Jun 30, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee (28) reacts after a run scored on an error by left fielder Cooper Ingle (not pictured) during the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
✅ Cleveland Guardians score runs in just 1 of 9 innings ✅ Tanner Bibee gives up the exact number of earned runs he leads by ✅ Bibee gets ridiculous and completely undeserved Loss ✅ Shawn Armstrong enters and allows home run
It was another infuriating game of baseball for Guardians fans to watch last night. 2 runs for Grant Fink’s offense. Both in the 1st inning. Bibee gave them back in the third. Cooper Ingle blew the lead in the 7th by not knowing how many outs there were. And Armstrong gave up the dinger in the 8th.
On the bright side, Chase DeLauter looked awesome against Jacob deGrom.
And Braylon Doughty got promoted to AA. My favorite pitching prospect since Biebs.
How bad is that Guardians offense?
• The pitcher who shut them down on Monday night, Chris Paddack, was immediately DFA’d after he completed the only task Texas signed him for. They know Paddack sucks—he has an ERA near 10 against the rest of baseball—but he consistently dominates Cleveland because Grant Fink’s offense never adjusts to anything.
I expect another team to employ this same strategy before the season ends. Could the White Sox do it this weekend?
An unexpected option may have just emerged for the Colorado Avalanche as they continue navigating NHL free agency.
Veteran forward Jonathan Drouin is once again available after the St. Louis Blues placed him on unconditional waivers Tuesday for the purpose of buying out the final season of his contract. With the NHL's buyout window now officially closed, Drouin becomes one of the more intriguing unrestricted veterans still on the market—and a familiar name for Colorado.
Drouin's stint in St. Louis proved to be brief. Acquired from the New York Islanders in a March trade that sent Blues captain Brayden Schenn to New York, the 31-year-old appeared in just nine games, recording one goal and two assists before the organization elected to move on. He had one year remaining on a contract carrying a $4 million cap hit.
Before arriving in St. Louis, Drouin spent two productive seasons with the Avalanche, where he revitalized his NHL career alongside longtime friend Nathan MacKinnon. The pair first became teammates with the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL before reaching the NHL together years later, and their chemistry translated immediately in Denver.
Over 122 regular-season games with Colorado, Drouin totaled 30 goals and 63 assists for 93 points, becoming a reliable top-six contributor and an important part of one of the league's highest-scoring offenses. His playmaking ability and familiarity with head coach Jared Bednar's system made him a seamless fit throughout his time with the Avalanche.
Following the 2025-26 season, Drouin made it no secret that he hoped to remain in Colorado, expressing a desire to continue his career with the organization. Instead, he ultimately landed in St. Louis, where his stay lasted less than three months before ending with Tuesday's buyout.
Originally selected third overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2013 NHL Draft, Drouin has appeared in 671 NHL games, compiling 111 goals and 287 assists over his career.
Colorado's offseason priorities remain centered on improving its roster, with the front office still expected to explore additional help up front and potentially add another defenseman. But with Drouin suddenly back on the open market—and his history with both the organization and MacKinnon well established—the circumstances have changed.
Whether that opens the door for a reunion is another question entirely, but one that has suddenly become much more interesting.
Monday’s ABC Four Corners episode looked at the life and death of Nick Lowden, who at 23 was the youngest footballer to be diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE affects participants in collision and combat sports – having been first identified in boxers nearly a century ago – as well as soldiers and domestic violence victims. “Why am I like this?” Lowden asked his mother. “What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with my brain?”
The worst of these stories end up in the flat, neutral tone of coroner’s reports. In 408 subheadings, John Cain’s inquest into the death of Shane Tuck documented what CTE does to the brain, the lives of athletes and their loved ones. The Tuck and Lowden families spoke of young men who didn’t understand what was happening to them, who drew on their athlete’s instinct to fight, and who eventually retreated. Nothing I have read about a footballer has been so crushing as Cain’s detached description of the final 24 hours of Tuck’s life.
The Utah Mammoth have made it clear that their trade for Sebastian Cossa was about more than adding organizational depth.
Just days after acquiring the former first-round pick from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for the 23rd overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft, Utah announced Wednesday that the 23-year-old goaltender has signed a two-year contract carrying an average annual value of $2 million. The deal immediately solidifies Cossa as a central piece of the organization's long-term plans between the pipes.
Cossa arrives in Utah after spending the past four seasons developing with the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins, where he established himself as one of the league's top young goaltenders. He owns a career 70-33-19 record with a 2.46 goals-against average, a .911 save percentage and eight shutouts across 123 regular-season appearances.
His strongest campaign came in 2025-26, when he posted a 26-8-4 record, a 2.33 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage while recording five shutouts in 39 games. The performance earned him his second consecutive selection to the AHL All-Star Game after also receiving the honor in 2025.
Although most of his professional experience has come in the AHL, Cossa has already made his NHL debut. He appeared in his first game with the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 9, 2024, stopping 12 of 14 shots to earn his first career victory against the Buffalo Sabres.
Before beginning his professional career, Cossa emerged as one of the premier goaltending prospects in junior hockey with the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings. He compiled a 71-16-7 record with a 2.12 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage and 14 shutouts over 98 games from 2019 through 2022.
His dominance was particularly evident during the 2020-21 season, when he led the WHL with a 1.57 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage. One season later, he backstopped the Oil Kings to a league championship, finishing the postseason with a 16-3 record, a 1.93 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage and five shutouts in 19 playoff appearances.
That championship run also carries a familiar connection for Utah. Cossa spent all three of his WHL seasons alongside current Mammoth forward Dylan Guenther, giving the two an opportunity to reunite as teammates at the NHL level.
Internationally, the Hamilton, Ontario, native captured a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship after previously representing Team Canada White at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
Originally selected 15th overall by the Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Draft, Cossa now joins the Mammoth with a proven track record of success at every level he has played. By following last week's trade with a new contract, Utah has made an early statement that it views the towering netminder as an important part of the franchise's future.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 30: Julio Rodríguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates an 8-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park on June 30, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Like a rollercoaster built by a particularly unimaginative person, tonight’s Mariners game was slow and boring for the first two-thirds, then suddenly rocketed into being fun late. By the time it was over the score was 8-3 and the Mariners offense had somehow not only blown past their former three-run-per-game cap (Rest in Pieces, hopefully never to be seen again), but managed to score all those runs without a homer for the first time in four years. For a team that’s built on on-base and slug, tonight was a lot of death by papercuts inflicted on the Angels bullpen, appropriately ending what’s been a weird June in a weird way – and yet also not, because with this win the Mariners end June at 13-14 for the month, the exact same way they ended June of 2025. Could this boring back-loaded rollercoaster metaphor bear out over the whole season? Reader, we shall see.
Bryan Woo turned in another solid start in what’s been a fairly uneven season for him so far, bobbing and weaving through some bad-luck BABIP hits and fielding miscues behind him; he didn’t have to deal with more than one baserunner until the fifth, when perpetual thorn in Mariners side Jo Adell reached on a throwing error from Colt Emerson and then Woo , maybe shaken, walked his next hitter, Josh Lowe, who is currently running a robust 4% walk rate. Woo rebounded to get out of trouble, getting three straight weakly-hit outs, and then roared through the sixth with a quick 1-2-3 inning against the top of the Angels lineup.
But the Mariners offense limped through those first five innings, tonight missing both Luke Raley and Dominic Canzone, both getting in an extra day of rest before tomorrow’s off-day. The Mariners couldn’t get anything going off Jose Soriano, putting him in a time machine and transporting him back to his early dominant days of the 2026 season despite some wandering command. Soriano struck out nine Mariners over five innings, as they chased after both cutters up and curveballs down, scattering just three hits across the first five frames.
The Mariners finally broke the deadlock in the sixth, finally stringing together some hits against Soriano, and we’re saying finally twice (thrice!) because that’s how finally it felt. Julio Rodríguez, leading off the inning, jumped on the first pitch he saw, a slider, for a single. Josh Naylor then worked a slightly longer at-bat before getting a fastball he could dump up the middle for a single of his own. The Mariners got their first run of the day – and the first run of the game – on a third consecutive single from Randy Arozarena, who took Soriano’s splitter and scorched it into left field, bringing in Julio from second easily.
That * explosion of offense * caused Angels manager Kurt Suzuki (curséd sentence) to call upon Chase Silseth, who sounds like if a Star Wars character went to a fancy boarding school, to face Cal Raleigh. It’s been a struggle for the Big Dumper, and while we would have loved to see a refreshing rainmaking Dump in the form of a home run, Cal’s smug face here on an overturned strike three that flipped to a walk – a challenge that risked what would have been the Mariners’ last challenge of the day after an ill-considered challenge by Naylor in the first – is pretty sweet succor.
Cole Young was the hero of last night’s game with his two-homer effort and he continued to produce at the plate today, smoking a splitter from Silseth (say that three times fast) at 101 mph into right field, bringing in Naylor from third. A wild pitch brought home another run and suddenly the Mariners had hit their three-run cap. After the next two batters made outs – Colt Emerson struck out on a borderline pitch challenged by Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe, and Victor Robles struck out on seven pitches, nary a one of which approached the plate – it seemed like that’s where the inning, and possibly the run-scoring, would grind to a halt, with Weston Wilson – owner of two strikeouts already on the day – due up. But Wilson got a sinker on the plate and was able to just knock it over the head of a leaping Nolan Schanuel to bring in another pair of runs.
It’s a good thing the Mariners did add on, because the Angels did their own version of breaking the game open in the seventh after Bryan Woo exited the game with one out, having given up another bad-luck leadoff single on a changeup to Wade Meckler and, a batter later, losing a nine-pitch battle to pesky Josh Lowe that ended in a single on the slider.
Eduard Bazardo was called upon to stop the bleeding and he did not, giving up an RBI single to the first batter he saw, Logan O’Hoppe, on a poorly-located sinker. Bazardo then worsened the situation by walking nine-hole hitter and former Mariner Donovan Walton, bringing up Zach Neto, who tattooed a sinker right back up the middle for a two-RBI single, drawing the game to 5-3. Sinkers? More like stinkers on this part of the rollercoaster (bad, pejorative, creaky).
