"Did I sleep at all?

Hmm. I did sleep. I did."

Kane Williamson talks in the dry, wry, inimitable tone of his. We are standing at arm's length. I am trying hard to find an emotion in the man's face. This is no ordinary man. This man, this leader of men, lost the World Cup in the cruelest way possible.

No, wait.

This man saw the World Cup being snatched from New Zealand's grip by the combined might of cricket's Laws and the thing that human nature can neither be prepared for nor prevail: fate. If you want to rub it in a bit more, this man had to swallow defeat in a World Cup final for the second successive time, after Brendon McCullum's New Zealand had lost to Australia.

So you ask Kane Williamson: did you sleep?

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Williamson did. But after a lot of time trying to understand what had happened. After a lot of time chatting with his team-mates in the away dressing room at Lord's, hours after the World Cup was over. After hours of reflection.

That reflection, by his own admission, Williamson says, will not end. Not for some time. It will haunt him and his men. At least for a while. I ask him to try and explain his emotions from the moment cricket was over. "I reckon I sort of explained that to a few people," Williamson says, nodding his head. "It hits in you in waves. For ten minutes you forget about it, and you make little jokes. And then it comes back to you and you go: 'Did that just happen? Did it just happen? Is that real or is that just I woke up wondering whether it was a bad dream? It wasn't. Was it.' "

You want him to cry. He has not, he assures. "Not me."

__

Williamson might have managed to keep his emotions in check but a few of the New Zealand players could not hide theirs. Jimmy Neesham, who was in the middle when Jos Buttler ran out his partner Martin Guptill to deny New Zealand the two runs off the final ball of the Super Over and the World Cup, went down on his knees and might have shed a tear or two. Later Neesham, one of the most intelligent wordsmiths in cricket, summed up his feelings on Twitter succinctly: "Kids, don't take up sport. Take up baking or something. Die at 60 really fat and happy," he said in his first post. In a follow-up post, he explained: "That hurts. Hopefully there's a day or two over the next decade where I don't think about that last half hour."

Tim Southee, who played the 2015 final, but took a spectacular catch in the deep as a 12th man on Sunday, observed: "What is there to say?"

A lot was said and not said on Sunday evening. In the away dressing room at Lord's. Hours after the match was over. As the sun set in London and Lord's dazzled in moonlight Williamson and his men reflected on what had happened. It was important to not leave the venue without having bared a few feelings.

Kids, don't take up sport. Take up baking or something. Die at 60 really fat and happy.

— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) July 15, 2019

The chats were more to comprehend what happened. How could New Zealand lose without having lost? How could England get away when they needed 15 runs in the final over from Trent Boult? Two dot balls and then Ben Stokes hit a six. And then ran two, but that became six owing to that overthrow. England were granted six runs after New Zealand accepted the on-field umpires had interpreted the Law correctly even though soon it would transpire they had actually not. Still Boult managed to deny England victory. And then that traumatic Super Over.

ALSO READ: If cricket were to end tomorrow, at least we'll have this game

Former New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan, who finished his tenure as the batting coach with the World Cup, points out his mindset overnight. "There wasn't a lot of sleep last night. You are looking for a run. You can find a dozen runs quite easily, not one when you actually needed it. So that is going to be the nature of it for a little while."

McMillan says the emotions the players are feeling right now are "very hard" to put into words. "A lot of things were thrown at them, but they kept fighting, kept coming back at England, trying to find a way to win. Also hugely proud the way they conducted themselves off the field in pretty trying circumstances at the end of the match. Overriding emotions along with huge sense of disappointment that we couldn't quite do we what we came to this tournament to do."

According to Williamson all these events were talked about before New Zealand left the ground. "There were sort of tears [from team-mates], but it is a game of cricket, isn't it? Guys were gutted, truly gutted. Naturally you reflect on a game like that. Even if it was a World Cup final, but, yeah, you add into the mix, you just look at the small margins throughout the whole match, not just this one or that one. Everybody is thinking about their role and what maybe could have been different. But when you get to that stage it is almost outside of your control. The guys put on such a huge effort in both games [regulation time and Super Over] in that final and it wasn't quite enough for one reason or another."

It was surreal. While Williamson and his men were trying to pick themselves, in walked Eoin Morgan. The England captain, who is mates with Williamson, had come in to share a drink. Also his disbelief. "He was lost for words, didn't really know what to say. That is fair, especially after two months of getting to the final stage and to have a tie he said that there was nothing that separated the sides. I guess it is an odd feeling to in some ways not have a loser of the match but have a Cup winner," Williamson says.

__

Monday morning, London was overcast. Grey. Nippy. As one New Zealand television journalist said, it was a funeral-like atmosphere, yet no one had died. But a dream did die.

Sometime on Monday morning New Zealand's prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, posted a personal message in support of Williamson's team. Ardern said New Zealand, the nation, had "aged" while watching the Super Over.

That might not be the case with Williamson. Standing up close, you can see a few crease lines across the broad forehead. Those dark blue eyes retain a twinkle. He does not mind even cracking a joke or two. The man is even apologetic to you, saying he can crack jokes.

WATCH on Hotstar (India only) - The Super Over drama

Yet, there is no one sadder, more disappointed, more gutted than Williamson. But he will not show. You want the dam to burst. But, good luck. As New Zealand head coach Gary Stead is talking about whether sharing the World Cup would have been the ideal finish to the World Cup final, Williamson walks in the background with his partner to have some breakfast outside of the team hotel. Under an hour later Williamson walks back with cups of coffee, you assume, in his hand for the family.

