Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney

Tim Kurkjian, Hembo and Buster Olney discuss whether the MLB All-Star Game’s “Sandlot” break was cool or a flop, how many current division leaders will hang on, the most confusing things in baseball, impactful bats that may be moved at the trade deadline, if the Padres should trade Mason Miller, x-factor deadline teams, and which impending free agents have lost and made the most money. Next, Sarah Langs plays The Numbers Game. Then, Todd Radom shares his thoughts on his 30th-straight All-Star week, and administers the weekly quiz. Later, Buster answers your questions during Bleacher Tweets. 



0:00 Welcome

0:49 Tim Kurkjian & Hembo join

2:00 Thoughts on “Sandlot” nostalgia

5:51 How many current division leaders hang on?

8:26 Ranking the most confusing things in baseball

11:50 Most impactful bats to be traded

14:46 Should the Padres trade Mason Miller?

18:59 Trade deadline x-factors

22:44 Free agents making and losing money

26:36 Sarah Langs plays The Numbers Game

27:37 Todd Radom’s weekly quiz

33:15 Bleacher Tweets



EMAIL THE SHOW: BleacherTweets@gmail.com

REACH OUT ON X: #BLEACHERTWEETS

Follow The Baseball Tonight Podcast on…

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHeL6O-A-ASmSMwbSCFvPKEq1Cslo_lrw

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5FG6xCcd338SgZjZ9urHRI

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/baseball-tonight-with-buster-olney/id137699414
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eduardo Pérez joins Buster Olney to discuss Jordan Walker beating Kyle Schwarber in the 2026 Home Run Derby on his last swing, in front of a hostel Philadelphia crowd. They talk about the key to Walker’s victory in the final round, hitters struggling with the magenta balls, Philadelphia fans showing out, how to make the All-Star Game matter again, and the balance of player participation versus needing a break from the game. Then, Buster hits All-Star Game media day and chats with Mason Miller, James Wood, Ernie Clement, Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson and Walker. Later, Buster answers your questions, and Jeff Passan has an about-face on the Home Run Derby format.



0:00 Welcome

3:54 Eduardo Pérez joins

22:29 Buster talks to players at ASG Media Day

27:47 Bleacher Tweets

EMAIL THE SHOW: BleacherTweets@gmail.com

REACH OUT ON X: #BLEACHERTWEETS



Help people affected by the Venezuela Earthquakes. Donate at www.redcross.org/ESPN



Follow The Baseball Tonight Podcast on…

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHeL6O-A-ASmSMwbSCFvPKEq1Cslo_lrw

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5FG6xCcd338SgZjZ9urHRI

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/baseball-tonight-with-buster-olney/id137699414
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Schoenfield joins Buster to hand out midseason MLB grades on the eve of the All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Which teams passed the first half of the season with flying colors, and which teams need to retake the exam? Plus, the White Sox select Roch Cholowsky No. 1 in MLB Draft, the AL MVP picture, and is Tarik Skubal actually the player most likely to be traded? Later, Buster talks to Phillies sluggers Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber about competing in the Home Run Derby in Philadelphia. Finally, Buster answers your Bleacher Tweets.


0:00 Welcome

2:30 David Schoenfield joins

4:20 Home Run Derby Picks

8:58 White Sox pick Roch Cholowsky No. 1 in MLB Draft

10:10 MLB Midseason Grades

10:12 White Sox

10:56 Brewers

11:41 Dodgers

17:03 Giants

18:20 Mets

21:48 AL MVP Candidates

22:45 Shohei Ohtani or PCA for NL MVP?

24:42 Dylan Cease for AL Cy Young?

25:22 Jacob Misiorowski running away with NL Cy Young

26:01 Contenders that need to make a move

27:46 Best player to be dealt at the deadline

30:31 Kyle Schwarber & Bryce Harper on Home Run Derby in Philadelphia

33:33 Bleacher Tweets



EMAIL THE SHOW: BleacherTweets@gmail.com

REACH OUT ON X: #BLEACHERTWEETS



Help people affected by the Venezuela Earthquakes. Donate at www.redcross.org/ESPN



Follow The Baseball Tonight Podcast on…

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHeL6O-A-ASmSMwbSCFvPKEq1Cslo_lrw

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5FG6xCcd338SgZjZ9urHRI

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/baseball-tonight-with-buster-olney/id137699414
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Phillies manager Don Mattingly joins to discuss Philadelphia's dramatic turnaround and if he's planning on returning to manage next season. Then, ESPN MLB Draft expert Kiley McDaniel stops by to discuss which of the top 3 players the White Sox will take at No. 1, and which teams have the deepest minor league prospects to land a big name on the trade market (you probably won't like the answer).

Plus Sarah Langs and Bleacher Tweets!

0:00 Justin Verlander announces retirement, Marlins and Red Sox on a hot streak

2:25 Don Mattingly on Phillies turnaround

4:09 Managing Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper

5:39 How to dethrone the Dodgers

7:24 Sarah Langs plays the numbers game

8:47 Reflecting on the epic 2024 MLB Draft class with Kiley McDaniel

14:20 Who will go No. 1 to the White Sox?

17:00 Teams that most need to have success in this draft

22:00 Which team is the "Raiders" of the MLB Draft?

23:42 Teams that can offer the best prospects at the Trade Deadline

29:38 Does Tarik Skubal get traded, and to who?

30:51 Bleacher Tweets








Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two-time World Series champion David Ross joins Buster Olney to discuss a story he had never previously heard about the 2016 Chicago Cubs on his Lovable Reunion podcast, if he ever has to pay for dinner in Chicago, the biggest threat the Dodgers’ threepeat quest, why it’s actually a good thing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is skipping the All-Star Game, Zack Wheeler’s All-Star snub and Dalton Rushing learning to be a “servant to the pitcher.” Plus, did David Ross make Jon Lester more money, or the other way around? Then, Hembo stops by to talk about the Dodgers’ huge run differential, why the stolen bases boom has wilted, the Guardians’ rubber-armed pitching staff, the Marlins fortunes being jolted by Joe Mack, and Bryce Harper back to being Bryce Harper. Later, Buster answers your Bleacher Tweets.




0:00 Welcome

3:44 David Ross joins

4:25 10 Year reunion for 2016 WS Cubs

11:30 Braves biggest threat to Dodgers

12:50 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. skips All-Star Game

16:06 Zack Wheeler ASG snub

17:55 Dalton Rushing's catching education

19:56 Jon Lester made Ross some cash

24:20 Hembo joins

25:29 Dodgers' threepeat quest continues

28:50 Stolen base boom is over

33:41 Irresponsible Rays Junior Caminero projections

37:59 Joe Mack keying hot Marlins

41:30 Bryce Harper is elite again

44:40 Guardians starters

46:46 Bleacher Tweets



EMAIL THE SHOW: BleacherTweets@gmail.com

REACH OUT ON X: #BLEACHERTWEETS



Help people affected by the Venezuela Earthquakes. Donate at www.redcross.org/ESPN



Follow The Baseball Tonight Podcast on…

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHeL6O-A-ASmSMwbSCFvPKEq1Cslo_lrw

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5FG6xCcd338SgZjZ9urHRI

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/baseball-tonight-with-buster-olney/id137699414
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices