUTELY have room to have Jones’ bat on the bench.

      And that is all on Cashman.

    1. Yeah, he eventually calmed the fuck down and dominated the last couple of innings. I just wish he had used that approach from the start.

    2. Fucking Headrick getting fucked by weak hits. And now one of the hottest batters on the team is up with two men on. This could be 5-0 in an instant.

    2. He’s at 3-1 to a hot hitter by throwing three cutesy pitches off of the plate. Argh. You have the stuff to go after hitters, just DO it!

  49. More on the Yankees first pick, Hunter Dietz.

    Dietz underwent elbow surgery in the fall of 2023 to repair a fracture in his left ulna, then suffered a setback in ’24 that sidelined him for 13 months. He began to turn a corner by the end of the summer as he started to regain his velocity, then fully took off after returning to campus in the fall.

    Dietz’s fastball sits in the mid-90s and touches 98 mph, with life that varies from backspin and carry to natural cutting action depending on the pitch.

    Both his slider and cutter grade as plus pitches — Cole Hamels, who was participating in Draft coverage for MLB Network, said that Dietz should move quickly through the Minors and that the hurler’s slider is “reminiscent of Clayton Kershaw.”

    Dietz’s curveball has a chance to get there too, if he can tighten up its consistency. He rarely turns to his changeup, though it shows solid depth when he does.

    Dietz also presents an unusual look for hitters, delivering pitches from a 6-foot-6 frame with a high three-quarters arm slot. He benefits from an unusually high release height of 6.7 feet, a steep angle that creates ground-ball contact.

    https://www.mlb.com/news/hunter-dietz-drafted-no-35-overall-by-yankees

  52. Damn we get down on a guy quick. Headrick’s been great.
    And I feel better saying that, of course, after he DID pull that one out.

    4. Looks like Bednar will close. Do NOT like that. He just pitched two innings last night! Let Cruz start the ninth, at least. He threw, like, three pitches in the 8th!

    1. Still pretty mid. His range is still very iffy. But really, the way that center field goes, you’re happy if you’re just a little below average there, since it is such a hard position to fill.

  66. Yankees select Brendan Brock at #99, listed as C/OF.

    Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 70 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

    As a redshirt sophomore at Southwestern Illinois CC last spring, Brock slashed .462/.565/.870 and ranked third among national junior college players in hitting, on-base percentage and OPS (1.435) and fourth in slugging, and he was the only 20-20 player at that level, going deep 20 times and swiping 27 bases. After turning down over-slot offers from the Brewers as a 14th-rounder, he took his uncommon speed and athleticism for a catcher to Oklahoma. A key part of the 2026 College World Series championship team, he has second-round tools but likely will last another round or two because of his struggles in Southeastern Conference play.

    Brock has a patient approach, quiet setup and a relatively compact right-handed stroke, but he also swings through a lot of strikes and mis-hits too many pitches. He crushes fastballs but really struggles against changeups and has problems with breaking balls as well. He possesses plus raw power and is at his best when he’s driving balls from gap to gap.

    Brock combines plus-plus speed with basestealing aptitude. He’ll slow down some if he remains behind the plate, where he moves well, is improving as a receiver and displays solid to plus arm strength. He also has started games at all three outfield positions for the Sooners, and a team wanting to maximize his bat and tools could opt to deploy him in center field.

    1. Ay-yep. I don’t get pulling that move in the 8th inning at ALL. Rice isn’t even THAT slow (okay, he’s slow, but he’s not THAT slow).

    2. I’m almost certain he could have scored on Grisham’s home run.
      And his spot, of course, DID come up again. With RISP.

    3. I am hating this “X amount of scoreless innings” shit they’re posting with each reliever. Hardcore jinxing. Especially when, with Bird, it was, like, fucking THREE scoreless innings!!

  74. For now as a short term minor fix I would bring up Spence for Schuman and platoon Spence and PGold. Grish and Jazz would play every day. I hope there’s something bigger and better on the way instead or in addition.

    T Grisham (L) CF
    B Rice (L) 1B
    J Domínguez (S) DH
    C Bellinger (L) LF
    J Chisholm Jr. (L) 2B
    J Caballero (R) SS
    R McMahon (L) 3B
    A Wells (L) C
    M Schuemann (R) RF

  75. Cam Schlittler told Boone this morning he will rest and recover and has taken himself out of running to start or pitch in the ASG #yankees

    Good!

    1. It would be his throw day, so I don’t think it would change much. I think he would have been fine starting the game. But eh, whatever, it’s no big deal. I also suspect that Schneider would probably prefer to start his own player, Cease, anyways.

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