Boult walks out of the team hotel with his partner and child in a pram as they head for the morning breakfast and possibly a walk along Hyde Park. Lockie Ferguson has his laundry bag slung on his back as he gets ready for a day without cricket on his mind.

According to Stead the New Zealand players are bound to "hit the wall" for a week or so as they replay the events of Sunday in their mind. "At the start there was lot of dejection and I guess bewilderment around how did it happen, why has it happened this way," Stead says. "Everyone will react to it over time, I imagine most of the guys will hit the wall for a week and feel down about things, but they shouldn't. We should be proud of what we've achieved."

At some point, a middle-aged Indian gentleman walks up to where the media is standing and unprompted tells a New Zealand journalist that he really respects Williamson's team. Only because they are true gentlemen, are down-to-earth. He says he and his family travelled from Los Angeles to watch three knockout matches of the World Cup including the final thinking India would feature. Although he was depressed for hours after India's exit in the semi-final, he did not curse New Zealand. "We lost against good people," he says.

__

For youngsters like Ferguson, who was one of the fastest bowlers in the World Cup and who finished in the ICC's team of the tournament, the final result is difficult to "swallow." He admits that the ethos of Williamson's team is not to focus on the outcome although "this outcome is particularly hurting".

"Probably a bit of an understatement that it was emotional," Ferguson says. "Yeah, it's definitely for me been one of the most emotional nights in terms of cricket and to come so close and not get across the line, for whatever reason - it wasn't meant to be. As I said, the lads are getting around each other and patting each other on the backs on what was a great competition. Unfortunately we didn't quite get over the last hurdle but we were happy and hopefully inspire the next generation of Black Caps to come through and win a World Cup."

There is a whole gamut of emotions that New Zealand would have experienced, and will continue to, for a while. But as Williamson and his men leave England, the one overriding emotion is bound to be pride. Williamson agrees. "In time there will be a lot of reflection. Hopefully we will view at it in a bit of a rational way. Once again we do look at the campaign as a bigger picture and really proud of all the guys. It could be tricky. We talk about not being too caught up in results. I know that can be a really difficult especially when you have a World Cup final on the line, but if you do remove that, a little bit, and you look at the cricket that we played, the way the guys went about their business, we should be really proud."

And if they need any further proof that they did their job well, they should just listen to what McMillan says. "At the end, it was one of those games where you just shake your head and you are lost for words. I don't think I have ever been as gutted or as proud after a game of cricket. Gutted because we didn't get the result we wanted. I truly felt that we deserved to win yesterday at different times.

"And proud the way the guys handled themselves, kept coming back from difficult challenges, kept fighting and they nearly got there. It was a day of mixed emotions. There is a lot of raw emotion that will still be there today, you know. Four or six hours of sleep hasn't really changed that. There's a going to be a bit of time for the guys to get over it. We will. And there will be a time when we will look back at the game very fondly because there were some incredible performances yesterday."

Yes, New Zealand should be proud that they played a massive hand in making the 2019 World Cup final one of the greatest matches in cricket's history. London was painted with "We believed" banners to celebrate England's triumph. But New Zealand were equal winners.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Jalen Hurts' arrival at Oklahoma is a major topic at Big 12 media days, but the quarterback transfer from Alabama still has work left to become the Sooners' front man in 2019.

"He's gotta win the job first," Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said when asked what sets Hurts apart. "If he wins the job, then we'll talk about that."

Riley faced a series of questions about Hurts, who joined Oklahoma as a graduate transfer in January after three seasons with Alabama, where he went 26-2 as the Tide's starting quarterback. Hurts follows two quarterback transfers, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, who won consecutive Heisman trophies with the Sooners before both went No. 1 overall in the NFL draft.

Although Hurts performed well in Oklahoma's spring game and brings unique experience to a record-setting offense, Riley hasn't ruled out redshirt freshman Tanner Mordecai or true freshman Spencer Rattler, ESPN's top-rated dual-threat quarterback in the 2019 recruiting class. Oklahoma resumes practices next month.

"One of them's got to go win it," Riley told ESPN. "We've got an interesting dynamic in there with Jalen as an older, more experienced guy that's been through a lot of battles, and we've got some very young, talented players in there with a chance to make a name for themselves. It's really, truly, 'May the best man win.'"

Riley said there's a different feel to Hurts' arrival, given his experience at Alabama, where he started throughout the 2016 and 2017 season before being benched for Tua Tagovailoa in the national championship game against Georgia. Tagovailoa started for Alabama in 2018. Although Hurts arrives with more game experience than Mayfield or Murray, he won't spend a year learning Riley's offense like his predecessors did. Riley has focused on communication and terminology with Hurts but noted he hasn't had to spend as much time on it with a veteran player.

"It's not like you're starting from scratch," Riley said. "It's been a fun process. He's smart, he's eager."

Oklahoma loses Murray, four starting linemen and leading receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown from the record-setting 2018 offense, which led the nation in both scoring (48.4 points per game) and yards (570.3 yards per game). The Sooners return standout receiver CeeDee Lamb, tight end Grant Calcaterra and running backs Trey Sermon and Kennedy Brooks, the latter of whom returned to team activities late last week following a Title IX investigation by the university, Riley said.

"We don't plan on the offense dipping," Riley said.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers said Monday that his team did not acquire All-Star guard D'Angelo Russell just to flip him in a different deal.

Speaking for the first time since acquiring Russell in a sign-and-trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Brooklyn Nets, Myers said the organization hasn't decided whether Russell fits into the team's long-term plans, despite speculation throughout the league that Russell could land somewhere else in the next year.