Things could have gotten worse from there, as Vaughn Grissom dunked a pitch shallowly into right field that Weston/Wilson – who has played some outfield but almost exclusively in left field – couldn’t quite get to, diving but having the ball pop out of his glove. WesWil smartly came up firing, though, and was able to get the ball in for a force on Neto, caught between second and third as Walton remained at second, having to hold up to see if the ball was caught. Bazardo was able to get Schanuel to fly out harmlessly to end the inning, but things were considerably tighter than they had been, with just two runs left to ensure that another strong start from a Mariners starter wouldn’t be squandered.
However, here’s where the rollercoaster (fun, complimentary, whoo-hoo-hands) gets cranking again. The Mariners were able to open up the lead again the seventh against veteran lefty Brent Suter. Julio led off with a hard-struck single up the middle, moving to third on a one-out double by Arozarena. But Cal had a tough at-bat against Suter, going down on three pitches for the second out, putting the onus on the two young lefties at the bottom of the lineup – Cole and Colt, whose ages combined are a mere six years older than Suter. Cole started off by working an excellent ten-pitch plate appearance culminating in a walk, fouling off pitch after pitch and refusing to expand against the veteran. Hooray for Cole. Then Colt, not to be outdone, parachuted a little fly-ball single on the first pitch he saw into left field for another two runs of insurance.
It was a particularly nice moment for Emerson, who struggled yesterday, going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. But Emerson immediately gave all the credit to his teammate Young for working a long at-bat and forcing Suter to show his hand.
“Cole Young having the 10-pitch at-bat against Suter – that’s a really great pitcher, and seeing him do that gave me all the confidence in the world to go up there and be myself,” Emerson said. “Kind of saw everything Suter had to throw at that point – Cole got multiple changeups, you know no one practices lefty-lefty changeups, so seeing that fitght was just outstanding. I’m so happy for him.”
With a five-run lead, Dan Wilson opted to give Michael Rucker a chance at redemption against the middle part of the Angels order. Rucker walked the first hitter he saw, Jorge Soler, and then fell behind his next hitter 1-0, but was able to get Meckler to ground into a double play on the second pitch, a well-located four-seamer at the top of the zone, and then got another ground ball out off the bat of Adell for a scoreless inning. Andrés Muñoz, in to get a little work before the off-day, shut the door in the ninth with authority, and that was that. A solid team win, and they didn’t even have to homer about it. Now the calendar flips to July, and the All-Star Break, and hopefully some hotter Mariners hitting to go with the warmer temperatures.
The Los Angeles Kings could be preparing to address one of their offseason priorities as NHL free agency approaches.
With veteran forward Scott Laughton widely expected to move on when the market opens July 1, Los Angeles is expected to explore options to reinforce its forward depth. One name that has already surfaced is veteran winger Erik Haula, whom NHL insider Elliotte Friedman believes could be headed to the Kings.
Speaking on The Game Nashville, Friedman was asked whether he had heard of any potential free-agent destinations before the market officially opens. Haula was the first player he mentioned.
"The one name I did hear is that Erik Haula might end up in LA," Friedman said.
Haula would bring experience, versatility, and secondary offense to a Kings roster looking to add reliable depth under new head coach Peter Laviolette. The 35-year-old has spent parts of 14 NHL seasons with seven different organizations and has built a reputation as a dependable two-way forward capable of contributing throughout the lineup.
He spent the 2025-26 season with the Nashville Predators, recording 14 goals and 38 points in 81 games. Across 840 career NHL contests, Haula has totaled 147 goals and 375 points while logging minutes in a variety of offensive and defensive roles.
For Los Angeles, the fit makes sense beyond the production. If Laughton leaves as expected, the Kings will have another opening among their veteran forwards, making an experienced player like Haula a logical target. He offers lineup flexibility, playoff experience, and should come at a manageable price compared to some of the higher-profile options available in free agency.
Haula is coming off a three-year, $9.45 million contract and is expected to command a similar annual salary on a shorter-term deal. A one- or two-year contract in the $3 million to $4 million average annual value range appears to be a realistic projection despite the NHL's rising salary cap.
Because Haula is 35 years old, he is also eligible to sign a one-year contract that includes performance bonuses. That structure could provide additional flexibility for the Kings, who have roughly $11 million in available salary cap space entering free agency. A deal with a lower guaranteed salary and attainable performance incentives could allow Los Angeles to maximize its cap flexibility while adding another proven veteran to its forward group.
Roberts served as interim manager for the San Diego Padres on June 15, 2015, following the Padres’ decision to fire Bud Black. The Padres suffered a 9-1 loss to the Athletics at Petco Park. Pat Murphy was then hired to take over as interim manager for the rest of that season.
Roberts was hired by Los Angeles in 2016 and finished that season as the Manager of the Year after leading the Dodgers to a 91-71 record.
