Here are the lineups. For the Phillies:
For the Reds:
Letâs talk about it.
Here are the lineups. For the Phillies:
For the Reds:
Letâs talk about it.
It may not be thrilling to Lakers fans, but it's a good bit of business â the Lakers just got the best backup center still available on the market.
Kevon Looney and the Lakers have agreed to a one-year contract at the veteran minimum of $3.9 million, Looney's agent Todd Ramasar tells Shams Charania of ESPN.
Looney, a three-time NBA Champion with the Warriors, was squeezed out of the rotation last season in New Orleans, where the focus shifted to playing the young bigs (Derik Queen, Yves Missi), and, unsurprisingly, the Pelicans chose not to pick up his $8 million team option for this season. Last season, Looney only played in 21 games and averaged 2.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest.
Looney will back up just-acquired Walker Kessler at the five. Plus, it's easy to imagine JJ Redick rolling out some smaller ball lineups with someone like Sandro Mamukelashvili as well.
Looney, 30, is a solid reserve big man. He sets a strong pick, is a good rebounder, and is well-liked in the locker room.
Lakers fans may have preferred Mitchell Robinson as a backup center but his price was much higher ($15 million a season, Boston was wiling to pay it). The Knicks looked at their options and chose to reach a deal with Andre Drummond to replace Mitchell. That left Looney as the Lakers' best option, and they took it.
The Cleveland Cavaliers signed one of the members of their starting backcourt, Donovan Mitchell, to a new four-year extension earlier today. James Harden is expected to get a new deal shortly after he declined his player option for this upcoming season. As of now, he and the Cavs are just waiting to see how some of the other dominoes fall this summer before inking a new contract.
Joe Vardon of The Athletic reported on Tuesday that the framework and dollar amount for a new contract are already worked out between Harden and the Cavs. Depending on whether the Cavs can convince LeBron James to sign with them (or maybe another free agent), Harden is reportedly willing to spread that money over three years instead of two.
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Hardenâs willingness to do this could greatly help the Cavs. A longer contract would mean a lower annual amount, which would help Cleveland if they decide they want access to the taxpayer mid-level exception or the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. Itâs worth noting that Mitchellâs new deal doesnât go into effect until the 2027-28 season, so it has no impact on the cap for the upcoming season.
As it stands, the Cavs are $25.3 million under the first apron and $37.9 million under the second, not factoring in a new contract for Harden. Teams under the first apron have access to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (up to $15 million). But if the Cavs used that or a portion of that, they would be capped at the first apron.
Presumably, Harden wouldnât be taking a big enough discount to give the Cavs enough room under the first apron to have access to a meaningful portion of that $15 million. However, his signing for a lower annual value, combined with trading or stretching a player like Dennis Schroder, could help them do so. Thereâs also the taxpayer midlevel exception of $6 million the Cavs could access if theyâre under the second apron but above the first.
Whether or not Harden signs for a three-year deal likely depends on LeBronâs decision. As of now, the Cavaliers are in a holding pattern waiting for James.
Last season, Harden averaged 23.6 points and eight assists in 70 combined regular season games for both the Los Angeles Clippers and the Cavs.
Each day of LeBron Jamesâ free agency sweepstakes seems to bring another interesting twist or update. This has certainly been the case when it comes to which team ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst is hearing LeBron will land with.
Last week, Windhorst asserted that the Philadelphia 76ers were the favorites to land James, citing the close relationship between James and 76ers star guard Tyrese Maxey as a key reason why this connection might happen.
But Windhorst has switched his sentiment up, as he suggested that the Cleveland Cavaliers appear to be the favorite to sign James right now during a July 7 appearance on ESPN Cleveland. Although this report comes with an important caveat.
âPeople in the league think that itâs pointing towards Cleveland. But they are operating off vibes,â Windhorst said. âAnd if you ask me, âAre the vibes pointing towards Cleveland?â Yeah, the vibes are pointing towards Cleveland. But itâs just vibes.â
Windhorst reiterated that there isnât any proper sourcing attached to this report, further asserting that that sentiment that James could be heading back to Cleveland is based on âvibesâ right now.
But this still shows Windhorst is walking back his past comments about the 76ers being the most likely landing spot for James.
Perhaps this âreportâ from Windhorst should be taken with a grain of salt, given that itâs predicated on âvibesâ and that Windhorst had another team as the favorite to land James last week. But Windhorst wouldnât be talking about these âvibesâ publicly if he didnât believe they were the case.