"I know it's been written and speculated. That's fine," Myers said Monday. "That's what everybody's job is to do. We didn't sign him with the intention of just trading him. We haven't even seen him play in our uniform yet, and a lot of people have us already trading him. That's not how we're viewing it. Let's just see what we have. Let's see what he is. Let's see how he fits.

"Part of our job in the front office and the coaching staff and the organization is, 'How does it all work?' ... So much of our sport at least, and maybe other sports, is, 'What are you doing next?' We got to figure out what we're doing now."

Myers added: "We're just happy that we got a young player that has a lot of upside, in our opinion, and we're excited at the possibility of him in our uniform."

After finding out on the opening night of free agency that Durant was headed to the Nets, the Warriors surprised some around the league by agreeing to a max extension with Russell worth $117 million over four years. The Warriors did not want to watch Durant walk away and have nothing in return, but it remains to be seen how Russell fits into the Warriors' system. Myers is hopeful that Russell, 23, can provide an offensive lift alongside superstar Stephen Curry as the group waits for Klay Thompson to return from a torn ACL at some point next season.

Myers remains confident that his group can win games as Curry and Draymond Green lead the way alongside a much younger group of new teammates. In addition to Durant's decision, the Warriors said goodbye to veteran stalwarts Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston as they reshaped their roster after five straight trips to the NBA Finals.

"The West keeps getting better and better," Myers said. "Can we compete? Yeah, I think that's shown -- at least at its core, whenever Klay comes back with Draymond and Steph -- that's a group that's shown and proved that they can win. As far as the other pieces, we have to see."

Myers said the decision to acquire Russell came quickly after the GM spoke to Durant and found out he was headed to Brooklyn on the opening night of free agency, an evening when transactions happened more quickly than on any night Myers said he could remember.

The Warriors GM said he spoke with Durant for an "hour or two" about much broader topics than just basketball on the cusp of free agency. Myers said the organization did everything it could to keep him, but Durant thought it was time for a change in his life.

"He just felt like it was something inside of him, in his heart, that he wanted to try something different," Myers said. "Nothing wrong with that. I have a peace about it, personally. I hope our fans can too. Just in the annals of Bay Area sports, he's one of the best athletes we've ever seen come through our city and certainly this organization. And you saw Joe [Lacob] reflect that in his statements, how he felt as an owner of this team. And so I just appreciate, growing up here, the fact that Kevin Durant wore a Warriors uniform for three years. To me that's pretty cool, whether I'm here in the position I'm in or just a Warriors fan. I think for him it was just a new chapter, trying something different."

Myers also acknowledged that the process of saying goodbye to both Durant and Iguodala -- who was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies to clear the cap space to sign Russell -- was tough.

"It's very difficult," Myers said. "Those are people I like. Those are people I still like. Those memories, those relationships don't change. Just 'cause they're going to go work for a different company or different team, what we shared, whether it's myself or their teammates or anybody in the organization, that doesn't go away. So that hurts. I mean, those things hurt. If they don't hurt, then I guess you never had a relationship with those guys in the first place.

"That's the hard part of the business, but I'm sure I'm going to see those guys again. Looking forward to it in whatever capacity they're in, whatever teams they're on. And I wish them well. Those guys were tremendous -- both of them. For me personally, for our fans, for our community, how they represented themselves. So yeah, that's a tough thing to pivot off of."

As the Warriors start looking ahead to next season, they do so with several other key questions about their roster, besides all the inexperience. Myers said he will visit Thompson in Los Angeles at some point in the next couple of weeks as he continues his recovery, but there was no update on a timeline for Thompson to return next season. Myers also said there has been no "internal dialogue" at this point regarding any load management possibilities for Curry or Green. He said there is some optimism surrounding the organization about the challenges ahead, despite the uncertainty after all the years of sustained success.

"It's a new dawn for us," Myers said. "But it's OK. We haven't been in this position for five years, but it's going to be fun. It doesn't mean it's going to be easy because when you have young players, there's a learning curve to their growth, to their NBA experience."

LAS VEGAS -- Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins has yet to lead an official NBA game, but he's bringing some hardware home to Beale Street.

Brandon Clarke had 15 points and 16 rebounds to lead the eighth-seeded Grizzlies to a 95-92 victory over the third-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in the championship game of the NBA Summer League on Monday.

"It was a lot of fun, this is why I do what I do," said Jenkins, the only NBA head coach to coach a summer league team. "I love to compete, love to teach and have a great group of guys on the court and our staff off the court. It was so much fun to work with them for 20 days. It's a lot to do in a short amount of time. And to be able to win a championship is fun. I told the guys this morning when you have a chance to win a championship there's nothing like it."

Clarke, who was named overall MVP for the summer league, also had three blocks and four assists to earn the championship game MVP. He had four double-doubles in the tournament.

"I feel like I'll just fit in perfectly (with Memphis) because his system and his culture is similar to what it was like at college at Gonzaga," said Clarke. "It was just really fun playing for him. He was just a really great coach. Every day he was up to play hard and up to get us better. It was awesome playing for him."

The Grizzlies, who led by as many as 17 points, led by only two after the three quarters, but got a boost from Grayson Allen, who scored 10 of his team-high 17 points in the second half and deflected the ball away to keep Minnesota from taking a last-second shot.

"He's played in lots of big games, he's just somebody that's used to making those big shots, making those big plays," Clarke said. "Adding him to the team is something that's gonna be really big for us."