He’s won three World Series titles and five National League pennants during his tenure.
When do Dodgers play next?
The Dodgers will play the final game of a three-game series against the Athletics on Wednesday, July 1. The game will start at 6:40 p.m. PT.
Jun 30, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte tosses his bat after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Dbacks needed a big start from Brandon Pfaadt, and he was able to deliver on Tuesday night in his first start back in the major league rotation. Early on in the game, many fans were quick to note some mechanical changes to Pfaadt’s delivery as he started on the 1st base side of the rubber and seemed to go away from bringing his hands over his head to initiate his windup. His motion definitely appear a lot cleaner. He was able to give them 5.1 innings giving up just 3 hits and 1 run and was super-efficient needing just 66 pitches to pitch into the 6th inning. Pfaadt’s start definitely set the tone for the game as the Dbacks battled to get back above .500.
On the offensive side, the Lourdes Gurriel Jr hot streak watch is also officially on as he homered in the first inning with 2 on and is now 8 for his last 22 with 4 doubles and a home run. We all know what it can look like when Lourdes gets on a heater, and fortunately for the Dbacks it may be coming at the perfect time as they desperately need the offense. Later in the game, Ketel Marte homered in his 4th straight game tying a franchise record. An absolute no doubter on an 0-2 pitch that went 431 feet. This is such a great sign to see for the budding all star as he continues his recent tear. Max Kepler was also able to collect his first hits as a Dback tonight as he doubled in the bottom of the first inning and later singled. A good sign for the recent pickup.
Tonight was all Dbacks as they won their franchise record 8th straight game against a single team to start the season. They have had the Giants number all season, and this series could have come at a better time.
The Dbacks will go for a 3 game sweep tomorrow evening as they send Zac Gallen to the mound as he looks to right the ship. A sweep would be great to see for this team after they were just swept themselves this past weekend, especially considering they are gearing up for a tough series against the red-hot Milwaukee Brewers this weekend.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 06: Tatsuya Imai #45 of the Houston Astros throws warm up pitches before the second inning during the game against the Athletics at Daikin Park on June 06, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s not a surprise that when the Astros get solid pitching, their winning percentage is very high. for years I’ve called it the Astros’ Rule of 4. Their record when giving up 4 or less runs has been incredibly high.
This season, when the Astros allow 4 runs or less, they are 32-10. That’s a .762 winning percentage. For a team that is 43-45 overall, that is a staggering number that indicates a clear line of winning demarcation.
Despite the fact they have had some inconsistent performances from some key members of the rotation and they have been hit hard by pitching injuries for the third straight year, the pitching continues to be the key to victory for Houston.
Taking a look at their current rotation, and taking into consideration the performances of these pitchers, which Astros SP do you believe will lead the team in wins at the end of the season?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Astros fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Jun 30, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) slides into home plate before scoring a run on an RBI single by Athletics designated hitter Jonah Heim, not shown, during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn Images | Scott Marshall-Imagn Images
The Athletics took on the MLB-leading Los Angeles Dodgers in game 2 of a three-game series at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. For a second straight night, the A’s were no match for the Dodgers, who coasted to a 9-3 victory, securing the series with a game to spare and sending the hosts to their fourth straight defeat.
Early Offense
A’s starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs got off to a rough start. The Dodgers scored two runs in the top of the first, as shortstop Mookie Betts hit an RBI single and then left fielder Teoscar Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly.
The Athletics immediately got a run back against Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski. With one out, catcher Shea Langeliers hit an infield single. He then scored from first on designated hitter Jonah Heim’s two-out RBI single off the right field wall. The A’s could have scored more, but Los Angeles’ third baseman Tommy Edman made a nice diving play to end the inning.
It looked like the Dodgers would add to their lead after the first two batters of the second inning reached on an A’s fielding error and a walk. However, Springs buckled down, retiring the next three hitters to escape the jam and keep his team’s deficit at one run.
What to do about Springs
Springs’ home run issues resurfaced in the third inning. With two outs and two runners on, Edman crushed the first pitch he saw over the center-field fence for his first home run of the season, giving the visitors a 5-1 lead.
A’s Waste First RISP Chance
In the top of the fifth, A’s second baseman Joshua Kuroda-Grauer made his second nice catch of the night on a popup in the shallow outfield. In the bottom of that frame, the Athletics stranded third baseman Max Muncy at second after his one-out double down the left field line.
The A’s left Springs in to pitch the sixth inning, a decision that backfired when Dodgers’ second baseman Miguel Rojas led off the inning with a solo home run to left, his third of the season.
A’s manager Mark Kotsay removed Springs after he walked Shohei Ohtani. The left-hander struggled once again, allowing six runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked four, only struck out two and served up two more long balls. Right-hander Elvis Alvarado replaced Springs, recording the final two outs of that inning.
Dodgers Dominating Again
The Dodgers scored three more runs in the seventh against A’s reliever Geoff Hartlieb. The rally began when A’s left fielder Joey Meneses failed to catch a fly ball off Betts’ bat. A few batters later, Meneses misplayed Edman’s RBI single that brought home the Dodgers’ seventh run.
