What happened: Buster Olney's podcast, featuring Ed Perez, runs through All-Star Game concerns, Philadelphia's reception as host city, and Jordan Walker's turn in the Home Run Derby. The episode also includes conversations with All-Stars about right-hander Misiorowski and what it would take for a club to beat the Dodgers.

Why it matters: Walker, who entered the derby off a fan-driven All-Star push, is now a recurring subject on national broadcasts. Players' comments on catching the Dodgers reflect where the league sees the competitive gap as the trade deadline approaches.

What to watch: Walker heads back into the Cardinals' second-half lineup, while deadline buyers continue weighing how far they sit from the Dodgers.