James recently spent Fourth of July weekend in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, which is less than an hour away from Cleveland. He has spent two separate stints on the Cavaliers so far, and star guard Donovan Mitchell (who just signed a four-year, $273 million maximum contract extension with the Cavaliers) has been clear about his interest in joining forces with James.
While a lot can change regarding where James will end up, the Cavaliers are firmly in the race at this point.
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Interim Mets manager Andy Green provided some injury updates prior to Tuesdayâs series opener against the RoyalsâŚÂ
For the first time since April 14, Jorge Polanco is back in the big leagues.
Polanco has been sidelined for the majority of the season with Achilles and wrist issues, but heâs been grinding his way back in the minors over the last few weeks.Â
After his latest rehab games with Syracuse, the club deemed him ready to return.Â
Polanco immediately jumps back into the starting lineup, batting sixth and serving as the DH for Tuesdayâs meeting with former Met Seth Lugo.
âWeâre all excited to have him there,â Green said. âHe had some nice games in rehab, homered in his last game, so we think heâs ready to DH for us and ready to get going here.â
Polancoâs playing time will be based on how he responds on a daily basis, but heâs expected to be available off the bench on the days he doesnât start.
His bat is the big thing Green values at the moment, but the team will see if he can get into the field at first base depending on how he feels.Â
âWe have guys we can slide to first, somebody is going to have to DH,â he said. âWeâre just happy to have his bat, and if he gets to first in the near future, weâll be thrilled about that.âÂ
Robert Jr. had his rehab assignment transferred to Double-A Binghamton on Tuesday, where heâll continue to play to see exactly how far off he is.Â
The outfielder wonât be in the Rumble Poniesâ lineup Tuesday as he takes the day to workout, but the hope is that heâll be back out there Wednesday.Â
He reached base just twice across 10 at-bats over the past week with Syracuse.Â
Green hasnât figured how the team will handle the outfield mix when Robert is ready to return, but he continues to be impressed by youngsters Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing.Â
Green said that Semien is progressing well in his recovery from a hip flexor strain.Â
The veteran ran up to 80 percent on Monday, and was spotted running and taking grounders again Tuesday.Â
Semien, still however, remains without a timeline for a return.
âHeâs a baseball player, he wants to be on the field,â the skipper said. âHeâs doing everything humanly possible to make that happen as fast as possible -- heâs progressing very well.â
Semienâs reported timeline called for him to miss at least 4-to-6 weeks.Â
Fresh off a sweep by the suddenly resurgent Miami Marlins, the Athletics take on the Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit today. The Tigers enter the game with a 40-50 record and sit in fourth place in the American League Central, while the visiting Aâs are 41-49 and are also in fourth place, but in the AL West.
The Aâs will welcome Jacob Wilson back from a short stint on the Injured List (IL) today with an inflammation in his right thumb. Heâll re-enter the lineup batting fifth and playing his usual shortstop position.
J.T. Ginn will get the start today against the Tigers. Ginn is 7-4 with a 3.04 ERA in nineteen 2026 appearances. He has 82 Kâs in 94.2 innings of work. Heâll go up against reigning Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal for Detroit. The 29-year-old lefty is 4-4 this season with a 3.15 ERA in an injury-shortened sixty-five innings of work.
Skubal, the most coveted name tossed around as a trade deadline mover, will face this lineup for the Athletics this afternoon:
Ginn, who has emerged as the teamâs ace this season will go up against this lineup for the Tigers today:
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Well, itâs not quite over yet. Despite snapping their eight-game losing streak on Sunday afternoon, the San Diego Padres went back to their unfortunate losing ways with an 8-0 shutout against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday night. The club couldnât manage a single run against Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt and didnât reach second base until Jackson Merrill did so in the seventh inning.
San Diegoâs Walker Buehler went five innings but surrendered seven runs to the Dbacks. Itâs a worrying trend as Buehler has now given up 16 runs between his last two outings. Prior to that, the righty hadnât given up more than a run in each of his June starts. Now Buehler is barely a serviceable back-end starter. The Friars were out of the game before they ever came to bat. Theyâll need to turn things around in Game 2 tonight against Arizona. If they canât, it will worsen the tough stretch the club has found themselves in.
Itâs unfortunate, but Gallen has been one of the worst pitchers in the league. After re-signing with Arizona this offseason, he hasnât helped the club at all. The righty owns a 6.36 ERA through 92 innings and has just 56 strikeouts with an overblown 1.57 WHIP.