The next batter, Rojas, hit a sacrifice fly to bring home his team’s eighth run of the evening. Dodgers’ catcher Dalton Rushing then followed with a two-out single, marking the second straight night the Dodgers scored nine runs.
Colby Jack
In the bottom of the seventh, the A’s scored for the first time since the first inning. Right fielder Colby Thomas homered for the second straight night, his fourth of the season, making it a 9-3 game.
ATH – Colby Thomas 2-run HR (4)
📏 424 ft | 💨 104.9 mph | 📐 35° ⚾️ 86.7 mph slider (LAD – LHP Justin Wrobleski) 🏟️ Out in 29/30 parks (❌ COL)
Wrobleski continued his impressive start to the season, limiting the A’s to three runs on seven hits over seven innings while striking out a career-high 11 batters on a career-high 110 pitches.
The A’s comeback attempt stopped there, as they went down quietly against Dodgers’ relievers Brock Stewart and Wyatt Mills.
Through two games, the Dodgers outscored the Athletics 18-7, racking up 31 hits and five home runs against the Green and Gold’s subpar pitching staff. The win marked Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ 1,000th career victory, a milestone reached faster than any other manager in MLB history.
The further the Athletics fall below .500, the harder it will be to dig out of the hole. With the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners all playing well, the A’s need to figure things out sooner than later.
Tomorrow, the “Green and Gold” look to salvage the final game of this series. Right-hander J.T. Ginn will start, aiming to help his team end its four game losing streak. Ohtani was supposed to pitch the series finale, but the Dodgers are moving his next start to Friday, choosing to roll with a bullpen game rather than waste an Ohtani start at this minor-league stadium.
Jun 30, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) reacts after hitting a home run during the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images | William Purnell-Imagn Images
Yesterday’s off day following five straight wins wasn’t enough to slow down the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night in Kansas City. The offense remained hot putting up a ten spot on the Royals as the Rays rolled to their sixth consecutive victory.
The Rays trailed early in this one as Griffin Jax surrendered a first inning homer to Carter Jensen. The solo shot, his twelfth of the year, gave the Royals a 1-0 lead. However, the Rays answered in a big way in the top of the third.
Leading off the third, Nick Fortes dropped a bunt down the third base line and reach second on a throwing error by Nick Loftin. Yandy Diaz walked and Aranda quickly followed with a RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. With runners at the corners and nobody out, the red-hot Junior Caminero sent a long fly ball over the wall in left field to give the Rays a 4-1 lead. The blast marked his 23rd of the year and it was his fifth consecutive game with a homer.
The Rays weren’t done. The very next pitch delivered by Royals starter Noah Cameron was ambushed and deposited in the seats in left center. The homer was Vilade’s sixth of the year and gave the Rays a 5-1 lead. Then DeLuca and Simpson singled. Deluca later scored on a RBI single by Ben Williamson and the Rays would end the inning with a 6-1 lead.
The six runs were all they needed tonight, but you would be foolish to turn down insurance runs. They tacked a pair of runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. Fortes drove home both runs on a single in the fifth inning and the sixth inning was, to put it lightly, a disaster for Royals pitching.
The Rays worked six walks in the sixth inning, though one was negated by a double play. Following the double play, Eric Cerantola walked five consecutive batters and allowed a run to score via a wild pitch. He walked in the other run.
On the night, the Rays totaled 10 hits, walked 11 times and only struck out twice. All 11 walks were issued in the first 5.2 innings.
Contrary to the Royals staff, Jax and the pen walked only one batter tonight and struck out seven. Jax did the heavy lifting, turning in what might be his best line of the season. Across six innings he allowed three runs on five hits, struck out five and walked none. He earned the win and gave way to Booser, Sulser, and Kimbrel. Suler allowed the only other run to score in the eighth.
Lastly, for those watching the standings in late June, the Yankees dropped their sixth straight and fell to 2/5 games back of the Rays in the division. The Rays are now four games up in the loss column on the Yankees. With a record of 49-33 , the Rays will look to continue their hot streak on Wednesday night with Shane McClanahan taking the ball after being given some extra days of rest. He will look to get back in a groove opposite Seth Lugo.
Jun 30, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson (4) hits a 2-RBI single against the Los Angeles Angels during the seventh inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 30: Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox reacts during a benches-clearing altercation during the fourth inning of a game against the Washington Nationals on June 30, 2026 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cade Cavalli pitched brilliantly tonight, striking out 13 Red Sox hitters while only allowing one hit and no walks over seven superb innings. Unfortunately, that’s not what I’ll remember most about his unwanted presence at Fenway.
Instead, it will be this comment he shouted at Willson Contreras after striking him out in the bottom of the fourth inning:
Cavali said “SIT DOWN BOY” to Wilson Contreras and he didn’t exactly like it. pic.twitter.com/suXT50dDS1
The next time somebody utters that phrase, in that tone, at a person whose heritage hails from a country near the equator and doesn’t have ill intent, will be the first. Frankly, if he would have just said “sit down bitch,” it would have been far less problematic.