Bruno Caboclo and Dusty Hannahs also had 15 points for the Grizzlies, while Tyler Harvey added 12 points and five assists.

Memphis tied its league-high 31 points for a quarter when it opened the game with a 31-19 edge after one, while its 56 first-half points were a new team-high for the 11-day event.

The Timberwolves, who went into the game as the lone undefeated team, clawed their way back into the game behind the hot hand of Kelan Martin, who drained three 3-pointers in the third quarter. Minnesota cut Memphis' lead to one point six times.

"We tried to find a way to come back and we didn't, we came up short," Timberwolves coach Pablo Prigioni said. "Credit to them, they were better. They showed all tournament long, they fought to the end, so nothing we can ask more. It was a hell of a summer league."

Martin led five Timberwolves in double figures, finishing with a game-high 19 points.

Jordan Murphy scored 14, Mitchell Creek had 13, Barry Brown Jr. chipped in 12 and Keita Bates-Diop finished with 10 for Minnesota.

ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM -- Joining Clarke on the first team was New Orleans' Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Brooklyn's Jarrett Allen, Miami's Kendrick Nunn and New York's Mitchell Robinson. Fan favorite Rui Hahimura from Washington headlined the second team, and was joined by Toronto's Chris Boucher, New Orleans' Jaxson Hayes, Portland's Anfernee Simons and San Antonio's Lonnie Walker IV.

The Los Angeles Dodgers placed outfielder Chris Taylor on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a left forearm fracture.

The move came one day after Taylor exited a game against the Boston Red Sox after getting hit near his left wrist by a Heath Hembree fastball in the 11th inning.

X-rays taken after the game were negative, but Taylor had a second examination on Monday that revealed the break.

DENVER -- With nearly every swing, Brandon Crawford's day at the plate got better and better.

Crawford went 5-for-6 with two homers and tied a San Francisco team record with eight RBIs, and the Giants scored a season high in runs in a 19-2 rout of the Colorado Rockies on Monday in the first game of a split doubleheader.

"I never expect a five-hit game to come along, but yeah, I have been feeling a lot better at the plate," Crawford said. "There were a couple of at-bats in Milwaukee where I was having good at-bats, kind of battling and getting deep into counts. Even drawing walks kind of helps your confidence going forward. I've been feeling good, seeing the ball well. You expect to get hits when that happens."

The rest of the Giants followed his lead.

Mike Yastrzemski went 4-for-6 with a homer and Buster Posey also went deep for San Francisco, which earned a rare victory at Coors Field in the makeup for a May 8 rainout. Crawford has eight home runs on the season.

It was just the fifth win in the Giants' past 25 games at the Rockies' ballpark, though San Francisco has been hot recently, winning nine of its past 11.

For the Rockies, it was the most runs they have ever allowed to the Giants, National League West rivals. It marked only the fourth time in the Rockies' history they lost by at least 17 runs, and the first since losing by 17 to Florida on Sept. 17, 1995.

Preserving his bullpen in the one-sided slugfest, Rockies manager Bud Black inserted first baseman Mark Reynolds to pitch the ninth. Reynolds allowed two runs and two hits. It was the third time in Rockies history that a position player had been used as a pitcher.

"You have to preserve their innings when you need to," said Black, also alluding to the number of runs being scored at Coors Field lately as well as overall in the major leagues.

Rockies pitchers have allowed 148 runs over 15 home games since June 12, an average of 9.9 runs per game, while Colorado has scored 114 (7.6 runs) in that same span.

"I think it's been a little wacky for the last month, really," Black said. "This is what's happening in 2019. We've really got to cinch our belts a little tighter as pitchers and work our way through this. And we've got to get the ball down more consistently, now more than ever before, because of what's happening with home run totals and what's happening on offense across the big leagues."

Jeff Samardzija (7-7), who had allowed 17 runs in 12⅔ innings in losing his three previous starts at Colorado, didn't give up a run until pinch hitter Raimel Tapia homered to straightaway center with two out in the sixth inning.

It was Tapia's fourth career pinch homer and the third this season. Ryan McMahon homered in the seventh for the Rockies' other run.

Samardzija retired the first six batters he faced and finished with nine strikeouts in 6⅔ innings. He allowed two runs and four hits.

German Marquez, who won both of his previous starts against the Giants in San Francisco this season, was in trouble from the outset.

Five of the first six batters he faced connected for hits capped by back-to-back home runs by Crawford and Yastrzemski in San Francisco's five-run first inning.

Marquez (8-5) allowed a career-high 11 runs on 11 hits in 2⅔ innings. It was the second time in four days that Rockies pitchers had been tagged for 17 or more runs in a game. The Reds beat Colorado 17-9 on Friday.

The Giants put together a seven-run third that included a two-run homer by Posey off Jesus Tinoco.

Crawford added an RBI single in the fourth, a two-run drive off Tinoco in the sixth and a two-run single in the ninth off Reynolds. Others in the San Francisco era with eight RBIs in a game are Willie Mays on April 30, 1961, and Orlando Cepeda on July 4, 1961.

TAKING THE MOUND

Reynolds made his second career pitching appearance when he pitched the ninth inning. He also pitched last July 8 against Miami while with Washington. Reynolds threw 21 pitches, 10 for strikes, and allowed two hits and two runs. He walked one and hit Posey in the back with a pitch when he tried to throw a curveball.

