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We’re approaching the month that I personally consider to be the most exciting of the entire regular season.

The MLB Draft, All-Star Game, trade deadline, and the true separation of contenders. July baseball, we’re almost there.

As we gear up for an awesome next stretch of the season, let’s check in on top stories around the league. Catch up on all you need to know for the College World Series here and make sure to follow along with On the Clock!

Top MLB Stories

With less than a month until the busiest few weeks of the baseball regular season, let’s take it easy and just walk through some headlines.

Prospect call-ups, surging teams, trade deadline buzz, and more. Let’s get into it.

Top MLB Prospect Roman Anthony Called Up

Finally! The Red Sox made the move to call up the best prospect in baseball as Wilyer Abreu hit the injured list. Anthony has been unreal in Triple-A this season and now gets the chance to help Boston get on track.

He entered the season as our #1 prospect and remained at the top of our recent Top 100 Prospects Update after posting a .913 OPS to open the year in Triple-A.

Another elite prospect also received the call this week as Jacob Misiorowski, Just Baseball’s 20th-ranked prospect, was called up by Milwaukee. 

Trade Deadline Buzz Heats Up

This time of year is when the buyers and sellers start to become clear without MLB as some teams surge and others falter. Teams like the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, and Tigers will obviously be buying this July while teams like the Marlins and White Sox are clear sellers.

But the teams still undecided will have to determine their path in the next month. That’s where things get interesting.

A pair of aces who are set to hit the market this winter could change the market if either of their teams decide to make a huge move. Meanwhile, a former ace is slowly starting to find his groove coming off Tommy John Surgery, but still has to rebuild his market before the Marlins can decide what to do.

Pulling Ahead

Five division leaders, shockingly not the Dodgers, have pulled ahead a bit in their respective divisions of late.

The Yankees, Tigers, Astros, Mets, and Cubs all have at least a three game lead in their division right now. Houston has been on fire the past few weeks while the Mariners have taken a huge step back since their hot start. Meanwhile, the Mets slowed down in May but are on a June heater while the Phillies have struggled, going 3-7 in their last 10.

The Dodgers being in a three-way tight race with San Francisco and San Diego was not on many people’s bingo card, but they also have an All-Star pitching staff entirely on the injured list.

It’s a long season but the six current division leaders are all -165 or greater odds-on favorites to win their division. How many do you think will stay on top?

Updated Award Odds

We’re updating our award race articles every week on Justbaseball.com with odds and analysis on each race!

Right now, five of the six award races are starting to look like runaways, despite it being June. The reigning MVPs are in control of those awards again, as is the reigning AL Cy Young winner. Meanwhile, one rookie is far above the rest in the American League.

Just Baseball Trivia of the Week

Our newsletter will have a trivia question every week to test and expand the baseball knowledge of our subscribers! The answer to the weekly trivia question will be at the bottom of the newsletter each week.

Which active MLB player has the most career All-Star appearances?

A) Justin Verlander

B) Clayton Kershaw

C) Jose Altuve

D) Mike Trout

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All-Star Ballot

The MLB All-Star game is just under a month away now as the official ballot is live and we start to consider who deserves the starting nod at every position in each league.

We’re running a Just Baseball Discord Community All-Star Ballot, which we’ll do a couple rounds of leading up to the game. The consensus ballot will be published in graphic and article form across our platforms.

Join our Discord to get in on that, but for now let’s look at some of the toughest calls when filling out the All-Star ballot this year.

Is Jose Altuve’s Reign over AL 2B Spot Over?

Selected as the starting second baseman for the AL six times in the past decade, Jose Altuve has been the king at this position for a while. This season, that may come to an end.

However, there isn’t a clear candidate to make the start at second. Gleyber Torres, Jazz Chisholm, and Brandon Lowe could all make a realistic push to start at the position.

Who Fills out the AL Outfield with Aaron Judge?

Aaron Judge will obviously be an All-Star starter. Beyond him, the rest of the outfield is a total toss up in the American League.

George Springer has turned back the clock this season while Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter have been huge pieces for the Tigers.

Freddie or Pete?

Two of the best offensive players in the game this season will battle it out for the start at the same position. Pete Alonso had an unreal April and has heated up once again after a slow May. Meanwhile, Freddie Freeman missed time early, but is hitting nearly .350 for the Dodgers, showing no signs of his age.

Only one can start the All-Star game…who you got?

Just Baseball Discord

We launched a Just Baseball community on Discord!

Our Discord channel is the ultimate baseball group chat while also providing exclusive access to Peter’s MLB best bets, Aram’s prospect content, giveaways, and direct connection to the entire Just Baseball staff.

Read all the details about our Discord community here.

Not Gambling Advice

Peter Appel is up nearly 10 units this baseball season with his daily best bets!

His college baseball picks have been cooking during the NCAA tournament and now it’s time for the College World Series in Omaha.

Best Bet: Arkansas Razorbacks to win College World Series (+215)

Hear his full reasoning, get daily bets, and become part of the best baseball community by joining the Just Baseball Discord!

Trivia Answer: D) Mike Trout

Despite fewers seasons played than legends like Kershaw and Verlander, Trout leads all active players with 11 All-Star selections in his career.

Just Baseball Merch

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Check out the full collection of Just Baseball swag here!