But like a louse, he launched language loaded with racial undertones, and it rolled off his tongue like it came from the mouth of a suspended cop. The only thing more jarring than the junk jumping out of Cavalli’s jugular is the fact Contreras didn’t immediately try to snap it in half given everything happening in his world right now.
And as far as intent goes, you don’t need to take my word for it. Here’s somebody with a far more relevant perspective on Cavalli’s comment than me:
several people have said it to me, and I personally believe it, that the ejection last night was racially motivated. this here is almost not in doubt. if you have any knowledge of the history of "boy" as a racial term, you should be calling for a head here. https://t.co/FhRl6cAJoY
— baseball enjoyer 3000 (@TheNotoriousHRT) July 1, 2026
Cavalli claims the racial outburst stemmed from him taking exception with Contreras bumping him on the way off the base paths to end the first inning, which Contreras absolutely did. Here’s Cavalli on that incident:
“There’s a certain level of respect you have for other players. I have respect for him. But you don’t run by me and brush me going off the field. It’s just not something you do in this game.”
You know what else you don’t do? Call somebody “boy” in that tone and context and not expect blowback. If Cavalli thinks Contreras lightly brushing him is in the same zip code of disrespect as the garbage spewing out of his trap in the fourth inning, then he’s as lost as Flight MH370!
Speaking of lost, how about this umpiring crew? Last night, Nic Lentz threw Contreras out of the game for tapping his helmet following a check swing, and yet somehow what Cavalli did tonight was deemed less severe than that. I mean, what are we doing here? This is a horrendous look for them on multiple levels, and I hope both they and Cavalli are suspended by the league!
Meanwhile, Contreras, who was ejected, didn’t do himself any favors after leaving the field. He spent the next couple of innings hopping on Instagram and getting into it with idiot fans while his replacement at first base, Andruw Monasterio, was coming up short on both defense and at the plate. Here are those items juxtaposed:
At this point, it’s Chad Tracy’s job to get to Contreras and try and bring the temperature down, and I’m sure (after he was also ejected) they had a very compelling conversation down in the clubhouse during the second half of the game. (It was almost certainly more interesting than the rest of the game itself, which saw the Red Sox middle relief spiral out of control in an 8-1 defeat.)
Unfortunately, the brawl wasn’t the only disaster from this game. The other major story, which was actually unfolding around the same time, is Connelly Early leaving with “left elbow discomfort” after four shutout innings. This broke the Red Sox string of 12 consecutive quality starts (it was very likely to reach 13 the way Early was going), and could obviously lead to much bigger problems for the rotation going forward. We’ll know more tomorrow after they get some tests done.
Three Studs
Connelly Early: Four shutout innings, and well on his way to another great outing when the injury bug paid him a visit.
Anthony Seigler: Led off the game with a double and scored the only Red Sox run – A run that was holding up until Connelly left the game Early.
Chad Tracy: He absolutely had to get ejected after what Cavalli said to Contreras and the umpires allowing Cavalli to stay in the game. My only gripe is he didn’t get tossed quicker!
Three Duds
Danny Coulombe: He was the first bullpen arm into the game after Early’s exit and boy did he suck! He faced four hitters, failed to get three of them out, and the two outs he did get were from a lineout and a Wilyer Abreu assist at third base on a hit. Coulombe is rapidly turning into a guy you can’t go anywhere near in a close game.
Ceddanne Rafaela: 0-4 with two strikes outs and burned the last ABS challenge in a useless spot. He needs to show way more restraint with those!
Jarren Duran: Now hitting .196 with a .604 OPS after tonight’s 0-3 performance.
Play of the game:
It’s the brouhaha in the fourth inning:
Here’s the whole NESN broadcast side on the Willson Contreras and Cade Cavalli back and forth.
It was also Chad Tracy’s first ejection. Contreras tried to fire up the dugout before he left. pic.twitter.com/l48sBicK6q
SACRAMENTO, CA - JUNE 30: Justin Wrobleski #70 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Don Collier/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Justin Wrobleski had the most strikeouts by any Dodgers pitcher in a game this season, going seven innings to beat the Athletics 9-3 on Tuesday night at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.
Wrobleski struck out a career-high 11 in seven innings on Tuesday, the most by a Dodgers pitcher this season. This was the left-hander’s sixth start of at least seven innings this season, tied with Yoshinobu Yamamoto for most on the team. Wrobleski allowed three runs, two of them in the seventh inning, but the Dodgers offense provided plenty of support made those late runs not matter much.
Tommy Edman and Miguel Rojas each homered off A’s left-hander Jeffrey Springs, who leads the majors with 24 home runs allowed. The Dodgers put up crooked numbers in three different frames, with a pair in the first inning, then three runs each in the third and seventh.
Edman had four hits and drove in four runs while getting the start at third base, continuing his hot start. Since returning from the injured list on June 16, Edman has reached base at least twice in seven of his nine starts, and overall is hitting .395/452/.579.
Dodgers are 7-1 in the first eight games of their nine-game road trip, averaging seven runs per game. On the season, the Dodgers average 6.15 runs scored per game on the road, compared to 3.96 at home.