Posey glared at Reynolds as he walked to first, and Reynolds said after the game that Posey texted him to make sure he knew that he was just joking with him. Reynolds also said he didn't try another curveball and save for a changeup, stuck with fastballs the rest of the way.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Giants: 3B Evan Longoria was placed on the 10-day injured list because of left foot plantar fasciitis. His roster spot was filled by the recall of RHP Ray Black from Triple A-Sacramento. Longoria was lifted from Sunday's game at Milwaukee in the fifth inning because of left foot soreness.

26th MAN

The Giants had RHP Sam Coonrod as their 26th man for Monday's split doubleheader while the Rockies appointed RHP Yency Almonte. Both appeared in the first game. Coonrod threw a scoreless ninth and Almonte allowed a run and two hits in 2⅔ innings.

UP NEXT

Giants: RHP Dereck Rodriguez (3-5, 5.27 ERA) was scheduled to be recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to start Game 2 of the doubleheader.

Rockies: RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez (0-1, 6.00 ERA) was expected to be recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to start the second game.

NEW YORK -- Injured New York Yankees starter Luis Severino is so ready to get back on a big league pitcher's mound that he indicated Monday he would be comfortable changing his role, and pitching out of the bullpen, if necessary.

"I just want to pitch," Severino said, addressing reporters before the Yankees opened a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. "It doesn't matter where or when, in the bullpen or as a starter, I just want to pitch."

Severino's comments came as speculation started picking up steam in recent days that the Yankees could consider moving him out of the starting rotation once he returns from the right lat strain and shoulder issues that have derailed his season to this point.

The comments also came on the same day Severino resumed a throwing program, playing catch with fellow injured pitcher Dellin Betances, who was also throwing for the first time in this post-setback stage of his own recovery from a right lat strain. When manager Aaron Boone saw both pitchers early in the day, he wished them a "Happy Throwing Day."

In terms of Severino, just three weeks ago the right-hander was shut down for a second time this season after an MRI revealed the injury in the back of his throwing arm wasn't quite 100 percent healed. Just prior to the MRI, however, he had been previously cleared -- without an MRI -- and as a result, was in the middle of a throwing program. At the time, he and the Yankees believed he was finally moving past the arm/back troubles that have nagged him since he was scratched from a March spring training start.

"I'm real confident," Severino said Monday, indicating his belief in the current health of his right latissimus dorsi muscle. "Even the last time when they sent me back, I didn't feel nothing. Maybe they were afraid of something bigger happening. I just know that I feel good."

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman first hinted at the possibility of pitching Severino out of the bullpen on Friday during an interview with "MLB Network Radio" on Sirius XM. The belief is that because he wouldn't be asked to throw upward of 80 pitches on an every-five-day cycle late in his remaining rehab, Severino would have less time to get back to pitching if he was tasked instead with the considerably lighter reliever's workload.

The six weeks Cashman has been anticipating Severino would need in his rehab as a starting pitcher might be reduced by a few days if he's coming out of the bullpen.

"I want to be a starter," Severino said. "[But] if they talk to me and they need me quicker, I would say yes [to being a reliever]."

Boone hesitated to say whether or not the bullpen option was a real one for his ace, who went 19-8 with a 3.39 ERA and 220 strikeouts as a starter last season.

"We want to build him up, and hopefully the process goes smoothly and he gets built up that way," Boone said. "That being said, we'll probably continue to reevaluate him every couple of weeks to see where we're at, and to see what's going to make the most sense."

Earlier in his career, Severino did pitch out of the bullpen. He relieved 11 times in 2016, going 3-0 with a 0.39 ERA. In 23⅓ innings, he had 25 strikeouts. His past two seasons, however, he has been used exclusively a starter.

In addition to Severino's work in the outfield Monday, Betances made 25 throws from about 60 feet as his own throwing program resumed. Since he had previously built himself up to pitching off a mound and throwing to batters, he isn't expected to rehab quite as long as Severino.

Still, the righty reliever isn't trying to place a timeline on his own return. He, too, has had his share of false starts and setbacks after being originally shut down following a string of spring-training appearances. Betances, similarly, has yet to pitch in a big league game this season.

"For me, it's about bouncing back once I start facing hitters," Betances said of the next milestone he wants to reach. "That's what got me last time."

An MRI on Monday revealed that outfielder Mike Trout has a small strain in his right calf, and the Los Angeles Angels said their All-Star remains day-to-day.

Trout experienced soreness in his calf early in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Seattle Mariners, and he was removed to begin the third inning. He lobbied to remain in the game, but the team opted to exercise caution.

"I don't think it's a big deal," Trout said Sunday. He remained out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Houston Astros.

Trout is batting .305/.455/.666, putting him on a pace to capture his third MVP trophy. He's 12-for-32 with eight home runs in nine games this month.

ESPN's Alden Gonzalez contributed to this report.

Even with just a short week after the All-Star break to go on, our voters responded quickly to the rising fortunes of some teams to produce a few shake-ups as we embark upon the season's second half. While the Dodgers continue to reign atop our rankings, they once again could not claim every first-place vote and saw their margin narrow to a single ballot. Will the Yankees become the first team outside of L.A. or Houston to take the top slot during the regular season? With the Yankees due to take on a contending Rays team while the Dodgers pay the Phillies a visit, things could get very interesting.

Beyond that, this week's most notable feat was the Nationals' return to the top 10, completing an in-season comeback that saw them fall as far as No. 23 earlier this season. As recently as Week 10, the Nats were at No. 20. Now, they're all the way back to the front of the National League's wild-card pack and looking to shore up their roster at the trade deadline. The single biggest gain was made by the Diamondbacks, who moved up five spots, perhaps thanks to their sweeping the Rockies right before the break.

