Max Fried's anticipated return to the mound for the New York Yankees is delayed due to a blister on his hand, leading to a bullpen start for Ian Hamilton against the Atlanta Braves. The Yankees struggled, losing 7-3, as the Braves capitalized on early mistakes. Hamilton allowed two doubles in the first inning, and Ozzie Albies hit a three-run homer later. Atlanta's Ronald Acuña Jr. showcased his defensive prowess with a standout throw to stop a tag-up from second base.

With Fried and Cam Schlittler unavailable, Yankees manager Aaron Boone is feeling the pressure as they navigate a tough schedule. The Yankees hope to regroup with Fried potentially back against the Toronto Blue Jays, but fans are concerned about their pitching depth.

Yankees reliever Ian Hamilton displayed visible frustration during a game against the Athletics, leading to a brief stare-down with rookie Jacob Wilson. Hamilton, struggling with a 3.90 ERA, attributed his emotional outburst to a poor inning, but Wilson remained composed and dismissed the incident as part of the game. Hamilton's command issues, highlighted by a 13.9% walk rate, raise concerns about his role with the Yankees, especially with Marcus Stroman returning from injury. In contrast, Wilson continues to shine, hitting .340, second only to Aaron Judge.

This confrontation between the seasoned Hamilton and the newcomer Wilson illustrates the pressures players face, particularly in high-stakes situations. While Hamilton's performance may jeopardize his standing in the bullpen, Wilson's resilience and impressive batting average indicate a bright future ahead in his rookie season.

The Chicago Cubs are currently leading the National League Central by 5.5 games and are looking to strengthen their pitching rotation ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. With names like Sandy Alcantara and Zach Eflin being targeted, there are also suggestions for a more strategic trade involving the Atlanta Braves' slugger Marcell Ozuna. Ozuna, with a .253/.388/.422 line, is seen as a significant addition to the Cubs' lineup, which has struggled to break a four-year playoff drought.

In a potential trade scenario proposed by Andrew Wright, Ian Happ could be swapped for Ozuna, allowing Seiya Suzuki to return to left field. Happ's current performance has been lackluster at .249 with only seven home runs, while Suzuki boasts a stronger .261 average with 17 home runs. With the Braves underperforming, trading Ozuna while acquiring Happ could be mutually beneficial, appealing to both teams' timelines and needs as they aim for playoff contention.

Ian Hamilton's struggles in the New York Yankees' bullpen have raised concerns about his roster spot. Once a reliable option, Hamilton's ERA has soared to 6.28 after allowing runs in five of his last eight outings. With key relievers returning from injury and underlying metrics indicating an increase in hard contact against him, the Yankees may be considering a move to send Hamilton to Triple-A to reset his performance.

The return of Jonathan Loaisiga and the nearing return of Clayton Beeter adds pressure to Hamilton, who has one minor league option left. A shift to Triple-A could be imminent as the Yankees aim to maintain their bullpen's effectiveness.

The Chicago Cubs are facing a mixed bag of news following their recent 5-2 victory against the Miami Marlins. All-Star outfielder Ian Happ, who has been sidelined with an oblique injury, is headed to the injured list, necessitating a longer absence than initially projected. In a strategic move to fill the gap in their lineup, the Cubs are promoting highly-touted prospect Moises Ballesteros from Triple-A Iowa. This 21-year-old catcher/first baseman is touted as Chicago's No. 4 prospect, boasting an impressive .368 batting average along with four home runs and 18 RBIs in just 34 games this season.

Ballesteros's power-hitting potential is noteworthy, drawing comparisons to former Cub Willson Contreras, suggesting he could make a significant impact at the major league level. The Cubs are hopeful he can replicate his minor league success as they prepare for their next game against the Marlins. If Ballesteros performs as well as anticipated, his addition could be pivotal for the Cubs as they lead the NL Central.