4 must-see matchups for Mariners' Kade Anderson, Ryan Sloan duo in Futures Game

The rosters dropped for the 2026 Futures Game on Wednesday, and Kade Anderson's worst nightmare (he said, winking) has been realized with a spot on the American League squad. But at least he'll have a familiar face joining him, in fellow Seattle Mariners super-prospect Ryan Sloan.

Depending on who you ask, these are the two best pitching prospects in baseball. MLB Pipeline prefers the left-handed Anderson. Baseball America prefers the right-handed Sloan. Either way, the fact that both are in the same system gives Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto "look on my works, ye mighty" bragging rights.

As far as what will happen with Anderson and Sloan in the Futures Games — set for July 12 in Philadelphia — you just never know with these things. But if nothing else, it's fair game to hope for fun matchups.

2 maximum-fun matchups for Ryan Sloan in the 2026 Futures Game

The book on Sloan is that he might be too good for a 20-year-old who's not even two years removed from getting drafted out of high school. He's a 6-foot-5, 220-pounder with three plus pitches and good command of the strike zone. In 139 total minor league innings, he's struck out 162 batters and walked only 27.

SS Jesús Made, Milwaukee Brewers

No. 1 pitching prospect, meet No. 1 position prospect? That would be the selling point of a Sloan vs. Made showdown, at least to the extent that the latter is considered the No. 1 prospect in baseball. The 19-year-old Made is hitting .289 through 69 games with Double-A Biloxi, and only getting warmer. He hit .314 in June, with 14 strikeouts against eight walks in 95 plate appearances.

Sloan and Made faced each other as part of a Spring Breakout matchup between Brewers and Mariners prospects in March. Sloan got the better of Made in the first inning, inducing him to pop out to Colt Emerson.

OF Josue De Paula, Los Angeles Dodgers

Whereas Made is a switch-hitter who's batting .356 as a righty against lefties, he's "only" batting .274 as a lefty against righties. As such, De Paula could present the tougher matchup for Sloan. He's the best outfield prospect in the league largely because of an oh-so-sweet lefty swing. He's batting .322 at Double-A, and all 15 of his homers have come against righties.

Sloan and De Paula have seen each other on multiple occasions in games between Arkansas and Tulsa. De Paula is still looking for a hit off Sloan, as he's 0-for-2 with a walk against him.

2 maximum-fun matchups for Kade Anderson in the 2026 Futures Game

What is there to say about Anderson other than he's ridiculous? The 21-year-old has begun his pro career by allowing just nine earned runs in 13 starts for Double-A Arkansas, with 99 strikeouts against 37 hits and 10 walks allowed in 66.2 innings.

SS Eli Willits, Washington Nationals

Call it a battle between the guy who was supposed to go No. 1 in the 2025 draft and the guy actually did. As bold as Washington's pick of Willis seemed at the time, he's been a sensation in his first full pro season. In 64 games spanning Single-A and High-A, he's posted a .932 OPS with 12 home runs and 37 stolen bases.

Willits is a switch-hitter who's looked stronger from the right side, batting .298 with a .968 OPS against lefties. He would nonetheless have his work cut out for him against Anderson, who has eviscerated righty batters for a .154 average.

SS Luis Peña, Milwaukee Brewers

Yes, the Brewers have not one, but two elite shortstop prospects. MLB Pipeline has Peña ranked at No. 18 overall, largely owing to a dangerous right-handed swing that should make him an above-average hitter with power in the majors.

More to the point, Peña crushes left-handers. He hit .480 against them in 2024, followed by a .337 average in 2025 and a .429 average so far in 2026. If he and Anderson meet again — Peña flew out against Anderson in the Spring Breakout game — it'll be an unstoppable force vs. an immovable object.

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