Gallen has had the worst season of his career this year. The Dbacksâ ace hasnât been able to put it together at any point this year. Heâs been even worse lately, with an 8.60 ERA in his last seven starts. The Friars should be able to tag Gallen for plenty of runs tonight.
MĂĄrquez is making his first start back after returning from the injured list earlier this week. The right-hander pitched three innings against Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night. MĂĄrquez pitched in bulk relief after Randy VĂĄsquez exited the game early. With VĂĄsquez now on the IL, MĂĄrquez will be taking over for the righty.
He pitched decent against L.A. in his first outing back, giving up two runs on two hits while walking three. He struggled with his command, but showed flashes of the ace-like stuff he once had. The hope for San Diego is that MĂĄrquez can quiet Arizonaâs bats after a loud series opener (three home runs).
Apart from last nightâs mishaps, the San Diego lineup has been effective as of late. The offense produced 15 runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers in their most recent series against the division rivals. More than that, Manny Machado has had a recent power surge. The third baseman has three home runs in his last seven games.
Cronenworth went 2-for-4 last night against Pfaadt. The second baseman has a fantastic career when facing the Arizona righty. Heâs also hit well against Gallen, batting .300 with a .917 OPS against the Dbacksâ ace (30 at-bats). Hopefully, Cronenworth will be able to continue that successful streak.
Thankfully, Alek Jacob was able to cover three innings for the Friars. With Arizonaâs lead ballooned to seven runs by the time Jacob came in, the reliever was left on the mound for as long as possible. He threw 42 pitches, giving up just one run on a solo shot by Nolan Arenado. After him, Ron Marinaccio pitched the ninth inning. That outing from Jacob helped to salvage the bullpen for the remainder of the series.
That will allow San Diego to have plenty of options for Game 2. Kyle Hart, Yuki Matsui, Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, Wandy Peralta and Bradgley Rodriguez will be available if MĂĄrquez struggles in his first start back. With no off day before the All-Star break, the club will be forced to rely on quality outings from their starters to save the âpen.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are returning home to take on the Atlanta Braves for the first matchup of a three-game set.
The Braves are handing the ball to Hurston Waldrop, who is making his second start of the season. Waldrop made his 2026 debut on June 26 against the San Francisco Giants, pitching two innings and giving up two hits and zero earned runs.
In his next appearance, he made his first start of the season against the St. Louis Cardinals at home. He pitched 5.1 innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs, in an 11-5 loss at Truist Park. Now heâs making his first start on the road at PNC Park against the Buccos.
The Pirates will hand the ball to their ace, Paul Skenes, but he hasnât been pitching like one as of late. In his last start, Skenes pitched four innings, giving up six hits and seven earned runs in a 10-6 loss on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 1. The Pirates have lost nine consecutive games when Skenes takes the mound, which is a big surprise given how well he has pitched in his first two seasons.
Skenes still has the stuff to be one of the best pitchers in the league, but the Pirates havenât been able to put it together with him on the mound.
Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh
Pitching Matchup: Hurston Waldrep (0-0, 3.68 ERA) vs. Paul Skenes (6-8, 3.62 ERA)
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Claude Giroux looked around in NHL free agency and is returning to his 2025-26 team.
The Ottawa Senators announced on Tuesday, July 7, that they had re-signed the forward to a one-year deal that has $2 million in salary and up to $3 million in bonuses.
âClaude took his time to evaluate his options and his decision to re-sign with us shows his belief and commitment to our group,â said general manager Steve Staios. âHe is the consummate professional and brings veteran experience to our core on and off the ice.â
Giroux, 38, will return for a fifth season in Canada's capital. He signed with his hometown Senators in 2022 after spending most of his career with the Philadelphia Flyers, plus a short stint with the Florida Panthers.
He played all 82 games for the 10th time in his career and finished with 49 points as the Senators made the playoffs for the second year in a row. They were swept in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes.
âI chose to come back because I want to be here. Iâm excited to be an Ottawa Senator,â said Giroux. âBeing around those guys for four years, we got really close. This team feels like a family. I just care for those players.â
Giroux is an alternate captain on the Senators, who need a captain after Brady Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers.
With Giroux off the list, the top remaining free agents include Patrick Kane, Anthony Mantha and Vladimir Tarasenko.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Claude Giroux re-signs with Ottawa Senators for one season
The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to make the finishing touches on an incomplete roster, but thereâs one free agent the team likely isnât signing.