One distinction to note from this week's rankings: Six of the top eight teams are in the American League, and six of the bottom eight teams are also in the AL. Which puts the D-backs' big jump in perspective -- a good week or so can propel a team toward the top of the NL-dominated mushy middle in a league in which perhaps every team outside of the Marlins can still harbor some hopes of reaching the postseason. Yes, even the Mets -- for all their struggles this season, they're still just six games out!

Not everybody gets to improve, of course. The Indians were the team bumped by the Nationals from the top 10, dropping two rungs in the rankings. That decline tied with the Rockies, Cardinals and Brewers from the biggest decline in their fortunes with our panel of voters this week.

For Week 15, our panel of voters was composed of Bradford Doolittle, Christina Kahrl, Eric Karabell, Tim Kurkjian and David Schoenfield.

Previous: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

2019 record: 62-33
Week 14 ranking: 1

As if the Dodgers needed more help, they received a trio of major reinforcements to begin the second half when shortstop Corey Seager, center fielder A.J. Pollock and corner infielder David Freese were all activated off the injured list. Dave Roberts now has too many good players for his lineup. What a problem to have. -- Alden Gonzalez

ICYMI: How rebuilt Ryu reinvented himself to become MLB's most dominant pitcher

2. New York Yankees

2019 record: 59-32
Week 14 ranking: 2

Aaron Judge looks like he'll be carrying the dominant Yankees through the second half. The right fielder, who returned June 21 from a two-month injured list stint due to an oblique issue, is easing in at the plate. He had back-to-back multihit games over the weekend. Each of his four ground ball singles Saturday were walloped with exit velocities of over 100 mph. Since the All-Star break, Judge is batting .636 (7-for-11). -- Coley Harvey

ICYMI: How aggressive will Yankees be at trade deadline?

3. Minnesota Twins

2019 record: 58-34
Week 14 ranking: 4

The offseason acquisition of C.J. Cron, unceremoniously dumped by the Rays for financial reasons, has played a key role in Minnesota's meteoric rise in home runs. Minnesota's first basemen hit 17 home runs in total last season, with franchise icon Joe Mauer contributing six. Cron already has reached the 17 mark, and he is on pace for more than 30. Cron is on the injured list with a minor thumb injury, but he should return soon. -- Eric Karabell

ICYMI: Which pitcher should Twins target at trade deadline?

4. Houston Astros

2019 record: 59-35
Week 14 ranking: 3

The Astros split four in Texas as Yuli Gurriel continued his hot hitting with home runs Friday and Sunday. That's 11 home runs in his past 15 games, and he has raised his slugging percentage from .389 to .493. Meanwhile, Justin Verlander, hot off his comments about the juiced ball during the All-Star festivities, did not allow a home run in his start Sunday, as he improved to 11-4 with a 2.98 ERA. Verlander had allowed 12 home runs over his previous five starts, including three three-homer games. -- David Schoenfield

ICYMI: Who could be called up to help the Astros in the second half?

5. Atlanta Braves

2019 record: 57-37
Week 14 ranking: 5

Good way to start the second half: Sweep a series in San Diego with wins of 5-3, 7-5 in 10 innings and 4-1. A Braves All-Star played the hero on Sunday, as Freddie Freeman blasted a three-run homer in the eighth inning, and Mike Soroka tossed seven scoreless frames to improve to 10-1 with a 2.24 ERA. Soroka is on pace for 165 innings, which would qualify him for the ERA title. Since the mound was lowered in 1969, only three pitchers 21 or younger have had a lower ERA: Dwight Gooden (1.53 in 1985), Vida Blue (1.82 in 1971) and Jose Fernandez (2.19 in 2013). -- Schoenfield

ICYMI: Adding starting pitching a Braves priority at trade deadline

6. Tampa Bay Rays

2019 record: 55-40
Week 14 ranking: 6

The Ryne Stanek/Ryan Yarbrough combo has worked all season, never better than on Sunday, when the pair took a perfect game into the ninth inning -- trying to become the first combined perfect game in MLB history. It didn't happen, but the Rays improved to 17-9 in games that Stanek opens. Nate Lowe had a big weekend with three home runs and eight hits, and he has five home runs in his past seven games as he bids for regular playing time. -- Schoenfield

ICYMI: Where do Franco, McKay rank on Law's updated top 50 prospects?

7. Boston Red Sox

2019 record: 50-43
Week 14 ranking: 7

The acquisition of Andrew Cashner fills the hole left behind by Nathan Eovaldi, who will instead fill the closer's role once he returns off the injured list. Dave Dombrowski hopes Eovaldi's return will negate the need to add a reliever to the bullpen through a trade. The pen has been overworked due in large part due to the lack of consistency from the grab bag of starters who have filled the fifth spot this season while posting a 6.79 ERA. -- Joon Lee

ICYMI: Dombrowski on the spot to deliver at the trade deadline

8. Oakland Athletics

2019 record: 53-41
Week 14 ranking: 8

To get their second half started on the right foot, the A's sealed a sweep of the White Sox with their sixth walk-off win of the season. They got quality starts from Mike Fiers, Chris Bassitt and Brett Anderson in the series, and Oakland is now second only to Houston in the AL in quality starts. That didn't stop the A's from shoring up their staff by acquiring veteran Homer Bailey from the Royals. -- Kahrl

9. Washington Nationals

2019 record: 49-43
Week 14 ranking: 11

Washington has baseball's best record since Memorial Day (27-12), and the bullpen formerly known as a dumpster fire is a big reason why. During that time, Nationals relievers have a 4.09 ERA (seventh in MLB). The addition of 42-year-old Fernando Rodney has helped, but the pen is still thin. GM Mike Rizzo has for traded for relievers in the three of the last four Julys. Look for him to do it again. -- Eddie Matz