The Dodgers were 18-9 in June.
Tuesday particulars
Home runs: Tommy Edman (1), Miguel Rojas (3); Colby Thomas (4)
Dave Roberts, during a spring training earlier this year, is in his 11th season managing the Dodgers. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
The Dodgers’ storied history has allowed many a manager to thrive. In the nearly 70 seasons since the franchise moved to Los Angeles, the Dodgers have had a losing record 13 times, the last coming in 2010. They have made the playoffs every year since 2013, and, with the best record in baseball this season, are primed to reach the postseason for a 14th straight year, tying the MLB record set by the Atlanta Braves from 1991-2005.
A lot of the Dodgers’ recent success has come under Dave Roberts, who on Tuesday night became the fourth manager in franchise history to reach 1,000 career victories. This fall, he will try to guide his team to its third consecutive World Series title, a feat last accomplished by the New York Yankees in 2000 under the tutelage of Joe Torre — who later managed the Dodgers for three seasons.
Here’s a look at how the 10 managers during the Dodgers’ time in Los Angeles have fared.
Dodgers manager Walter Alston, left, with pitcher Sandy Koufax during spring training in Vero Beach, Fla., in 1963. (Jim Kerlin / Associated Press)
Years as manager: 1954-1976
Record: 2,040-1,613, .558 win pct
Alston, who managed the team’s final four seasons in Brooklyn, is the team’s winningest manager and won four of the franchise’s nine World Series titles, the first coming in 1955. He won three more in Los Angeles in 1959, 1963 and 1965 while also guiding them to the World Series in 1966 and 1974. When he won his 2,000th career game in 1976, Alston was only the fifth manager in MLB history to reach that mark. (There are 13 now.)
A 1983 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and six-time NL manager of the year, Alston also invited radio broadcaster Anita Martini into the clubhouse in 1974 after the Dodgers beat the Astros in Houston to clinch the NL West title — the first time a female journalist had been allowed in any professional sports locker room.
Tommy Lasorda
Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda celebrates after the Dodgers beat the Montreal Expos to win the NL pennant in 1981. (Associated Press)
Years as manager: 1976-1996
Record: 1,599-1,439, .526 win pct
After serving as the team’s third base coach for four seasons, Lasorda took over as manager late in the 1976 season when Alston announced his retirement. He led the Dodgers to the National League pennant in his first two full seasons, losing both times to the Yankees in the World Series. He won his first World Series in 1981, knocking off the Yankees, and rallied his team to a surprise title in 1988 in which the Dodgers beat the heavily favored Athletics. Lasorda was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997, his first year of eligibility.
A fiery and vibrant presence who spent 71 years with the Dodgers, Lasorda managed nine players who won the NL rookie of the year award. The Dodgers also opened the Japanese player pipeline on his watch. Hideo Nomo, the first Japanese big leaguer to permanently relocate to the U.S., joined the Dodgers in 1995. Three decades later, the team features Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on its star-studded roster.
Bill Russell
Bill Russell managed the Dodgers for parts of three seasons after succeeding Tommy Lasorda in 1996. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Years as manager: 1996-1998
Record: 173-149, .537 win pct
A stalwart at shortstop for most of his 18 seasons with the Dodgers, Russell stepped in after Lasorda suffered a heart attack in June 1996 and stayed on when Lasorda resigned a month later due to health concerns. Russell was only the third Dodgers skipper in 43 seasons when he took over on an interim basis for the rest of the 1996 season. He guided the team to a wild-card berth — the team’s last postseason appearance until 2004 — and became the full-time manager after the season.
During his tenure, ownership of the team shifted from the O’Malley family to Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Entertainment Group, which completed the purchase of the Dodgers in March 1998. After winning 88 games and finishing second in the NL West in his only full season at the helm in 1997, Russell was fired 74 games into the 1998 season as part of a housecleaning that included the removal of general manager Fred Claire.
Glenn Hoffman
Glenn Hoffman, right, speaks at a news conference introducing him as the new manager of the Dodgers on June 22, 1998, as Tommy Lasorda, who'd been named interim general manager, looks on. (Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images)
Years as manager: 1998
Record: 47-41, .534 win pct
Hoffman served as a stopgap measure more than a permanent replacement in his short tenure with the team. After nine years playing in the majors, Hoffman took up coaching in the Dodgers’ minor league farm system, splitting time between managing and coordinating field instruction for player development. However, when the Dodgers needed someone to take over for Russell in late June, Hoffman stepped up from his position managing the Dukes.
The skipper led the team to a third-place finish in the NL West, 15 games behind the eventual league champion San Diego Padres. After Davey Johnson took over before the 1999 season, Hoffman remained with the team as third-base coach for seven seasons.
Davey Johnson
Dodgers manager Davey Johnson, left, during the 2000 season, his second and last with the team. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)
Years as manager: 1999-2000
Record: 163-161, .503 win pct
Johnson’s managerial history before the Dodgers was chaotic and full of front-office disputes. And, despite having won the AL manager of the year award in 1997, it took two years for another team to take a chance on him.