DeMar DeRozan hit free agency after the Sacramento Kings waived him. The team explored trade options for the DeRozan, but nothing transpired and the two sides mutually agreed to part ways.
According to ESPN insider Dave McMenamin, the Lakers arenât considered a potential landing spot for the veteran guard.
There were rumblings regarding the Lakersâ interest in DeRozan, since the two sides had mutual interest most notably in 2021. However, DeRozan is no longer a fit for the Lakers heading into the 2026-27 season.
LAâs roster is missing a versatile wing defender and backup center. DeRozan is neither.
While the Lakers may not have any interest in DeRozan, he is a top free agent of the summer and should likely garner interest from other teams around the league.
General manager Rob Pelinka has orchestrated a massive overhaul with the Lakers set to look much different for the upcoming campaign. The Lakers have already made a majority of their offseason moves, but the team is working to sign free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga.
The 23-year-old reportedly isnât enticed by the current Lakers offer, which leaves Pelinka with the tall task of maneuvering players in order to acquire more cap space to sign Kuminga. Thatâs easier said than done, but the Lakers have limited options as many free agents are already off the board.
There are precious few things that Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler cannot defeat. That includes venous thoracic outlet syndrome, which shut him down in August of last season and cost him most of the month of April in 2026.
At age 36, you may have begun to wonder if the end was near for the three-time All Star. Oh, how far from the case that has been.
Through 13 starts since his return on April 25th, Wheeler sports a 2.36 ERA â a mark that would be his best over the course of a single season. His 3.30 FIP is right in line with his 3.29 career mark, and his 2.3 BB/9 is actually lower than his 2.5 per 9 mark across his brilliant 12 year career. The injury, it would seem, was merely a hiccup over which he would rise again to regain his elite form.
Wheeler will start for the Phillies in Tuesday nightâs series opener at Great American Ball Park against the Cincinnati Reds. Fortunately for the olâ Redlegs, theyâll be sending out a starter whoâs been almost as hot as Wheeler for that period of time, too.
Andrew Abbott will toe the rubber in the series opener, the southpaw having pitched to a 2.71 ERA in his 12 starts dating back to the final week of April. The first four weeks of April were positively abysmal from the former All Star, but heâs once again regained the form that has him outperforming all of his peripherals through deception, precision, and an elite ability to induce soft contact. Thatâs what weâll hope to see from him again tonight as he faces a Phillies lineup stacked with hitters who mostly excel from the left side of the plate.
First pitch is set for 7:10 PM ET. Hereâs how the Reds will line up to begin:
The Lakers got their backup big man when Kevon Looney signed a one-year, $3.9-million deal on Tuesday, people not authorized to speak publicly told The Times.
The 6-foot-9 Looney won three championships with the Golden State Warriors, in 2017, 2018 and 2021. He played last season with the New Orleans Pelicans. Looney, 30, is an 11-year veteran who went to UCLA. Heâs a strong rebounder, very good defender and sets solid screens for teammates.
Looney will be the backup behind starter Walker Kessler, who was acquired in a trade from the Utah Jazz and agreed to a four-year, $130-million deal. The Lakers traded last seasonâs starting center, Deandre Ayton, and backup Jaxson Hayes signed with the Jazz.
The Lakers now have a 14-man roster and have room for another player.
Jonathan Kuminga is a player the Lakers are after, according to people with knowledge of the situation who said L.A. is looking at a two-year, $20-million deal for Kuminga, the sort of athletic wing player the Lakers need to start at small forward.
He has the size (6-7) and is young (23). He averaged 12.2 points and 5.6 rebounds and shot 33.3% from three-point range last season while playing for the Warriors and Atlanta Hawks.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A quiet offseason and the Los Angeles Lakers don't exactly mesh.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has been busy this summer, finding deals and bringing in players to help mold the purple and gold into championship contention. His latest move is adding a former three-time NBA champion into the fold.
Los Angeles agreed to sign veteran free agent center Kevon Looney to a one-year deal worth $3.9 million, Life Sports Agency CEO Todd Ramasar told ESPN.
Looney was one of the top available backup centers in the free agency pool, a position that L.A. needed to address. The Lakers made a deal to get Walker Kessler as their starter. They dealt last year's starting center, Deandre Ayton, to the Washington Wizards for Jaden Hardy and two future second-round picks. Last year's backup center, Jaxson Hayes, signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Utah Jazz.