ICYMI: Best second-half MLB World Series futures value bets

10. Chicago Cubs

2019 record: 50-43
Week 14 ranking: 10

The Cubs began the second half with a bang, sweeping the Pirates behind Jason Heyward's six hits over the weekend, including a winning home run in an 8-3 victory Sunday. It has been rare for Heyward to carry the Cubs, but combined with his defense and baserunning, he was a one-man wrecking crew against the Pirates. He is hitting .310 in July and has been one of the more consistent players for the first-place team. -- Jesse Rogers

ICYMI: Among other things, Cubs playing to save Maddon's job in second half

11. Cleveland Indians

2019 record: 51-40
Week 13 ranking: 9

A big second half from infielder Jose Ramirez would certainly be crucial for Cleveland's offense, but there is little indication that will happen. Ramirez hit .218 with a .793 OPS in the second half of the 2018 season. He hit .218 with a .652 OPS in the first half of this season. Ramirez continues to draw walks and steal bases, but he is swinging at more pitches outside the strike zone and doing little with them, and his new approach of trying to hit to the opposite field isn't working. -- Karabell

ICYMI: Can the Tribe catch the Twins?

12. Texas Rangers

2019 record: 50-44
Week 14 ranking: 13

Right-hander Lance Lynn opened the season's second half with seven shutout innings against the Astros, striking out 11 against two walks. He has won five consecutive outings; and he has provided seven or more innings in each performance -- and in 10 of his 19 starts. His strikeout rate has never been better. On a team with a bullpen in the bottom half of the league in ERA, those innings are especially welcome. Lynn's three-year, $30 million contract seemed odd for a rebuilding team, but he has turned his career around, and the Rangers are contenders. -- Karabell

ICYMI: Are Rangers deadline sellers?

13. Arizona Diamondbacks

2019 record: 47-47
Week 14 ranking: 18

First baseman Christian Walker entered 2019 with terrific minor league numbers, notably for power, but with 99 career plate appearances in the majors over four seasons and a .170 batting average. However, Walker has steadily replaced franchise icon Paul Goldschmidt, traded to St. Louis last offseason, and continues to prove he belongs in the big leagues. Walker has nearly identical numbers for home and road games, and the right-handed batter has hit better against same-sided pitching. Ultimately, his rise is no fluke. -- Karabell

ICYMI: Greinke to Cardinals a deal we want to see

14. Milwaukee Brewers

2019 record: 48-46
Week 14 ranking: 12

The Brewers have now lost three series in a row after the Giants took two of three in Milwaukee. Josh Hader struggled Friday, giving up two home runs. Remarkably, he has allowed 17 hits in 45 innings on the season -- but nine of them have been home runs. Yes, he has allowed nine home runs and just six singles. -- Schoenfield

ICYMI: Brewers sign Miller to minor-league deal

15. Philadelphia Phillies

2019 record: 48-45
Week 14 ranking: 16

At some point, the Phillies will likely either promote or trade outfielder Nick Williams, as he is proving to be too good for Triple-A. Williams recently finished off a 24-game hitting streak, having hit .422 and slugged .733 in that time, for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Williams hit 17 home runs for the 2018 Phillies, but he has struggled in erratic playing time in the majors this season. He is not a center fielder, so where does he fit in? It might have to be with another organization. -- Karabell

ICYMI: Arrieta to pitch as Phils evaluate elbow

16. St. Louis Cardinals

2019 record: 46-45
Week 14 ranking: 14

The Cardinals have struggled with rotation inconsistency for much of the season, but Daniel Ponce de Leon stepped up in a big way when Adam Wainwright had to be scratched from his first post-break assignment and pushed back to Sunday. After de Leon's 6⅔ quality frames, he now has a 1.98 ERA in eight career starts and a 2.37 career ERA in 64⅔ IP over parts of two seasons. He earned another start Wednesday, and he will aim to lock his rotation spot down. -- Tristan H. Cockcroft

ICYMI: Cards place Molina on injured list

17. Colorado Rockies

2019 record: 46-46
Week 14 ranking: 15

Kyle Freeland's 2019 campaign has been about as disastrous as his 2018 was brilliant, and the Rockies' decision to reinstall him into their rotation after the break went about as poorly as his first stint: five runs, nine hits, four innings pitched. The Rockies now have the NL's worst team ERA (5.29), and if they're to make up ground in the wild-card race, they'll surely need to address their rotation before the trade deadline. -- Cockcroft

18. Los Angeles Angels

2019 record: 48-46
Week 14 ranking: 19

The Angels put together one of the most memorable performances in recent history, scoring seven first-inning runs and combining to throw a no-hitter on the day every player wore their late teammate Tyler Skaggs' jersey. It was uplifting and emotionally therapeutic. But the problem beckons, sadly even more so now: The starting rotation is simply not good enough. -- Gonzalez

ICYMI: Angels throw no-hitter on night to honor Skaggs

19. Cincinnati Reds

2019 record: 42-48
Week 14 ranking: 17

Sonny Gray continued to pace the strong-performing Reds pitching staff in their second-half opener, tossing seven innings of one-run, nine-strikeout baseball for what was his third consecutive quality start and the third-best start at Coors Field by a visiting starter this season (going by game score). If the Reds are to make up ground in the NL Central and/or wild-card races, they'll need continued success from the MLB's third-best staff (3.85 ERA). -- Cockcroft

