Colson Montgomery’s arrival has flipped the White Sox’ rebuild narrative. Since early July, the 23-year-old former top-10 prospect has blended power with plus defense to emerge as a middle-of-the-order presence at shortstop, answering questions about his readiness with a 452-foot blast at Rate Field that highlighted a 6-4 win over Cleveland. He’s slashed nine homers, driven in 25 runs, scored 15, and posted an .853 OPS since the All-Star break, a remarkable turn after a Triple-A start that had many doubting his ceiling.

His breakout isn’t just about raw numbers; Montgomery has shed the mental weight that hampered him in 2024, explaining how a months-long focus on preparing and trusting his coaches freed him to let his ability take over. White Sox brass, led by GM Chris Getz, believe his development trajectory could anchor the franchise for years, with his glove at shortstop stabilizing a defense that’s carried the rebuild. Veterans Mike Tauchman and Michael A. Taylor have also stepped up in the outfield, supporting a clubhouse that Venable has cultivated into a consistent, team-first environment.

The MLB's pickoff rules are making for more exciting baseball as players like Chandler Simpson of the Tampa Bay Rays are finding ways to exploit the new regulations. With pitchers allowed only three disengagements per at-bat without penalty, players are taking larger leads and engaging in more aggressive base running. In a recent game against the Los Angeles Angels, Simpson showcased this by dodging two pickoff attempts from Tyler Anderson before stealing second base after a balk. The change has led to a noticeable increase in action on the bases, highlighting the evolution of baseball strategy.

Not only does this create thrilling moments, but it also brings a new layer of strategy for both players and coaches. As base running becomes a more critical aspect of the game, teams will need to adjust their tactics to account for faster players like Simpson, who are willing to take risks. Watching how teams adapt to these changes will be fascinating as the 2025 season progresses.

July 29 brings an exciting slate of MLB action with 16 games, including a doubleheader between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles. Key player prop bets to consider include Zach Neto and Taylor Ward from the Los Angeles Angels, both projected to excel against Texas Rangers' pitcher Patrick Corbin. Neto has shown impressive metrics with a barrel rate of 12.9% this season, and his career success against Corbin makes the over on 1.5 hits, runs, and RBIs enticing.

Ward, having already hit 25 home runs this season, also stands out, particularly against left-handed pitchers. Additionally, Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians is on a six-game hitting streak and is a solid choice to exceed the over on 1.5 combined hits, runs, and RBIs against Tanner Gordon of the Colorado Rockies. Look for these players to deliver valuable returns for those placing prop bets today.

In a surprising turn of events, the Los Angeles Angels have effectively cracked the code on Jacob deGrom's slider, a pitch that has bewildered many hitters across the league. In two recent matchups, the Angels have managed to inflict significant damage, scoring a season-high five runs against deGrom in a single outing, including home runs from unexpected sources like Kevin Newman. DeGrom's slider, which usually yields high whiff rates, has become a source of success for the Angels, demonstrating a rare moment of vulnerability for the elite pitcher.

Despite deGrom's overall stellar performance this season, with a 2.14 ERA against most teams, the Angels have exploited weaknesses in his slider, leading to eight runs over 10⅓ innings in their encounters. DeGrom himself acknowledged issues with his slider during these outings, which, when ineffective, allows hitters to focus on his fastball. This scrutiny raises questions about his stamina and effectiveness as he surpasses 120 innings this year, a workload not seen since 2019. As July progresses, it will be critical to monitor deGrom's performance and how his approach may evolve against teams like the Angels.