Looney brings an array of experience and winning pedigree, having been a part of the Warriors dynasty with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala. He's an asset expected to thrive in pick-and-roll action with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, when they play staggered minutes together.
Last year, Looney joined the New Orleans Pelicans on a two-year, $16 million deal (the second year was a team option), which allowed him to reunite with former Warriors teammate Jordan Poole. Looney signed with New Orleans, instead of remaining in the Bay Area, because he felt like his playing time, especially during the 2025 NBA playoffs, was limited and that the Warriors were not utilizing him in ways that suited his strengths, even against favorable matchups, according to NBC Sports Bay Area.
In his 11th NBA season, Looney only appeared in 21 games for the New Orleans Pelicans, where he averaged 2.8 points and 5.6 rebounds.
Looney's career averages include 4.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 0.5 blocks and 0.5 steals in 17 minutes. He's not known for his offense, but can still finish at a high level when given the opportunity. Looney has a career 57% field goal percentage.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Lakers fill need at backup center, sign three-time champ Kevon Looney
PITTSBURGH â The Pittsburgh Pirates will have to try to stay in postseason contention without rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin.
The club placed the 20-year-old rising star on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday due to an issue with the knuckle on the ring finger on his left hand. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Griffin is expected to miss 8-10 weeks.
Griffin, who made his major league debut in April before signing a lengthy extension, injured the finger in the early portion of a victory over Washington on Sunday. He remained in the lineup and finished with two hits before a postgame exam detailed the extent of the injury.
Tomczyk said the injury was to the sagittal band, which stabilizes the ring finger. Griffin will keep the hand in a splint for about six weeks before resuming baseball activities.
The injury is the second significant setback for Griffin during a promising rookie season. He missed most of June with a strained right forearm.
âHeâs really been a big part of our success,â Pirates manager Don Kelly said. âI think for him to learn through this, too, every single player goes through injuries. Heâs just had a couple tough ones at the beginning. I know heâll be stronger after going through it.â
When healthy, Griffin has been a revelation for the Pirates, looking every bit the franchise cornerstone they hoped heâd be after selecting him in the first round of the 2024 draft. Griffin is hitting .276 with five homers, 25 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 59 games.
Jared Triolo will primarily fill in at shortstop for Pittsburgh, which entered Tuesday at 46-45 and in the middle of a large swath of National League teams in the postseason mix.
Griffin joins an increasingly crowded injured list that includes center fielder Oneil Cruz and first baseman Spencer Horwitz.
Pittsburgh called up infielder Jack Brannigan from Triple-A Indianapolis to take Griffinâs spot on the roster.
Jayson Tatum gives first reaction to Celtics' Jaylen Brown trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown formed one of the NBAâs best duos for many years. But that tandem is no longer intact after the Boston Celtics traded Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers last week for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.
It was a stunning trade that saw Brown go to a longtime Celtics rival, one that knocked Boston out of the 2026 playoffs with a Game 7 win at TD Garden back in May.
Tatum spent nine seasons as a teammate of Brownâs in Boston after being drafted in 2017.
He reacted publicly to the trade for the first time Tuesday night at an event in Newton where he was promoting his new childrenâs book.
âTo be honest, itâs weird,â Tatum told the crowd, as seen in the video player above. âYou play on a team with a guy for nine years, who I was fortunate enough to go to the Finals with twice, and win a championship, and push each other to be the players that we are today.
âThe NBA is an incredible business, itâs an incredible job, but there are some downsides to the business that weâre in. And moments like this, where you just kind of feel like youâre going to be on the team with somebody, because thatâs all you know.
âAnd then itâs just like, one day you find out that theyâre no longer on your team anymore. And weâre all humans. We feel all those emotions. Going into the facility, and knowing that you have different teammates, and somebody that youâve been to war with, essentially, is on a different team.â
He continued: âItâs tough. But it just makes you appreciate the moments and times that we had. Obviously, it came to an abrupt ending, but it doesnât mean that it wasnât super successful. Some great years, obviously, that he gave to the city and to the organization.â
Tatum and Brown helped the Celtics advance to the Eastern Conference Finals five times and the NBA Finals twice during their time together, including a championship in 2024.
The Celticsâ roster will look plenty different next season. In addition to Brownâs departure, the Câs have added George (trade), Mitchell Robinson (free agent) and Mike Conley Jr. (free agent) to the team so far this offseason.
âThe tough part is you miss teammates, but then you have new teammates, and you want to welcome those guys and accept them and move forward with them,â Tatum said. âSo there is a balance there.â