20. Pittsburgh Pirates

2019 record: 44-48
Week 14 ranking: 20

Starling Marte has been the Pirates' hottest hitter since the break, with three home runs in his first two games back, but the rest of the lineup has struggled. It was quite a disappointing showing for this offense that was one of the hottest in baseball heading into the break, with six games of double-digit runs among Pittsburgh's final 21 in the first half. -- Cockcroft

ICYMI: Cervelli 'never said I don't want to catch'

21. San Diego Padres

2019 record: 45-48
Week 14 ranking: 21

Poor recent performance could transform the Padres into deadline sellers -- though they're just three games out of a wild-card spot -- but how they handle their rotation will be a big question for their second half. Dinelson Lamet, now two starts removed from Tommy John surgery, has shown good swing-and-miss stuff similar to his pre-surgery form with 14 K's in 10 frames, and he'll probably get a lengthier look if the team turns the page to 2020. -- Cockcroft

ICYMI: Fernando Tatis Jr. and MLB's Most Exciting Player every year since he was born

22. San Francisco Giants

2019 record: 43-49
Week 14 ranking: 24

Evan Longoria has rediscovered his power stroke in July after going almost a month without a home run, pasting six homers so far this month to raise his OPS almost 100 points. His launch angles have improved, his exit velocity is up 5 mph, and he is pulling the ball with authority. Whether it's a transient victory in the game of adjustments or a return to sustained excellence, with three years left to run on his contract beyond 2019, the Giants have the time to find out and hope it's the former. -- Kahrl

ICYMI: Could MadBum be moved at the deadline?

23. Chicago White Sox

2019 record: 42-47
Week 14 ranking: 22

Let's give Yoan Moncada some love for a breakthrough in his age-24 season. He is in the AL top 10 in wOBA, joining fellow third basemen Alex Bregman, Matt Chapman and Rafael Devers in what is suddenly a position packed with young stars. The switch-hitter has fairly even splits from both sides of the plate as well and home/road, and he has made an effective adjustment to third base. -- Kahrl

ICYMI: MLB's first pole-to-pole net up at ChiSox park

24. New York Mets

2019 record: 42-51
Week 14 ranking: 23

While surely not the player he used to be, give Todd Frazier some credit. Frazier hit .274 with eight home runs and 23 RBIs in June -- and with more walks than strikeouts. He made news recently for his repeated plunkings by Phillies pitchers, but Frazier is hitting nicely, and he could be a useful part to a contender in a trade. Frazier hit .213 in each of the past two full seasons, but he seems rejuvenated. -- Karabell

ICYMI: Mets GM among those to watch at the trade deadline

25. Seattle Mariners

2019 record: 39-58
Week 14 ranking: 25

How not to show up after the All-Star break: Get no-hit while losing 13-0 with three errors; lose 9-2 to Matt Harvey; and lose 6-3 on a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth while striking out 15 times. Roenis Elias, maybe the one veteran left with some trade value, didn't help that trade value by serving up that game-losing home run to Matt Thaiss (his first in the majors). -- Schoenfield

ICYMI: M's prospects on the rise on Law's midseason top 50

26. Toronto Blue Jays

2019 record: 35-59
Week 14 ranking: 26

In what could be one of his final starts with the Blue Jays, Marcus Stroman lost 4-2 to the Yankees on Sunday as he allowed three runs in six innings. In his first six career starts against the Yankees, Stroman went 5-1 with a 2.39 ERA; over his past 11 starts, he has gone 1-5 with a 5.46 ERA. -- Schoenfield

ICYMI: Insider Vladdy Jr.'s incredible HR Derby performance

27. Miami Marlins

2019 record: 34-57
Week 14 ranking: 27

Suffice to say that Sandy Alcantara made for a fairly unusual All-Star selection, though he spun a shutout inning in the NL's latest losing effort. He has just six quality starts in 18 turns so far this season, ranking next to last in strikeout rate among NL starters, with the sixth-highest walk rate. However, the 23-year-old is doing a good job of suppressing home runs, no easy feat in this homer-happy season. -- Kahrl

28. Kansas City Royals

2019 record: 32-62
Week 14 ranking: 28

Dealing away Homer Bailey was a sensible flip of a reclamation project, but with the Royals facing the likelihood of a second consecutive 100-loss season, they should be ready to entertain offers on almost every player, including Jorge Soler and Hunter Dozier -- both already in their age-27 seasons -- to capitalize on any value they have in contenders' eyes. Also of possible intrigue would be Whit Merrifield, who at 30 and locked into a team-friendly deal through his age-34 season could bring back something of serious long-term value. -- Kahrl

ICYMI: Royals finally call up 2011 first-rounder Bubba Starling

29. Detroit Tigers

2019 record: 29-59
Week 14 ranking: 29

The Tigers are handily the worst team in the major leagues since June 1, notching just seven wins in that time. If they keep up that feeble pace -- while also facing the likelihood they'll be dealing some or all of Matthew Boyd, Shane Greene and/or Nicholas Castellanos and fielding an even worse team -- they're on track for another 119-loss season, matching the franchise's infamous low-water mark of 2003. -- Kahrl

30. Baltimore Orioles

2019 record: 28-65
Week 14 ranking: 30

The O's are a respectable 6-7 over their past 13 games and are no longer on pace to break the record for worst run differential in a season. But with the departure of Andrew Cashner -- the veteran righty was traded to Boston over the weekend after going 9-3 with an ERA under 4.00 -- that differential could start to slide back down in a hurry. -- Matz