While in L.A., Johnson did win his 1,000th game, doing so in May 1999. But his tenure did not live up to expectations, even with a roster that included Hall of Famer Adrián Beltré, Kevin Brown and Gary Sheffield. Johnson’s only losing full season of his career was in 1999, finishing third in the NL West. The Dodgers performed better the next year, but Johnson wouldn’t return.
Jim Tracy
Jim Tracy looks on from the dugout during an August 2005 game against the Washington Nationals. Tracy managed the Dodgers for five seasons. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
Years as manager: 2001-2005
Record: 427-383, .527 win pct
Tracy had been a minor league manager and served as a bench coach with the Montreal Expos under Felipe Alou and with the Dodgers under Johnson. Tracy posted four winning seasons, including two with more than 90 wins, and guided the Dodgers to the NL West title and a playoff appearance in 2004. The St. Louis Cardinals knocked out the Dodgers in four games in the NL Division Series in what was the team’s first postseason action since 1996.
The bottom fell out in 2005 as the team finished 71-91, the second-worst mark since the team moved from Brooklyn, with a roster revamped by general manager Paul DePodesta — who was hired after the 2003 season a few weeks after Boston real estate developer Frank McCourt purchased the team. Tracy had approached the team about a contract extension late in the 2005 season, a bold request considering the team’s record. When Tracy was let go at the end of the season, the team called it a “mutual parting of ways.” Less than four weeks later, DePodesta was fired for not adequately replacing Tracy.
Grady Little
Dodgers manager Grady Little argues with first base umpire Marvin Hudson during a 2007 game. (Chris Carlson / Associated Press)
Years as manager: 2006-2007
Record: 170-154, .525 win pct
Little came to the Dodgers with a reputation that preceded him. The manager — the most recent soul tortured by the Curse of the Bambino — gave Pedro Martínez the nod to continue in the eighth inning of Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS matchup between the Red Sox and the Yankees, a game New York won in extra-inning, walk-off fashion.
After spending two years in the Chicago Cubs organization as a consultant and scout, Little restarted his managerial career with the Dodgers, reuniting with some of his former players, including Nomar Garciaparra and Derek Lowe. The Dodgers clinched a wild-card berth in 2006 but were swept by the Mets in the NLDS before muddling through an injury-plagued season and missing the playoffs in 2007. Little’s lack of response to a possible return that offseason resulted in general manager Ned Colletti pursuing other options.
Joe Torre
Dodgers manager Joe Torre, center, pats starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw on the back as he relieves him in the eighth inning of a game in September 2008. (Stephen Dunn / Getty Images)
Years as manager: 2008-2010
Record: 259-227, .533 win pct
Torre packed his suitcases for the West Coast rather than taking a pay cut with the Yankees, bringing future manager Don Mattingly with him. The winning started soon after the move. The Dodgers returned to the playoffs in 2008 and won a postseason series for the first time since 1988.
Though, it did not go without controversy. Manny Ramirez tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2009, leading to a 50-game suspension. And while other players — namely Clayton Kershaw — rose through the ranks on his watch, Torre’s one issue remained consistent: He couldn’t beat the Phillies. Twice, the Dodgers were downed by Philadelphia in the NLCS. After an 80-82 season in 2010, Torre passed on skipper duties to Mattingly.
Don Mattingly
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly signs autographs before the start of a game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 10, 2014. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Years as manager: 2011-2015
Record: 446-363, .551 win pct
Mattingly came on board during a tumultuous time in the franchise’s history as the Dodgers filed for bankruptcy protection in June 2011 in a bid by McCourt to preserve his ownership. (He eventually agreed to sell the team, with the Guggenheim ownership group taking over in 2012.)
After two winning seasons, Mattingly was in the hot seat with the Dodgers in last place early in the 2013 campaign. But the Dodgers caught fire midseason and won the NL West and knocked out the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS before losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS. Mattingly called out the team’s front office, asking for a multiyear contract in exchange for returning in 2014, which he eventually got. But the Dodgers couldn’t get past the NLDS in 2014 and 2015, and the team parted ways with Mattingly with one year left on his deal.
Dave Roberts
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, left, talking to shortstop Mookie Betts during a game on June 7, has led the team to five World Series appearances and three championships. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Years as manager: 2016-present
Record: 1,000-605, .623 win pct
The son of an African American father and Japanese mother, Roberts is the first minority manager in Dodgers history. After guiding the Dodgers to the NLCS in 2016, he became the first manager of Asian heritage to go to the World Series in 2017 and the first to win when the Dodgers captured the team’s first championship in 32 years in 2020.
Before Roberts led the team to back-to-back World Series championships, he earned a four-year contract extension worth a record $8.1 million annually. In addition to the three World Series titles, the Dodgers have won five NL pennants and nine division titles under Roberts. To further underscore the consistent winning the Dodgers have achieved with him: The Dodgers had two 100-win campaigns in their first 58 seasons in Los Angeles. Since Roberts took over in 2016, the franchise has had five.
